How can I justify myself as a Magnate if I don't indulge myself?

After all, men, especially wealthy men, understand what's understood.

Who doesn't have several close opposite-sex "friends"?

But these good friends often disappear automatically after a while. As executives, they still have their pride. Being humble to Gu Heng is fine, and being humble to Gu Heng's wife is also fine, but not to a lover...

Thus, they might put on a facade for the sake of Gu Heng, but deep down, they never consider these women seriously unless Gu Heng explicitly expresses that they are his girlfriends. Then they would truly take it to heart.

After all, although lovers and wives undertake the same responsibilities, their statuses are worlds apart...

However, since Gu Heng had publicly spoken to these two lovers in that way, regardless of his intention, the group of executives would take it as a signal from Gu Heng and would definitely treat He Jing and Lin Jiayun with at least basic respect; otherwise, it would be a slap in the face to Gu Heng.

Gu Heng was unaware of what these subordinates and Lin Jiayun, He Jing were thinking as Jiang Ruxue pushed the door and he entered the conference room.

...

Inside the conference room, representatives from ten major law firms were chatting and waiting. Seeing the group coming in through the door, some were startled but still instinctively stood up.

"Hello, everyone. Allow me to introduce Mr. Gu Heng, the Chairman of IDE Capital."

Jiang Ruxue efficiently performed every duty expected of a secretary.

"Hello, Mr. Gu."

"Good day, Mr. Gu."

Gu Heng smiled and nodded at each of them before heading to the main seat.

As for their names, there was no need for them to introduce themselves; Jiang Ruxue would introduce each shortly.

Two perceptive executives pushed chairs next to Gu Heng and then gestured for Lin Jiayun and He Jing to sit down, while Gu Heng glanced over them without any indication.

"Mr. Gu, these individuals are representatives of the top ten law firms in Hua Country.

This is Wang Haonan, a partner at Junhe Law Firm, and Zhang Xupeng, a partner and the head of the Jingcheng office of Jin Du Law Firm, along with De Heng, Fang Da Law Firm partners..."

Jiang Ruxue's memory was excellent. Having met these people only once, she remembered their names and positions, introducing them without any mix-ups. After the introductions, she discreetly pushed their profiles toward Mr. Gu Heng for easy reference when he needed to consult them.

But Gu Heng only glanced at the files and pushed them aside.

It wasn't that he had memorized the lawyers' names; he simply saw no need to remember them.

If it's just a simple business talk, they could accept the deal or leave it—why bother memorizing a dozen names?

Then, Gu Heng cleared his throat and slowly began.

"You must be curious why I invited representatives from various major law firms here under the company's name?"

After hearing Gu Heng's words, they looked at each other and remained silent, tacitly agreeing.

Every major law firm has its channels of information. IDE was newly established and currently only has one project—it shouldn't have any legal issues to address. However, adhering to the principle of not refusing business that comes knocking and to show respect to the newly risen capital firm IDE, all top ten law firms treated this matter with the highest regard, sending partners who were significant decision-makers.

Seeing that they were silent, Gu Heng did not beat around the bush but got straight to the point, "This invitation was not about company affairs but some personal affairs of mine."

???

Gu Heng's conclusion left them all the more baffled.

Private affairs?

What kind of situations?

Even if it involved a major property division case, there was no need to inform so many law firms all at once, right?

The more they thought about it, the more confused they became.

"I don't know how often you attorneys go online or pay attention to online information.

If you do follow online information, you'd find I've become rather notorious online these past few days. Whenever I browse Douyin casually, one out of ten videos mocks me as a 'traitor, capitalist vampire, or scoundrel.'"

Weibo is even more outrageous. The number of topics about me has already exceeded 70 million. The moment you enter the topic about me, the abuses there are simply unbearable. So, I plan to ask the various law firms to assist me in restoring my reputation.

Restore reputation?

Speak for Gu Heng online under the law firm's name? Then issue a lawyer's letter as a warning?

In recent years, major law firms have taken on many such cases. After all, the online atmosphere is too toxic, and most public figures have experienced cyberbullying.

Especially those stars in the entertainment industry, they practically live being insulted every day.

Some people, unable to bear the insults, would collaborate with law firms and start threatening with lawyers' letters, then pick the most active and malicious of the offenders to sue, thereby proving their "innocence," and then it would all be over.

Honestly, this kind of thing doesn't really make any money; at most, a few hundred thousand, even just tens of thousands of dollars will suffice.

But these law firms usually won't refuse because the legal profession also needs fame. By helping these public figures with their lawsuits, even though they don't make much money, it can still earn them some reputation. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Now, as Gu Heng finished speaking, they also thought that Gu Heng was planning such a move...

But deep down, they held some resentment towards Gu Heng, wondering If such a minor affair truly warranted the assembly of the top ten law firms.

However, these were merely internal thoughts, their smiles did not fade but instead became even warmer. The partner at Junhe Law Firm also spoke with a smile, "Since Mr. Gu needs legal assistance in this regard, I will authorize and send it to your company later. Mr. Gu, you just need to post it using an influential account, and if you need to initiate additional lawsuits, we will also help you with evidence collection."

"We at Jin Du Law Firm also…"

"We…"

The partners of these law firms all expressed their stance.

Even though there's no money to be made, forming good karma is beneficial…

For a big company like IDE, legal issues are inevitable in the future, and there are plenty of opportunities for cooperation. The necessary respects must be given.

But after hearing this, Gu Heng just smiled and shook his head, "If that was all, would I have gone through the trouble of summoning all of you here?"

"Then what do you mean, Mr. Gu?"

Gu Heng's smile remained gentle and calm, but his next words stunned everyone in the meeting room.

"I want to sue the entire internet, everyone online who participated in defaming me, count every single one, whoever can be found, I want to sue them all!"

IDE company executives: "???"

Law firm representatives: "???"

He Jing, Lin Jiayun: "???"

Everyone was left with question marks over their heads...

They might not know exactly what Gu Heng was up to, but they were very familiar with the internet bullying that emanates from public discourse...
Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

Even in cases where some celebrity's scandal breaks out, then rumors propagated by anti-fans and marketing accounts number in tens of thousands, and that's just a standard case of a public figure being cyberbullied...

In more severe cases, it's practically an entire internet condemnation, with too many people involved to even count...

And now Gu Heng was talking about suing the entire internet. How aggrieved must he have been to harbor such strong resentment?

Soon, a representative from a law firm couldn't help but speak, "Mr. Gu, do you mean to sue the internet users as a collective or individually?

If it's as a collective, it seems quite unrealistic, not just domestically, but there's also no foreign legal precedent to support it.

If it's the latter, that seems impractical too... after all, there's a saying, 'the law does not punish the masses,' especially given the unique nature of the internet, it indeed cannot meet your conditions..."

But Gu Heng merely smiled and said, "If it were simple, wouldn't I have just hired any law firm to handle it? Why would I have called all of you here? Besides you, I have also contacted dozens of other law firms in Jingcheng, and later they will coordinate with you ten law firms at the center.

If you think we don't have enough people, it's also no problem, I will immediately send people to contact law firms in Shanghai, Yangcheng City, and Shenzhen. If super first-tier cities aren't enough, I'll go to first-tier cities, and if first-tier cities aren't enough, I'll go to second-tier.

Regarding any demands you might have, you can also mention them. As long as money can solve it, you can speak up."