Chapter 474: Collective Withdrawal from the Competition

Chapter 474: Collective Withdrawal

The girl involved in the incident was named Li Meiyuan, born into a wealthy family, raised in luxury from childhood, with her greatest passions being singing and celebrity fandom, currently studying a music-related major at university.

Her reason for going to the airport to protest and boycott Meng Fan was the same as many others there—she was one of the more "fanatical" types, deeply detesting Meng Fan, essentially listing him as her number one mortal enemy. Additionally, since her university was in Busan, her social circle organized the protest. Another point: she was a fan of Park Jae-hae, a die-hard loyalist.

Even though it was largely settled that Park Jae-hae had been beaten by Meng Fan in China, in her eyes, it was still all because of Meng Fan. If not for him, how could such a thing involving Park Jae-hae have come to light? Park Jae-hae wouldn’t have vanished from his fans’ sight for such a long time. Recently, when he finally managed to "open for business" again, Meng Fan showed up. How could she not hate Meng Fan?

Yet, she never imagined something like that would happen at the airport—the U-shaped decoration falling, and she was saved by the very Chinese man she hated most.

After crying, she even had the thought that she shouldn’t have been saved by Meng Fan, but in the end, she chose to come to the hospital to thank him in person, believing it was something she had to do as a human being. As for the other boy, she naturally had no idea where he went and didn’t care; she just did her part.

However, what she never expected was to be surrounded by reporters on the spot, and even more unexpectedly, the incident of her being besieged by reporters made the news, turning her into one of the focal points of the event. Most shockingly of all, Park Jae-hae reposted and commented on the news and her personally online.

How could Park Jae-hae, who had been beaten by Meng Fan in China and driven into the low point of his career, have anything good to say? His comment was nothing unusual—many similar ones had already appeared on South Korean networks between the airport incident and Meng Fan’s discharge from the hospital. They questioned whether Meng Fan was putting on a show and whether the two rescued individuals were accomplices in the act.

A rough translation of his comment: "Judging from the airport incident video, these two could have easily escaped the impact zone. Why did they both crouch down and wait for that Chinese man to save them? And now, showing up at the hospital entrance just when the media is gathered, it inevitably makes one suspect they are part of the show."

Park Jae-hae’s comment garnered support from some athletes who also hated Meng Fan, along with likes from a few celebrity friends. They all wanted to solidify the claim that Meng Fan was putting on a show, tarnishing his reputation. Of course, it also attracted support from some fans and onlookers.

Then, something predictable yet unexpected happened—online bullying!

Soon, Li Meiyuan’s personal information was doxxed, and both her online accounts and real life were plunged into chaos.

Overnight, after shutting down all communication devices due to unbearable online harassment, Li Meiyuan still faced disturbances in real life, enduring harassment, disdain, and insults in her university dormitory.

The next day, it escalated into physical violence. Li Meiyuan was beaten—by her boyfriend!

Her boyfriend, having also suffered online bullying and various real-life difficulties and mockery because of Li Meiyuan, didn’t choose to hide like she did. Instead, he decisively broke up with her, arranged a meeting, and then assaulted her!

Three slaps completely shattered Li Meiyuan, who was already on the verge of collapse, and she chose the worst option—slitting her wrists to commit suicide!

Fortunately, her roommate discovered her in time and rushed her to the hospital, saving her life.

She was saved, but her mental state was extremely poor.

Online bullying has always existed, never ceasing since the internet became widespread—whether in China or South Korea, Asia or the West. While cases of online bullying driving people to suicide are rare and account for a small proportion, the total number is already alarmingly high.

Online bullying leading to suicide has always been big news. Combined with the airport incident from the day before, public opinion exploded instantly.

Li Meiyuan was thrust into the spotlight, her boyfriend thrust into the spotlight, Park Jae-hae thrust into the spotlight, the athletes and celebrities who supported Park Jae-hae’s comments thrust into the spotlight, and Meng Fan thrust into the spotlight as well.

However, discussions about Park Jae-hae and the other athletes and celebrities quickly faded from view, at least from South Korean networks, within about two to three hours. Clearly, someone was controlling the narrative behind the scenes. Meanwhile, discussions about Li Meiyuan, her boyfriend, and Meng Fan grew even more intense.

There were those who sympathized with Li Meiyuan, called for an end to online bullying, and hoped for her speedy recovery; those who condemned her boyfriend; and even more who cursed Meng Fan, because many saw him as the root cause. If not for him, none of this would have happened!

Yes, if Meng Fan hadn’t come to Busan to compete, there would have been no airport protest or boycott. Without that, the falling U-shaped decoration wouldn’t have hit anyone—anyway, they felt that if Meng Fan hadn’t come, so many people wouldn’t have been affected. If no one had been hit, Meng Fan wouldn’t have put on this show, and the subsequent online bullying wouldn’t have occurred!

Even looking further back, if Meng Fan hadn’t come to South Korea to challenge, none of this would have happened. And even earlier, if Meng Fan hadn’t beaten South Korean MMA fighters in Japan...

In short, everything originated from Meng Fan, and all responsibility lay with him!

Of course, compared to the temporarily manipulated public opinion on South Korean networks, the international internet was much more normal. The vast majority focused on condemning the South Korean online bullying, tearing into Li Meiyuan’s boyfriend, Park Jae-hae, and others without mercy. As for Meng Fan, unless someone was blind or South Korean, almost everyone knew he was a hero in the airport incident, and while the online bullying was related to him, he bore no responsibility.

"I can’t understand how someone who acted bravely could be considered the source of online bullying! Are they all crazy?"

"According to their logic, Chinese Meng shouldn’t have saved anyone!"

"No, if Chinese Meng hadn’t saved anyone and an accident had occurred at the airport, then by their logic, he would still be responsible!"

"Isn’t there a single person with a brain?"

Of course there were, and quite a few, but few dared to speak up. At such a time, anyone who stood up for Meng Fan mostly chose to wait and see. Some did offer objective analysis and discussion, but either no one paid attention, they were selectively ignored, or they were torn apart and deleted their own posts.

At least, that was the case in the first few hours after the incident.

About two hours after news of Li Meiyuan’s situation broke, the World Soft Martial Arts Masters Tournament organizers released the latest news: the entire Chinese team announced their withdrawal.

Shortly after, Teddy Rena announced her individual withdrawal, and within minutes, the entire French team announced their withdrawal.

Then came the entire Japanese team... Within two hours of the Chinese team’s withdrawal announcement, a total of eight national teams had declared collective withdrawals.

(End of chapter)