Following this, several internationally renowned entertainment industry media outlets, such as *The Hollywood Reporter* and *Variety*, began to focus on the matter. They approached the issue from an industry perspective, reporting on Xingyao Entertainment's operating model and citing some of the evidence released by Su Yuqing's team, calling it "a dark chapter in the Chinese version of *The Gilded Age*." While these reports were relatively restrained, their international influence meant the incident could no longer be simply defined as a "domestic case."
International NGOs such as Human Rights Watch also issued statements expressing concern about Lin Chen's ordeal and calling for a thorough investigation into possible violations of basic human rights, such as "illegal detention" and "mind control." Although these statements carried their inherent stances and perspectives, they objectively created additional international pressure.
What made some even more uneasy was the economic impact. Several overseas funds and production companies that had previously intended to cooperate with Xingyao Entertainment or had already invested in its related projects announced the suspension of cooperation, the initiation of internal reviews, and the assessment of investment risks. Xingyao Entertainment's plans to expand into overseas markets have been completely shelved, and its stock price (if already listed) will inevitably suffer a severe blow. This direct reaction from the capital market is more damaging than any moral condemnation.
Meanwhile, some internationally renowned musicians and artists have also expressed their views through social media. A Grammy Award winner, while sharing the "Mountain Questions" video, wrote: "The life of art lies in truth. My heart aches for this young colleague's ordeal." These expressions of support from top industry figures, though few in number, carry significant weight, further increasing the international visibility of the event.
These international ripples, through diplomatic channels, business networks, and media coverage, inevitably fed back into the domestic arena. On the one hand, it put external pressure on certain forces attempting to "digest" the incident internally; on the other hand, it also stirred nationalistic sentiments among the domestic population—some felt embarrassed by the "airing of dirty laundry," while many others pointed out that only a thorough and fair handling of this case could truly uphold the nation's image and the dignity of the law.
International attention acts like a mirror, reflecting a deeper meaning to the event: it has transcended mere entertainment gossip, becoming a window into China's social governance, rule of law, and cultural industry development.
Power can attempt to manipulate domestic public opinion, but it cannot completely silence the world's ears and eyes.
This ripple from abroad, while insufficient to directly capsize a giant ship, has made the hidden reefs in its course more clearly visible.
At the eye of the storm often lies an eerie calm. While the outside world is abuzz with the Xingyao incident, those at the center of the vortex silently bear their heavy consequences.
Su Yuqing stands by the small window of the safe house, gazing at the scattered streetlights in the alley below. The dawn of victory seems to be just ahead, yet she feels no joy. Team member Xiao Zhao is still in the hospital; although out of danger, he suffers severe aftereffects and may never be able to perform high-intensity technical work again. Chen Kai's studio is destroyed; half a lifetime's work has gone down the drain. The always gentle and resilient man seems to have aged considerably overnight. And what kind of pain did the family of the Xingyao mid-level manager who provided crucial evidence but was "suicided" suffer?