40: 40. Official Investigation

The next morning, an emergency press conference was being held in the Jiangcheng Education Department building.

It was 8:45 AM.

The large conference room was packed, with reporters and media filling even the aisles, and over a dozen cameras were set up, aimed at the front.

This incident was a big deal, garnering attention across almost the entire internet. The higher-ups had also issued orders for a thorough investigation. If any cheating was found, a large number of officials would likely be removed from their positions.

Therefore, everyone was eager to know the outcome.

After yesterday evening's developments, various pieces of information about Lu Feng had been dug up by netizens, and opinions on him were polarized.

Some claimed he was just trying to create hype and gain fame. Others revealed that Lu Feng’s father had already successfully received a kidney transplant, and that his family was definitely not as poor as the media made them out to be, so going to the construction site must have been a publicity stunt.

Meanwhile, a neutral faction believed that cheating on the college entrance exam was almost impossible, so his excellent performance must be due to his talent.

All these controversies were to be clarified at today's meeting.

However, to the disappointment of the reporters present, Lu Feng himself did not arrive, as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

Instead, the accuser, Liao Sunan, arrived with his parents, directly facing the media and public.

Before the meeting even began, reporters eagerly rushed to interview this brave Student.

Liao Sunan, dressed in a high-end suit his father bought him, remained composed when facing the reporters, secretly thrilled inside, and said, “Although I don't know what methods he used, this matter isn't just puzzling to me, but to the entire internet. So, I need an explanation, and society needs an explanation.”

Beside him, Wang Meiling was very pleased with her son's performance. Facing the reporters, she said, “I am just a mother seeking justice. I know better than anyone how hard my child works. If the glory that rightfully belongs to him is snatched away by some unscrupulous person, I believe no parent would let it go.”

Liao Chunhua said indifferently, “I actually hoped that Student Lu could come forward and accept the public's questions here, but unfortunately... he didn't come.”

The family of three spoke eloquently and impeccably, earning nods of agreement from netizens watching the live broadcast.

“That makes sense. If my son were treated like that, I’d be angry too.”

“We need such diligent parents for society to progress!”

“Look, the person involved doesn't even dare to show up. Isn't that a sign of a guilty conscience?”

“It feels like the situation is already very clear. Something big might happen today. Cheating on the college entrance exam, tsk tsk tsk...”

“...”

As Liao Sunan and his family took their seats, the principal of Jiangcheng No. 3 High School also arrived with his entourage. Soon after, the leaders of the Jiangcheng Education Department and the Chief of the Municipal Public Security Bureau walked in under everyone’s gaze, taking their seats at the head of the table.

The spokesperson surveyed the room and then slowly began, “To ensure the solemnity of the college entrance exam, we immediately organized a meeting after learning of the online controversy. Prior to this, all exam papers had been sealed. Today, they will be reopened under multi-party witness. At the same time, the College Entrance Exam Review Team next to me will re-examine Student Lu Feng’s papers and make a final decision.”

Beside him, Zhou Baiquan of the Municipal Public Security Bureau stated decisively, “If there are any problems, we will show no leniency.”

The scene was completely silent. Everyone looked at the stack of file folders on the leaders’ table. The seals on them had not been broken. Inside were the exam papers and scratch paper of all candidates from Lu Feng’s examination room at the time, covering every subject.

Liao Sunan was inwardly thrilled: First place in the whole school should be mine! You can't step on me, absolutely not! Lu Feng, don't blame me for ruining your reputation! If you must blame someone, blame yourself for being too arrogant!

“Screech—”

The sound of a seal being torn echoed. Under the witness of everyone, the review team members opened the kraft paper envelopes, took out all the exam papers, found Lu Feng’s papers, and spread them out on the table.

The head of the review team was a woman with salt-and-pepper hair. She meticulously placed the math exam paper and answer sheet on the equipment, and they were immediately projected enlarged onto the large screen behind her.

After checking the answer sheet, there were no problems. The woman then took out the scratch paper.

The entire room was in an uproar. The scratch paper was covered in dense calculation processes, and he hadn't written them haphazardly, but rather calculated from left to right according to the order of the questions, very orderly and neat.

“Hmm, almost every question has a solution, and some questions even use multiple problem-solving approaches to recalculate. It's clear that this Student is a meticulous person,” the woman said with an appreciative smile.

Gasps of cold air filled the room.

“Is this what a top student’s scratch paper looks like? It’s truly different!”

“My scratch paper used to be a mess. How could it be so neatly arranged with clearIdeas? No wonder he became a top student.”

“The amount of calculation is significant. This is enough to prove that he wrote it all himself!”

At the same time, Zhou Baiquan opened the college entrance exam surveillance video, also projecting it onto the screen and enlarging it.

Although the image was a bit blurry, it could be seen that the scratch paper Lu Feng was writing on at the time was the same as the one currently displayed.

“After authentication by our police professionals, the handwriting is identical to his own, and there were no abnormal movements in the examination room surveillance.”

Liao Sunan froze, his brows tightly furrowed: “So, he really completed the math himself?”

“Son, this is not surprising. Math relies on talent. Some people are more talented and naturally grasp concepts. But... Chinese, geography, physics, history—these are all solid knowledge points that require a lot of time and effort to memorize. They can't be handled with just a bit of talent,” Wang Meiling said confidently.

Liao Sunan thought about it and agreed, so he continued to watch.

But the subsequent display of exam papers gradually shattered his confidence.

“Chinese exam paper, no issues... Geography... no issues... History... no issues...”

The scene was already silent as a tomb, and the expressions on everyone’s faces became incredibly complex.

Some were shocked, some admired, some were unwilling.

This review conference was completely transparent and open. Every subject underwent a comprehensive review, from the exam paper to the handwriting, and then to the surveillance footage.

Therefore, no one felt there was any foul play.

More than an hour later, all exam papers had been reviewed. The head of the review team stood up and addressed the leaders of the Education Department and the reporters and media present: “After a comprehensive investigation, Student Lu Feng’s exam results are completely true and valid, and there is no evidence of cheating.”

“Boom!”

Like an explosion after a long suppression, intense applause erupted in the room.

“Great! Awesome! These papers have convinced me completely!”

“Genius truly isn't something ordinary people like us can fathom. You thought he cheated, haha... he laughs at your insufficient understanding!”

“Hahahaha... I actually went along with the suspicion that a top ten student in the province cheated. Now that I think about it, it’s quite laughable.”

“No wonder he said ‘feel free to investigate.’ It’s because he had confidence and knew his own strength was formidable.”

“...”

Not only did the people in the room applaud, but even the watching netizens were convinced.

Those netizens who had been clamoring about cheating all fell silent, quietly deleting their previous comments.

But they were still dragged out and criticized by many netizens who supported Lu Feng.

“Didn’t you all insist he cheated? Didn’t you say you’d eat shit if there was no foul play? Are you eating it now?! The official announcement isn’t even out yet, and you all just follow trends and get easily riled up. In the end, besides muddying the waters, you’re useless. Do you really think you’re upholding justice?!”

And as people marveled at Lu Feng’s excellence, they also remembered the person who made the real-name report.

Immediately, all cameras turned towards Liao Sunan’s family at the conference.

In the camera, Liao Sunan’s face was pale, his pupils wide with shock. He hadn't recovered from the surprise, constantly muttering, “How could this be... how could this happen... no... no... it shouldn't be like this...”