42: 42. Big Reversal

The trending topics on social media were replaced once again:

#Shocking! The Accuser Cheated!#

#Another Reversal? A Textbook Example of Self-Sabotage!#

This kind of massive public shaming left netizens stunned, gasping in front of their screens, then furiously complaining.

“Damn it, so in the end, it was this kid who cheated? Playing the victim first! This move is absolutely brilliant!”

“F***, I almost fell for it. This family’s acting skills are too good.”

“Hahahaha... well, this is great. He lifted a rock only to drop it on his own feet, trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead. Zero points in two subjects, 691 instantly becomes 491, right! Hahaha...”

“This guy could have gotten into a 211 university, but now he’s finished. He can only go to a second-tier college. The most crucial thing is that he’s been publicly shamed; no matter where he goes in the future, people will bring this up. This label probably won’t come off for years. How tragic.”

“A classic, this is the punishment for doing something wrong.”

“It’s too dramatic, my heart was practically doing somersaults watching this.”

“...”

Reporters and media outlets were flushed with excitement, breathing rapidly, and raising their “long guns and cannons” to capture every subtle expression of the family, wanting to record every single detail of their faces.

This was huge news! Who would have thought that a controversy sparked by exam results could be so full of twists and turns?

It was even more exciting than watching a TV drama!

...Liao Chunhua and Wang Meiling were dazed, their minds buzzing with an ear-splitting hum.

They couldn't understand why things had turned out this way.

Looking at the gloating faces of the media, these public opinion weapons, which they had initially guided to attack Lu Feng and set the narrative, had now all turned their guns on them.

Hoisted by their own petard!!

Both of them deeply felt the pain of reaping what they sowed.

The spokesperson for the education department took everything in and said succinctly, “Since our original intention was to investigate cheating and catch the worms, and now we have found them, there is no reason to let them off. Otherwise, it would be unfair to other students taking the college entrance exam.”

His tone was firm and powerful, clearly leaving no room for equivocation.

“No!!”

Liao Sunan could no longer bear the pressure. He collapsed, got up, and scrambled out of the venue. Liao Chunhua and Wang Meiling, their faces ashen, chased after him.

The three of them no longer had the arrogant demeanor they had when they arrived; only their pathetic escape remained.

The spokesperson ignored them, paused, checked his watch, and said, “Alright, time is almost up. This meeting is about to conclude. The final results will be announced in an official statement. Now, if anyone has a question, you may raise your hand.”

No one raised a hand. Firstly, everything in the meeting process was clear, and secondly, everyone wanted to finish early and rush back to submit their articles!

Just then, a reporter in the crowd raised his hand and stood up to ask, “Although Student Lu Feng’s scores are accurate and correct, there are reports that his father has already undergone surgery in the hospital. I don't look down on migrant workers, but how did he accumulate so much money from working on a construction site for two months? Uremia cannot be cured with just a few tens of thousands of yuan. Does this mean... Student Lu Feng is actually wealthy, and working on the construction site was just... a publicity stunt?”

This question was sharp, even piercing, but it was also precisely where everyone's doubts lay.

If not answered well, it could very likely lead Lu Feng, who had just escaped the “score scandal,” into a “faking poverty for show” scandal.

Before the spokesperson could answer, Director Zhou Baiquan of the Municipal Public Security Bureau, who was beside him, spoke first: “Let me answer this question.”

Everyone was quite surprised, curious to know what explanation Director Zhou could provide.

Zhou Baiquan said in a deep voice, “Student Lu’s family’s economic situation is indeed difficult; I can attest to that. His father had to return to his hometown because he had no money, not even going for hospital hemodialysis, and Lu Feng had no choice but to work on the construction site to help with household expenses.”

“But last time, he acted heroically during the college entrance exam and, according to regulations, received a 50,000 yuan reward. You should be aware of this.”

Everyone nodded. This news had once exploded locally.

But even 50,000 yuan isn't enough, is it? A kidney transplant for uremia costs at least several hundred thousand yuan now.

“Originally, some things were not suitable for disclosure, but now public opinion has already damaged the other party’s reputation, so I have no choice but to speak. In fact, Student Lu Feng also participated in assisting our police in solving a major case. This case was very significant and extremely heinous in nature. He contributed a lot during this period, so the police, according to regulations, awarded Student Lu Feng a reward of several hundred thousand yuan.”

The reporters were stunned after hearing this. Everyone exchanged glances, not expecting that Lu Feng had done such a big thing behind the scenes.

Several hundred thousand yuan in reward money—how big of a case must that have been! The process, needless to say, must have been very dangerous, right?

The reporters’ curiosity was overflowing!!

However, since Director Zhou did not elaborate, it was clear that there was a confidentiality agreement regarding the incident, and they found it inappropriate to inquire further.

But this explanation also directly shattered the rumors about Lu Feng seeking publicity.

He wasn't seeking publicity; he earned the money fair and square on his own. They weren't envious of this money; instead, they admired him greatly!

After the Q&A session, the meeting concluded, but the online discussion about the incident did not end; instead, it showed signs of intensifying.

From beginning to end, Lu Feng, the person involved, never appeared in person. A simple statement of “accepting any investigation” led the accusers to suffer the consequences of their own actions and play with fire.

This calm and composed image also made him somewhat popular online... Lu Feng did not watch the live broadcast. He knew he was definitely innocent, so he preferred to sleep a bit more rather than waste time.

However, Lu Zezhou and Lu Xiaoli were not so calm. They got up early to watch the TV, and their emotions fluctuated with the press conference on the screen.

“It infuriates me! How can they slander Xiao Lu like that!”

“Wow, is this my son’s college entrance exam paper? Although I can’t understand it, it looks very impressive.”

“Even Teacher Zhou stood up to speak for Xiao Lu! Hmph! Are this family not going to rein it in?”

“That’s great, in the end, he was the one who cheated!”

Both of them were beaming by the end, not closing their mouths until the press conference concluded. They finally turned off the TV, satisfied, and the huge weight in their hearts was completely lifted.

Lu Xiaoli checked the time and realized it was quite late. She quickly said, “Hasn’t Xiao Lu gotten up yet?”

She knocked on Lu Feng’s door, then gently pushed it open, finding Lu Feng still sound asleep in bed.

Lu Zezhou chuckled from behind, “Let him sleep as much as he wants. He’s been through a lot of hassle lately; he must be tired.”

Lu Xiaoli looked at Lu Feng’s sleeping face and said affectionately, “Yes, let him sleep his fill.”

They didn't know that at this moment, Lu Feng was once again experiencing another person’s life in his dream.