72: Life is like a rushing river. Without reefs, there will be no beautiful waves.

Chen Fang closed the folder regarding the two-timing incident and picked up the materials on the being-kept scandal.

This matter was the last to be exposed, and the evidence consisted of only one image—a photo of him entering a hotel with a middle-aged woman.

The photo was genuine, and the woman's name was Jiang Lan. However, the situation that day was that he was attending an event, and the organizer had arranged for him to give the investor representative, Jiang Lan, a ride on his way back. Upon arriving at the hotel entrance, Jiang Lan mentioned that her luggage was too heavy and asked him to help carry it. That day, the assistant he had brought was a woman, and the driver was also a woman. He was the only man present, so out of kindness, he helped her carry it to the lobby before returning to his van and leaving.

After the incident, Jiang Lan played dead and refused to respond. When the media contacted her, she would say she did not want to be disturbed and then hang up the phone. Clearly, this matter had been orchestrated from the start.

This matter was the last to be exposed, and with the momentum from the previous two incidents, the public's goal had long since shifted to venting by berating him. The truth of the matter no longer mattered; what mattered was providing everyone with a reason to attack him and vent their frustrations.

In the eyes of netizens, Jiang Lan's avoidance of interviews became definitive proof. If it were fake, why would the woman in the photo be hiding?

Chen Fang took a deep breath and displayed to the camera the salary estimate data for the "sugar provider" role, along with evidence analyzing the source of the rumors.

Just as when the rumors first struck, thanks to the groundwork laid by the previous two incidents, many people already believed he was innocent before he even presented his evidence.

When netizens heard that "this matter was posted sequentially on April 9th by 18 accounts under Illusion Workshop Creative Media Co., Ltd. and Prism Interactive Media Co., Ltd.," they instantly understood that this was a deliberate smear campaign.

【 I'm so pissed off ( ╬ ◣ д ◢ ) 】

【 What are the handles of these bastards? I want to show them the power of light! 】

【 These 18 accounts posted it, and other marketing accounts didn't even verify it; they just followed along to feast on human blood buns. 】

【 @Yao Ting (Unyielding Resistance!), @Shen Caihan, @Jiangbian Chaoyang, these three. I don't know the name of the wealthy woman in the being-kept incident either, does any big shot know? 】

【 By doing this, how much trouble have they added for people who truly want to happen? 】

【 I said before that something was wrong with this, but a bunch of netizens foolishly believed it. 】

【 To the person above, you were one of those people! You haven't even deleted the video on your homepage criticizing Chen Fang! 】

【 This is truly surreal. 】

...

Just as Chen Fang was exposing the situation with Yao Ting, fueled by the combined efforts of netizens, the media, and the production team, "Chen Fang responds to scandals live" surged to number one on the entertainment trending list and seventh on the overall trending list.

As the truths were exposed one by one, media outlets large and small quickly seized upon the hot topic, typing so furiously they nearly sparked their keyboards, and rapidly churned out eye-catching news reports.

"Shocking Reversal! Chen Fang exposes evidence on the live broadcast of the adventures! Netizens: The mob owes him an apology!"

"Shocking! Major reversal in the Chen Fang incident, public opinion completely overturned!"

"Counterattack from the edge of defeat! Chen Fang presents evidence in 15 minutes tonight; were sexual harassment, two-timing, and being kept all frame-ups?"

"The scumbag hated by the entire internet actually donated tens of millions! From being cursed by the whole internet to moving everyone to tears, public opinion is completely overturned!"

By this time, "Major reversal in the Chen Fang scandal" had surged directly to number one on the overall trending lists of Weibo and other platforms!

The volume of traffic was so massive that it nearly crashed Weibo's servers.

The recording site at the entrance of Qingtan Village.

The director watched the 1.92 million concurrent viewers in the livestream, his heart racing with excitement.

Chen Fang was definitely worth inviting! Although the other two groups hadn't finished their schedules, their third group's data would absolutely be the most impressive!

He was incredibly excited.

In reality, Chen Fang was also very excited.

However, he couldn't show it on camera, so he could only sigh and set the documents aside.

The evidence had been reviewed, but this was the interview segment, which still required further discussion.

He Xing asked melancholically, "Teacher Chen, over the past month or so, have you been in a lot of pain?"

"Some," Chen Fang replied, offering a stiff smile, his eyes filled with exhaustion and helplessness.

Seeing him like this, He Xing felt uncomfortable, and his tone softened, "What about now? Are you still sad?"

Chen Fang nodded slightly and pursed his lips, seemingly suppressing his emotions.

He Xing asked, "If the pain index is from one to five, what would you say it is now?"

Chen Fang pondered for a moment, then offered a weary smile, "Pi, I suppose."

"Pi? Like the mathematical constant pi?"

"Yes."

"May I ask why?"

"A month has passed, and I've become numb to it; it doesn't hurt as much. But..." Chen Fang frowned slightly, raising a hand to rub his brow as if suppressing his inner emotions. A moment later, he offered another self-deprecating smile, "But it feels like it stretches on forever, endless."

Pain that stretches on forever, endless—his handsome face, combined with the identity of someone who donated tens of millions yet was framed, his expression of feigned strength, and this single sentence, made many people's hearts tremble.

Among the nearby staff, one of his fans was already crying.

Guo Congxin also felt a stinging in his nose. Recalling how he had given Chen Fang a cold shoulder the first time they met, he thought, I really am awful.

The three guests had been with him for over half a month, and seeing this, they were also at a loss.

Zhao Jin pursed her lips. He had been in so much pain over the past half month, yet she had likened him to the King of Yue in a certain sense. She really owed him an apology.

Xie Yunxuan lowered his head slightly. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have tried to give you a hard time over a pack of gum at the convenience store that day. I really am awful. Wait, no, I didn't actually succeed in giving him a hard time, did I? Oh well, I still shouldn't have done it. I'm sorry."

Pan Pengpeng scratched his head. He didn't seem to have done anything wrong to Chen Fang, but since everyone else seemed to feel guilty, he might as well feel guilty too.

At the scene, aside from the two people in front of Chen Fang's camera, there was silence, but in the livestream, the barrage of comments exploded onto the screen.

【 My heart aches for him! Yao Ting! If I don't curse you to death, I'll change my name to Turtle tomorrow! 】

【 Good heavens, I only learned about him after listening to "one meat and one vegetable," and only now do I know he's gone through so much. 】

【 I was just encouraged by his "the brightest star in the night sky." My god, what immense willpower he must have had to endure all this. 】

He Xing sighed softly, "Teacher Chen, dark times are indeed hard to endure. Just as you sang in "the brightest star in the night sky," asking for the brightest star in the night sky to light your way forward. Finally, you have walked through the dark night. So... would you mind sharing how you view this past period of time?"

"That past period of time?"

Chen Fang was silent for a moment before speaking:

"It was very painful, but... life is like a rushing torrent; without hidden reefs, it cannot stir up beautiful waves, right?"

After saying this, he offered a faint smile to the camera.

To hell with being a clear stream; once I've stirred up those waves, I'm going to become a mudslide!