Chapter 99

Disaster strikes before the hairy crabs even arrive.

Before the nightmare arrived, another big fire broke out after the initial heat subsided.

When Guan Nan received the call, she thought she was asleep, but then she heard a nervous and anxious voice on the other end of the line say:

"Ah Guan, something's happened!"

Guan Nan's heart tightened instantly, and half of her sleepiness vanished in fright.

She sat up amidst Chen Fei's panic on the other end of the phone. The voice from the speaker was still ringing in her ears, but Guan Nan couldn't hear anything. She turned on her phone, which was offline, and followed the keywords that automatically popped up in the search bar.

—Guan Nan, attempted murder

Guan Nan's head buzzed.

Without even thinking, she instantly grasped the ins and outs of the situation, but being familiar with the internet's workings, she knew perfectly well that public opinion was uncontrollable.

Public opinion, under manipulation, is like a mad dog unleashed from its cage.

Chen Fei wasn't much better off. She contacted Ye Na immediately after seeing the video, but it was clear from Ye Na's words that she was unaware of the matter.

For a moment, Ye Na was at a loss as to who to turn to, and she had no understanding of the interpersonal relationships in Fuling.

Although they had been friends for many years, Guan Nan never mentioned these things in front of them. Everyone has their own unspeakable secrets, and adults inevitably tend to subconsciously avoid people's pain points, because they feel uncomfortable if they don't go looking for them.

However, not knowing and knowing from the video are two completely different things: stating the facts directly and being distorted.

The video went viral, fueling the anger of viewers.

Then some people went to extremes, some even threatening to pay a high price for her rotten heart and lungs, and some even displayed black and white photos of her in Hecang Garden and burned incense and candles.

They had never seen anything like this before and were at a loss for what to do.

Guan Nan clicked on the video with concern.

The first thing that catches the eye is Zhang Guilian's face, which hasn't changed at all in many years, except that her makeup makes her look deliberately haggard, against a backdrop of a somber white hospital room.

Zhang Guilian pretended to cry, "My name is Zhang Guilian, and I am Guan Nan's mother. I am reporting Guan Nan for abusing her parents. She left Fuling after finishing her college entrance examination and has never returned, leaving her bedridden father behind."

At this point, the camera shifted to Guan Weimin, who was growing increasingly thin on his hospital bed.

Guan Weimin lay on the bed with his eyes wide open, babbling incoherently, unable to speak.

“Her father, my husband had a stroke,” Zhang Guilian cried, covering her face. Then she beat her chest and sobbed, “How dare she? How dare she? This is her own father who gave her life and raised her. How dare she not say a word, not even make a phone call, not even offer the most basic concern?” She then tried to appeal to her emotions, “I know I’m your stepmother, and I don’t like you, that’s fine, but come back! Come back and see your father! He doesn’t even know how many days he has left to live. Are you unwilling to see him one last time? Do you hate me that much? Do you have to see me die before you’ll be willing to come back!”

Chen Fei, who was on the other end of the line, was still trembling with anger as she watched the video and sat in the car that had come from the other side.

Guan Nan held her phone, looking like an outsider as the camera panned across Guan Weimin.

She remained expressionless, showing no emotional fluctuation.

Even Chen Fei found these words grating, and whispered, "I'll come over first, and we'll figure out a response together."

Guan Nan: "Aren't you going to work today?"

"I've taken the day off. Don't go out or open the door to anyone right now. I'll call you when I get there," Chen Fei instructed. "Don't answer any knocks or doorbells before I arrive. Wait for me to come over, and we'll solve it together."

Upon hearing this, Guan Nan hummed in response and lowered her voice.

In the video, Zhang Guilian, with red eyes and tears streaming down her face, appeared as a loving mother: "Come back, child, come back. These past years haven't been easy for us either. To treat your father's illness, I sold everything I owned, worked long hours, and shamelessly borrowed from every relative I could. If we couldn't make it, I'd be desperate and really considered selling the house. Come back, I beg you, stop making a fuss, just come back and see your father. You're successful now, even if you have mountains of gold and silver, we don't want your money. Come back. Come see your father, he worries about you the most."

The best time for public relations is within 24 hours.

If the situation isn't reversed within 24 hours, the outcome will be irreversible, leaving the person with a deep stain of shame.

This move is ruthless and vicious.

Guan Nan twitched her lips, her smile sarcastic.

In conclusion, she roughly understood Zhang Guilian's purpose in stepping forward at this critical juncture. In the past, she might have been able to ignore it, but with the torch of public opinion burning so high, she couldn't ignore it.

Despite this, it only strengthened her resolve to sell the house.

Guan Nan's tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed. Fortunately, she was on unpaid leave and had no work during this period, giving her some free time to thoroughly resolve the incident.

Before that, she turned on her computer and logged into her wildly beeping account.

First, I took screenshots and recorded the screens of the IDs that were shouting the loudest and had the most traffic to secure evidence. Then, I contacted my previous legal colleagues and sent them court summons without a lawyer's letter.

Then I inserted the USB drive, unlocked the several locked files one by one, and exported all the audio, video, and photos.

The same series of contract seals and contact information for employees.

When Chen Fei arrived, she found that not only was she still rational, but she had also completed a third of the task on her own under these circumstances. It was at this moment that she saw the dejected woman again.

A wise person who can chat and laugh in a crowd, regain the initiative with just a few words, always do things personally, always have a plan B, and never cause others to worry.

With her around, it seems there are never any difficulties, and she always comes up with ingenious solutions.

Soon after, Chen Fei joined the ranks of those making phone calls, followed closely by Ye Na.

After an afternoon of effort, the three insiders tried to persuade several people over the phone with their emotions and reason, but they still couldn't convince them. They talked until their throats were dry, but no one was willing to step forward for "this insignificant little matter," let alone offend the big boss for their sake.

Before the matter was resolved, someone else, posing as a classmate or friend, brought up the label of "mentally ill."

In Hecangyuan, an old white wall was covered with words like "Guan Nan," "sick," and "little lunatic" written in various pencils and colored pens. Guan Nan, who was usually calm and collected, suddenly went blank.

Those things she cared about most, feared most, and had kept hidden for so long.

Ultimately, it came into the public eye.

Guan Nan trembled all over, her grip on the phone loosened, her mind went blank, she almost couldn't catch her breath, or perhaps she couldn't withstand the shock, and she fainted.

He Cangyuan suddenly became the target of public criticism, and she became the culprit.

She was bombarded with negative reviews, insults, and reports online. The mayor's hotline was overwhelmed with calls, and the neighborhood office was even afraid to answer the phone. Residents of Building 26 were even afraid to leave their homes, as they cursed her every day.

If it weren't for her, Hecangyuan would still be a peaceful and idyllic place, filled with laughter and joy.

In the ward, Chen Fei and Ye Na sat on either side of Zhen Xiaoya, embracing her and gently comforting her, while Jiang Li was called out by Qi Yang, who had rushed over.

After passing through the corridor and standing in the empty garden, Qi Yang turned around and, without giving him a chance to catch his breath, swung his fist and slammed it hard into his face.

Jiang Li took the punch squarely without retaliating, and said calmly, "Consider this a debt I owe you."

"What did I say?" Qi Yang asked, his face grim, his fists clenched as if he were about to attack him. "Jiang Li. President Jiang. Boss Jiang."

"..." He hadn't planned to say anything, but Jiang Li's voice was low and hoarse, "This time it was an accident."

Qi Yang seemed to think it was a fantasy: "An unexpected surprise?"

He stepped forward, grabbed Jiang Li's collar, and said aggressively, "This time it was an accident, but what about next time? How many more accidents are there? What guarantees do you have? You're too arrogant!"

At this point, Qi Yang let go of her hand and pushed her away forcefully, continuing, "I told you long ago that you two weren't a good match, and even if you were together, it wouldn't end well. And what happened? She secretly got a marriage certificate with you without telling me. She's so old and doesn't she have a brain? Don't you have one either?!"

At first, Jiang Li didn't take his words seriously at all, but the more he listened, the more tense his expression became.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Jiang Li tugged at his collar, raised his head expressionlessly, and said in a cold tone, "Show some respect when you speak."

"Show me some respect? What right do you have to say that to me!" Qi Yang said, getting even angrier. "If you hadn't used those dirty tricks, would I have given you the opportunity to take advantage of me?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Li sneered and said slowly, "You are free not to go."

Yes, he could have easily not gone. Qi Yang gritted his teeth, his temples throbbing. This was his own choice. Jiang Li made it sound so good; if it weren't for the high promised bonus for the study camp exchange, if it weren't for the high value of this project, why would he have gone?

He was prepared for the two of them to meet again, and he was prepared to throw a big wedding to dispel any lingering thoughts in certain people's minds.

But even so, after a few months, two people who clearly had no chance of ever having anything to do with each other not only got in touch, but even developed a close bond, and eventually even got married!

And what about him?

He was beaming and smug at the meeting, but afterwards he acted like a clown, handing out wedding invitations and candies. In the end, he was just doing all the work for someone else.

Seeing this, Jiang Li glanced at him and continued, "Even if you don't go, there's no chance for the two of you."

Enraged, Qi Yang's composure, built up over twenty years, completely crumbled after everything he had so easily obtained vanished like smoke in the wind. He blurted out a curse, "Bullshit!"

"Who do you think you are to say it's impossible for us? You don't even have the right to tell me who came first! Don't forget, she was the one who followed me around like a puppy, calling me 'brother' all the way up!"

"Who do you think you are! You despicable person who takes advantage of others' weaknesses!"

"First come, first served? What have you been doing all these years?" Jiang Li twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a faint, mocking smile, his emotions unusually calm.

Qi Yang felt a lump in his throat, unable to swallow it, and said, "What I'm doing is none of your business!"

"Really?" Jiang Li looked up, glancing at the hospital building, her tone almost stating a fact. "Do you know what 'first come, first served' means? Do you know under what circumstances 'first come, first served' applies? Everything in life can have a first-come, first-served order, or perhaps it can all be obtained through effort, or like you, by consistently applying the right formula, making the right choices, and being the right person in the conventional sense. But—"

After a two-second pause, Jiang Li turned his head and said slowly and calmly, "It's not a good time for relationships."

“From childhood to adulthood, we are used to utilitarianism and making the right choices based on instinct, which are all fine. But they don’t work when it comes to emotions.”

"Furthermore, before I'm certain that she has feelings for me, I won't force her to make a choice, nor will I put pressure on her. I will simply let her gradually move towards me, and if she doesn't, I will actively pursue her, even if it's just out of her mind."

"Relationships are a two-way street; one-sided liking or unrequited love will never have a good outcome."

"I understand how you feel right now, and I thank you on her behalf."

Qi Yang already disliked him, and his anger flared up after hearing his useless platitudes. He laughed in exasperation, "You must be feeling pretty smug right now, don't you?"

“No.” Jiang Li’s words were devoid of emotion. “I just think you should show her some respect.”

"Respect her for what? Respect her for choosing you?" Qi Yang sneered.

"..." Jiang Li glanced at him one last time, then lowered his eyelashes, making his expression unreadable. "It's not important anymore."

Seeing that he was about to leave, Qi Yang raised his hand but before he could wave it out, his movement was stopped.

"I owe you that punch." Jiang Li let go of his hand. "There won't be a next time. If it really comes down to a fight, you can't beat me."

After saying that, Jiang Li turned around and walked towards the hospital without looking back.

When Guan Nan woke up, it was already evening, and none of the people who had been keeping watch in the ward had left. Guan Nan opened her eyes and looked around, her head still a little fuzzy.

"Godmother," Guan Nan said weakly, forcing a smile, "Why are you here too?"

Someone rocked the bed, and Zhen Xiaoya quickly fed her water, her eyes still red. "How could I not come after something like this happened? How could they do such a thing? You've really suffered."

When Zhen Xiaoya mentioned the funeral arrangements at Hecangyuan, Guan Nan shook her head and gently comforted her, "It's alright, they're just kids, they were just making a fuss."

“Even kids shouldn’t play like that…” Zhen Xiaoya was still saying something.

Just then, Chen Fei and Ye Na returned with food, followed by Yu Shu, who was very proactive and encouraged everyone to eat first. The ward immediately became lively, with people eating and talking, creating a cheerful atmosphere.

The lively atmosphere continued until Zhen Xiaoya left, when the atmosphere became chillingly oppressive.

During the half-day she was unconscious, people they couldn't contact asked them to speak out for her, on the condition that the videos showing her face be blurred, and that all the recordings and other evidence provided be anonymous.

Even so, the hype was still completely suppressed, and Jiang Li, who arrived late, brought a lawyer with him.

Simultaneous voice:

I'm speaking out about this matter. As for rumors and gossip, you can judge for yourselves.

Guan Nan and I were high school classmates and deskmates. Due to online comments and personal circumstances, she is currently unable to come forward, so I will temporarily speak on her behalf to clarify that the online rumors about "early love," "abortion," "delinquent girl," and "school bullying" are untrue.

Due to the recent online environment, the normal lives of other residents in Hecangyuan have been severely disrupted. Please respect this.

In addition, regarding the initial police report, there are always people who try to plead for leniency, but children's innocent words and young age are not an excuse for doing whatever they want. If you take advantage of the fact that you are a minor and the law can't touch you, I don't mind sending you to a juvenile detention center.

The statement and brief message have been issued. Please follow @SpringAwakeningBand for updates and results.