Chapter 102: Thunderous Counterattack (Part 2)
Yu Ling took a deep breath, her fingertips hovering over the screen for a moment before finally scrolling through the interface. She couldn't escape; she needed to take a closer look at the vicious web Gu Qianqian had woven. She clicked on the overseas social media account Su Xiao had sent her, which boasted tens of millions of followers.
The page loads.
Every photo of Gu Qianqian is as exquisite as an expensive doll in a display window.
A glance back in front of the gangway of a top-tier private jet, a silhouette holding a glass of champagne on the deck of a luxury yacht, intimate photos with celebrities from all walks of life...the background is always one of decadence and extravagance.
The accompanying text is full of a condescending sense of superiority: "Haicheng, long time no see. Some people, some things, it's time to get back on track." The accompanying picture is a blurry, highly specific silhouette. People who are familiar with it can recognize it at a glance. It is the outline of an old photo of Zhao Chen when he was in the United States!
The latest update below was posted ten minutes ago: "Advice from besties is often a lifesaver. I hope some people can wake up in time and not sink deeper into the quagmire. @苏晓" It was followed by a few "praying" emojis that seemed caring but were actually sarcastic.
The comments under this post have exploded.
"Who is Goddess Qianqian hinting at? Haicheng's new melon?"
"Bestie's advice? A quagmire? That's a lot of information! Stay tuned for the follow-up!"
"The goddess is always so kind, reminding those who are lost!"
"@Su Xiao, please give me more details! Saving those who are love-brained is everyone's responsibility!"
"That silhouette...could it be the legendary JC? He's back home? And he's in trouble?"
Yu Ling's heart sank, her fingertips cold. Gu Qianqian didn't directly name anyone, but she used innuendo and swayed public opinion to accurately label Zhao Chen as someone with a problem and Yu Ling as someone who was love-brained and ungrateful.
She used Lidya Su's concerns as a springboard, packaging the rumor as a "kind reminder from a best friend," and directly pushed it into the public eye! Her heart is despicable!
Anger and a chilling chill washed over Yu Ling once again. She could almost imagine how, when Zhao Chen's identity as an "ordinary employee" was exposed, the public opinion guided by Gu Qianqian would backfire, portraying him as a scumbag who deliberately deceived her feelings.
And she was the foolish, deceived poor thing! Gu Qianqian not only wanted to alienate them, but also completely destroy Zhao Chen's image in the eyes of Yu Ling's family and friends, and even in the eyes of the public in the future!
From the kitchen came the rhythmic, forceful sound of chopping vegetables, accompanied by Zhao Chen's whispered murmur, "Truffles seem denser than mushrooms." This homely, clumsy, yet warm sound served as a warm barrier, momentarily blocking out the hostile world on the phone screen.
At that moment, Zhao Chen's phone, placed on a corner of the center counter, lit up silently and vibrated. An encrypted message popped up, the sender listed as "LF" (Lin Feng).
Zhao Chen was frowning as he carefully used a chef's knife to slice the precious black truffle into even slices. His movements were cautious, even a little clumsy, like a novice approaching a rare treasure. He didn't even look up when he heard the vibration. He simply swiped his finger, which was stained with a few truffle crumbs, casually across the phone screen.
The message is extremely concise, consisting of only two lines of code-like text:
"Target: GQQ. Channel: Anonymous overseas account. Carrier: Su Xiao. Spread: SM platform. Core accusations: Chaotic private life, financial fraud. Evidence chain: Forged documents obtained (including PS bank statements and false "creditor" testimony). Action order: A-level countermeasures initiated. Expected completion: EOD."
Zhao Chen's gaze lingered on the lines of text for less than half a second, his expression unwavering. He didn't even frown. He tapped the truffle-stained screen twice, sending a shorter command:
"Execute. Additional information: All overseas accounts under her name will be frozen for 72 hours for traceability. Gu's tax anomaly report for the past three months will also be submitted anonymously for inspection."
After sending the message, he placed the phone screen down on the table as if nothing had happened, as if he had just dealt with a spam message.
He continued to focus on the knife and the black truffle in his hand, but his cutting movements seemed to be steadier and faster than before. The black truffle slices, as thin as cicada wings, fell neatly onto the snow-white bone china plate, emitting a rich and unique fragrance.
He picked up a handful of freshly weighed shiitake mushrooms and, with the same swift movement of his knife, sliced them into even slices. The simple aroma of the shiitake mushrooms and the overbearing, rich aroma of the truffles blended strangely in the air.
"Lingling," Zhao Chen's voice broke the silence in the living room, with a relaxed smile, as if nothing had just happened. "Come over and help me? Help me check the oil temperature. How hot is it best to put the chicken in? I'm afraid it will be overcooked and affect the star rating of the farmhouse."
He turned to look at Yu Ling lying on the sofa, his eyes clear and with a hint of "humbly seeking advice".
Yu Ling quickly put down her phone, suppressed the anger and worry surging in her heart, forced a smile on her face and walked over: "I'm coming, Chef Zhao, is there anything you can't handle?" She went to the side of the pot and looked at the clear, slightly rippled hot oil inside.
"About 70% hot? Probably because of the bubbles around the chopsticks when you put them down?" she said uncertainly.
"Okay!" Zhao Chen responded readily. He picked up the free-range chicken pieces that were marinated with a secret sauce and cut into evenly sized pieces with long chopsticks. His movements were as standard as a textbook demonstration, and he slid them steadily into the oil pan.
“Sizzle——”
The hot oil happily embraced the chicken, instantly emitting an alluring sound and a rich meaty aroma, and white steam rose up. Zhao Chen skillfully used long chopsticks to stir the chicken, allowing it to heat evenly and soon it took on a beautiful golden color.
Yu Ling stood beside him, looking at his focused profile in the atmosphere of fireworks, his straight nose, his tightly pursed lips, and the deep and calm eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses.
The vicious rumors on the phone screen just now, Gu Qianqian's carefully crafted mask, Su Xiao's terrified voice... at this moment, seemed to be diluted by the real and hot atmosphere of fireworks.
She suddenly felt that the malicious noise seemed so insignificant and vulnerable in the face of Zhao Chen's calmness and concentration at the moment.
He may have concealed his identity, but the warmth, protection and clumsy love he gave her were not false at all.
A rich aroma filled the air. The essence of truffle chicken stew lies in the final fusion. Zhao Chen removed the fried chicken from the golden and crispy state and drained it of the oil.
In another casserole, he heated a little extra virgin olive oil, sautéed ginger and scallions, and poured in the golden chicken broth, which had been simmered for hours and strained to a clear, transparent bottom. Once the broth boiled, he skillfully added the fried chicken, sliced mushrooms, and the priceless truffle slices.
Cover the casserole, turn to the lowest heat, and let time and temperature slowly catalyze the symphony of these ultimate ingredients.
"Wait," Zhao Chen washed and dried his hands, then walked over to Yu Ling. He naturally put his arm around her waist, took her a few steps away from the stove, and lowered his head to place a light kiss on the top of her head. "Let them have a good romance and elevate their relationship."
Yu Ling was amused by his sudden intimacy and the somewhat "philosophical" metaphor. She leaned in his arms, smelling his unique scent of truffle, oil and clean soapberries. The warmth in her heart gradually dispelled the coldness.
While waiting, Zhao Chen took Yu Ling's hand and sat down on the large sofa in the living room. He picked up the remote and turned on the top-of-the-line laser TV that took up the entire wall. A lighthearted family comedy played on the screen, accompanied by a heartwarming soundtrack.
"Lingling," Zhao Chen suddenly spoke in a calm voice, his gaze fixed on the images dancing on the screen, as if he were just chatting casually. "Autumn in Stanford... is quite beautiful. Especially the big lawn in front of Memorial Church. When the sun is shining, you can lie there and read a book, and you can smell the green grass and the sun-kissed wood."
Yu Ling was slightly startled. She hadn't expected him to bring this up so suddenly. She tilted her head to look at him. He looked relaxed, with a hint of nostalgia at the corner of his mouth.
"Really?" she replied softly, her heartstrings involuntarily tensing. Stanford... the core background of Gu Qianqian's fabricated rumors.
"Yeah," Zhao Chen replied, picked up the remote, and seemingly randomly pressed a few buttons. The huge screen instantly switched! No longer a heartwarming comedy, it became an extremely clear, academic interface—the Stanford University Alumni Information System (simulated interface).
The login name was Zhao Chen. Next to it was his student ID photo. He was a few years younger, with a slightly greener frame, but his eyes were calm and sharp. He wore a simple T-shirt, with Stanford's famous Hoover Tower in the background.
Below the photo were clearly displayed the year of admission, college (Engineering), major (Double degree in Computer Science and Financial Mathematics), graduation year (Honors), and a long, glittering list of honors: Dean's Honor List, winner of a top scholarship, gold medal in an international computer competition...
There is no debauchery, no decadence, only an obvious and overwhelming academic record!
Yu Ling's eyes widened instantly, her breath catching slightly. She stared at the focused, glimpsed young Zhao Chen on the screen, then glanced at the man beside her in his home clothes, wrestling with truffle mushrooms. The stark contrast was a powerful shock. This was the real him! A gifted talent shining brightly at a top university!
"Back then..." Zhao Chen's voice remained flat, as if he were recounting someone else's story. "Time was tight. With a double degree, plus several lab projects, and some small things I was tinkering with... getting five hours of sleep a night was a luxury."
He pointed to the densely packed screenshots of course schedules and project timelines on the screen. "Chinese community? Yes, there are quite a few of us. When we get together, the most common topics we discuss are how to optimize a certain algorithm, how to fix a bug in a certain model, or... which pizza place is the fastest and cheapest."
A helpless yet genuine smile played across his lips. "As for those model and celebrity parties?" He shook his head, his tone tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "Those places cost too much time and are too cheap. If you're going to spend that time writing a few more lines of code, or getting an extra half hour of sleep."
His gaze shifted from the screen to Yu Ling's face beside him, becoming incredibly focused and gentle:
"The only time I could truly call myself serious was during the second semester of my sophomore year. It was with a Korean girl who also burned all-nighters in the lab. We were more like comrades, meeting deadlines together, working on the most challenging papers together, and encouraging each other. It lasted about three months. Later, she received a full scholarship to pursue a PhD at MIT and moved to Boston.
We are all very calm and wish each other well. That's all." He spread his hands, his expression as open as a clear lake.
Without any evasion or evasion, he used the simplest and most powerful evidence—his irrefutable academic record and clear timeline—to completely shatter the rumors of being a "philanderer," "promiscuous," and "party animal"!
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