Chen Mengzhao looked at me anxiously and solemnly, and said in an urgent tone: "We have to post a message online to clarify and tell the facts clearly, otherwise the pressure from public opinion will only increase."
I shook my head helplessly, my expression calm but firm: "Don't start a fight online. It's better to wait for the organization to come forward and clarify the situation."
I frowned slightly, my eyes fixed on the malicious comments that kept scrolling on the computer screen, feeling mixed emotions.
"If you do this, the cost of silence is too high!" Chen Mengzhao raised his voice, his tone carrying anxiety and worry that was difficult to conceal, "Even if the organization finally gives a conclusion, netizens might still think that it is officials protecting each other, and then things will be even more difficult to end."
I took a deep breath and patiently explained, "If I come forward to clarify the matter myself, the effect won't be much better. You work in the news, so you should understand this principle. Hot topics like this come and go quickly. Once the limelight has passed, no one will be interested in these things anymore."
After hearing this, Chen Mengzhao sighed softly, his eyes full of concern: "Hongjun, do you have any deeper considerations? Please don't hide it from me."
I hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to tell him the truth: "Yu Zhiming has gone crazy now. If I don't let him vent his anger online, I'm worried that he will do something more extreme to Lin Xun, or even take risks. Moreover, if we continue to fight online, I'm afraid it will have a more serious impact on your reputation. If those radical netizens point the finger at your father, the consequences will be disastrous."
She remained silent, and of course she had the same concerns as I did.
That day, Wang Yanshu rushed to the development zone.
When I saw her, I was filled with worry and said hurriedly, "Sister, you are still running here at this critical moment. Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?"
Wang Yanshu snorted disdainfully and said firmly, "A man of integrity is not afraid of his own shadow. Especially at times like this, I will do my best to support you. The county party committee has held a meeting. Tong Yazhou advocated that you be suspended from your post immediately for investigation. Fortunately, Secretary Liu disagreed. Secretary Liu felt that before the facts are investigated, we must proceed from the perspective of protecting our comrades and not lose our composure at the slightest sign of trouble."
I sighed slightly and said sincerely, "I really appreciate the leadership's understanding and trust in me. But this matter is complicated and I'm afraid there are many things that cannot be explained. I think that resigning voluntarily may be a solution to avoid embarrassing everyone."
"Guan Hongjun, how can you back out!" Wang Yanshu's eyebrows immediately stood up when he heard it, and he slammed the table heavily, shaking everything on the table. "If you resign now, wouldn't it be tantamount to tacitly agreeing to the nonsense in that post? At this critical juncture, you must not escape!"
Then, she calmed down and asked, "Where is Xiao Shen? Isn't she working in the news industry? Doesn't she have any ideas at all?"
I shook my head and explained seriously, "She is also one of the parties involved. In this situation, the lower her profile, the better."
Wang Yanshu listened, nodded thoughtfully, and then said: "At the meeting, Secretary Liu meant to hand your case over to the discipline inspection department for investigation, and asked them to seek truth from facts and be impartial. The investigation team will be there tomorrow, you should be prepared in advance."
I nodded and responded: "Okay, I will actively cooperate with the investigation. I am mentally prepared for all questions and I have the courage to take all responsibilities."
Wang Yanshu frowned slightly, staring at me closely, as if trying to catch the most truthful answer from my expression, and asked softly: "Hongjun, let's talk about our private matters behind closed doors. Are the things in the post true?"
With a complex emotion that is difficult to describe, I lowered my head slightly, and after a moment of silence, I said, "Except that the timelines are not released at the same time, the rest is basically true."
"What?" Wang Yanshu heard this and his eyes widened in disbelief. His voice suddenly rose, his tone full of shock and reproach, his body trembling slightly with excitement: "How could you do such a thing as having an affair with a married woman? Are you confused for a moment and have lost your mind?"
I raised my head, a hint of stubbornness in my eyes, and said slowly: "I don't regret it. What happened between me and them was purely out of love, without any other purpose or intention."
Wang Yanshu shook his head helplessly, his expression solemn, and sighed, "The key is that their identities are too special. You said you have no other purpose, but how can others believe this? One is a famous doctor, one is a wealthy woman, and the other is the daughter of a high-ranking official. Hongjun, Hongjun, even I can't help but make subjective judgments when I hear such gossip, thinking that you are the kind of person who uses emotions and seeks benefits at all costs."
I took a deep breath, my eyes showing a calmness: "The innocent are innocent, I just want to have a clear conscience."
Wang Yanshu sighed again and asked thoughtfully, "Didn't Lin Xun think about talking to her brother? See if there's a way to calm this matter down."
I smiled bitterly and shook my head. A trace of loneliness flashed in my eyes, and my voice unconsciously lowered: "I haven't contacted her for a while. At this time, not contacting her may be the best choice."
Wang Yanshu looked at me reproachfully, with a hint of helplessness and concern in his tone, and gently tapped my forehead: "You, you usually have a lot of clever ideas, but when you really get into trouble, how come you have no idea at all?"
Seeing that I remained silent, Wang Yanshu said anxiously, "Hongjun, the longer this matter is delayed, the more passive it will become. I still have to talk to Lin Xun and ask her to think of a way to stop the loss quickly. We can't let the situation get worse."
Having said that, she stood up and pretended to walk towards the house.
My heart tightened, and without thinking, I reached out and grabbed her arm, saying earnestly, "Sister, she is also a victim. At this time, don't make things more complicated for her or upset her."
Wang Yanshu paused, sighed helplessly, sat back in his chair, frowned, and said worriedly: "Have you ever thought that this matter will soon reach Xiao Shen's father's ears. How are you going to deal with it? In the county, as long as Secretary Liu can stabilize the situation, there may not be too serious consequences. But Xiao Shen's father is a senior official in the province. If he gets angry, the consequences will be unimaginable."
I smiled bitterly, my voice a little hoarse: "What is coming will come, and you can't avoid it even if you want to."
As soon as I finished speaking, I suddenly realized that I hadn't seen Shen Mengzhao for most of the day. With her strong character, it is impossible for her to remain silent and motionless at such a critical moment.
Just as I was thinking about it, there was a rapid knock on the office door. Xiong Jifei pushed the door open in a panic, first hurriedly greeted Wang Yanshu, then turned to me, looking nervous, and stuttering: "Director Guan, Secretary Xiao Shen asked me to ask for leave for her, saying that there was an emergency at home, and she had to go back to the provincial capital immediately."
I was stunned for a moment and nodded silently. Seeing this, Xiong Jifei immediately turned around and hurried out.
I slowly leaned back, sank into the back of the chair, took a deep breath, and tried to calm the waves in my heart.
Wang Yanshu looked at me, shook his head helplessly, and said softly: "What you worry about will come true. If you worry about something, it will eventually happen."
After get off work, I forced myself to go home, trying my best to hide the unhappiness and frustration in my heart.
When Guan Ningyu came back from school, I accompanied him to do his homework for a while and patiently explained the difficult problems to him. Then, I took the bowl from my mother's hand and fed Xixi carefully.
My father sat aside, watching me busy, as if he felt that I was unusual, and asked with concern: "Hongjun, you came back so early today, isn't your unit busy these days?"
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