Lu Jingui's heart skipped a beat when he saw Zhang Hongmei's eyes.
That look in his eyes was like he wanted to devour someone, as if he were holding some incredibly dangerous weapon in his hand.
She cursed inwardly, "What an idiot! He's more trouble than he's worth. He always acts all high and mighty, but now he seems to be going all out."
She's been with me for so long, she knows all about all my messy affairs!
Lu Jingui regretted his impulsive anger earlier. He shouldn't have been so rash in dealing with Zhang Hongmei, at least he shouldn't have blamed Zhang Hongmei in public!
She was also startled by what Director Chu said about "legal responsibility," lost her composure, and made a mistake she shouldn't have made!
But now, she had no choice but to strike first. A cold glint flashed in Lu Jingui's narrow eyes. She slammed her hand on the table and said with a sorrowful expression—
“Hongmei, don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking! Is that expression your way of trying to smear me? Let me tell you, I, Lu Jingui, have lived an upright and honest life, and that’s something everyone can see!”
Seeing Lu Jingui's appearance and Zhang Hongmei's flustered look, many of the students around him had already sided with Lu Jingui.
After all, Lu Jingui's image at school was so deeply ingrained in people's minds. How could an outstanding student representative who was positive, energetic, and full of positive energy do such a thing?
Ding Lan watched coldly from the sidelines, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
She knew that Lu Jingui would not easily admit his crimes and would definitely try to shift the blame onto others.
Zhang Hongmei was the perfect scapegoat.
Sure enough, Lu Jingui quickly found an excuse and pinned all the blame on Zhang Hongmei.
Ding Lan was secretly pleased, but her face remained impassive as she quietly waited to see the show.
Zhang Hongmei's face flushed red and then turned pale. She looked at Director Chu and the teachers for help, then at the students around her. She opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.
Lu Jingui, however, said again in a warning tone: "Hongmei, you have already made many big mistakes. Don't say anything you shouldn't say or do anything you will regret because of a moment of impulse."
After being warned by Lu Jingui, Zhang Hongmei cried even harder, but the resentment in her heart burned even more fiercely.
Regret? The thing she regrets most now is that she was blind to have idolized this hypocritical Lu Jingui!
Why? Why should she treat me so badly after I've been so good to her?
Zhang Hongmei suddenly stood up, pointed at Lu Jingui, and said in a trembling voice—
"Teachers and students, you've all been fooled by her! She's not a progressive or outstanding student at all; she's a shameless scoundrel who'll do anything for money and to climb the social ladder!"
“Zhang Hongmei, I know you’re upset, but I advise you to reflect on your mistakes and stop doing things like slandering others that harm others without benefiting yourself!” Lu Jingui frowned, as if he were heartbroken.
Zhang Hongmei's previously timid eyes were now filled with fire. She was determined, and shouted out all the words that had been suppressed in her heart—
"I'm slandering you? Then do you dare to say that you've been married twice in your hometown and have a child with intellectual disabilities! You're afraid people will find out, so you've been hiding him and haven't even dared to take him to the hospital. Do you dare to say that's not true?"
Zhang Hongmei's words were like a bomb, causing an uproar in the office.
Everyone stared at Zhang Hongmei in shock, as if they couldn't believe their ears.
Lu Jingui got married? Has she had children? Wasn't she a model worker who had been single all her life because she prioritized her work over her personal life?
A chilling murderous glint flashed in Lu Jingui's eyes. Zhang Hongmei had actually revealed her deepest secret in public.
Over the years, she had painstakingly built up a perfect persona, and now it was about to be destroyed. How could she not panic?
But she was a seasoned veteran, and quickly composed herself, adopting a look of utter despair.
"Zhang Hongmei, don't make baseless accusations! You say I've been married twice and have children, do you have any evidence? This is slander, I can have the police arrest you!"
She looked around at the teachers and students who were still reeling from the various reversals, and continued—
“I admit that I handled Li Sidi’s matter somewhat hastily back then, but what Li Sidi did was against the rules and the law. How could I, as the president of the department’s student union, bend the law for personal gain and plead for Li Sidi to stay at the school?”
Lu Jingui closed his eyes briefly: "But what about Hongmei? She and Li Sidi are very close, and she has always resented me for not standing up for Li Sidi, so she fabricated this absurd lie to attack me! Her intentions are malicious!"
Zhang Hongmei froze: "You're talking nonsense..."
"I'm talking nonsense! Haven't you ever felt sorry for Li Sidi? Haven't you ever resented me? Even Miao Sanlu knows about your grievances!"
Lu Jingui coldly interrupted her.
These little brats, whose emotions and thoughts are written all over their faces, think they can fight her? Zhang Hongmei has told at least two people about Li Sidi!
Lu Jingui then looked at Miao Sanlu and said indifferently, "Sanlu, you should also say something fair. You've been by my side the longest, so you should know what kind of person I am!"
Miao Sanlu was terrified and completely bewildered because Ding Lan said she had slandered Chu Hongyu's father.
Suddenly called out by Lu Jingui, she was startled and looked up to meet Lu Jingui's meaningful gaze, which was half encouraging and half warning.
Miao Sanlu felt a tremor in his heart, and his sense of justice vanished instantly.
She didn't want to offend Lu Jingui for Zhang Hongmei's sake! Besides, Lu Jingui could offer her plenty of benefits!
Thinking of this, Miao Sanlu gritted his teeth, stepped forward, pointed at Zhang Hongmei's nose, and cursed—
“Zhang Hongmei, I always thought you were an honest person, but I never expected you to be like this! Chairman Lu even took out his own money to give Li Sidi twenty yuan and national food coupons for her sake! Someone like Li Sidi deserved to be expelled from school! Chairman Lu still helped her; he really did everything he could!”
Miao Sanlu's words resonated with Lu Jingui's supporters in the department's student union.
"Zhang Hongmei, you've gone too far! Chairman Lu is such a kind, righteous, and principled person, how can you slander her like this because of a person with bad character like Li Sidi? Have you lost your conscience?" a boy said indignantly.
Another girl chimed in, "That's right! Chairman Lu is doing this for everyone's benefit, how can you repay kindness with enmity? You have no evidence whatsoever!"
Chu Hongyu listened to the commotion inside from outside the door and sneered.
Lu Jingui truly lives up to his name!
This tactic of retreating to advance was indeed brilliant. It not only absolved her of all responsibility but also garnered sympathy and portrayed Zhang Hongmei as a jealous and despicable villain lurking in her shadow.
That's an amazing on-the-spot reaction.
She turned her head slightly to look at the crowd confronting each other in the classroom with a cold expression, showing no sympathy for Zhang Hongmei whatsoever.
"You...you all..." Zhang Hongmei was surrounded and helpless by the crowd, and no matter how she struggled, it was to no avail.
Lu Jingui reached out and wiped away non-existent tears from the corners of his eyes, choking back sobs as he said—
“Hongmei, I know you have many misunderstandings about me, but I have always been wholeheartedly working for the department and thinking about everyone’s future. I never expected you to treat me like this… In my whole life, I have never cried, no matter how hard or tiring it was, because of my work and serving everyone. But… I just can’t hold back anymore.”
As she spoke, she actually burst into tears.
When everyone saw the "Iron Lady" shed tears, they were filled with righteous indignation and began to criticize Zhang Hongmei.
“You…you…evidence…I…” Zhang Hongmei’s mind went blank. She was so angry that she was trembling all over, but she couldn’t say a word.
No one was willing to listen to her, and she truly had no evidence. After all, Lu Jingui had kept this matter very well hidden, and apart from her, no one else in the school should know...
Whenever Lu Jingui assigned tasks to his trusted confidants, he would deliberately avoid other people.
They almost never leave any written receipts or evidence; they instruct them to burn or tear them up and throw them into the latrine!
They even met privately to chat, for fear of leaving any evidence against them!
The reason she kept that letter was because she had already seen Li Sidi's fate and wanted to have a backup plan, but she never expected that it would become the knife that "stabbed" her to death!
She originally thought that as long as she told the truth, she could ruin Lu Jingui's reputation.
But she forgot that in this world, the truth is often the least important thing; what matters is whether you have the ability to make others believe the truth you are telling.
Seeing the cold smile in Lu Jingui's swollen eyes, Zhang Hongmei finally realized that she was no match for Lu Jingui.
This woman was a hypocrite, older than all of them, and full of experience in the struggles of the Great Chaos; they were all just pawns in her game!
Despair, like a tidal wave, overwhelmed her.
Lu Jingui is like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, shrewd and ruthless, always ready to deliver a fatal blow to his opponent.
Looking at Zhang Hongmei's distraught appearance, Lu Jingui gave a dismissive sneer.
These shallow, politically naive, and inexperienced girls actually dared to try and fight her. They don't even know their own limitations!
If she can be their master, she can naturally control her servants!
Suddenly, Ding Lan's somewhat sharp voice rang out: "Everyone, don't rush to conclusions. I have something else here that might help you gain a more comprehensive understanding of our beloved Chairman Lu!"
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