Chapter Forty-Two: This Really Wasn't My Doing

The next day, early in the morning, Professor Yuan Ning left his house with a complicated mood. Although his emotions had been somewhat unsettled lately, he hadn’t missed a single class that needed him. The university’s leadership already had quite a few complaints about him; if he showed any further intention of taking leave, he would likely be dismissed outright and never allowed to return.

So, despite the strange looks and whispered gossip from those around him, Yuan Ning could only grit his teeth and bear it. He was only in his early forties, still a long way from retirement. If he were fired from the University of Science and Technology now, with his current reputation, what other school would ever hire him? Probably none—no institution or company would be willing to take him in. That was why, come hell or high water, he could not leave the university—absolutely not!

Having reaffirmed his resolve, Yuan Ning tidied his appearance and set off for campus. Along the way, he couldn’t help but feel that the glances from passersby had taken on a new layer of scrutiny. Irritated, Yuan Ning quickened his pace. As long as there was no evidence, these idle busybodies would soon find juicier news to fixate on, and by then, who would care about a mere professor like him?

That wretched King of Scandal wouldn’t remain arrogant for long either. Once things calmed down and he had mollified those dissatisfied administrators, Yuan Ning would immediately appeal—there was no way he would let his name be ruined so thoroughly.

Suppressing his annoyance at the prying eyes, Yuan Ning arrived at the school, only to find, to his surprise, a large group of reporters waiting right at the main gate. Several sharp-eyed TV journalists, microphones in hand, rushed toward him with their assistants, while others, frustrated at being slower, hurried to join the crowd.

Seeing this scene, Yuan Ning’s lips twitched as he wondered whether he should just turn around and leave. But the thought was quickly dismissed—if he tried to run now, wouldn’t that be an admission of guilt? That wouldn’t do at all. If there was no evidence, he could simply deny everything.

Having made up his mind, Yuan Ning steadied himself and walked forward, doing his best to appear unflustered. He had barely taken a few steps before he was surrounded by reporters, seven or eight microphones thrust toward him, and those further back stretching their arms desperately, wishing their microphones could somehow grow longer.

“Professor Yuan, it’s said you admitted to having African ancestry. Is this true?”

“Rumor has it, Professor Yuan Ning, that you hired hackers to attack a live-streaming platform in an act of retaliation. Is there any truth to this?”

“Is it true that a University of Science and Technology diploma costs thirty thousand yuan per copy?”

A cacophony of questions tumbled out, each more bizarre than the last, darkening Yuan Ning’s expression further and further. What a mess. The worst part was that he hadn’t even lost his temper yet—if he started cursing them out now, tomorrow’s headlines would be all too predictable.

“Quiet! Quiet! One at a time!” Yuan Ning tried to restore order, but when his efforts failed, he simply shut his mouth and ignored the clamoring reporters.

Seeing that Yuan Ning refused to speak, the journalists exchanged glances. One at the front, heedless of his colleagues’ glares, forced his way ahead.

“Hello, Professor Yuan, I’m with Quirky News. It’s been reported that you admitted to having African ancestry. Is this true?”

Where did this clown come from? If it weren’t for the cameras around, Yuan Ning almost would have slapped him. Did this really need to be asked? These small-time reporters would do anything for a scoop.

“That’s slander! Next question.”

Before the reporter could say more, he was shoved aside by his peers, disgusted by such trivial questions. The Quirky News reporter, undeterred, simply wrote in his notebook, “The party in question did not give a direct answer; authenticity remains to be verified.” That would suffice for his editor.

“I’m from Qingshui TV. Regarding the online rumors about you hiring hackers, do you have any comment?”

Yuan Ning looked blankly at the reporter, utterly confused. What hacker incident? He hadn’t heard anything about this. Was there some new nonsense circulating online?

“I’ve already said, these are deliberate smears! Unless there’s evidence, don’t make wild speculations.”

Though he didn’t know what strange rumor had now surfaced, Yuan Ning had decided—he would deny everything, no matter what. Why didn’t these wretched reporters go question that King of Scandal instead of blocking his way?

In fact, if they could find the King of Scandal, the journalists would have gone to him long ago. Unfortunately, the other party’s secrecy was impeccable—even the Stardust platform had few details and refused to reveal anything. Otherwise, who would be wasting time with Yuan Ning?

“Professor Yuan Ning, I’m from the ‘Truth Revealed’ program. Yesterday, our station received an anonymous submission—evidence accusing you of abusing your authority to extort students. Do you have an explanation for this?”

“Impossible! Someone must have forged that evidence. Can you even produce it?” Yuan Ning didn't believe there could be any such evidence. Lately, he had been on his best behavior—how could there be any proof? As for what he might have done before, if evidence existed, it would have surfaced long ago, not now.

“Sorry, but the person involved requested that some content remain confidential. However, you can take a look at this.” The ‘Truth Revealed’ reporter pulled out his phone, found a certain video, and played it at full volume.

The moment Yuan Ning heard that all-too-familiar voice and saw the all-too-familiar setting on the screen, he knew he was finished. This was the evidence! No wonder the school’s broadcast had played a remix video of him a week earlier, no wonder his plans had been thwarted at such a critical moment that day—could Zhang Shuihan really be the King of Scandal?

Oblivious to the fact that he was jumping to the wrong conclusion, Yuan Ning, in a fit of rage, tried to barge through the encircling reporters and storm into the school to tear that wretch to pieces. But seeing Yuan Ning’s attempt to flee, the reporters quickly blocked his way. Was this a joke? There were still so many questions to ask—how could he just run off? There was no way out, not even a window.

Besieged on all sides, Yuan Ning had no choice but to endure, watching the entire damning video with an expression as if he’d been forced to eat something vile. At the end, as a bold line of text appeared on the screen, Yuan Ning’s ashen face twitched uncontrollably. At last, unable to withstand the pressure, he collapsed in a faint before the gathered crowd and reporters.

This time, it really wasn’t my doing!!!

Special thanks to our readers ‘Regrettably a Gentleman’ and ‘Hearing Loneliness Spread’ for their reward of 500 Qidian coins, and to ‘Izeremiao,’ ‘Naruse Mio,’ and ‘Ye Hua’ for their 100 Qidian coin rewards—thank you all!