Going home for the Chinese New Year with a year-end bonus of 100 million

In the deluge of information, even the slightest rational voice is quickly drowned out by the tide of emotions.

Just as he was preparing to drop a few more bombshell posts to completely muddy the waters, the webpage suddenly refreshed automatically.

An official announcement, highlighted in bold and pinned to the top, appeared on the school forum and the homepage of the official website.

Explanation Regarding the "Qianweifang" Restaurant Near Our School

The announcement was clear and impactful:

"Recently, our school has noticed a number of false information about the 'Qianweifang' restaurant at the west gate of the campus appearing on online platforms."

"The school attaches great importance to this matter and has immediately coordinated with the Market Supervision Administration, the Health Commission, and other relevant authorities to conduct a joint investigation."

"Upon investigation, it was found that 'Qianweifang' has all the necessary and valid business licenses, legitimate sourcing channels, and complete invoices."

"The kitchen's hygiene conditions meet national standards, and no raw materials or additives that do not meet food safety standards were found to be used."

"The results of the inspection conducted by the relevant authorities after receiving the report were also satisfactory."

"At the same time, the school hereby clarifies that Mr. Yang Fan, the actual investor of 'Qianweifang,' is the main contributor to our school's 'Spark' student entrepreneurship investment fund. He has long been enthusiastic about supporting our students' innovation and entrepreneurship work, and both he and the companies he invests in adhere to the business philosophy of integrity."

"The school firmly opposes any form of malicious competition and online defamation, and advocates for a clean online environment and a fair market environment."

"We urge all teachers and students to carefully distinguish online information and not to believe or spread rumors."

"The school will cooperate with relevant departments to deal with any behavior that continues to spread false information and damage the reputation of others in accordance with the law."

The document was signed "Office of the President of the Industrial University" and bore a bright red official seal.

This announcement was like a boulder thrown into a boiling pot of oil, instantly creating even bigger waves!

"The official statement has denied the rumors!"

"The school has even stepped in to provide guarantees!"

"So the boss is an investor in our school's startup fund? No wonder..."

"If the joint inspection found nothing wrong, then those previous posts were indeed rumors!"

"Support the school! Severely punish those who spread rumors!"

For the first time, public opinion has taken a clear turn for the worse.

The power of official endorsement far surpasses that of a few students' clarifications.

Zhang Lei's smile froze.

He didn't expect the school to intervene so quickly and formally, and he certainly didn't expect that the young man driving the Mercedes would be related to the school's entrepreneurship fund!

"Oh shit……"

He cursed under his breath, sensing that things were getting out of control.

However, the arrogance he developed from stirring up trouble online over a long period of time made him unwilling to admit defeat easily.

He quickly switched to several alternate accounts and stirred up new controversy in the comment section of the official announcement:

"Heh, did the authorities take money?"

"Passed inspection? Who would believe that? They probably already bribed their way in."

"Entrepreneurial fund investors? That's even more suspicious; the school will definitely protect its own people!"

"Trying to cover it up only makes it more obvious! If you're so capable, why don't you livestream the kitchen 24/7?"

Although these dissenting voices no longer dominate public opinion as they did before, they still sway some students who habitually question authority or simply want to see more excitement.

The online debate has shifted from simply whether the hot pot restaurant was dirty to include issues of "school credibility" and "conspiracy theories."

Zhang Lei was breathing heavily, his eyes fixed on the screen, his fingers turning white from the pressure.

He felt like he was waging a tough defensive battle, with each card his opponent played becoming increasingly powerful.

Just then, his phone rang; it was his mother calling.

"Xiao Lei! Something seems off outside! A few students are here, pointing and whispering in front of our shop..."

Zhang Lei's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition surged up.

Just as he was about to say something, a window in a local student tech exchange group that he frequented started flashing wildly on his computer screen.

Upon opening the link, he saw a message from the group admin (a highly skilled computer science senior he knew), followed by a file link:

"Everyone, at the request of a friend, please help trace the source of the recent malicious rumors about 'Qianweifang' on various platforms."

"After tracking multiple secondary IP addresses, posting patterns, and residual browser fingerprints, we have now identified the main source of activity as the internal network IP segment of the 'Zhang Jie Mala Tang' shop at the west gate of our school."

Further information reveals that one of the main users of this IP address is Zhang Lei, a sophomore student in the School of Information Engineering at our university.

"Relevant IP redirection records, evidence of login from the same device, and screenshots of some incompletely deleted local log files have all been compiled in the attachment."

"The facts are clear, and the chain of evidence is complete."

"Furthermore, upon investigation, Zhang Lei's mother is the owner of 'Zhang Jie Mala Tang'."

"Their motives are self-evident."

"Given the nature of the incident and its negative impact, we have submitted all the evidence to the school's network center, security department, and local police station."

"The internet is not a lawless zone; malicious competition and spreading rumors and slander must be punished."

The group chat exploded instantly!

"Holy crap! They actually found out!"

"Zhang Lei? Isn't that the guy who always brags about his skills on the forum?"

"So it was him! The one from the mala tang place! He's just jealous of their business!"

"That's despicable! Such dirty tactics!"

"Call the police! Arrest him!"

Zhang Lei stared at the cold text on the screen and the familiar screenshots of his online activity. His mind went blank, as if a buzz had gone off. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

He thought he was hiding it well, using proxy IPs and deleting the posts as soon as they were published.

However, he overlooked the unique nature of the campus network environment, the ability of true experts to capture clues in the smallest details, and the resources and connections his opponents possessed—Zhou Jin's team and Chen Mo's team, these "students" whom he had underestimated, were likely far more professional and united in the technical field than he had imagined.

It’s over.

That was the only thought in his mind.

Outside the shop, the faint sounds of a mother's panicked cries and the clear, angry whispers of some students could be heard.

"This is the place! The one spreading rumors is the owner's son!"

"That's disgusting! They resort to such tactics because their business is struggling!"

"Let's go find the school! Call the police!"

"They must issue a public apology and compensate for the losses!"

The sound grew closer and louder.

Zhang Lei slumped in his chair, his glasses slipping down to the tip of his nose, his face ashen.

The sense of control and pride I felt just moments ago has vanished, leaving only endless fear and regret.

On the computer screen, the chat window of the technical exchange group was still scrolling continuously, with the latest messages being:

"We have contacted Mr. Yang Fan of 'Qianweifang'."

Mr. Yang stated that the evidence is conclusive and he will immediately report the incident to the police and pursue legal action.

"At the same time, we would like to express our gratitude to all the students who care about this matter and support justice."