He fiercely criticized the Manchu scholar clique and the twelve emperors of the Qing Dynasty.

No one spoke.

The silence lasted for a few seconds.

At the back of the crowd, a pair of hands rose up and clapped together, producing a crisp sound. This sound was like a clear command. Immediately afterwards, a second sound came from the left and a third sound from the right.

Applause rang out from the end of the corridor, quickly blending into a unified rhythm that filled the entire enclosed space on the third floor.

Zhao Shuyao's gaze swept over these faces one by one. He understood what was contained in those eyes: recognition of their kind and a response to the question he had posed on behalf of everyone.

He opened his mouth, and as is his usual self, he would have thrown out a joke or two to lighten the mood, but seeing those flushed faces, he deliberately suppressed his sense of humor.

Zhao Shuyao took a half step back, put his feet together, let his arms hang naturally at his sides, bent his waist, and bowed very solemnly to the students in the corridor.

He held the position for two seconds, then straightened up.

"Thank you everyone." Zhao Shuyao's tone was very sincere.

After saying this, he grasped the doorknob and slowly closed the door, shutting out the applause and gazes from outside.

Back at his desk, Zhao Shuyao sat down in his chair. The streaming software on his computer screen was completely shut down, but he knew that the storm on the internet was only just beginning to take shape.

He didn't show any signs of elation. Today, he presented the most basic logic, which is a starting point. Soon, young scholars on the internet who have long suffered from the suppression of academic cliques and self-media creators with independent thinking abilities will take action.

More authentic county gazetteers and provincial deficit records detailing the brutal rule of the Qing Dynasty will be continuously brought to the public eye.

Following this, interview requests from mainstream media and various portal websites will inevitably come one after another. Zhao Shuyao will not reject them at all. Without the protection of capital, the spotlight of official media is his best bulletproof vest.

A continuous vibration came from my pocket.

Zhao Shuyao took out his phone, and the screen displayed an unfamiliar local number.

Looking at that string of numbers, I deduced that either the office had changed to a private number to try to communicate again, or it was a middleman found by some interest group. At this point, any private verbal negotiations were meaningless.

Swipe your finger to the right on the screen to hang up immediately.

Clicking the green bubble icon caused a one-second lag in the interface, and the red badge for unread messages immediately turned into "99+". Scrolling down the list revealed a screen full of messages from university classmates, fellow townsmen, and acquaintances.

The group chat of my undergraduate roommates from four years of university is now flooded with voice messages.

The eldest brother, Liu Lei, sent five consecutive voice messages, each lasting fifty seconds. Zhao Shuyao clicked on the first one.

"Old Zhao, you're awesome, really! Back in the dorm, I always felt that you were different from us ordinary folks, but I never expected you to be so bold."

"What you said on your live stream today made me, a grown man, feel so emotional, my nose was getting sore, and I felt really bad. When are you coming to Nanjing for a holiday? We have to treat you to a proper drink!"

The message from the third brother, Zhou Peng, popped up immediately, all in text: "Brother Lei is right. You've stood up for us poor kids with no connections who only know how to study."

"Count me in for the dinner in Nanjing. I know you're definitely a hot commodity in the eyes of the media right now. Go ahead and do your thing. I'll give you an update when things calm down."

Zhao Shuyao looked at the screen, a smile playing on his lips, his fingers tapping on the keyboard, his replies exuding the relaxed air of a cultured person.

"I've put the dinner on my tab. You two need to prepare the table in advance. Any lower-quality wine wouldn't be worthy of my current status as the chief instructor of an army of 50,000. Also, while you're reading, don't go bald. I don't want to go to Nanjing to eat with two bald men."

After sending the message, two "middle finger" emojis immediately appeared in the group chat.

After leaving the group chat, Zhao Shuyao opened the chat window of his fellow villager, Gu Nanxi.

Gu Nanxi's message was brief, revealing the unique tact of an intellectual woman: "After watching your live stream, I used to only think you were quick-witted, but today I realized you are an extremely pure person. It seems I'll have to find an opportunity to get to know you more deeply in the future. I wonder if I'll still have that chance?"

After reading these lines, Zhao Shuyao pictured the independent-minded girl from Jiangnan on the playground.

He typed a reply with one hand: "Gu, we've only just met, and we have a long future ahead of us."

The screen immediately displayed "The other party is typing," and soon after, a "typing" emoji was sent, along with the message: "Cultural people are so hard to please."

Zhao Shuyao smiled and continued scrolling down the list.

A bookworm from the next class, who rarely speaks and often spends his time in the corner of the library, sent me two extremely obscure screenshots of land enclosure decrees from the early Qing Dynasty.

His history teacher, who taught him for three years in high school, sent him a 500-word article telling him that upholding the pursuit of truth is a scholar's bottom line and reminding him to be careful.

These people did not avoid each other when he was subjected to a massive online smear campaign and cyberbullying by trolls a couple of days ago. Instead, they quietly offered their support to him in their WeChat Moments or private messages.

In this extremely pragmatic society, this sense of identification without any self-interest warmed Zhao Shuyao's heart.

He had just opened his high school teacher's chat window, preparing to make a voice call to express his gratitude.

The screen suddenly switched, and the caller ID page popped up, displaying the name: Zhang Jianguo.

Zhao Shuyao's gaze sharpened. His graduate advisor's call at this time was quite meaningful.

Press the answer button and hold the phone to your ear: "Teacher Zhang."

A soft rustling of pages came from the other end of the phone, followed by Zhang Jianguo's slightly tired but very calm voice, which had a thick nasal tone.

"Shuyao, you really pulled something today. You set up a camera in your dorm without saying a word and managed to expose the entire Dongda University."

There was no blame in Zhang Jianguo's tone; instead, it conveyed a sense of magnanimity.

"Teacher, your statement is not rigorous enough." Zhao Shuyao leaned back in his chair and followed up on the other person's words, launching into a debate between intellectuals. "At most, I'm like opening a skylight in a roof that has been in disrepair for a long time, allowing everyone to breathe. Some houses have been closed for too long, and they are full of rotten smells. Without ventilation, it's easy to get tuberculosis."

A hearty laugh came from the other end of the phone.

"You little rascal, your sharp tongue is even more incisive than your academic papers." Zhang Jianguo paused, his tone turning serious. "You always hold back in front of me, all serious and methodical."

"Today I've shown you my true colors to netizens across the country. You have faith, perseverance, and impeccable logic. I've been teaching you for three years, and only today have I truly come to understand you."

Zhang Jianguo sighed: "It seems that I am not a good enough mentor and lack the most basic understanding of my students."

Zhao Shuyao sat up straight and stopped joking.

"Professor Zhang, please don't say that." Zhao Shuyao said sincerely, "The other day, under such great pressure and with such great public opinion risk, you still did not sign the document that disqualified me from the defense. I know clearly how much you have done me for this."

Zhao Shuyao explained, "As for the thoughts I expressed today, if I were to say them on a normal day, people would just think I'm cynical and arrogant. Opinions need a stage in the spotlight and a spotlight to carry weight, don't you think?"

"You've managed to turn a crisis concerning your future into an opportunity to promote historical knowledge," Zhang Jianguo said approvingly. "Your resolve far surpasses that of your peers. Since you've chosen this path and have this unwavering persistence, then stand tall and keep going."

"History scholars should prioritize the pursuit of truth, and I have high hopes for your next move," Zhang Jianguo stated clearly.

"Don't worry." Zhao Shuyao glanced at the bookshelf behind him. "Truth becomes clearer through debate. The historical materials I have in my head are enough for some people to sit on the toilet and digest for a long time."

"It's good to have confidence." Zhang Jianguo suddenly changed the subject, lowered his voice a few decibels, and got to the point, "However, Shuyao, your situation has changed, so you need to adjust your coping strategies."

Zhao Shuyao listened quietly.

"Just ten minutes ago, the college held an emergency administrative meeting," Zhang Jianguo revealed, adding crucial information. "Assistant Li has been suspended from his duties pending investigation, and the school is conducting a comprehensive review of the administrative irregularities in this incident."

A flash of understanding crossed Zhao Shuyao's eyes, and he immediately assessed the situation based on the message: "It seems that the school leaders are going to personally set the tone."

"That's right, it was the principal who personally set the tone," Zhang Jianguo said. "Dongda cannot become a scapegoat for the capital circle, nor can it stand on the opposite side of public opinion. I estimate that by tomorrow morning at the latest, a university leader will take the initiative to talk to you."

Zhang Jianguo emphasized, "You need to understand that this contact is absolutely not about applying pressure, but about appeasement."

Zhao Shuyao tapped his fingers twice on the table, fully understanding the school's operating logic. Suspending Assistant Li was to quell the anger of netizens and demonstrate the school's attitude of self-correction; the school leaders personally appeased him in order to win over this student who currently wielded considerable influence.

The school needs him to uphold the reputation of its century-old institution during this controversy and to separate his personal grievances from the school system.

"You don't need to worry about me at all. I will personally oversee your defense process, and no one can interfere," Zhang Jianguo concluded. "But when facing school leaders, you should understand what I mean. Knowing when to advance and when to retreat is the mark of wisdom."

"Teacher Zhang, I understand." Zhao Shuyao's lips curled back into a calm smile. "Returning favors is a rule left by our ancestors. Since the school is willing to give me face, I will not let the school lose face. After all, I still need to use my dual degrees from Dongda University to continue to reason with those academic tyrants."

Zhao Shuyao's tone was calm, yet it revealed an unquestionable bottom line: "However, I will not back down on any principle."

"Okay, just keep that in mind. You've had a tiring day, so get some rest."

The call has ended.