Don't underestimate the poor and elderly; I was thrilled to refuse the class beauty's adva

Zhang Yifan roared into the phone microphone.

Speechless to the extreme.

He couldn't be bothered to explain any further and simply hung up the call.

Before he could even put his phone back in his pocket, a WeChat video notification sounded.

The contact that popped up at the top of the screen made Zhang Yifan's heart skip a beat.

Caller: Liu Guilan.

His biological mother.

A sense of foreboding instantly rose in Zhang Yifan's heart.

If an elder in the family suddenly video calls during this time, it's definitely not a good sign.

He didn't dare delay and immediately clicked to connect.

The moment the video popped up, Zhang Yifan's heart tightened.

On the screen, Liu Guilan's eyes were red and brimming with tears.

She was extremely aggrieved, looking as if she had suffered a tremendous injustice.

Zhang Yifan panicked instantly.

"Mom, what's wrong? Who upset you?"

It's better not to ask.

This word of concern directly shattered Liu Guilan's last emotional defenses.

Her voice choked with sobs, and she instantly launched into a tirade.

"Son, you have to stand up for me!"

"Your dad is a real scoundrel!"

"We'd only had a few days of peace and quiet, and he'd already started causing trouble!"

Zhang Yifan's mind raced.

My dad? What a mess?

Does he have the guts?

The next second, Liu Guilan's rant exploded.

"Your dad asked me back then why I chose him instead of Tian Jun?"

Before I even got angry at him for acting crazy, my relatives and neighbors from my hometown started calling me one by one to ask what was going on!

They all subtly inquired whether I had secretly known a rich man named Tian Jun back then!

I've lived for decades, leading a steady and honest life, and I don't know this person at all!

"I can't live like this anymore!"

I've figured it out! It's because your dad's life is better now and he has money in his hands, so he's gotten arrogant!

Do you think I'm old and past my prime, and want to find a new wife?

They've unfairly branded me with this baseless accusation, making me the subject of gossip throughout the village! Waaah!

The sound of crying came through the screen with tremendous force.

hiss……

After hearing this, Zhang Yifan couldn't help but gasp.

At that moment, he understood everything completely.

He initially thought it was just a funny misunderstanding that everyone on the internet was watching.

At most, he'll just be an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire and subject to online mockery.

But he never expected this.

A bunch of mindless rumors spread online have actually infiltrated the family circle back home.

What started as online entertainment and gossip has completely escalated into a real family crisis.

The destructive power of rumors is far more outrageous than he imagined.

Zhang Yifan dared not be perfunctory any longer and quickly spoke up to comfort him.

"Mom, don't cry, this is just a misunderstanding."

Where's my dad? Can you pass the phone to him? I need to talk to him.

With a face full of grievance, Liu Guilan angrily turned her phone camera away.

The scene shifts, and the moment becomes both comical and hilarious.

Zhang Rongshan knelt upright on the washboard in the living room, his posture perfectly standard.

Both eyes were swollen and bruised, with ridiculously heavy dark circles.

It's a perfect replica of a live giant panda, looking both pitiful and comical.

Upon seeing his son on the screen, Zhang Rongshan was instantly overwhelmed with grievance.

She was even more wronged than Liu Guilan, who was crying and making a scene.

He immediately began to frantically defend himself.

"Son! You have to explain this to me!"

Your mom has completely misunderstood me!

I was scrolling through my phone when I stumbled upon that trending topic, and I just casually told it to your mom as an outrageous joke!

I was just watching the show and enjoying the spectacle; I had no other intentions whatsoever!

Who knew that my relatives back home would follow suit and ask all sorts of questions, making the rumors more and more bizarre and outrageous!

Your mom didn't even bother to tell me what happened, she just slapped me with a stun gun and beat me up like this!

Please help me clear my name! I've been completely wronged!

Zhang Yifan looked at his father's disheveled and aggrieved appearance.

I was holding back a laugh, but I didn't dare to actually laugh out loud.

I could only force myself to keep a straight face and begin to explain seriously.

He briefly recounted how someone deliberately smeared Tian Jun, how capital companies tore each other apart, and how self-media outlets followed suit and spread rumors.

He also clarified that he was simply investing in rice, and that his relationship with Tian Jun was merely a partnership.

From beginning to end, it was all an undeserved disaster; I was simply caught in the crossfire.

"Mom, please don't take these rumors online seriously."

Don't pay attention to those relatives' gossipy questions; they're just bored and have nothing better to do.

I'll handle this entirely; it'll be resolved quickly.

After listening to Zhang Yifan's clear and logical explanation.

The misunderstanding has been completely cleared up.

The weight that had been hanging over Liu Guilan's heart was finally lifted.

The grievance and unease on her face gradually subsided, and the anger that had been building up inside her dissipated.

Zhang Yifan patiently offered a couple more words of comfort before hanging up the video call.

The phone screen went black, but the drama at home continued.

Zhang Rongshan rubbed his numb knees and slowly climbed up from the washboard.

He couldn't help but mutter a stubborn complaint under his breath.

"I told you it was all a misunderstanding, but you wouldn't believe me and insisted on taking action."

Liu Guilan glanced at him coldly and let out a cold snort.

"Who told you to get up?"

"Kneel for another five minutes!"

Zhang Rongshan was stunned on the spot, his brain completely shut down.

"???"

"Haven't all the misunderstandings been cleared up? Why are you still making me kneel?"

Liu Guilan spoke with confidence and conviction.

"Who gave you permission to complain to your son?"

Zhang Rongshan was speechless for a moment.

I have a bellyful of grievances but nowhere to confide in anyone; I'm like a mute eating bitter melon, unable to express my suffering.

Inside a dormitory at Tsinghua University.

Zhang Yifan put away his phone, and the relaxed smile on his face completely disappeared.

He calmed down completely and faced the public opinion storm head-on.

Only at that moment did he truly realize the seriousness of the situation.

Previously, he had always regarded this trending topic as an absurd misunderstanding across the entire internet.

It's nothing more than netizens watching the drama unfold, getting caught in the crossfire innocently, and finding it all amusing.

But now he has fully realized the terrifying power of public opinion.

Online rumors are never just empty jokes.

It will penetrate layer by layer through personal networks.

From netizens across the internet to acquaintances, and even relatives and neighbors back in their hometowns.

Today someone spread a rumor that he is Tian Jun's illegitimate son.

Tomorrow, someone will fabricate even more baseless and shameless accusations.

If public opinion is allowed to fester, the consequences will be unimaginable.

Not only will Tian Jun's personal image and the reputation of the rice group completely collapse.

Parents living far away in their hometown will constantly endure criticism and gossip from neighbors and relatives.

They were unjustly burdened with false accusations and suffered undeserved misfortune.

Even more seriously, Suyuan Technology, which has just gotten on the right track, will also be dragged down by this public opinion storm.

The capital market is always on edge; even the slightest negative public opinion can trigger a chain reaction.

The longer the delay, the greater the potential risks.

We can no longer afford to adopt a passive, detached attitude and let things drift.

We must act quickly to completely quell this storm.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhang Yifan opened the contacts list.

I found Tian Jun's contact information and dialed the number.

The phone rang a few times before being answered quickly.

Tian Jun's hoarse and tired voice came through the receiver.

You can hear the deep weariness in his voice even through the screen.

It's obvious that the other party didn't get any rest tonight and has been dealing with the public opinion crisis the whole time.

"Yifan, I'm sorry."

It was my fault. I didn't expect my competitor to smear me and drag you into it innocently.

Don't worry, our public relations and legal departments are working overtime all night to handle this.

We must minimize the impact of this public opinion storm.

Tian Jun was sincere and took full responsibility.

Zhang Yifan didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point.

"Mr. Tian, ​​I can understand and withstand the other negative impacts."

But please clarify this rumor about the illegitimate child as soon as possible.

If this drags on any longer, something really bad is going to happen; my family is on the verge of falling apart.

My own father has been punished by being forced to kneel on a washboard and beaten because of this trending topic.

There was a brief half-second of silence on the other end of the phone.

The next second, a hearty laugh rang out.

The tense public pressure seemed to have been somewhat diluted by this absurd farce.

After laughing, Tian Jun's voice became serious and tinged with emotion.

"Don't worry, this rumor is easy to resolve. I'll arrange for it to be dealt with immediately."

"But Yifan, to be honest..."

"I really wish I had a son as outstanding as you."

The phone was hung up as soon as he finished speaking.

The dormitory fell silent instantly.

Zhang Yifan held his phone, frozen in place for several seconds.

He slowly savored Tian Jun's last words.

Two seconds later, he instantly realized what was happening.

His face instantly filled with a bewildered expression.

???

Not right.

That old fox.

So you're trying to take advantage of me indirectly, aren't you?!

I'm thinking of joining Zhuzhiliao, but I don't know if I can handle it...