Chapter 61: Public Opinion
When Lu Yan returned, he carried two aluminum lunch boxes, brought from his workplace.
He entered the house, walked over to the sofa, and patted his son’s head. “Daddy brought you food. Go call Mommy so we can eat together.”
An An turned around on the sofa, delighted. “Okay!” He slid off the sofa, ran to the door of Shen Qingyi’s room, and knocked. “Daddy brought us food, come out and eat.”
The door opened, and Shen Qingyi stepped out. She immediately saw Lu Yan standing by the dining table, setting out the lunch boxes.
She took An An by the hand and sat down at the table. Opening the lunch box, she glanced at Lu Yan. Seeing nothing unusual in his expression, she was at a loss for words and quietly began to eat.
An An, as always, peppered Lu Yan with questions—most of them about things Lu Yan had already answered during interviews. When he didn’t understand, he’d pose the question differently, and Lu Yan would patiently explain in another way.
Shen Qingyi, however, remained silent throughout. Sensing something was wrong, Lu Yan asked, “What’s wrong, Qingyi? Is the food not to your taste?”
She paused, her chopsticks in hand, hesitated, then asked, “Did you read today’s newspaper?”
Lu Yan immediately understood—his wife was worried about that matter. He nodded gently. “Yes, I saw it.”
Shen Qingyi’s appetite vanished. “They’ve gone too far, to have a newspaper report about you like this. What are we going to do?”
Lu Yan replied calmly, “There’s no need to rush.”
“How can you not be worried? When my father—” In her agitation, Shen Qingyi blurted it out.
Lu Yan smiled. “This is just an issue of public opinion for now. I’ll handle it. You don’t need to worry too much.”
She looked up at him; his composure was unwavering, his judgment precise, as if everything were under control.
She gradually calmed as well. Yes, this was fundamentally different from what had happened to her father. At last, the knot in her heart loosened a little.
“So what do you plan to do?”
Lu Yan took another bite of food, considered for a moment, and said, “My parents want me to yield, but involving the newspaper is beyond their means. Let’s wait and see.”
“Someone’s targeting you?”
Lu Yan nodded.
He then reassured his wife, “Nothing will happen.”
She looked at his confident demeanor and nodded.
Lu Yan finished his meal. Afterward, Shen Qingyi went to wash the lunch boxes. Lu Yan, in good spirits, asked An An, “What do you want to play with Daddy today?”
An An was no naive child; he didn’t want to trouble his father. “I want to watch TV.”
He slid off his chair, ran to the television, turned it on, and climbed onto the sofa.
Lu Yan returned to his study, picked up a book at random, propped his chin on his hand, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
Qingyi really cared about him…
She was so worried, she could hardly eat.
The next day, back in the office, Lu Yan saw Wang Zhifang’s troubled face again. “I spoke to your parents. They said if you keep giving them eighty yuan a month as per the rules and let them stay, they’ll publish a clarification in the paper.”
Lu Yan glanced at him. “Wouldn’t that confirm something that never happened? My previous decision stands—no discussion.”
“It’s all over the institute now. If it’s not clarified soon, someone may come down to investigate you next time an assignment is handed out,” Wang Zhifang said gloomily.
Lu Yan was unruffled. “Let them investigate.”
“It’ll hurt your reputation.” Wang Zhifang thought of how proud this young man was—would an investigation dampen his drive?
Lu Yan walked to the office door and called out, “Su Yang, bring me a copy of yesterday’s newspaper.”
After some hesitation, Su Yang, cowed by Lu Yan’s stern look, quickly fetched the paper.
Lu Yan returned to his office, found the article about him, glanced at the byline, and said to Wang Zhifang, “Find out who tipped off this reporter.”
Wang Zhifang, seeing the reporter’s name, realized that Qian Guihua and her husband were simple farmers, barely literate, let alone capable of such a move.
“This is outrageous,” Wang Zhifang fumed. “Whoever it is, make them publish a retraction and apologize to you in person.”
Lu Yan shook his head. “No need for a retraction. I’ll take legal action instead. I want to sue them and my parents for colluding to slander and damage my reputation.”
“Once the verdict is publicized, that will suffice. I’ll also collect evidence of the remittances I’ve sent monthly for support—today I’ll get that from the post office.”
Wang Zhifang looked up at him in surprise—so clever! Trying to refute rumors never ends, but an official investigation and public notice would settle everything.
He still worried, though. “Will things be difficult for you in the meantime?”
Lu Yan didn’t care. “No. I don’t live my life by others’ opinions.”
By noon, Wang Zhifang had sent someone to the newspaper office. The reporter insisted it was Qian Guihua and her husband who provided the story; he had only reported the facts.
Lu Yan was not surprised by this news. His slender fingers tapped the desk, making Wang Zhifang anxious—what a waste for a mind like Lu Yan’s to be occupied with such matters, but he could think of no solution.
Lu Yan, however, already had the answer. Of those close to his parents and capable of such a scheme, there was only one person—she had even come to persuade him before.
But why?
He had repaid her favor, given her dignity.
“Check on Chen Haixia. Find out where she’s made calls recently.”
Wang Zhifang was startled. “You mean your childhood friend from the same village? How could that be?”
Lu Yan said sternly, “We’re just acquaintances from the same village, nothing more. I only went along with that claim before marriage to avoid unnecessary trouble.”
Now, he regretted it. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. He had paid back her favor, yet she had brought him such trouble.
Wang Zhifang knew Lu Yan never spoke without reason, so he immediately sent someone to investigate.
Within two hours, there was news.
Someone had seen her chatting and laughing with Qian Guihua and her husband a few days before, and someone else had heard her making a call to the newspaper.
That evening after work, Lu Yan went straight to the family quarters of the research institute.
When Qian Guihua saw her son finally return, she breathed a sigh of relief. This second son really thought they had no way to deal with him, forcing them to push him like this before he’d give in.