Chapter 87 - 86: Unwilling to Accept This Result

Chapter 87: Chapter 86: Unwilling to Accept This Result

That afternoon, the Lin Family held a high-profile press conference, which was broadcast live on the Star Network Platform.

It was the Lin Family’s first public apology in a formal setting since the food safety scandal at their restaurant broke.

Lin Zhenxiang appeared on camera still showing her injuries, her face haggard and pale as tears streamed endlessly. She played the victim card masterfully, confessing to the restaurant’s issues without reservation. Producing the restaurant’s previous procurement records, she conveniently pushed the blame for purchasing the diseased fish onto her uncle, Zhen Gui.

And she, his devoted niece, had merely acted irrationally while trying to cover for her uncle out of a sense of duty.

She also admitted the evidence she had presented on her last livestream was forged. She promised to provide compensation to the father, Mr. Li, who had been wrongfully imprisoned, but pinned the crime of forging the evidence on the interstellar hacker fan who had previously helped her hack the Imperial Hospital’s surveillance system.

She even conveniently blamed the hacker for spreading the rumor on her stream that Star Thieves had been spotted near Luoxing Port.

The investigation confirmed that the interstellar hacker was the number one cybercriminal on the Federation’s most-wanted list.

In order to track down and capture this individual, the Federation high command unanimously decided to temporarily shut down the Star Network’s livestreaming platform.

And just like that, streamers everywhere found themselves with nothing to do.

Official channels confirmed that the Star Thief incident was a complete fabrication. Effective today, the curfew was lifted.

「That evening, at the Shu residence.」

After watching the live broadcast of the Lin Family’s press conference, Shu Chao Yu was fraught with worry. He looked as if he had a million things to say to his niece, but he hesitated several times and ultimately kept silent.

Watching Lin Zhenxiang’s uncle, Zhen Gui, get torn to shreds by netizens, Shu Yao remarked with relief, "My uncles are so much better. They’re disciplined and law-abiding."

Zhen Gui had a sordid past and a long rap sheet. He had no legitimate profession, led a messy private life, and had always mooched off the Lin Family through his connections to his sister and niece. A man like that was the perfect target for the internet mob’s vitriol.

Shu Chao Yu finally couldn’t hold back any longer. "Yaoyao, you wouldn’t sell me out, would you?"

Shu Yao looked over at him. It felt just like looking at a large, sad puppy.

He looked so pitiful, as if terrified of being abandoned—his expression was heartbreaking.

"Uncle, you didn’t..." Shu Yao paused. "You didn’t do something illegal, did you?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Shu Chao Yu declared, his voice ringing out.

Shu Yao eyed him suspiciously.

Under her intense gaze, Shu Chao Yu suddenly began to look guilty.

Just then, Shu Xin’s arrival broke the strange tension between uncle and niece.

She said furiously, "Selling contaminated food, forging transaction records, framing an innocent man, spreading rumors about Star Thieves, and disrupting public order online... add all those crimes up, and that should be at least a three-year sentence, right?"

"But guess what happened? In the end, the Lin Family just got an administrative penalty and paid some fines, and the whole thing was swept under the rug! The officials even credited Lin Zhenxiang for providing a lead on the interstellar hacker! My god—"

’What is wrong with this world!’

’She just couldn’t understand!’

"The Lin Family already had their exit strategy prepared. Especially Lin Zhenxiang. She distanced herself from anything she could," Shu Chao Yu said, equally resigned to the outcome. "She didn’t cause any substantial harm to anyone. At most, it was a moral failing."

Shu Yao’s eyes flickered with thought as the recent series of events replayed in her mind.

’I have to admit, I underestimated the Lin Family. Or more accurately, I underestimated Lin Zhenxiang’s influence.’

’Back at that celebrity restaurant, I thought that simply exposing the problem with the ingredients on the spot would be enough to ensure Lin Zhenxiang received the punishment she deserved.’

’And yet, even with the livestream and the food safety officials on site, Lin Zhenxiang managed to leverage her influence to cover the whole thing up.’

’She claimed on her stream that there were Star Thieves near Luoxing Port. With no actual evidence, hordes of her fans chose to believe her, reporting it to the authorities and causing an uproar so massive it was breathtaking.’

’That alone showed just how powerful Lin Zhenxiang’s influence on the Star Network truly was.’

’Even after she confessed to everything, many of her fans still chose to forgive her.’

’And most people seemed to find the official penalty levied against the Lin Family acceptable.’

Shu Xin, indignant, called her eldest brother, Shu Guohua, and tearfully complained at length.

Her poor little baby had gotten sick from just one meal at the Lin Family’s restaurant! He had lost so much weight, and he still hadn’t gained it back!

When Shu Yao was unable to console her, she sent Xiao Juzi to handle his grandmother.

But Xiao Juzi had been unhappy all day.

He pressed his little hands to his chest, looking glum.

"Mama, it feels all tight in here~"

"Mama, why can’t you take me to school with you?"

"Mama, are you going again tomorrow? Can you take me with you, please?"

"No means no." Shu Yao ruffled his hair, threatening with a playful glare, "If you don’t behave, I’ll just send you to kindergarten early."

Xiao Juzi pouted. "Well, if I can’t take Mama to kindergarten with me, then I’m not going!"

Shu Yao was exasperated. "Who wants to go to kindergarten with you! I’m not a three-year-old!"

The hair-ruffling seemed to do the trick. Xiao Juzi giggled sweetly, and at a meaningful glance from his mother, he PITTER-PATTERED off to coax his grandmother.

The little one had just run off when Shu Yao received a call from her eldest uncle.

After a few pleasantries, Shu Guohua got down to business. "Yaoyao, about the outcome with the Lin Family... I know you and Xiao Juzi must feel very wronged..."

He couldn’t bring himself to say the word "unfair." After all, the official verdict was in.

"Not at all," Shu Yao said with a small laugh. "Don’t worry about it, Uncle. My son is a carefree kid, and I’m pretty thick-skinned myself. We just focus on enjoying our lives. It’s better to stay home and watch a cartoon than waste time bickering with people like them."

Shu Guohua chuckled. "It’s a good thing you didn’t inherit your mother’s talent for holding a grudge!"

Shu Yao just smiled and said nothing.

"Yaoyao, I’ve been so busy lately, I haven’t had time to spend with you and Xiao Juzi. Once this period passes, I’ll make it up to you both," Shu Guohua said with a smile. "I know you still have many friends in the Ninth District. I’m going to push the matter of their immigration through the assembly."

Hearing this, Shu Yao’s expression changed dramatically.

She shot to her feet, her body rigid with tension. "Uncle, don’t do anything reckless!"

Shu Guohua paused, his smile fading. "What’s wrong?"

"The people in the Ninth District are ruthless and desperate, a dangerous mix of characters! That place isn’t as peaceful as you think!" Shu Yao’s tone was grave. "In any case, just don’t get involved!"

With a grim expression, Shu Guohua considered this, then nodded. "I understand."

Since Shu Yao and her son had arrived at the Shu residence, they had rarely mentioned anything about the Ninth District. The rest of the Shu Family never found a suitable opportunity to ask, either.

Judging from Shu Yao’s reaction today, Shu Guohua realized the situation in the Ninth District was not as simple as he had imagined.

As for Shu Yao, even after solemnly warning her eldest uncle not to interfere in the affairs of the Ninth District, a faint sense of unease still lingered in her heart.