Chapter 419

Hearing this, Zhang Hongtu froze for a moment. Then, with a peculiar expression, he asked, “Are you saying the video and photos we just saw were all fabricated? That they aren’t real?”

Lin Yongkun shrugged. “You’ve been in politics for years. It’s not like you haven’t seen your share of fake photos and videos.”

“But these people…”

Zhang Hongtu had wanted to say that while physical evidence could be fabricated, witnesses were a different story. But he cut himself off, his expression suddenly grim. With his extensive experience in politics, he knew better than anyone that it wasn’t difficult to fabricate either physical evidence or witness testimony.

Especially for someone as famous and wealthy as Lin Jiji, creating a few fake photos and videos would be child’s play. As for witnesses, he might not even need to spend money. A single message in a fan forum would be enough to bring droves of eager volunteers.

At this thought, Zhang Hongtu’s expression turned grave. “Old Forest, if all of this was fabricated, then the nature of this incident is completely different. You saw the situation for yourself. It involves not only several hundred, maybe a thousand, of our own local residents, but also many fans who traveled here from all over.

Those two-thousand-plus people are already convinced that everything they’ve read online is true. To overturn that public opinion, we’ll need irrefutable proof. Otherwise, one wrong move could trigger a domino effect and lead to a mass incident. When that happens, we’ll have no way of explaining ourselves to leadership.”

Lin Yongkun shrugged. “Of course I know what you’re saying. And it’s precisely because the implications are so broad that I’ve stepped forward.”

Zhang Hongtu frowned. “Do you have evidence proving Doctor Chen was framed?”

Lin Yongkun said, “A little, but not enough.”

“What kind of evidence?”

“It’s about that foolish niece of mine. This piece of evidence can prove that she was saved by Chenyang.”

“Your niece?” Zhang Hongtu frowned, confused.

Lin Yongkun gestured to the side. “That foolish girl over there.”

“Lin… Superstar Lin Xiaoyue is your niece?” Zhang Hongtu was stunned. “Old Forest, you’ve kept the fact that you have a superstar for a niece hidden pretty damn well. We’ve been colleagues for so many years, and I haven’t heard a peep about it.”

Lin Yongkun let out a dry laugh. “She only got into show business in the last couple of years. Besides, you know the old man of my family. He always wanted Xiaoyue to go into politics or enlist. He didn’t think it was proper for her to be in the entertainment industry, so he told us not to go around blabbing about it.”

“Having to deal with an old hardhead like your family’s patriarch, I bet the younger generation has it rough.” Zhang Hongtu paused, then steered the conversation back to the main point. “But the fact that your niece was saved by Chenyang isn’t enough to prove he was completely framed.”

Lin Yongkun said, “I haven’t had many dealings with Doctor Xiaochen, but from our brief interaction when he saved me, I know he’s not the type to just take this lying down and let these people frame him. Also, from what I understand, he was supposed to be confined to the hospital, but he suddenly vanished last night…”

Before he could finish, Zhang Hongtu frowned. “Vanished? Was he trying to skip town?”

“No. If he wanted to skip town, why would he be standing here now?”

“Good point. So where did he go?”

“I don’t know where, but I have a feeling he went to find some evidence to clear his name.”

The corner of Zhang Hongtu’s mouth twitched. “Old Forest, he saved your life, so naturally you’re going to believe him. But your faith in him, your gut feeling… that’s not enough to actually help him, is it?”

Lin Yongkun smiled knowingly. “On its own, my intuition proves nothing. But what if there’s a basis for this intuition?”

“What basis?”

“If a person is powerless to change his circumstances, and has no option to flee, he should be panicked and helpless when facing trouble, right?” As he spoke, Lin Yongkun pointed toward Chenyang. “But do you see even a hint of panic or helplessness in him?”

“Well…”

Zhang Hongtu was suddenly at a loss for words.

He had arrived here before Lin Yongkun and had seen Chenyang before Lin Yongkun did.

At that time, Chenyang was methodically treating patients in the ambulance.

Later, he had appeared before the crowd with complete composure. Even when facing the mountain of evidence produced by Lin Jiji, his attitude remained calm and self-possessed.

An immature person would have panicked long ago in a situation like this. They’d run if they could, and if they couldn’t run, forget about standing here—they wouldn’t have had the composure to treat patients in the first place.

Even a more mature person, one who could maintain their composure enough to treat patients, would surely be flushed with anger when faced with the accusations of a huge crowd and the weight of all that evidence.

Yet Chenyang wasn’t like that at all.

From start to finish, he had been utterly composed. It was the composure of someone with a clear conscience, who fears no ghosts at their door. And beyond that composure, he even exuded a sense of confidence, as if he was already holding the winning hand.