Hidden identities of the AI Heiress
Chapter 686 - Chapter 686 Chapter 686 Professor Qiao is Insulted

Chapter 686: Chapter 686: Professor Qiao is Insulted Chapter 686: Chapter 686: Professor Qiao is Insulted The man’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and his gaze subconsciously darted away, his tone defiant as he said, “What’s that saying again? Right, it’s ‘If you don’t want anyone to know, don’t do it.'”

He slapped his thigh, “Although I’m without money or power, I still have some influence in society, and finding out about this matter would be easy.”

Lu Jingzhi narrowed his eyes and, without a word, pushed open the car door and got out.

The man was baffled, “Why are you leaving? Have you agreed to my terms or not?”

Lu Jingzhi scoffed, “In your dreams.”

Having said that, he strode off, leaving the fuming man behind.

Lu Jingzhi’s eyes darkened as he returned to the CEO’s office.

With an inexplicable look, he said, “Dad, Uncle, they want fifty million.”

Lu Rui and Lu Xian laughed simultaneously.

“Quite ambitious.”

“It seems they think we have no means to deal with them.”

Lu Jingzhi nodded in agreement, “He’s quite confident, acting as if we must give the money to have demanded such an exorbitant amount.”

Lu Xian chuckled, “Where does he get the confidence to go against us?”

Indeed, there would be compensation, but these unreasonable demands were something they would never agree to.

Lu Jingzhi pondered aloud, “When I asked him how he knew about the safety helmets, his reaction gave me the impression that someone might be backing him.”

Lu Xian was taken aback, “Could it be one of our competitors trying to sabotage us?”

“Hard to say.” Lu Rui shook his head, then asked Lu Jingzhi, “Have you checked the family situation of the deceased worker?”

“Already on it.”

Lu Rui nodded, “See if you can find anything we can use. Right now, public opinion mainly wants justice for the deceased. Let’s first stabilize the media narrative. As for…”

“No problem.” Lu Xian knew what Lu Rui was about to ask and said without hesitation, “We have a regular collaboration company and go through many layers of inspection procedures, so it’s impossible that we used substandard building materials.”

It was unexpected to be tripped up by the safety helmets.

Lu Xian ruefully thought he really wasn’t cut out for the CEO position.

Lu Jingzhi continued, “It’s probably just to attract attention with wild accusations, but it’s still had a significant impact on us. I suggest we sue him for defamation.”

He analyzed gravely, “We can’t always be in a reactive position; it only makes us appear guilty. We should admit our mistakes when necessary and defend our interests where we must.”

“As always, you know best. Leave this matter to the legal department. But just to be safe, let’s inspect everything one more time,” Lu Rui directed methodically, “The priority is to get to the bottom of this safety helmet issue.”

As the three men were still frantic over the matter, news came that, due to numerous reports from concerned citizens, relevant departments were going to inspect the real estate project.

Once the media reported this, public opinion was in uproar again.

Suddenly calling for inspections, could there really be an issue with the building project?

Some who had already purchased homes began to worry, fearing they had bought shoddy houses, and rushed to the sales office in protest, demanding refunds.

Those who had been considering a purchase gave up the idea.

Even properties previously developed by the Lu Family were impacted by the incident.

Following this, the stocks of Lu Group began to fall, driving the entire organization’s employees into a state of anxiety.

Could such a large group really be taken down over safety helmets?

Meanwhile, Lu Group urgently issued a statement, adamantly assuring that there were no issues with the building materials and that they would pursue legal action against the rumor-mongers.

As for the matter of the safety helmets, they promised to thoroughly investigate and reach a resolution for the workers.

When the statement was released, it did stabilize some people, but many still condemned Lu Group, scoffing that a mere statement was useless without hard evidence.

…

Hearing the news, Old Master Qin smiled from ear to ear, “Well done, it has not been in vain, my painstaking efforts over the past month. A minor Lu Family thinking to contend with the Qin Family is nothing but a fool’s errand.”

That Old Master Qin had built the Qin Family to such magnificence was a testament to his cunning and calculation.

He didn’t want to do it, but the Lu Family insisted on provoking him, so they left him with no choice but to make them disappear.

Battling with him was mere mayflies shaking a giant tree.

He ordered Xiaozhang, “Go, put in more effort to make Lu Group’s stock hit the limit down.”

“Yes.”

Old Master Qin’s expression twisted, “Add fuel to their fire, create more chaos within their ranks.”

“Yes.”

“By the way, didn’t we find out some secrets about the Lu Family, especially about the Lu Family’s young lady? Now is a good time to spread those and give them some extra headache.”

The more chaotic the Lu Family became, the more advantageous it was for his next moves.

Old Master Qin stroked his beard, his wrinkled face filled with a sense of inevitable victory.

…

Someone posted an opinion online.

Lu Group has squeezed its employees to make so much dirty money, and as a popular celebrity, Lu Zhanxing benefited greatly from that wealth; who knows how much clout and resources he exchanged with that money.

How does he have the face to show up in public?

If you have a conscience, you should boycott Lu Zhanxing.

Let Lu Zhanxing withdraw from the entertainment industry and refuse to be a capitalist’s lackey.

Some of Lu Zhanxing’s haters immediately acted as if they had caught him in a vice, beating the gongs and trumpeting their joy as they propagated the news.

Lu Zhanxing’s public image has collapsed!

Savouring blood-soaked buns, doesn’t your conscience bother you?

Lu Zhanxing, get out of the entertainment industry now.

It was then that someone claiming to be an insider leaked information.

The Lu Family’s young lady had been lost since she was a child, and the Lu Family later adopted a daughter named Lu Ting; Lu Ting’s biological father had even saved the life of the Lu Family’s eldest son.

However, after the real daughter returned, the Lu Family kicked out the daughter of the man who saved their son and now she’s suffering in a sanatorium, still not recovered.

The person who revealed this claimed to suspect that Lu Ting was deliberately sent to the sanatorium by the Lu Family to make way for the real daughter.

Their hearts are condemnable!

No wonder the Lu Family could do such heartless deeds, disregarding the safety of workers.

Clearly, the whistleblower only knew the surface issues and not the real situation.

But these comments were enough to incite outrage among netizens.

Someone commented, remembering how last year Lu Ting appeared on an outdoor reality show with Lu Zhanxing, but at that time Lu Zhanxing only took care of Qiao Yun and completely ignored Lu Ting, which clearly showed that Lu Ting must have been mistreated in the Lu Family.

Obviously, they had forgotten that they were the ones mocking Lu Ting online as a supreme white lotus back in the day.

Now the tables have turned, and everyone is quick to push the blame.

Fans of Lu Zhanxing, seeing that the flames had spread to their idol, started to manage the comments.

Nevertheless, many still went to Lu Zhanxing’s Weibo to leave messages.

Demanding he apologize for Lu Group’s actions and explain the situation with Lu Ting.

The comment section under his Weibo post became a battlefield.

Qiao Yun, having not opened a Weibo account, managed to avoid direct hits, but people still slandered her online.

They condemned her as a scheming woman who only came back for the Lu’s money, surely out of jealousy, she must have plotted to drive Lu Ting away.

Though they knew nothing of the truth, they spoke as if they knew it all.

Qiao Yun had built up a fan base from her single appearance on a variety show with Lu Zhanxing, and with Lu Zhanxing’s fans backing her out of loyalty to their idol, if anyone insulted Qiao Yun, they would quickly counterattack.

[Just spouting “it is said,” “rumors,” do you have any evidence? Or did you eavesdrop from under the Lu Family’s beds?]

[The investigation results from Lu Group haven’t been released yet, so on what grounds do you accuse Lu Ge of feeding on blood-soaked buns? Clearly, my Lu Ge made it on his own.]

“[Kidnapping Lu Sister and Lu Brother, we don’t meet for such arrangements.]”

“[With Lu Ting’s deceitful demeanor, if she got kicked out, she must have done something bad! Why would people take her for innocent just because of one expose?]”

However, it was clear that netizens who were angered by the Lu Group incident simply wouldn’t listen to these logical counterarguments.

…

At this moment, Lu Zhanxing was participating in a live-streaming event.

The popularity of the live-stream room suddenly skyrocketed, reaching over ten million.

The staff behind the scenes saw this and even remarked to Xie Ying, “The popularity of Teacher Lu is terrifying. I’ve done live-streams for so long, but this is the first time I’ve seen an artist with such a huge number of viewers online.”

Xie Ying felt it was odd and humbly replied, “You flatter me, I didn’t expect so many people to watch, it’s strange. This never happened in previous live streams.”

However, when they saw the messages from the viewers, Xie Ying was utterly stunned.

What’s going on? What happened?

Those comments on the public screen about Lu Zhanxing profiting from unscrupulous practices, what’s all that about?

The Lu Group being investigated, what’s up with that?

Lu Zhanxing, who was in the midst of the live broadcast, naturally saw the messages on the public screen as well.

His fans and the netizens who had joined were arguing in a melee.

The whole live-stream room was in chaos.

The host at his side was barely keeping it together.

Lu Zhanxing, however, remained as calm as ever, even taking the time to analyze the situation.

He was inwardly astounded.

The Lu Group was in trouble, and now it was dragging him and his sister into it.

Upon seeing people speak ill of his sister,

Lu Zhanxing couldn’t hold back any longer and said, “What do you all know about Lu Ting’s situation to be speaking so recklessly? Pick on me if you have an issue, but leave my sister out of this, she’s the real victim!”

At that moment, the host received an order and quickly announced the end of the live stream.

As soon as Lu Zhanxing concluded the stream, he didn’t bother to clarify things with Xie Ying before immediately messaging Qiao Yun.

“[Sis, don’t go online for now, I’ll handle it.]”

He was worried Qiao Yun would be upset seeing those comments.

It was clearly Lu Ting who had done something wrong, and even the so-called lifesaving grace was a lie.

But since these were their family issues, they had no business broadcasting them online, leading to widespread misunderstandings.

The best solution was to make the truth public and clear his sister’s name.

Even though he himself was also subjected to suspicion and insults, Lu Zhanxing’s first thought was of how to prove his sister’s innocence.

After sending the message to Qiao Yun, Lu Zhanxing immediately contacted Lu Jingzhi.

“Big brother, have you seen what’s happening online?”

“Which incident are you refering to specifically?”

Lu Jingzhi thought helplessly, the Lu Family must have stepped in dog shit for all them to be struck by bad luck at once.

He was now certain that someone was out to bring down the Lu Family, otherwise they wouldn’t all be having issues at the same time, even digging up something from so far back.

But Lu Jingzhi didn’t yet have any clues or proof, and they couldn’t find any off-the-books money in the accounts of the purchaser of the safety helmets.

Lu Zhanxing said in an irritated tone, “I’m talking about sister’s situation.”

Lu Jingzhi responded with guilt, “We’ve caused trouble for your sister.”

Lu Zhanxing said gravely, “Sis hasn’t done anything, yet she has to be insulted because of our family. We’re the ones at fault here.”

Lu Jingzhi felt equally heavy-hearted.

The sister was the most innocent in this entire affair, yet she had been unwittingly dragged into it.

“I want to clarify Lu Ting’s actions and the so-called lifesaving grace from back then.”

This matter was a disgrace for the Lu Family, and publicizing it would only bring shame upon them.

With such rumors, deleting posts and trying to control public opinion was useless; it would only make things worse.

Bringing out evidence to prove the expose wrong was the most effective way.

However, with the Lu Group’s current high-profile situation, it was difficult to say how many people would believe the evidence.

But it was better than doing nothing at all.

Lu Zhanxing thought Lu Jingzhi would hesitate since his elder brother cared a lot about face.

However, Lu Jingzhi agreed without hesitation, “Okay, I support your approach.”

Lu Zhanxing smiled, “Thanks, big brother.”

Lu Jingzhi chuckled, “Qiaoqiao is also my sister. Face is important, but not as much as her innocence.”

“By the way, what’s going on with the Group?”

Lu Zhanxing felt like the whole world had changed just from participating in one live stream.

“You don’t need to worry about that, let Dad, Uncle, and me handle it.”

“Okay, but if you need me, make sure to tell me,” Lu Zhanxing instructed.

He was a part of the Lu Family and wanted to do his part.

“Understood,” was the reply.

After hanging up, Lu Zhanxing immediately started arranging to clear Lu Ting’s name.

…

Meanwhile, Qiao Yun received the message without knowing that the situation had been blown out of proportion by certain instigators.

Qiao Yun went online to check the current public sentiment.

She discovered that not only was the Lu Group in crisis, but the Lu Family members were also suffering.

It couldn’t possibly be such a coincidence.

Surely someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.

Qiao Yun asked Pei Ya to look into the whistleblower’s information, to see if they could find the culprit by following the trail.

As for the investigation of the Lu Group’s construction site, she wasn’t anxious at all.

Once the investigation was clear, the authorities would naturally announce the results, proving that the Lu Group was innocent.

After seeing the stock prices of the Lu Group drop, Qiao Yun thought for a moment and told Pei Ya, “Go do something for me.”

Pei Ya asked confusedly, “What?”

Qiao Yun explained her plan to Pei Ya.

Upon hearing it, Pei Ya said incredulously, “You’re not serious, boss. Aren’t you afraid Shengqiao Group will get dragged down too?”

“I’m not afraid,” Qiao Yun replied. “If we’ve done nothing wrong, why should we be afraid? Grandpa said, when you see injustice, you must stand up against it.”

Pei Ya: “…”

He was left speechless.

Indeed, the Lu Family did nothing wrong; they were just targeted by someone with an agenda.

“How’s the investigation I asked for going?”

Pei Ya chuckled, “It’s interesting. That so-called victim’s family isn’t really looking for justice. You have no idea…”

“What?”

A cry of surprise suddenly erupted.