Chapter 237 - 237 Composite Photo
237 Composite Photo
To maintain his dignity, Xiang Tian had no choice but to come out and explain, “Everyone, this is a malicious attack against Jiang Xue’s integrity. We acknowledge Xue’er’s character. As everyone knows, our family’s business is booming, and there are naturally those unhappy with our fortune. It’s normal for them to take this opportunity to cause mischief.”
Xiang Tian explained the situation candidly. After a slight pause, he continued, this time with a warning edge to his words, “Everyone here is smart. I don’t think anyone would take this photoshopped image seriously.”
When Jiang Xue heard Xiang Tian’s words, she immediately cooperated, exclaiming loudly, “Mr. Xiang is right! I’m innocent! I don’t know who would do something so evil to paint me in a bad light. Their means are too vile. This is an attack directed at the Xiang family, and I hope everyone will not allow themselves to be deceived.”
The combination of Xiang Tian and Jiang Xue’s words convinced most people. Modern technological advances made it such that photoshopping images was a real problem, where many fakes could pass off as genuine articles with little to no trouble.
There were those in the crowd, however, who remained skeptical, and they fanned the flames of the possibility that it was not a set-up at all. Whispers emerged, and soon the whole hall was abuzz.
Jiang Xue turned to Xiang Cheng, tears streaming down her cheeks, “Big Brother Cheng, believe me, this is an attack on my innocence! Someone wants to smear my good name.”
Xiang Cheng still had his reservations, but there was little he could do in the present situation since his father had taken the lead and shown the family’s stance on the matter.
If the incident had occurred before Jiang Xue took to the stage, Xiang Cheng was certain the family would have pushed the blame on her, ousting Jiang Xue as a pariah.
However, the image appeared when Jiang Xue stood on stage alongside the family. The Xiang family’s honor and disgrace were tied to Jiang Xue.
Hence, even if the image was real, the Xiang family had no choice but to bite the bullet and insist it was fake to preserve their reputation before all their guests.
Otherwise, what would people say if the future Mrs. Xiang enjoyed such a promiscuous private life? Would the Xiang family have any leg to stand on in Rong City, then?
Wang Yue held her son’s hand and gestured as she shot Jiang Xue a look.
Xiang Cheng suppressed his anger and wrapped an arm around Jiang Xue’s shoulder. He smiled at the audience and said, “It’s a misunderstanding. I know what kind of person Xue’er is. The Xiang family will investigate this matter and bring the culprits to justice. As for those who would spread rumors of this incident, let it be known that the Xiang family’s stance is one of zero tolerance.”
Jiang Xue’s heart skipped a beat when she heard Xiang Cheng say that the family would investigate the matter, and she smiled guiltily.
Meanwhile, in one of the hotel’s luxury suites, Xia Chun hurriedly explained herself, panic ringing loud and clear. “President Meng, how could I have hurt Young Master Guan? I’ve never met him before! Besides, why would I want to hurt him?”
Meng Yu blew at the steam rising from his cup of tea. With a sniff, he put it aside, replying, “Madam Jiang is very generous. I’m surprised you’ve forgotten how you paid 500,000 yuan to hurt someone.”
Xia Chun was dumbfounded. She had spent quite a bit recently, but that was to teach Shen Xi and her parents a lesson. The total sum amounted to 500,000 yuan, but neither of those instances should have involved Young Master Guan.
“President Meng, I’m afraid this has to be a misunderstanding,” Xia Chun said, looking puzzled.
Meng Yu chuckled. “Wasn’t the incident at Zhuo Ying High School’s observation room Mrs. Jiang’s doing? Wasn’t the 250,000 yuan deposit that the eight perpetrators received something transferred from your account?”
Xia Chun was stunned. At that time, to avoid trouble, she had arranged the attack through a black market middleman, transferring the money through an overseas account to obscure her tracks.
She did not expect to be found out so easily.
Still, how did her orders implicate Young Master Guan? She had paid off some men to teach Shen Xi a lesson; it should have had nothing to do with the Guan family’s young scion. Was Guan Lei, the male student who had been in the same observation room as Shen Xi, the person Meng Yu was talking about?
The news of Shen Xi’s alleged affair had caused an uproar. Thus, Xia Chun was well acquainted with the invents that transpired. Since those men failed to uphold their end of the bargain, and she could not contact the black market middleman, Xia Chun had not paid the sum she owed in full.
Upon arriving at the thought, Xia Chun could not remain still. With a trembling voice, she exclaimed, “Don’t tell me that Guan Lei guy is Young Master Guan? President Meng, I didn’t know Young Master Guan was studying at Zhuo Ying High School. All I wanted to do was to educate my adopted daughter, that’s all. This is a family matter.”
Meng Yu frowned, thinking that the situation was bad. He seemed to have exposed Guan Lei’s identity.
Helplessly, Meng Yu could only vaguely say, “I’m not familiar with this Guan Lei. The Young Master was passing by the observation room and was injured by your people.”