Chapter 78: Chapter 78: A Reversal of Events

Just then, a netizen popped up:

[I’m a police officer. This case does indeed have many questionable points, and as of now, Han Lijie is still a suspect. However, your words have caught our full attention. We will re-investigate based on the leads you’ve provided.]

[Whoa—a cop spoke up! If the investigation reveals the streamer just made all this up, how long would she get?]

Meng Long completely believed Shen Zhiyao’s words, because she had described every single detail with such accuracy.

Hearing Shen Zhiyao’s words, the heavy weight on Han Dangwu’s heart finally lifted. ’She knew it.’ Her brother was kind by nature; he would never do something as heinous as murdering his own parents.

She spoke up, “Streamer, I still want to know where my brother is. Since you said he didn’t kill anyone, I think we should find him so he can cooperate with the police. I believe the police won’t frame a good person.”

Shen Zhiyao nodded. “Of course.”

Then, she sent Han Lijie’s location to Han Dangwu via private message.

After receiving the message, Han Dangwu quickly went offline.

“Thank you, Master!” Meng Long sent Shen Zhiyao ten Carnivals. “Thank you, Master, for telling me what my son went through all these years. But… he killed someone. He’ll probably get the death penalty, won’t he…?”

Seeing his grief-stricken expression, Shen Zhiyao said, “Would you like me to read your future?”

Meng Long shook his head. “My son is about to die. What my future holds doesn’t matter anymore.”

With that, Meng Long disconnected from the video call.

[I feel like everyone is so pitiful except for Zhou Lan. Meng Long, Meng Long’s son, and Han Lijie are all so tragic!]

[Yeah! I’m about to cry watching this! WAAAAH…]

[What’s so pitiful about Han Lijie? Even if he didn’t do these particular bad things, he’s done plenty of others in the past. Stealing, bullying classmates, stabbing someone, and raping a female student from his school!]

[He’s done so much bad stuff, it’s about time he got his comeuppance!]

[Exactly! We can’t just let him get away with doing so many bad things without any consequences!]

Shen Zhiyao said gravely, “As I said, Han Lijie is not a bad person. You shouldn’t always judge people based on hearsay. None of you know Han Lijie. Spreading rumors like this is a criminal act!”

[What do you mean? Are you saying you can prove he didn’t do all those things the internet is accusing him of?]

“Of course he didn’t!”

[But after these murders, everyone online started saying that Han Lijie stole things, got into fights, and raped a classmate in high school. Are those rumors too?]

Shen Zhiyao thought for a moment, then decided to clear Han Lijie’s name herself. “He’s had a bitter enough life as it is. Han Lijie shouldn’t have to carry the burden of these baseless accusations!”

Back when Han Lijie was in middle school, he went to the school store to buy some bread and happened to see the class’s star student stealing spicy gluten sticks.

Han Lijie told the star student that what he was doing was wrong and that he should put the snacks back immediately.

The star student just sneered and told him to mind his own business. But Han Lijie, filled with a sense of justice, told the star student, “If you don’t put it back, I’m going to tell the teacher!”

The star student’s expression changed. He grabbed Han Lijie’s wrist and shouted, “Shopkeeper! Han Lijie is stealing spicy gluten sticks!”

While Han Lijie was in a panic, the star student stuffed all the snacks from his own pocket into Han Lijie’s clothes.

And just like that, Han Lijie was branded a bad student who steals.

Shen Zhiyao raised an eyebrow. “Tell me, you have a star student and a slacker. Who are the shopkeeper and the teacher going to believe? If you were the teacher, who would you think stole the snacks?”

[They’d definitely believe the star student. Teachers always believe the star students!]

[It’s like when I was in elementary school. A star student and I were both late. The teacher asked why, and we both said we were up late studying. After listening, the teacher let the star student go in but made me stand outside!]

Shen Zhiyao continued, “And that was just the beginning. The star student spread rumors all over school about Han Lijie stealing the snacks. Despite Han Lijie’s desperate attempts to explain, not a single person believed him.”

Han Lijie found the star student at school and confronted him. “Why did you do that!?”

But the star student just waved his hand dismissively. “This isn’t the first time I’ve stolen from the school store. Other students have caught me before, but they never dared to say a word. You, though, just had to go against me! Since you chose to oppose me, I’ll let you experience the consequences of doing so!”

From then on, the star student led the entire class in isolating Han Lijie and even got the class troublemakers to bully him.

One day, Han Lijie had just gotten back to his dorm after evening self-study when he saw several of the class troublemakers sitting on his bed.

One of them smirked. “Han Lijie, I hear you’re pretty tough, huh? Come over here and lick my shoes, and we’ll forget about that whole thing with the star student.”

Before Han Lijie could retort, the students threw his bedding onto the floor. “Oops! Sorry, my hand slipped. Looks like you’ve got nowhere to sleep tonight, hehe!”

Another student deliberately poured the water from his cup onto Han Lijie’s mattress.

Even worse, a student then urinated on his bedding.

A student standing to the side said sarcastically, “Tsk, tsk. Why’d you have to provoke him? Why are you so nosy? Well, look at you now. You’re about to get beaten up!”

As he spoke, the troublemaker stood up and started cracking his knuckles.

Han Lijie had been putting up with them for a long time. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore and exploded.

He ripped off his jacket, threw it aside, grabbed one of the troublemakers by the hair, and smashed his head against the wall several times. “Are you tired of living?! Coming into someone else’s dorm to start trouble!”

Seeing their friend get hit, the other two troublemakers immediately took off their jackets and jumped in. In an instant, the four of them were brawling in the dorm room.

Unexpectedly, the three of them were no match for Han Lijie alone.

After just a few exchanges, Han Lijie had all three of them on the floor.

One of them, a heavy-set kid, was ruthless. He pulled a folding knife he’d brought with him from his pocket, got up, and lunged, aiming for Han Lijie’s stomach.

Han Lijie reacted quickly, grabbing the boy’s wrist to try and take the knife.

In the struggle, Han Lijie accidentally stabbed the heavy-set boy with the knife.

Shen Zhiyao said, “And that is the full story behind the online rumors of ’Han Lijie steals, fights, and stabs classmate.’ The entire sequence of events. Have I made myself clear enough?”

[So… Han Lijie was the victim all along!!! The truth was twisted so badly!]

[It’s true. Once someone is labeled a bad guy, once some ’dark history’ comes out, netizens will believe it without thinking!]

[That star student is a real piece of work. For all we know, he’s the one who started this new rumor too!]

[Then what about Han Lijie mindlessly running away after being framed for murder? And what’s the deal with him raping a minor?]

Shen Zhiyao sighed deeply. “Sigh. These incidents nearly ruined his future. And it was precisely this next incident that made him a wanted man throughout the city. But the truth of the matter is this…”

On that day, when Han Lijie awoke from unconsciousness, he found his clothes covered in splattered blood. His forehead had been struck hard, and blood was streaming down his face uncontrollably.

He dragged his heavy body home, limping all the way.

He habitually pushed open the door and called out, “Dad, Mom, I’m back! I don’t know who I pissed off…”

Before he could finish his sentence, he saw his parents’ bodies on the floor. The shock sent him sprawling to the ground.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep