Living in a county town, starting as a stock market maker...

Everyone in the living room was completely baffled.

Gu Yuanshan was the first to react.

"Xiaoyan".

He cried out in surprise, threw away the cigarette butt in his hand, and rushed over, managing to catch his wife just before her head hit the floor tiles.

"mom."

Gu Ming also broke free from that absurd feeling in an instant.

The living room was a complete mess.

Gu Yuanshan held his wife, calling her name, unsure of what to do. Shen An'an stood there, her face pale with fright. She never expected that her boastful remark would bring him down so easily.

Su Qingying's brows furrowed deeply. She quickly stepped forward, checked Meng Xiaoyan's pulse and breathing, and calmly said to the panicked father and son:

"Uncle, Gu Ming, don't panic. Auntie is just emotionally agitated and hasn't eaten dinner, so she fainted from a sudden shock. Her breathing and heartbeat are still stable."

Her words calmed the chaotic scene down a bit.

Gu Ming took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He glanced at Su Qingying, his eyes showing a hint of gratitude, but more so a sense of determination.

"Dad, let's carry Mom back to bed first."

The father and son worked together to settle Meng Xiaoyan on the bed in the bedroom.

When Gu Ming came out, his face had lost all panic, leaving only a cold calm.

He walked up to Su Qingying and Shen An'an.

"Su Qingying, Shen An'an."

This was the first time he had called them by their full names, and his voice carried an undeniable sense of distance.

"I'm sorry you had to see what happened today."

"It's not convenient here right now. I'll have someone take you to a hotel. We can talk about it tomorrow."

His tone was calm, without accusation or displaced anger, yet it carried more weight than any angry roar.

Su Qingying looked at him.

She could tell from the man's cold eyes that things were about to get out of hand.

She knew that tonight, he was no longer the college classmate she could argue and debate with.

She nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

"it is good."

She pulled up Shen An'an, who was still in a daze.

"An'an, let's go."

Shen An'an's eyes were red, and she whispered to Gu Ming:

"Gu Ming, I'm sorry... I didn't know it would turn out like this..."

Gu Ming glanced at her, shook his head, and said nothing.

He took out his phone and called Wang Min directly, his voice as cold as ice.

"Find a reliable driver to take the company van to a hotel in the city for two important guests. Use my ID to book two presidential suites and put it on the company's tab."

"Also, have the hotel send up two dinners."

"quick."

No further explanation needed, an order that brooks no argument.

After making the call, he stood at the door, silently watching Su Qingying and Shen An'an.

Su Qingying gave him a deep look, then pulled Shen An'an away without looking back.

After seeing the two outsiders off, Gu Ming closed the door.

He returned to the bedroom, where his father was awkwardly wiping his mother's face with a hot towel.

He walked over, took the towel, sat on the edge of the bed, and silently watched his sleeping mother.

She had many more wrinkles around her eyes than he remembered, and her temples were graying.

He reached out and gently smoothed his mother's furrowed brow.

Then, he turned to his father, who also had a worried look on his face, and said...

"Dad, you go sleep in the living room. I'll stay with Mom tonight."

Gu Yuanshan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but looking at his son's calm yet incredibly determined face, he finally just sighed, patted his shoulder, and walked out.

Only the mother and son remained in the room.

Gu Ming just sat there quietly, keeping watch.

After an unknown amount of time, Meng Xiaoyan slowly woke up.

She opened her eyes and saw her son sitting by the bedside; tears streamed down her face again.

"Son... I've let you down..."

She held Gu Ming's hand, her voice hoarse, filled with guilt.

Gu Ming took her cold hand in his own, and with an unprecedented gentleness and firmness, told her word by word.

"Mom, you did nothing wrong."

"The ones who are wrong are those who are talking nonsense."

"Don't worry, starting tomorrow, no one in the entire Hegang will dare to gossip about you anymore."

"Believe me."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a power that could penetrate people's hearts.

Looking at her son, at his dark, unwavering eyes, Meng Xiaoyan felt her heart, filled with fear and shame, slowly calm down.

She nodded and fell into a deep sleep.

After confirming that his mother was asleep, Gu Ming stood up and gently closed the door.

Instead of going back to his room, he grabbed his car keys and walked straight out the door.

He got back into the car, closed the door, and the gentle yet resolute expression on his face vanished, replaced by a cold gaze and an aura of menace.

Instead of going home, he drove straight to the Star Media office.

The office was empty and pitch black at midnight.

Gu Ming didn't turn on the lights; he just sat in his boss's chair, completely immersed in the darkness.

He took out his phone and dialed Wang Min's number.

The call was answered almost instantly.

"Ming-ge, the guests have been delivered and settled in."

Wang Min's voice carried a hint of inquiry.

"Um."

Gu Ming responded and then gave the order directly.

"Wang Min, I have a task for you."

"Use all the people we have, including the brothers you used to know and the online trolls we've been cultivating, to investigate the people who have been spreading rumors about our company recently, especially those in the teaching profession."

"Within half a day, I need to see the complete transmission path, every ID that has spoken or forwarded the message, and the source of the rumor."

"Remember, at all costs."

Wang Min remained silent for a few seconds on the other end. She could smell a hint of blood in Gu Ming's emotionless tone.

She didn't ask why, but simply replied with a single word.

"it is good."

After hanging up with Wang Min, Gu Ming didn't stop.

He turned on his computer and started searching online.

He wasn't searching for local lawyers, but rather for well-known law firms throughout the province and even the whole country.

Finally, he set his sights on a well-known law firm located in the provincial capital—Tianheng Law Firm.

This law firm is known for its high fees, tough tactics, and expertise in handling difficult cases.

Gu Ming dialed the 24-hour emergency contact number listed on their website.

"Hello, Tianheng Law Firm."

A deep, steady male voice rang out.

"I need your team to handle a defamation case."

Gu Ming got straight to the point.

"I don't care what time it is, or how expensive your lawyers' fees are."

"I have only one request."

"I need a strongly worded lawyer's letter with sufficient legal basis to be delivered to Li Li, a teacher at HG No.1 Experimental Middle School, before 9:00 a.m. tomorrow."

"Is it possible?"

The person on the other end of the phone was clearly taken aback by Gu Ming's decisive and efficient style.

After a brief silence and a rapid internal communication, the voice rang out again, this time with utmost solemnity.

"Okay. Mr. Gu, please provide the specific details and evidence, and we will immediately form a special task force."

Silent all night.

The next morning, at 9:30.

The atmosphere in the principal's office of HG City No. 1 Experimental Middle School was as calm as usual.

Principal Wang, who is over fifty years old, is brewing his cup of goji berry and red date tea, preparing to start his day's work.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door.

His secretary led in a young man dressed in a sharp suit and wearing gold-rimmed glasses, who looked like he belonged to a different kind of small town.

"Principal, this is Attorney Zhang from Tianheng Law Firm in the provincial capital. He says he has an important letter to give you in person."

Principal Wang was taken aback for a moment.

A law firm in the provincial capital? Looking for me?

He took the heavy envelope with large gold lettering from the man with some doubt.

When he pulled out the document and saw the bright red law firm seal and the bold black text at the beginning of the document, his hand holding the teacup trembled violently.

The scalding hot tea spilled out, but he didn't notice at all.

His eyes were fixed on the piece of paper.

"A lawyer's letter regarding your school's current teacher, Li Li, who is suspected of maliciously fabricating and spreading rumors, seriously infringing upon the reputation rights of my client, Mr. Gu Ming, and causing a negative impact on the business environment of our city..."

Copies to: HG City Education Bureau.

He was completely stunned.

Li Li? Gu Ming?

He wasn't stupid; he immediately recalled the rumors and gossip circulating among the teachers at school recently.

He always thought it was just normal gossip in a small county town.

But he never dreamed that this matter would be exposed to him in this way.

Moreover, the first thing they sent was a lawyer's letter from a well-known law firm in the provincial capital, with a direct copy to the Education Bureau.

This is not a simple case of defamation. It has escalated to the level of damaging the business environment, a responsibility he cannot bear.

"Quickly, go and call Ms. Li Li from the Academic Affairs Office over."

Principal Wang's voice even changed tone.

A few minutes later.

Li Li, wearing high heels, walked into the principal's office with a bewildered expression.

She thought the principal was going to praise her for her recent open class.

"Principal, you wanted to see me?"

Principal Wang didn't speak, but looked at her with a complicated expression, and then pushed the lawyer's letter on the table, which still carried the warmth of his trembling hands, towards her.

Li Li picked up the letter with a puzzled look.

When she saw the words "Tianheng Law Firm," her heart skipped a beat.

She finally realized what kind of person she had offended with her casual remarks used to vent her jealousy.