A Good-for-Nothing

161. Libel (1)

Translator: Dragon Rider

Because of He Zheng’s good looks and decent exorcism skills as well as his marriage with Li Zong, his fellow trainees liked him pretty much, particularly those relatively more sophisticated ones who were aware that they had everything to gain and nothing to lose by maintaining a good relationship with He Zheng.

All those who had passed the interview were supposed to attend their first training course this day. Sure enough He Zheng, who had stayed in Li Zong’s quarters in the bureau, had come to the classroom very early, waiting outside. Previously, every time He Zheng had shown up, some trainees had walked up to him and greeted him, but on this occasion, all others were standing around in huddles discussing something, and none of them came over.

He Zheng was somewhat surprised but didn’t give it much thought, leaning against a tree trunk, playing with his cellphone.

Suddenly, someone clapped him on the shoulder. He Zheng turned and saw that Lin Zhuo was standing behind him, his eyes covered with two leaves. The moment he turned, Lin Zhuo quickly removed the leaves with the intention to give him a start.

“Ha ha, what are you doing?”

“Nothing. I saw you standing here alone as if in a trance.” Lin Zhuo gingerly tossed the leaves under the tree, making sure they wouldn’t float far away.

Some people on the other side fell into discussion with each other in undertones as they saw the two of them standing together.

At first He Zheng hadn’t noticed, but after a while, he perceived that those people were frequently glancing in his direction. Eyebrows furrowed, he started walking towards them. Seeing this, Lin Zhuo stopped him and asked, “Where are you going, He Zheng?”

“I want to find out what it is they’re discussing. They keep tossing glances at us.”

Lin Zhuo, as if knowing something, shook his head and gave a somewhat peculiar look at He Zheng.

Thrown into perplexity by this look, He Zheng knitted his eyebrows. “What’s the matter?”

Seeing that more and more people started discussing, Lin Zhuo came to realize that it was no good trying to keep this back from He Zheng. After hesitating for a while, he said, “I’ll tell you, but promise me you’ll stay calm.”

He Zheng couldn’t think of anything that would cause him to get angry. Was Li Zong having an affair?

Lin Zhuo produced his cellphone and showed it to He Zheng. On the screen was a website, the topmost title of which read ‘Internal Website of SMB’.

In conformity with the principle of humanization, apart from the announcement section, the organizational affairs section and some others, the Internal Website of SMB also featured a BBS on which staff members were free to express their opinions on all kinds of things.

The title of the last red-titled post read ‘Should the Mess Hall of SMB Do Something About Food Quality?’

But now a new post had taken its place.

The title of it read ‘Rarely Known Stories About the Good-For-Nothing of the He Family’.

It had never occurred to He Zheng that such frivolous post would appear on the Internal Website of SMB. He opened it only to saw a long article about how he, a good-for-nothing, had managed to come by some secret method from his family after years’ plotting, gain the capability of cultivating, pass the interview for STTP through the back door with Li Zong’s help, etc. Anyway, each and every word of it was malicious.

He Zheng’s temper began to fray halfway through the post. Teeth gritted, he snapped, “Which son of a bitch posted this?”

“It’s an anonymous post. I don’t think anybody could track their I.P. address.”

“I don’t know why someone would post this kind of shit on there! This is unbelievable!” He Zheng shoved the cellphone into Lin Zhuo’s hand and turned around heading for Li Zong’s office.

Someone said in a quiet voice, “You see that? He’s probably going to Supt. Li – no, Group Leader Li – to seek comfort again.”

Although their voices were low, as He Zheng’s five senses had been becoming increasingly sharper, he could hear them distinctly.

He Zheng swiveled around with a vacant expression and was just about to reprimand them when a fairly unpleasant male voice chipped in, “SMB is not the place for you to gossip. If you just came here for the ride, you might as well pack your stuff and quit right now.”

Chen Qianlin had a sulky face. Seeing that it was him, that person recalled what kind of person Chen Qianlin was and didn’t dare talk back, a disgusted look on his face.

Chen Qianlin glanced across the discussing crowd and sneered, “Pathetic.”

After saying this, Chen Qianlin walked away.

The couple of people who had been discussing something just now didn’t know what to say to contradict Chen Qianlin’s insulting comment on them, a mixture of embarrassment and anger on their faces. No longer in the mood for gossip, they cleared off.

He Zheng squinted at Chen Qianlin’s receding back. Lin Zhuo was also curious. “Haven’t the two of you always been on bad terms? Why did he come to your help?”

“Your guess is as good as mine.” He Zheng withdrew his gaze.

Lin Zhuo asked, “Are you going to talk to Group Leader Li?”

“Um.”

Lin Zhuo looked hesitant, as if having something to say.

He Zheng added, “I want to ask him for a leave of absence. It’s about time I dealt with some family matters.”

Then He Zheng gave a sneer. Seeing the look on his face, Lin Zhuo was somewhat worried.

But Lin Zhuo’s worry proved unnecessary afterwards.

While He Zheng was on his way to Li Zong’s office, Li Zong had staff members of the IT Department delegate that post and tracked the poster’s I.P. address.

There was a stranger in Li Zong’s office when He Zheng arrived.

Seeing He Zheng walking in, the man looked even more panic-stricken.

“Who’s this fella?” He Zheng walked up to the desk, frowning.

Li Zong, who was sorting out some papers, threw a glance at the man and replied, “A nobody of the Qiao family.”

On hearing this, He Zheng came to understand the whole thing and observed sharply, “No wonder he looks so shifty.”

That man was speechless.

Li Zong patted his shoulder. “Go attend the course. I’m visiting somewhere.”

He Zheng didn’t move and cast a sidelong glance at Li Zong.

“What are you going to do?”

Li Zong gave a smile and looked at his watch. “Director Zhen granted me a two-hour leave of absence. I’m going to get revenge for my flat-chested wife.”

When He Zheng sat down in the classroom, he was still thinking about that last remark of Li Zong’s. ‘This man had been becoming more and more…’