Chapter 15: Acquittal, the Entire Police Station in Shock!
The low, steady hum of the computer’s cooling fan was the only sound in the room, like an invisible hand stirring the stagnant air until it grew thick and heavy.
Liu Jie’s gaze was fixed rigidly on the screen, his pupils shrinking to the barest pinpricks in utter disbelief.
The rows of black Song typeface characters, the neat, square filenames—they burned into his retina like a searing hot iron.
“Official Approval Document for the Establishment of ‘Longhai University.’”
“Private Higher Education Institution Operating License.”
“Corporate Registration Certificate.”
…
Each document was impeccably formatted and professionally laid out. Particularly striking was the bright red electronic steel seal of the Ministry of Education beneath the national emblem at the end of each file. Its intricate anti-counterfeiting patterns were crystal clear on the high-definition screen, emitting an undeniable aura of authority.
Liu Jie’s Adam’s apple bobbed painfully as he swallowed, the sound unnervingly loud in the silence.
He could swear on his career that just half an hour ago, when their entire team stormed into that dilapidated rental house armed to the teeth, none of these documents existed anywhere in this world.
He had personally witnessed the technicians conduct an initial inspection of He Yu’s computer. Apart from a few streaming apps and some public information, the hard drive was as clean as a blank sheet of paper.
And now, these documents—enough to overturn the entire case and even trigger an internal earthquake within the Jinling Municipal Bureau—had suddenly appeared out of thin air.
They lay quietly in the official backend system of the Provincial Department of Education, as if they had been there all along, mocking everything they had done in the last half hour.
How was this possible?
What on earth was going on?!
Were there signs of a server breach? No! The technical department had immediately denied any such evidence.
Were the documents forged? Even less likely! This was the encrypted intranet of the provincial department—more than just forging, even leaving the slightest trace there would be akin to climbing to the heavens.
The only explanation was a chillingly absurd one—someone, or some force, had initiated the highest-level approval process of the national education authority within the brief half hour of their arrest of He Yu, completing the entire procedure with unimaginable speed.
The Ministry of Education… had given him the green light?
The moment this thought surfaced, Liu Jie felt a prickling numbness crawl across his scalp.
Beside him, Lin Ya’s delicate face had turned deathly pale. She clutched her mouth tightly to stifle a cry. As a frontline officer, she understood better than Liu Jie what this meant.
It meant that they had just pointed guns at a man with an untouchable background, handcuffed him, and dragged him into the interrogation room under the charge of fraud.
A crushing terror—and the increasingly urgent ringing of a phone from higher-ups—pressed down on Liu Jie’s shoulders like two great mountains.
He slammed his eyes shut and, when he opened them again, they were bloodshot and resolute.
“Immediately—”
His voice was hoarse, every word squeezed out through clenched teeth.
“Release He Yu on grounds of innocence!”
The heavy iron door of the interrogation room screeched loudly as it was pulled open.
The bright interrogation lights still shone, sharply outlining He Yu’s figure. He sat quietly in his chair, expression utterly calm, as if the fierce questioning moments ago had nothing to do with him.
---
Lin Ya stepped forward, her hands trembling slightly with nerves as she fumbled several times trying to align the key with the handcuff lock.
“Click.”
The cold metal binding He Yu’s wrists finally sprang open.
He Yu flexed his wrists, stood up calmly, and then extended his hand, leisurely brushing off imaginary dust from his shoulder.
The gesture radiated poise and composure.
Half an hour later.
Outside the entrance to the Jinling Municipal Public Security Bureau.
Deputy Captain Liu Jie personally escorted He Yu down the steps. He removed his police cap, his expression a complex mix of embarrassment, reverence, and lingering fear. Standing straight, he solemnly saluted He Yu.
“Principal He, I am truly sorry.”
His voice was loud but carried a barely perceptible tremor.
“This was a mistake on our part. On behalf of the Jinling Municipal Bureau, I offer you our sincerest apologies.”
Lin Ya stood awkwardly to the side, her cheeks flushed, scratching her head in embarrassment.
“Principal He, perhaps… I could invite you to a meal, as a way to make amends?”
Summoning courage, she spoke up, attempting to gently probe into the secret behind this earth-shattering reversal. How had those files “appeared”? That mystery clawed at her heart like a restless cat’s paw.
He Yu’s gaze swept over the two of them, then a meaningful curve tugged at the corner of his lips.
He did not answer Lin Ya’s question, merely waving his hand gently.
“No need for a meal.”
His voice was calm but carried an undeniable authority.
“My students are still waiting for me.”
With those words, he turned and strode away.
Under the stunned, puzzled, and uncertain gazes of dozens of officers gathered at the bureau’s entrance, he departed with effortless grace.
He Yu’s figure vanished around the street corner. Almost immediately, he took out his phone and deftly started a live broadcast.
The moment the screen lit up, a flood of toxic comments poured in like a breaking dam, overwhelming the entire display in an instant.
[“The streamer’s not dead? I thought he was locked up! How can he still be live? Prison day tour pass?”]
[“Fraud! Scoundrel! Give me back my donation! That was my month’s salary!”]
[“The persona’s collapsed, right? Building a university? Why not a space station?”]
[“Reported to the police, waiting for the official announcement. Let’s see how you’ll die!”]
Insults, accusations, curses—they merged into a storm of malice.
He Yu stared at the nearly overflowing stream of text, his smile only growing wider.
---
He turned the camera to himself, his voice laced with lighthearted mockery.
“Everyone, calm down, just calm down.”
“If this keeps up, do you think I’ll get executed tomorrow?”
No sooner had he spoken than a special notification popped up at the top of everyone’s phone screens.
From the official Jinling Police account.
A second announcement!
[Supplementary Statement Regarding the ‘Longhai University’ Project: Upon verification, the ‘Longhai University’ founded by Mr. He Yu, the project initiator, holds all the legitimate qualifications for operation and fundraising. The previous announcement was a misunderstanding caused by unclear information verification. Our bureau has apologized to Mr. He Yu in person. This is to clarify.]
A few concise lines.
No superfluous explanation, yet brimming with overwhelming authority.
The raging barrage of comments in the livestream seemed to hit a pause button, creating an eerie three-second silence.
Three seconds later.
A volcanic eruption!
Public opinion across the internet reversed again with earth-shattering force!
[“Whaaat??? Official turnaround?! Am I seeing things?”]
[“Has all legal qualification! Bureau apologized in person! That’s huge news!”]
[“I knew it! I knew the principal wasn’t a fraud! The principal’s awesome!!!”]
[“Sorry, Principal! I just insulted you. I’m guilty! I’ll donate another hundred!”]
[“Where are the loudest haters from before? Come out for a walk?”]
The shift in sentiment occurred in an instant.
“Fraud” became “Principal,” “insults” turned into “apologies,” and “doubt” morphed into fervent admiration.
He Yu watched the fresh comments scroll by on the screen, a deeper smile spreading across his lips.
This was exactly the effect he wanted.
Clearing his throat, he faced the camera, addressing the millions witnessing this stunning reversal with a powerful, unprecedented voice:
“From today onward, I will officially select the site for Longhai University!”