In fact, it wasn't just the editor who was curious. Everyone who had commented and favorited the post harbored a common question.
Was the beautiful girl who topped the science college entrance exam telling the truth or lying?
Sometimes, what is posted online does not represent the views of the majority, because most people are silent.
Liu Chen understood this. As long as people were still curious about her, this so-called "public figure" in their eyes, the post would not easily disappear.
But she couldn't possibly hold up her property deeds on camera and say she wasn't that wealthy, could she? What if her past property purchases were exposed later?
Liu Chen sat in front of the computer for a long time, but couldn't come up with a solution.
The post was accidentally opened by Xiong Wan from her class while visiting another dorm, and that's how everyone found out about it.
Seeing that the house was clearly not the one she had temporarily stayed in during the summer, Tang Shengnan couldn't help but feel confused.
"Where is Liu Chen living now?"
Ren Mo knew everything, but just as he was about to type a reply, Ren Yu stopped him.
"Let Liu Chen handle this herself. You just need to cooperate."
Sitting slumped in front of the computer until it was dark outside and the room was pitch black, Liu Chen finally stood up from her chair.
"The best way to make people forget something is to make fun of it, so that the first thing that comes to mind when they think of it is the mockery, not the original impression."
A piece she had casually read on a WeChat public account in her previous life, an article about media public relations tactics, suddenly sprang to mind.
Just then, Mi Zhuzhu's QQ dialogue box also floated to the top.
'I asked our media teacher, and she said your case is relatively minor. Instead of clarifying, it's better to leverage this hot topic to promote your family's shop.'
Liu Chen pursed her lips. She understood what Mi Zhuzhu's teacher meant. Infamy was also fame. Capitalizing on the popularity of the topic to monetize it was the way to maximize capital.
With only eleven months left for the land acquisition task next year, the money drawn from the lottery, plus the dividends from the two games, looked like a lot, but it was actually quite insufficient for buying land.
"I've got it!"
...
The netizens were having a great time today, feasting on gossip. Even if they hadn't traveled during the National Day holiday, they were satisfied.
Inside Shuimu University, in dorm 305.
Tang Shengnan didn't have a computer, only a basic model Nokia from a few years ago. Browsing the internet was barely manageable, but watching videos would cost too much in data fees. So, most of the time, Tang Shengnan would read professional books or watch TV shows with her roommates.
Today, however, Tang Shengnan was huddled with Sang Ling in front of her laptop, constantly refreshing the post.
Behind them, Xiong Wan watched the post and pretended to worry, saying, "If Liu Chen sees this post, she'll be so sad. These people are truly something, believing a photo instead of Liu Chen's own words."
Having lived together for nearly two months, none of them who had gotten into Shuimu University were fools. Sang Ling and Tang Shengnan couldn't be bothered, and Liu Chen hadn't replied to their QQ messages.
"Liu Chen replied to me!"
Sang Ling's QQ chat window automatically popped up due to Liu Chen's reply, occupying half of the laptop screen. On it was a link sent by Liu Chen.
"Sang Ling, please forward this reply video to your class group. After I verify my Hupu account later, I'll post it directly on Hupu."
Sang Ling's hands quickly typed on the keyboard.
"Okay!"
Without even clicking on it, Sang Ling directly copied Liu Chen's link and sent it to the general group of their Computer Science department.
"This is a reply video from my roommate Liu Chen to today's Hupu post."
The QQ general group for the Computer Science department erupted with previously lurking classmates, all expressing their thoughts.
"Sister Liu is going head-to-head, awesome!"
After forwarding the link to everyone who needed it, Sang Ling finally clicked on the video interface in the chat window.
The video began in a bedroom painted entirely pink. Liu Chen was sitting with her back to the camera in front of a desktop computer, wearing a pink plush pajama set.
"Hi everyone, I'm Liu Chen, this year's top science student from S Province. Hahaha, actually, I've said this title so many times that I'm tired of it. In fact, I've noticed posts from Hupu friends about me since last year.
This is to clarify. Yes, that's right, this courtyard house belongs to my godmother. My family currently lives in C City. Some well-informed netizens may have already found this out, but since I'm studying in Beijing now, I'm staying at the university.
Of course, I'll go back to help at home during the winter break. Due to the demolition of the original wholesale market, our new store has moved to the new wholesale market located in the western part of C City. The store name remains the same.
It's called 'Sister Liu's Frozen Goods.' Friends who have visited know this name. It's a bit down-to-earth, but we've been using it for many years, so we never thought of changing it.
...
Alright, that's all for today's video. I hope everyone works hard and becomes fellow alumni in the future!"
At the end of the video, Liu Chen made a fist towards the camera, cheering everyone on.
After watching the video, Sang Ling felt that Liu Chen had clarified something, yet also hadn't clarified anything. Instead, her mind was now filled with the address of Liu Chen's new store.
"This is hardly a clarification video, it's clearly an advertisement for her family's shop!"
Xiong Wan, who disliked Liu Chen the most, was the first to point out the core of Liu Chen's video.
At this very moment, this same thought dawned on gossips all over the country.
And then...
Ennui...
...
Liu Chen sat in her room, looking at the string of ... below the post she had uploaded on the forum. A smile spread across her face.
"Knock, knock, knock."
There was a knock on the door. Liu Chen finally got up from her screen and went to the door to open it.
"I thought you would explain a lot," Ren Yu said, leaning against the doorframe with her hands loosely in her pockets, looking down slightly at Liu Chen in front of her.
Liu Chen shook her head.
"The more I explain, the less they'll listen. It's better to just turn this post into an advertisement. Nobody likes ads, so in their hearts, they'll suppress their curiosity about this post. Whenever they think of it, they'll think of advertisements."
Ren Yu's face showed a thoughtful expression, and then she nodded.
"If you hadn't studied food science and gone into media, you would have been very successful."
Praise from a true academic made Liu Chen's face involuntarily break into a smile, but she shook her head.
"Just a little cleverness, and I learned it from others. The person who first came up with this idea is the genius. Did you come here just to ask me this?"
Ren Yu shook her head. Her eyes behind her glasses finally lost their worry, and with a hint of a smile, she said,
"Dinner is ready."
As Liu Chen sat at the dining table, eating her rice, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, she had worn all her temporary luck-boosting accessories while filming the video, although they were covered by her long sleeves.
In fact, it wasn't just during filming. Liu Chen was also wearing a luck charm that added 2 points of luck for 24 hours.
Liu Chen felt that her advertising idea being so successful was inseparable from these two points of luck.
At the dinner table, as Liu Chen ate and spaced out, she heard footsteps approaching from outside. Looking up, she saw Chen Long walking in, dressed in a leather jacket.
"Uncle Chen?"
Liu Chen put down her bowl and chopsticks, looking with some surprise at Chen Long, who had appeared in Beijing.
On the other hand, Liu Fang, sitting next to Liu Chen, heard her obedient address. She turned to see Chen Long walking towards her. Although also delighted, she was not surprised. She stood up and smiled to greet him.
"You're here?"
"The old man is behind me too. Chenchen, I'll introduce you to my dad today."
"Oh?"
Liu Chen stood up and looked behind Chen Long. Indeed, an old man with white hair was walking through the garden towards the dining room. Sensing Liu Chen's gaze, he looked up at her and smiled.
"Chenchen, you can call my old man Grandpa Chen. The old man is mainly here to meet Aunt Shang. They have a long-standing friendship."
Liu Chen then realized that Ren Aiguo and Ren Aixun were not at the table. It was understandable, as they were both busy people. It was good enough for them to squeeze out a day to eat together, so how could they gather daily?
At this moment, Grandpa Chen had already entered the dining room, and Shang Gulan stood up from her chair to hug the old man.
"Brother Chen, you're finally willing to leave S Province? Let me tell you first, now that you're here, you must stay for a few more days. By the next time we meet, who knows how old we'll be."
Grandpa Chen returned Shang Gulan's hug and sighed with emotion upon hearing her words.
"It's all Chen Long's fault for arguing with me. Otherwise, I would have retired long ago."
Shang Gulan just smiled and said nothing. After pulling Grandpa Chen to a seat, there were no strict rules about not talking while eating. The two ate and chatted about their recent lives.
Shang Gulan then learned that Chen Long had kept his ex-wife's affairs secret from her for so many years, and it was only recently, when his ex-wife returned to China, that Old Man Chen learned the truth.
Shang Gulan's first reaction was to smile and say, "Then... my goddaughter is also this old. You can't rush them about having another child..."
Grandpa Chen gave a wry smile.
"My dear sister, why would I rush them? I never intended to pressure Chen Long. I had planned to pass the company down to Chen Long in the future, but Chen Long said he's also getting old and his energy isn't what it used to be. He asked me to skip him and pass the company directly to Liu Chen."