Chapter 409 - 234: Lu Fan: Donating 5 Million to the Landscaping Department in Silu’s Name

Chapter 409: Chapter 234: Lu Fan: Donating 5 Million to the Landscaping Department in Silu’s Name

Zhao Deming’s voice grew heavy, laced with suppressed anger and a hint of subservience. "Sir, we can apologize. An apology in front of the whole school, a written self-criticism, whatever you want. But detention... the kid is still young, only twenty. Can’t you give him another chance? He still has to go to school, he needs to graduate..."

Lu Fan didn’t answer. He glanced at his watch, his tone unhurried. "President Zhao, it would take you at least three hours to get to Jinling from your home. I don’t have that much time to wait. How about this: I’ll give you five minutes. If your son doesn’t agree in five minutes, then forget the apology. We’ll file a lawsuit directly. At that point, it won’t just be about a seven-day detention. It will be for slander, which carries a sentence of up to three years in prison. You’d best weigh your options."

A muffled argument could be heard from the other end of the line—Mrs. Zhao’s lowered voice. It was impossible to make out what she was saying, but he could tell she was frantic, her voice sharp and fractured.

Zhao Deming barked in a low, heavy voice, "Shut up!"

The other end of the line fell silent instantly.

After a long moment, Zhao Deming’s voice came through again, tinged with resignation. "I agree to your terms."

"Old Zhao!" Mrs. Zhao cried out, her voice rising in alarm.

Zhao Deming roared again, his voice louder this time. "I said, shut up! Look at the mess your son made. How dare you say another word?"

The other end of the line went completely silent.

Zhao Deming spoke into the receiver. "Sir, I agree to your conditions. A public apology and accepting the punishment. The boy is young and foolish. I hope you can be magnanimous and leave him a way out."

"If he can do as I’ve asked, I can let him off the hook," Lu Fan said calmly.

"Then, about Hengchang Building Materials... I hope you can put in a good word for us. We’ve been working with Hengchang for many years now," Zhao Deming said awkwardly.

Lu Fan didn’t respond. He pushed the phone back in front of Zhao Tianyu as if tossing away a piece of trash.

Zhao Tianyu’s hands were trembling as he picked up the phone. His voice was distorted and tearful. "Dad..."

Zhao Deming’s voice turned cold instantly. "Apologize. Right now. Immediately. Then go with the police. You’ll be out in seven days. Don’t make a scene. If you cause any more trouble, I’ll disown you."

Zhao Tianyu’s face went pale. His lips trembled, unable to form any words.

He glanced at Lu Fan, then at Jiang Silu. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he swallowed his words.

Lu Fan looked at Officer Fang, his tone as calm as if he were discussing a trivial matter. "Officer Fang, he has already confessed to spreading the rumors. The evidence is all there. Please handle this according to the law."

Officer Fang nodded.

He had been observing this President Lu since the beginning. ’He’s no ordinary man.’

Before coming here, he had received instructions from the bureau. There was a case at Jinling University that needed to be handled seriously and impartially.

It wasn’t stated outright, but he knew in his heart: this was a favor that had to be granted.

"Zhao Tianyu, you are suspected of slander. The evidence is conclusive. Come back to the station with us to give a statement." Officer Fang stood up, his tone all business, but a few degrees firmer than before.

Zhao Tianyu’s legs gave out. He had to use the table to pull himself up, and his chair slid backward with a harsh screech.

He glanced at Lu Fan, then at Jiang Silu, his lips trembling. Tears and snot streamed down his face. "I’m sorry... I really know I was wrong... Please, forgive me..."

Lu Fan didn’t look at him.

He regarded him as nothing more than a puff of air.

Zhao Tianyu was led away by Officer Fang.

As he reached the door, he looked back one last time, his eyes filled with hatred, fear, and regret.

But no one was looking at him.

The conference room fell silent.

Principal Liu let out a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead. The beads had already started to drip down.

He smiled, his tone fawning. "President Lu, this matter has been resolved perfectly, just perfectly. You see, Zhao Tianyu has admitted his mistake and apologized. The university will also take disciplinary action against him..."

Lu Fan looked at him, his voice calm. "Principal Liu, today it was my daughter who was slandered, and I have some ability to help her get justice. But what if it were a child from an ordinary family? One with no connections, no money for a lawyer. Would you also just ’turn a big problem into a small one, and a small one into nothing’?"

Principal Liu’s smile froze on his face, as if he’d just been slapped.

Lu Fan looked away from him and turned to Director Wang, his tone softening. "Director Wang, thank you for standing up for your student. I’ve seen the integrity of the Landscape Architecture Department. On behalf of Silu, thank you."

Director Wang waved his hands, looking a bit embarrassed as his face turned red. "It was my duty, my duty. When a student has been wronged, as the director, I can’t just stand by. Besides, Silu is a credit to us. I saw her gold-medal-winning piece from the last Jiangnan Garden Cup. It has real spirit."

"I’ll have my assistant contact you later. In Silu’s name, I will donate five million to the Landscape Architecture Department. Use it to buy some equipment, set up a student fund. Talented kids shouldn’t be held back by a lack of money," Lu Fan said with a nod.

Director Wang was stunned. His lips trembled, wanting to say something, but he didn’t know what to say.

He quickly stood up and bowed deeply to Lu Fan. "Thank you, President Lu! Thank you! On behalf of all the students in the Landscape Architecture Department, thank you!"

Lu Fan steadied him and said with a smile, "Don’t thank me, thank my daughter. If she weren’t studying here, I wouldn’t be so generous. These kids are all future designers."

Director Wang nodded repeatedly, smiling. "Yes, they are the pillars of our nation."

Lu Fan turned to look at Jiang Silu. She was standing next to Jiang Sifan, her eyes still red, but some color had returned to her face.

She looked at Lu Fan, her lips moved as if to speak, but she swallowed her words again.