"Aunt Li, what are you saying? How could Xiao Fei be a boss, and how could he hit someone?"
Although Yang Lan was angry, she patiently asked her neighbor of more than ten years, "I don't understand."
Aunt Li, who had been the first to mock, put her hands on her hips and snorted, "You go to work early and get off work late every day, so you must not know the good things your son is doing outside.
Now the whole city knows that Gao Fei is the social leader of the night market city, a big brother that everyone fears. Only you are kept in the dark."
After she finished, another aunt of similar age next to her chimed in, "Xiao Lan, Gao Fei has been a bit mischievous in recent years, but you should still discipline him when you have time.
If you let him continue to indulge, he might be on the official list for the next crackdown on organized crime."
The online rumors about Gao Fei being involved in criminal activities had a considerable impact in real life, as evident from his classmates' attitudes towards him when he entered school that morning.
Not to mention the aunts in the neighborhood, who were the type to believe anything they heard.
Yang Lan's face turned pale as she listened to the people around her.
She hadn't expected her son, who ran a small business in the night market city, to become a terrifying social leader overnight.
"Mom!"
A shout came from a distance.
Seeing Gao Fei approaching from afar, the aunts dispersed.
"Hey, Aunt Li, it's only past eight o'clock, aren't you going to continue enjoying the cool evening?
Hey, hey, Aunt Zhang, why are you running...
Why is everyone looking at me like they've seen a ghost!"
Gao Fei was confused, watching the aunts passing by with fearful expressions.
At this moment, he was unaware that the rumors of him being involved in criminal activities had spread throughout the neighborhood.
His mother had only said "go home" and turned back into the building with a cold face.
Gao Fei was left standing there, bewildered.
It wasn't until he returned home and his mother explained the entire incident that his confusion was cleared.
"Tell me honestly, did you really join those illegal organizations like Aunt Li and the others said!"
Facing his mother's questioning, Gao Fei suddenly remembered Officer Wang's reminder when he left the police station.
The news about the rumors of him being involved in criminal activities, as well as his assistance to the police in apprehending a criminal gang, would be broadcast at three time slots the next morning: early morning, midday.
Since the authorities had not yet clarified his situation on local television, it was no wonder the aunts were afraid of him and his mother suspected he was involved in the underworld.
"Mom, don't be angry, take a look at this first!"
Gao Fei took out his award certificate from his bag and handed it over.
As Yang Lan opened it, the words "Three Good Youth" caught her eye first.
In the bottom right corner was a red seal with a line of text: "Fengyun City General Police Headquarters."
"This... this... what's going on? Aren't you a social leader? Why did the General Police Headquarters give you a certificate?"
Seeing his mother's surprised expression, Gao Fei slowly explained the entire incident about the rumors of him being involved in criminal activities.
"Mom, that's pretty much it. I'm not involved in any criminal activities; instead, I'm a good youth who helped the police eradicate a criminal gang!
All the negative comments about me were maliciously spread online by someone."
Now that the truth was out, Yang Lan couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief.
She knew her son would never get involved in the underworld; it turned out to be all rumors.
But before she could praise him, another wave of surprise arrived.
Gao Fei took another printed paper from his bag, "Mom, take a look at this!"
His mother took the printed paper with suspicion. The moment she read the first line, she was stunned.
"747... a total score of 747, Xiao Fei, are you sure this is your real score?"
"Authentic!"
Gao Fei grinned and continued, "Not only am I the top scorer in liberal arts for Yun Province, but I'm also the top scorer in liberal arts for the entire Dragon Country. My score ranks first nationwide!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yang Lan's eyes suddenly welled up. Holding the score report and looking at her son, she was so excited that she didn't know how to express herself.
"You've made something of yourself, my Xiao Fei has finally made something of himself!"
"I must! Mom, just wait for a life of comfort from now on!"
In an instant, the entire house was filled with laughter.
Downstairs, those aunts had returned to their gathering spot.
Hearing the mother and son laughing upstairs, they started gossiping again.
"Yang Lan is so unconcerned. Her own son has become a boss, and she not only doesn't discipline him but also has the mind to laugh out loud!"
"Gao Fei was bad at studying and mischievous. How many disdainful glances did we give the mother and son in the past? Now that Gao Fei has finally made a name for himself in society, can Yang Lan not laugh?"
"Let them laugh. They'll cry sooner or later!"
...
The next day, Gao Fei woke up early to buy breakfast downstairs.
As he walked through the neighborhood, people avoided him as if he were a plague god.
But the neighbors' gazes did not affect him. Today, various news reports would be released on local television, and the innocent would prove their innocence!
After the mother and son finished breakfast, Gao Fei suddenly said to his mother, "Mom, change your clothes later and come downstairs with me!"
"Why are we going downstairs? The TV station hasn't broadcast the clarification news for you yet. Are we going downstairs to listen to those old ladies gossip about you?"
His mother, who was about to do the laundry, was a bit confused.
Although she had a good temper, she strongly disliked those gossips.
"Just do as I say!"
Gao Fei didn't explain much and went into his room to wait for the news.
Half an hour later, the mother and son changed their clothes and went out.
As soon as they appeared downstairs, they immediately drew cold glances from the surrounding neighbors and aunts.
"You still have the nerve to come down? What a shameless person!"
"Can't get into university and then get involved in the underworld. Only a brat like him would have such an idea!"
"Say less, be careful your relatives get beaten up when they go out!"
The surroundings were filled with sarcastic remarks.
Gao Fei ignored these people, treating them as if they were air.
Yang Lan, on the other hand, couldn't stand others criticizing her son.
She was about to step forward to argue when Gao Fei stopped her: "Mom, don't rush, they're here!"
As he spoke, a group of people walked in from the community gate.
Leading the group were Huang Zhicheng and four middle-aged men, followed by several accompanying staff members carrying briefcases.
Beside them were reporters holding microphones and cameramen with various camera equipment.
As the group entered the community, they immediately attracted the attention of the residents.
Residents stood by the roadside, pointing and speculating about the identities of these people.
Until a group of people walked towards Gao Fei and his mother, a middle-aged man with receding hair smiled and said, "Hello, student Gao Fei, I am Li Changan, Secretary-General of the Provincial Department of Education.
Congratulations on achieving a high score of 747 in this college entrance examination, ranking as the top liberal arts student in the province and the top liberal arts student in the Dragon Country!"
Secretary-General of the Department of Education!
Gao Fei is the provincial liberal arts top scorer and the Dragon Country liberal arts top scorer!
A double top scorer!
As soon as their identities were revealed, the onlookers were immediately shocked.
Amidst their shock, a question inevitably arose in their minds.
Wasn't Gao Fei the last in the entire school? And he was also a notorious social leader in the city, so how could he be the top liberal arts student?