RT Chapter 44

Chapter 44: Reversal

The two arrived at the recording studio and found that even colleagues who didn’t usually pay much attention to current events were discussing the trending news.

The clash between positive and negative public opinion kept the discussion of the case heated.

Netizens supporting Shu Lingxiao believed that these negative reports were rumors deliberately spread by hidden opposition elements, with the aim of tarnishing her image and preventing the case from proceeding normally.

They launched the topic “Support the Female Alpha Prosecutor” on social media and posted Shu Lingxiao’s past case achievements, trying to clear her name.

Some netizens also held a skeptical attitude towards the negative reports, believing that “there is no smoke without fire,” and demanded that relevant departments thoroughly investigate Shu Lingxiao’s handling of the case.

The public opinion field gradually split into two factions, one supporting Shu Lingxiao and the other questioning her and calling for an investigation.

This public opinion battle occupied the top spot on the trending searches within two hours.

The City Central Hospital explosion case was about to go to court tomorrow, and many media outlets were trying their best to block Shu Lingxiao for a first-hand interview.

Shu Lin knew that public opinion was a double-edged sword. If not handled well, this case would ruin his sister’s future.

Worried, he went home that night to stay with Shu Jingcheng.

Shu Jingcheng was quite calm, comforting his concerned little son:

“If you want to wear a crown, you must bear its weight. From the moment your sister took over this case, she was destined to go through this storm. Don’t worry, she was prepared for it.”

“Shu Lin, our family has been through the gates of hell. Nothing is a big deal in the face of life and death. Compared to life and death, this is nothing. Just be patient.”

After hearing these words, Shu Lin blinked his eyes and thought for a long time.

He remembered the torment and fear he felt on the night of the City Central Hospital explosion.

At that time, he only wanted his father and sister to live.

As long as they could live, he was willing to do anything.

Therefore, he never regretted trading himself to Shao Chengxi.

He had also made the worst plans at that time.

He thought that even if Shao Chengxi only regarded him as a tool to get through his rut, he would be willing to trade with him.

That’s right, his father was right.

Nothing is a big deal in the face of life and death, today’s matter is nothing.

Thinking this way, his heart also calmed down.

Shu Lingxiao didn’t come back in the evening. He asked Butler Chen, and Shao Chengxi didn’t come home either.

Knowing they were busy, Shu Lin didn’t cause trouble and stayed obediently with Shu Jingcheng.

The next day, the City Central Hospital explosion case opened on schedule, and the media who had been guarding outside the court all night found nothing.

Because Shu Lingxiao didn’t appear.

The public prosecutor appearing for the City Central Hospital explosion case was not her, but another prosecutor.

In an instant, public opinion exploded again, with all kinds of speculation unfavorable to Shu Lingxiao.

Wherever Shu Lin went, he could hear these discussions.

“The female Alpha prosecutor didn’t appear in court today, and the internet is full of Shouing her. I think there’s something fishy about this. Maybe what they say online is true.”

“The case has been with the procuratorate for so long, how could it suddenly be ‘procedurally illegal’? Someone must be deliberately targeting her!”

“There’s no smoke without fire. If she really had no problems, why would she suddenly not appear in court? Doesn’t that make people even more suspicious?”

“Is she not appearing in court because she feels guilty? If she has a clear conscience, why doesn’t she personally appear in court to give the public an explanation?”

“Hmph, there must be a reason why Shu Lingxiao didn’t appear in court!”

Shu Lin also snorted in his heart, unconvinced.

Just wait and see, let the bullets fly a little longer, his sister definitely has no problems.

These past two days have been extremely tormenting for Shao Shiyan.

He was anxiously running around for Shu Lingxiao’s matter.

He wanted to get some news from Shao Chengxi, but only received his reply of “no comment.”

Knowing that Shao Chengxi had a duty to maintain confidentiality, he had no choice but to give up.

Unwilling to give up, he tried to call Shu Lingxiao’s phone again, but it was always unreachable.

At this moment, he realized the helplessness of being insignificant.

Shao Bingheng had only just brought him into the Shao Group for training. Don’t be fooled by everyone’s respectful address of “Third Young Master” in front of him. In reality, his network of connections as the Third Young Master has not yet been established.

The road ahead is long and arduous.

Currently, he can only sit in on the court hearing, hoping to find some clues from it.

The level of attention for the City Central Hospital explosion case was no less than that of the chemical plant case. The public prosecutor stated the facts of the case one by one, and the atmosphere at the scene was solemn.

When it came to the stage of presenting evidence, the public prosecutor said with a solemn expression: “Now, the prosecution requests the victims of this explosion case to appear in court to testify. First, we invite witness Shu Lingxiao to appear in court to testify.”

“What?!”

Immediately, there was a burst of exclamations at the scene.

“Silence! Please abide by court discipline, and no noise is allowed.”

The presiding judge struck the gavel, and the courtroom quickly quieted down.

The door of the courtroom was pushed open, and Shu Lingxiao, wearing decent civilian clothes, walked into the courtroom with her head held high and sat in the witness stand.

Everyone was stunned.

No one expected that she would not appear in court for the City Central Hospital explosion case as a public prosecutor, but because she was a victim witness in the case.

For a time, the outside world’s speculation and slander against her seemed particularly absurd and ridiculous.

Self-defeating.

Shu Lingxiao was one of the two survivors on the 12th floor of the City Central Hospital explosion.

The other survivor was her father, Shu Jingcheng, who was unable to attend court due to post-operative recovery from stomach cancer.

This reversal caused a great uproar inside and outside the court.

Shao Shiyan listened carefully to Shu Lingxiao’s account of the explosion scene at that time, and only felt heartache.

Her tone was still calm, as if she was telling someone else’s story.

But a hint of undisguised pain was revealed in her eyes.

She survived, but there were regrets.

It was exchanged for the body and the rest of the freedom of her younger brother.

Soon, the topic “Shu Lingxiao is a survivor of the explosion” quickly topped the trending search charts on social media.

The netizens who supported her spoke out one after another, believing that her failure to appear in court was because she needed to testify as a victim, rather than because of the so-called “procedural violations.”

They called on the public to understand her situation and praised her for persisting in pursuing justice after experiencing such a huge trauma.

Voices of doubt also followed.

Some people believed that Shu Lingxiao, as a prosecutor, concealed her identity as a victim, which itself was an opaque act.

They questioned whether she had used her official position to influence the direction of the case investigation.

Even more, some people began to speculate whether she had some connection with the explosion itself.

Shao Chengxi closed the phone page and looked at the control panel, observing everything in the court hearing.

Calm and composed.

Suddenly, he noticed an inconspicuous corner.

It was Shu Lin who quietly pushed open the courtroom door and tiptoed in.

Because he couldn’t find an extra seat, he obediently curled up next to Shao Shiyan.

From the screen, Shao Chengxi noticed that when Shu Lin looked at Shu Lingxiao in the witness stand, a relieved smile appeared on his face.

Shao Chengxi looked cold on the surface, but his heart was itching again, and without realizing it, his breathing was a little heavy.

He stared at Shu Lin on the screen without leaving a trace, and after Shu Lingxiao finished testifying and walked out of the courtroom, he immediately made a phone call.

“It’s time to close the net, act according to plan.”

“Yes, Minister Shao.”