It claimed the Henderson family was just kindly helping watch the house and were falsely accused by me of trespassing.

It also claimed my grandfather owed debts and ran away, and my mother used connections to obtain the house.

The comments below were filled with vitriol.

"This kind of woman is terrifying."

"People in government offices are all about connections."

"Reporting neighbors just for staying a few days—whoever marries her is doomed."

As soon as I entered the office, Director Chen called me in.

She had printed the post and placed it on the desk.

"Chloe, have you seen this?"

I nodded.

Director Chen asked: "Can you handle this?"

I said: "I can."

She looked at me.

"The office won't pass judgment just because of one post. But you need to clarify this as soon as possible; don't let these rumors drag you down."

I said: "Thank you, Director Chen."

She pushed the printout to me.

"Also, there is a livelihood reception meeting in the county this afternoon; you were originally responsible for the materials. Do you want someone else to take over?"

I shook my head.

"No need."

Director Chen looked at me for a few seconds.

"Don't try to power through if you can't."

I returned to my desk.

The way my colleagues looked at me had changed.

Some pretended to be busy; others secretly checked their phones.

Xiao Liu, a colleague I usually have a good relationship with, walked over.

She lowered her voice.

"Chloe, the post isn't necessarily true, right?"

I looked at her.

"Do you hope it’s true?"

She blushed.

"That’s not what I meant. I just feel like it sounds very credible online."

I placed the police acceptance receipt on the table.

"Look at this; it’s more useful than looking at the post."

Xiao Liu took a glance and didn't speak again.

At noon, Julia rushed into my office.

"I found it; the post was made by Sarah. She used an alt account, but the original photo files weren't fully deleted."

I said: "Don't delete it yet."

Julia was stunned.

"Not delete it yet? They’re cursing you like this."

I looked out the window.

"There’s a livelihood reception meeting this afternoon; Mr. Henderson will definitely come to cause a scene."

Julia understood immediately.

"You want him to self-destruct in public?"

I closed the folder.

"Not want to."

I stood up.

"He definitely will."

At 3:00 PM, the livelihood reception meeting was held at the county cultural center’s small auditorium.

The purpose was to hear residents' opinions.

I was responsible for sign-ins and materials.

Halfway through the meeting, Mr. Henderson, as expected, arrived.

He brought Mrs. Henderson, Sarah, and a few onlookers who were there for the spectacle.

As soon as he entered, he shouted:

"Leaders, I want to report government cadre Chloe for using her power to bully others!"

Dozens of eyes in the auditorium turned toward us.

The moderator frowned.

"Please speak according to the procedure."

Mr. Henderson walked to the front row.

"I’ll just ask one question: can a government cadre just call the police to arrest common citizens? Can they spread rumors saying their neighbors are stealing things?"

Mrs. Henderson immediately started crying.

"Our family has been ruined by her. Now everyone in the neighborhood says we are thieves."

I stood behind the sign-in table, motionless.

Sarah held up her phone to film.

"Everyone, look! She’s right here, acting like nothing happened."

The moderator looked at Director Chen.

Director Chen gave me a look.

I picked up the microphone.

"Mr. Henderson, are you sure you want to report this here?"

Mr. Henderson stiffened his neck.

"I want to say it right in front of the leaders!"

I nodded.

"Fine."

Chapter 20

I opened my folder.

"First, the police station has accepted the case regarding you entering my home without consent. Second, the signature analysis on the boarding agreement shows it was not written by me. Third, my mother’s keepsakes were retrieved from your trunk, and there is an on-site record. Fourth, the property management admits they did not obtain authorization from the property owner."

The auditorium fell silent.

Someone in the back row whispered, "This is different from the online post."

Sarah’s phone wobbled.

Mr. Henderson hadn't expected me to speak so directly.

He gritted his teeth.

"That was because you forced us! You weren't home for a month, the house was empty; what was the harm in us staying for a few days?"

I asked: "So you admit you moved in without consent?"

He choked.

Mrs. Henderson tried to pull him back.

He shook her off.

"Don't play with words! Liam agreed to it!"

I asked: "Is Liam the homeowner?"

Mr. Henderson roared: "They are getting married; of course he can make the decisions!"

I looked at the moderator.

"Please record that statement."

The staff next to the moderator were already writing it down.

Sarah finally realized what was happening and tried to turn off the livestream.

Julia walked over from the side, smiling. "Don't turn it off; didn't you want everyone to see just now?"

Sarah’s face flushed red.

The back door of the auditorium opened.

An elderly man dressed in a dark Zhongshan suit walked in.

He was followed by the director of the Cultural Center.

The director stepped forward quickly.

"Director Gu, why are you here?"

The old man didn't look at him.

He looked at me.

"Chloe?"

I nodded.

He walked up to me, his voice low.

"Your grandfather, Lin Huaishan, was my teacher."

The whole room went quiet.

Director Gu handed me a set of documents.

"When the old factory was restructured, it owed your grandfather a share of the dividends. Your mother refused to take them, saying to wait until you grew up. The paperwork is all in order now, and I’ve come to hand it to you."

Mr. Henderson was stunned.

Liam entered from the back door, just in time to hear this.

He was holding a stack of printed papers.

He must have been prepared to continue spreading the old rumors about my grandfather.

Director Gu looked at him.

"Who was it just now that said Lin Huaishan owed debts and ran away?"

Liam stood at the door, his face turning as pale as if he’d been slapped.

Director Gu’s voice dropped.

"Back then, he sold his own house to cover the workers' wages, which is how he saved the pay for over two hundred people. You are slandering him with this?"

People in the auditorium gasped.

Director Chen’s expression toward me changed.

Xiao Liu, sitting in the back, dropped her pen onto her notebook.

I took the documents.

I didn't open them.

I only said to Director Gu: "Thank you."

Director Gu nodded.

"Your grandfather taught me one thing: when others try to snatch your door, you make sure to polish the doorplate. Don't be afraid."

I turned to Mr. Henderson.

"Now, do you still wish to report your grievance?"

Mr. Henderson’s lips moved, but he couldn't say a word.

Mrs. Henderson dragged him toward the exit.

Sarah’s livestream was still running.

On the screen, comments began to flood in:

"Was the narrative flipped?"

"This family occupies people's houses and still cyberbullies them?"

"The man just now was the fiancé, right? His face is green."

Liam stood at the door.

The printed papers in his hand were slowly being crumpled.

He finally realized.

The old affair he used to threaten me wasn't a stain.

It was a light he couldn't touch.

The online post quickly backfired.

Clips of Sarah’s livestream were cut and spread throughout the county.

Mr. Henderson’s quote, "What was the harm in us staying for a few days?", became a new joke in the neighborhood group chat.

Martha was suspended by the property management company.

Mr. Henderson’s small renovation crew had their orders canceled one after another.

Liam’s workplace called him in for a talk.

He called me many times.

I didn't answer a single one.

He started sending text messages.

"Chloe, let’s meet."

"My mom is sick."

"I really know I was wrong."

"Don't burn all your bridges."

The last one came at 11:00 PM.

"If you don't meet me, I’m going to wait at your door."

I handed the phone to Julia.

Julia said: "Apply for a restraining order."

I nodded.

Chapter 21

The next day, I changed the door locks.

While the locksmith was installing them, Uncle Zhou stood at the door for a long time.

He was holding a bag of oranges.

"Chloe, it was my ignorance that led me to advise you to sign the settlement at the mediation meeting."

I took the oranges.

"You spoke the truth afterward."

Uncle Zhou sighed.

"As people get old, they fear trouble. I always thought if you just endure it, it passes. Now I realize that the ones enduring are the good people, while the bad people endure nothing."

I said: "So, in the future, don't advise good people to make concessions."

Uncle Zhou nodded.

"I’ll remember that."