Seeing Xu Ke turn the question right back at them, the expressions of everyone in the audience shifted.

Xu Ke all but pointed at the female reporter's face and called her deaf.

The female reporter flew into a rage. "Mister Xu, why are you making personal attacks?"

"Do you think that just because you're Miss Wang's fiancé, you can look down on us media professionals at an event like this?"

Xu Ke chuckled at the female reporter's attempt to put him on the spot. "Is blowing things out of proportion your special talent?"

"I was only talking about you. It has nothing to do with anyone else."

"Alright, I've answered your question. Next, please."

In a situation like this, he had no need to bicker with this reporter.

Seeing this, some people in the crowd grew dissatisfied. What a terrible attitude. Even Wong Qifu has to be polite and courteous to us. Who does this Xu Ke think he is?

Everyone's impression of him plummeted. He really is just an ignorant pretty boy who doesn't understand the big picture.

Before the female reporter could speak again, Xu Ke had already turned his attention to another male reporter elsewhere in the room.

"Hello, Mister Xu, my name is Gong Hou."

"Like you, I'm a student at Tianhai University. I'm a senior studying journalism and communication, and I'll be graduating this June," Gong Hou said as he stood up to introduce himself.

"Hello." Xu Ke nodded.

Everyone perked up their ears. They wanted to see what kind of question Xu Ke's fellow junior would ask.

Gong Hou's expression suddenly changed, filling with righteous indignation. "Mister Xu, I hope you will apologize and issue compensation to Teacher Shan Lan, to the upperclassmen you harmed back then, and to Tianhai University."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's expression changed dramatically.

This wasn't an interviewer. This was a debt collector.

But a second later, they grew even more excited. Today's press conference was not a waste of time after all.

"Wong Qifu's Fiancé Embezzles Alma Mater's Scholarship, Publicly Confronted for Restitution by a Fellow Student." That headline will definitely grab eyeballs!

Seeing Gong Hou's righteous indignation, Xu Ke just smiled. "And why should I apologize and compensate them?"

"Do you even need to ask?!" Gong Hou scoffed. "Teacher Shan Lan's article lays it all out! During your time as class president, you embezzled other people's scholarship money and showed no remorse. You're the epitome of shamelessness!"

"Teacher Shan Lan gave you a chance, yet you still caused so many incidents that have disgraced Tianhai University."

"Don't think you can avoid apologizing to everyone just because the Wang Family is protecting you."

"Let me tell you, defending justice is my life's destiny, and pursuing fairness is my lifelong quest."

"Even if it means confronting the powerful, don't think for a second I will bow my head!"

"Scum!"

Every word landed with force, each sentence a clap of thunder, deafening and rousing.

The crowd was somewhat stunned. His speech was filled with the passion, sense of justice, and indomitable spirit unique to the youth.

On the other end of the live stream, some Tianhai University students were also paying close attention. Seeing Gong Hou denounce the scum of their university, they couldn't help but feel an urge to applaud.

Gong Hou said it so well!

But just then...

"Heh, well said," Xu Ke said into the microphone, his smile tinged with mockery.

Gong Hou's expression soured. "What are you laughing at?"

He had expected applause after his grand speech, but Xu Ke's single, mocking laugh shattered the entire atmosphere.

"What am I laughing at? I'm laughing at how naive you are," Xu Ke said lightly.

As soon as the words left his mouth, the expressions on the faces in the crowd soured.

Gong Hou spoke with such fiery passion, and he has the gall to call him naive?

Wang Yu sneered, "If Wong Qifu lets him continue spouting nonsense, she'll plunge the Wang Family Corporation into another massive public relations crisis."

"He's completely ignorant of the bigger picture!" Wong Liqing rebuked.

Meanwhile, the Tianhai University students watching the live stream began furiously bashing Xu Ke in the comments.

"Naive? Naive your ass! You think being a pretty boy makes you any less naive?"

"Getting kept by some rich woman and shamelessly acting like her lapdog—is that what you call mature?"

"Pah! I'd rather be immature then."

"Gong Hou, I support you!"

Shan Lan, who had been following the events closely, sneered. "Such arrogance. He's courting death."

Xu Ke's mockery is guaranteed to make his reputation among Tianhai's students hit rock bottom. Seeing Xu Ke dig his own grave gave Shan Lan immense satisfaction.

Moreover, she could finally relax... Yang Qing hadn't lied to her last night. Xu Ke definitely has no evidence. Otherwise, he wouldn't be relying on verbal counterattacks against Gong Hou. He would have presented the proof at the first opportunity.

「...」

"What gives you the right to call me naive?" Gong Hou exclaimed angrily.

Hearing this, Xu Ke's face suddenly turned cold. "If you were a freshman, I could understand. I'd assume you came here to interview me out of youthful passion and a simple sense of justice."

"But are you aware that you're a senior now, Student Gong?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd felt a chill as they watched Xu Ke's expression turn icy.

Gong Hou's face went white, a sense of foreboding surging through him.

Xu Ke smiled coldly. "I can't help but wonder, what exactly have you been learning these past four years?"

"Media professionals from an institution of higher learning, more than anyone, need to maintain professional standards."

"Shan Lan published her post, but you didn't bother to call Teacher Qiu or my classmates to verify its authenticity."

"Instead, you took her post as the sole piece of evidence, came here to demand compensation from me, and spouted off your intensely biased opinions."

"What's the matter with you? Are you here to conduct an interview or to be a clown?"

"What, wasn't there enough time between last night and now for you to make a few calls to verify the facts?"

"Or did the Journalism and Communication department at Tianhai University just teach you to run your mouth without doing any research?"

"If so, I have no choice but to question the professional standards of Tianhai University's Journalism and Communication program, as well as your own personal competence."

Gong Hou's face instantly turned deathly pale.

Being reprimanded so harshly by Xu Ke in front of a live audience this large will definitely ruin my future! I had originally come here intending to bolster my resume by humiliating Xu Ke and, in the process, make a name for Tianhai University's journalism program. But now, being publicly called out on my professional competence by Xu Ke—who also implicated the university—is enough to destroy my future. And it's not just about my career! Tianhai University is definitely going to face public scrutiny over this. When that happens, the blame will fall on me, and the department heads will surely slap me with a major demerit... I completely screwed up! This is a huge loss!

The other media professionals felt a chill run down their spines. This Xu Ke is terrifying. Gong Hou's professionalism was questionable, sure, but in just a few sentences, Xu Ke not only attacked Gong Hou but dragged Tianhai University through the mud as well... That's a betrayal of his own alma mater! It's too vicious. At the same time, they all got a taste of just how sharp Xu Ke's tongue was. He could probably talk a dead man back to life.

The Tianhai students watching the broadcast were now extremely upset.

"This Xu Ke is a real son of a bitch."

"Was it really necessary to drag Tianhai University into this?"

"Psycho!"

But Shan Lan, far from being angered by Xu Ke's attack on Tianhai University, was actually overjoyed. "Go on, Xu Ke," she gloated. "I can't wait to see you attack the university even more."

"A single Gong Hou was enough to make you offend your entire alma mater. Tianhai University has produced countless influential officials and dignitaries. You're as good as dead."

"Such shortsighted trash!"

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