Chapter Thirteen: Thunderous Arrest—Could the Anchor Be a Fraudster?
The moment the total account balance on He Yu’s retina surpassed one hundred million, a cold, mechanical synthetic voice rang clearly in his mind.
[ Ding! Public trust has reached a new peak. Longhai University has deeply impressed the public. Credibility reward: 50,000 points! ]
[ Current credibility balance: 74,850 points! ]
Seventy-four thousand eight hundred and fifty points.
Staring at this number capable of turning the tide, He Yu sat upright before the computer, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
Confident and composed.
Yet, this confidence, born from a virtual interface, had barely warmed in his chest before the crisis of reality materialized, manifesting as a violent physical impact that descended without warning.
Bang—
A deafening crash—not a knock, but a forceful strike.
The already rickety wooden door of the rented apartment shattered instantly at the lock under the immense force, splinters flying everywhere. The entire door panel collapsed inward, crashing heavily onto the concrete floor and stirring a cloud of dust.
“Don’t move!”
“Police!”
The shouted commands came almost simultaneously with the door’s destruction.
Seven or eight figures clad in black tactical gear, weapons drawn, stormed into the cramped apartment in a well-coordinated combat formation.
They moved swiftly, silently, and efficiently. The black barrels of their guns immediately locked onto the sole target inside—the young man still seated before the computer.
He Yu didn’t even turn his head.
Only through the reflection on the computer screen did he see the cold weapons aimed at the back of his head, and the sharp gazes obscured by tactical helmets.
The cold touch of metal pressed against his wrists.
Click.
A crisp mechanical sound signaled that his hands had been completely restrained.
From the moment the door was kicked open to the handcuffs snapping shut, the entire process flowed like water, so fast it took no more than three seconds.
In the hallway, neighbors, startled by the loud noise, poked their heads out of their doors, faces full of fear and confusion.
“Isn’t that Xiao He?”
“What terrible crime has he committed?”
“Oh my god, SWAT! Real armed SWAT officers! This must be a murder suspect raid!”
Whispers echoed through the corridor, mingled with gasps of disbelief.
Under countless shocked, puzzled, and fearful gazes, He Yu was escorted by two SWAT officers—one on each side—through the ruined doorway and down the dim staircase.
Outside, flashing red and blue police lights illuminated the old residential building as if it were broad daylight. The piercing siren had just ceased, but the tense and deadly atmosphere thickened.
He was loaded into a police car.
The door shut, sealing off all the outside noise.
To prevent the so-called “scam funds” from spreading further and causing more severe social repercussions, the Jinling City Police responded with astonishing speed.
At the exact moment the police car’s engine started, an official announcement was simultaneously released through all channels of the Jinling Police’s official Weibo, WeChat public account, and others.
[ Police Notice ]
[ Following meticulous investigation by our bureau, the “Longhai University” public fundraising project that recently attracted massive social attention online was found to be initiated by He Mou (male, 20 years old), who lacks any legitimate educational qualifications. His actions are suspected of constituting a massive online fraud. The suspect He Mou has been lawfully criminally detained by our bureau, and the case is under further investigation. Police hereby remind all citizens not to make any further donations to the related accounts to avoid being deceived. ]
There was no buffer, no softening.
This official notice, stamped with the red seal of authority, detonated like a precise bomb across the entire online world of South He Province, stirring up a monumental uproar.
The internet, which moments ago was brimming with hope and celebration, fell silent for three seconds.
Then, like a volcanic eruption, an explosion of fury erupted.
The largest local forum in South He Province crashed due to the sudden surge of massive traffic. Once restored, the screen was flooded with blood-red headlines.
“What?! A scam? I just donated ten thousand yuan!”
“Damn it! My hard-earned money! I always knew there’s no free lunch—he’s a damn crook!”
“Refund! Give me my money back now!”
“Scammer! He stole all our hope and trust! How dare he?! How dare he toy with the future of all the children in the province!”
“Shoot him! Trash like this deserves to be executed!”
One moment, He Yu was “Principal He,” the bearer of countless dreams.
The next, he became “He Mou the fraud,” a pariah condemned by all.
The netizens of South He Province, who had just been cheering the fundraising surpassing one hundred million, now felt as if they’d been violently pushed off a towering cliff.
The immense sense of loss, fueled by the official notice, rapidly transformed into boundless anger and deep-seated hatred.
Online, the verbal onslaught against He Yu was overwhelming, each word dripping with blood and fire.
The official website of “Longhai University,” once revered as a sanctuary of hope by countless people, had now become a colossal pillar of shame.
The donation figures that once symbolized dreams now appeared bitterly ironic.
“Longhai University,” from a rising symbol of hope, instantly sank into a complete and utter joke, a laughingstock.
Everyone’s dreams, everyone’s expectations, everyone’s trust—
Seemed at that moment to be utterly shattered by that cold police notice, reduced to dust.