After listening to the bandaged man's account, everyone present looked at Ma Xiaoling with strange eyes.
There was a flurry of discussion.
"Oh ho, I never expected this. Ma Xiaoling looks so unattainable and cold, but deep down she's actually so wicked."
"Alas, people can't be too well-fed; when they're full, they have nothing to do but plot against others."
"Pitiful, such outstanding young people, ruined just like that."
Ma Tengyun, upon hearing this, could barely suppress the atmosphere.
However, he couldn't just believe one side. He still didn't believe his obedient daughter could do such a heinous and wicked deed.
Ma Xiaoling also cried out, "You're spreading rumors! I don't know them at all, and I certainly didn't do those outrageous things!"
The bandaged man sneered, "At first, I thought it was just my bad luck to meet a bad woman. But when I posted my experience online, many people said they had similar encounters! These brothers behind me have all been ruined by you, excellent young men! Ma Xiaoling, you must pay the price for your actions!"
The men behind him stepped forward in unison, chattering about how Ma Xiaoling had wronged them.
One was an excellent teacher who was fired by the school after the incident.
Another was a senior consultant at a major company, who was ruined and disgraced by Ma Xiaoling to the point of not daring to go out.
There was also a farmer-turned-entrepreneur, whose family was shattered and life destroyed by Ma Xiaoling.
The bloody facts presented before them made it hard not to be convinced.
Ma Tengyun, initially completely disbelieving, became half-convinced, and eventually even felt some sympathy for these poor men.
He was furious.
"Xiaoling!" Ma Tengyun roared, scolding her, "Look at the good things you've done!"
Ma Xiaoling wanted to cry but couldn't.
She truly didn't know these people; it was all fabricated, all fake!
Unfortunately, no one believed her.
The only one who knew the truth, Murong Ba, sat quietly drinking, a strange smile on his lips, and thought to himself: Ma Xiaoling, Ma Xiaoling, we were supposed to cooperate and have a brilliant future, but you chose to court death yourself, so don't blame me for destroying you.
Even if these lies were eventually exposed, it wouldn't matter.
At least it would make Ma Xiaoling suffer.
Moreover, people love gossip and slander. Even if they eventually learned that the bandaged man and the others were lying, once it spread online, many would still be willing to believe it was true.
Then, with truth and falsehood intertwined, who could really tell the difference?
Ma Xiaoling's reputation was certainly ruined.
What happened next was even more outrageous: the bandaged man and his group produced a large amount of evidence to prove their claims were true.
There were photos, recordings, and even videos!
And a lot of Ma Xiaoling's personal belongings!
Ma Tengyun flipped through them one by one, looking at photos of Ma Xiaoling holding hands with others, listening to recordings of Ma Xiaoling calling someone her "good husband," and watching videos of Ma Xiaoling kissing men.
Then he saw the tokens of affection Ma Xiaoling had given to others, all of which were Ma Xiaoling's personal items.
With this evidence before him, it was impossible not to believe.
Ma Tengyun strode onto the stage in a few steps and, in front of everyone present, raised his hand and slapped Ma Xiaoling hard.
Slap!
This slap reddened half of Ma Xiaoling's face.
Ma Xiaoling fell to the stage.
A birthday banquet for a 20-year-old had turned into a farce; the guests watched with various emotions – joy, excitement, regret, anger, sadness.
Ma Tengyun roared, "Look at the mess you've made! Xiaoling, you've disappointed me too much."
Ma Xiaoling clutched her face, tears streaming down, completely stunned.
Faced with so much evidence, she was speechless.
Why was this happening?
How did things escalate to this point?
She couldn't comprehend it.
Below the stage.
Jiang Mengxin shook her head slightly, took a sip of red wine, and said softly, "You can know a person's face but not their heart. I truly never expected that Ma Xiaoling, who looked pure and flawless, would actually be a vixen who delighted in destroying men. In that case, the Angel and Devil pendant is a perfect match for her."
Xiao Zhan said disbelievingly, "It's hard to imagine. Ma Xiaoling lacks nothing, so why would she do such absurd things?"
Jiang Mengxin smiled, "Precisely because she lacks nothing, she does these absurd things. For a woman like her who lacks nothing, life is too dull and tasteless, so she seeks entertainment."
No one believed Ma Xiaoling anymore.
This aloof, pure woman had been ruined in just over ten minutes.
It had to be said that Murong Ba's move was truly ruthless.
As long as Ma Xiaoling couldn't prove her innocence tonight, even if the truth about the bandaged man's lies came out later, it would be useless; once the incident spread, it would become a Rashomon, and no one would be able to clarify who was right and who was wrong.
Murong Ba happily ate his food and drank his wine, watching Ma Xiaoling with great interest.
Jiang Mengxin sighed repeatedly, "It seems our cooperation with the Ma family is likely to be over."
Just when everything seemed irreversible, when everyone thought the outcome was decided, and when Ma Xiaoling was about to be nailed to the pillar of shame.
Lu Ming stepped forward.
As if nothing were wrong, he walked silently to the side of the bandaged man and his group, looking at the photos and videos, and listening to the recordings.
*Pfft*, Lu Ming chuckled.
Huh?
Everyone turned their attention to Lu Ming.
In such a serious moment, how could he still laugh?
Ma Tengyun scolded angrily, "What are you laughing at? Get lost!"
The fact that he could make the richest man abandon his decorum and curse showed how great the blow was to Ma Tengyun.
However…
Lu Ming didn't take it to heart. He shrugged and said casually, "A clumsy performance."
What are you talking about?
Ma Tengyun frowned, "What are you saying?"
Lu Ming said, "I'm saying all of this is fake. The photos, recordings, and videos are all fake, and these people's identities are also fake. They are just a group of actors, instructed by someone, to slander and smear Miss Ma."
His words startled everyone.
Fake?
No way?
Jiang Mengxin and Xiao Zhan exchanged glances, both feeling uneasy. Was Lu Ming going to do something reckless again?
In the face of ironclad evidence, he still dared to call it fake?
Xiao Zhan said softly, "President Jiang, if Lu Ming causes trouble later, we'll pretend we don't know him."
Jiang Mengxin nodded. She didn't want to be implicated by this foolish person.
Everyone's gaze focused on Lu Ming.
Ma Xiaoling's heart pounded the fastest. She was speechless and felt like life was worse than death. Lu Ming was the only one who stood up to speak for her.
Lu Ming was Ma Xiaoling's only hope!
"You must bring down those liars!" Ma Xiaoling clenched her fists, cheering Lu Ming on.