A video of just over twenty seconds finished playing very quickly.
Watching Zhong Dingming speak in the video, Qin Siyang was completely stunned.
The sudden announcement caught everyone off guard once again.
Today's hearing was becoming more and more confusing.
Li Tianming immediately dialed Zhong Dingming's number again, trying to verify the matter.
After a moment of shock, Qin Siyang stood up at once and questioned, "This video is fake! It's synthesized! Professor Zhong would never authorize you to vote on his behalf!"
Xiao Zhigang replied calmly, "What's real can't be faked, and what's fake can't be made real. I played Professor Zhong's video in front of so many people. If it were fabricated, then even as Minister of Education, I probably wouldn't be able to bear the consequences."
"Even if it's not fake, then it must have been recorded under your coercion."
"Threaten Zhong Dingming? Do you think I would openly release evidence of myself threatening a leading professor of West Glory University and a standing council member of the paper review committee, right in front of everyone?"
Qin Siyang said coldly, "Not impossible! This move carries some risk, but the chances of success are high."
"Everyone knows Professor Zhong has been threatened more than once, but he's never stepped forward to say anything. As long as you bluff your way through this hearing, who could overturn it afterward?"
"Besides, before coming here, I already asked Professor Zhong. He said he wouldn't attend the hearing in person and wouldn't get involved in it. The video you brought out definitely has something fishy about it."
Xiao Zhigang picked up a handkerchief and wiped his forehead in a refined manner, "He didn't break his word. Professor Zhong indeed did not come to the scene, nor did he participate in the hearing. He simply entrusted everything to me. If you still don't believe it, then I can promise this: if Professor Zhong transferred his standing council voting rights to me under my coercion, then this hearing and the subsequent fundraising event will all be invalid, and I will resign as Minister of Education and go directly to Minister of Justice Cui Canxun to have myself sentenced. Now, are you satisfied?"
Seeing Xiao Zhigang dare to make such a heavy promise in public, Qin Siyang froze for a moment.
He looked at Li Tianming beside him, but Li Tianming simply shook his head while holding his phone.
Zhong Dingming hadn't answered his call.
At this point, how could Qin Siyang not realize that both he and Li Tianming had been played by Zhong Dingming.
Xiao Zhigang continued, "Having accepted Professor Zhong's entrustment, I have the right to exercise the standing council vote. Regarding Qin Siyang's paper publication, I vote against it. Now, the votes in favor and against are equal, both at three. What happens next will follow the rules of the paper review committee."
Xiao Zhigang's move was something no one present had anticipated.
Guo Jiuxiao and Jiang Hao looked at Xiao Zhigang, their expressions gradually shifting from indifference to a hint of respect.
After all, Zhong Dingming was famously tough, the kind of person who neither bowed to others, socialized, nor indulged in pleasures.
In other words, he had no weaknesses.
People said someone had once threatened him with his child's life, but no one had ever succeeded.
How Xiao Zhigang managed to get Zhong Dingming to lend him a hand was truly baffling.
From this alone, it was clear Xiao Zhigang must still have some unknown trump card.
Jiang Hao's gaze steadied slightly as he said, "According to Article 7 of the paper review committee's regulations, when a matter cannot be decided by the standing council, it will be put to a vote by all members."
"Right now, the standing council vote is tied three to three, so next, it's time for the members present to raise their hands and vote."
The members present looked at each other in confusion.
'Huh?'
'Now it is our turn to vote?'
What kind of situation was this?
The duck that had already been cooked flew off for a moment, only to fall back into the pot?
Life's ups and downs had made this bit of happiness come far too suddenly.
But every member of the paper review committee had bright, gleaming eyes.
There was no need to even say what the outcome of the full-member vote would be. It would definitely be overwhelmingly against.
After all, they had come to this hearing precisely to oppose Qin Siyang and then divide the benefits afterward.
Qin Siyang sat in his chair, somewhat at a loss.
He had thought there might be unexpected changes, thought the Warren family might go back on their word, thought Chu Zhongxiong might back out at the last moment, but he had never expected the turning point to lie with Zhong Dingming, who wasn't even present.
After the member vote, his paper would definitely not pass.
What lay before him now were only two choices.
Attend the fundraising event and act like a dog, or leave outright and cut off his own momentum.
Qin Siyang felt a deep sense of desolation.
Right now, his name was extremely prominent within the safe zone.
He even had the confidence to "sit at the table" with the major factions.
All the reputation and influence he had painstakingly built over half a day, exhausting favors and resources to accumulate, was about to collapse for the most part at this very moment.
He let out a bitter smile.
Maybe this was the difficulty of becoming famous at a young age.
Without enough foundation, one ultimately couldn't break through the obstruction of those who were already firmly established.
Qian Wenzhao on the stage looked at Qin Siyang's expression, knowing he was probably powerless, and could only sigh.
Jiang Hao said, "Alright, now we begin. Members present will vote one by one…"
Bang!
At that moment, a noise came from the back of the hall.
Everyone turned their heads and saw that the doors of the venue had suddenly opened.
A middle-aged man walked in.
His stubble and sideburns were neatly trimmed, his figure upright and his steps firm. Although his loose casual clothes clashed with the atmosphere of the venue, the aura he carried still made people feel he was not someone casual.
As he walked, he greeted everyone, "Sorry, ran into a bit of trouble on the way. I'm late."
Everyone in the hall felt a sense of unreality upon seeing him.
For a moment, they couldn't tell whether the person before them was real or just a hallucination.
He, who had never shown up at any meetings of the paper review committee, had actually come to attend this hearing?
Qin Siyang also recognized the man.
Tiger Rank [Black Spade A], standing council member of the paper review committee, Zhu Haifeng.
Qin Siyang frowned.
'Why did Zhu Haifeng come? Isn't it said that both he and Zhong Dingming don't attend the hearing?'
More importantly, he didn't even know Zhu Haifeng.
For people he didn't know, Qin Siyang had always been used to categorizing them as enemies rather than friends.
Zhu Haifeng walked up to the podium. The other standing council members looked at him with a hint of vigilance.
Jiang Hao spoke, "Professor Zhu, what brings you to the meeting today?"
Zhu Haifeng smiled, "I happened to be handling something nearby today. After finishing up, I remembered there was a meeting, so I dropped by. Also, President Jiang, I haven't been a professor for a long time. You don't need to call me professor, just call me Little Zhu."
Since he put it that way, no one could really argue.
Jiang Hao smiled, "Even if we don't call you Professor Zhu, we should at least call you Mr. Zhu. 'Little Zhu'… that's not something just anyone can say. Didn't expect you to show up today. Someone, get him a seat."
Zhu Haifeng smiled, "No need. I'll just say a couple of words and leave."
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