Her gaze fell on the flyer for the Internet addiction treatment school.

After entering the new millennium, computers had an increasingly significant impact on people’s work and lives. However, the high prices made them inaccessible to ordinary families. Although they hadn’t become as ubiquitous as televisions in every household, with the strong support of the state, even elementary schools in remote areas had educational funds allocated by the state to build computer rooms.

Therefore, under such circumstances, internet cafes, a new industry, emerged and flourished in small and medium-sized cities across the country. Even some affluent towns had internet cafes.

Teenagers, who were the most eager to embrace new things, naturally became the main consumer group of Internet cafes.

As a result, the term “internet addiction” frequently appeared in television and newspapers, becoming a hot topic of the time. Most parents, who didn’t understand computers, were very worried about it, even deeply disgusted by it, believing that it would ruin their children’s lives.

Some opportunistic individuals, sensing the trend, established internet addiction treatment schools with great fanfare, advertising through various channels, claiming: “Help your child break free from internet addiction and return to you a well-behaved and obedient child.”

Lin Shuyue had heard of internet addiction treatment schools when she was young, but she didn’t know much about them.

She truly understood what internet addiction treatment schools were like in her junior high school years, when news reports that sparked social outrage frequently appeared online, along with interviews with students who had attended these schools.

That infamous “Academy” and that multi-part documentary that had once been featured on CCTV!

And then there were the later reports.

Physical punishment, kidnapping, abuse, beatings, and imprisonment—these inhumane acts had become commonplace in those schools.

Regardless of what they were like before entering such schools, people who came out of them invariably became silent, and withdrawn, and some even attempted or committed suicide.

Lin Shuyue came out of Ah Hao’s house. The sunlight today was as dazzling as ever, but she knew that there were always dark corners of the world that even such bright sunlight couldn’t reach.

Lin Shuyue thought that since she had transmigrated to this era and become a reporter, she should do something within her power for these students who were being harmed by internet addiction treatment schools. Even if the final result wasn’t entirely satisfactory, there were always parents who loved their children. If she could sound the alarm for those parents, her efforts wouldn’t be in vain.

Back at the office, Lin Shuyue greeted her colleagues, including Li Mingfang, and then went straight to the editor-in-chief’s office.

She knocked lightly on the door. A voice from inside said, “Come in.”

Wang Mingzheng was sitting in his executive chair, smiling broadly as he talked on the phone. He pointed to the guest area sofa next to his desk, indicating for Lin Shuyue to sit. He exchanged a few brief pleasantries with the person on the other end of the line and then hung up.

He smiled and walked over to sit opposite Lin Shuyue, looking very pleased. He even personally poured Lin Shuyue a cup of tea.

People in Guangdong Province liked to drink tea when discussing business and official matters, and almost every place for receiving guests would have a tea set.

Generally, it was the younger generation who poured tea for the elders, or subordinates who poured tea for their superiors. The fact that Wang Mingzheng, as the leader, could personally pour tea for her showed how much he appreciated and valued Lin Shuyue.

“Xiao Lin, someone from the Pengcheng Daily just called. They said they want to reprint your article, and on the front page, no less. Xiao Lin, you’ve brought great honor to our company! Your bonus for this month will be doubled!” Wang Mingzheng was in an excellent mood and generously waved his hand.

In recent years, all kinds of newspapers, large and small, have sprung up. Old-fashioned newspapers like Pengcheng Metro Daily, because they couldn’t keep up with the times, were already in decline, getting worse and worse.

The newspaper office was barely able to maintain its operations by relying on the reputation and connections it had built up over the past twenty-plus years.

It could be said that the Pengcheng Metro Daily‘s seemingly glamorous exterior, able to rent half a floor of office space in the most prestigious building, relied on the boss’s past connections, which secured cheap rent.

Otherwise, they might not even have the last shred of face left among their peers.

For a private newspaper like theirs, having ten articles reprinted by official media outlets in a year was considered good. As for being featured in a central newspaper? That was just a dream, as it might not even happen once a year.

Wang Mingzheng had just called a friend at the Pengcheng Daily to inquire.

He heard that Lin Shuyue’s article was sharp in its writing, unique in its narrative perspective, clear in its logic, and progressive in its layers, vividly and systematically the beginning and end of the case to the people. The concluding remarks were also thought-provoking, making it an excellent report.

Moreover, the accompanying illustration, the photo Lin Shuyue had captured of the murderer attempting another crime, was a rare find. It sparked heated discussions among citizens and generated significant social attention. A television station was already preparing to do a related program and might even invite Lin Shuyue to participate.

Based on this development, it might even be reprinted by a central media outlet. Even if it was published on the very last page, Wang Mingzheng would be satisfied.

With such beautiful expectations, he looked at Lin Shuyue, and felt nothing but satisfaction from head to toe.

Lin Shuyue was also very happy!

For her, this was her first truly significant article. To achieve such results and impact with her debut, Lin Shuyue was very content. It seemed that reading many old case reports at the police academy had been useful after all. You reap what you sow.

This made her uneasy heart, caused by her career change, settle down instantly.

“Thank you, Editor-in-Chief.”

Wang Mingzheng took a sip of his tea and asked in a gentle tone, “Xiao Lin, what did you come to see me about?”

Lin Shuyue handed over the flyer for the Internet addiction treatment school. “Editor-in-Chief, I don’t know if you’ve heard of internet addiction treatment schools?”

Wang Mingzheng nodded. Of course, he had heard of them.

He was forty-two years old this year. After years of hard work, his financial situation was very good. When personal computers were first launched, he was among the first of his friends and relatives to get one, buying it early.

Because of this, Wang Mingzheng felt both proud and troubled.

He had a sixteen-year-old son. When he was younger, he was very obedient and well-behaved. But ever since he and his wife divorced, and his son was raised by his parents, his son had become increasingly rebellious, spending all day indulging in computer games and online socializing.

Wang Mingzheng was middle-aged and considered successful in his career. Now, his greatest frustration came from his son.

Last winter, an acquaintance of his sent his son, who was addicted to playing on the computer, to an internet addiction treatment school for “rehabilitation.” After just three months, he came back much more obedient and well-behaved than before.

Wang Mingzheng was very tempted when he heard about this. He was also considering whether to send his son there.

He had been busy with the newspaper’s affairs lately, so he had put the matter aside.

Now that Lin Shuyue mentioned it, that idea stirred again.

Wang Mingzheng didn’t say anything. Lin Shuyue thought secretly, how should she convince him? After all, she needed Wang Mingzheng’s consent and help to infiltrate the Internet addiction treatment school.

In the future, whatever Lin Shuyue wanted to investigate, having the support and help of the person in charge of the company would greatly facilitate her actions.

She had to persuade Wang Mingzheng.

“Editor-in-Chief, since internet addiction treatment schools started operating last year, within just one year, several branch schools have opened. Students are being sent in one batch after another. It’s so popular. I want to personally experience and investigate it. Whether there’s something shady going on or not, there’s compelling content to write about.”

Wang Mingzheng raised his head, lost in thought, but he didn’t stop Lin Shuyue.

Lin Shuyue’s words were not without reason, and they also hit the mark with Wang Mingzheng. Both professionally and personally, he was very interested in this investigation.

Wang Mingzheng tapped his fingers on the desk. He didn’t believe that Lin Shuyue could uncover any kind of dark secrets. After all, various newspapers and television stations had already reported on it, and those children who had graduated from internet addiction treatment schools had changed for the better.

The eyes of the masses were discerning. If there were problems, they would have been exposed long ago. It wouldn’t be up to her, a newbie, to discover them. Sure enough, young people who hadn’t even graduated from university were too idealistic and naive.

But that was fine. Wang Mingzheng was very willing to be tolerant and give a talented young person the opportunity to try and make mistakes.

After all, Lin Shuyue had a point: regardless of whether there was anything shady going on, her infiltrating and experiencing it would provide content to write about. These were issues those parents like them, who were worried sick about their children, were concerned about.

In any case, no matter the outcome of the undercover investigation, it wouldn’t be a loss for the newspaper.

He thought this in his heart, but on the surface, he looked very supportive of Lin Shuyue, encouraging her, “Xiao Lin, you also know the situation of our newspaper. I can’t approve a large amount of investigation funds for you here, but I, as the editor-in-chief, will try my best to provide you with the necessary help.”

Lin Shuyue got the result she wanted, and a big smile appeared on her face. The two discussed the details, and Lin Shuyue got up and left the office.

She opened the office door, and coincidentally bumped into Li Weisheng, who was all smiles. When he saw Lin Shuyue, his smile instantly vanished, and his expression became as proud as a peacock. This time, he had found a big news story. As long as the newspaper agreed to let him investigate, he vowed that it would be an exclusive that would dominate the headlines for days!

He didn’t believe it. This time, he would beat that girl, Lin Shuyue.

Lin Shuyue immediately shot him a glare and floated away.

Behind her, Li Weisheng was so angry he looked like a pufferfish, determined to make a big splash with his news story.

–

Pengcheng Superior Internet Addiction Treatment School was a military-style management school. The school had been established for a year and three months since January 2003, with a monthly tuition fee of five hundred yuan.

In just over a year, even such a high tuition fee couldn’t stop parents who hoped their sons would become dragons and their daughters would become phoenixes. They came one after another, holding large sums of cash, crying and begging to send their children, begging them to “reform” their children.

This year, the school’s founder and principal, Xiao Changxin, walked with a spring in his step.

The phone on his desk rang. Xiao Changxin waved his hand, signaling his secretary to take out the documents he had just signed. They were about the advertising plan for the next quarter, in newspapers and on television.

When the phone was about to hang up, Xiao Changxin leisurely picked up the receiver. “Hello, this is Superior Internet Addiction Treatment School.”

He didn’t know what the person on the other end of the phone said, but Xiao Changxin’s smile instantly widened. “Boss Zhou, you really don’t need to be so polite. Our school’s founding philosophy is ‘everything for the physical and mental health of the children,’ not for money.”

“Boss Zhou, you’re making me feel ashamed. May I ask how old your daughter is and what her symptoms are?”

“Sixteen years old? Sixteen is still okay. We can straighten her out.”

“Yes, no problem. I’ll send some teachers over right away. Boss Zhou, rest assured, in three months, I’ll give you back a well-behaved, obedient, and filial daughter.”

After hanging up the phone, Xiao Changxin contentedly took a sip of the coffee his beautiful secretary had brewed and looked out the window.

Under the scorching sun, a group of teenagers aged ten to eighteen were running. Several instructors wearing camouflage uniforms were standing on the track, holding batons.

A few students couldn’t keep up and slowed down. The instructor closest to them strode forward menacingly, and the baton in his hand swung down on them without hesitation.

Xiao Changxin calmly averted his gaze. Such scenes were commonplace to him.

He made a phone call. Soon, the school gate opened, and a van sped out. Inside the van sat four or five “instructors” wearing camouflage uniforms.