On the phone screen, an image filled the display. It was grainy but unmistakable. The photograph showed Chen Mumu standing close to an older man in what appeared to be an intimate setting. The man's arm rested on her waist as she smiled faintly, a moment frozen in time that now painted a damning picture.
As the damning image was thrust forward, everyone nearby reacted instantly. Gasps rippled through the crowd, and within moments, other reporters and bystanders scrambled to unlock their own phones. Fingers flew across screens, refreshing pages and opening social media platforms.
"There it is!" someone shouted.
"I see it too," another chimed in, their tone a mix of shock and accusation.
The air seemed to grow thicker as dozens of eyes fixated on the photo now plastered across countless devices. The buzz of whispered conversations quickly escalated into an uproar.
"Is this true, Chen Mumu?"
"How could you?"
