Chapter 109

Backstage on the day of the press conference.

Ai Li crossed his legs and looked down at the increasing number of related posts on the Internet when he heard the door of the lounge open and close.

Assistant Xiao Zhang walked in with his back hunched.

Ai Li scoffed, "Why are you being so sneaky?"

Assistant Xiao Zhang was stunned, then slowly straightened up. "Sister Ai, didn't you ask me to help you check how many reporters were outside? I was afraid of being discovered, so..."

Ai Li showed a look of disgust. "I told you to go and see it openly. Who told you to look so unpresentable?"

Assistant Xiao Zhang lowered her head and scratched it. She was already used to her verbal abuse and knew that if she just kept quiet at such times, she would be scolded less.

Seeing that she was silent again, Ai Li felt bored and turned back to look at the makeup mirror. "How many people are here?"

Assistant Xiao Zhang replied a little later, "It's basically full."

Ai Li combed his hair and suddenly asked, "Is there anyone unrelated entering?"

Assistant Xiao Zhang thought for a moment, and since nothing seemed to be wrong with security, he said, "Not yet."

Hearing this, Ai Li fell into deep thought for a moment.

It's impossible for Shen Yizhi to be completely silent.

Logically speaking, they should have come here to mess things up a long time ago.

Just like when she was discovered hiring a motorcyclist, Shen Yizhi smashed her drawing board without saying a word and came to her house to settle the score.

Shen Yizhi's personality cannot tolerate any grievance, nor can he hold back any trouble.

It's surprisingly quiet today.

"Ignore her." Ai Li came back to his senses and turned his head to look at her. "Is the evidence ready?"

Assistant Xiao Zhang handed over the documents in his hand and said, "Everything is ready, Sister Ai."

Ai Li took the heavy document bag and raised her bright red lips into a flamboyant arc.

"The fun is about to begin."

-

Twenty minutes later, at the press conference.

Countless machines were pointed in the same direction. Reporters were busy sorting out questions in their notebooks. The atmosphere was serious and quiet, with only the sound of typing on the keyboard.

Until someone in the crowd said something.

"Aili has entered."

Everyone looked up, cameras flashing.

Ai Li stood in the center with a gentle smile on her face. She was still wearing a tight-fitting cheongsam, but today it was a slightly lighter blue color. Her charming face showed a bit of pity, which made people unconsciously classify her as the victim.

She calmly glanced at the flickering flashes below the stage and slowly spoke.

"Hello everyone, I'm Ai Li."

The reporters in the audience couldn't wait to ask questions.

"Ms. Ai Li, what do you think about Ocean's claim that they didn't plagiarize and their demand for proof?"

She did not rush to answer, but sat down very gracefully and calmly.

Assistant Xiao Zhang came up from the other side and displayed the manuscripts in front of the camera like slides.

Each manuscript is a painting from a different period. The only thing they have in common is the signature "Ai Li" in the lower right corner.

There were reporters in the audience who had been examining group paintings for many years and recognized the wonder of these paintings.

"Isn't the painting on this manuscript a painting of the ocean?!"

Now it's not a question of similar styles, but rather that Ocean's paintings are exactly the same as Rewi Alley's manuscripts?!

The genius painter Ocean turned out to be an imposter?!

Once this press release is released, I'm afraid it will cause heated discussions in the entire painting community.

But before Rewi Alley could speak, the reporter, seeking the truth, hurriedly asked.

"Ms. Ai Li, by showing these manuscripts, do you mean that all of Ocean's paintings over the years were copied from your manuscripts?"

Ai Li stared at the camera and said firmly, "That's right! Ocean not only plagiarized my manuscript, but also imitated my writing style many times and refused to admit it. This matter has seriously affected the atmosphere in the circle!"

"Therefore, I demand that Ocean publicly apologize to me and never set foot in the painting circle again!"

There was a uniform clacking of keyboards and very quiet discussions from below.

"Ocean has always been a talented painter who rose to fame at a young age. Not only has she never revealed her face, but her personal information is also unknown. I heard that her family background is quite unusual. Could it be that she has been hiring someone to paint her paintings for her all these years?!"

"No wonder she responded so confidently to the announcement. It turns out she has someone behind her!"

"She hid it from the public for so long. This is a piece of news of epic proportions. I don't believe she can still maintain her position as a talented painter."

"I think we should stop calling him a genius painter and start calling him a fake painter."

…

Listening to the discussions below that were developing in the expected direction, Ai Li could not hide the pride between his brows.

She slowly stood up and spoke seriously to the reporters below the stage.

"This is the purpose of my holding this press conference. I hope the public can seek justice for me—"

"What if I don't apologize?"

A sound as clear as the sound of striking jade interrupted Ai Li's words and sounded behind everyone.

The sound of typing on the keyboard stopped abruptly.

Everyone turned their heads and looked towards the entrance.

The security guard who was originally guarding the door was pushed aside by two rows of bodyguards in black suits.

When temporary workers meet professionals, it's like Mars hitting the Earth, with no way to fight back.

All we can do is watch them forge their way forward in a domineering and unreasonable manner.

The woman who was being supported and walking in the center slowly appeared in everyone's sight.

Her wavy black hair was draped on both sides, her delicate face was only the size of a palm, she had fair skin, bright eyes and white teeth, and her outstanding bone structure was so beautiful that it was extremely aggressive.

The kind of noble and aloof temperament she carries around makes people's attention unconsciously attracted to her.

The whole place was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The moment they saw her, everyone held their breath, with only one thought remaining in their minds:

She is ocean.

The reporter quickly adjusted the direction of the camera, and the flash followed her as she walked step by step to the center.

Finally it stopped beside Ai Li.

Ai Li felt an inexplicable tightness in her heart at her appearance. Her fingertips under her cheongsam sank into the flesh, leaving thick bloodstains.

She gritted her teeth and looked at Shen Yizhi, using a relaxed tone and lowering her voice, “You really dare to show up?”

Shen Yizhi smiled at her gently: "If I don't show up, you will be disappointed, so I am here."

The decency between adults probably means smiling with a knife hidden in the heart and speaking with a sharp tongue.

Ai Li's lips curled up coldly: "It's just right that you're here. I'll help He Qingyu settle his share."

They talked in a very low voice and no one in the audience noticed.

Someone couldn't help but ask, "Excuse me, are you Ocean?"

Shen Yizhi calmly looked towards the source of the sound and said two words without haste or slowness: "I am."

The whole audience fell into a deathly silence at first, and then three seconds later, heated discussions broke out at the same time.

"What's going on now? They actually barged into a press conference. Is this the first time this has happened?"

"She's so beautiful, yet she still refuses to show up? Sure enough, people who can make a living with their talent don't care about appearance."

"Hey, don't forget, she's a fake!"

"Isn't this explained clearly yet? Never mind. I'll switch sides for a second."

"Wait, hasn't anyone noticed that Ocean's left and right wrists seem a little different?"

…

The discussion stopped until someone asked again.

"Excuse me, what did you mean by not apologizing? Or are you appearing at the press conference to completely admit to plagiarism? Could you elaborate?"

The reporter's questions were as sharp as swords, forcing her into a trap.

Chen Yizhi looked around the audience without changing his expression. His voice was not loud but loud enough for everyone to hear. "I didn't plagiarize. Why should I apologize?"

There was an uproar and sighs from the audience, and the sound of keyboards was like a machine gun, rumbling.

Someone said, "The evidence that Ms. Rewi Alley has accused you of plagiarism is already there. What do you think about this?"

Everyone's eyes were focused on the stage, and no one noticed the corner of the scene.

Sitting down was a man with an indifferent and noble temperament.

He crossed his long legs, raised his head slightly, and like everyone else, cast his gaze towards the stage.

However, there was only one person in his pair of clear, ink-black peach blossom eyes.