Panicked, the artists were trapped inside the clubhouse, like ants on a hot plate, running around frantically, screaming, and wailing.
The massive exchange conference had become a living hell ravaged by the virus.
Lu Zhiwei gripped the table tightly with both hands, gathering her strength, before she could barely stand up from the chair and take the microphone from the microphone stand into her hand.
"Everyone here, please be quiet! I, Lu Zhiwei, promise you that none of you will die. And I will not let Luo Xiu succeed."
Her trembling voice was incredibly penetrating, carrying throughout every corner of the venue.
The restless artists gradually quieted down, their eyes all turning to the bright red figure on the stage.
Facing the crowd, Lu Zhiwei resembled a proud queen, or a savior who dispelled the darkness, giving everyone a boost of confidence.
"Has Chairman Lu come up with any ideas?"
All eyes turned to Lu Zhiwei with anticipation.
No one is unafraid of death, especially since they are all top-notch artists renowned around the world.
Their deaths here are not only a disaster for the art world, but also a tragedy for the whole world.
Luo Xiu laughed maniacally: "What can she do to save you? Call the police to arrest me? You expect these saviors to rescue you, then why are all the doors sealed off by the police?"
These few words left the artists looking at each other in bewilderment, beginning to doubt the veracity of Lu Zhiwei's words.
After all, they had seen with their own eyes that the people outside the door were indeed police officers in protective suits, each carrying a gun and welding the door shut.
"Yes, if the police are here to rescue us, why won't they open the door? Why won't they let us out? We want to get out, open the door for us!"
Luo Xiu's words clearly stirred up the emotions of these people.
The hot-tempered man started kicking the door wildly and shouting behind it.
The police outside kept bracing against the door, determined not to let anyone escape.
"See, I told you so, didn't I? Even the police just want you to die here, so you don't spread the virus and harm them. Everyone, if you follow my instructions, I will distribute the vaccine to you all, so you can leave this hall safely."
All I want is for the art world to recognize and command me, Luo Xiu, alone in the future.
Luo Xiu looked down at the artists with a smile, constantly trying to brainwash them.
Lu Zhiwei interrupted him sharply: "Don't listen to him. I believe everyone has heard about the case of the missing artists a while ago. The artists who were redeemed also contracted this virus and did not improve despite continuous treatment after being isolated."
It was indeed Luo Family Pharmaceuticals that provided the vaccines, which saved the artists' lives.
But the side effects of this vaccine are also very serious. Those artists have now lost their ability to paint, and they can't even hold a paintbrush... That is his ultimate goal.
To destroy you, to control you.
"That's still better than losing your life. You've already been injected with the antidote, so it's easy for you to talk when you're not in the same boat."
But will Luo Xiu give us the antidote?
We just want to live. We're almost dead, who cares if we can't paint anymore?
"That's right, that's right. You're just spouting nonsense about saving our lives, so why don't you just do it? What's the point of letting these police officers lock us up?"
A few short-sighted and shallow artists took the lead in making a fuss.
They then turned their attention to Lu Zhiwei.
Looking at Lu Zhiwei being criticized by everyone, Luo Xiu shook his head: "Zhizhi, is this the kind of painters you want to protect? Their vision is nowhere near yours. Do they even deserve your help?"
"Don't be naive. Put down the microphone, come back with me, and we'll open a bottle of champagne to celebrate my victory."
Lu Zhiwei had long seen through people's hearts.
She also knew that not everyone would appreciate her efforts.
But she didn't care at all.
She just wanted to quell the storm so that An'an could live a peaceful life in the future.
She is not only an artist, but also a mother.
Hidden in the crowd, Luo Wuyan held Lu Anyu tightly.
Hearing the disdainful people around him criticizing and insulting his mother, Lu Anyu was furious and went crazy.
"Aunt Luo, why is Mommy so foolish? Why did you save them? You should have just let them die here."
Luo Wuyan was even more furious than Lu Anyu.
But she understood Lu Zhiwei.
She would not fuel Lu Anyu's anger.
"An'an, do you know why your mommy still saved them even though they insulted her?"
"Why?" Lu Anyu asked, frowning in confusion.
"Because of An'an. You are one of these three thousand people. Artists all over the world are one big family. We share the same fate. Your mommy just wants to give An'an a stable future." Luo Wuyan patiently explained to Lu Anyu.
Lu Anyu nodded as if he understood, but he was still angry!
Shen Jinmo looked at Lu Zhiwei, who was covered in sweat and whose face was as white as a sheet of paper.
He grabbed Luo Xiu's gun barrel and slammed it towards the ceiling.
Luo Xiu accidentally pulled the trigger.
Bang--
A loud gunshot silenced the hall once again.
Some white powder fell from the ceiling that was pierced by the bullet.
After inhaling the inhaled gas, Lu Zhiwei coughed incessantly. Shen Jinmo took the opportunity to put his arm around Lu Zhiwei's waist and support her, asking, "What's wrong with you? Why is your face so pale and your body so hot?"
Lu Zhiwei was running a high fever at the time due to the virus outbreak.
The scalding temperature burned Shen Jinmo's palm.
Seeing the two of them embracing, Luo Xiu raised his gun and aimed it at them.
"Shen Jinmo, get out of my way! Why are you everywhere?"
At this moment, Luo Xiu regarded Shen Jinmo as a thorn in his side and wished he could pierce through him.
But he was also worried that Lu Zhiwei, that silly woman, would take the bullet for him.
Lu Zhiwei pushed away Shen Jinmo, who was holding her, and continued to speak while holding the microphone: "I believe everyone has seen my painting today. Luo Xiu and I are two completely different kinds of people, and our goals are by no means the same."
As the president of the art association, getting everyone out safely is the last thing I can do for you.
After today, I will step down as president and return to my family.
"After all that talk, just tell me how you're going to save us. Do you think you're a living god? Can you conjure up an antidote for us? No matter how much Luo Xiu loves you, he's not going to give you the antidote."
Lu Zhiwei lowered her head and chuckled: "Yes, no matter how much he loves me, he would never give me the antidote."
But can you see my hands?
Lu Zhiwei bit her lip and raised her hand high, which was shaking as if she had Parkinson's disease.
Her once fair and smooth hands now looked withered and dry.
"President Lu, what happened to your hand?" someone asked, feigning concern.
Luo Xiu then noticed that Lu Zhiwei's slender, jade-like hands had completely changed.
It's like the shrinking symptoms of a viral outbreak.
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