Chapter 71, The 71st Beam of Light: "Why are you here..."
It was the woman Zhong Shichao had been with when she and Yu Mushang met him at Liuxi Courtyard. "They've broken up? Good riddance!" She didn't think too much about who the sender was. Whoever it was, she kowtowed to the email page on the computer screen, wishing for "a peaceful and prosperous life!"
With the two rounds of voting for the "Dream Cup" imminent, Song Xingyun is betting on how the professional judges in the first round will decide when they see two similar works. She is reluctant to give up the most outstanding one, but is also constrained by the fact that the other one has powerful backers. In the end, for the sake of the competition's popularity, she turns a blind eye and submits both works to the public judges at the same time.
Although the public judges' votes do not carry much weight, the "Dream Cup" aims to appeal to both refined and popular tastes.
Song Xingyun filed all the evidence she had prepared before turning off the computer. She planned to rest early tonight and be in good spirits to go up the mountain to see Song Huazhang and his wife tomorrow. She was a little scared but also a little excited.
Her reflection was in the glass window; she was a tiny figure nestled on the sofa. When people stop moving their hands and feet, their minds become active, especially at night.
Song Xingyun closed her eyes, and before her eyes flashed countless images of her time with Yu Mushang, like a slideshow. She realized she couldn't think about it anymore, and could only face her reflection in the glass, uttering harsh words, "Who knows, he's probably plotting how to 'hunt you down' right now..."
Inside the private hospital,
"It's so late, boss, why are you still looking at the computer!" Ying Qi pushed a glass display case into the ward and quickly moved the computer in front of Yu Mushang away.
It's likely that Yu Mushang had already used up his resources, so he had no objection to Yu Mushang's actions.
"Look what I brought you!" Ying Qi pushed the glass display case to the bedside. Yu Mushang looked at the case filled with eyeglass frames and asked, "Did you rob an eyeglasses store?"
Ying Qi chuckled, "Boss, you're still so good at joking. The doctor said we can get our vision tested as early as the day after tomorrow. Let's choose a frame first."
Yu Mushang's condition is improving every minute. The results of combining science and technology with medicine are truly remarkable. Although he is a guinea pig used in experiments, he is a successful one.
Yu Mushang's gaze swept across the glass display case, finally settling on a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. "If you wore gold-rimmed glasses, you would be outrageously handsome! I'll design a unique pair of glasses for the blind for you!"
"As long as he doesn't look like a refined scoundrel, it's fine."
"Nonsense, how could that be? Your face can't possibly be associated with scum..."
His conversation with Song Xingyun not long ago seemed to echo in his ears. He asked Ying Qi to take out the glasses, "Try them on."
Ying Qi's expression flashed with almost imperceptible surprise, then he produced a mirror from who-knows-where. "Boss, you really know how to choose! I think this suits you perfectly, and Assistant Song thinks it suits you too..." He misspoke again. Seeing Yu Mushang look up at him, he had no choice but to continue, forcing himself to speak, "I once said..."
Ying Qi was afraid that his boss would throw the glasses frame into the trash can the next second. In fact, even he didn't know how Yu Mushang felt about Song Xingyun. Was it a mixture of love and hate? He didn't dare to ask.
Yu Mushang looked in the mirror again and put on the glasses under Ying Qi's anxious gaze.
This was the first time he'd seen himself wearing glasses, and he hardly recognized himself. "Looks good?"
Ying Qi almost nodded off, "It looks great! It suits you perfectly!" Assistant Song has such good taste. He didn't tell Yu Mushang that these glasses frames were the ones Song Xingyun designed specifically for him, and now Yu Mushang picked them out at a glance. How can that not mean they're on the same wavelength? But why do two people on the same wavelength have to separate? Ying Qi just couldn't understand it.
"Want to try anything else?" he asked, taking the glasses Yu Mushang handed back.
But Yu Mushang shook his head, "I only like what I see at first glance, so this is it."
She only likes those she sees at first glance... Even Ying Qi, who is somewhat oblivious to matters of the heart, began to suspect that this statement had multiple layers of meaning.
The next day, Song Xingyun and Tang Huanxian went to the grave of Song Huazhang and his wife. The two of them carefully cleaned the couple's "home" with cleaning tools. Half an hour later, Tang Huanxian filled the wine glass in front of the tombstone and called Song Xingyun over, "Have a drink with your parents?"
Song Xingyun nodded and took the liquor. It was strong, but it warmed her up. As she listened to Tang Huanxian talking to the tombstone about the interesting things that had happened in his life recently, the sadness that she had felt when she first arrived began to dissipate.
Tang Huanxian probably sensed Song Xingyun's gaze and scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly, "Don't blame me for talking too much, I don't usually have many people to talk to..."
Song Xingyun filled his small wine glass a second time, her face full of emotion. "I don't blame you at all. On the contrary, I don't know how to thank you." She had noticed Tang Huanxian's skill in doing the work earlier, so he must be a regular. "With friends like you who still care about them and talk to them more, they must be happy. On the contrary, I can't even come back twice a year. I'm unfilial."
Tang Huan shook his head first, "You can't say that. Taking good care of yourself out there and not letting them worry down there is the greatest filial piety you can show!"
Song Xingyun took a deep breath and nodded. The burial site of Song Huazhang and his wife was located on the top of the mountain, overlooking Changle Town. Today, the sky was cloudless and the weather was fine. She gazed into the distance for a few seconds and sighed, "When I came here alone before, the weather was never good, and I was not in the mood to enjoy the scenery. I never thought I would miss such a beautiful view for so many years."
Tang Huanxian smiled and said, "The weather is really nice today. The rain has stopped and the sky is clear. The scenery is still there. You can come and see it whenever you want. There's no need to be sad."
Song Xingyun smiled without saying a word, gazing into the distance for a long time, her heart seemingly as broad as the mountains and rivers. Was the storm really about to pass and the sun finally shine again?
*
Over the next few days, Yu Mushang cooperated with vision rehabilitation training, and the "Dream Cup" selection officially began.
Everything went according to Song Xingyun's plan. Her and Zhong Shichao's "works" were selected and displayed to the public. As soon as the public voting channel opened, the topic's popularity soared to the top of the charts, with countless comments.
"How come two works are so similar, but they're not signed by the same person...?"
"Isn't this the person involved in that 'plagiarism' or 'copying scandal' that was circulating online a while ago? This is going to be interesting. Who's the thief this time? Or is the 'Dream Painting Cup' really going to such lengths to generate buzz? I enjoy looking at paintings, and I also enjoy watching the drama unfold!"
"The work signed 'Star' is clearly more complete. Could the other one be a copy of someone else's first draft? It's missing something."
"Xing's works gave me goosebumps. The girl wept, but with just a few strokes, you could see the determination in her eyes. The character was resilient and upright, breaking through the shackles and growing towards the sun. The raised hand desperately touched the light. The dream was painful, but she yearned for the light. It was so shocking."
"I agree with the interpretation above. Every stroke is vivid and just right, making the other one seem rather bland. Indeed, there's a difference between a phoenix and a pheasant! But wasn't Xing a 'professional plagiarist' who's been exposed online for a while? Now he seems like the victim? Can someone explain this to me?"
......
Looking at the comments online, Song Xingyun felt a surge of excitement. "Zhong Shichao, this time I'm going to rub you into the ground!"
Meanwhile, in the director's office of Yingmeng Comics, the sound of a chair being kicked over could be heard. "Tell the organizers to remove that artwork immediately!"
"General Manager...we called them as soon as the incident happened, but they refused our request..."
Upon hearing this, Zhong Shichao overturned the documents on the table. "Fine, they really will stop at nothing for the sake of generating buzz! Have you found out who that artwork belongs to? Tell her to withdraw from the competition, and let her name her price."
Zhong Shichao's assistant trembled, cold sweat pouring down his face, fearing he might be caught in the crossfire. He slowly moved towards the door. "Director, that artwork is Song Xingyun's! We're really done for this time..."
"Who are you talking about? Song Xingyun? So it's that little slut! She's just looking for an opportunity to get revenge on me! Heh, so what if she gets selected this time? She can't prove herself after what happened last time. What do I have to fear? It's her good fortune from her past life that I even liked her work. She's so ungrateful! A little brat like her, who would believe that I used her work? She's overestimating herself!"
"Call the organizers now. We can accept not taking down the work, but we want to request that the attribution be corrected and your name be added back in."
The assistant's eyes widened upon hearing this. Zhong Shichao was trying to make him a scapegoat. "Director, then I can't work in this industry anymore. How about you choose one of the illustrators you dislike the most? We'll replace him with that one!"
Unbeknownst to them, the office was already crowded with eavesdroppers. Upon hearing that Zhong Shichao's assistant was trying to frame someone to protect himself, they were all furious. In a fit of rage, they kicked open Zhong Shichao's door, shouting, "You two are truly shameless!"
"Exactly! I've been putting up with you guys for far too long!"
The assistant was startled by the commotion. "What are you doing here? Get out! Don't talk nonsense!"
To his surprise, a slap landed on his face the next second. "It's a blessing you earned in your past life that I hit you. You like being Zhong Shichao's dog so much, so I'll hit you first. If you have the guts, call the police and have me arrested. I'm going to expose all the scum you've done!"
"You dare!" Zhong Shichao finally realized what was happening and began to threaten, "Anyone who dares to leak even a single word will be expelled from this industry!"
The scene fell silent. Everyone looked at each other with restrained expressions. Zhong Shichao laughed loudly, "A bunch of cowards! Just provide your manuscripts properly, and I won't treat you unfairly. Don't make such a scene!"
At this moment, the artist standing in the last row raised his phone and said, "It's too late. I accidentally clicked on the live stream. Everyone knows about the despicable things you've done and the bullshit you've said. I believe the world is fair!"
Zhong Shichao's eyes widened as he lunged forward to snatch the phone. "Turn it off!"
Everyone protected their colleague, and he turned his phone screen and camera towards him. Zhong Shichao saw his face clearly displayed on the screen, and the number of viewers in the live stream reached a staggering 100,000. His legs went weak.
"So you were the thief all along! Avoid this! The world is fair!"
"Xing also left their studio. It seems she was the one who got robbed. That's so tragic. Joining your studio was such bad luck."
"He should be expelled! Boycott Zhong Shichao! Plagiarist!"
"That old Deng really did steal someone else's first draft."
"I wronged Miss Song Xingyun. I repent, I apologize to her! I'm sorry!"
......
Within just one hour, the hashtag "Zhong Shichao, habitual plagiarist" topped the charts, and netizens and many suppressed artists came forward to suggest banning Zhong Shichao and kicking him out of all industry-related associations, causing a sudden reversal in public opinion.
Song Xingyun, who was organizing evidence to send out earlier, missed the live broadcast. Now, after watching the replay, she was stunned to see the screen filled with apologies to her.
"You reap what you sow; retribution may be delayed, but it will come soon enough." After thinking for a moment, she put all the evidence she had collected up at once. After all, she had worked so hard for so long, and it was time to put an end to it herself.
After she finished doing all that, she dialed Zhong Shichao's number, expecting him not to answer, but to her surprise, the call went through. "It must feel terrible to be attacked and criticized by the entire internet, right?"
Zhong Shichao was packing his things to escape abroad and didn't think the car had arrived before answering the phone. But upon hearing the voice and the words, he knew exactly who it was. "Song Xingyun! You tricked me!"
Song Xingyun chuckled, "Who knew you'd even steal a painting you picked up on the street? You're really desperate." Back then, Song Xingyun had her former colleague throw that unfinished rough draft into a trash can that Zhong Shichao would pass by, and he simply picked it up. "But you do have your merits, which is that you have a good eye. Are you satisfied with my compliment?"
"You! Don't be so smug!" Zhong Shichao roared in a fit of impotence, and the phone was hung up the next second, making him almost faint from anger.
Private hospitals
"Boss, don't go online today if you're not busy..." Ying Qi said as soon as she opened the door, but it was too late, because she saw that Yu Mushang had been staring at the computer for who knows how long.
He walked over and peeked at the content on the screen. His heart tightened at what he saw. Sure enough, it was a trending topic about the "Dream Cup". Yu Mushang glanced at him indifferently and said, "If you want to look, then look openly and honestly."
Yingqi: ......
"Assistant Song's troubles are truly resolved this time..." He thought for a moment, "Boss, could it be that Assistant Song left because he was afraid of being a burden to us?"
Yu Mushang's lips twitched. "You think you're so smart."
But Ying Qi was still lost in her own speculations, completely oblivious to his implied meaning, blindly concluding, "How come I didn't think of that before? I always thought your relationship had broken down..."
Relationship breakdown?
Yu Mushang couldn't stand those four words and interrupted him, "When can I be discharged from the hospital?"
Ying Qi stood up straight. "The doctor said I should be fine by the end of this week. Fortunately, the injuries from the car accident weren't serious, and my vision is recovering normally. I can do the rehabilitation exercises at home."
Yu Mushang nodded, "In that case, process my discharge tomorrow. You must do it."
"Okay." Ying Qi agreed without thinking before realizing what he meant. "What! You're being discharged tomorrow?" He looked Yu Mushang up and down.
"Are you questioning me?" Yu Mushang glared at him.
If Ying Qi had a tail, he would have to tuck it between his legs. He thought that it would be troublesome if the boss could see it, and he would be able to read Ying Qi's expressions from now on... But he could only agree, "I will go and talk to the doctor right away."
Seeing that everyone had left, the ward became much quieter. Yu Mushang got up and walked to the window. The colors outside rushed into his eyes. Although he seemed very calm to outsiders, only he knew that he often thought he was dreaming, dreaming a dream that he could actually see.
Ying Qi had to carry out Yu Mushang's orders, and the two of them returned to Villa No. 9 the next afternoon.
The man stood in front of the villa; this was his first real encounter with it. With each step he took, memories flooded in—once only sounds, now images appeared...
Ying Qi led him around, acting as his guide. After walking around the yard, they went inside. "This is the sunroom, a haven for longevity and a hundred years," she said.
"Oh, Wen took them away. She was worried she wouldn't be able to take care of them, so she hired her a while ago."
Yu Mushang raised an eyebrow. "You really should take your life's important matters seriously." After saying that, he walked past him and entered the work area.
Ying Qi froze for a moment, then reacted and tried to chase after her, saying, "I have nothing to do with her! I don't like her..."
Before she could take more than a few steps, she heard a dog barking behind her. Turning around, she saw Wen Ying's face was as black as ice. "Why are you here..." Did she hear that?
"Didn't you say your boss was being discharged from the hospital this afternoon and going back to Villa No. 9?" Wen Ying tossed him the two ropes in her hand. "Three times the amount, remember to transfer the money."
After saying that, she turned to leave, but after taking a step, she turned back and said expressionlessly, "I know you don't like me anymore. I won't bother you anymore. Let's avoid each other when we see each other, understand?"
Without waiting for his reply, she left without hesitation.
Wen Ying didn't stop until she walked out of Villa No. 9. Not hearing a single footstep behind her, she suppressed her emotions, sniffed, and said, "I'm going to order a hundred male models tonight!"
Ying Qi's reaction time was a bit slow. By the time he caught up to the door, Wen Ying had only left him with a trail of car exhaust fumes. "Is she serious?" Recalling her icy gaze earlier, he clutched his chest, feeling somewhat lost and disoriented.
Inside Villa No. 9, Yu Mushang first sat in his office for a while before coming to the outer room. He looked at the neatly arranged painting tools on a certain workbench and knew at a glance who its owner was. He walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down.
Everything on her workstation was purchased from within the company, and Song Xingyun didn't take any of it with her, including the drawing paper she had forgotten deep in her drawer.
Yu Mushang randomly picked out a picture, and it was of a very alluringly muscular man with abs. The man's face looked very familiar...
Looking at the date casually scribbled in the lower right corner of the drawing, Yu Mushang recalled for a moment, his expression finally turning somewhat unpleasant. "This is what she meant by 'drawing a dog'?" No wonder she sounded so guilty back then; it turns out she was referring to this kind of drawing...
Yu Mushang reached deeper into the drawer again and pulled out a stack of papers. After flipping through just two pages, his face turned visibly red. This time, he was looking at an upgraded version of the drawing, complete with animation, which seemed to leap off the page. "She used my face to draw a pornographic comic?"
It was Song Xingyun's unspeakable dream...
These pages were undated, and Yu Mushang was unsure whether he had "caught" her during the creative process.
"Boss, what are you looking at that makes your face so red?" Ying Qi's voice suddenly appeared behind him.
Yu Mushang snapped the few pages together and casually grabbed the most inconspicuous folder from the bookshelf next to him and put it inside. "No."
He turned and asked, "Have you all completed the test targets I set for you with high quality and quantity?"
Ying Qi didn't know he was asking this so suddenly, but she still answered truthfully, "Of course."
Yu Mushang nodded and returned to his office. The folder was on his desk. He had to mentally prepare himself before reopening it, but his gaze was drawn to something else.
He hadn't expected that the folder he'd casually picked up contained Song Xingyun's "portfolio" since she'd entered Villa No. 9. The paintings were very lifelike, but the content was monotonous, with only one main subject: himself...
"So this is how I am in your eyes."
Yu Mushang flipped through the photos repeatedly and eventually found a few printed photos of the two of them taken in a sunflower field.
The woman's smile was radiant, and the man was gentle and refined. No wonder she kept praising the older men and women for their excellent guidance, and she even secretly washed her own clothes.
She looked exactly as Yu Mushang had imagined. "Song Xingyun..."
After having dinner with him, Ying Qi received his firm order to leave: "Boss, I'm worried about you being alone."
"I can see now."
"That won't work! You've only just begun to see!"
Are you leaving or not?
Ying Qi had no choice but to return to the old house with many backward glances, leaving only Yu Mushang in Villa No. 9 for a moment.
Instead of going back to his room to rest, he went to the control panel. As he passed by, he touched the small machine and said, "Hello, little machine, nice to meet you."
He then entered the command for precise location lookup on the control panel. The map on the large screen zoomed in and out, finally stopping at a location. He pressed Enter, and the system announced the result: "No. 520, Changle Town..."
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