Chapter Nineteen: The Sole Victim of the Plagiarism Scandal

After leaving Celestial Star Entertainment, Luo Xiaoyi took Chen Nian home and then returned to her own place. When she arrived, Luo Youdao had already driven off to the Calligraphy Association.

The Rong City Calligraphy Association was the largest and most prestigious in Rong City—without equal. Although Luo Youdao was only a novice in calligraphy, his other identity had long made him a frequent guest here. Such was the privilege of being a capitalist: in any industry, once you carried that weight, you entered already standing at the top.

Thus, despite his modest calligraphic skill, Luo Youdao was treated like a star among stars within the Association. As he walked through the doors, the administrator greeted him with a broad smile.

"Good morning, Mr. Luo! You're early today; the Calligraphy Appreciation Conference hasn't started yet," the administrator, sporting a trendy hairstyle with shaved sides and a tuft in the middle, rubbed his hands as he welcomed Luo Youdao.

Luo Youdao glanced down at him, expressionless. "I wrote two pieces today that I'm quite pleased with. Thought I'd come early for Mr. Yu to take a look."

"Ah, Mr. Yu is in his office right now. You can head up directly."

After Luo Youdao left, the bald administrator shed his servile demeanor and, facing the air where Luo Youdao had stood, performed a rapid set of military-style punches.

"Damn it, just because he's got a bit of money, what’s he got to show off? That so-called calligraphy of his? My foot could do better!"

On the second floor, Yu Wenqing was practicing his calligraphy when Luo Youdao pushed the door open and entered.

Yu Wenqing frowned at first, but upon seeing Luo Youdao, immediately set down his brush and personally poured him a cup of fine Pu'er tea.

"Why so early today? The Conference won’t start for another half hour," Yu Wenqing smiled, handing him the teacup.

"I just finished two works I’m quite satisfied with, so I wanted you to see them first," Luo Youdao pressed down his excitement, presenting his proud creations with a calm face.

Yu Wenqing donned his glasses and examined them carefully. After a moment, he set the piece on the table and shook his head.

"Compared to your previous works, you’ve improved, but even so, these won’t stir much at the Conference."

Though friends, Yu Wenqing was more a mentor than a peer to Luo Youdao, and spoke bluntly.

"Really not good?" Luo Youdao felt a pang of disappointment, though he wasn’t angry at Yu Wenqing’s frankness.

Yu Wenqing nodded.

"Wait, I’ve got another," Luo Youdao said, rummaging through his bag.

"No need. Calligraphy demands patience and accumulation over time. You’re just starting out; you can’t rush it."

Luo Youdao sighed helplessly and set his briefcase aside.

"Wait!" Yu Wenqing happened to glance inside Luo Youdao’s bag and his eyes lit up.

He snatched the bag from Luo Youdao, carefully extracting the Duobao Pagoda Stele written earlier by Chen Nian.

Seeing Yu Wenqing’s excitement, Luo Youdao thought he’d finally gained recognition, but when Yu Wenqing pulled out what Luo Youdao considered a piece of scribbled waste paper, Luo Youdao frowned.

How did that get in there by accident?

If Yu Wenqing saw this, he’d surely laugh himself silly.

Luo Youdao hurried to explain, but Yu Wenqing, visibly agitated, cut him off.

"My god! My god! My god!" Three exclamations in a row revealed Yu Wenqing’s astonishment.

"I—my heavens, you—he—damn! Old Luo, did you write this?"

"What’s wrong?" Luo Youdao’s cheeks flushed.

His first piece had never elicited such a reaction from Yu Wenqing; surely Chen Nian’s work was even worse.

"A masterpiece!" Yu Wenqing cradled what Luo Youdao saw as gibberish, brimming with emotion.

"Old Luo, I never imagined you’d progress so rapidly—this is divine!"

"Wha—what?" Luo Youdao froze, suspecting Yu Wenqing was mocking him.

"Old Yu, are you so muddled from writing? You call this scribble a masterpiece?"

Yu Wenqing was famed among contemporary calligraphers for his arrogance; even ancient masterworks had not escaped his criticism.

To hear him proclaim a masterpiece—Luo Youdao couldn’t believe it.

"I knew it, this isn’t yours, right? Tell me, which master created it?" Yu Wenqing sensed something and looked at Luo Youdao.

"Master?" Luo Youdao was confused but didn’t hide the truth. "It was written by a friend of my daughter’s. I was about to throw it away."

"No wonder, no wonder—just starting, you wouldn’t understand."

"If this piece were exhibited or entered in a competition, I dare say it would stand head and shoulders above the rest. In fact, I’d call it a legacy work that will be celebrated for centuries! Even ten or twenty years from now, no one will be able to replicate it!"

"Isn’t that a bit much?" Luo Youdao was thoroughly baffled. Was this scribble—no, this calligraphy—really that good?

"You don’t know anything! You may be better than me in business, but in calligraphy, you can’t match a single finger of mine!"

"This piece—not just me, even the renowned Guo Youcai would have to admit defeat!"

"No, no, pure skill isn’t enough. Without fame, the Calligraphy Association won’t recognize it," Yu Wenqing pondered and then addressed Luo Youdao.

"Old Luo, I’m heading to the capital now. When I return, contact the author for me—I want to make him the greatest calligrapher of our era!"

Without giving Luo Youdao a chance to respond, Yu Wenqing took the so-called scribble and left in a hurry, leaving Luo Youdao utterly stunned.

Meanwhile, after the plagiarism scandal erupted, Heart Trace Entertainment descended into utter chaos.

Just as Wei had predicted, the company maintained its usual policy: sacrifice the small to protect the big.

The one being protected was naturally Lin Xinrou, the company’s star. As for who would be abandoned, the decision was unanimous among upper management: Ai Ting became the sole victim of the scandal.

Once the decision was made, Heart Trace Entertainment’s official account released a statement, shifting all blame onto Ai Ting and clearing Lin Xinrou entirely.

The statement quickly shot to the top of trending lists across apps and forums.

Thus, thanks to her victim persona, Lin Xinrou not only avoided any negative impact, but even gained more attention and followers.

Now, only two paths remained for Ai Ting.

First, stay with Heart Trace Entertainment, be shelved by the company until her contract expired.

Second, terminate her contract voluntarily, though after this incident, no other entertainment company would sign her.

Undoubtedly, both were dead ends.

The heat of June in Rong City was unbearable. Dragging her suitcase, Ai Ting wandered aimlessly through the streets.

Her dream of stardom, once within reach, was now utterly shattered. The light in her eyes was gone, replaced only by emptiness and helplessness.

Just as Ai Ting was about to break down, a man appeared before her—someone she knew intimately, yet had never met...