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Join the Server“Silly child.” Hua Mu’ai sighed helplessly. “I have never doubted you. From the very beginning, I believed that song was yours.”
Chu Yuyao stared in shock. “But…” Her lips trembled.
“Do you know how I felt the first time I heard you sing?” Hua Mu’ai said softly. “Back when we played games at the internet cafe, you’d always wear headphones and hum along while playing. I thought to myself, someone with a voice like that should never be stuck in a corner forever. Every note you write, every lyric you compose, it’s your own emotion. No one can steal that. Those garbage people hiding behind their keyboards, just ignore them.”
Chu Yuyao shook her head violently, on the verge of breaking down again. “But nobody believes me… They all curse me… They say I’m disgusting… I let you down. I ruined your stage.” She covered her face as tears kept falling. “I don’t deserve your affection.”
Hua Mu’ai frowned, cupped Chu Yuyao’s cheeks, and forced her to meet her eyes. “I’ve heard you sing. I’ve seen you stay up all night writing scores. I know better than anyone that you’re a fool who can’t even speak loudly.” She raised her voice. “Those idiots who don’t know you at all are howling online, do you think I’d believe them?! Who do they think they are? What gives them the right to decide whether you’re worthy? Because that song was written for me. I know its weight better than anyone in the world.”
These words broke through Chu Yuyao’s defenses. She couldn’t hold back anymore. She threw her arms around Hua Mu’ai and buried her face in her shoulder. “Wuwuwu…” She cried out all the malice she had endured in the past few hours.
Hua Mu’ai let the tears and snot stain her clothes as she gently patted Chu Yuyao’s back. “Cry. After this, I’ll take back what’s yours, with interest.”
In the storm, the two soaking-wet girls held each other tightly. A ray of light finally shone into Chu Yuyao’s heart. A light that would never go out, no matter how dark the world became.
****
Two days had passed since Hua Mu’ai dragged Chu Yuyao back from the cross-sea bridge.
In the president’s office of Starflare Entertainment, Hua Mu’ai slammed the table. “You’re the president of Starflare Entertainment, and now you’re telling me you can’t find anything?”
Despite being only just over a meter tall, her aura overwhelmed the large man across from her.
“Please calm down, Lady Tian Lanxing! It’s not that we didn’t try…” Wang Kaiming wiped his cold sweat. “That Old Ghost Music is as stubborn as a turtle, insisting it’s their original. They’ve made the evidence chain too complete!”
“How complete?” Hua Mu’ai demanded.
“Copyright registration dates, various draft files of the arrangement, even so-called creative inspiration notes. All of it was prepared a week ago.” Wang Kaiming’s voice grew quieter. “And the other side is clearly a repeat offender. The IP address went through several overseas server hops. We can’t trace the real person in such a short time.”
Hua Mu’ai bit her lower lip. Damn it. Those rats hiding in the gutter were quite professional.
“The finals are tomorrow night,” Wang Kaiming cautiously observed Hua Mu’ai’s expression. “Lady Tian Lanxing, it’s simply unrealistic to gather enough evidence to overturn public opinion across the entire internet in just over ten hours.”
He was usually annoying, but reliable. This time, someone had clearly planned this meticulously, targeting Chu Yuyao.
“Enough. Don’t put on that act in front of me.” Hua Mu’ai waved her hand dismissively. “Keep working on it. Find me a way.”
She turned and left the office, leaving Wang Kaiming sighing bitterly.
Back in the lounge, Hua Mu’ai saw Chu Yuyao sitting blankly on the sofa. She walked over and handed her a glass of hot milk. “Here. Drink this and sleep. Don’t think about anything else. I’m handling the rest.”
Chu Yuyao took the milk, her eyes still red and swollen. “Did President Wang say… can you clear my name?”
“He’s working on it.” Hua Mu’ai sat down beside her. “By the way, a lot of entertainment media want to interview you. Tomorrow’s final will be broadcast live across the country. Are you sure you want to face the audience?”
Chu Yuyao clutched the milk glass tightly. “I have to go.”
“Listen to me.” Hua Mu’ai looked solemn. “Don’t try to be tough. I’m used to you being soft. Right now, the whole internet is calling you a thief. Once you step onto tomorrow’s stage, the abuse won’t just be online. It’ll be right in front of you. Can you handle it?”
“I know you’re afraid.” Hua Mu’ai’s tone softened slightly. “But think carefully. Are you really ready to face all that hostility alone? You don’t have to carry this by yourself. I’m here. I’ll take the blame. I’d rather everyone curse me than watch you get torn apart.”
Chu Yuyao’s shoulders trembled. After a long silence, she whispered, “But that song was written for you. If I don’t go, then all those accusations will stick to me forever. I don’t want you to be ashamed of me because of this.”
“The only one who can call you a thief is me. Because I know where that song came from.” Hua Mu’ai’s voice grew firm. “Your character, I know it better than anyone. I’m afraid that tomorrow, with tens of thousands of people in the audience, one mouthful of spit could drown you. What I mean is, if you really can’t take it, we can withdraw first. After the storm passes, I’ll find the evidence and throw it in those idiots’ faces. Got it?”
“No need.”
“Huh?” Hua Mu’ai thought she misheard. Was Chu Yuyao refusing her?
“Mu’ai, thank you.” Chu Yuyao said softly. “But if I don’t go tomorrow, I’ll be admitting to the whole world that I’m a copying thief. I can’t let Lady Tian Lanxing be disgraced because of me.”
“Are you crazy? Do you know how many people will be there tomorrow? The media that loves chaos, the audience that’s been led by the nose! The moment you show your face, you’ll be attacked!”
“I can’t back down.” Chu Yuyao’s eyes glistened with tears, but her voice was firm. “Even if the whole world curses me, as long as I haven’t been officially eliminated, I will stand until the last second for you.”
Looking at the stubborn Chu Yuyao, Hua Mu’ai’s rebuke stuck in her throat. This fool, why was she so stubborn at a time like this?
But seeing the determination in her eyes, Hua Mu’ai felt a deep sense of relief. It was like the timid kitten she had raised finally dared to bare its teeth at a vicious dog.
“Fine, suit yourself. It’s your legs anyway. I can’t be bothered to care about you. Drink your milk and sleep. Just don’t cry on stage tomorrow.”
With that, she fled the room.
Standing in the hallway, Hua Mu’ai patted her burning cheeks. “Really, none of them let me worry.”
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