Gasps filled the studio.
Then a voice recording played, naturally Wei Han's voice.
"Come on. You, me, and her designs. She'll never notice. Just smile, NingNing. She is too naïve to be a designer and my fiancée"
Madam Li froze completely "Hey...what… what is this?? Somebody do something!"
'Eeh, such a weak tv host. Tsk! But please enjoy responsibly.'
Jiang Ning went completely pale. "Fake! This is fake! It is edited!"
"Of course," I laughed lightly, sipping my water. "It seems like technology has such advanced editing software we are not aware of these days."
Another video immediately popped up.
A CCTV footage of Jiang Ning entering my wrecked studio the night it was burnt down to ashes, with Wei Han waiting outside.
The crowd erupted in shock. Madam Li was whispered frantically to her earpiece, while I was busy enjoying the show.
'Hmm...the chaos isn't enough. I've got some bonus leak here. To be specific, bank transfers. Should I host?'
I smiled faintly. "So now you know how to ask for permission? Just make what you have started is worth it."
Transaction records blinked across the screen, from plagiarism payments to sponsorship bribes.
Ouuh!
Someone in the audience couldn't resist shouting in horror.
"That's fraud! These two are fraudsters!"
Wei Han angrily lunged toward the console.
"Turn this shit off!"
'Such a fool. Attempting to interfere with my data?'
Another video popped up, one of their intimate moments in my studio, causing further chaos.
Shortly after, every monitor in the studio now displayed one massive headline.
PHANTOM/ JIANG RUI HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE REAL DEAL. THE REST ARE COPYCATS.
The crowd exploded into a mixture of screams, applause and laughter, as half of the industry was already recordings today's ordeal.
Madam Li looked like she might faint, with all the blood draining from her face.
"We…I think we'll go for a short commercial..."
"No need," I interrupted, standing gracefully. "I don't think there's anything more we can sit here and talk about."
I walked toward the camera, my angelic silk gown now flowing like smoke.
"We all love fairy tales, the sleeping beauty and all..." I spoke, voice calm. "But...we sometimes forget that the princess wakes up first."
'Oh host! I can see forsee people licking their screens for you. Your dominance is already causing an internet meltdown.'
I turned to the tragic couple, as my final words for the show.
"You know...I love how I never have to lift a finger because every time, you set up yourselves for failure. I'm starting to think this is your hidden talent."
The lights in the studio suddenly dimmed, and the broadcast cut to emergency commercials.
Too late, every second of this confrontation was already online.
Backstage was a chaotic mess. Different assistants were busy screaming into their headsets as PR agents ran up and down, sobbing quietly.
I sat on my makeup stool, my composure perfect, as I scrolled through the trending pages.
#Phantom
#JiangNing
#Thefraudcouple
#Stolendesigns
Every tag be seemed to burn brighter than the last.
At that exact moment, Huang Zeming texted me.
(Scandal survivor indeed. Did you just commit arson on live television?)
I chuckled as I replied.
(No. Didn't lift a hand. Perhaps someone opened the curtains for me.)
'Mission has been a success host. Your public image is a notch higher while the enemy has his humiliation at an unquantifiable index.'
"Next time Nova," I whispered, "Please ask before hijacking a national television. You scared me!"
'Hehe...You're welcome.'
I laughed, hard. In a place I wasn't supposed to, I laughed. "You really are my favorite mistake dumbass."
'Hey! I am an intelligent system!'
The dressing room suddenly opened, and Lu Jinghao stood there, eyes glinting with pure amusement.
"I missed the live show, but judging from the sobs outside, I assume victory is yours?" he said, voice laced with amusement.
I rose slowly, smoothing my gown elegantly.
"Let's see...winning is such a small word in my case. How about we call it redecoration?"
He stifled a quiet laugh. "Please remind me never to get on your bad side. Ever."
"Smart man. I like you."
He didn't say much but left after a short conversation. He seems idle of late because....what was he even doing here?
The world outside was burning with chaos but none of that had scorched me.
The morning after the storm tasted like hot overpriced coffee but oh well. We move.
I leaned against the glass window of my apartment, as it overlooked the skyline of Shanghai. The whole city was still buzzing about last night's show.
My sister's crocodile tears had slipped on live TV, cracking completely. Wei Han's perfect facade had equally cracked like cheap porcelain. If I was to file a lawsuit against them, then I would reap big.
'Good morning host and congratulations! Their public humiliation rate is at 99.9%. let's just say the remaining represents their delusion...'
I snorted in reply. "Good morning to you too mean head. But do you ever stop being mean?"
'No. It's in my code. The day I stop being mean is the day you die from boredom.'
"Whatever," I replied, smiling faintly as I sipped my drink.
The comments online were still exploding with praise, anger and awe. Some fans even wanted me to release a tutorial on how to slap your enemies while looking elegant.
But beneath the glitter of their downfall, I knew this was far from over.
People like Jiang Ning and Wei Han don't fall quietly, instead, they plot their next moves between tears and broken mirrors.
I took my focus away from the two, as I focused on designing once again. Art is my life and if I stop designing, then it means I am dead.
Lu Jinghao had sent me a message last night, asking me not to let yesterday's ordeal shake me. According to him, they were the true losers. Not me.
I must admit, he is quite caring.
'Indeed host. Imagine you can have that care, love, abs and a good d...'
"Alright! You are on time out Nova!"
'Hehe...just wait until the day you'll be addicted to him...'
I didn't bother listening to him further, as I stepped into my inner space.
'Welcome back, Host. Are you here to proceed with the Rebirth Collection?'
"Yes."
I loved how Nova had switched to seriousness almost immediately. He really knew when to joke and when not to.
As I worked, hours slipped by like dark whispered secrets, with my hands moving faster than any human can.
Guided by the system's precision, my unique imagination, and a force I couldn't quite explain, my designs were coming to life real fast.
A soft sound cut through the silence, with my phone vibrating. I frowned slightly before picking it up.
Wei Han.
Of course he would call.
I hesitated before answering, just to hear his desperation and satisfy my wounded heart.
"Rui… please, don't hang up,can we talk?"
I smiled thinly. "I thought we just did. That too, in front of millions of people."
"But...that wasn't fair. You know, Jiang Ning lied to me...she..."
"Save it Wei Han," I said. "You know had your chance to choose the truth. But what did you do? You chose comfort instead."
"But I still..."
"Don't," I interrupted, voice completely flat. "You don't get to use love as a weapon after stabbing someone with it Wei Han."
The silence on the line stretched, heavy, unbearable and pathetic.
"Goodbye, Wei Han."
I hung up and tossed the phone aside. I thought I'd feel something but... nothing.
'Host your emotional residue is cleared. Sass level at 90%.'
"Well, thank you, doctor. I think I should go for a walk after I'm done."
Later that evening, just as I had planned earlier, I took a walk by the riverside.
The city lights chaotically danced on the water, giving an alive but indifferent kind of vibe.
A headline suddenly flashed on a nearby news screen, amusing me.
"Jiang Fashion house shares Plummet after Scandal. Investors constantly pulling out."
Sweet justice!
I smiled, as I tucked my hair behind my ear.
But at that moment, in the reflection of the river, for just a second, I saw a faint glow ripple through my skin, shockingly, the system's mark.
And in that glow, there was a whisper. A soft, human like whisper.
'Host. The System detects a maternal archive.'
My breath suddenly caught. "Wha...What?"
'There are fragments of origin. The source: Lin Yue.'
Lin Yue...
My mother's name.
The world seemed to tilt slightly, my breath still caught. "You...are you connected to her?"
'Affirmative.'
I exhaled slowly. "Guess the mystery is only starting. We don't just get things out of nowhere."
I watched the city's skyline, as Nova played some orchestra in my mind, calming me down.
This was just the beginning.
It was the beginning of something deeper and scary. Because the threads ran through power, blood, and memory.
And I, Jiang Rui, was ready to pull every last thread.