The official recording of the individual round commenced in an atmosphere that was nearly incandescent. After the unexpected interference during rehearsal and the horror in the mirror, Gu Ying's condition didn't collapse; instead, he seemed like steel that had been tempered, radiating a cold, resolute light.
He performed "Mirror Shadow" again. This time, no interruptions occurred. His performance was more complete than the rehearsal; his emotions were controlled and released with precision. The inner struggle and the power of reconstruction were interpreted flawlessly through his voice and body language. When the final note faded, a moment of silence was followed by a burst of near-fanatical applause and cheering.
Undoubtedly, Gu Ying won the individual round with an overwhelming advantage.
As his fingers touched the cool crystal trophy, the spotlight hit him, making him squint. Below the stage, countless arms waved, and his name was shouted. The eyes that had once held contempt and mockery were now filled with enthusiasm and admiration.
He had succeeded.
At least on this stage, he had reclaimed something.
His gaze swept over the clamoring crowd and landed on the perpetually calm figure in the mentor seat. Ling Zhao nodded slightly, a gesture of acknowledgment.
[Target Character 'Gu Ying's' Favorability toward Host: -35. Sense of Accomplishment and Gratitude significantly increased.]
However, this moment of glory acted like a catalyst, accelerating a chemical reaction under the surface.
Just as Gu Ying was raising the trophy, an earthquake struck the online world.
Xinghan Law Firm, represented by Lawyer Su Qing, jointly released a detailed investigation report, dozens of pages long, supported by a wealth of irrefutable evidence—including original scans of Ling Zhe's plagiarized manuscripts, time-stamped records of Gu Ying's creative process, screenshots of chat logs detailing conspiracies with producers to alter arrangements and suppress Gu Ying, and even several technically restored, albeit muffled, audio recordings of Ling Zhe privately admitting to "borrowing" (actually, outright theft).
This heavy blow came fast, hard, and with breathtaking precision.
"Confirmed! Stunning Reversal! Ling Zhe's Plagiarism of Gu Ying is Fact!"
"We've all been duped! Gu Ying is the true victim!"
"Ling Zhe out of the entertainment industry!"
"Support Gu Ying! Demand Ling Zhe issue a public apology and face legal responsibility!"
The tsunami of public opinion instantly swallowed any remaining doubt. Ling Zhe's social media accounts were instantly flooded; his agency's official statements were pale and powerless; and industry insiders who had previously stood by him rushed to delete posts and distance themselves. His carefully constructed image as a "genius musician" completely collapsed within hours.
And this was only the beginning.
Almost simultaneously, the tax authorities announced they had officially initiated an investigation into Ling Zhe and his studio for suspected tax evasion. Several high-end brands that had endorsement deals with Ling Zhe quickly issued statements terminating their collaborations.
When the wall falls, everyone pushes. Artists and crew members who had been suppressed by Ling Zhe and his team began, as if by agreement, to leak various true and false pieces of gossip, ranging from diva behavior and bullying staff to more personal, rumored moral failings… Ling Zhe's name, in a single night, plummeted from the clouds into the mud, becoming utterly reviled.
Gu Ying sat in the backstage lounge, watching the constant stream of news on his phone, feeling as if he were dreaming. Was there satisfaction? Of course. But more than that, there was a profound emptiness and exhaustion. The "vindication" and "revenge" he had pursued for so long, arriving in such an overwhelming and almost brutal manner, left him with a sense of unreality.
"How do you feel?" Ling Zhao's voice sounded at the doorway.
Gu Ying looked up at Ling Zhao as he entered, opening his mouth, unsure what to say. He held up his phone; the screen showed the news of Ling Zhe's complete condemnation.
"He deserves it," Ling Zhao said, his tone perfectly even, as if commenting on the weather. "The judgment of the law and the elimination by the market will be his final conclusion."
"Was it you… and Lawyer Su who orchestrated this? The timing…" Gu Ying couldn't help but ask. Everything was too coincidental, too efficient.
Ling Zhao didn't answer directly, merely walking to the window and looking out at the city nightscape. "The evidence was provided by you, and the legal process was driven by Lawyer Su. We merely… accelerated the process." He paused, then added, "And cleared away some unnecessary noise."
He was referring to the capi