The lawyers at home carefully examined the agreement and confirmed that there were no traps. Jiang Baiqi left no room for himself, and the family members were shocked. This guy... his sincerity has reached this point. They even felt a bit sorry for him and couldn't bear to oppose it.
The family members exchanged looks, confirming with their eyes that this was a guy who was completely infatuated with their daughter.
They looked at Song Juyao. "Baby?"
Song Juyao looked at Jiang Baiqi. "I want to be with him forever."
Jiang Baiqi still couldn't control himself and turned red again.
Song Juyao was willing and an adult. Jiang Baiqi also seemed genuinely sincere. Their family was relatively open-minded to begin with. Since there was no issue, they all agreed to it.
The Jiang and Song families met and chatted happily. The news that the wedding plans were set once again became a hot topic.
The Wen family could only sigh and secretly complain about how they could let this happen.
"If she's really getting married, we should at least prepare a dowry..." Li Xin could only settle for second best.
But their company still hadn't recovered from the crisis due to Wen Zhulian's involvement. Even if they wanted to prepare a dowry for Song Juyao, they didn't have enough resources. They couldn't give too little and giving too much was beyond their means.
Just then, there was an injection of funds in the company, solving the urgent need of the Wen family. Although under the guise of cooperation, everything went smoothly without any suspicions, but Wen Yingting keenly sensed something off. Due to Wen Zhulian, the Wen family's reputation and image had been greatly damaged. They begged high and low yet no one was willing to extend a helping hand. How could a company suddenly come to cooperate, and spend so generously?
After he investigated, he found the account making the payment was from overseas. Upon further investigation, the account name turned out to be a pseudonym: "Dragon Slayer Princess."
"???My idol??" Wen Yingting was stunned. His idol sent him money? Could it be she knew her diehard fan was in trouble and so lent a hand...no way, that would be too nice. It's probably just a coincidence that the account owner also happened to be a reader and took this name.
Within two days of the families meeting, Song Juyao received an invitation from her alma mater to return to Horace University and give a commencement speech to the graduating students.
"Ellie? Is it Ellie, Evans' sister?"
"I saw her, it's her!"
"But what achievements does she have to give us a speech? Just that furniture set?"
"Maybe she's here to teach us wilderness survival?"
The graduates discussed spiritedly. The previous speakers were all successful alumni who had achieved fame and fortune. Why did they get a speaker who had no remarkable achievements on their turn? And she was even younger than them. They were unhappy and felt aggrieved.
Until the principal handed out their graduation certificates and introduced today's commencement speaker.
"She is undoubtedly my most special student. She could have become a top scientist, but chose the forest instead; she could have gained fame young, surrounded by flashbulbs and champagne, but chose to keep a low profile… Her writing is charming, filled with realistic allegories. She has countless readers worldwide, her every work winning numerous awards, adapted into movies and TV shows… Writer Dragon Slayer Princess, Ellie, my student, please come up on stage and have a chat with your juniors who are about to step into society and start a new phase of life. Teach them something."
The graduates were already dumbfounded. Some uncontainable screams rang out as they turned to look in shock, watching that beautiful slender girl walk through the crowd and onto the podium.
A warm breeze blew, lifting the flower petals and leaves on the ground. The girl's smile was radiant, even more dazzling than the sun.
The true face of the mysterious Dragon Slayer Princess was finally revealed on this day.
Readers worldwide went crazy. The masses eating melon also went nuts. Song Juyao is the Dragon Slayer Princess! Ahhhhhh what kind of goddess is this!!!
Livestream audience: Ahhhhhh finally exposed, we were about to die holding it in! Finally, it's satisfying!!!
Jiang Baiqi and Dragon Slayer Princess cp fans: ??? Huh? Our fan CP didn't die, it's actually real!!!
[Ahhhhh so Jiang Baiqi is a fan of Dragon Slayer Princess, and Dragon Slayer Princess fell for Jiang Baiqi at first sight on the survival island reality show. After leaving the island, they met offline and it banged immediately?]
[Banged immediately...suspecting dirty jokes but I have no evidence]
[Ahhhh what kind of divine love is this!!!]
[So sweet!!!]
Wen Yingting watched the speech video, stunned silly. The milk in his hand spilled onto his pants. M-me...my idol is my sister??
He turned his head and looked at all the Dragon Slayer Princess books on his bookshelf, including hardcover, paperback, deluxe, special, and the latest editions... He fell for all the tricks the publishing house played, and even bought a limited edition signed copy at a high price from someone else...
He had been shocked by her books before, moved, indignant, gaining spiritual encouragement and energy from them, even fought others online for her...And when he met her in person, what did he say to her?
Regret welled up in Wen Yingting's heart. He hugged his head, full of immense remorse.
...Is it still possible to ask for her forgiveness now?
"Son?" Li Xin pushed the door open and entered, seeing Wen Yingting in this state, she asked with concern.
Wen Yingting raised his head, his eyes were slightly red. "Mom."
He told her about Song Juyao transferring money to help their company survive the crisis.
Li Xin, after listening, turned her head and started crying again. She deeply regretted it, really regretted it, but she knew they had already lost the opportunity for her to consider them as family.
Wen Guohua stood at the door, his expression complicated.
…...
Wei Yan looked at the online trends and breathed a sigh of relief. The recent days had been tough for him. Like Wen Zhulian, he didn't dare to face his own ugliness or go online for fear of seeing others criticizing him. He could only wait for the production team to find a solution and bring them back to the real world.
Fortunately netizens' attention was limited. They no longer paid attention to them now, instead focused on Jiang Baiqi and Song Juyao, screaming to the heavens about their love story.
Just then, he suddenly received a call from Wen Zhulian. Upon hearing what she said, his eyes widened.
"Senior, are you sure you want to do this? It just calmed down..."
"What do you understand? Now is the perfect opportunity!" Wen Zhulian said.
Wei Yan thought, wouldn't this be 'can't steal the chicken and even lose the rice'? Wouldn't it be good to just quietly wait for the stream to end and get ejected?
"You just better not drag me down. Useless trash." Wen Zhulian said, then hung up.
Wei Yan smiled bitterly.
…...
Online, very few still mentioned Wen Zhulian and Wei Yan. After all, many days had passed without new fuel on their plagiarism incident. People's attention shifted to "this world" and "the audience", and Song Juyao and Jiang Baiqi's love story.
Just then, Wen Zhulian's social media account that hadn't updated in a long time suddenly started streaming.
Netizens were shocked and hurriedly spread the word, flooding into the livestream room.
During this period, Wen Zhulian and Wei Yan had been staying indoors all the time. What they did on the Survival Island Paradise couldn't be considered a crime, so they could only be morally condemned. No one could drag them out of the house, so no paparazzi managed to take their photos. Netizens were curious about how Wen Zhulian could still have the face to appear in public and what she could say.
"Quick, quick, quick, this Wen Zhulian actually has the nerve to broadcast live!"
The livestream began.
Wen Zhulian appeared on the screen, dressed in her usual style, looking pale and fragile that evoked sympathy.
"I didn't plagiarize." That was her first line.
The entire venue erupted.
"Wen Zhulian, plagiarism were your and Wei Yan's own admissions." Another voice rang out, it was the host of the livestream.
"I don't know why I would say such things. Maybe there was some issue with Fanxing Group's system that affected me. How could I plagiarize? Who did I plagiarize from? Where is the evidence? Who are You Wanying and Su Hong? I have no idea. If anyone knows, please tell me. I want to know too."
The host was standing to the side. Hearing Wen Zhulian push the issue to Fanxing Group, he almost cried out in fright. What a nerve! Who was Fanxing Group? She dared say this about them. Did she not know if they wanted to blacklist a celebrity, just a mere flick of their fingers was enough!
But Wen Zhulian spoke so firmly, her gaze was unwavering, coupled with a pale face seemingly telling of her grievance. In addition, there was really no information about You Wanying and Su Hong on the Internet, and there was really no evidence to prove it. The only evidence was her conversation with Wei Yan, but with her personally denying it now, people would also start to become suspicious.
Did she really plagiarize? Where is the evidence? Is there really something wrong with Survival Island Paradise?
Especially when Wen Zhulian raised her hand in the end, revealing the wristband Fanxing Group didn't remove from her wrist. "I also want to question Fanxing Group, why have they taken away the wristbands of other guests but kept mine and Wei Yan's? My request to remove it was rejected. Is it because of some unspeakable secret? Or perhaps, because Fanxing Group's boss Jiang Baiqi wanted to avenge Song Juyao, so used such despicable means to ruin my reputation?"
【Got to say, Wen Zhulian really met a patron】
【Annoying, I was happily enjoying my CP sugar and this fly popped up again!】
【Disgusting. Still asking who are You Wanying and Su Hong, what a self-righteous face. If we didn't know you plagiarized, we'd all be fooled.】
【She did gain back some ground. No evidence of her plagiarizing can be found in the virtual world. She insists on denying it, some people will believe her. And compared to Fanxing Group, she is the weaker party.】
【Fanxing Group would have to take the wristband off her, allowing her to leave the virtual world, or if they don't take it off and public opinion will gradually stand on Wen Zhulian's side. Either way, it's advantageous for Wen Zhulian.】
【This suddenly got interesting. Wen Zhulian did well, this can confuse the people in the virtual world. They'll have a hard time guessing the truth of their world.】
The production team was originally tearing their hair out over the people in the virtual world possibly guessing the truth. Tan Wei's throat because of phone calls begging for help was practically breathing fire. Mr. K from the palace was invited again to help but still couldn't rescue the real NPCs. Seeing Wen Zhulian's sudden counterattack, clarity came to their minds, and they found a ray of hope.
In episode 1 when only Song Juyao knew the truth, the production team was scolded to death by the audience. But that was just scolding because Song Juyao was from the real world. The rules of the virtual world system stated that if an NPC learned the truth, they would be retrieved back into the main system.
Justice Trial's virtual world system was just a tiny offshoot of the system the king created. The number of NPCs was fixed, they could decrease, never increase. So one or two, or even hundreds of NPCs knowing the truth was still fine, but too many would be losses the production team couldn't bear.
Not to mention before this Justice Trial season, there hadn't ever been a case of an NPC being retrieved by the main system. Their faces were lost beyond recovery!
Wen Zhulian's denial instantly gave them a lifeline. It could completely confuse people's perceptions. After all, not everyone could so casually believe their world wasn't real. Compared to the world being fake, wasn't an evil corporation's schemes more believable?
The live broadcast was now coming to an end, entering its final moments, and the people inside didn't have enough time to prove the authenticity of the world!
Perfect, Wen Zhulian!
……
In the virtual world, Wen Zhulian's stream was still continuing.
"Miss Wen, how do you explain discussing with those three extras how to deal with Song Juyao on the island survival show?"
"What about the senior-junior relationship between you and Wei Yan?"
"And what is the 'real world' all about?"
To these questions, Wen Zhulian only had one answer: "I don't know. I also want to know why I seemed to become a different person there, saying things I don't understand myself. I also want to ask Mr. Jiang Baiqi to give me an answer."
Because Wen Zhulian fearlessly confronted the supergiant Fanxing Group in this press conference, what had been practically set in stone now became obscure.
Finally, Wen Zhulian said: "I have no other demands, only want justice. I want Song Juyao to apologize to me. I don't believe she doesn't know I'm being framed, perhaps she even hinted it to Jiang Baiqi. Wasn't the survival show island constructed based on her book? Did she really not know from start to finish that the survival show island wasn't real? I did occupy her position for 18 years, but I don't think I deserve this kind of retaliation."
With her last sentence, Wen Zhulian pointed the arrow at Song Juyao, pushing her into the position of a sinister and despicable mastermind.
The direction of netizens' comments had shifted.
[This reversal… I don't dare speak, trembling in fear]
[I feel it's very possible Wen Zhulian really was tricked. Entering the virtual world in spirit form, isn't that the same as being controlled by Fanxing Group? If they can even create the survival show island, controlling Wen Zhulian is likely possible too, just like a doctor hypnotizing someone]
[I heard Jiang Baiqi gave all his shares to Song Juyao before they married. When love reaches that level, there's nothing they wouldn't do for each other.]
[Not taking off the wristband is really abnormal…]
[Look at what Wen Zhulian said, after leaving the island, she lost reputation and was kicked out by the Wen family, left with nothing. While Song Juyao is simply too happy. The contrast is too stark. She's the one who benefitted right?]
[Don’t just learn a word and use it blindly. Whether Wen Zhulian got in trouble or not, Song Juyao is still the Dragon slaying princess, the family darling. Both are unrelated to the Wen family. That is a fact. The only thing in question is when did Jiang Baiqi met Song Juyao and whether he helped her plot against Wen Zhulian]
[I tried to imagine, if everything really was orchestrated by Song Juyao, then she's so terrifying, pretending to be kind and caring on the island]
Song Juyao wasn't surprised by Wen Zhulian's reversal. She had guessed it long ago. The evidence of plagiarism wasn't sufficient. Wen Zhulian just had to firmly deny it. Fanxing Group was too powerful so at this time, people's instinct to sympathize with the weak could be fully exploited.
Song Juyao rested her chin on her hand, looking at the screen with a somewhat lethargic expression.
Evans leaned over, frowning. "This woman is so shameless."
"It's fine brother, she'll get the punishment she deserves." Song Juyao said with a smile.
…...
After closing the stream, Wen Zhulian finally dared to look at the online comments. Seeing so many people speaking up for her, doubting whether she plagiarized, some even suspecting Song Juyao as the hidden mastermind behind Jiang Baiqi framing her like this, she finally smiled.
"Well done." The man said.
Wen Zhulian looked at him. Her heart pounded rapidly. She thought, was this the 'suspension bridge effect'? He took her away and taught her to counterattack when she was at her most miserable and helpless time, gave her a backing, making her heart race, attracting her towards an NPC.
The man in front of her was dressed in a high-end tailored black suit, wearing a limited edition gold watch on his wrist. His black hair was like ink, and his mature and handsome face was sharp as if carved by blade. Even the way he sipped his coffee and checked his phone was so noble and charming.
"Jiang Rong." Wen Zhulian called his name and sat across from him. "Thank you for helping me."
Jiang Rong set down his coffee cup. "I didn't help you, but helped myself. Fanxing Group is the tiger blocking my path forward. I must take it down before I can advance. You are a very suitable foothold. The survival show island project cost an enormous amount. Fanxing Group's major shareholders had great expectations for it. But because of his personal feelings, Jiang Baiqi affected the company's profits and image, which is very beneficial to me."
Wen Zhulian didn't mind. It's human nature to admire the powerful. And she had always been adored before. Now, Jiang Rong's indifferent response only made her more infatuated.
"Can you prove your talents and trample Jiang Baiqi further down?" Jiang Rong said.
"I can." Wen Zhulian immediately said. She had always instinctively denied plagiarizing in front of Jiang Rong. But Jiang Rong was different from others. He believed her words. Or perhaps he also didn't care whether her words were true or false. But for Wen Zhulian, this was enough.
Wen Zhulian believed that this time she had turned the tide, stepping on Song Juyao and Jiang Baiqi's joyous occasion, turning their joy into an attacked weak point. She also harbored resentment and anticipation towards the Wen family, hoping that after this live broadcast, they would call her and apologize to her. Of course, she would never forgive them. She wanted to see them regret treating her like this.
But, she waited for a long time and didn't receive a call from her family.
Unwilling, she decided to call them herself.
The servant who picked up hesitated for a moment before calling Li Xin who was arranging flowers in the living room.
Li Xin's face darkened as soon as she heard it was Wen Zhulian.
"What is it?"
"Mom."
Li Xin: "I can't bear this title."
Hearing her tone, Wen Zhulian instantly flared up. "Didn't you watch the stream today?"
"I watched it."
"Then you should know I was framed!"
Li Xin: "If you were framed, why didn't you speak up earlier? Why were you so afraid? It's been so many days and you suddenly come out to say this now. Wen Zhulian, do you think we're fools?"
Wen Zhulian's expression grew uglier. Her hand clenched the phone so tightly that she almost crushed it.
"We've already seen through your true nature. There's no need to pretend anymore. From today on, you no longer have any ties with the Wen family. Our only daughter is Song Juyao, not you!" Li Xin hung up the phone.
Wen Zhulian violently threw her phone away, her eyes red with hatred. It's all because of Song Juyao. Just you wait, I'll definitely trample you two to death, make you, the pair of dogs notorious!
Listening to the conversation between Li Xin and Wen Zhulian, a sudden realization struck Wen Yingting like lightning. He suddenly remembered the sense of something wrong he felt when he was in the Survival Island Paradise.
Why did it feel off? Because the survival show island was constructed based on Song Juyao's books, including the hemophilia patients. In other words, if it was real, it couldn't possibly match so perfectly. It had to be artificially designed. So the island survival show was fake.
Song Juyao is the Dragon Slayer Princess. She wrote those books herself, so she should have easily noticed it. So like Wen Zhulian said, is it possible she had long known the Survival Island Paradise was fake?
...No! Wen Yingting shook his head vigorously, tossing aside those suspicions. He couldn't think like this anymore. They had misunderstood Song Juyao more than enough already. Writers wouldn't necessarily realize it and even insiders can be deceived.
Having decided to believe in Song Juyao, Wen Yingting tossed those speculations from his mind and stopped thinking about them.
That night, Li Wenling, Li Dada, Stanley and others all voiced their support.
Li Wenling V: I believe what I saw with my own eyes. Juyao is the most wonderful girl I've seen, brave and resolute. She is definitely not the kind of person Wen Zhulian described.
Li Dada V: My angel. [Song Juyao pic]
Stanley V: Hey, I heard a joke...
Chang Youqing V: I believe what I saw with my own eyes.
……
……
Their fans also responded one after another, quickly joining the battle. The situation that had momentarily comforted Wen Zhulian began turning back again.
Seeing this, Wen Zhulian was so angry she couldn't sleep the whole night. She was seething with anger, hating until her gums bled. Just you wait, you all wait for me to smash your faces to pieces!