When Su Ning'an saw my painting, she couldn't hide her jealousy.
She knew that after the painting "Twins" was finished, her imitations of mine would lack some of their original spirit. Both the technique and the concept were vastly inferior.
Most of the paintings she stole were created during periods of depression, thus creating a gloomy and dark tone.
The one painting I created on the spot eclipsed all the others.
Jiang Zhi's mental state was so poor that she didn't even finish that painting.
She stared at my painting, muttering, "Impossible! How could a worthless person like you possibly could have done that?"
Mrs. Su's face was also grim. She hadn't expected me to drag her talented daughter down with me.
Those who had previously supported Su Ning'an had changed their tune. "I didn't expect Fake S's paintings to be so beautiful. Her skills are quite high."
"I can't put it into words. Miss Su's paintings are the same as always, but they lack a certain spirit. Instead, I see the spirit that once belonged to S in Fake S's black lotus."
"I feel the same way!!!"
Those who had been insulting me gradually turned to praise, and the atmosphere became much more harmonious.
After the judges' scores and the votes from the audience both inside and outside the venue, I received the highest combined votes, surpassing second-place Su Ning'an by a wide margin.
Even Su Ning'an's diehard fans didn't question this result; his skill was evident to all.
Although Mrs. Su was somewhat unwilling to accept the result, she thought Su Ning'an's second place was a good result, and she kept trying to make amends. Mrs. Fu was a little dissatisfied. "You're talking about genius, but you're being completely suppressed."
"That's not true. An'an was recently traumatized by those events, which affected her mood. That's why she lost this time. But her second place was also a silver medal."
Mrs. Fu scoffed, "In this society, people only remember first place. Do you remember who won silver and bronze medals in the last Olympics? People only care about the best, the ones who broke records."
While Mrs. Su was about to say something, I stepped forward.
The host asked me to give my acceptance speech. I took the microphone and smiled softly in front of the audience and the onlookers in the livestream.
"Actually, I'm here today to fulfill someone's wish and to reveal a secret."
The moment I said this, everyone was instantly in a state of gossipy curiosity.
The host asked, "I wonder whose wish you're here to fulfill?"
I said in a clear, precise voice, "The real S."
At this, Su Ning'an and the audience's faces changed drastically, and everyone started talking. "What is she talking about? The real S? Is she admitting she's a fake?"
"No, isn't the real S the fifth daughter of the Su family, Su Ning'an? She's on stage right now. What's this person up to? I don't quite understand."
The host followed up on my question, "There was a huge online uproar about S. Some people say you're a fake S. Do you want to clarify?"
"Yes, I'm not S. The real S is dead."
The audience was in a state of chaos, buzzing with discussion. Su Ning'an's fingers clutched tightly at her skirt, probably anticipating what I'd say next.
But it was too late for her to escape now!
If she had withdrawn early, she wouldn't have been dragged onto the stage for public execution. God knows how long I've been waiting for this day. I gripped the microphone tightly and continued, "The real S is Su Wan, the fourth daughter of the Su family. And the one you think is the fifth daughter of the Su family is a complete imposter!"
Su Ning'an immediately jumped out, "You're talking nonsense! Miss Jiang, I know you've been holding a grudge against me since your video went viral, but you're spreading rumors in front of so many people. I can sue you for defamation."
"Ms. Su, don't be nervous. Untruth is what counts as a rumor. Since I'm standing here and declaring the truth to everyone, I've naturally prepared all the evidence. I simply want justice for the innocent Miss Su Wan. How can that be considered a rumor?"
I wasn't nervous at all. Instead, my expression remained calm. "You, on the other hand, seem nervous. Are you afraid I'll reveal that all your works are plagiarized from Su Wan's? Even the painting you wore on stage today is Su Wan's?"
Slay!
Su Ning'an's pupils trembled. She must have been wondering how an outsider like me could know so much about this matter, which only Heaven, Earth, and Su Wan knew!
My thorough preparation caught her off guard.
The entire audience erupted in a flurry of discussion.
Mrs. Su, desperate, came to the stage to confront me. "Don't listen to her nonsense! She's just jealous of my daughter's talent, making up these rumors! Everyone saw my daughter painting live, and she's saying it was Su Wan's work. Isn't that a joke?"
"That's right. With so many of us watching, how could it be false?"
"But her painting skills are clearly superior to Su Ning'an's. What's there for her to be jealous of? Why do I feel like what she says is true?"
Su Ning'an's face paled. She knew that if she lost today, her reputation would be completely ruined.
She had been forced to this point, with no way out. She could only move forward. "Ms. Jiang, you have to be responsible for what you say. If you don't have evidence, then everything you say is slander! I can sue you."
I ignored her, my gaze fixed on Mrs. Su's face. "Mrs. Su, how well do you know your eldest daughter?"
"She's my daughter, how could I not know her?"
I smiled softly, holding the microphone and speaking casually: "Would you all like to hear a story? There was a silly girl, born into a wealthy family, who had a remarkable talent for painting since childhood. Because her family hoped she would one day take over the company, painting was useless, so she buried this hobby in her heart."
"That year, on a whim, she entered a painting competition using the code name S and donated all the prize money. Unexpectedly, her unintentional act... She had a huge online following and was very busy. To satisfy her fans, she updated her work once a year, sometimes donating the proceeds from filming to charity.
"More and more people admired her, but she couldn't pursue painting. She was busy working every day, trying to please her family. But no matter what she did, her family and loved ones ignored her. She became depressed and fell ill with depression."
"That kind, silly girl, not wanting to affect her family, locked herself in the basement and painted frantically, painting a lot of dark themes to soothe herself."
"But one day, an accident took her life. Before she could even meet her fans, she left this world forever..."
At this point, tears welled up in Lu Shiyan's eyes.