Shen Xing Sui held onto his phone as if it was a hot potato.

Wang Mei Can looked at him curiously. Shen Xing Sui pulled his hand back, stuttering, "Wang Jie, it's not that I don't want to show you. I seldom use this account. I just used it today because..."

Wang Jie realized he was truly unwilling.

Her curiosity had been piqued by Shen Xing Sui's evasiveness. However, seeing his resistance now, she didn't want to press further.

Wang Mei Can smiled and said, "Alright, if you have your reasons, then let it be."

Shen Xingsui finally breathed a sigh of relief!

After returning to this account, he saw many traces of the past. The most recent post he made was two years ago, when Fu Jinxiao won the "Triple Gold Grand Slam" once again. He posted in celebration, taking pride in Fu's achievement. Below, many netizens also shared their congratulations. Most of the comments dated back two or three years ago, but they felt as if they were just from yesterday:

"Brother, you're the best."

"I knew your wife would be the first to post, sobbing."

"He proved himself once again!"

Of course, there were some trolls among the comments, taking delight in making snarky remarks and watching the drama unfold:

"It's your idol who won, not you."

"Some fans are hilarious, getting all worked up over nothing."

"Can your idol share his award and money with you?"

"He won't come to save you in times of danger."

Indeed, your idol might be as distant as the horizon, so he can't come to your rescue. But only those who've ardently followed an idol will understand that you don't really need them to travel mountains and seas to be by your side. On the mundane days, just knowing they're shining somewhere, guiding you, is enough.

Shen Xingsui opened his private messages. Among the greetings from concerned netizens, the most recent chat window belonged to Fu Jinxiao.

He had sent Fu Jinxiao many messages.

And had received numerous auto-replies in return.

Finally...

After scrolling up for a bit, Shen found a musical score. The paper was just ordinary rice paper, covered in handwritten notes. At a glance, it looked chaotic, but upon closer inspection, it was discernible. Regrettably, he had written many songs, and the one he sent to Fu Jinxiao wasn't this one. So even if he released this piece, it might not be taken as credible evidence.

To be on the safe side, Shen whispered to Wang Meican, "Wang sister, I have a draft here. It's not the one Jian Zhi took. However, this one is related because the chorus is quite similar. When I compose, I have a unique style, different from the typical styles others use. My compositions usually have a specific melody pattern, and both these choruses have that pattern. The transition in the music also follows my usual style..."

Wang Meican's interest was piqued, "Let me see."

Shen Xingsui saved the picture on his phone and handed it to Wang Meican.

"Xingsui, your handwriting... is a bit messy, huh," Wang Meican chuckled awkwardly, then shifted back to the main point, "I'm not an expert in reading musical scores, just explain to me - does this showcase that he borrowed from your work?"

Shen Xingsui replied, "It has many of my signature elements. He probably didn't notice and left them unchanged. I believe if it's released, some experts might recognize my style in it."

Wang Meican quickly said, "Then release it! We're not afraid of him!"

Hearing this, Shen Xingsui couldn't help but smile.

Unlike previous times, he wasn't going to let this slide. He didn't want to dwell on past issues, but he also wouldn't allow Jian Zhi to get away with theft and then be blamed for it himself.

As he was pondering, the sound of the door opening distracted everyone in the room.

Both Shen Xingsui and Wang Meican turned to see Fu Jinxiao at the door. Surprisingly, he wasn't in his usual attire but wore a burgundy suit. The vibrant color, which might have seemed too flashy on others, looked absolutely sophisticated on him. His long legs stepped through the doorway, and his graceful stride broke the room's silence. The light shone on this elegant and handsome man, adding a touch of brilliance to the entire room.

Fu Jinxiao massaged his temples, his voice deep and slightly hoarse, "They're all here."

Wang Meican stood up, "Weren't you attending an event in another province last night? How did you return so quickly?"

"Mmm, it ended early so I came back." Fu Jinxiao comfortably lounged on the sofa, naturally sitting next to Shen Xingsui. The sofa dipped slightly due to his weight, bringing the two of them closer. He asked, "How are things on your end?"

Wang Meican glanced at Shen Xingsui and said, "The PR team has everything in order. We've deployed our internet brigade to set the narrative. Topics and discussions on Weibo have started to be cleaned up. All the negative trending topics have been taken down, and the buzz is gradually decreasing."

Fu Jinxiao nodded, then shot Shen Xingsui a brief look.

Caught under his gaze, Shen Xingsui shifted, straightening up instinctively. Anxiously, worried that Fu Jinxiao might believe the rumors online, he spoke in a tense voice, "Mr. Fu, I didn't plagiarize. He... he stole my draft."

Fu Jinxiao raised an eyebrow, looking both amused and sympathetic. He said leisurely, "You don't need to explain. I had my suspicions the moment I saw the news."

Shen Xingsui was genuinely surprised, "How did you know?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Fu Jinxiao's long legs crossed, resting his arm on the back of the sofa, exuding an air of languid grace. His voice dripping with sarcasm, he remarked, "As for that nitwit Jian Zhi, without his petty tricks and family wealth, how could he have gotten this far?"

"..."

The room fell silent.

No one objected. Wang Meican even covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. If not for certain reservations, she might have clapped in agreement.

Before, Shen Xingsui thought highly of his brother, but for some reason, when Fu Jinxiao criticized Jian Zhi, it felt perfectly justified. It even seemed that within the industry, only Fu Jinxiao had the credibility to make such judgments.

And with that, he felt relieved.

Not being misunderstood felt wonderful. Since the incident, he was anxious about being misjudged by those around him. Yet, everyone, including Shen Xingchen, his family, friends, and agent, immediately stood by his side.

It was such a comforting feeling.

Wang Meican handed Fu Jinxiao a glass of water, saying, "The hardest part is the time gap. Since this happened many years ago, we lack strong evidence for a counterclaim. I'm concerned Jian Zhi will exploit this."

Shen Xingsui sighed, "It's my fault for not keeping additional evidence back then."

Wang Meican immediately comforted him, "Xingsui, how can this be your fault? If anyone's to blame, it's those shameless villains. You did nothing wrong."

Yet, a heavy atmosphere still lingered in the room.

At that moment, Fu Jinxiao, who had been silent while fidgeting with his glass, spoke nonchalantly, "What's there to worry about? If we're concerned he'll have time to spin stories, why not make sure he's too preoccupied?"

Wang Meican blinked in surprise.

She looked at Fu Jinxiao, and when their eyes met, it seemed as though she suddenly understood something.

Despite her many years in the entertainment industry, she occasionally found herself taken aback by Fu Jinxiao's shrewd and cunning maneuvers. He wasn't just intelligent; he knew precisely how to hit where it hurt.

Wang Meican hesitated, "What do you mean?"

"Hmm." Fu Jinxiao casually picked up an orange from the fruit basket on the table and started peeling it. "Over the years, Jianzhi has developed quite a habit of theft. How many songs from original artists has he bought and passed off as his own? I wonder if even he remembers."

Shen Xingsui, standing nearby, was visibly taken aback by the revelation.

Handing the peeled orange to Shen Xingsui, Fu Jinxiao's lips curled into a smirk, but his eyes were unmistakably sinister. "How about we jog his memory a bit?"

Despite it being the beginning of winter and the room's temperature being slightly cool, Jianzhi, miles away, inexplicably shuddered in broad daylight upon hearing those words.

At noon,

The Weibo chatter about the feud between Jianzhi and Shen Xingsui continued to surge.

The main reason? Jianzhi's relentless fans kept engaging in online spats with Shen Xingsui's followers, pointing fingers and placing blame.

During lunchtime, Shen Xingsui posted an old version of his sheet music on Weibo, accompanied by a recording. This sheet music, created by him years ago, strangely matched the tune of Jianzhi's song. Along with the music, Shen Xingsui also shared his side of the story. The post immediately gained traction alongside the ongoing controversy surrounding Jianzhi.

Wang Meican's PR team swiftly jumped into action, controlling the narrative and setting a reasoned tone:

"A complete song requires both the main sheet music and a chorus."

"Apart from the catchy chorus, the rest of Jianzhi's song is just mediocre."

"Doesn't anyone find this odd? If Shen Xingsui wanted to plagiarize, wouldn't he know he'd be found out? Why would he bring this upon himself?"

As the tone was set, many netizens began to see reason:

"Xingsui's songs always have his distinct touch."

"Sometimes, just hearing a tune, you know it's his."

"Haha, yes! He always ends with an 'ei' rhyme."

"There's even a part in the middle that's off-key. I always wondered why an experienced singer like Jianzhi would make such a mistake. Turns out, he copied his younger brother."

Gradually, those who initially mocked Shen Xingsui started to change their tune.

However, staunch fans of Jianzhi remained unconvinced, resorting to sarcasm:

"Is this your so-called compelling evidence?"

"I could randomly grab sheet music from anywhere and claim it's mine."

"Just trying to ride on our brother's fame, huh?"

The difference now was that Jianzhi's support had visibly waned.

Amidst the ongoing discussion, someone noticed a post by An Ran on Weibo. It was a photo taken at night with Jianzhi in the background, hunched over his desk, engrossed in songwriting with a guitar in hand. Scattered around him were discarded drafts of sheet music.

An Ran captioned the image: "My brother has always been hard at work."

The post, while subtly counterattacking Shen Xingsui, also conveyed Jianzhi's stance, reaffirming his dedication to originality. Instantly, it received a flood of positive responses.

"Brother Zhi has always been hardworking. Believe in him!"

"Ranran and his big brother are truly close."

"Not like that plastic bond of Shen Xingsui, now trying to leech off his brother's fame."

"The Jian family raised him, and he's forgotten all about that gratitude. Now he even turns against his brother. Ungrateful wolf."

The online community was once again divided by An Ran's leading comments.

It was already late at night, but the discussions on Weibo were buzzing. While everyone was debating An Ran's post, to everyone’s surprise, Shen Xingchen posted a Weibo update just ten minutes later, and it held significant weight.

Shen Xingchen uploaded a photo of him exercising, jogging to be precise, with the caption: "I've always been working hard."

Users opening the post found Shen Xingchen's reply to his post at the top: "Just kidding, I barely ran for two minutes, hahaha!"

That's his usual playful style.

However, today it caused quite a stir. His post ironically contrasted with An Ran's, and without explicitly pointing fingers, he was mocking him.

The netizens were ecstatic:

"Hahaha, as expected, it's clear whose side to be on when watching this drama unfold."

"He's truly mastered the entertainment industry."

"I love it when they spar."

"Young master is defending his younger brother, while Jian Zhi relies on his."

"Since their debut, there's never been a dull moment!"

Shen family

After Shen Xingsui got home and freshened up, he saw the trending topics on Weibo. The top three were all related to him:

#ShenXingsuiRespondsToPlagiarismClaims#

#AnRanHardworkingBigBrother#

#ShenXingchenIWasKidding#

After seeing the post, Shen Xingsui was both amused and exasperated. Since Shen Xingchen wasn't home due to a business commitment, he called him. However, after just a few words, Shen Xingchen interrupted: "I'm using a burner account to fight against 20 of your haters. Quite busy. Talk later."

Shen Xingsui: "..."

He was both frustrated and amused.

At the same time, he felt a warm gratitude. Despite the betrayal from Jian Zhi, those around him were proving to be his real support.

In between all the chaos, Shen Xingchen messaged him: "Oh, and remember to listen to all of Jian Zhi's songs. See if he's copied any more from you. And that An Ran too. The Jian family isn't to be trusted. Better check them all out!"

Shen Xingsui gave a nod.

However, he never suspected An Ran. After all, An Ran was the main character's confidant. Would he ever stoop to such despicable deeds?

Shen Xingsui always knew he was just a side character, so he never vied for attention against An Ran. But after hearing Shen Xingchen's words, he grew uncertain. He searched for An Ran's works and, finding none resembling his own, sighed in relief. Then, he began listening to Jian Zhi's songs and casually browsed his social media updates.

It was all pompous pictures and texts. How did he never find it so mundane before?

Just as Shen Xingsui was about to exit, an item at the bottom of the feed caught his attention—a finely carved wooden figurine resembling Jian Zhi. It sat on Jian Zhi's desk, clearly a product of meticulous craftsmanship.

Jian Zhi captioned the photo: "A birthday gift from my younger brother. So happy!"

Tagged in the post was An Ran.

An Ran replied with evident joy: "As long as my big brother is happy, any effort is worth it!"

Shen Xingsui's heart skipped a beat, recognizing the figurine. He had spent half a year carving it! He'd left it unfinished, intending to gift it to his family to earn their favor. But before he could finish, the Jian family decided to reclaim An Ran.

He had left the semi-finished piece in a box in his room.

Why...

How did it end up here?

And why was An Ran credited for the hard work? Shen Xingsui had put in so much effort, even injuring his hands in the process.

...

As he stewed in anger, his phone rang.

Picking up, he was about to speak when Wang Meican's voice interrupted: "Xingsui, you won't believe your luck. Guess who just contacted me?"

Shen Xingsui hesitated, asking softly, "Who?"

Wang Meican laughed excitedly: "It's Zhang Jiang! The renowned music producer and director. Remember the award-winning song produced by him for Teacher Fu two years ago? He contacted me today, expressing interest in your work. He has a project in mind and wants to collaborate with you!"

Shen Xingsui was in disbelief.

He was fully aware of Zhang Jiang's reputation. He was Teacher Fu's trusted music producer!

Shen Xingsui stammered, "Is it really him? Are you sure? Why me? I mean, I..."

Wang Meican reassured him, "It's no mistake. Tomorrow, head to Hengtong Building with your compositions. This is a golden opportunity. Do you know how many people would die for this chance to collaborate with Zhang Jiang?"

Without hesitation, Shen Xingsui replied, "I understand, Sister Wang!"

The unexpected good news diverted Shen Xingsui's anger towards An Ran. After the call, he immediately gathered all his music compositions, including the score for "River." He chose his outfit for the next day to ensure he looked his best for the meeting.

Upon reaching the building, he was informed that Director Zhang Jiang was only available in the afternoon.

Shen Xingsui replied, "That's alright. I can wait."

A staff member kindly suggested, "There's no need to wait here. You can come back in the afternoon. Director Zhang Jiang is quite busy. Even if he said 'afternoon,' it might get pushed to tomorrow. Why tire yourself out?"

Holding onto his sheet music and instrument, Shen Xingsui shook his head: "It's alright, I'll wait."

The staff member, somewhat moved by Shen Xingsui's simplicity and dedication, specially arranged a quiet corridor for him and fetched a cup of water before leaving.

Shen Xingsui sat in the corridor. After a while, he heard footsteps approaching from the other side.

"Xingsui?" Anran's voice called out. He was followed by his manager. Seeing Shen Xingsui, he smiled and remarked, "What a surprise to see you here."

Shen Xingsui looked up, a frown forming upon seeing him.

Oblivious, Anran continued, "I'm here for work, I've received an invitation to arrange the music for 'Mountain and River'."

As if just recalling, though his arrogance peeked through, Anran said, "Ah, I forgot your piece was rejected. I apologize; it wasn't intentional. I thought we could catch up. Why don't you wait and meet me after my discussion?"

"..."

Contrary to Anran's expectations, Shen Xingsui showed no anger.

Instead, he smiled, a colder smile unlike his usual warmth, "Anran, no need for apologies. I was hoping to see you even if we hadn't run into each other here."

Anran was taken aback.

He had an inexplicable feeling of foreboding.

"I believe you're well aware of why my piece was rejected. Since I wasn't meant for 'Mountain and River', let it be," Shen Xingsui stood up, emanating an imposing aura. "However, I didn't expect you to be so fond of picking up other people's belongings."

Anran frowned, "What do you mean?"

With a smirk, Shen Xingsui responded, "You don't know? The wooden carving, how did it become yours?"

Anran's face turned pale in an instant!

The carving was made before he participated in the talent show. He had taken it to impress the Jian family, finding it genuine and sincere. After a little enhancement, he used it without a second thought about Shen Xingsui, thinking he wouldn't be exposed.

Firstly, back then, the Jian family despised Shen Xingsui, so even if Shen returned to protest, no one would believe him.

Secondly, in the previous life, Shen Xingsui never entered the entertainment circle. Thus, Anran assumed they wouldn’t cross paths.

Lastly, in the previous life, Shen Xingsui passed away early, leaving Anran without fear of any future repercussions.

But now...

A long-forgotten matter was brought up again. Facing the formidable Shen Xingsui, Anran's earlier smugness evaporated, replaced by a hint of fear, "What... which wooden carving?"

"Playing dumb now?" Shen Xingsui tilted his face upwards, moving closer, "Although the original score from years ago is gone, the wooden carving incident just happened this year. I took many photos while learning, and I still have evidence on my phone. Would you like me to show you?"

Anran's eyes widened, his heart sinking.

Behind, his manager curiously interjected, "Anran, what's going on? Are we leaving?"

An Ran had completely lost his earlier arrogance. He looked back at his manager and quickly said, "I'm sorry, sister. Something's come up and I can't go now. Please convey my message to the production team. I'll come back later!"

Manager: "What..."

An Ran, as if afraid his manager would overhear, grabbed Shen Xingsui and rushed towards the lounge outside.

Once in the lounge, Shen Xingsui frowned, "What on earth are you trying to do?"

"Xingsui..." An Ran, now thoroughly submissive, pleaded, "Please, let me go. I just made a mistake. I truly didn't mean to steal from you. I realize that now. Since you no longer care about the Jian family or what Jian Zhi thinks of you, can't you just help me out and keep this between us?"

Shen Xingsui stared at An Ran, who was begging with tears in his eyes, and felt it oddly amusing.

It was truly comical.

In the past, he too had begged An Ran, crying and pleading for him to show some mercy, to not force him away from the Jian family. But An Ran had never given him a way out.

"An Ran," Shen Xingsui said, his voice eerily calm, "It's true that I no longer belong to the Jian family, nor do I care about their opinions anymore."

An Ran nodded fervently, seeing a glimmer of hope.

But Shen Xingsui continued, his voice turning icy, "However, I have one condition. I'll let the matter of the wooden carving go, but you have to take me back to the Jian house. I want to retrieve everything from my room."

An Ran was taken aback.

Shen Xingsui, eyes locked onto An Ran's, challenged, "Can't do it?"

Hesitating, An Ran said, "But my brother recently locked your room and forbade anyone from entering."

"I believe you'll find a way," Shen Xingsui replied with a smirk. "You've always managed to pull through, haven't you?"

An Ran still hesitated.

Seeing this, Shen Xingsui issued his ultimatum, "If you're not willing, that's fine. In a couple of days, Jian Zhi wants to discuss the chorus with me. I might as well mention the wooden carving then. I wonder how your dear brother would feel, knowing you offered him someone else's unfinished work?"

Those words shattered any remaining reluctance in An Ran.

An Ran, eyes gleaming with desperation, slowly said, "Then, can you promise me that after retrieving your things, you won't tell anyone I let you in? Just say you broke in yourself. I can get the key and turn off the surveillance, but I can't help you beyond that."

Shen Xingsui's lips curled into a smile.

He found the situation laughable. An Ran was well aware of what he was seeking in the Jian house. Regardless of the potential consequences for Jian Zhi, Shen Xingsui was only concerned about his own interests.

Yet An Ran seemed proactive, "Give me two days. I'll contact you. It's perfect, as my father and elder brother will be out of town. The house will be empty."

The sarcastic amusement in Shen Xingsui's eyes deepened. For the first time, he extended a hand towards An Ran, "Pleasure doing business with you."

Author's note: Jian Zhi: This is truly amusing.