Ming Huaizhi's suppressed anger faltered. He pursed his lips and fell silent.
This silence.
Was tantamount to default.
Linda's face turned green with rage, completely losing her usual noble and elegant strong woman demeanor: "Ming Huaizhi, you actually plagiarized? Do you know that if this matter is confirmed, your entire life will be ruined!"
The company would go down with him!
When they signed him.
He had vowed that this song was a joint creation between him and his elder brother, the famous musician from the Ming family.
That there would absolutely be no issues.
Was this what they called no issues?
Linda gritted her teeth, about to demand an explanation.
Then, from the phone, a man's captivating deep voice, slightly hoarse, said, "It's not plagiarism."
Linda didn't believe his nonsense: "It's not plagiarism? Does your reaction look like someone who's being falsely accused of plagiarism? If 'Qing' was really written by you, you'd be exploding right now!"
"It's not plagiarism, but it's true it wasn't written by me." Ming Huaizhi's eyes deepened, a flicker of obscurity within them.
Linda frowned: "If you didn't write it, then it's plagiarism!"
"No." Ming Huaizhi's Adam's apple bobbed, and he closed his eyes. "There's no plagiarism. I will resolve this matter."
"You'll resolve it? How will you resolve it?" Linda was so angry she slammed the table. It was something that could be explained in a couple of sentences, but what was he trying to say with his hesitations?
She took a deep breath and calmed herself: "Ming Huaizhi, do you know the person who wrote that song? Let's arrange a meeting, and the company will handle the discussion!"
"We'll pay whatever hush money it takes, as long as 'Qing' ultimately belongs to you!"
"Sister Linda," Ming Huaizhi rubbed his aching temples, "Give me some time. I need to think."
With that, he hung up the phone.
Linda's face contorted with rage on the other end of the phone.
She slammed the table, cursing Ming Huaizhi.
He could ruin himself, and he had the Ming family behind him.
But if the company was ruined,
They would have nothing left!
Managing this artist was truly a headache!
After hanging up, Ming Huaizhi threw his phone away.
His assistant had secretly left at some point.
In the lounge, he was all alone.
It was silent.
The air felt heavy.
Ming Huaizhi leaned back.
Slowly closing his eyes.
In his mind, gradually emerged... the events of ten months ago.
At that time, he wasn't like he was now, standing at the pinnacle of the entertainment industry, a sought-after top star.
He had already been in the entertainment industry for two years. Unwilling to rely on the Ming family's influence, he only wanted to prove his own strength. Thus, in two years, he had only played two unremarkable supporting roles.
In the entertainment industry, he was neither popular nor unpopular, constantly frustrated.
Later, by chance, he learned that even those two supporting roles were the result of his elder brother's secret manipulation because he couldn't stand to see him struggle.
He was crushed by reality and deeply disheartened.
So, he got himself thoroughly drunk and returned to the Ming family home.
At the time, he vaguely remembered himself stumbling and collapsing at the entrance of the Ming family mansion.
A tall, slender, seemingly frail figure, however, steadily supported him and helped him into a room.
Vaguely, he saw Ming Zheng's radiant and striking face.
He was still thinking...
How could Ming Zheng be so strong?
He was heavily intoxicated.
And paid no mind to the person in front of him being Ming Zheng, whom he had always despised.
In front of her, he cried like a heartbroken child.
He said many, many things.
Crying about his dreams, crying about the cruelty of reality, crying about the pain of his unfulfilled aspirations.
He cried so much that he himself couldn't remember what he said.
In his memory, that person held him very gently, comforting him, and said that she would definitely help him stand at the top of the entertainment industry, becoming a world-renowned star.
That person also sang a warm song by his ear.
Over and over again, cleansing his soul.
He fell into a deep sleep.
When he opened his eyes again.
Before him were Ming Zhi Rou's eyes, filled with concern.
Seeing him awake, she excitedly put down the towel she was using to wipe his forehead, grasped his hand, and choked out emotionally, "Second Brother, you're finally awake!"
Ming Huaizhi's head ached from the hangover. He frowned, looking around.
Ming Zhi Rou asked him what he was looking for.
He didn't answer, but instead asked, "Were you taking care of me last night?"
Ming Zhi Rou replied, "Who else could it be? You came back secretly and were drunk. If it weren't for me, you'd be sleeping on the streets right now!"
As she spoke, she pouted her lips, upset, "You don't know how hard I worked taking care of you last night! Second Brother, you can't drink anymore in the future."
Ming Huaizhi paused for a moment and subconsciously asked, "Did I... did I say anything last night?"
Ming Zhi Rou also paused for a moment, then stuttered her reply, "N-no... you just seemed worried that Second Brother would be drunk in the room with no one knowing, so... so I sat by your side and took care of you all night. Second Brother was very well-behaved when he was drunk; he didn't bother me."
Ming Huaizhi frowned.
How did he remember... he had cried?
Cried heartbrokenly.
Even cried about all his grievances.
He even remembered... that warmth that hugged him, almost capable of dispelling all the cold.
Could it be that he was dreaming?
But the slight soreness in his eyes made him feel a sense of reality.
However, looking at Ming Zhi Rou's expression,
He attributed it all to dreaming.
"Rou'er, I'm sorry, thank you for your trouble," he apologized. "Second Brother promises you, I won't drink again."
Ming Zhi Rou obediently held his hand, stayed close to him, and gently inquired about the reason for his drinking.
Her tone was full of concern for him.
Ming Huaizhi originally didn't want to reveal his troubles and affect Rou'er's mood.
But under Rou'er's persistent questioning,
He simply said that pursuing his dream might be a bit difficult.
Upon hearing this, Rou'er
Immediately offered all sorts of comfort, even producing a song titled "A Love Both Small and Great" and handing it to him.
That song narrated the longing, cherishing, and gratitude for "affection."
Whatever state of mind one listened with,
The lyrics told of such "affection."
But the most emphasized was "familial affection."
Ming Zhi Rou said that this song was a purely original piece she had composed, perfectly fitting the theme of the film that an internationally renowned director had spent years preparing, which Ming Huaizhi had always wanted to be a part of.
As long as he presented this song,
Even if he couldn't participate in the famous director's film production,
He could at least catch the director's eye.
At the very least, it would be an opportunity.
She even said that because her reputation wasn't well-known enough, she was willing to give this song away.
She proposed that outwardly it would be stated as composed by his fourth brother, the famous musician, and he, as the original lyricist, had collaborated on it. This would surely help him.
This song, "A Love Both Small and Great," was precisely the later "Qing."
In other words, it was the stepping stone that propelled Ming Huaizhi to become a popular top star.
Yes.
The true original creator of this song, "Qing," was Ming Zhi Rou.
Whether it was the lyrics or the melody, both were created by Ming Zhi Rou alone.