558: Chapter 553 Plagiarism is the Greatest Original Sin

Plagiarism is the greatest original sin for a designer.

The internet was flooded with condemnation.

The public relations line for "Nirvana Jewelry" was nearly overwhelmed.

Everyone believed this fledgling brand was finished.

However, "Nirvana Jewelry" remained unusually quiet.

There was no response whatsoever.

This silence lasted for a full forty-eight hours.

Just as public opinion reached its peak, and everyone was convinced that He Wanqing was guilty and trying to cover her tracks,

The official account for "Nirvana Jewelry" released an announcement.

["In twenty-four hours, a globally live-streamed press conference will be held at the Peninsula Hotel to reveal the complete truth behind the 'Phoenix Cry' series design."]

Furthermore, the announcement specifically invited Lu Ming, Chairman of the Dongsheng Group, and Wu Dong, founder of Shark Lin Auction House, to attend.

"We welcome the two of you to come and confront us."

This announcement was extremely arrogant.

Everyone's curiosity was ignited.

Twenty-four hours later.

The banquet hall at the Peninsula Hotel was packed; not an empty seat remained.

Hundreds of millions of people worldwide watched the event via live stream.

He Wanqing walked onto the stage alone, wearing a sharp white suit.

Behind her stood four security personnel wearing white gloves, their expressions solemn.

They were carrying three wooden boxes encased in bulletproof glass.

Lu Ming and Wu Dong were seated in the front row.

They had come to watch He Wanqing die.

He Wanqing's gaze swept across the audience, finally landing on Lu Ming's face.

Her expression was very calm.

"To everyone present, and to every friend watching on screen,"

"Over the past two days, I have heard many voices."

"Some say I plagiarized; others say I betrayed."

She paused, picked up a remote control, and pressed a button.

The large screen behind her displayed footage of Lu Ming and Wu Dong presenting the forged manuscripts at their press conference.

"Mr. Lu, Mr. Wu,"

He Wanqing's voice was not loud, but it carried a penetrating power.

"You claim these are my grandfather's design manuscripts, correct?"

Lu Ming sneered and picked up the microphone.

"Of course! The evidence is irrefutable!"

"Very good."

He Wanqing nodded.

She signaled the security personnel to open the three wooden boxes.

Inside were three notebooks, yellowed and with fragile paper.

"These are the original design manuscripts personally drawn by my grandfather, Mr. He Guozhang, in 1968, 1975, and 1982."

Her voice resonated firmly.

"Today, I have invited three guests."

She turned to the side, and three elderly foreigners walked onto the stage.

"This is Professor Philip, an expert in ancient document appraisal from the British Museum. He will authenticate the age of the paper for us."

"This is Mr. Martin, President of the International Handwriting Analysis Association. He will authenticate the signatures and handwriting on the manuscripts."

"And this is Master Pierre, Honorary Chairman of the French High Jewelry Guild. He grew up studying my grandfather's work."

The moment these three titans appeared, the audience immediately stirred.

Lu Ming and Wu Dong's expressions changed for the first time.

They sensed something was wrong.

The next hour became the longest nightmare of Lu Ming and Wu Dong's lives.

Wearing white gloves and holding magnifying glasses, the three experts conducted a public appraisal of the original manuscripts under the live broadcast cameras of countless media outlets.

Professor Philip stated, "The paper's fibers and degree of oxidation perfectly match characteristics from fifty years ago. These are genuine."

Mr. Martin stated, "The pressure of the handwriting and the ink penetration are completely consistent with Mr. He Guozhang's other public letters. These are genuine."

Master Pierre was even moved to tears.

He pointed to a minute design detail on a manuscript.

"This 'He Family Inlay Technique'—only Old Mr. He knew how to do this in the entire world!"

"I have seen what the Dongsheng Group displayed; those are all clumsy imitations!"

"They are trash!"

"They are a desecration of art!"

The venue erupted in an uproar.

The live stream's bullet comments went wild.

"Holy crap! A century-defining reversal!"

"Scammers! The Dongsheng Group are scammers!"

"The pot calling the kettle black! How shameless!"

He Wanqing picked up the microphone and walked to the front of the stage.

She looked at the ashen-faced Lu Ming.

"Mr. Lu, do you have anything else to say now?"

Lu Ming opened his mouth but could not utter a single word.

His mind was completely blank.

It was over.

Everything was over.

He Wanqing turned her gaze toward the cameras.

"Today, I authorize all global media to freely publish high-definition scans of these three manuscripts."

"I welcome the entire world to witness the He Family's design."

"And I ask the world to supervise with me."

"Watch how the lies of those clowns are torn to shreds."

"Watch how every fake piece sold by the Dongsheng Group becomes a slap in their own faces."

Her words struck like a heavy hammer, shattering the cornerstone of the Dongsheng Group's credibility piece by piece.

The press conference was still ongoing.

But Shen Yan had already left early.

He stood on the open-air balcony of the hotel's top floor, the evening breeze fluttering the hem of his coat.

He wore a miniature earpiece.

On the other end was the head of his trading team, far away on Wall Street.

"Boss, the Dongsheng Group's stock price has started to collapse."

"Ten minutes after the press conference began, it plummeted by thirty percent and has already triggered a circuit breaker."

Shen Yan looked at the myriad lights in the distance, his voice completely calm.

"All short-selling funds, enter the market."

"Leverage, set to maximum."

"I want its market value to evaporate by ninety percent before the market opens tomorrow."

"Yes, Boss."

After hanging up, he dialed another number.

"An Ran, the funds I mentioned to you earlier can be moved now."

"Have you smoothed things over with the Commercial Crime Investigation Unit in Hong Kong City?"

An Ran, on the other end, sounded slightly excited.

"Relax, the evidence chain is complete, with both material and testimonial evidence present."

"Commercial fraud, document forgery, malicious market manipulation."

"Lu Ming and Wu Dong can prepare to study jewelry design in Stanley Prison for the rest of their lives."

"Good."

Shen Yan hung up the phone.

He looked down at the city below. This jungle of desire was currently staging a silent massacre.

The knife of public opinion, the gun of capital.

He manipulated both in the palm of his hand.

A commercial empire once valued in the billions disintegrated in just a few hours.

Not even a speck of dust would remain.

The press conference concluded.

He Wanqing was surrounded by countless reporters and supporters.

She had become a new legend in Hong Kong City.

A phoenix reborn from the ashes.

Across the noisy crowd, she saw Shen Yan standing in the distant shadows.

He was watching her quietly, his eyes calm, as if observing a newly completed work.

He Wanqing's heart suddenly clenched.

She suddenly understood.