583: Is Chapter 578 worth it?

Her voice began to choke up, but she suppressed it and continued speaking.

"That design set, I named it 'Tears of the Star and Moon.' It was what I planned to use to enter the Milan International Jewelry Design Competition."

"As a result, the other party took my design drafts, preemptively registered the copyright, and then sued me for plagiarism in return."

In the restaurant, the crisp laughter of Youyou and Anqi drifted over.

That laughter was like a needle piercing Li Jing's heart.

She lowered her head, looking at her reflection in the water glass.

"Overnight, I went from being an original designer to a plagiarist hated by everyone."

"My studio went bankrupt, my reputation was ruined, and I was left with a massive breach of contract penalty."

"Lawsuits require money, but during the divorce, because of that lawsuit, I was deemed the at-fault party, and almost all the marital assets were divided away by him."

Shen Yan listened quietly.

There was no expression on his face, but a ripple stirred within his heart.

Betrayal again.

Again, being stabbed by the most vicious knife from behind by the person closest to him.

This scene was strikingly similar to another.

"The money I have left is not enough for Anqi to continue attending the International Aristocratic Kindergarten anymore."

Li Jing's voice was already laced with tears.

"Originally... this parent-child activity was the last time I would accompany her."

"I plan to apply for a transfer for her next week, to a regular public kindergarten."

She finally couldn't hold back, and a teardrop splashed onto the back of her hand.

It was scalding hot.

Just then, in Shen Yan's mind, a cold mechanical voice sounded without warning.

"Ding!"

"Potential mission target character meeting the criteria detected: Li Jing."

"Target status analysis: Career suffered a devastating blow, personal reputation severely damaged, financial situation on the verge of bankruptcy, mental state on the brink of collapse."

"Random mission triggered: 'The Designer's Redemption'."

Shen Yan's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

System?

"Mission details: Help Li Jing clear the stain of 'plagiarism,' reclaim the full copyright of her original jewelry design 'Tears of the Star and Moon,' and make the betrayer and his accomplice pay the price they deserve."

"Mission difficulty: B-rank."

"Mission reward: One piece of Intermediate Wealth Intelligence."

"Additional note: This intelligence has high relevance to the Artificial Intelligence field the Host is about to lay out."

"Host, do you accept this mission?"

Intermediate Wealth Intelligence.

And it was related to the Artificial Intelligence field.

This reward carried significant weight.

Shen Yan's brain began to operate at high speed.

He was not a bleeding-heart saint, nor was he someone who liked to meddle in others' affairs.

Every action had to have a sufficient return.

Li Jing's story was tragic.

But there were many people in the world more miserable than her.

He had no obligation to save everyone.

However...

He glanced over at Anqi, who was holding Youyou's hand nearby, greeting the little Nemo fish in the fish tank.

The little girl's face held an innocent smile.

She didn't know yet that her life was about to undergo earth-shattering changes.

From an admired aristocratic kindergarten to a regular public one.

What kind of impact would such a drop have on a child's psyche?

Shen Yan thought of Youyou.

When he was at his lowest, Youyou had suffered quite a bit with him.

That feeling of powerlessness, that sense of owing his child—he understood it better than anyone.

Li Jing seemed to have noticed her loss of composure.

She hurriedly wiped away her tears and forced a smile that looked uglier than crying.

"I... I'm sorry, Mr. Shen. I shouldn't have said these things."

"Please forgive me for making a scene. Just consider it... me rambling."

She picked up her water glass, intending to drink to cover her embarrassment, but her hand was shaking violently.

Helping Li Jing meant getting involved in a complex lawsuit dispute.

It would require mobilizing his legal resources, and possibly even the investigative power of 'Sky Shield.'

This would consume time and energy.

From a purely business perspective, this was a venture with an unclear return on investment.

But the system's reward was like a huge lure.

The field of Artificial Intelligence was the area he was currently focusing on.

Any intelligence related to it was priceless.

A piece of intermediate intelligence might save him hundreds of millions in trial-and-error costs, or even allow him to seize a market advantage.

Was it worth it?

To meddle in a stranger woman's affairs for the sake of a piece of intelligence.

Shen Yan's fingertips tapped lightly and unconsciously on the tabletop.

One tap, two taps.

He was weighing the options.

He needed to confirm one thing.

How much of what this woman said was true?

Were her tears genuine sorrow, or a tactic to gain sympathy?

His gaze returned to Li Jing's face.

Her eyes were slightly red and swollen from crying, but there was no calculation in her gaze, only a desperate confusion born from utter defeat.

The look of a mother pushed to the edge.

He had seen that look before.

In the mirror.

When he was at his own most desperate point.

The fingers tapping the table stopped.

Shen Yan had made up his mind.

He would not act out of sympathy.

But if helping her could bring him enormous benefits while simultaneously smoothing over a wrinkle left in a corner of his heart by past experiences... why not?

He looked at Li Jing, his tone still flat and devoid of emotion.

"What is your ex-husband's name?"

Li Jing froze.

She hadn't expected Shen Yan to ask that.

She thought he would offer some meaningless words of comfort, or simply remain silent to end the awkward topic.

"He... his name is Gao Jun."

She answered instinctively.

"And the 'outsider' who stole your design drafts, who was it?"

Shen Yan continued to ask, like an interrogator.

"It was... it was my former best friend, who was also a partner in our studio. Her name is Sun Miao."

Li Jing's voice trembled slightly. These two names were nightmares that haunted her even in her midnight dreams, making her grit her teeth.

"Which company accused you of plagiarism?"

Shen Yan's questions were increasingly direct and precise.

"It was 'Brilliant Era' Jewelry Company. Sun Miao is now the Chief Designer there."

Li Jing's mind was somewhat confused. She didn't understand why Shen Yan was asking in such detail.

Shen Yan didn't ask any further.

He picked up the lemonade from the table and took a sip.

The icy liquid slid down his throat, making his chaotic thoughts clearer.

Gao Jun, Sun Miao, Brilliant Era.

Three names formed a simple network of relationships.

"I know."

He put down the water glass and spoke four simple words.

Li Jing looked at him blankly.

Know? Know what?

Just then, a Waitress pushed a serving cart over.

"Hello, your children's set meal and steak are ready."

The fragrant food was placed on the table.

Youyou and Anqi cheered and ran back, climbing onto their high chairs.

The heavy, oppressive atmosphere was dispersed by the aroma of the food and the children's laughter.

Li Jing looked at her little daughter burying her head in the food, then looked at the inscrutable man across from her. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions.

She felt like she had experienced a dream today.

Shen Yan did not bring up their previous topic again.

He picked up his knife and fork, elegantly cutting the steak on his plate, and then placed the small cut pieces into Youyou's bowl.

The movements were practiced and natural.

It was as if the conversation that had just determined a woman's fate had never happened.