113: Plagiarist

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Master Fu's brows furrowed as he stared at the projected sketch again, his fingers lightly tapping the table. His eyes narrowed.

"There's only one person who could draw like this," he muttered to Master Lu beside him. "And she wouldn't be here."

Master Lu's lips tightened. He gave a small nod of agreement, suspicion flashing in his gaze.

Mr. Nan frowned at their exchange.

His eyes shifted from the masters to Liang Yexuan, who sat at the head of the table, gaze icy cold.

Zhang Qian and Qin Ke froze under his stare.

"What's going on?" Mr. Nan demanded.

Zhang Qian opened her mouth, hesitation flashing in her eyes. "I… I'm not sure," she said slowly. "The design was submitted by our artist… Lin Yue."Her voice faltered.

Inwardly, she felt a chill. No wonder she had thought those designs were far beyond what a young girl could create.

Could Lin Yue have actually plagiarized?

The temperature in the room seemed to plummet as Liang Yexuan's gaze darkened.

The icy edge in his voice sent a shiver down everyone's spine.

"Call her," he ordered.

Qin Ke stood up immediately, almost tripping over his chair as he hurried out of the conference room.

Master Fu's eyes followed him before turning to Zhang Qian. "Who is this artist you speak of?"

Zhang Qian hesitated. "She's a newcomer. A young girl... very talented. She's—"

Before she could finish, Mr. Nan slammed his hand on the table. "I don't care how talented she is. If she plagiarized, your company is automatically out of the bidding process. We will not tolerate anyone insulting our heritage."

He pointed to the design on the screen. "This project is a national treasure! It's a reconstruction of the former Imperial Palace—a symbol of our cultural legacy. If someone dares steal someone else's work to be part of it... they don't deserve to touch even the foundations."

Master Fu and Master Lu exchanged a look.

A girl, they said?

Could it be...

—

Meanwhile, on the design floor, Lin Yue sat at her desk putting finishing touches on another concept sketch.

Du Liyao sat beside her, admiring her work.

"You really are amazing, Yueyue," Du Liyao said with a soft smile. "These lines… the symmetry, the brushwork. You're definitely born for this."

Lin Yue smiled faintly, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "Thank you."

Suddenly, the elevator doors opened with a loud ding and Qin Ke stormed out.

His eyes were sharp, his expression thunderous.

"Where is Lin Yue?!" he barked.

The entire floor froze.

Everyone turned in surprise. Their heads snapped up from their desks. Whispers spread like wildfire.

Qin Ke rarely came down from the upper floors. And never like this.

Everyone knew him.

Usually polite and easygoing, but when angry, he could reduce the entire department to trembling silence.

He didn't just get mad—he exploded.

"I asked where Lin Yue is!" he shouted again.

The tension was electric. He scanned the room like a hawk.

Nobody answered.

However, Song Ziyan, the troublemaker called out smugly, "She's here!"

She pointed toward a section of desks where Lin Yue, hidden behind two taller colleagues as she stood up.

Du Liyao quickly moved forward. "Project Leader Qin, what's going on?"

But Qin Ke didn't even glance at her. His eyes were locked on Lin Yue.

His first impression? Innocent. Beautiful. Too beautiful.

So this was Lin Yue.

Zhang Qian had said she was short and pretty—but he hadn't expected this.

The girl before him had a delicate, baby-faced beauty, her eyes big and pure.

Innocent.

But could such innocence really hide a plagiarist?

"Project Leader Qin," Lin Yue spoke, her voice soft but clear. "I'm Lin Yue."

He blinked, catching himself.

Don't judge people by appearances.

He nodded curtly. "Did you draw the sketch for the Chenhua project?"

Lin Yue nodded. "Yes, I did."

Her eyes were steady, her tone sincere.

Qin Ke's voice softened slightly, despite himself. "Come with me."

Du Liyao stepped in again. "Wait—what's going on? Did Lin Yue do something wrong?"

Before Qin Ke could respond, Song Ziyan let out a loud sigh. "Isn't it obvious?"

Qin Ke frowned. "Everyone get back to work."

He turned to Lin Yue. "Let's go."

—

As the elevator doors closed behind them, the design floor exploded.

"What just happened?"

"Why did Qin Ke ask if she really drew that design?"

"You don't think…"

Song Ziyan crossed her arms, a sneer on her lips. "Isn't it obvious? Plagiarism."

Gasps echoed around the room.

Could it be true?

Some were skeptical. Lin Yue's sketch had stunned even the senior artists.

How could someone her age create something so breathtaking?

Unless… it wasn't hers?

Du Liyao's face turned red. "Stop making assumptions! You don't know anything yet."

Ma Zhen nodded. "Let's not jump to conclusions. We don't know the details."

Song Ziyan only smirked. "Chenhua's government committee came today. Maybe they recognized something."

Whispers began swirling again.

Du Liyao gritted her teeth, glaring at Song Ziyan.

—

Inside the elevator, Lin Yue glanced at Qin Ke.

"Project Leader Qin… what happened?"

Qin Ke didn't look at her. "The sketch is being accused of plagiarism. The leaders overseeing the Chenhua project suspect that it wasn't your original work."

Lin Yue's eyes widened.

"Plagiarism?!" Her voice cracked with disbelief. "But... that sketch was mine. I drew every line myself."

"You'll understand once you see it for yourself."

She nodded slowly, mind reeling. Plagiarized? But that sketch… I drew every line myself.

The elevator dinged.

Qin Ke held the door open, and they stepped out.

—

Qin Ke gestured for her to enter first.

She stepped into the room—and was met by a suffocating silence.

The stares of the entire room landed on her.

Her gaze swept over the room and landed on Liang Yexuan.

His face was unreadable, but his eyes burned with a cold fury.

Her heart skipped.

Why was he looking at her like that?

Zhang Qian was standing, eyes flicking between the officials and Lin Yue, her expression tense.

Then, from the far end of the table, two elderly men rose to their feet.

They stared at her, eyes widened in disbelief.

Master Fu gasped. "Yue Girl?!"

Master Lu blinked in shock. "Yue Girl... what are you doing here?!"

Gasps echoed in the conference room.

Liang Yexuan's eyes flickered.

Everyone turned toward the girl who stood frozen by the doorway.

Yue Girl?

Did they know her?

Lin Yue turned to the voices and her lips parted in astonishment. "Master Fu... Master Lu...?"

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