Chapter 622: 396 Tour starts: Crowd gathers, old lady protects her calf
The exhibition tour was set to start at nine, and as the sky brightened just a bit, a large group of reporters and onlookers gathered in front of the venue, chatting away in clusters.
The topic of discussion was none other than Xi Fangli and Tang Wan.
"Will Tang Wan actually make an appearance today, or will she be too scared to come after seeing yesterday’s news?"
"I heard that Tang Wan’s studio has already reached out to Xi Fangli privately. This matter might be downplayed, after all, with the Jiang Family and Tang Family involved, Xi Fangli has to give them face. It might just blow over."
"But I heard that Master Xi takes copyright issues very seriously, and with the irrefutable evidence of You Congrong’s fans intercepting people at the airport, the media are all reporting the truth. It wouldn’t be easy to smooth this over."
"Exactly, if this sets a precedent, there will unquestionably be even more copyright infringements in the future."
...
As the gossip heated up, suddenly someone excitedly shouted towards a car.
"Look, everyone, look, it’s You Congrong!"
Dressed simply in a black cap and a mask, she was still easily recognized as a celebrity. Her arrival immediately drew a large crowd of journalists.
Armed with cameras, they quickly surrounded her...
"Congrong, why are you here? What do you think about your fans intercepting people at the airport?"
"The show ’Feng Que’, did you really quit voluntarily? Is it true what the internet exposed about you buying off marketing accounts to disclose your own scandal with Mr. Jiang of the Jiang Family?"
"What do you think of Tang Wan’s studio’s infringement?"
...
Faced with the reporters’ questions, You Congrong paused, tilted her head to look at them, "I believe the innocent will clear themselves."
Whether she was referring to herself or to Tang Wan with that statement was unclear.
Reporter: "It’s said that Tang Wan has been oppressing you. What do you think about her infringement?"
You Congrong simply smiled, "That requires a professional to answer."
After that, she quickly entered the exhibition hall. Her response seemed gracious, without kicking Tang Wan while she was down, but everyone present knew that her coming here was likely to see Tang Wan embarrassed.
As long as Tang Wan was confirmed to have infringed on copyrights, and people started to doubt her character, You Congrong would naturally have a chance to rise.
**
As the exhibition tour was set to begin, some of Beijing’s high-society and even celebrity artists had already arrived, including Qi Zeyan and Jiang Chengsi. Yet Tang Wan was nowhere to be seen...
At the time, a large group of You Congrong’s fans had also congregated outside the venue, in addition to the ones from yesterday’s airport incident, gathering many more.
Upon Xi Fangli’s team’s arrival, a girl as a representative handed over what they called a petition with ten thousand signatures.
"Grandfather Xi, we hope you will be successful with your rights protection. Here is the petition we filled out overnight. We’re formally accusing Tang Wan of infringement, with reliable and real addresses and contact information on it."
Xi Fangli took the petition, "I will."
"Grandfather Xi, you are a good person. You’re bound to live a long life."
"We’ll always support you."
...
The fans completely regarded him as their savior. Xi Fangli merely smiled in response, "You’ll always support me?"
"I particularly love your work. I’ll always like you."
His assistant reminded him it was time to get ready, and he headed into the exhibition hall first, exciting the fans once again: "Tang Wan is such a coward? She’d confront others on set, but now she doesn’t dare to show up?"
"She must be hiding somewhere. Does she even have the face to appear?"
"Grandfather Xi might just destroy her! With so many people here, if she doesn’t have shame, the Jiang Family must!"
...
As the fans were ridiculing her, there came a commotion at the entrance’s red carpet.
Everyone instinctively looked in that direction, and the next second, a dazzling figure appeared under the media’s flashing lights. Tang Wan rarely dressed so formally – a black evening dress and slightly curled long hair.
She usually preferred comfortable and simple clothing, so her unexpected formality now, shedding her gentleness for an elegant demeanor, displayed the poise and grace of a lady raised in a grand family. Her presence outshone many of the female artists.
Not only had Tang Wan not missed the event, but she had also arrived on time...
And accompanying her were none other than Mr. Jiang of the Jiang Family and the Jiang Family Matriarch.
Jiang Jinsang rarely attended public events, dressed in black, hinting at a matching couple’s outfit, with an aloof and carefree elegance, exuding an indescribable sense of effortless charm.
Even the old lady dressed very solemnly, wearing gold-rimmed glasses and leaning on a cane. With Tang Wan assisting her on one arm, the three of them slowly walked towards the exhibition hall.
"Is that... really Tang Wan?"
"She actually showed up? Her infringement is almost confirmed. If Master Xi confronts her publicly, she and the Jiang Family will be utterly disgraced. She still has the nerve to come?"