Being a gigolo was too much for him, so he had to become a music superstar.

Don't read the comments today.

Lin Buyi turned to look at her.

Su Nianwei said, "None of those things are useful. Those who criticize you won't shut up just because you read them, and those who believe you won't leave just because you don't read them. What you should be doing right now is protecting your voice."

Lin Buyi nodded.

"understood."

He closed the door and went downstairs.

The moment the study door closed, Su Nianwei sat back in her chair, leaning back slightly.

Only then did she feel a tightness in her back.

It's not fear.

I haven't slept in a long time, and my head feels a bit heavy.

Su Nianwei picked up the coffee on the table and took a sip.

The coffee had gone cold and was bitter.

She frowned, put the cup down, and looked at the computer again.

On the trending topics list, Lin Buyi's plagiarism has climbed to third place.

The number of views for that comparison video is still increasing.

In the comments section, some people have already started saying: I felt something was off about him a long time ago.

This sentence annoyed Su Nianwei.

This is always the case.

As soon as someone stands up, a bunch of people are waiting to see him fall.

Before the truth even came out, they had already kicked it while it was down.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Cheng Yi called back.

When Su Nianwei answered the phone, she was pacing back and forth in her study.

The blinds were all drawn, and the only light in the room was the cold glow of the computer screen.

She hasn't eaten much since morning. The coffee on the table has been refilled three times, and the last cup was completely cold.

"Mr. Su, we've found it."

Cheng Yi's voice was very low, but the excitement in his tone was undeniable.

Su Nianwei stopped and stood by the window without moving.

"explain."

"We obtained the IP address for DerekMills' Spotify account through an overseas technical team. It cost us a lot of money, and the channel wasn't very conventional. The IP address is located in China, specifically in this city."

Su Nianwei rested her right hand on the windowsill, her fingernails gently scratching the wood.

"Where in this city?"

"We conducted further comparisons. This IP range... highly matches the network exit IP of the headquarters office area of ​​Brilliant Media."

Su Nianwei remained silent.

Cheng Yi added, "It's not a 100% match. Spotify's log recording accuracy is limited, but the overlap is over 90%."

"In other words, the so-called original work was very likely registered and uploaded in the office of Brilliant Media."

"It's highly likely. We also discovered a detail: in the metadata of the audio file for 'Drowning Sorrow,' there's a timestamp in the project file of the music production software. This timestamp shows that it was created six days ago."

Cheng Yi paused, then emphasized, "Six days ago, President Su. Not three years ago."

Su Nianwei closed her eyes.

She took a deep breath.

The tension I've been holding back these past few days has finally eased a bit.

Can audio metadata be used as evidence?

"It can serve as supporting evidence. Metadata tampering is possible, but it requires professional methods, and the tampering itself will leave traces. We have preserved a copy of the original file and made a notarized backup."

Su Nianwei opened her eyes, turned around, and sat down at her desk.

Her movements quickened.

"Okay, very good," she said, her voice steady, showing no signs of having worked for several days. "Compile all the materials into a single, complete document: IP comparison report, metadata screenshots, account activity record changes, and Huihuang Media's network exit IP registration information—all packaged together. It needs to be clean and clear, so that even someone without technical knowledge can understand it."

When do you need it?

"Now."

"Okay, I'll get it sorted out right away."

Su Nianwei was about to hang up when she called out to him again, "Cheng Yi."

"exist."

"How much is the distribution fee this time?"

"The tech team...spent a total of 170,000."

Su Nianwei didn't even blink: "Use my private account. Send me the account number later."

"clear."

The phone hangs up.

Su Nianwei placed her phone on the table, interlaced her ten fingers in front of her, and froze.

She's quick-witted.

The problem now isn't what to do once it's been found.

What we really need to think about is how to release this evidence.

If she were to release it under her own name, it would be tantamount to revealing her identity. She went to great lengths to hide in the shadows, and if she were to jump out now, all her previous arrangements would be in vain.

Wang Shaohui will know it's her.

Her father will also know about her relationship with Lin Buyi.

Everything will become uncontrollable.

You can't just post it anonymously online.

Without the backing of public credibility, the opposing side's online trolls can easily manipulate the narrative, claiming that this is fabricated retaliatory material.

Then it will turn into a never-ending argument between the two sides.

She needs someone.

A person who is influential in the industry, whose words carry weight, and who has the motivation to stand up for Lin Buyi.

Xue Xinghe.

When Su Nianwei thought of this name, a series of information immediately popped into her mind.

Use special recommendation rights to protect Lin Buyi's people.

On the mentor panel during the nationwide recording, I publicly said that guaranteeing your life was the best decision I've ever made.

Xue Xinghe is influential.

As a popular singer and mentor, he has a significant public influence. Any entertainment news featuring Xue Xinghe's name is guaranteed to generate buzz.

Xue Xinghe also had a motive.

Lin Buyi was a player he strongly supported, and Lin Buyi's elimination was a slap in the face for him.

He cannot stand idly by.

This isn't a question of whether he's willing to help; it's a question of whether he has to help.

More importantly, Su Nianwei had investigated Xue Xinghe's background.

This person came from humble beginnings, debuted through a talent show, and has come this far, having been suppressed by capital many times.

What he hates most is bullying original musicians with underhanded tactics.

If you put this kind of thing in front of Xue Xinghe, he would most likely not be able to resist.

Su Nianwei mentally went through this line of thought.

He wouldn't hesitate to hand the evidence to Xue Xinghe.

But the question is, how do we deliver it?

She couldn't deliver it herself.

Contacting Xue Xinghe directly is the obvious way to go.

Su Nianwei picked up her phone, opened WeChat, scrolled deep into her contacts, and found someone she hadn't contacted in a long time.

The other person's WeChat contact name is Uncle Hu.

Su Nianwei sent a message:

"Uncle Hu, can you do me one more favor?"

The other party replied very quickly:

"Again? You've got a lot going on lately, haven't you?"

Su Nianwei skipped the pleasantries and went straight to the point:

"I need a conduit to deliver a document to Xue Xinghe without leaving a trace. And no one can know that it was me who delivered it."

The other party replied after about two minutes.

"What are you up to, girl? Xue Xinghe is in the entertainment industry, isn't he?"

"Um."

"How did you get involved with that side of the story?"

"Uncle Hu, it's a long story. Just tell me if it's possible."

Another minute passed.

"Xue Xinghe has connections with the agency of an old friend of mine. I can have someone act as a go-between. But you need to tell me what this document is."

"Evidence. Proof that someone forged a song to frame a contestant for plagiarism."

The other party remained silent for a long time.

"Such a thing?"

"Yeah. The really disgusting kind."

"Okay, send me the encrypted materials. But Xiaowei—"

Su Nianwei stared at the screen, waiting for what would follow.