Mommy, don't be afraid, I'll bring you blind boxes and scam you out of a wealthy family to

In the designers' forum, a post marked with "Explosive" was pinned to the top.

[Chinese emerging designer Mia (Golden Feather Award nominee) suspected of plagiarism? A competitor submitted a similar series of designs, which were approved by the jury.]

The main post included two comparison images, with "Iris" on the left and "Mia" on the right.

Both of these are haute couture gowns in a modern Chinese style. The moon-white silk fabric is embroidered with subtle silver thread patterns, like flowing clouds or mist.

The most eye-catching feature is a curve from the waist to the shoulder, with mother-of-pearl hand-sewn into the folds at a very tricky angle, like a vibrant journey.

The curves on the two skirts are almost identical, so one of them must be a copy.

1L: I've seen both sketches, Iris's is more complete. Did Mia mess up this time?

25L: Front row seat, just watching the drama unfold. Wasn't Mia amazing before? How come something like this suddenly happened?

87L: I heard that the association has internally agreed that the original work belongs to Iris. Mia hasn't responded yet.

130L: Waiting for a reversal, but it feels uncertain.

266L: Whoever submits their manuscript later will be embarrassed; where did this plot twist come from?

The building had been completed for over a dozen pages, and the wind direction was extremely unfavorable for Duan Shimi. After all, the most direct evidence of originality is time.

Duan Shimi took her phone back from Duan Hetong, her anxiety barely concealed: "How could I possibly plagiarize her? I've been preparing this manuscript for two years! But she submitted it first, the judging panel won't listen to me at all..."

The similarity of each curve to this extent cannot be as simple as a stroke of inspiration.

Duan Hetong quickly went through the sequence of events in his mind, listing the forum and Duan Shimi's statements as cause and effect, then touched his fingertips together and asked, "You showed the manuscript to that person?"

"She used to be my apprentice," Duan Shimi said through gritted teeth. "She was my assistant when I was working on the first draft of this dress. Last year, when she wanted to go solo, I gave her a lot of client resources!"

Duan Hetong's tone was flat: "In the design industry, once a dispute involves a complete chain of contacts, it's assumed that you are at risk of leaking information."

This statement elevates the original right and wrong to the level of responsibility.

Duan Shimi's face turned cold: "You think I have a problem?"

"I'm making a judgment, not a trial," Duan Hetong said. "Even if you lash out at me now, it won't help solve the problem."

These words enraged Duan Shimi. She laughed bitterly, "You're always like this, assigning blame the first thing after something goes wrong—Duan Hetong, I'm not your subordinate!"

Duan Hetong merely raised his eyes: "If you were my subordinate, I wouldn't be sitting here calmly talking to you. Duan Shimi, you've been set up; do you still think this is just a competition?"

"So what?" Duan Shimi's rationality was crumbling. "Do you want me to go back and check which part of my mistake I made? Or do you want me to just admit that I shouldn't have received this award in the first place?"

"Don't misunderstand me. If this is an industry dispute, Duan's legal team can help you with the lawsuit. But if it's classified as 'Duan's second daughter plagiarizing'—"

Duan Shimi sharply interrupted him: "In the end, all you care about is the Duan family's reputation, is that it?"

"As long as you still have the surname Duan."

The Duan siblings are a carbon copy of their grandfather; they're always at odds, neither willing to yield to the other.

All the servants kept their distance, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

Just then, a soft, sweet voice rang out: "We can't argue."

The adults are the witnesses.

Little Wenli sat quietly in the corner sofa, so quiet that she looked like a decorative doll, and the adults almost forgot she was there.

The adults were talking in a complicated way, and she couldn't understand them.

But both of them were angry and were about to hurt each other with their words—she could see that.

The little dumpling climbed off the sofa and grabbed Duan Shimi's clothes with its tiny hands, making a "gurgle..." sound.

Duan Shimi forcibly suppressed her anger, but her brows were still furrowed.

Wen Li said seriously, "Ba Ba wasn't being mean to Gu Gu. Ba Ba was showing concern."

Duan Shimi was taken aback.

Before Duan Hetong could say anything, he received instructions from the little dumpling: "Baba, Gugu is sad, Baba, don't talk about her."

With a frown and a serious expression, the milk ball proceeded with criticism, education, and mediation.

The adults were charmed by her adorable appearance and forgot that they were still arguing and couldn't laugh.

But they all obediently listened to the milk group and stopped blaming each other.

Wen Li reached out her little hand and stroked Duan Shimi's forehead: "Gugu, don't be angry, Gugu is the prettiest."

Duan Shimi thought this little thing was so much fun. Where did it come from? Why had she never encountered one like it before?

She picked Wen Li up and held her in her arms, glancing at Duan Hetong out of the corner of her eye: "This is the only humane thing you've ever done."

Duan Hetong snorted coldly.

But my sister is right, and she's not the only one who's said that—since Pear Baby came along, he's no longer just a "tyrant," he's become more and more "human."

Wen Li asked, "Did Gu Gu lose something?"

Mentioning this, Duan Shimi's mood soured again: "Yes, someone else took it from me."

Wen Li blinked: "Mommy's butterfly was taken by Aunt Bai, but Li Bao got it back. Li Bao wants to get it back for Gu Gu too!"

Duan Shimi ruffled her hair, not taking it seriously.

What can a three-year-old child do to help with plagiarism controversies surrounding international awards?

-

After another video conference ended, Duan Shimi rubbed her temples wearily.

The partner explained the situation very clearly: because Iris had made ample preparations, the judging panel had essentially sided with them. Without irreplaceable original evidence within 48 hours, the matter ended abruptly.

This has crossed the line of vicious competition; it's an encirclement and suppression.

Losing awards, damaging her reputation, and ruining her personal haute couture brand—she can no longer feel which of these three pressures is heavier.

Little Wenli peeked at her aunt's door for a while before running back to her room.

"Chirp chirp, Pear wants to open the boxes! Twenty of them!"

[Twenty is 2000 points, are you sure?]

Wen Li nodded.

My aunt is facing a huge problem. Ordinary boxes won't work; it has to be a shiny, golden one!

Luck was on the little milk group's side; just as their two thousand points were gone in the blink of an eye, they actually managed to get a golden one.

[SSR·One Two Three Wooden Snake]

The blind box wobbled left and right, and out popped a snake—made of wood.

It has no patterns on its body, it's very inconspicuous, like an outdated toy that nobody would buy even if it cost five yuan at a roadside stall.

Wen Li poked it, but there was still no change. She was puzzled: "Chirp chirp, this doesn't work."

It can't speak, it can't move, so what's it for? As a decoration?

The little girl's eyelashes drooped down.

It turns out that not all boxes can be helpful.

However, Wen Li did not give up immediately. Holding the wooden snake, she went to find her aunt.

Duan Shimi stared blankly at the computer screen, absentmindedly touching the snake's head. The wooden snake, of course, remained unchanged.

Wen Li tiptoed and placed the wooden snake on the scattered design drafts.

There was still no response.

It's different from the little mole who helps Grandpa find his pocket watch and the eraser who helps Uncle solve a case.

It really is just an ordinary piece of wood.

The little dumpling hung its head in frustration, its tiny hands fidgeting and scratching at the tail of the wooden snake.

She spent so many points, only to get something that couldn't help her aunt defeat the bad guys. Wen Li was more disappointed than ever before.

-

When Duan Xianchen returned home that evening, the atmosphere didn't improve.

Such a big thing couldn't be kept from the old man after all.

But he vented his anger on Duan Hetong: "Such a big thing happened, and you're just sitting at home doing nothing! Are Duan's PR people just sitting around doing nothing?"

Duan Hetong took a sip of coffee: "Public relations can only cover up the mouth, not the eyes of industry judges. Besides, the matter has already been exposed to the public. Applying pressure now will only make the media accuse the Duan family of having a guilty conscience."

The old man's cane nearly poked a hole in the expensive carpet: "Bullshit! My daughter, Duan Yuanzhou's daughter, would need to steal?"

Duan Shimi, however, was unmoved by his sentiment: "Now you remember I'm your daughter? Back when I chose this 'crooked path,' didn't you tell me to change my surname from Duan?"

"you--!"

"Alright, alright, eldest brother, second sister, both of you, stop talking so much." Duan Xianchen was sweating profusely, his CPU was about to overheat, and he still couldn't smooth things over. "Dad, eldest brother is just trying to find a solution. We're all family..."

Duan Shimi turned her head away: "Who's family with him? He's a cold-blooded animal with nothing but self-interest on his mind!"

Duan Hetong slammed his coffee cup down, the bottom of the cup making a cold, sharp sound as it hit the edge of the table.

Seeing the war escalating again, Duan Xianchen was overwhelmed and only wanted to run away from home.

Snap. Snap.

The sound of footsteps, like those of a human infant, came down the stairs.

The old man, who was originally slamming his neck on the table, caught sight of that small figure. His angry words caught in his throat, and he forced his face to become an unnatural calm.

Duan Hetong loosened his grip on the coffee cup.

Even Duan Shimi, who was about to turn her back to her room in a huff, coughed as if to cover up her embarrassment and sat back down.

Duan Xianchen was so moved that he almost cried.

He strode over, scooped up the still-sleepy little bundle of joy, and lifted him high like a savior: "Oh dear, our little Pear is awake! Come here, let Uncle hold you! Are you hungry? Do you want some milk?"

At this moment, the adults of the Duan family reached the peak of their tacit understanding: they could argue with each other however they wanted, but they absolutely, absolutely could not quarrel in front of Li Bao!