All-rounder Artist

Chapter 1622: Chapter 1304: Like a Battered Dog, Driven to Desperation

Lin Yuan hadn’t visited Shadow Studio for a long time.

There weren’t many people here now. Luo Wei and several apprentice cartoonists were now working in their own independent studios. After all, everyone was somebody now, and even had their own assistants and apprentices.

Lin Yuan occasionally liked to come here.

It was quiet here.

Besides him, Jin Mu would also come here occasionally, and the two often met here.

Today, Jin Mu also came.

Whenever there was something to discuss, they would meet here. It was an understanding between Jin Mu and Lin Yuan.

Glancing at Lin Yuan who was sitting on the sofa looking dazedly at his phone, Jin Mu smiled:

"The boss is preoccupied today."

Lin Yuan didn’t speak, his gaze fixed on the phone.

The news headline on the phone read "Ling Kong’s Bombshell, Who is Chu Kuang?"

The comments section of this news was filled with curses.

There were many related news articles, with headlines resembling a drama series.

"Due to Blue Star’s general manager Ling Kong’s malicious slander of Chu Kuang, the company’s stock plummeted!"

"Blog user traffic skyrocketed, becoming the number one social platform globally!"

"Breaking! Ling Kong resigned as Blue Star’s general manager last night!"

"Blue Star held a press conference this morning: Ling Kong’s actions were personal and unrelated to the company. We apologize to Mr. Chu Kuang for any misunderstandings."

"..."

Jin Mu poured Lin Yuan a cup of coffee, glancing at his phone screen casually:

"Have some coffee."

"Don’t you have tea?"

"It’s good to change things up occasionally. Maybe coffee isn’t as bad as you think."

"..."

Lin Yuan was stunned for a moment, seemingly understanding Jin Mu’s hint:

"Are you saying it’s time for Chu Kuang to step into the spotlight?"

"It’s about time. Ling Kong has virtually forced it. Why not fulfill him? But this truth might not be what he wants."

"Hmm."

Lin Yuan was thoughtful.

Jin Mu smiled as he added, "Actually, the outside doesn’t believe you as much as it seems on the surface. People tend to instinctively choose to believe in the good. Moreover, this relates to Xian Yu and Shadow. Some believe in Xian Yu, some believe in Shadow, not everyone believes in Chu Kuang."

"In a few more days."

"Then I’ll arrange a press conference."

"Should we also reveal Shadow’s identity?"

"The shock would be too great; it needs to be digested slowly by the public."

Jin Mu spoke.

It was time to expose Chu Kuang’s identity, but Shadow’s identity couldn’t be exposed simultaneously; the public needed to digest the first identity first.

"Hmm."

Lin Yuan agreed and then made a call to the chairman.

"The company will support any of your decisions."

The chairman, who also knew about Lin Yuan’s various personas, said with a smile, "It’s a day we have to face eventually, isn’t it?"

"That’s what my family says too."

In the morning, Lin Yuan talked about this with his sister, mother, and everyone at home. They all expressed their support for any decision he made, which gave him great peace of mind.

...

Actually, Ling Kong hadn’t uncovered the truth.

The so-called bombshell was just a conclusion Ling Kong reached based on intuition and observing some inconsistencies. It seemed outrageous, yet had an inherent logical relation.

If Chu Kuang wasn’t willing to explain, no one could get the evidence to prove anything.

But to Lin Yuan, this incident seemed more like a reminder that he had hidden long enough.

"After all, it’s about hiding identity."

To Lin Yuan, the existence of these personas, whether out of goodwill or malice, inevitably caused anxiety.

Today it was Ling Kong.

Who would question his personas tomorrow?

Or like Jin Mu said, even if some people didn’t say it out loud, didn’t they have doubts in their hearts?

Overall, this situation required a response.

Otherwise, there would always be a question mark over Chu Kuang.

If from a perspective of coercion, Ling Kong was successful. But from a personal angle, he was destined to lose this battle.

Speaking of which,

The power of Ling Kong’s bombshell was actually greater than he imagined, almost deafening.

"Am I being too excessive, using a master’s work?"

Lin Yuan asked himself.

The response came from the System:

"If you knew the actual benefits these works have brought to so many people, maybe you’d change this one-sided view."

"One-sided?"

"The System’s existence is not to help the host reach the pinnacle of life, or rather that’s a natural consequence. The true purpose of the System is for cultural sharing and exchange across different times and spaces."

The current crackling of the System sounded somewhat sacred:

"You are an ambassador of time and space."

"If you have brought light to Blue Star, then no one here has the right to question where the light comes from."

"And even if you cast a dazzling light on Blue Star, the glow of another time will not diminish because of your actions here."

The System’s electric voice resonated in his mind:

"If it doesn’t harm others, what’s wrong with benefiting oneself?"

"Moreover, you are not just not harming others, nor are you merely benefiting yourself. You are also aiding the world. Maybe the host hasn’t realized himself that he hasn’t bargained with me for a long time. Those who are helped will thank you."

"In the beginning, I lacked money!"

Lin Yuan still remembered the feeling of being terrified of poverty, truly bearing the despair of the whole family on his shoulders.

Even if given another chance, his first thought would still be to fill his belly and allow his family to live well, no matter who created these works. After all, this isn’t Earth. That’s been his long-standing belief:

When in poverty, focus on yourself.