"Miss Qin, Miss Fang, could you two please step forward and explain what's going on?"
Qin He calmly took a step forward, while Fang Ruonan emerged from the crowd, chin held high.
"The fragrance I created this time was entirely researched and developed by myself. And to be frank, the formula for this fragrance wasn't something I just came up with for this competition. I had already finalized the formula two years ago and named it Fangfei."
"But the competition doesn't allow us to use fragrances we created previously," someone interjected resentfully. "You're cheating!"
Fang Ruonan's gaze was venomous. How could she not know that one of the competition rules prohibited the use of previously created fragrance formulas?
However, this was the only way to firmly nail Qin He to the pillar of shame!
"I admit I made a mistake this time, but doesn't this also prove that Miss Qin plagiarized someone else's work?"
Fang Ruonan crossed her arms. "If it weren't for this coincidence of two identical fragrances appearing, people would have suspected me instead, wouldn't they?"
The crowd buzzed with commotion, and Wang Qide from the organizing committee scowled.
"How can you prove you created this two years ago?"
Fang Ruonan pulled out her phone and navigated to a private album on a cloud drive.
She retrieved a photo. "Everyone can see the release date of this fragrance ingredient formula sheet! This is the formula I used this time! Qin He is a scoundrel who plagiarizes others' achievements. And she talks about clove, I suspect her few formulas released using clove might be plagiarized from someone else!"
Fang Ruonan handed her phone to Wang Qide. The severity and gravity of this incident were such that the organizing committee, to ensure everyone could see clearly, had already prepared a projector.
The production team had also prepared several drones, which were hovering around the area.
Wang Qide placed Fang Ruonan's phone in front of the projector, and the screen's image was quickly displayed on the large screen.
"It really is. The formula sheet is clearly visible."
"The date indicated below is August 13th, two years ago."
Amidst the contestants' discussions, some looked at Qin He in disbelief.
"Qin He, did she really copy Fang Ruonan?"
"Oh my god, she's Dingxiang! Dingxiang has always been my idol! Have I fallen from grace?!"
"Could it be true, as Fang Ruonan said, that all the previous formula sheets Dingxiang released were plagiarized, and it's just that Dingxiang is so famous that no one suspected it?"
Qin He stood among the crowd, facing the astonished and questioning gazes of everyone.
The corners of her lips curved slightly. "Indeed, the evidence is irrefutable."
Her heart was not in the least bit flustered. The formula sheet was written by her only yesterday. What was real could not become false, and what was false could not become real!
"Miss Qin, how do you explain this?" Wang Qide frowned, looking at Qin He. He clearly did not believe that a master like Dingxiang would be a liar who plagiarized others' work.
"I didn't plagiarize. Miss Fang must have tampered with it?" Qin He smiled, looking at the screen. "I suspect there's something wrong with this photo."
"The release date of the photo is clearly marked. Qin He, you'd better stop making excuses! Is it that difficult to admit you plagiarized someone else?"
Zhang Caiyu suddenly spoke, looking at Qin He with disgust.
"As the champion of the second to last competition, I have always deeply respected the competition and cannot stand others tarnishing the perfume competition! Your behavior is a disgrace to the industry!"
Qin He raised her eyebrows. She didn't rush to refute, but rather wanted to see what Zhang Caiyu and Fang Ruonan intended to do.
"So what? Zhang Caiyu, what exactly do you want to say?"
Zhang Caiyu stepped out from the crowd and stood before Wang Qide of the organizing committee.
"Mr. Wang, I suggest that Qin He be permanently removed from the perfumery industry. Her act of plagiarism is entirely a matter of character."
Everyone looked at Wang Qide and the judges, awaiting a verdict.
Wang Qide still had some doubts about Zhang Caiyu's words. He raised his face and sternly pressed, "Qin He, do you have anything to explain?"
The director, standing beside them, was also panicking. Qin He's current popularity and influence were no less than any celebrity's.
Moreover, she was the darling of the biggest investor—CEO Gu!
Logically, such an incident should be a sensational event, greatly benefiting his show. However, he still felt uncomfortable.
No matter what, Qin He didn't seem like that kind of person.
She had given everyone too many surprises, whether it was catching fish or her identity as Dingxiang.
"Firstly, I did not plagiarize others' work. As I said, I suspect there is something wrong with that website," Qin He said, then looked towards Li Ai in the crowd.
The reason she hadn't explained earlier was that she was waiting.
With only this single sentence from Qin He, the organizing committee and the director's team were at a loss. This one sentence seemed like a desperate struggle.
In the live broadcast room, comments were flying.
[Impossible! Xiao He isn't that kind of person!]
[Everyone has seen how despicable that Fang Ruonan is. Earlier, she even had her assistant sneak into Qin He's bedroom. This time, it's probably another scheme of hers!]
[Don't be stubborn upstairs! The evidence is right in front of us. Didn't you see Qin He couldn't explain herself at all?]
[Qin He has the 'Hardworking Xiao He' account and the identity of an embalmer! She has no reason to ruin her reputation for the sake of being a perfumer! It's not worth it, she's not stupid. Fang Ruonan must have framed her!]
There were not a few people who believed Qin He, but because there was evidence, there were also many who did not.
Qing University, in a large lecture hall.
Ming Xue angrily slammed the table and stood up. "I am irreconcilable with this Fang Ruonan!"
Gu Ranran pulled Ming Xue aside. "Sit down!"
The professor on the podium, with a stern face, said, "Ming Xue! Come here!"
Qin Family, Ming Yuzhu's face was cold, and the butler stood beside her. "Butler, find the phone number of the chairman of Fang Group! I want to ask him how he raised his daughter!"
The Ming family was also in turmoil. Fang Meiyan was furious and called Ming Chi to complain.
"Hello, son, someone is bullying your sister!"
"This time it's not Xiao Xue, it's He'er!"
Gu Family, Old Mrs. Gu angrily smashed a cup. "This Fang whatever-her-name-is, so poisonous at such a young age!"
Madam Gu comforted her from the side. "Mom, don't be angry. Isn't it still being broadcast live?"
Shen Family, Shen Yilin had no class today and was watching this scene. He immediately picked up his phone to call Qin He.
Shen Yicong stopped him. "It's live broadcast, she can't answer your call. Don't worry, your sister isn't that stupid."
Otherwise, wouldn't she have escaped so many times?
Shen Yicong looked at Qin He on the screen, a hint of intrigue appearing in his eyes.
This woman was completely different from her beautiful and fragile appearance. There was a resilience in her bones, like fire and wild grass, unquenchable and inextinguishable!
Thinking of Qin He catching snakes during the live broadcast before, Shen Yicong's fingers gently rubbed together.
"Interesting."