Chapter 103 – Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family

Filed To Story: Returning to Her Not-So-Poor Family

“The image that came to my mind was the earthquake reported in the news last year.”

“Same here. Last year’s earthquake in H city caused countless deaths and injuries. The scene of the quake just rushed into my mind when I heard the climax.” “I also thought of natural and man–made disasters!”

Jasmine watched as Yolanda’s face gradually paled. She smirked, “Exactly! Last year’s earthquake in H city left countless people homeless. The survivors were in deep anguish, unable to escape their sorrow. Melody wrote ‘Wish‘ aiming to comfort them with the power of music and help them move on!”

Yolanda didn’t understand music, and her tutor was no expert either, so what they heard was entirely superficial. They knew the climax was sad, but they didn’t realize that beneath the sorrow was a force pulling the survivors to keep going.

“Why am I so sure Melody wrote ‘Wish‘? Because this March, with–my–help, her song was included in the music textbooks. The new textbooks have been printed and everyone can see Melody’s work in September! This hasn’t been announced before!” Jasmine said.

Everyone was stunned, they didn’t expect this. Even Yolanda was flabbergasted. She couldn’t believe it.

“Melody’s original version sounds much better than your version! I bet you copied Melody’s climax, but you were afraid people would find out, so you wrote the rest yourself. But you couldn’t reach that level, hence the song sounded so weird!”

Jasmine said, “At first, I didn’t notice anything and even thought it was a bit off! But when the climax kicked in, it struck me as familiar! If it wasn’t because of the climax, the judges wouldn’t have let you advance. Your song is mediocre at best. You wouldn’t even make it to the top 20, let alone second! You copied Melody’s work and refused to admit it. You don’t deserve this award! You don’t belong in this field! As a representative of the Piano Association, I reject your membership!”

After Jasmine’s words, everyone was beyond shocked. To think Yolanda, at such a young age, would dare to plagiarize a senior’s work. Not only did she refuse to admit it, she even tried to smear Jasmine to divert attention.

Yolanda’s face turned ashen, she could barely stand. Being publicly sentenced by the president of the Piano Association that she could never become a pianist was worse than death!

No, she couldn’t just fess up to the plagiarism! That’d be the end of her piano career for the rest of her life. The glory of coming second would be gone in a blink. The jeers and jabs would push her into the abyss. The scandal would stick to her like glue for life, and she’d become a laughing stock.

If she owned up to the theft, her parents and Zachary would be majorly disappointed. Her aunt and uncle would loathe her even more, barring her from the Melton family. Those who had supported and liked her would drop her like a hot potato.

Gritting her teeth, she shot back, “That’s just your side of the story. Included in textbooks? Who saw that?”

Jasmine, seeing Yolanda still playing dumb, was fuming, “Alright, I’ll make you eat your words!”

She had someone snap a picture of the latest textbook and projected the score onto the big screen.

“This is Melody’s piece, ‘Wish‘!” Jasmine said, looking around, “Those who can read music will see the similarities. It’s not just a line or two that’s the same, the entire climax is copied!”

“Oh yeah, it really is.”

“The climax is exactly the same!”

“President Jasmine isn’t slandering her, she did plagiarize.”

“Maestro Melody’s intro and outro are way better than Yolanda’s!”

*For those of you who can’t read music, don’t worry. I’ll have someone play Melody’s climax, so you can hear for yourself if they are the same!” Eventually, Jasmine turned to Frida, “You go.”

Frida was a bit taken aback by President Jasmine’s sudden call, but quickly sat down at the piano and played the climax of Maestro Melody’s piece as displayed on the screen.

The identical melody rang out in everyone’s ears, and even Demetrius and Olga, who had initially defended their daughter, were stunned. They couldn’t read sheet music, but it was hard to deny the plagiarism when the music was exactly the same.

Each note Frida played felt like a slap in the face for Yolanda, who by the end was as white as a sheet.

Among the front row spectators were this year’s competition judges, who had initially thought highly of Yolanda, especially Professor Lydia, who was particularly fond of her.

Yolanda’s second place was largely due to her support. But now, with the damning evidence, she was disappointed and furious.

After Frida finished playing the climax, the host, knowing Yolanda’s plagiarism was clear as day, picked up the mic and said solemnly, “It’s not right to reap the fruits of someone else’s hard work without their permission, infringing on their rights.”

He glanced at Yolanda, “As the host of the competition, I’m sorry to announce that the second prize winner Yolanda, due to plagiarizing Maestro Melody’s work, is stripped of her award. According to the rules, she can’t participate in similar competitions from now on.”

Yolanda was trembling all over.

“Now, let’s take a photo to commemorate the first and third place winners, and President Jasmine.” The host tried to usher the journalists closer to snap photos and move past this incident, but Yolanda suddenly raised her voice, “I didn’t plagiarize!”

“The evidence is right there, and she still denies it?”

“Could she actually be innocent? Look at her, plagiarizers should be guilty, not like this.”

“But their climaxes were the same. if she didn’t plagiarize Maestro Melody’s work, then did Maestro Melody plagiarize hers?”

“This is clearly plagiarism!”

President Jasmine didn’t expect her to be so stubborn, angrily said, “People these days have no moral bottom line for fame and gain, is it the imbalance of the creator’s mentality or the lack of character? You plagiarized Melody’s work, and the industry will kick you out. You should admit your mistake, yet you have the nerve to say you didn’t plagiarize?”

“I didn’t plagiarize!” Yolanda stubbornly insisted, “This song was composed by me at home! Can President Jasmine provide evidence that I didn’t compose it at home?”

“Can you explain why your climax is the same as Maestro Melody’s? With your performance in the other parts, could you compose such an exciting climax?” Jasmine obviously didn’t believe her, “Do you think anyone here would believe you? You say you didn’t plagiarize, dare you say it in front of Melody again!!”

What?? Melody?? Melody had always been a mystery, and no one had ever seen her true face.

Not only did President Jasmine know her, but it seemed like she was going to call her out?! Would such a master–level person come forward to settle such a small matter?

Yolanda didn’t expect Jasmine to bring out Maestro Melody to pressure her. Everyone knew that Maestro Melody’s whereabouts were a mystery. She guessed that Maestro Melody just didn’t want to stand in the spotlight, so she always hid her identity.

Was Jasmine going to call Melody or connect a video live?

No matter which way, Yolanda felt a bit uneasy, her freshly manicured nails unknowingly dug into her palms.

“Maestro Melody happens to be here today, in the audience, witnessing you plagiarize her work and refusing to admit it!” Jasmine said.

As soon as these words came out, the whole audience erupted, looking around for Maestro Melody.

Yolanda’s face drained of color, Maestro Melody was here? Impossible. She was such a big shot, how could she possibly appear at the award ceremony of such a small competition?!

Jasmine looked at an attractive girl in the audience, respectfully and cautiously said, “I’m really sorry to disturb you for such a small matter. I wanted to resolve it as quickly as possible.”

As she said this, she turned her fierce gaze back on Yolanda, “I didn’t expect this girl to copy your work and have the audacity to say she didn’t plagiarize! This is not only disrespectful to you, but also to the creative environment.”

President Jasmine looked at Mirabella in the audience, “Plagiarism must be punished. We need to make plagiarists unwelcome in this circle, so others don’t dare to follow suit. Otherwise there will be fewer and fewer creators, and more and more theives!”

Now, only Mirabella herself could step forward can embarrass Yolanda and expose the truth!

Mirabella originally wanted to kick Yolanda out of the industry without making a scene, but some people really had no shame, plagiarizing and then refusing to admit it.

Everyone followed Jasmine’s gaze and looked surprised. Was that girl Melody?

“Her? Melody? No way.”

“But President Jasmine is definitely looking that way, and aside from her, there’s no one else nearby.”

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