Chapter 362: Chapter 362

For two hours, everyone watched as her painting progressed from the initial strokes to completion.

And timing-wise, Paige Sterling’s painting was finished before the DQ Cup started.

So how could Paige Sterling have plagiarized?

Martial Artist Ronin seemed to do it deliberately, cutting the video right after Paige Sterling completed her painting.

Two hours later, while public discussion was in full swing, Rose Payne was beginning to panic, and Samuel Lee was questioning everything, he released the second video.

The second video shows Paige Sterling, with a seemingly stiff neck after her painting was finished, twisting her neck and heading to the restroom.

Soon after, a staff member in a cafe uniform hovered outside the booth, sneakily pulling aside the curtain to peek, confirming Paige Sterling was absent, and immediately went inside.

However, upon entering, she didn’t pour coffee or clean the table, but swiftly took out her phone and snapped a photo of Paige Sterling’s painting before leaving.

And that girl in the uniform was Rose Payne.

The entire internet was in uproar.

Rose Payne had studied painting, her father is an art teacher, but she merely mastered the painting techniques. Creating something truly inspired was impossible for her, otherwise she wouldn’t have remained unknown all this time, nor would she consistently rank last in competitions.

When she saw Paige Sterling in the cafe, she instinctively thought it might be some confidential document from Penson, so she took a photo. Later, realizing it was just a painting, she didn’t take it to heart until her father registered her for the DQ Cup.

At the final round, when all contestants were starting, she found herself utterly uninspired by the topics.

Then she suddenly recalled the picture on her phone—it perfectly fit the competition’s theme. So, ultimately, she copied the painting...

But she never expected the cafe’s surveillance to be so high-definition and now even exposed.

Rose Payne panicked and tried to rescue the situation by posting questions online. Fınd the newest release on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢•𝓷𝓮𝓽

"Everyone knows Paige Sterling is great with computers, what if the video is fake? How could there be such high-definition video, zoomed in from such a distance showing even pores?"

However, Paige Sterling’s die-hard fans stepped in like usual, and these fans were particularly skilled, known as "Tech Lords" online.

The Tech Lords examined it, and without any doubt, confirmed the video was genuine.

The cafe owner explained that the surveillance equipment was won during Penson’s online raffle, remarkably high-quality, even sharing other non-sensitive videos to show their cafe’s equipment was indeed advanced.

Moreover, many who bought Penson’s surveillance equipment expressed how powerful it was—showing even the flow of blood in veins, not just pores.

However, Penson was very strict with product control, especially for surveillance equipment, ensuring it doesn’t fall into wrong hands as tools for criminals.

Thus, to purchase Penson’s equipment, one must submit various documents proving alternative intentions, so many were unaware of its power until now, leading to disbelief online.

Soon Martial Artist Ronin posted a third blog, analyzing the paintings of Rose Payne and Paige Sterling again, finding the joined dots of green were the letters SP.

Signing the hidden letters SP on her painting was common for Paige Sterling.

But having those letters on Rose Payne’s painting was clearly not normal.

What does this imply?

It indicates Rose Payne overlooked these details while copying, giving undeniable evidence of plagiarism.

If you didn’t copy from someone else’s, how could initial letters of another’s name be on your painting?

The truth was revealed, who plagiarized whom, was clear as daylight.

Samuel Lee’s apprentice observed the online reversal and shared Martial Artist Ronin’s blog with his mentor.

"Master, take a look at the blog."

He had warned his master before, but the master didn’t listen and insisted on voicing support for Rose Payne online.

Now reality proved that Rose Payne was the plagiarist, the true innocent was Paige Sterling, who not only had her work stolen but the plagiarist won the award and sold the piece for twenty million.

Rose Payne continued to stir public opinion online, considering the scenario if the cafe hadn’t had Penson’s surveillance equipment, or if Paige Sterling hadn’t discreetly signed her work, or if Rose Payne wasn’t so foolish to copy it exactly without altering the signature, Paige Sterling would have suffered wrongful accusations, with her teacher being the accomplice.

No wonder back when the master encouraged Rose Payne to paint, giving guidance, she would say she was uninspired or busy, as now it’s clear—the lack of real talent and fear of being exposed before the master.

Indeed, upon watching the video, Samuel Lee’s expression changed, red and white.

Red from anger, discovering the favored apprentice was actually a talentless plagiarist.

White from concerning about his reputation.

He had publicly defended Rose Payne online and directly threatened Paige Sterling, aggressively; what would people think?

Would they believe he knowingly shielded Rose Payne the plagiarist?

"Master, what to do now?"

Samuel Lee clenched his fists, angrily declaring, "Cut ties! I need to sever all ties with her now!"

Moreover, an apology to Paige Sterling was necessary.

If he hadn’t publicly defended Rose Payne, the matter wouldn’t have escalated so severely.

It’s crucial to remember how severely Paige Sterling was criticized online, and Penson might have suffered significant losses because of it.

Samuel Lee wasn’t someone obsessed with saving face. If he erred, he must admit it.

He recalled how Old Professor Keating and Professor Lancaster had advised him before, yet he refused to believe them, now left humiliated.

Rose Payne still in panic, kept following the unfolding events closely.

The more she watched, the more she panicked.

Initially, she openly accused Paige Sterling of plagiarism, demanding accountability from her.

All her previous confident posts now turned into embarrassing evidence.

Numerous people flooded her blog with insults, way harsher than those aimed at Paige Sterling before.

She hastily deleted all related blog posts and disabled comments, abandoning her phone, as if that would erase external criticism.

Yet shortly after, she couldn’t resist picking up the phone, eagerly wanting to see others blame Paige Sterling...

But no, the target remained her.