Chapter 63: An Episode During the Award Ceremony (2)

The woman's voice grew increasingly shrill. Just moments ago, everyone's attention had been focused on the stage, but now, more than half of the crowd turned their heads to look in their direction.

Lin Yan wanted to say something more, but she heard Mu Ziqing calling out from the stage: "Is Xiaolan here? Could the second runner-up of this romance novel competition, Xiaolan, really not be here? What a shame."

"She is here! It looks like she's having a dispute with someone over there," someone shouted loudly. Mu Ziqing raised her eyes and looked over, her gaze locking onto Lin Yan's slightly startled expression. The corners of her lips curved upward into a smirk as she stepped down from the stage.

As she walked, she said, "Well then, everyone, come with me and let's see what is actually happening over on our second runner-up's side."

Qin Xiang called out softly, "Ziqing, stop making a scene."

Mu Ziqing glanced at Qin Xiang, her eyes flashing with a provocative gleam. Turning away without another word, she walked straight toward Lin Yan and Xiaolan.

The crowd followed in Mu Ziqing's footsteps, forming a circle around Lin Yan and Xiaolan. Xiaolan, burning with vexation, spoke even more aggressively, "What kind of person are you? You bump into someone and don't even apologize, and now you're acting so self-righteous after spilling wine all over me! Everyone here, please bear witness for me today. I'm actually not an unreasonable person; all I want is an apology."

Lin Yan looked at the crowd in a daze, completely bewildered as to how the situation had escalated to this point. She hated standing out, and she loathed being the center of attention even more. Surrounded by so many people, she felt as though she could barely speak.

"Are you going to speak or not? Are you going to apologize?" Xiaolan pressed relentlessly.

"Oh, just apologize and get it over with, why make things so difficult?"

"Exactly. Since you're in the wrong and spilled wine on someone, just say a few nice words."

"Look at Xiaolan; she isn't even asking you to pay for her dress. What more could you possibly be unsatisfied with? Just apologize already."

"Look at her—the clothes she's wearing clearly show she's no one wealthy. If you can't afford to pay, you have to bow your head. That's just how society works, no need to make things hard on yourself."

...

Opinions flew from all directions. In short, not a single person spoke up for Lin Yan. Everyone knew Xiaolan was the second runner-up of this romance competition, and offending her carried no benefits. Alienating such a prominent figure for the sake of a nobody was an unwise move indeed; thus, no one came to Lin Yan's aid.

Coupled with Lin Yan's modest attire, which was certainly nothing to write home about, even fewer people were willing to stand on her side and say a kind word.

Lin Yan looked at them, watching every pair of lips moving up and down, yet she could hear nothing at all. She knew everyone was condemning her, but she felt as if she were trapped inside a vacuum balloon, entirely cut off from any sound.

Every face appeared utterly hateful. She stood blankly in the center of the enclosing circle, letting the crowd point fingers and pass judgment at will.

Mu Ziqing thrust the microphone toward Lin Yan and asked, "Pardon me, does this young lady have anything to say?"

Lin Yan raised her eyes to look at Mu Ziqing, as if her soul had suddenly returned to her body. Calmly speaking into the microphone and staring directly into Mu Ziqing's eyes, she enunciated every single word clearly: "What I have to say is that I will not apologize. There was nothing inherently wrong with our accidental collision. If everyone had simply taken a step back, things might not have turned out this way. But Miss Xiaolan had no intention of resolving the issue; she kept pushing me step by step. All of you keep telling me to apologize, but on what grounds should I apologize? Is a collision between two people ever the fault of just one party? It's my fault the wine spilled on her, but what about the wine that spilled on me in even greater amounts? Can't you see that? Whose fault is that? Besides, the wine glass was in her hands—what does that have to do with me?"