Chapter 7
When I woke up the next day, the sun was already high in the sky. I picked up my phone and, out of habit, scrolled through Weibo.
To my surprise, a glaringly hot topic had made it onto the trending list:
#Breaking: The film “Huaian” plagiarizes the novel “A Pillow of Huai An”#
I was shocked and quickly opened the site to check my account notifications. My private messages already had 99+ unread:
“June, come quick, your work has been plagiarized!”
“June, the movie ‘Huaian’ is so similar to your ‘A Pillow of Huai An’, it’s obviously plagiarism!”
“The famous director Chen Huaixu plagiarized June’s ‘A Pillow of Huai An’, June, you need to defend your rights.”
“A Pillow of Huai An” was a work I wrote a few years ago, and its story was based on my relationship with Chen Huaixu. Although it wasn’t a huge hit, quite a few readers had read it. The private messages kept coming, and the topic on Weibo was getting hotter and hotter. At the moment, I didn’t know what to do.
I scrolled through Weibo. Unlike yesterday’s wave of praise, now it was all criticism:
“From the plot setup to the details, ‘Huaian’ is exactly the same as June’s ‘A Pillow of Huai An’. The only difference is the original author’s story is a Bad Ending, while Chen Huaixu’s is a Happy Ending. Plagiarizing so blatantly-is it because the big director bullies the small author?”
“Yesterday I cried my eyes out watching ‘Huaian’, today I’m furious. Wasted my tears. So-called first love and white moonlight, turns out it was stolen from someone else. Ugh!”
“What genius director? I used to be such a fan of his looks and talent, but he’s just a plagiarist. Unfollowing!”
“Support June in defending her rights! @Author June”
“Hope the theaters take down the plagiarized work!”
Netizens kept calling out:
“Chen Huaixu, respond to the plagiarism accusations!”
The criticism came in waves. Whether on the site or on Weibo, my private messages and followers kept increasing.
It wasn’t until the afternoon that Chen Huaixu finally posted a Weibo:
“Sorry, I stole our story and made it into a movie, as a gift to you. @Author June
Thank you all for your attention. There is only an emotional dispute, not a plagiarism dispute.”
After so many years, I never expected my identity to be exposed like this. The site editor kept suggesting I respond to the plagiarism incident, since I was the original author.
I thought it over for a long time, steeled myself, and posted a Weibo:
“Wishing ‘Huaian’ a box office hit.”
This was both an admission of my identity and a denial of the plagiarism accusation.
In an instant, the public opinion online reversed:
“I admit I was a bit loud with my criticism this morning…”
“Spent all morning trying to prove plagiarism, but it turns out it’s just their love story on film. The real clown is me…”
“Ahhh, so June is Director Chen’s white moonlight and first love! I reread June’s ‘A Pillow of Huai An’ and cried my eyes out. The Bad Ending is so powerful.”
“These two-one wrote the story as a novel, the other made it into a movie, gifting it to her on her birthday. What kind of fairy-tale romance is this!”
For some reason, as the popularity of “Huaian” kept rising, people online started digging up stories about me and Chen Huaixu from back in the day.
Old graduation photos, pictures of the two of us together-who knows where they came from.
Some even claimed to be our classmates and commented:
“I was lucky enough to witness Chen Huaixu confessing on stage at graduation. I can testify, the movie is pure documentary.”
“They dated for over seven years, from 18 to 25, both each other’s first love. Later, for some reason, they regrettably broke up.”
The comment section was full of fans shipping us:
“18-year-old Director Chen and June were so innocent-one a sunny boy, the other a pure girl.”
“Ahhh, as a pure love warrior, I’m down for the count. What kind of fairy-tale romance is this!”
“Reread June’s ‘A Pillow of Huai An’, so the Bad Ending is the real ending, and Director Chen’s ‘Huaian’ Happy Ending is just his longing for this relationship.”
“Bad Ending aesthetics have come true, I’m crying.”
“This couple is so shippable. Watch ‘Huaian’ once, then ‘A Pillow of Huai An’ again-two perspectives on love. Expired candy is bittersweet.”
“Crowdfunding a Happy Ending-can they get back together?”
Not only that, the all-powerful netizens even dug up my personal information, home address, cafe address, and even my marriage and divorce certificates.
“Wow, so June was married? Suddenly feels like she doesn’t deserve Chen Huaixu’s devotion.”
“Only seven days between the marriage and divorce certificates-what kind of speedrun marriage is this?”
“Flash marriage and flash divorce, the white moonlight filter is shattered.”
“Turns out only expired candy is worth shipping. Bad Ending is the most beautiful.”
As more and more information was exposed, I started to feel a bit scared.
Not long after, Chen Huaixu directly responded on Weibo:
“I’m not a celebrity. I hope everyone pays more attention to my movies and less to my private life.
She has never benefited from anything after I became famous, and she shouldn’t have to suffer unwarranted public criticism or speculation.
For those who are prying into and spreading others’ information, I advise you to stop immediately. The lawyer’s letter has been delivered.”
After Chen Huaixu’s assertive response, many malicious comments quickly quieted down.
I shook my head and didn’t pay any more attention.
That’s how internet hot topics are-they come quickly and go just as fast.