boyutpedia Chapter 304: Recognition of Self-worth
Chapter 304: Recognition of Self-worth
One evening, Yang Cheng stood by the window, watching the sunset in the distance. He held a newly completed painting in his hands, his emotions complex and profound. This painting, the result of his intense effort over the past few days, boasted vibrant colors, a bold composition, and was filled with power and vitality.
"I feel like this painting...finally brought back that feeling." Yang Cheng murmured to himself, with a long-lost sense of satisfaction in his eyes.
Xiaohua came over and stood beside him, examining his work closely. Her eyes wandered across the canvas, sensing the surge of emotion and power. She smiled and nodded, "Yes, this painting has soul. You've found your voice."
Yang Cheng smiled softly and turned to look at Xiao Hua: "Thank you for always being with me."
Xiaohua smiled back: "This is our artistic path, let's walk it together."
However, just when they were pleased with their progress, Black Tiger's attacks escalated again. This time, he was no longer limited to online propaganda wars, but began to use his connections in the art world to directly influence the decisions of some galleries and exhibitions.
One day, Yang Cheng received a call from the director of a large art exhibition they had planned to participate in. The voice on the phone was clearly embarrassed: "Mr. Yang, we are so sorry, but we have to cancel your participation. There has been some negative news about your work recently, and we have to reconsider."
Yang Cheng's grip on the phone suddenly tightened, and a surge of anger welled up inside him. He took a deep breath, trying to control his emotions, and said in a low voice, "I understand. Thanks for letting me know."
After hanging up the phone, Yang Cheng's face darkened. He walked to the window, looking out at the scenery, his heart burning with anger. This was no longer just a rumor on the Internet; Black Tiger was actually affecting their careers.
"What's wrong?" Xiaohua noticed that something was wrong with Yang Cheng, and walked over and asked with concern.
Yang Cheng turned to look at her, a hint of anger and helplessness flashing in his eyes: "Our exhibition has been cancelled. Black Tiger is behind this."
Xiaohua's face paled slightly. She knew what this meant. The cancellation of the exhibition they had worked so hard to prepare directly affected their work's exposure and future opportunities. This wasn't just a blow; it was a hindrance to their future.
"We can't just sit there and wait for death." Yang Cheng's voice was firm, his eyes flickering with unwillingness. He had never felt so strongly about being forced into a corner. The feeling of powerlessness and anger mixed together, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.
Xiaohua was silent for a moment, his eyes becoming determined. "We can find other ways. We can't give up just because of his suppression. There are still many galleries and exhibitions willing to accept us."
Yang Cheng nodded and clenched his fists. "I won't let him succeed. The more he tries to suppress us, the more I will produce the best work to prove him wrong."
The two returned to their art, but this time, they were no longer simply painting for art's sake, but with an indomitable fighting spirit. Every stroke and every color was a silent counterattack against the black tiger.
At the same time, Xiaohua also began contacting more galleries and exhibitions, looking for new opportunities. She believed that as long as they did not give up, there would always be people willing to support real art. Moreover, their works themselves were the most powerful proof.
A few weeks later, a well-known gallery finally invited them to exhibit their work. This was undoubtedly a great encouragement to Yang Cheng and Xiao Hua. They knew that Black Tiger's conspiracy could not completely stop their progress.
Preparations for the exhibition were proceeding intensively, and Yang Cheng and Xiao Hua were so busy every day that they almost forgot about the negative comments they had made. However, just before the exhibition was about to open, an anonymous letter was mailed to them.
The letter contained only one sentence: "Your efforts are in vain, the real battle has not yet begun."
The anonymous letter lay on the table. Yang Cheng's gaze lingered on the brief sentence, the light in his eyes flickering. He felt as if an invisible hand were gripping his heart, and every breath became heavy. He couldn't understand why someone was so determined to suppress their work. Even before the exhibition opened, new threats had already surfaced.
"Again, these boring threats." Xiao Hua walked over, glanced at the letter, and frowned. Although her tone was nonchalant, Yang Cheng could see the worry in her eyes. This wasn't the first time. Ever since Black Tiger's attack, rumors and threats had been swirling around them. Every time they made the slightest progress, new trouble would immediately arise.
Yang Cheng rubbed his temples, his voice filled with fatigue and confusion: "What exactly do they want? We are just doing what we love, why do they have to target us like this?" When he spoke, his tone was mixed with anger and powerlessness, and his heart seemed to be pressed by something heavy, making him breathless.
Xiaohua was silent for a moment, pursing her lips. She whispered, "I think... they're not just attacking our work, they're attacking us as people. They probably don't care about art at all; they just want to see us fail." Her voice gradually became firm. "But we can't let them succeed. We've given so much, we can't give up at this moment."
Yang Cheng nodded. Although he was still uneasy, Xiao Hua's words calmed his mind a little. He knew that the "battle" before him was not only about artistic creation, but also about their personal dignity and perseverance.
"Well, since they say 'the real battle hasn't begun yet,' then we'll fight to the end," Yang Cheng whispered, a flicker of fire rekindled in his eyes. "We'll respond with our work and prove them wrong with our strength."
Xiaohua smiled and held his hand, saying softly: "Yes, our weapons are our works." Her hand was warm and firm, making Yang Cheng feel a power slowly rising in his body.
As the exhibition approached, Yang Cheng and Xiao Hua accelerated their creative pace. Every morning, they plunged into work, often leaving the studio lights on late into the night. They poured almost all their energy into the details of each piece, as if through these canvases, they wanted to convey a certain unspoken message of perseverance and strength to the world.
However, despite their wholehearted devotion, the shadow of the Black Tiger still looms over their lives. One day, Yang Cheng received a message from a friend in the circle, telling him that someone was spreading more serious rumors about them behind their backs, even affecting the sponsors of the exhibition.
"They said... we plagiarized someone else's work." Yang Cheng read the message and could hardly believe his eyes. His fingers clenched the phone tightly, his knuckles turning white, and his breathing became rapid. This groundless slander filled him with rage, a fire burning in his chest.
Xiaohua stood aside, her expression serious. She could see Yang Cheng's anger, but at the moment, she remained calm and tried to calm herself. "If this rumor gets out, the impact will be huge." She thought for a moment and said softly, "We must take action immediately and prevent these rumors from spreading."
"I know," Yang Cheng replied in a low voice, a hint of weakness in his voice. Despite the rage burning within him, he knew that anger alone wouldn't solve the problem. This escalating pressure was forcing them to respond.
After thinking for a moment, Xiaohua offered a suggestion: "We can release some videos and photos of the creative process to prove the originality of our work. That way, at least those rumors won't have a foothold."
Yang Cheng nodded, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "That's a good idea. We should not only clarify the facts, but also use this opportunity to showcase our artistic process," he said, his mood calming down a bit. He understood that in this era of rapid information dissemination, transparency was their most powerful weapon.
Over the next few days, they began organizing their studio footage, filming moments of their creative process, editing them into videos, and posting them on social media platforms. Each video truly depicts Yang Cheng and Xiao Hua's journey from inspiration to final painting, their hard work and dedication vividly displayed in the images.
After the video was released, it immediately attracted widespread attention and discussion. Many fans and art enthusiasts who supported them left messages expressing their love and support for their work, which brought some comfort to Yang Cheng and Xiao Hua. However, as the attention grew, Black Tiger's attacks became more intense.
"They're even deliberately misleading the public, saying we're deliberately creating topics to attract attention." Yang Cheng looked at the comments section filled with obvious malice, and his anger surged again. He felt as if he were caught in an endless tug-of-war. Every time they took a step forward, the enemy would find a new way to drag them back to square one.
"These people don't care about the truth at all. They just want to see us collapse." Xiaohua sighed, his eyes solemn.
Yang Cheng pursed his lips, a complex mix of emotions swirling in his heart. He realized that Black Tiger's methods weren't just aimed at their artwork, but were an attempt to undermine their will and shake their sense of self-worth.
"We can't let them succeed," Yang Cheng muttered, as if to himself. He knew that at this point, he couldn't let negativity get the better of him. Art itself is a form of expression, a form of resistance, and all they had to do was continue to use their brushes to express their inner worlds.
The day of the exhibition finally arrived. The gallery was bustling with visitors. Yang Cheng stood before his work, scanning the crowds with mixed feelings. He wondered how many of them came with skepticism, and how many truly loved art.