Chapter 427

After much heated discussion, the internet finally reached a verdict: neither the organizers of the Starlight Piano Competition nor Arianna George had done anything wrong, and Emily Blair was also cleared of any fault. In fact, it was Isabella Austin’s methods and attitude that drew the most criticism. People started to sense the invisible hand of big money behind the storm of viral posts and the sprawling web of new media coverage.
Once the frenzy died down, the media outlets and marketing accounts that had so vocally supported Isabella Austin faded from view, leaving ordinary users’ voices to rise to the surface. In their usual earnest way, people on social media began speaking up for both the Starlight Piano Competition and Emily Blair. Many genuinely admired Emily’s public statement-calling it bold and principled-and were amazed that someone from such an ordinary background would stand up so fearlessly to those in power. They couldn’t help but applaud her courage.
During the worst of the online backlash against Emily Blair, there had been a few sharp-eyed bystanders who glimpsed the truth hiding in the shadows. But the sheer scale of the media machine drowned out dissent, and most people blindly sided with Isabella Austin. Now, as the hype died down and Emily’s statement came to light, people finally began to see past the smoke and mirrors and uncover the facts for themselves.
Isabella Austin’s fans, who had once run rampant online spreading rumors and insults, soon found themselves outnumbered. From the moment Emily Blair released her statement, public opinion began to shift. Users started pushing back against the bizarre rhetoric of Isabella’s followers, even turning their own words against them in a flurry of witty comebacks. Sensing the change in the tide, Isabella’s fans quickly pivoted, doing everything they could to cool things down and protect her reputation.
As Emily Blair had pointed out, the Starlight Piano Competition had always been a niche event, never destined for this level of attention. So once Isabella’s fans started working to lower the temperature, the controversy quietly faded from the internet. Articles and posts about the incident disappeared one by one.
In the weeks that followed, Emily Blair changed her phone number. With no way to contact her, Isabella’s fans could no longer harass her with angry calls. Even Arianna George and the school stopped receiving complaints—perhaps because Isabella’s supporters had realized that their idol wasn’t entirely blameless. The phones fell silent.
Arianna George, always ambitious and forward-looking, wasn’t about to let a small competition hold her back. She resigned from her post as head judge and set off for one of the world’s top music conservatories. Back at school, the complaints ceased, students settled into their regular routines, and Ms. Carter was able to teach in peace, no longer distracted by the drama.
Life returned to normal.
Emily, for her part, kept pursuing what she loved: studying computer science, working on her start-up ideas. Just a few days ago, she had taken the next-to-last practice exam before the entrance exams. The results came out yesterday-once again, she was the top student in her school, even ranking first in the entire regional mock exam. The school now gave her free rein, letting her choose whether or not to attend classes.
This was exactly what Emily Blair had always wanted.
Over a month had passed since the scandal. Emily finally logged back onto social media to check in on what people were saying about her. As soon as she opened the app, a trending topic popped up in her feed.