Magnificence

Nicholas was excited, barely able to contain himself. Even his hands holding the camera were trembling. The scene before him was the most remarkable sight any journalist could hope for in their career.

It was like witnessing a heated argument between a couple who had broken up, with both partners yelling and accusing each other. But today, they were confronting each other face-to-face, and the intensity of the situation immediately skyrocketed by fifty percent. It was akin to witnessing a fierce battle between two relentless enemies, where only one would emerge victorious. The verbal confrontation between Hugo and Anthony was more thrilling than an actual physical fight.

Based on the words of Hugo and Anthony, Nicholas pieced together the events of the previous night, and his perception of Hugo underwent a significant change. It was not difficult for the journalists to speculate on the sequence of events. It seemed that Anthony deliberately slandered and defamed Hugo, provoking him to the point where Hugo resorted to physical violence.

Undoubtedly, Hugo was in the wrong in this situation. Journalists' attempts to uncover the truth through so-called "defamation" were merely a means to seek the truth. Hugo could deny or ignore them but resorting to violence was not an acceptable response. Therefore, even after the truth of the matter was revealed, Hugo was still at a disadvantage, giving Anthony a sense of confidence. Moreover, Anthony's pitiable appearance elicited numerous sympathetic voices, deeply affecting the fellow journalists.

Faced with this seemingly hopeless situation, Hugo launched a counterattack. While his impulsive response to defamation last night was immature and foolish, clearly indicating his lack of experience as a young person, today Hugo appeared transformed. His direct confrontation with Anthony gradually turned the tide, and people applauded his efforts.

As soon as Hugo appeared, he assumed a sincere and apologetic posture. His heartfelt apology undeniably showed his genuine remorse, winning over the goodwill of people. This initial impression was crucial in determining the outcome. When confronted with Anthony's accusations and sophistry, Hugo remained calm rather than becoming anxious. He carefully unraveled the truth, step by step, guiding everyone to a complete understanding of the facts.

As previously mentioned, even though everyone learned the truth, Hugo was still the one who made the mistake. However, Hugo's intelligence lies in the fact that he didn't evade his wrongdoing. He realized his mistake and subtly laid the groundwork by consuming alcohol before shifting the focus to the issue of defamation. This immediately diverted people's attention.

Thus, the current situation became: It was wrong for Hugo to resort to violence, that was a fact. However, it was also wrong for Anthony to maliciously defame Hugo, and that was also a fact.

The entire situation had quietly undergone a change.

Nicholas almost wanted to applaud and praise Hugo. From his state of confusion last night to his composed response today, Hugo had demonstrated impressive learning abilities. Though he still displayed some impatience today and showed eagerness to resolve the defamation issue, Nicholas noticed the flaw, and he believed that many journalists present had also noticed it. This indicated that Hugo still had room to grow. However, there was no denying that the clash between Hugo and Anthony was a remarkable spectacle, undoubtedly a highlight in the journalists' careers.

Anthony was not a weakling. His ability to manipulate Hugo and Joseph last night showed his capabilities. However, today Hugo intentionally set a trap for Anthony, causing a reversal in the situation. But Anthony still had no intention of surrendering. He saw through Hugo's scheme and immediately comes up with a counter-strategy.

"No! I didn't! I was just seeking confirmation of the rumors. I heard rumors about the creation of the song "Sunburn" and the prearranged nature of The Oprah Talk Show. I just wanted to confirm with you. Give me an answer, that's all. But why did you get so defensive? Could it be... could it all be true?"

Anthony's words indeed have the power to distort right and wrong. It can be seen from here that he has the ability to incite and provoke. Furthermore, he subtly brings up the issues of plagiarism and prearranged segments within his speech.

It should be noted that The Oprah Talk Show caused such widespread discussion not just because of the brilliance of "Sunburn". Hugo's miraculous transformation in seven steps was an essential catalyst. Not only Anthony, but countless people also suspected that the "seven steps" were intentionally arranged. Oprah and Hugo had reached an agreement beforehand, and Hugo had already completed the composition. Then, during the show, deliberate hype was used to amplify the effect and create a sensation.

Now, Anthony labeled all these explosive points as "rumors", which caused Hugo to become "defensive and angry". This made the journalists unable to help but speculate. Anthony's move was indeed very powerful.

Joseph immediately thought about how to respond. Now he had completely calmed down and understood why Hugo chose to confront the situation head-on today. On the one hand, it was a proactive move to expose all of Anthony's schemes, and Hugo could dismantle some of the crisis face-to-face. On the other hand, it blurred the focus and laid out the entire process of the event. Hugo expresses his apologies for "hitting someone", and Anthony must also take responsibility for his "defamation".

Such goals could only be maximized through a direct confrontation. However, at the same time, the danger was multiplied several times. But without entering the tiger's den, how can one catch the tiger's cub? This was the proportional effect of risk and reward.

Joseph's calm mind quickly started working. He wanted to rebut Anthony immediately because Hugo didn't speak up at the first moment. But then Joseph realized that it was more important for Hugo to answer now. The effect would be weakened if the story was told by him as Hugo's manager. So, Joseph must trust Hugo, he could only trust Hugo.

A second may seem like just a brief moment in everyday life, but in a high-speed confrontation, a second of silence is equivalent to being speechless, to accepting the facts. It is absolutely fatal. Yet, Hugo still remained silent. After Joseph's mind rapidly turned hundreds of times, he has no choice but to speak up, "Are you finally willing to listen to Hugo's answer now? You keep saying you want to seek confirmation, but Hugo responded to you yesterday, yet you didn't listen. Are you willing to listen now?"

Joseph, speaking from the perspective of an observer, clearly had a stronger effect than Hugo's own plea of "You don't listen to my explanation". Although Joseph's role as a manager might weaken the impact to some extent, his words at this moment were still very effective, causing Anthony to pause in surprise.

Hugo was reminded by Joseph's words and immediately responded, "I already told you yesterday that the rumors of plagiarism are absurd! I hope you can give me an explanation. If you have evidence to prove that I plagiarized, I will absolutely accept the legal sanctions. I accept any outcome. If not, you must apologize for your statements!"

Hugo was once again amazed by Anthony's ability to distort right and wrong. Even in a confrontation, Anthony was still full of lies, which made it hard to believe. However, Hugo also realized that this was not a courtroom, and the reporters below were not judges. So it was natural for Anthony to lie, and it was his last resort. After being reminded by Joseph, the inexperienced Hugo immediately regained his composure and launched a counterattack.

"You have the right to doubt The Oprah Talk Show, but the entire production team and all the audience members present that day can testify for me. Even if you still don't believe it, I won't feel ashamed because I act with integrity and a clear conscience. Maybe I'm not a creative genius, but at least I'm an honest musician, and I have no doubt about my own abilities!"

After regaining his senses, Hugo launched a series of counterattacks, explaining the questions clearly and preemptively countering any potential remarks from Anthony. "So, you better present evidence to prove yourself, otherwise, you are insulting me as a music creator, and you must apologize for your statements!"

Hugo brought up the issue of Anthony apologizing once again, leaving Anthony speechless. His feeble acting seemed utterly ridiculous to Hugo, but this time, Hugo didn't let his guard down. He once again bowed to Anthony, expressing his apologies, "I apologize again for impulsively causing harm to your personal well-being. It was my mistake, undoubtedly." After speaking, Hugo straightened his body and looked at the reporters. "However, I also hope to receive an apology from Anthony for maliciously defaming my personal reputation. It is what I deserve!"

Hugo's confident words impressed the reporters on-site, and many wanted to applaud him. Unfortunately, Anthony was in a pitiful state, howling in pain, so the reporters couldn't openly applaud Hugo. Nicholas discreetly gave Hugo a thumbs up, but Hugo didn't buy it at all.

Hugo heard that the Los Angeles Times had once again turned against him, and he thought that his relationship with Nicholas had improved. But now it seemed that Nicholas was just an ordinary journalist who clung to news and sensationalism without any genuine connection. He was the typical reporter who seized on news and explosive points.

Initially, Hugo thought that there could be a "revolutionary camaraderie fighting side by side" between him and the journalists, but now it was clear that he was too naive.

Now that the truth about the fight last night had come to light, unexpectedly quickly, Anthony's carefully planned trap hadn't had a chance to work before Hugo disrupted it. Now Hugo and Anthony were back at the starting line, standing together. The next step would depend on how the reporters interpreted the situation: would they support Anthony or speak up for Hugo?

It was foreseeable that the news media was brewing a grand and tumultuous news storm.