Rebirth: The Time-locked Girl
Chapter 494 Sister Lan’s Tough Stance, Announcing to the World! [2 Updates]

Chapter 494: 494 Sister Lan’s Tough Stance, Announcing to the World! [2 Updates]

With a "boom," like a bolt from the blue, Cleo’s mind went blank.

He fell uncontrollably onto the office chair, his complexion turning pale in an instant.

"Pack up his stuff right away, and kick him out of here," Darian turned his head, instructing his subordinates. "Also, not just the heritage applications he approved, but every task he has handled, investigate them all thoroughly. Any that don’t meet the standards must be canceled."

The subordinate nodded his head, emphatically: "Yes, Vice Chancellor!"

Once Cleo had confirmed that Darian was serious and not joking, he was completely panicked.

In just two more years, he would have been able to take a generous pension and retire carefree for the second half of his life.

But if he were fired, then all of his decades of effort would have been in vain!

Not just the money, but his status, power, glory... everything would be swept away.

He couldn’t accept that at all.

"Vice Chancellor Darian, I know I was wrong. I’ll cancel the applications for the Southern Ming Principality right away," Cleo spoke incoherently. "I was blinded by foolishness, I had absolutely no intention of exploiting loopholes, please forgive me."

"You know you’re wrong now?" Darian bent down slightly, smiling, "No, you don’t know you’re wrong, you’re regretting that all your resources have disappeared, and after all your hardship, you’ve ended up with nothing."

Cleo’s eyes widened, his complexion even paler.

Having all his inner thoughts mercilessly laid bare by Darian made him feel incredibly ashamed and disheveled.

As he was being escorted out of the office, Cleo’s head buzzed.

Just as Darian had said, at this moment his heart was filled with unprecedented regret.

If he had respected culture from the start, not taken benefits under the table, and not approved the Southern Ming Principality’s applications concerning the Lantern Festival and other Shenzhou traditions, would the outcome have been different?

Inside the office, the assistant also collapsed to the floor, staring stiffly at Darian as he left, his mind in a whirl.

The issue of the Southern Ming Principality applying for the Lantern Festival to be added to the World Cultural Heritage list was such a minor affair that the higher-ups wouldn’t bother with it.

But Darian had personally come and acted ruthlessly.

Yet why would Darian Stuart, a native Global Center resident born in the Stuart family, be involved with Shenzhou?

If it were the Si Family’s doing, they would still understand.

After all, the Si Family moved from Shenzhou to Global Center three hundred years ago. It would be understandable if they were biased towards Shenzhou.

But why Darian Stuart?

Could it be that there was some unspeakable secret involved?

When someone conveyed the matter to Tratton Fos—another Vice Chancellor—he pondered the same question.

"You’re overthinking it, Vice Chancellor," a middle-aged man laughed beside him. "Darian graduated from Shenzhou University with a degree in Chinese Language and Literature; he has always loved Shenzhou culture. It’s natural for him to stand up for this issue."

Hearing this, Tratton’s furrowed brow relaxed: "That’s true. Three years ago, he was unremarkable, but now, three years later, he’s at a level that rivals mine. Using this issue to curry favor with Shenzhou makes sense as to why he would do it."

"No need to worry, Vice Chancellor," the middle-aged man continued. "Although Darian is a genius, his experience is far less than yours, and the Stuart family has always opposed his involvement in cultural studies. In next year’s competition for Chancellor, he won’t pose any threat to you."

**

Over here, Darian had left the office building and took out his phone.

[Cultured Person]: Quick and decisive, I’ve made that fool beat it. I’ll have the officials announce the cancellation of the heritage application in a little while.

[YN]: Thank you.

[World’s Richest]: Do you need financial support? I can have all channels pause and loop this news.

[Cultured Person]: ???

[Ghostbuster Bro]: Our Rich Sister never holds back when it comes to spending money on Sister YN!

Ye Wanlan put down her phone, her gaze slightly cold.

She didn’t fail to notice the online comments claiming, "Let them apply for heritage status, after all, it will soon become clear to whom the Lantern Festival truly belongs."

Yes, maybe one or two years wouldn’t cause any serious impact, but what about ten, twenty, or even one or two hundred years from now?

If we do not stop and resist, might these cultural traditions originally belonging to Shenzhou truly be plundered away in the future’s future?

Therefore, these applications must be withdrawn, and she absolutely would not relent.

"Ah Lan, thank God for you," Hua Yingyue breathed out lightly, "otherwise, I can’t even begin to imagine the consequences of our culture being stolen."

"That’s also why I founded Pulling the sky," Ye Wanlan looked towards the window, her eyes closing gently, "The whole world knows Shenzhou went through an annihilative war. Yingyue, after that war, Shenzhou endured even greater torment and suffering."

Robbers came from all directions, looting gold, silver, and antiques.

The small items—stuff them all into sacks and cart them away.

The larger ones that couldn’t be carried were broken into pieces and then packed up to transported away.

Hua Yingyue knew well the savagery of war, her fists clenched tightly: "They’re nothing but bandits!"

"And holding on to our culture is still far from enough," Ye Wanlan’s gaze drifted afar, "From ancient times to this day, there’s only one phrase I believe in."

The truth only prevails at the point of a sword.

The strategic blueprints of the Heavenly Inception Grand Canon—it was time they became reality.

**

At this time, the "Annus Mirabilis" crew and MN’s Ye Huifen were also at the Global Center, participating in a promotional live broadcast.

"The Lantern Festival originates from the ancient civilization of the Southern Ming Principality and is a unique activity of its people during the Lantern Festival," Ye Huifen said with a smile, "That’s why we put a special emphasis on filming the Lantern Festival in the drama."

Before the host had a chance to speak, Nie Shuangyi already chimed in leisurely, "But if I recall correctly, there wasn’t a Southern Ming Principality two thousand years ago, was there?"

Ye Huifen’s expression darkened.

"The Lantern Festival indeed has a history of over two thousand years," Nie Shuangyi stated, "So how did it become your unique activity?"

The host didn’t interrupt this time; on the contrary, they welcomed this sort of conflict as it brought more heat and sensationalism to the show.

"Miss Nie, as a newcomer, having spirit is good, but you also need a solid backing," Ye Huifen chuckled lightly, her words laden with meaning, "I admit, Sheng Entertainment is truly formidable, but sadly, as long as the Lantern Festival is our traditional festival, you stand no chance."

Nie Shuangyi smiled faintly, "Miss Yeh, as I said before, what’s ours cannot be stolen by you, no matter what you do. It’s all in vain."

"Oh?" Ye Huifen retorted, "Do you have the approval of the World Cultural Heritage Center?"

"The boss has been too busy lately to bother with such ludicrous affairs, entrusting me only to convey a few words to Miss Yeh and your backing MN agency," Nie Shuangyi began, "No matter how much you imitate, or how you exploit loopholes to apply for heritage status for the Lantern Festival and other Shenzhou traditions, you will always remain petty thieves who can never compete on the main stage."

[Who is the boss of Shengshi Entertainment? Quite the sharp tongue, well said!]

[I heard that Sheng Entertaiment had a change in ownership last year, but this new boss is really mysterious and has never shown their face.]

[From this moment on, I am a die-hard fan of the boss of Sheng Entertaiment!]

"You...!" Ye Huifen’s expression changed, her face flushing red, "I’ll say it again, the Lantern Festival is the age-old tradition of the Southern Ming Principality and has nothing to do with Shenzhou! You are the thieves."

"I understand because the boss has also said—," Nie Shuangyi nodded, "After self-deception for so long, you’ve even fooled yourselves, but that’s enough. Don’t think you can fool everyone in the world."

[What’s this actress from Shenzhou being so stubborn about? Huifen isn’t wrong; the Lantern Festival is indeed our tradition from the Southern Ming Principality!]

[Let the World Cultural Heritage Center speak! Let’s see who it really belongs to! Give these arrogant Shenzhou People a slap in the face, and they’ll understand!]

However, at this very moment, the live broadcast suddenly changed.

[??? What’s happening? Is there a ghost in broad daylight?]

[To the one in front, this shows your ignorance. This is Global headquarters cutting in with an emergency news broadcast.]

[What big news is happening today?]

"Attention, please, this is an emergency notice from the World Cultural Heritage Center!" reported the announcer with a pause and clarity, "The headquarters today retracts the Southern Ming Principality’s applications related to the Lantern Festival and other Shenzhou traditions, and also prohibits the misappropriation of other nations’ traditions for heritage status applications, as publicly announced!"

Ye Huifen scoffed, "Miss Nie is quick-witted, but alas"