36

After working continuously for eight hours, Shi Yue felt a bit dizzy.

She had already consumed three cups of strong iced Americanos, but even another cup probably wouldn't have much effect. Thinking this, Shi Yue put down the white feather in her hand and decided to take a few hours to rest.

When she arrived at the restaurant inside the venue, she happened to see Zhou Leya eating as well. Grabbing some food, Shi Yue sat next to her. "What a coincidence."

Zhou Leya looked up and smiled, "How's your progress?"

"Not bad," Shi Yue said tiredly, stretching her neck. "After eating, I'm going to take a nap. If I keep pushing myself, something might go wrong."

"Don't stress too much," Zhou Leya comforted. "Although I've already reserved first place, with your skill, you definitely won't get eliminated."

Shi Yue raised an eyebrow at her words. "Oh? I didn't expect you to have more confidence in me than I do."

Zhou Leya shook her head, "It's not about confidence. Barring any surprises, the fourth-place contestant is practically set."

Shi Yue was puzzled, "Who?"

Zhou Leya replied, "Your cousin."

At the mention of Shi Fang, Shi Yue instinctively became wary. "Why?"

There was a camera still rolling nearby, so their conversation would inevitably be recorded, but Zhou Leya didn't care. She continued directly, "My workstation is right next to hers. She's been really anxious and hasn't even started sketching her design yet."

Taking a sip of her orange juice, she added, "Seems like she's having stomach trouble; she's been to the bathroom several times today."

"I see..." Shi Yue lowered her head, "Having stomach issues on such an important competition day… seems like her luck's not great."

Zhou Leya nodded in agreement. "You can say that again."

After quickly finishing her food, Zhou Leya said goodbye and left the restaurant.

Shi Yue ate a little of something light on her stomach, and after finishing, she went straight to the lounge, setting an alarm to sleep for four hours.

When the alarm woke her, she still felt quite tired, but her body was much more rested. After asking the production team for another cup of coffee, she returned to her workstation and continued working.

At this point, there were less than twelve hours left until the competition deadline.

The competition theme was 'Dove of Charity', which easily brought to mind the image of a pure savior. When selecting fabrics earlier, Shi Yue had bumped into Shen Lingling and Zhou Leya, and they all had similar thoughts, choosing white materials. This posed a challenge—due to the overwhelming similarity, everyone's work risked blending together without any standout features.

To break out of this situation, one had to attempt more innovative and bold designs.

The effect of her nap quickly became apparent—several ideas popped into Shi Yue's head.

She left her workstation and went to the fabric warehouse to explore more options.

After some effort, she dug out a roll of iridescent fabric from the bottom shelf. The futuristic material shimmered beautifully and was striking from every angle.

Just as she was about to put it in her cart, a hand suddenly reached over and snatched the fabric away.

Startled, Shi Yue turned to see Shi Fang's hostile expression.

If Shi Fang had asked nicely, Shi Yue might have given up the fabric. But Shi Fang had snatched it without a word, clearly intending to leave immediately, which was infuriating.

Shi Yue stepped in front of her. "Can't you find something for yourself?"

Shi Fang, clearly pressed for time, snapped, "Get out of the way, I don't have time for you."

Shi Yue held out her hand. "I found this iridescent fabric. Give it back, and I'll let you pass."

Shi Fang clenched her teeth, "Why should I give it back to you? Does it have your name on it?" She was so anxious that she was almost stomping her feet, and tears were welling up in her eyes. "Shi Yue, I'm warning you, move aside right now!"

Shi Yue frowned.

She recalled what Zhou Leya had said earlier in the restaurant. If Shi Fang had indeed wasted a lot of time due to stomach trouble, then she was likely feeling even more pressured than the other three contestants.

Though uncomfortable, Shi Yue stepped aside and watched as Shi Fang hurriedly left.

Shi Fang was clearly driven by purpose, not like Shi Yue, who was seeking inspiration from materials. Everywhere she went, Shi Fang quickly grabbed what she needed without comparing options, leaving immediately.

This behavior confirmed Shi Yue's belief that Shi Fang was likely to place last.

Nevertheless, Shi Yue focused on doing her best to present the finest work possible.

Soon, the countdown entered its final moments, as the four contestants busied themselves. After giving final instructions to her model about how to showcase the outfit, Shi Yue went to the central venue to gather. She was the first to arrive, and the host greeted her with a smile. "Looks like you'll win this round easily."

Shi Yue waved off the comment. "I'm exhausted."

She let out a long sigh, "I hope it ends soon. I need a good sleep."

"After this round, you'll have two weeks to rest before the points round begins," the host confirmed as she reviewed the schedule. "Don't worry, we'll get through the judging quickly."

Soon, the other three contestants arrived. The models, dressed in the four designs, began to walk down the runway, fully displaying the outfits.

Half an hour later, the host Li Yan returned to the stage. "Thank you all for your patience. The results of the fourth round are in my hands!"

"I'm sure you're all eager, so let's get right to it!"

"First, the third place goes to..."

She took a deep breath. "Shen Lingling!"

Shen Lingling was momentarily stunned, then smiled in relief, though her brow furrowed slightly.

"This over-the-knee skirt, inspired by a battlefield nurse's uniform, adorned with dove elements, immediately evokes the image of angels in white rushing to the front lines. The design is classic yet avoids cliché, and the restrained decorations convey the boundless love theme wonderfully."

"Congratulations on advancing, Miss Shen Lingling!"

Shen Lingling smiled, "Thank you, thank you, host, and thank you to the production team."

"You can relax now and prepare for the points round," the host patted her shoulder. "Now, for second place..."

She looked directly at Shi Yue. "Shi Yue!"

"White feathers stained with blood, scorched earth reborn. This red and white gown is incredibly bold, with blood elements covering nearly half the pure white dress, emphasizing hardship. The pure white balances it out, perfectly conveying the theme of charity while reminding us of the struggles of salvation. It's truly a remarkable piece!"

Placing a hand over her heart, the host added with admiration, "Shi Yue's piece was the only one to use black and red elements for embellishment. To be honest, the moment the four dresses were displayed, yours immediately caught my eye."

"It's a shame that you only took second place, but that just goes to show how strong your competitors are."

Shi Yue smiled graciously.

Given the time constraints, she felt there were areas of the gown that could have been improved. She was satisfied with second place. Upon hearing the host's praise, she naturally applauded herself and glanced over at Zhou Leya, offering a look of congratulations.

Since she and Shen Lingling had placed second and third, it was clear that Zhou Leya had won this round.

During the runway show, Shi Yue had already admired Zhou Leya's design. The pure white gown was holy and luxurious, with the model resembling the Virgin Mary herself. It was truly unforgettable.

Losing to such a piece, Shi Yue had no complaints.

Standing at the center of the stage, the host's expression suddenly turned serious as she prepared to announce the fourth-place contestant. "Now, for the fourth place. According to the rules, the contestant who finishes fourth will be eliminated from the competition and will not advance to the points round."

"But I must say, making it this far is already a great achievement for everyone."

This was a typical part of the show's routine, where the fourth-place contestant was announced before the champion to build suspense for the big moment.

The cameras zoomed in on the contestants' faces several times, heightening the tension.

Finally, the host spoke, "Fourth place goes to... Zhou Leya."

She sighed immediately after, "I'm truly sorry."

Shi Yue was stunned, her brow furrowing deeply.

Zhou Leya? Zhou Leya is the one eliminated???

Zhou Leya herself was even more shocked. She shot up from her seat, exclaiming, "Me? How could I possibly be in last place?"

The host gestured for calm. "This round's score was divided into two parts: 100 points for professional design and an additional 20 points from the Dove Charity organization. Zhou Leya, your design recreated the image of a kind and loving Madonna. It was luxurious and beautifully crafted, a truly extraordinary piece loved by the professional judges. However..."

She looked at Zhou Leya with regret in her eyes. "The organization felt your design was overly Westernized, with no representation of the 'dove' element. It completely missed the theme of this competition."

"They gave you a score of zero."

"What..." Zhou Leya's body shook, and her eyes filled with tears.

The host continued, "When the professional and charity scores were combined, unfortunately, you ended up seven points behind Shen Lingling. It's a truly unfortunate result, but that's how the scoring system works."

She walked over to Zhou Leya, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Your future is full of potential. While this competition may be over for you, your design career is just beginning. Believe in your bright future—"

Her words were abruptly interrupted by Zhou Leya's outburst, "I refuse to accept this!"

The host frowned, "Leya... the scores have been verified by a third-party organization. Are you questioning the authority of the competition?"

"I'm not questioning that!" Zhou Leya wiped away her tears. "I accept the charity's decision to give me no points for missing the theme; that was my oversight, and I'll take responsibility. But..."

She suddenly pointed at Shi Fang. "Why did she win first place???"

All eyes turned to Shi Fang.

When the host announced that Zhou Leya had placed fourth, it was already clear that Shi Fang had won the round. At that moment, Shi Fang had been basking in the joy of her victory, her smug smile evident. But Zhou Leya's accusation made her freeze, her expression quickly turning angry. "What's wrong with me winning first place? Do I need your approval to take first place?"

"This was decided by the judges and the charity! If you have a problem, take it up with them!"

The host hurriedly tried to mediate the situation.

She quickly read out Shi Fang's winning remarks and explained to Zhou Leya, "The scores and rankings were unanimously approved by the judges and the charity. Shi Fang's design brilliantly simplified complexity, using two starkly different white fabrics in a masterful clash. The concept was exceptional and left everyone in awe."

"Judge Vanna, one of the three judges, even said she could hardly believe such a work came from someone as young as Shi Fang. She said that at Shi Fang's age, she herself couldn't have designed something like that, which speaks to how impressed she was with Shi Fang's work."

Shi Yue turned to look at Shi Fang's creation.

Having been so busy herself, she hadn't really paid much attention during the runway show, and because she hadn't expected much from Shi Fang, she hadn't given the design a proper look.

Now, as she studied it closely, she had to admit it was impressive.

Though the craftsmanship was a bit rough, likely due to being rushed, it didn't detract from the gown's beauty.

On the other hand, Zhou Leya gritted her teeth. "She spent over ten hours doing nothing, wasting time. Then she suddenly produced a design and rushed to complete a finished product in less than twelve hours, beating the three of us. I can't understand how she could have won first place out of nowhere."

Shi Fang's eyes widened, her fists clenching. "What does it matter how I designed it? Can't I spend time refining my ideas and then crush you all at the end?"

"Zhou Leya, you just can't handle losing!"

Zhou Leya slowly lowered her head, tears falling to the ground as her body shook.

Shi Fang continued to hurl insults, but Zhou Leya was on the verge of collapse, covering her mouth as she felt like she was nothing more than a sore loser, throwing a fit and questioning the competition.

Just as she was about to fall to the ground, she felt a pair of arms support her.

Looking up, she saw Shi Yue standing beside her.

Shi Yue handed her a tissue and then turned to look at Shi Fang.

"I remember you had some stomach trouble earlier and went to the bathroom several times, right?"

Shi Fang's face turned pale. "Shi Yue, mind your own business."

Shi Yue remained firm. "Answer my question."

"So what if I did?" Shi Fang raised her voice, "Do I need to report every bathroom visit to you?"

Knowing she likely couldn't out-argue Shi Yue, she turned back to Zhou Leya. "Zhou Leya, haven't you caused enough trouble? Are you really going to throw a fit here, questioning the authority of the competition?"

"Or are you just trying to smear me because you've already been eliminated and have nothing to lose?"

Shi Yue addressed the host. "This round was incredibly tight, with cameras following us the entire time. The rest of us had our design process recorded from start to finish, correct?"

Even Shen Lingling spoke up at this point. "Yes."

"Only Shi Fang, who spent much of the time in the bathroom, suddenly produced a design after half the time had passed, a design that even renowned judges couldn't match. Then, she began selecting materials and creating her piece." Shi Yue turned to the cameraman who had followed Shi Fang. "I'm sure the production team didn't capture her entire design process."

"Isn't such an unusual situation worth investigating?"

"Zhou Leya's doubts are completely justified."

The room fell silent. Shi Fang, red-faced, shot back, "Just because I don't work like you, doesn't mean I have to explain my process to you! I like to take my time thinking things through and then complete it all at once. What's wrong with that?"

With Shi Yue's support, Zhou Leya stopped crying.

She looked at Shi Fang. "Our workstations were right next to each other. At one point, I thought you were definitely going to be eliminated. How could anyone produce a first-place design in just twelve hours?"

Shi Fang sneered, "Just because you can't doesn't mean I can't."

Zhou Leya took several deep breaths.

By now, she had calmed down and had absorbed much of Shi Fang's explanation. She lowered her head again, gripping Shi Yue's arm. "Was I really overreacting?"

"I just... couldn't accept falling here."

Shi Yue patted her on the shoulder. "I understand."

Putting herself in Zhou Leya's shoes, Shi Yue knew that if she were the one eliminated, she wouldn't be able to handle it either.

"If you had won, I probably wouldn't have reacted this way," Zhou Leya spoke again, her voice hoarse. "It's just too unexpected. How could it be her?"

"From the start, I didn't even see her as my competition..."

Being surpassed, and so far surpassed, by someone you never considered a threat could indeed shatter your mental defenses.

Shi Yue herself felt deeply unsettled by the result.

She hugged Zhou Leya and rested her forehead against hers, ready to offer more comfort when she suddenly sensed a burning gaze fixed on her.

Looking up, she spotted Leng Yanmi standing offstage, staring at her with a displeased expression.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear that CEO Leng's gaze was locked on Shi Yue's right arm, the one wrapped around Zhou Leya.

Shi Yue hesitated for a moment, then chose to ignore Leng Yanmi and continued to comfort the shaken Zhou Leya.

"Your design was truly fantastic. Even though it missed the theme, in my eyes, it was the best creation this round..."

While Shi Yue was soothing Zhou Leya, the host suddenly received a call from her superior and hurried offstage.

Five minutes later, she returned to the runway.

"Due to the concerns raised about the creative process, the competition team has decided, after discussion, to conduct a review of this round's creation process." She addressed the four contestants. "We will have experts carefully review the footage of all four contestants and ask the judges to reassess your design concepts and various behaviors."

Shi Yue and the other two remained silent, while Shi Fang's face turned pale as she jumped forward. "Why?! Just because someone made a few baseless accusations, you're treating me like a criminal and investigating me?!"

The host narrowed her eyes, her voice polite but firm. "Miss Shi Fang."

She bowed slightly to Shi Fang. "Please understand and cooperate with the competition team. This decision is for your own benefit as well. Only by reviewing the footage can we uncover the truth that everyone can accept. Only through this review can we clear everyone's names. At that point, whether there was cheating or if the accusations were unfounded, the facts will speak for themselves."

"We won't falsely accuse an innocent person, nor will we overlook any wrongdoing."

Shi Fang trembled, involuntarily taking two steps back.