It was a short qipao in a soft pearl-pink color.
The collar featured vintage frog-button fastenings, paired with short sleeves.
White cascading begonia flowers were embroidered onto the cuffs, each bloom exquisitely detailed as though alive.
The waist carried a ruched design that perfectly outlined the model’s graceful figure.
Cascading begonias were also embroidered along the skirt, clusters of blossoms seeming to bloom directly from the fabric itself.
The overall style was playful yet still elegant and dignified.
The moment the model stepped onto the runway, the audience’s eyes lit up with amazement.
At the judges’ table, Lin Siwan clenched both hands tightly on her lap, her eyes fixed viciously on the stage.
How was this possible?
Where had Shen Nanyue gotten another outfit from?
After one round ended, the model wearing the pearl-pink qipao returned to the stage once more.
This time, she still wore the same short qipao design—but the cascading begonia flowers had transformed into butterflies.
The butterflies looked so vivid that they seemed ready to flutter right off the fabric.
“Wait… is that the reverse side of the previous qipao?”
“I think so. Look, she’s the only model who walked twice, and aside from the embroidery pattern, everything else about the outfit is identical.”
“I’ve seen reversible clothing before, but double-sided embroidered qipaos like this are rare. And the embroidery is incredible too. Whether it’s the lively cascading begonias or the butterflies ready to take flight, everything looks unbelievably lifelike!”
“Exactly. Out of this entire fashion show, this is the outfit that left the deepest impression on me…”
“…”
Only after the model appeared did the worry hidden deep within Zhou Yushen’s eyes finally begin to fade.
When the runway show ended, every judge gave high scores to “Nan’an Studio.”
During the award presentation, however, Lin Siwan suddenly darkened her face and snatched the microphone first.
Using a questioning tone, she addressed Shen Nanyue.
“Even though you’re my sister and I should be speaking up for you, I still have to protect the fairness of this competition. The design you submitted earlier isn’t the one you displayed today. That’s unfair to the other contestants.”
Shen Nanyue still didn’t have a microphone in hand.
While the staff member hurried onto the stage to pass her one, Lin Siwan continued speaking.
“Sis, this competition was painstakingly planned by the organizers. We can’t let your impatience and desire for quick success ruin the fairness of the event. I’m only saying this for your own good—I hope you can be honest.”
The moment her words fell—
Murmurs immediately spread through the audience.
“What’s going on? Are contestants and judges pulling strings behind the scenes?”
“That’s what it sounds like. If the contestant really prepared a backup move like this, then it is unfair to the other competitors.”
“This competition was organized by Fengcheng officials, wasn’t it? How can there still be shady dealings? What the hell are the officials doing?”
“…”
Before Shen Nanyue could even defend herself, the venue had already erupted into questioning voices.
This fashion competition had originally been intended to bring wider attention to Fengcheng’s fashion industry.
With official promotion online, almost everyone browsing the internet could see the event livestream.
Because of Lin Siwan’s comments, a show that previously hadn’t generated much buzz suddenly flooded with thousands of online comments.
“Wahaha! Even the judge couldn’t stand it anymore and personally stepped in to defend fairness. Is this real justice or just a publicity stunt?”
“Wasn’t this organized by Fengcheng officials? Why is there still backstage manipulation? Official account, explain yourselves already! @FengchengOfficial”
“First of all, Nan’an Studio, your clothes are beautiful. Secondly, get out of the competition.”
“Looked into it already. It’s a newly established studio trying to gain fame through this fashion show, so they pulled dirty tricks like this. Nan’an Studio, your tactics are ugly.”
“Investigate the shady dealings thoroughly. Recommend removing them from the program!”
“…”
An overwhelming wave of criticism targeted Shen Nanyue’s studio, the entire fashion show, and even Fengcheng officials.
Backstage, the program director glared furiously at Lin Siwan.
Before the competition began, Shen Nanyue had already approached her and explained that her outfit had been maliciously cut apart.
She had requested permission to report it to the police and use a backup outfit instead.
An incident as serious as deliberate sabotage backstage was something the production team also bore responsibility for.
To preserve the integrity of the overall show, the director had agreed.
Who would’ve thought this Lin Siwan would deliberately say such misleading things in front of so many people?
The entire production team had poured countless hours and energy into this fashion show.
To guarantee fairness in the competition, they had practically exhausted themselves.
And yet with just a few casual sentences, Lin Siwan had nearly destroyed the entire program.
The director was so angry she felt like she was burning inside and out.
“Send someone to warn that Lin Siwan not to spout nonsense.”
A staff member cautiously replied,
“Boss… the higher-ups told us not to interfere.”
“What?”
The director looked at the staff member in shock and confusion.
The staff member raised a finger and pointed upward.
“The people above already have arrangements in place.”
The person in charge could only sigh and continue watching the show.
On and off the stage, Lin Siwan stood there righteously staring at Shen Nanyue.
Meanwhile, Shen Nanyue stood alone on the stage, her slender figure looking isolated and almost pitiful.
Ignoring the uproar around her, Shen Nanyue looked at Lin Siwan and asked,
“Miss Lin, that’s not what you said backstage when you handed me the outfit your team designed.”
Another wave of shocked exclamations erupted from the audience.
Only then did Shen Nanyue calmly recount everything that had happened backstage.
After hearing the story, the audience could not help but gasp again.
A contestant’s outfit being deliberately destroyed before a competition—if news of that spread, the public backlash would be enormous.
Lin Siwan instantly panicked, but when she remembered there were no surveillance cameras backstage, she quickly calmed down again.
As long as she denied everything and insisted Shen Nanyue was lying, Shen Nanyue would have no way to prove it.
“Sis, when did I ever give you any clothes? Do you have any proof? Or are you just making baseless accusations to slander me? Besides, the outfit you’re wearing today was never even designed by our team!”
“Yeah, fair enough. With your level of skill, what decent clothing could you possibly design anyway?”
Shen Nanyue slowly fired back, her words striking directly at the heart.
Lin Siwan’s face instantly turned livid.
The audience burst into noisy discussion again.
Sitting below the stage, Zhou Yushen glanced toward the judges’ panel at Zhao Xuan.
Zhao Xuan secretly gave him an “OK” hand gesture.
Only then did Zhou Yushen relax and continue sitting calmly to watch the show unfold.
Amid all the questioning voices, Shen Nanyue spoke again:
“You want evidence? Then I’ll give you evidence.”
Suddenly, the screen behind the stage lit up.
The giant display went black for half a second before footage began to appear.
The surveillance video clearly showed how Lin Siwan mocked her and how she tried to force the outfit designed by her own team onto Shen Nanyue.
“There’s actually a plot twist! Sorry, I judged too quickly—should’ve let the bullet fly a little longer.”
“Oh my god! As the true successor of Sherlock Holmes, my analysis is that Lin Siwan’s team definitely planned this in advance! Otherwise how could they just happen to have a replacement outfit ready? The person who cut up Nan’an Studio’s clothes definitely has something to do with Lin Siwan!”
“…”
On the judges’ panel, Lin Siwan’s face turned deathly pale, disbelief filling her eyes.
How was this possible?
There were surveillance cameras?!
— The end of the Chapter–
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