Chapter 551: I Will Be the Champion
Selina suddenly understood.
Logan’s words carried a clear implication.
—He also believed this competition wasn’t entirely fair. Or rather, it wasn’t fair for the contestants from Country M.
Perhaps the judges weren’t doing it on purpose, but the reality was—when it came to Country M contestants, they were harsher. When it came to Country Y contestants, they were more lenient. Even if a Country Y perfume was bizarre, the judges would still find a way to explain it away.
For example: This is a famous perfumer from Country Y. It’s his unique style!
Selina knew the situation wouldn’t change overnight. She pulled herself from her thoughts and said calmly, "I understand. I’ll be ready for the finals."
...
A week later.
The fifty finalists arrived at the perfume convention, each bringing their own work to be submitted to the jury.
Over the course of the next month, the judges would evaluate all fifty perfumes and select the top ten. Then, one hundred representatives from around the world would gather in City A to vote on those ten finalists.
The judges’ scores would make up sixty percent, while the one hundred representatives’ average scores would account for forty percent.
And during the scoring, all contestants’ names and nationalities would be hidden.
It was, by all accounts, a fair system.
So once the rules were announced, the Country Y contestants brimmed with confidence.
When Selina arrived at the convention, she even saw several Country Y perfumers walking arm in arm, completely ignoring the Country M contestants, disdain practically dripping from their eyes.
Selina gave a derisive laugh and handed her perfume over to the judges.
With Reid Group’s influence in the judging process, she had nothing to worry about.
"Miss Clark."
The voice came from behind her. It was Ronald, strutting through the hall with Paula at his side.
He called out to her in the middle of the grand hall, drawing many people’s attention. Heads turned, curious.
Ronald’s words rang clear enough for everyone to hear. He wore the look of a weary elder speaking down to a junior, all benevolence and patronizing concern.
"Miss Clark, only eight contestants from Country M made it into the finals this time. Do you really think any of them can take first place? Hahaha. Miss Paula and I aren’t petty people. Why don’t we just forget about that wager?"
Everyone knew about the twenty billion wager Selina had signed with Paula. The Country Y perfumers immediately jeered, treating it like entertainment.
"Mr. Ronald, that’s not right. Why should you let it go? Isn’t it better to take free money from Country M?"
Ronald waved a hand, pretending to be magnanimous. "No, no, you can’t say that. Miss Clark is still just a child. Twenty billion is far too much for her! Paula and I aren’t people who lack money. Why put her through such hardship?"
"Hahaha, true enough. After all, Miss Clark is bound to lose."
"This year’s champion will surely be one of Ronald’s students."
"Exactly. The top three will definitely be swept by Country Y. Miss Clark might have had a chance if she’d bet on making the top ten. But first place? She’s dreaming."
"Let’s be real—she won’t even make the top ten. Country M only has eight contestants, while we have over forty! Forget the top ten, even the top thirty won’t have a single person from Country M!"
The mocking words cut through the air, every syllable stinging. Around them, the Country M contestants clenched their fists in anger.
Ronald finally felt satisfied. "Well then, Miss Clark, think it over. I’m saying this for your own good. Why not cancel the contract? That way you won’t have to waste so much money."
"But of course, there has to be some price. How about this—you admit publicly that Country M is inferior to Country Y, and I’ll..."
"Mr. Ronald."
Selina’s light laugh cut him off. "I’ve told you more than once that Country M will not lose. But you refuse to listen. Instead, you mock and belittle me again and again."
"Selina, don’t be so ungrateful—"
"Listen carefully, Mr. Ronald. I’m not backing out of the wager. Twenty billion means twenty billion. Whoever loses, pays. And as for the champion..."
Selina paused, her eyes radiating confidence.
"It will be me."
It will be me.
She said it with such conviction and self-assurance that every Country M perfumer present was lifted by her confidence.
Ronald froze for two seconds, then burst into laughter. The Country Y perfumers joined in.
"Hahaha... Miss Clark, confidence is good, but this isn’t confidence—it’s arrogance!"
Selina shot him a sidelong glance. "Then tell me, Mr. Ronald, where does your confidence come from?"
"Me?" Ronald puffed up with pride. "I was trained by Piper. My perfumes are famous across the world. That’s my confidence!"
"Is that so?" Selina smiled faintly.
Others might not know—but she knew better than anyone.
Ronald’s so-called "perfumes"? Where did they come from? They were her formulas! Somehow, Ronald had stolen her work, claimed it as his own, and now stood high above her, sneering with contempt.
A thief looking down on the one he stole from. If that was the case—then why steal at all?
Stealing from Selina, then mocking her as worthless and telling her to surrender—what logic was that?
What gave Ronald the right to stand so high?
And as for being Piper’s disciple...
Selina asked softly, "Your teacher is Piper?"
Ronald thought she was envious. "Of course."
Selina nodded. "And how do you prove it?"
"No need for proof! My teacher gave me countless manuscripts, even revised my formulas. Everyone in Country Y knows it’s true! Miss Clark, for a so-called perfumer, you don’t even know this? Tsk. Then again, you’ve never been worthy of meeting my teacher anyway."
The words fell, and the Country Y perfumers immediately chimed in.
To them, Ronald being Piper’s student was ingrained in their minds. It couldn’t possibly be false.
Selina chuckled. "Then can you have Piper appear in person?"
Ronald stiffened, avoiding the eager gazes of the Country Y perfumers around him. His neck strained as he barked, "My teacher is far too busy to waste time meeting the likes of you!"
"So you can’t," Selina said flatly. She nodded. "Fine. I’ll remember that."
With that, she walked straight out of the hall, brushing past Ronald as she went.
Ronald blinked, still not fully processing.
What did she mean... she’ll remember? Remember what?
Forget it. It must’ve just been Selina talking tough. Not worth worrying about.
"Miss Clark..."
Just as Selina stepped out of the hall and was about to get in her car, a woman’s hesitant voice called from behind her.
Selina turned and saw seven people standing there—men and women, some middle-aged, some young. They seemed to want to speak with her.
The young woman at the front finally said, "Miss Clark, thank you—for you and Mr. Reid standing up for Country M’s perfumery. Thank you for giving perfumers like us a chance."
"But the twenty billion... we don’t want you to shoulder such a crushing burden for our sakes. Miss Paula said she would call off the wager if there was an apology. We’re willing to apologize in your place. Please, just let us—"
Selina’s expression sharpened. She suddenly said, her voice commanding:
"Raise your heads."