Jiang Shaolong, naturally, was hiding in a corner of the venue.
At this moment, he had to admit that Chen Fan, that good-for-nothing, actually had a discerning eye.
Compared to Su Yingxia, Su Yingxue was far superior.
It was just that Su Yingxue usually wore no makeup and dressed plainly, which heavily veiled her beauty, making her appear like an ugly duckling.
To think that he had married Su Yingxia, Chen Fan's second-hand goods, only to be dumped by her. And Chen Fan, instead, had obtained something better, with a beauty in his arms. The flames of jealousy and hatred within him blazed fiercely again.
However, this was for the best. Destroying Su Yingxue at her most beautiful would inflict even greater and more intense pain on that good-for-nothing Chen Fan.
Making him suffer even more!
With this thought, Jiang Shaolong's lips curled into a savage arc.
In a seat near the front of the venue, the faces of the Su family members also turned grim.
Su Yingxue, the illegitimate daughter of the Su family, had astonished the entire audience on stage. The more radiant and eye-catching she was, the more it embarrassed them.
Among them, Su Yingxia was consumed by both jealousy and hatred.
She knew Su Yingxue was one of the participating designers, and this piece must have been designed by Su Yingxue herself.
A newcomer, designing such an astonishing and perfect work, why?
Why should this illegitimate daughter, expelled from the Su family, fare better and better, not only joining Huancai but also getting such an opportunity to showcase her work?
Wasn't she supposed to be living a worse life, destitute and in poverty, begging for the Su family's mercy?
Why did this woman she detested, along with that detestable good-for-nothing Chen Fan, always ruin her mood, making her feel as nauseous as if she had eaten a pile of excrement?
On stage.
After Su Yingxue's display, she walked backstage with a smile.
At the waiting area, as their eyes met, Su Yingxue, filled with excitement and shyness, couldn't help but tightly grasp Chen Fan's hand and say, "Brother Chen, I'm so nervous!"
"You did very well, you were amazing!" Chen Fan said with a smile, "A peerless beauty, standing alone from the world; one glance to captivate a city, a second glance to topple a kingdom!"
Su Yingxue bashfully lowered her head, casting a playful glance at Chen Fan, and said, "Brother Chen, you're teasing me!"
"No!"
Chen Fan smiled, "Today, you are the most perfect."
As Su Yingxue left the stage, the audience seemed to awaken from a dream, and a wave of applause echoed through the venue.
The host walked onto the stage and said with a smile, "It seems everyone agrees with what I just said. Good food is not afraid of waiting; a perfect visual feast made our wait worthwhile."
"Let me introduce everyone, the person who just walked the runway is the designer herself. Her model had a slight issue, so she had to take the stage herself!"
"Alright, without further ado, it's time for our judging segment. Please, our judges, discuss and provide the preliminary selection list!"
"The preliminary selection list will consist of ten works. From these ten works, the judges will then select the Designer Award and the Special Award!"
At the judges' table, the judges began to whisper amongst themselves, discussing.
Several judges took out their phones, glanced at them, and frowned.
It didn't take long. The judges' voting results were sent to the backstage equipment via the voting devices.
A screen on the side of the stage lit up, displaying ten numbers.
Su Yingxue's number, ninety-eight, appeared at the very end.
"The results are out. Models with the numbers above, please return to the stage!"
The host announced.
Su Yingxue's expression brightened, and she couldn't help but hug Chen Fan, saying, "I made it into the selection!"
Chen Fan's mood was subtle. He smiled, "You're in contention for the Designer and Model Award; this is just the preliminary selection. Go on!"
Su Yingxue's face flushed slightly. She glanced at Chen Fan and nodded emphatically, saying, "Thank you, Brother Chen!"
With her dream so close, the excitement in Su Yingxue's heart was palpable.
She turned and walked onto the stage with the other models.
Chen Fan withdrew his gaze and turned to say, "Let's go to the front to watch the awards ceremony!"
The backstage area wasn't clear to see, and it was also crowded with models and staff, making it inconvenient.
Bob and Lilyth nodded in agreement, and the group returned to their front-row seats.
After returning to their seats, the ten models once again showcased themselves and their works.
Among the ten selected finalists, Su Yingxue and Meng Dandan stood out like cranes among chickens, overshadowing the other models and their designs, making them appear dull and lifeless.
The host introduced each model's work one by one, displaying them to facilitate the judges' final selection.
At this moment, an argument erupted at the judges' table.
"Everyone understands Young Master Tang's intentions. Work number seventeen should receive the grand prize, and Meng Dandan, the little diva, should receive the Model Award. Ninety-eight must be eliminated and cannot receive any awards!"
A judge turned and conveyed the message to the others.
"Are we blind? Work ninety-eight, and the person herself, are so outstanding. How can she receive nothing?"
A judge wearing glasses said hesitantly.
"This is Young Master Tang's wish!" the first judge sneered.
Numerous judges whispered and argued incessantly.
On stage, Su Yingxue and the other ten models presented themselves again, awaiting the results, but the results were delayed.
To the point where the audience below began to realize something was amiss and started murmuring.
"Meng Dandan, Meng Dandan..."
Meng Dandan's fans throughout the venue were shouting in unison, building momentum for her.
Chen Fan frowned, his gaze shifting towards the judges' table, a hint of coldness entering his eyes.
"The judges are all well-known figures in the industry, or media professionals and representatives of major apparel companies!" Jiang Tiansheng also noticed that something was wrong, saying, "It seems there's a dispute over the results?"
Chen Fan sneered, "It appears some people are trying to manipulate the outcome."
"It's only fair for Su to win the grand prize!" Bob said indignantly. "Although Liang's work is excellent, it's merely an imitation of works from foreign fashion weeks. It can't be called plagiarism, but it's not particularly innovative either!"
"Whether it's creativity, style, or the lines and details, Su's work is incomparable to anyone else's!"
"Mr. Chen, would you like me to go and caution these judges now?" Jiang Tiansheng asked.
Chen Fan shook his head, "We can't do that. It would lead to suspicion."
He himself didn't care much about such matters, but if Su Yingxue were to win the grand prize under such scrutiny, she would likely find it difficult to accept.
Truth be told, it was his oversight. He hadn't expected someone to have bribed the judges so directly.
"It seems our judges have different opinions on the results. Please do not worry, and wait patiently for a few minutes. Disputes are precisely what prove the fairness and impartiality of our competition..."
The host was still stalling for time.
On stage, Meng Dandan let out a cold laugh, glanced at Su Yingxue standing beside her, and said, "Su Yingxue, this grand prize can only be mine, and you are destined to receive nothing, to be a loser!"
Su Yingxue felt indignant but remained outwardly calm, saying softly, "Miss Meng, you've broken your promise. Don't you feel even a little uneasy or guilty?"