Ch. 241..250
Chapter 241
Francis had always gone with the sexy style, as was apt, considering his strongest point was his good looks.”
Changing his style is going to be easier said than done.
Exhausted from all the thinking, Christina fell asleep. The whole night, she kept dreaming of Nathaniel, either of him walking out of the bathroom after taking a shower or him looking all elegant in a suit.
Her wonderful dream was eventually disrupted by her morning alarmi
They were going to start working on their outfits today. In order to get more footage, the director invited some of the participants to do an interview on the first floor of the mansion.
Margaret, Nancy, and two other designers were talking about their daily lives and where they usually drew inspiration from.
Anyone who was in the industry knew that their words meant nothing. Inspiration was something that no one was able to express properly.
Christina immediately headed to the studio after breakfast. To prevent plagiarism, each tailor station was hidden from view by wooden panels. Apart from the public area, no one knew what everyone else was doing.
Christina drew several designs but was still unsatisfied with them. Ultimately, she combined all the elements she had been thinking about and finally came up with a draft she was happy with.
Now that she had a concrete idea, she could begin working on it.
When Christina went to select the fabrics, she realized that they were merely of ordinary quality.
Everyone else who came after her also realized the same thing.
Logically, Selena wouldn’t provide them with fabrics of such low quality.
Just then, the director announced through the broadcast system that all designers were to gather on the first floor of the mansion..
Amidst their confusion, the designers shuffled to the first floor and saw that the living room was filled with the highest quality fabric one could get along with all kinds of beautiful
gemstones.
All these materials would help them take their designs to the next level.
“Designers, I’m sure all of you have already noticed that the fabrics in the tailor room are not up to par. Now, you’ll be playing a game. The winning team will get to choose their fabrics first, and the losers will have to make do with the leftovers.”
Isn’t this a proper fashion design competition? Why does it feel like we’re in a variety show?
No one was willing to participate in such a ridiculous game, but if they refused, they wouldn’t be able to get the fabrics.
Only a designer would know how important the quality of the material was to the outfit.
The director continued, “Now, please form into groups of two. Once you’re done, go to the courtyard and wait for the game to begin!”
With that, the staff members all left the house and started to set up.
Margaret and Nancy immediately paired up with each other and went out.
The remaining participants started to look for partners as well, with the taller ones being favored as they
were able to run faster.
Standing at a hundred and sixty-two centimeters, Christina was not considered tall and thus was quickly.
left out.
On the other side of the living room, some of the participants were fighting over their partners. One woman-an influencer-pushed a man to the ground and spat, “How are you even going to take part in the race with that low stamina of yours? Don’t go making a fool of yourself by huffing and panting after running a few steps.”
The man stood up and retorted, “She already agreed to team up with me, yet here you are, screaming at me after snatching my partner.”
With single eyelids, a tall nose, and thin lips, he wasn’t very good-looking, but he carried himself pretty
well.
There had been several male participants at the start of the competition, but they had been eliminated over the last few rounds, leaving him the only one.
Hence, the female participants ostracized him.
“It’s utterly humiliating to have a graduate from an unknown college like you compete with those of us who attended the most prestigious design schools!”
“I’ll make sure you get eliminated in this round!”
They say that segregation is bound to happen when humans gather. Well, that saying is true.
Those female designers were graduates from prestigious fashion design schools, so it was natural that they looked down on those who were not.
However, proclaiming that they were superior to others was a clear sign of their vanity.
Having the capability was what mattered most.
Christina approached the man and tugged on his arm. “We can be partners if you don’t mind.”
“Of course I don’t mind. My name is Benjamin. What’s yours?”
He didn’t seem to be affected at all and spoke with her gently.
“Christina.”
The two of them walked to the courtyard to see that several cameras were already set up.
The area marked out for the race was filled with acupressure plates, and the participants were required to run across them barefoot. The order of picking the materials would be determined by the final ranking of the race. Hence, the pair to cross the finish line first would get the first pick.
After all the pairs were ready, the staff members tied their feet together with a rope. Winning a three- legged race would require seamless teamwork.
“Ready, get set, go!”
At the director’s command, everyone huddled together with their partners and ran forward.
Christina and Benjamin were working pretty well together. Margaret, who was about to catch up to them, grew indignant as she watched them advance. Margaret and Nancy were gunning for the top spot.
They exchanged glances and immediately gave Christina a hard shove.
Christina lost her balance and collapsed to the ground, scraping her palms and forehead on the uneven surface of the acupressure plates.
“It hurts…” Christina whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.
Benjamin glared at Margaret and Nancy. “Why did you push her?”
“What are you going to do about it?” They shot Christina a smug smile and headed to the finish line together.
Benjamin was so furious he wanted to cuss them out. Those two women are so shameless for resorting to dirty tricks!
“Are you okay, Christina?” he asked worriedly.
“I’m fine.”
Christina endured the pain and got up just as the pairs behind them caught up. The crowd of people hindered their movement, which resulted in them getting fourth place.
This meant they could only choose whatever was left over from the pairs before them.
By the time Christina and Benjamin returned to the house, there were only scraps of accessories and fabrics left.
The three pairs before them must have done it on purpose. There was no way they could use up all the material they had taken.
Taking all of the beautiful fabric left Christina and Benjamin with a severe lack of choices.
“I’m sorry for dragging you down with me,” Christina said a little guiltily as she lowered her eyes to hide. her turbulent emotions.
She knew that every single round in the competition determined if they were able to stay on.
Benjamin chuckled lightly. “We still have some to choose from. Let’s make the most of it.”
Once they picked all suitable materials from the pile of scraps, they returned to the design studio.
Those who finished after them grew annoyed when they saw the undesirable materials.
“How are we supposed to use these scraps?”
The people before us are so selfish for taking all the nice fabrics.”
“What do we do now? Are we going to lose the competition just like that?”
They were extremely exasperated. As all of them had graduated from prestigious design schools, they weren’t willing to lose to those who attended obscure ones.
“Let’s just put on a show and pick what we can. I’ll deal with the rest!”
They randomly grabbed some of the fabrics before heading to the tailor room.
Meanwhile, the director was watching the footage with a satisfied smile on his face.
This is precisely the result I wanted.
“Let’s go and edit this. Once this airs, I’m sure the views will break a new record.”
He took some personnel with him and left while the remaining staff members stayed in the mansion to continue monitoring the designers’ activities.
Creaking noises could be heard from the tailor room as the designers bustled about.
They were to present their final product the day after tomorrow, so they had to speed up their processes.
Everyone only realized they hadn’t eaten for the entire day when night fell and the delicious smell of food wafted from the kitchen.
Chapter 242
Christina halted her task and stretched her body. Anyone would feel tired after sitting for the entire day.
Then she thought about finishing a meal quickly before returning to work.
When everyone went downstairs, they realized their male models were sitting in the dining hall.
The director was standing in the middle of the hall with a smile. “In order to better facilitate your inspiration. I invited everyone’s model here. After sharing dinner together, you all are free to do anything you want in the mansion.”
The designers thought the director was doing that for the show,
They didn’t seem to care much because they had gotten used to the director’s antics.
Only the designers who graduated from prestigious schools were more particular about how they appeared on camera. Thus, every time they showed up, they were seen dressed fabulously.
Christina was so hungry that she could only think about food.
The director requested the designers to sit next to their male models to encourage them to interact more.
Promptly, Christina headed to her designated spot next to Francis.
Even though he was merely sitting quietly, it was enough to draw many people’s attention, especially because he was very well-dressed.
Only the bottom three buttons on his white shirt were fastened, so the upper half was left open. As a result, everyone could see his fair, muscular chest. Furthermore, he had a velvet blazer as well as a
rose necklace on his slender neck.
When all that paired with his cold yet elegant countenance, he looked like a demon who walked straight out of a fairy tale.
Even with Christina’s beauty standard, she had to admit he was a very charming man. It seems it’s not an exaggeration for the internet to call him the most beautiful man in the entertainment industry.
Francis pulled the chair next to him backward and lifted his eyebrow, “If you stare any longer, you’re going to drool.”
“That’s impossible. I’m famished.” As Christina sat, she shifted her line of sight to the food on the table.
A variety of scrumptious dishes were prepared for dinner by the production crew for the sake of filming.
When the other designers sat down, they would bashfully chat with the male models first or take small bites of pastry to maintain their graceful image.
Meanwhile, Christina didn’t care about any of those. Instead, she just focused on eating. The nearby cameraman filmed her ravenously eating the drumstick in her hand before devouring her pasta.
The other designers cared about their image immensely, which made her stand out, though Francis was unfazed by her actions. Those who weren’t in the know would think she was in an eating competition.
Christina was eating so quickly that she accidentally choked on her food and coughed.
She was thinking about returning to her work as soon as possible because many tasks were still waiting for her, even though the deadline was in two days.
Her mind was occupied by her worries as she ate, which was why she choked.
Caringly, Francis delivered her a glass of lemon juice and gently patted her back. “No one’s fighting with you for food. Just cat slowly. You look like you’ve been abused here.” Since the moment she sat down, the only thing she cared about was the food. She didn’t even pay attention to me, a superstar, as though my handsome face wasn’t as alluring as the plate of pasta placed before her. I have to admit that I do feel a little hurt by this.
“I didn’t eat the whole day. It’s only normal that I’m starving.” Christina pouted. “You should eat too. Later. I want you to try out the shirt so I don’t need to modify anything in the future.”
“Okay,” said Francis as he gently wiped the oil stain on the edge of her mouth.
She was stunned by the beauty before her eyes and dodged backward. Using tissue paper, she wiped her mouth. “I can do it myself.”
Nancy, who sat across from Christina, witnessed that scene. I’m Francis’ fan! I’ve loved him for five years. Why is Christina so lucky? He should be my partner sitting next to me, not her.
Rage bubbled in her heart as a sinister look swirled in her eyes.
As she was quite far away from Christina, the latter didn’t notice the former’s malicious look.
After dinner, Christina brought Francis upstairs.
Upon entering the studio together, she showed him the outfit she had designed. “Give it a try. The size should be right.”
He glanced at the black shirt.
While he disliked black because he thought the shade was too dark, he didn’t express his opinion. Instead, he unbuttoned his shirt, allowing the light to illuminate his impressive muscles. His body
emitted the fragrance of Clive Christian’s 1872 cologne. The sandalwood aroma blended with his body’s scent, and made him smell wonderful.
Christina didn’t notice it earlier because she was focused on her food. However, she could no longer pretend she saw nothing after he removed his shirt beside her.
In response, she shifted her view away from him, pretending to look for a needle.
Francis wore the shirt and whispered, “The sleeve cuffs are a bit too wide, but everything else is fine.”
I can’t believe she still remembers my measurement. The edges of his lips curved upward automatically.
“Ah,” replied Christina. I designed the shirt with Nathaniel’s measurements. So, it seems Francis has thinner wrists.
Seconds later, she took out a measuring tape and made a mark on it. I have two days left. I need to complete it as soon as possible.
Francis watched Christina focus on her task at the sewing machine, looking as if she had forgotten he was at her side. Upon approaching her, he leaned toward her. “Are you putting in so much effort because you’re making it for me?”
His sudden words startled her, making her heart skip a beat. “You’re overthinking it. In my eyes, you’re
just a mannequin, but the difference is that you can speak.”
In other words, she saw him as a tool.
Francis snorted slightly. “Then you’ll be incapable of producing a piece of masterful work. I attend fashion. events too, and I know designers need to pour their heart into their design if they wish to create the perfect piece. You need to inject your heart and soul into me in order to design something magnificent.”
“If you don’t feel anything, perhaps I can help you?” The moment he ended his sentence, he held her chin. and leaned his lips closer to her.
As he took in Christina’s fragrance, he thought, What a refreshing floral scent. I like it. Also, it seems she’s not rejecting me this time. Good.
Just as his lips were about to touch Christina’s, a wooden board appeared between them.
“I think you’ve been filming too many television dramas. Even if I’m to inject my soul into something, it’d be into the clothes and design draft, not you.” Christina pushed Francis away. “All right, you should return now. I’m busy.”
In an instant, Francis’ demonic, handsome face turned icy. I intentionally dressed well tonight, yet she still stubbornly rejected me. Is she not moved by my charm at all?
Chapter 243
Francis watched Christina focus on her work at the sewing machine. Guess I’ll leave her be. “I’ve been filming in Hallsbay recently. If you need anything, call me.”
In response, Christina gestured an “OK” sign at him. “You should return quickly.” I doubt I’ll need anything from him, considering I’m so busy at the sewing machine every day that I don’t even have time to drink water.
Before Francis left, he couldn’t help but caress her head. She’s like a docile kitten who’ll occasionally bite someone when cornered. I really want to bring her to a place where no one can disturb us, so there’s no need to think about revenge. Won’t it be nice if we’re the only people on the planet?
Irritated, Christina slapped his hand. “Stop disturbing me and leave.”
No one could focus on their work if such a handsome man stood beside their desk.
After Francis exited the room, someone behind him shouted, “I’ve been your fan for a long time. Francis. Can I get your autograph?”
Upon turning around, he saw Nancy holding a pen and paper. She had been waiting for him since after dinner.
As a public figure and a superstar, he was used to having fans asking him for autographs.
If he weren’t in a hurry, he would stop to give an autograph or take a picture with his fans.
“All right.” He grabbed the pen she handed him and signed his name beautifully on the paper.
Staring at the autograph, Nancy was so elated that she beamed.
It was her first time doing that, which was why she was indescribably excited.
Just as Francis was preparing to leave, she called out to him again. Upon gathering her courage, she proposed, “I know you’re interested in joining Mr. Valentine’s latest movie, Francis. He’s actually my unclé. If you’re willing to become my model. I’ll immediately help you obtain the role of the male lead in that movie. What do you think?”
Her family was a prominent entity in the entertainment industry. Thus, she could handily make someone the male lead in a movie.
This is a great deal, no matter how one sees it. He only needs to be my male model for a while to be hired as a movie’s male lead and get paid eighty million. I doubt he’ll reject my offer. As she thought, she was excited by the thought of spending time with him.
In response, Francis faced her again. With a frigid countenance, he studied her and spat, “Do you think I’ll be a male model for any woman? What kind of a joke is that?”
Nancy’s expression shifted. I’ve never seen him looking this terrifying before.
“Mr. Valentine called me a few times about the movie already. I reluctantly agreed to accept the role, but now I’m regretting my decision now.” A dark look settled in Francis’ eyes as he gazed coldly at the panicking Nancy. “Let me warn you. Don’t even try to hurt Christina. I won’t let you off the hook if you do.
With that, he left.
His frigid expression replayed in her mind as her body trembled. What is his relationship with Christina? Why is he biased toward her?
After dinner, nearly all designers returned to the tailor room to continue their work. None of them wanted to lose such a significant competition.
Everyone worked until early in the morning. All that was left in the quiet room was the sound of sewing machines in operation.
Eventually, some couldn’t stand the exhaustion anymore and returned to their room to rest.
As for Christina, it wasn’t until almost dawn that she stopped working.
When she left the room, she took her clothing with her. After all, one of the many people inside might intentionally destroy her work.
Upon returning to her room, she typed a very long message to Nathaniel.
After sending it, she was so tired that she fell asleep before waiting for a reply.
She had no idea how long she had slumbered.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel was busy taking care of company matters in his office. There was a pile of documents sitting at the side.
He was going to leave for a while, but so many matters required his attention that he couldn’t.
It took a while before he even had time to check out the message he had received on his phone.
Christina’s message read: I was busy the whole night, though I wasn’t very efficient because I spent half of my mental energy missing you. Rest early. Love you.
The edges of Nathaniel’s lips curved upward as his eyes glinted.
When Sebastian saw the expression on Nathaniel’s countenance, he knew the latter was reading a message from Christina. It’s obvious why he’s been working day and night over the past few days.
As the director continuously updated the competition’s status on the internet, more and more people paid. attention to the event.
The clip of Nancy and Margaret intentionally pushing Christina to the ground during the three-legged race attracted lots of attention online.
Clearly, unfair behavior, such as intentionally shoving someone in order to win, was seen as unacceptable by many.
The more people talked about it, the more popular the show became.
In less than a week, the television station was raking in the dough.
Nevertheless, the contestants ignored matters like those.
Soon, two days passed in a blink of an eye.
On the day of the competition, the production team rented a large venue for the contestants’ models to show off their designs.
Meanwhile, the backstage was so chaotic that it was as if a war was happening.
Christina called Francis multiple times, but he didn’t pick up his phone. If he screws up at this critical moment, who’ll wear the shirt I designed? I don’t know anyone in Hallsbay, and it’s too late for me to find another model. If only I knew another way of contacting Francis aside from calling his number. If he doesn’t come, won’t that mean I’ll drop out of the competition? No, I won’t allow it. I’m okay with getting disqualified, but I refuse to admit defeat without even stepping onto the battlefield.
With no other choice, Christina was forced to make a decision she didn’t want to. “There’s no time left. Rayne, I need you to find a male model at least one hundred and eight centimeters tall.
“Okay. I’ll do that right away.” Rayne immediately left to complete her task upon receiving Christina’s call.
Christina could do nothing but watch the other designers help their male models put on makeup and change into the clothing they designed.
It made her stick out like a sore thumb.
To make things fair, the director asked the contestants to draw lots to determine the order of their appearance on stage.
Christina hoped she would get one of the last few spots, even if it only granted her a few more minutes.
Unfortunately, lady luck was not with her. She took the fourth spot.
Despair flooded her heart.
After drawing the lots, the crowd dispersed to prepare for the competition.
It was then a figure arrived in front of her. “I got last place. How about I switch mine with yours?”
Upon raising her head, Christina saw Benjamin holding a piece of paper with the last number written on it. That was the best he could do to help her.
“Thank you, Benjamin.” She accepted his aid graciously.
Chapter 244
Meanwhile, Selena was wearing her brand’s high-end gown outside the stage.
When she appeared, she instantly attracted the cameras’ attention.
The competition would be broadcasted live. Hence, the production team wouldn’t tolerate any mistakes.
Also, they allowed the audience to vote through an online poll.
However, the ultimate decision was still up to Selena. She would pick the top five contestants before the audience would vote for who they thought was the best designer.
After Selena’s fashion show was over, the host stepped onto the stage.
Once the opening speech was delivered, the music played, and the male model of the first designer entered the stage.
Before the competition started, the director told the models to amble on stage to increase the voting time.”
After the model completed his walk, the designer would be summoned on stage to receive Selena’s
comments.
Meanwhile, Christina had called Francis hundreds of times, but he still didn’t pick up the phone. He’s not playing a trick on me at this crucial moment, right? He should know how important this competition is to me…. Ugh, I feel like I’m standing on a razor’s edge.
As she hugged the shirt she designed silently, she felt a sense of helplessness that she never experienced bombarding her.
The music continued to play while the designers made their appearances on stage one by one. Just as she thought she had run out of time, a tall figure barged into the room.
Francis bolted toward Christina, panting and sweating. “I’m sorry I’m late!”
He didn’t seem well, looking as if he had just completed a marathon.
At that moment, Christina snapped back to reality. Of course, she was furious.
She was eager to scold him, questioning him where he was and why he was late.
However, she resisted the urge to do so because she cared much more about the competition.
A starry look swirled in her eyes. “You’re not late. Just change into this quickly.”
Christina stuffed the shirt she had prepared into Francis hand. “Change your pants in the dressing room first.”
Upon ending her sentence, she went looking for a makeup artist. However, since the competition had started, all the backstage crew had already left.
Thus, she returned to the room without locating anyone she needed.
After Francis changed his pants, he noticed a few scars on the checkered design. Before he could ask Christina about it, she leaned toward his face. “All the makeup artists have left, so I’ll apply them for you
She received plenty of makeup training during her time at Radiant Corporation. Additionally, Francis was already attractive, so she applied cosmetics on him based on the effect she had in mind.
In the end, she removed a limited-edition lipstick from her bag and applied it to his lips. “Perfect. It’s showtime.”
-The second last team had already entered the stage. Therefore, it was Francis’ turn next.
Under the spotlight, he stepped onto the stage as stylishly as possible.
The crowd’s attention was glued to him.
Their impression of Francis was that he was a seductive, androgynous man because that was how he often. appeared in magazines. In other words, everyone was familiar with his typical mesmerizing appearance. Hence, when they saw him rocking a different style, they were intrigued by his new look.
He wore a black shirt with a collar that displayed his Adam’s apple and a fringe jacket with visible cuts and tassels. His pants were unconventional as they had holes in them.
It was like he was a manly, distinguished general from the middle ages, breaking through a dangerous siege to appear before the crowd.
In less than a minute, the polling website showed his attire was the highest voted compared to the rest.
Without a doubt, Christina won, even though she was the last to appear.
Selena couldn’t stop praising Christina’s design because she didn’t expect the latter could change Francis’ image so successfully. After all, the more good-looking someone was, the more challenging it was to change their style.
The reason was that they would easily outshine any clothing they were wearing.
“This design is incredibly creative, Christina. I’m willing to buy it from you.” It was Selena’ first time proactively extending such an offer to a designer.
Christina felt honored and agreed immediately.
The netizens cheered for her. Everyone adored her design. The spotlights were all gathered on her while the other designers were ignored.
After the competition, Christina successfully moved on to the next round with Margaret, Nancy, Benjamin’s designer, and a few others who graduated from prestigious academies.
Once the result was out, Selena allowed the contestants to relax for two days after they had worked so hard. The theme for the third round of the competition would be announced on Saturday.
While the group talked about celebrating their success, Christina slipped away when no one was watching because she felt exhausted.
Francis had already returned backstage and changed into his own clothes. His assistant handed him at bottle of water.
While approaching him, she recalled how anxious she felt waiting for him to arrive and remarked, “I was scared to death earlier. I thought you weren’t going to come and that I was going to lose the competition. I feel so unlucky to be paired up with you.”
Staring at his expression, she thought, Why does he look aggrieved, as if I misunderstood him?Heh, he really is an actor. He sure knows how to play pretend
After she packed her stuff and was preparing to leave, Francis’ assistant, Parker Spencer, blurted furiously. “How can you say that to Mr. Fernando? Did you know he came here even though he’s injured? He promised to head to the hospital after the competition but didn’t leave immediately because he was worried you would figure it out. Despite that, you kept chiding him. He should be the one to feel
unlucky. working with you!” Does she know how expensive it is to hire Mr. Fernando for an hour? Can she even afford it?
With a darkened expression, Francis spoke. “Stop it, Parker,”
“I’m just telling the truth. We should visit the hospital right now. You can’t delay the treatment of the wound on your back any longer.”
Francis is hurt? Christina was stunned. A moment later, she inquired, “Where are you hurt? Why didn’t you say anything?”
“I’m fine,” assured Francis.
For some reason, the look in his eyes softens my heart. Christina replied, “You could’ve told me beforehand if you didn’t have time. It’s not like it has to be you.”
I shouldn’t have said those hurtful things earlier. He came here with an untreated wound to help me, yet I didn’t show him any appreciation. Biting her lip, she uttered in a small voice, “Where are you hurt? Let’s go to the hospital first.”
Raising his hand, Francis gestured for her to approach him.
She didn’t know what he was trying to do but still did as he asked.
As he hugged her, his unique cologne propelled into her nose.
Chapter 245
Christina was slightly startled before she reflexively tried to push Francis’ head away.
However, when she lifted her hand, she saw,blood dripping down Francis’ back.
She was stunned, and her hand stiffened. I don’t have the heart to push him away.
In order to prevent the rowdy group outside from noticing what was happening, the three of them left. through the backdoor.
Then, Francis was driven to a hospital.
The doctor was a woman, so when she saw the patient was Francis, her line of sight was affixed to him.
Never would she expect to meet a superstar on a boring night.
Christina was a little amused by the doctor’s reaction. After waiting for a while, she couldn’t help but remind, “Doctor, can you treat his wound?” If she continues staring at him, he’ll bleed to death.
That snapped the female doctor back to her senses. Without delay, she turned around to grab the tools to staunch the blood. “I’m sorry, but can you please remove your clothes?”
When Christina heard that, she wanted to leave, but Parker stopped her. “I need to move the car. Please. take care of Mr. Fernando.”
Before she could say anything, he left.
Concurrently, Francis removed his coat, revealing a shirt underneath. When Christina saw his back, she gasped.
During the ride to the hospital, Parker mentioned Francis was injured by a sharp object during a stunt. It was a severe wound that required treatment at the hospital.
However, he asked the doctor on the scene to stop the bleeding expeditiously so he could make it to the competition for Christina in time.
His wound was likely reopened when he moved around.
Francis was thinner than Christina expected, as she could see his beautiful vertebrae when he bent slightly.
“The wound is deep. He’ll need stitches. Should I administer anesthetic for you?” the female doctor inquired professionally as she put on a mask.
Staring at his wound, she frowned. He must be in immense pain.
Francis shook his head with a darkened look. “No. I’m a little allergic to anesthetics, and I still have work to do tomorrow. It’ll affect my performance.”
He’s still thinking about his work, even though he’s this injured? Christina was tempted to agree on his behalf but hesitated and ultimately chose to stay quiet.
The female doctor asked Francis to lie on the bed before treating his wound. “Fortunately, you don’t scar easily, so you only need to pay slight attention to prevent that from happening.”
Half an hour later, Francis was sent to a VIP ward to rest. He was on the verge of falling asleep due to
exhaustion and lack of anesthetic during the treatment.
His eyes were half opened, and his countenance was as pale as snow. He looked incredibly fragile at that
moment.
Before he passed out, he whispered, “Don’t go.”
Christina was slightly taken aback as she saw him gripping the edge of her shirt, looking like a puppy hoping that its master wouldn’t leave. “I’m not leaving, but I can’t keep standing here either. I’m going to grab a chair.” There’s no way I’m standing for the rest of the night. I’m drained after working for days on end.
Francis inched his body to the side, leaving a space beside him on the bed. With a smirk, he said, “My bed’s pretty wide. You can lie next to me. I’ll warm you up.”
It was as though he could lure someone into his embrace with just a look, even though his well-defined face was leaning sideways.
Christina’s temples throbbed. Ugh, I wish he’d stop using his pretty face to seduce me. “I’m going to say no to that. You should be resting instead of trying to be naughty.”
She brought a chair and settled it far away from the bed as though she was putting her guard up against. someone dangerous.
In her mind. Francis was a thousand-year-old demon fox, so she couldn’t lower her guard around him completely.
Seeing that she wasn’t going to leave, Francis slumbered.
The night wasn’t that long. When sunlight landed on Christina’s slender body, she appeared like a sleeping. angel who had fallen from the heavens..
Suddenly, a nurse entered the room to refill Francis’ anti-inflammatory medicine. I heard a superstar is staying in the hospital. They must be referring to Francis Fernando!
Swiftly, she performed her task silently. Seeing that the two people in the room were still asleep, she took a photo of them with her phone. There aren’t any scandals about Francis, even though he debuted a long time ago. It must be because he hid his dirty secrets well. He must have a close relationship with this woman since she keeps him company all night. I may be able to earn a pretty penny with this picture.
After that, she left the room.
The door was pushed open again when the sun was high in the sky. The loud bang woke both Francis and Christina up.
A powerful, domineering aura enveloped the room like a web.
Christina’s body felt sore after she slept in a chair for a night. She opened her dry eyes and saw the towering man before her. “Nathaniel?”
She realized her voice was hoarse after the word slipped from her mouth. Crap, I’m feeling a little dizzy too. Am I sick?
Nathaniel’s intimidating presence, enhanced by the black suit on his tall figure, the darkened look in his eyes, and the handful of bodyguards behind him, was impossible to ignore.
He stepped toward Christina and pulled her slender body up. “Let’s go home.”
Christina nodded, thinking she should leave as soon as possible to avoid any misunderstandings.
However, Francis didn’t bother reading the room. He leaned against the headboard as his soft, fluffy bangs. rested on the side of his face.
Narrowing his eyes, he intentionally uttered in a suggestive tone. “I’m so touched by Christina’s willingness to stay by my side for the whole night. I must have a special place in her heart.”
Nathaniel was already incensed, yet Francis intentionally poured more fuel into the fire.
Without delay, Nathaniel stepped toward Francis and lifted the latter by his collar, which was immediately torn slightly.
Christina hastily approached the men to stop the fight as if Nathaniel would punch Francis if she were a second late.
Hugging Nathaniel’s waist, she explained. “Of course, I do because Francis is your little brother. Won’t you say it’s normal for his older brother and sister-in-law to take care of him?”
The two men were astonished by her words.
“It’s only natural we take care of our family, right, Darling?” Christina smiled. If I frame this matter as family members caring for each other, everything makes sense.
At that moment, she changed her ambiguous relationship with Francis to a familial one
Chapter 246
The anger brewing in Nathaniel’s eyes dissipated significantly.
He pulled Christina into his embrace as if they shared the same stance while gazing at Francis. “My wife is right. She’s just caring for you like an elder in the family expressing concern for a younger member of the household. I’ll hire two more caregivers to attend to your needs so you won’t have to trouble your sister- in-law.*
With that, he dragged Christina along and left the ward.
After leaving the hospital, the two arrived at the presidential suite of a five-star hotel.
Christina didn’t know how Nathaniel had found out her whereabouts, but judging by his usual temperament, she figured he must be angry.
He remained silent along the way, causing Christina’s guilt to intensify. Nothing happened, yet it had caused a misunderstanding. “Nathaniel, 1—”
Before she could speak, Nathaniel pushed her into the bathroom.
The warm hazy air lingering in the air added a hint of ambiguity to the atmosphere. Christina riveted her big, charming eyes at the handsome man before her, not knowing what he was planning to do.
He dominceringly pinched her chin. A pensive and inscrutable look flashed across his eyes as he lowered his head to kiss her lips.
Recalling the scene at the hospital earlier, he felt discomfort churning within his chest. Nonetheless, he turned calmer after learning Christina didn’t harbor any romantic feelings toward Francis.
His heart softened further when he took in her frightened mien.
When he noticed the fair skin of her neck when her chin was lifted, his libido was swiftly roused.
“Take a shower to wash off the disinfectant smell on you” After saying that, he suppressed his lust and exited the bathroom.
Christina’s face flushed crimson. Why did he kiss me for no reason and leave just like that? Anyway, it seems like
hr not mad
After taking a shower, Nathaniel had someone send over a high-end gown for her to change into.
Although Christina wasn’t tall, the dress perfectly fitted her one-hundred-and-sixty-two-centimeter stature. The slightly split design on the side revealed her fair, slender legs.
Under the light, her bare and clean face shone like a piece of flawless emerald, evoking within anyone who lad their eyes on her a desire to protect her.
Subsequently, the two went downstairs. When they entered the VIP private room on the third floor, she saw several people sitting inside
Christina recognized those people, all of whom were well-known designers in the industry. She had seen them at a few gatherings previously.
“Did you purposefully arrange this for me?” She turned to look at Nathaniel.
6 A Caring Sister In Law
At times, it was hard for her to imagine how a proud man like him would be so considerate and meticulous in helping her with career-related matters.
“They happened to have worked with Hadley Corporation before, so I thought we could have a small and casual gathering, no pressure.”
Nathaniel led Christina into the room and asked the waiter to open a bottle of their finest red wine.
The designers had heard in advance that Nathaniel’s wife was also a designer, but designers tended to have strong personalities and were not easily swayed by men of power.
They sized up Christina, noticing she was good-looking and dressed in an ordinary manner. However, the expression in her eyes was unique, as they seemed to shine with confidence.
The designer sitting to the right was Lime, and she wasn’t one to judge others by their appearance. “Mrs. Hadley. I heard you’re also a designer. Do you have any representative works?”
Representative works were the fastest way to get to know each other. As designers, they preferred to become acquainted with others through their works.
Christina didn’t mention her secret identity, Ada. Instead, she merely talked about her achievements during her time at Radiant Corporation.
Lime had been paying attention to Radiant Corporation’s development recently. “So, Radiant Corporation’s significant improvement in style happened because of you?”
In fact, Radiant Corporation’s clothing design was among the top in the country but was still far from being a stellar brand internationally.
The design circle wasn’t exactly expansive. Any talented designers were bound to be noticed by their
peers.
Christina flashed a faint smile. Although she no longer worked at Radiant Corporation, she was not in the habit of badmouthing her former company.
After chatting briefly about design-related matters, Nathaniel, being uninterested in that topic, left to deal with some work in the next room when he saw Christina could handle the situation rather well.
By the time he reentered the private room after finishing his work, Christina and the other designers were engaged in a pleasant conversation. They even exchanged contact information before leaving.
To be able to pick the brains of more experienced designers was a meaningful experience for Christina. When they learned Christina was starting her own studio, all of them promised to attend the opening ceremony to show their support.
“Thank you for deliberately arranging this session for me.” Christina realized expressing her gratitude verbally was somewhat inadequate.
“There’s no need to thank me. This is my obligation.” Nathaniel curled his lips into a smile, exuding his innate confidence and elegance.
Then, the two returned to the suite to rest.
It had been more than a week since they had last seen each other.
Christina sat on the couch while nestling in his embrace Countless sparks of affection flew between them.
as they gazed into each other’s eyes. She was wholly captivated by his exquisite facial features.
“I have to go back tomorrow morning. I’ll come to pick you up after the competition is over.” There was still plenty of work pending at Hadley Corporation. He had barely squeezed out some time to be there for
her.
“Okay.”
Since they returned from the hospital, Christina had been unnerved by Nathaniel’s unusually calm demeanor, fearing he might flip out and drag her back to Jadeborough or deliberately restrict her in some
way.
However, he remained gentle and tender as if he hadn’t taken to heart her staying overnight at the hospital with Francis.
He’s finally not acting petty for once. Should I reward him? Christina leaned in and took the initiative to kiss his lips, feeling the warmth of his skin.
Nathaniel’s gaze darkened. He was rarely passive when they were together. He raised his slender arms and wrapped them around her thin waist, feeling the softness of her skin on his palm.
Their intertwined shadows were cast on the carpet as the ambiance inside the room turned ambiguous.
The next day, sunlight filtered into the room through a crack, enveloping the fingertips of the girl lying at the edge of the bed with radiance.
Nathaniel requested the hotel to deliver the breakfast to their room. When they enjoyed their meal together, his phone rang.
In fact, his phone had been ringing since last night. He instinctively wanted to silence it, but Christina picked up the device and answered the call.
The video call connected, and before the person on the other end of the line, wearing a smile, could speak, her visage gradually stiffened.
“M-Mrs. Hadley?” Madison expression froze.
She thought Nathaniel had gone to work. Unexpectedly, he actually went to meet up with Christina. The unattended files are already piling up on his office desk, yet Nathaniel, a man who values his company so much, left a mountain of work behind to meet with Christina?
Christina picked up a strawberry with her fork and put it in her mouth before drawling, “What’s the matter, Ms. Taggart?”
Chapter 247
Madison held her phone so tightly that she was close to crushing it.
Despite the anger that surged in her veins, she kept a smile on her face aimed at the camera. “There are a few meetings to attend today. It’s close to the end of the year, so Mr. Hadley will have many things to attend to. Mrs. Hadley, I hope you can understand that.”
Hearing that, Christina furrowed her brows. Why does it sound like she’s trying to make me into a bratty woman who refuses to let Nathaniel work?
At that, Christina put on an innocent expression and said, “An assistant’s job is to prepare for the company. I don’t think you need to worry about anything else, do you?”
Madison paled as if someone had embarrassed her on the spot, and the shift in her expression was evident to all. Her gaze flicked toward Nathaniel on the side.
The man in a suit had an apathetic look on his face, and upon squinting, she noticed a hint of red on his
white shirt.
Her heart ached, and she squeezed out, “If that’s the case. I won’t disturb you any longer, Mr. Hadley.” With that, she hastily ended the call.
Madison did not know how much longer she could keep it a secret. Every time she saw Christina and Nathaniel together, her heart hurt as if a rusted knife had been dragged across it. The bleeding would not
stop.
After breakfast, Nathaniel sent Christina to the entrance of the mansion.
“Don’t overwork yourself,” he softly said to her.
Christina blinked and reassured him. “Relax. I’ll take good care of myself. Once I’m done, I’ll go back by myself. Just focus on your work and don’t worry.”
She knew that Nathaniel had come all the way here for her, and her heart melted at that thought. Once again, she felt motivated.
Giving her a light kiss on her forehead, Nathaniel then said, “Go on.”
Christina exited the car and turned around to give him one last bright smile before heading inside.
The two-day holiday was over, and the other designers were returning to the mansion too.
As the number of participants dwindled, the slots available to go to the next round became lesser.
For the next round-the finals-only the top seven among the ten of them would be able to stay.
At night, Selena appeared and gathered the designers in the living room. Her expression was dark and tinged with anger.
The designers began wondering what had infuriated her.
As Selena put one of the attire from a designer who survived the last round on the table, she said, “This attire is designed well, but the fabric isn’t what we’ve supplied. In other words, this is cheating.”
The designers all stiffened.
Indeed, the fabric was important for the last round. Christina recognized the attire and figured out who the designer was.
Things had been chaotic the night before, and Christina had been too preoccupied with her work to notice the details.
Selena then solemnly uttered. “Phillipa Fisher, please step forward. You’ve used fabric that has not been provided to you, and that is unfair to the other competitors, so you’ve been removed from the competition.”
Phillipa’s face was paler than a sheet. How did I found out? I clearly used something with a similar color to the provided fabric.
Then, her eyes drifted toward Holly Jenson. Back then, Phillipa had been in the front and was able to choose a relatively good fabric.
Holly was in the back, so she was left with no great options. Hence, Holly used a high price to buy another fabric from the outside and offered to trade with Phillipa.
But what am I going to do now that things have gone south?
It seemed like Holly had realized how serious the matter was, for she shot Phillipa a glare, warning her not to say anything about the incident.
What was done was already done. There was no way she was going to get kicked out of the competition with Phillipa-she felt that sacrificing Phillipa was more than enough.
However, there was no way Phillipa would let the matter go so easily. She kept her eyes fixed on Holly as she thought. If I say nothing. I’m definitely going to be blacklisted from now on. But Holly’s family is powerful, and I can’t afford to cross them…
In the end. Phillipa fell to her knees and started bawling, not at all like her earlier arrogant demeanor. She cried out, “I’m so sorry, Ms. Selena! Can you please give me another chance?”
Dignity did not matter anymore. Phillipa’s eyes were red, and she was filled with rage and resentment.
“That’s impossible. If I give you another chance, then I’m being unfair to the designers who have been eliminated,” Selena replied without hesitation.
She was a reputable woman in the industry because she had been a fervent supporter of original works. Holding the competition was for the sake of giving designers from ordinary backgrounds a chance too.
If she were to be biased toward Phillipa at this moment, then what right would she have to claim to be a woman of principles in the future?
“Staff, please take her out of here and not let her disturb the rest of the show,” Selena uttered, her expression steely
Hearing that the staff member stepped forward to escort Phillipa out.
The resentment in Phillipa grew, and yet, there was nothing she could do but slink away in defeat.
The room fell silent. No one dared to speak.
If the act of cheating went unpunished, who would ever follow the rules?
Holly was ill at ease, but her anger was targeted toward Christina. She blamed Christina for standing in their way to advancement.
Selena then took out a card and read the rules. “For the next round, you will design an evening gown for me. The first step will be to look at the design drafts, and we’ll pick three excellent works from there. Do your best, and don’t plagiarize.”
That was what hurt Selena most.
It was one thing to lose the competition, for that meant that they still had room for improvement. However, plagiarizing meant that they had lost their confidence.
“Of course, Ms. Selena.”
“You only have one day. I hope you put your all into this.”
With that said. Selena left the mansion.
Designing a draft was easier on the physique than creating the finalized product.
Once Christina was back in the room, she started brainstorming with her tablet. The evening gown was going to design for Selena could not possibly be low profile, but it could not be too eye-catching either, or else she would risk having Selena seem too vain.
Right as she was stuck in an art block, someone knocked on the door.
When she opened the door, she was greeted by the sight of Holly.
“Is there something I can help you with?” Christina queried.
she
Unlike her usual demeanor, Holly had a smile on her face. “We’re all designers here, so I’ll be honest with you. I’m feeling stressed out by the competition. Do you mind having a drink with me?”
She had two bottles of wine in her hand, and the smile she had on her face was stiff, almost unnatural.
Holly was the leader of the group of designers who graduated from prestigious institutes, and they had always excluded Christina and the other designers who graduated from normal institutes. Moreover, Holly always talked about her social status, so her abrupt change in attitude toward Christina was baffling.
Christina glanced at the wine bottles in her hand. If it was another time, perhaps she would have indulged. Holly, but she was currently in a competition. What she needed was a sober mind. How else was she going to come up with her piece without it?
Furthermore, Holly always scowled at her. Holly could not possibly expect Christina to respond in a friendly manner just because she had a sudden change in attitude.
Thus, Christina said, “No thanks. Why don’t you spend more time on your draft instead.“
With that said, she made to close the door.
The rejection was like a stab to Holly’s pride. She quickly extended her foot to stop the door from closing before forcing another smile onto her face.
“You’re right. Why don’t we have a drink and talk about the design, then? Have you come up with any ideas yet? What about the theme?”
Chapter 248
Christina smirked internally.
From those words, she knew that Holly was only here to take a look at her design.
Couldn’t she have come up with a better excuse? Does she think I’m stupid? Like I’d show her my design just because she asked for it!
“Sorry, but I’m going to bed. Let’s talk another day.” With that, Christina slammed the door shut.
Holly stood outside in a daze before cursing to herself. “Godd mmit, Christina! Who do you think your are? The fact that I’d even ask to look at your design shows that I actually deem you worthy!”
If it wasn’t because you had some somewhat decent designs in the past few rounds, I wouldn’t even look at you! What makes you think I’d stand next to someone who graduated from a lousy school?
The contestants were given only one day, so everyone stayed in their rooms and worked on their designs except for when it was time for meals.
Christina had spent the night drafting her design, and things were going well for her.
Suddenly, a growl from her stomach reminded her that she hadn’t had breakfast.
Hence, she grabbed a jacket, put it on, and headed downstairs. The dining area was full of ingredients, but contestants were required to cook their own food.
Christina made herself a dish with tomatoes and beef, spending less than twenty minutes to fill her tummy.
Recalling that her design was still lacking color, she rushed back upstairs so she could finish her draft.
Then, she noticed that her door was slightly open.
Her gaze darkened as an ominous feeling rose within her. She was sure she had closed the door before leaving.
However, contestants would leave their doors unlocked while outside as they didn’t have the keys to their
rooms.
Christina entered just in time to see Holly leave, and the two stood in front of each other, face to face.
“What are you doing in my room?” Christina asked icily.
She made her intentions clear last night, and now she snuck into my room while I was out. Isn’t it obvious what she’s after?
A look of panic flashed in Holly’s eyes as she rushed to hide whatever she was holding behind her. She had not expected to bump into Christina.
In a split second, the woman pretended to scan the room’s interior before responding. “I thought this was my room.”
Christina smirked. Our rooms are just across each other’s, but mine is right next to the stairs! There’s no way she could’ve gotten our rooms mixed up.
Stealing Her Design
“You’re already drunk before even having a sip of alcohol this morning?” she sneered,
Insulted by her frankness, Holly turned beet red.
Even so, she knew she was in the wrong and could say nothing to retaliate.
Christina stepped forward to block her way. “What’s that you’re holding behind you? Is it my design?”
It was my mistake for not carrying my draft with me. I’d be in big trouble if she actually found it.
Scowling, Holly took a step back and held her phone even more tightly. “Oh, please! Why would I steal your design? Have some self-awareness about the difference between us, would you? I wouldn’t bother looking at your design even if it were right in front of me!”
She gave Christina a shove and fled with a hint of guilt on her face.
Then, she slammed her door shut and locked it upon returning to her own room.
Christina turned around to check her notebook. Thankfully, it appeared untouched and remained where it originally was.
She then locked her door and carried on as though nothing had happened.
After toiling the whole night, she finally filled in all the colors for her design, and she went to bed near dawn.
The next day, the crew summoned every contestant to the studio for filming.
The first segment involved contestants showcasing their designs according to the assigned order.
Christina was last, whereas Benjamin went first. He confidently presented his design drawing. From the color coordination and smoothness of the lines, it was evident that the man had a solid foundation.
Selena’s lips curled in satisfaction.
Margaret and Nancy were up next. Given that they were both apprentices of a well-known designer, their standards were certainly above average.
It was Holly’s turn next, and everyone on the scene was taken aback as soon as she unveiled her work.
Her design drawing was certainly tonight’s best.
Even the staff members who weren’t involved in fashion complimented her design and expressed that she would surely win tonight.
Holly was secretly pleased as she heard the people around her gasping in awe.
Yet, before she could say anything, Selena asked, “Is this your work?”
Holly eyed Christina briefly. Seeing the look of astonishment in the latter’s eyes made her gloat internally.
“Yes,” she answered confidently. “I spent a really long time coming up with this design-”
“Unbelievable. You have the audacity to claim it as yours?” Selena cut her off.
Holly grew bewildered. “What are you talking about, Ms. Selena? This is my design!”
Stealing Her Design
She glanced at Christina anxiously as a dreadful feeling began to stir within her.
Today’s the day we officially unveil our designs, and there’s no way she’s seen Christina’s work yet. Even if she has, I can just say this is all pure coincidence.
The audience members stared at one another, clueless as to what was happening.
Did she plagiarize someone’s design?
Selena’s expression turned even more grim as rage filled her eyes. “You practically redrew my design. without even changing the colors, and now you’re claiming it as your own? I’ve never met someone as shameless as you!”
The crowd was stunned.
What? This is Ms. Selena’s design? How reckless could Holly be? If she wanted to plagiarize, she should’ve at least stolen the work of some random designer that no one knows. Did she do this on purpose to challenge Ms. Selena, or does she think everyone else is plain stupid?
Holly felt a chill run down her spine as her fingers grew cold. “This is your design, Ms. Selena? But it’s obviously Christina’s…” Her whole body had turned numb by now.
But I found this design in Christina’s room!
The drawing had caught her attention at first glance, and she was sure she’d win tonight. Yet, who would’ve thought?
Christina! She set me up!
Holly felt even more humiliated than if she had been outright berated. Her eyes gleamed with panic and terror. Well, if I’m going down, I may as well take her down with me!
With that in mind, she pointed at Christina. “I found this design in Christina’s room, so whatever she’s about to show us will definitely be the same as what I’ve just shown you! Take a look at her design drawing if you don’t believe me!”
She had searched Christina’s entire room and found only one drawing book. There were many designs in it, but only this one was meant for Selena.
That’s why I’m sure she wanted to plagiarize Ms. Selena! It’s just too bad that I was up first, so now I look like the bad person!
The audience turned to Christina disdainfully, their hearts filled with skepticism. So, who plagiarized who?
Chapter 249
Selena trained her gaze on Christina. The latter was the last one whose design draft she hadn’t seen yet. “Christina, I need you to submit your design now.”
The atmosphere was tense, especially since this matter had something to do with Christina.
After all, she had been under a lot of attention since the beginning of the competition and was also a contestant who Selena had high hopes for. Selena did not wish to see any problems with Christina’s work.
In an anxious tone, Holly spluttered, “Well? Why aren’t you showing your draft? Hurry up and show it to us, Christina. I bet you also copied your design from someone else!”
Looking like a nervous wreck, her actions and words were akin to someone desperately trying to pull another down with them to feel better about their misery.
As a hint of coldness flickered across Christina’s eyes, the corners of her mouth curled up in a slight smirk before she said. “Since you’re so eager to see it, why don’t we let everyone have a look as well?”
With that, she removed the sun visor, revealing a design drawing with strong contrasting colors that caught everyone’s attention.
It was obvious that Christina’s design drawing was an original one, showcasing a unique design style that was completely different from Holly’s. There was no trace of plagiarism in her work at all.
The moment Selena saw the draft, her gaze was glued to it.
It wasn’t until she repeatedly examined the design drawing that she finally snapped out of her astonishment and exclaimed, “This is the most satisfying piece of work I have ever seen!”
With a slight smile tugging at her lips, Christina accepted the praise in a confident and graceful manner. “Thank you for your recognition, Ms. Selena.”
Even if the crowd were not professional fashion experts, they could still perceive the differences between the two works.
All the color drained from Holly’s face as she stared at Christina’s design drawing. Obviously, this is not a case of plagiarism. That design drawing is a completely original creation!
Holly was painfully aware that, at that moment, she was the one who had plagiarized someone’s else work.
Stumbling forward as if she had lost control, she then lunged at Christina, yelling. “This is impossible… I clearly saw Ms. Selena’s design in your sketch. Are you deliberately trying to frame me?”
No wonder I saw that design sketch on the table as soon as I entered the room that day. It turns out it was intentional. It was a trap!
She tugged at Christina’s clothes and shouted frantically. “You’re a vile woman, Christina! You deliberately used Ms. Selena’s design to deceive me and make me look bad, didn’t you?”
As Holly tightened her hold, Christina’s collar was forcefully torn open in the midst of their struggle, exposing her fair collarbone.
Under such circumstances, even the most easygoing person would get angry.
As such, using the self-defense skill she had learned, Christina shoved Holly away, causing the other
Satisfactory Work.
woman to lose her balance before falling to the ground.
She then explained, “I didn’t have any inspiration at that time, so I looked through Ms. Selena’s previous works for inspiration. As for the design drawing you mentioned, it was a perfect piece of work in my eyes, so I printed it out to keep it in my collection. You, on the other hand, have been trying to plagiarize my work from the beginning, which is why we find ourselves in this situation now. You’re the one who has -issues here, and yet, you’re trying to blame it on someone else?”
The string of undeniable facts hit Holly like a barrage of stones, and she couldn’t believe she was being accused of plagiarism in a live broadcast.
This is the same as telling the whole world that I am a shameless plagiarist! This is all Christina’s fault! It’s all her fault…
Benjamin looked at Holly coldly, recalling how she had once shamelessly claimed that she looked down on designers from inferior schools and even mocked him by asking if designers from such a trashy school. could even be considered real designers.
At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to ask her if a plagiarizing designer could be considered a true designer.
Meanwhile, the designers who usually had a good relationship with Holly instinctively stepped aside, wanting to avoid any association with her.
Selena scoffed, and with a tone filled with a mix of pity and anger, she criticized, “You should at least do some research if you want to copy off someone else’s work. It’s hilarious how you don’t even recognize my own works.”
She then turned her gaze toward the staff and ordered, “Remove this person. Since this is your first offense, I won’t pursue legal action against your infringement. However, I demand that you leave this sacred competition venue immediately.”
The staff quickly approached and escorted Holly out, ensuring that the progress of the competition wouldn’t be disrupted.
With reddened eyes, Holly bit down on her trembling lip and vowed, “Mark my words, Christina, the grudge between us is far from over!”
The look that Christina gave her in response was one of indifference, her eyes showing no signs of emotion. She simply watched as Holly was escorted away by the staff
Losing a competition may not be a big deal. After all, for some people, competitions were just a starting point, while for others, they served as turning points. Leaving doesn’t necessarily mean that one has lost. completely.
That being said, one should leave with dignity, at the very least.
Now that the whole fiasco was over, Selena proceeded to announce the seven finalists, which included. Benjamin, while Christina secured first place in this stage of the competition.
As for her prize, it was the opportunity to collaborate with Selena’s studio.
It was the kind of golden opportunity that almost every designer craved for.
Benjamin approached Christina and congratulated her excitedly, acting as if he was the one who had won the prize himself. “Christina, do you know how scared I was earlier? I was afraid you would present a
Satisfactory Work design drawing that looked just like Holly’s.”
Thank goodness Christina is as capable as I think she is.
“You don’t have to worry about that. No matter how bad I am, I would never do something like that,” came Christina’s reply.
The reason why she looked through Selena’s works was purely due to one of the designers she met that night having mentioned it, which piqued her curiosity and led her to take a look.
What she didn’t expect, however, was that Holly would enter her room and even sneak a look.
She clearly shot herself in the foot this time.
Benjamin chuckled and said, “All right. Let’s not dwell on those unhappy things any longer and have a celebration tonight!”
We really need one after the series of demanding competitions. Not to mention staying up all night to work on designs has been quite torturous.
Perhaps it was because the two of them came from humble backgrounds, for they naturally betame friends after facing numerous obstacles on their journey.
The footage for that night’s competition was unedited, showcasing the most authentic moments of the competition and attracting countless people to pay attention to Christina.
It even got to the point where someone had already dug up her studio’s account, which, when coupled with Rayne’s careful management of the account by posting attractive photos and captions, successfully made the account gain millions of followers.
The moment Rayne saw the news, she immediately called Christina and exclaimed, “Boss, our studio has gained millions of followers, and we’re about to reach six million!”
I can’t believe all the hard work I had put into posting before didn’t have much effect, but a single live broadcast managed to skyrocket our popularity.
Christina chuckled lightly when she heard that. She had never been too concerned about these things, but she had to admit it was indeed a good thing to have people paying attention to her.
“Fortunately, I have a lot of your photos saved on my phone. I’ll choose one and post an update, thanking the fans for their support,” Rayne suggested.
Christina had no objection to that. “All right. Thank you for your hard work.”
Chapter 250
The next day, a fresh piece of news ignited heated debates.
A photo showing Christina dining with several renowned designers had gone viral.
The accompanying caption suggested her consistent victory was due to their guidance.
Those seasoned within the design industry would recognize these designers as influential figures.
Anyone, regardless of talent, would undoubtedly succeed under the tutelage of such masters, which led to a flurry of rumors and conjectures spreading across the internet.
Netizen A: Is being able to afford to hire multiple designers to tutor her considered cheating?
Netizen B: It’s not cheating. She just has an unfair advantage over other contestants.
Netizen C: Even someone completely clueless about design would excel under such guidance, making the competition unfair for other contestants.
Netizen D: This is so unfair to the other contestants! We call for Christina Steele’s disqualification!
Christina felt bitter as she read through the derogatory comments online.
Although she did meet with the designers that night, their conversation revolved around recent developments in the fashion industry, not about her competition.
Christina was no stranger to such online mudslinging.
She consoled herself with the thought that as long as she was innocent, the rumors would eventually die down.
Ever since Holly was disqualified from the competition, resentment festered in her heart.
Seeing these online allegations, she concocted a plan to exploit the situation and amplify the rumors.
Let’s see how long you can stay smug. Christina!
Then, she pulled some strings to get her vindictive plan going.
She would never reveal herself to be the mastermind behind this. After all, she only had to pay others to do her bidding.
Meanwhile, the competition was still ongoing.
Upon seeing the false rumors online, Selena immediately retweeted them in Christina’s defense, clarifying that the contestants weren’t allowed to leave the villa during the competition, thus ruling out any possibility of cheating.
The designers in the photo also shared the disparaging articles and clarified that their meeting with Christina was merely an academic discussion. They expressed high praise for her performance and even declared that Christina could be the next fashion trendsetter, urging the public to pay more attention to
her.
Rayne immediately showed her support for Christina online. The ensuing commotion online was swiftly doused, but the situation took a turn for the worse on the following day.
A group of self-organized protestors barricaded the villa’s entrance, shouting, “Christina Steele cheated. and doesn’t deserve to take part in the competition! She should withdraw immediately!”
The clamor grew louder with each chant.
The commotion woke everyone in the villa. Margaret and Nancy, upon hearing that the protestors were – targeting Christina, excitedly urged other designers to join them at the window to watch the spectacle
unfold.
Christina joined them, listening to the resounding cries from outside. The protestors were perfectly synchronized, and their leading figures even held signs bearing the word “Withdraw” in red.
Margaret sneered at the sight of the clamoring crowd. “How embarrassing. I would have packed my bags and left if it were me.”
Nancy added insult to injury by saying, “Why aren’t they doubting the rest of us? Obviously, they must. have found something wrong. Anyone with dignity wouldn’t have continued to stay.”
Then, she threw a side-eye at Christina.
Two other designers beside her also cast disdained looks at Christina and said, “I know, right? Hurry up and withdraw already.”
Infuriated by their audacity, Benjamin came to Christina’s defense and chided, “You’re all petty trash who are envious of Christina. That’s why you’re all so eager for her to withdraw.” He couldn’t stand watching them ostracize Christina.
The upcoming round was the final that would decide the top three rankings. Driving away one more contestant would undoubtedly be advantageous for them, especially one as formidable as Christina, who posed a threat to their rankings.
I bet they are even thinking about eliminating Christina in their dreams.
In Margaret’s eyes, there was no one else she looked down upon more than Benjamin. There were men among the ranks of designers, but none possessed such effeminate qualities as he did. Every
look she cast. in his direction would bring a disapproving frown on her face.
“This is none of your business. This is a women’s conversation!” Margaret retorted.
“You…” Benjamin boiled with fury at her admonishment.
He was merely stating the truth. What does that have anything to do with gender?
Benjamin turned around and tugged at Christina’s sleeve. “Let’s go. We don’t need to pay heed to these people.”
Christina threw a frigid look at the group and replied, “There’s nothing impressive about glib talk. We’ll see who’s the best during the competition.”
Substance would always trump style.
The two of them went back to the room. Benjamin let go of Christina right away. He had only tugged at her sleeve to lead her away from the gossip. As a matter of fact, he didn’t have experience in any form of physical contact with women, despite his age.
“Christina, let me make you some good coffee. Don’t let the pettiness of others dampen your mood.
Gossip.
Maintaining a positive outlook is the key to designing beautiful work,” Benjamin said.
“I’m all right.” Christina chuckled. She had shrugged off the ill wishes of others with ease. Deep inside, however, she was genuinely touched by Benjamin’s warm gesture.
At least there was someone willing to stand by her side when others cast side-eyes at her.
Benjamin rummaged through his luggage. After a round of fervent searching, he finally found two packets. of coffee beans. “This is a special treat I brought back from my overseas stint. You’re in for a delight today!”
As he brewed the coffee, they fell into easy conversation.
It was during this exchange that Christina discovered Benjamin’s mother had been a tailor. The world of fashion and design was deeply embedded in his upbringing, nurturing his passion, which eventually led him to study the same.
They also found shared ground in their academic journey. Both of them had gained admission to prestigious universities for acing the entrance examinations, but they had to opt for less expensive institutions due to financial constraints.
“Who knew we shared such a bond? I’m a year older than you. From today onward, consider me your elder brother,” Benjamin said with a hint of a smile in his eyes. However, his demeanor was serious, suggesting the sincerity of his proposition.
“Sure.” Christina smiled.
Just then, a phone rang.
Upon seeing the caller ID, Christina held up a finger to Benjamin, signaling for silence before answering
the call.
“All the online rumors have been dealt with. Are you still at the villa? Has anyone been bothering you?” Nathaniel asked.
“Of course not. No one is allowed in or out of where I’m staying. You don’t have to worry,” Christina reassured the person on the line.
Nathaniel was concerned that she might be facing a situation similar to before. Hence, he called to make sure she was all right. “Okay, remember to contact me if anything comes up.”
Hearing Nathaniel’s comforting words felt more reassuring than anything else.
It felt like a warm fireplace in the midst of a cold winter.
A feeling of warmth spread through Christina as her lips curled into a smile. “Of course, I will. Get some rest. Good night.”