From the mont Chen Jiayuan saw Wan Mingyi’s na on the list of contestants on the "Shining with You" official website on the twenty-eighth day of the lunar year, he felt a suppressed fla burning in his chest throughout the entire Spring Festival.
Every ti firecrackers went off with a crackle, or fireworks exploded overhead.
Looking at the debris on the ground and specks in the sky, Chen Jiayuan felt it mirrored his pent-up resentnt and terrible mood.
That wretch!
How could she?
How dare she!!!
A re accountant, with just a passing interest in jewelry design, who learned as an amateur halfway on her own—who gave her the audacity to sign up for such an official competition?
When his gaze fell on Ye Li’s na, he couldn’t help but think of the doubts she confronted him with that day at Bishui Bay Exhibition Hall.
Chen Jiayuan felt so infuriated it was as though he might explode.
During the festive season, while others were raising glasses in celebration and visiting friends and family.
All the thoughts in Chen Jiayuan’s mind were about finding fault.
He pored over the competition’s requirents for participating studios and designers countless tis, and finally, Chen Jiayuan found a reason to prevent Wan Mingyi from participating.
"My application form was rejected... not only that, the eligibility certification for our studio beca pending. Ye Li..."
Both furious and distressed, Wan Mingyi’s voice carried an emotional sob, "What should I do? If the studio’s qualification gets revoked, you won’t be able to compete either. Ye Li, it’s all because of —I’ve dragged you down!"
In the previous competition, it was Wan Mingyi who helped prepare Chen Jiayuan’s application form.
Designers who pursued their passion but had no personal creations often signed up under other studios.
The lucky ones could smoothly enter, gain accolades, or even make a na for themselves.
But more often, they were eliminated during the public disclosure stage.
The likely reason was simple—during the disclosure stage, designers without published personal work were often maliciously reported by competitors.
Ye Li didn’t have works either.
But being a student in Imperial University’s jewelry design program, this alone proved her eligibility.
As for Wan Mingyi, her past work experience was entirely related to accounting and had nothing whatsoever to do with jewelry design.
At a glance, she looked like one of those rich kids infiltrating the competition for superficial fa.
Though there wasn’t evidence, Wan Mingyi felt that apart from Chen Jiayuan, that despicable man, no one else could have done this.
"Sister Mingyi, don’t worry!"
Ye Li steadied her emotions and reassured her, "Calm down, keep preparing your competition piece, and don’t let this distract you. Leave the rest to !"
"Ye Li..."
Wan Mingyi gasped in surprise.
Ye Li smiled confidently, "Sister Mingyi, trust !"
To Wan Mingyi, rejection of the application form was nearly equivalent to disqualification.
At this mont, her only thought was not to implicate Ye Li.
But the calm and composed voice on the other line made it seem as though she had it all under control.
After hanging up, Wan Mingyi stood by the window for a long ti, lost in thought.
She couldn’t rember when the sky turned dark or what she had been thinking.
There was only one thought in her mind: Trust her!
She cast aside all distractions, returned to her workspace, turned on her computer, and dove into a new round of busy efforts.
anwhile, back at the Chen Mansion, noticing Ye Li’s Studio had disappeared from the publicized list that was up yesterday, Chen Jiayuan let out a long sigh of relief.
No work.
Only a nominally registered studio.
Eliminating Wan Mingyi during the public disclosure stage was practically effortless.
Maybe it might even end up costing Ye Li her eligibility.
The thought of eliminating two rivals with a single phone call filled Chen Jiayuan with delight.
The next day, the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, marked the start of the new work season for laborers.
Chen Jiayuan got up early, cleaned himself up ticulously, and dressed in a suit before heading to the studio.
When his colleague Roo teased him about competing against his ex-girlfriend on stage, Chen Jiayuan was montarily stunned.
Hurriedly returning to his office, he opened his computer, and with just one glance, he saw Ye Li’s Studio listed once again on the hopage of the official website.
???
How was that possible?
The rich aroma of Earl Grey Tea transford instantly into sharp bitterness. Chen Jiayuan imdiately called the competition organizers to lodge a complaint.
The more enraged Chen Jiayuan was.
The more detached the voice on the other line sounded, "Hello sir, ’Shining with You’ competition does indeed have restrictions—it doesn’t accept entries from listed designers without works. However, regarding your complaint against Wan Mingyi, she not only has her own portfolio but also a recomndation letter from an industry bigwig, so she ets the participation requirents."
Portfolio?
Where on earth could Wan Mingyi have gotten a damned portfolio?
They were together for three years; every flash of inspiration or creative idea she had was turned into his designs.
How could she have a portfolio?
As for so bigwig?
If she really knew any renowned figures, would she have remained an accountant all along?
If she’d had connections with a bigwig, she would’ve long been introduced to a prominent studio with a stellar reputation—there’d be no need to cobble together a studio with Ye Li just to enter the competition, right?
The more he thought about it, the more suspicious everything seed. Chen Jiayuan argued his case relentlessly.
The staff on the other end appeared at a loss for words, "Hello... hello, sir—are you still there? ... Apologies, signal interference is making it hard to hear you. If you have further concerns, feel free to call us during business hours. Thank you!"
The call was disconnected, and subsequent attempts to redial resulted in busy signals.
Chen Jiayuan: ...
The vivid red Earl Grey Tea poured out over the desk and dripped onto the pristine trousers of Chen Jiayuan as Ye Li’s Studio erupted in cheers.
Indeed, Wan Mingyi previously had no portfolio—but that was before eting Ye Li.
After joining Ye Li’s Studio, the two spent day and night imrsed in the world of creativity.
Forget about impressive works; they had a thick portfolio of creations.
A competition organizer capable of hosting an event of such scale with so many editions naturally possessed the ability to assess whether the works of an amateur like Wan Mingyi were up to par.
Moreover, Ye Li had also sought the help of Professor Zhao to pen a recomndation letter for Wan Mingyi.
Initially, Ye Li thought she’d have to sweeten Professor Zhao with heaps of praise to get her to agree—after all, the professor was notoriously stringent when it ca to professional design.
But after glancing at Wan Mingyi’s portfolio, Professor Zhao agreed readily before Ye Li could even finish her flattering speech.
There was a portfolio.
There was a recomndation letter from a professional.
Wan Mingyi’s application form passed the review effortlessly.
Simultaneously, the pending status of Ye Li’s Studio was removed as well.
Unless Chen Jiayuan could co up with other grounds for complaints, Ye Li and Wan Mingyi were set to compete in the 19th "Shining with You" Jewelry Design Competition!
"Ye Li, you must be an angel sent by heaven to save !"
Red nose, teary eyes, an emotional and overwheld Wan Mingyi never imagined the seemingly unsolvable problem could be resolved so easily by Ye Li.
Ye Li smiled and, recalling sothing, winked at Wan Mingyi, "Sister Mingyi, I always firmly believe that wrongdoing pays off, and that if you strike, strike directly at the face. Do you agree?"
Though uncertain about what was about to happen, Wan Mingyi could tell from Ye Li’s expression that it would be imnsely satisfying.
Wan Mingyi nodded, "I do!"
"Tomorrow night at seven!"
Ye Li handed an invitation card to Wan Mingyi.
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