"Work: Lovesickness!"
The host looked toward the seating area where Ye Li and Wan Mingyi sat and said, "These two ladies from Ye Li’s Studio have truly been remarkable dark horses in this year’s competition. But I wonder, whose design is this piece titled ’Lovesickness’?"
The host’s words were simple and straightforward, yet in the audience, Chen Jiayuan’s heart froze for a brief mont.
Lovesickness!
It was actually called ’Lovesickness’!
He clearly knew it was just a coincidence. After all, the word ’Lovesickness’ wasn’t exclusively his. Just because he had once created a design titled ’Lovesickness’ didn’t an others couldn’t use the na.
But seeing Wan Mingyi in the front row, beaming with joy, Chen Jiayuan couldn’t help feeling an inexplicable surge of anger.
She did it on purpose!
It had to be on purpose!
Glaring at Wan Mingyi with hatred, he wished he could bore two holes into her back. Chen Jiayuan then turned to the massive screen.
A full set of jewelry titled ’Lovesickness,’ consisting of four pieces.
Ring, necklace, earrings, bracelet.
Not a hint of connection to red beans or rubies. Instead, the jewelry took an unconventional approach, featuring eralds in a youthful green hue.
The ring was almost minimalist, its vine-like patterns delicately set with a single erald for a subtle touch.
The sa went for the earrings.
The bracelet complented the necklace perfectly, together evoking an overwhelming sense of fresh springti.
"Next, we invite designer Ye Li to tell us about the inspiration behind ’Lovesickness.’"
The host gestured for Ye Li to co on stage.
It wasn’t her?!!
Surprised, Chen Jiayuan instinctively glanced at Wan Mingyi.
On stage, Ye Li smiled warmly. "Fear Loving, already Loving, when it’s Loving and can’t be dismissed, a tinge of longing lingers between brows. This is a line from Yu Yan’s poem ’A Longing for a Flower’s Branch.’ My inspiration cos from this. When lovers part, the woman grieves, wrapped in gentle sorrow. She resembles a delicate morning mist enveloping a single vine—hazy, lingering, intertwined."
Applause erupted as the host turned to the ten judges. "Any questions from our evaluators?"
The first to speak was Pamir.
In fluent French, assisted by a nearby translator providing simultaneous interpretation, he said, "Miss Ye Li, I’ve observed your work across three entries: ’Star River,’ ’Spring Night,’ and now ’Lovesickness.’ All of your designs prominently feature a refined and beautiful Chinese aesthetic. While I admire the craftsmanship itself, considering comrcial value—if this were an international competition—would you still choose such a design?"
"Of course."
Understanding the underlying tone of Pamir’s question, Ye Li responded without hesitation. "Beauty transcends national boundaries, doesn’t it?"
Pamir paused, then smiled, glancing briefly at the fellow judges beside him, signaling he no longer had further questions.
The impression was clear—Pamir admired Ye Li’s work.
After additional questions from the other judges, they picked up their tablets and began scoring.
Ye Li descended the stage.
Her eyes t Wan Mingyi’s unsettled gaze.
From the mont she learned Ye Li’s work was titled ’Lovesickness,’ Wan Mingyi had felt a little on edge.
Part of her thought Ye Li had been a bit impulsive. After all, only she knew that Chen Jiayuan’s ’Lovesickness’ design had been plagiarized from her own.
Another part of her felt a strange sense of being favored.
Ye Li, a newcor, had advanced to the finals with a single ’Lovesickness.’
anwhile, Chen Jiayuan was the previous year’s runner-up.
Despite the outcos of the finals still being undecided, in Wan Mingyi’s heart, Ye Li had already outclassed Chen Jiayuan.
Under the dynamic lights of the screen, Chen Jiayuan’s face—seated diagonally behind her—flickered with emotion. Wan Mingyi felt only satisfaction deep within.
If you walk straight, you don’t need to fear ghosts knocking at your door. With this occasion, from now on, Chen Jiayuan would likely never be able to face the words ’Lovesickness’ calmly again, right?
Satisfaction to the max!!!
"Sister Mingyi!"
Ye Li nudged her arm, snapping Wan Mingyi out of her thoughts. Her eyes shifted to her own work displayed on the large screen.
She went onstage to present.
Ca back down and took her seat.
Though she’d never paid much attention before, the small venue naturally allowed her a clear view of Chen Jiayuan’s fleeting expression of surprise.
It was as if he couldn’t believe she’d made it to the finals.
Couldn’t believe she produced such a remarkable design.
Chen Jiayuan’s expression darkened.
He was aiming for the championship.
Yet Ye Li had completely disrupted his plans.
Shiny had carefully devised strategies, analyzing the works of all participating designers before the contest.
After the preliminary and semifinal rounds, the studio had even held etings specifically to study the styles of those advancing to the finals.
Chen Jiayuan had absolute confidence in himself.
But Ye Li had thrown off his tempo.
On one hand, he felt the judges were fair. After all, Ye Li was a rookie designer and a beautiful young woman. Even the visuals on stage presently were stunning—whether in screenshots or short videos, this would make excellent material for promotion after the competition.
On the other hand, he truly thought Ye Li’s design was breathtaking.
The conflicting voices in his mind intertwined, leaving Chen Jiayuan unsettled.
From behind ca faint whispers, and Chen Jiayuan’s sharp ears caught the na ’Ye Li.’
"Yesterday’s semi-final entry, ’Spring Night,’ already bore traces of Ali’s influence. Today’s ’Lovesickness’ seems even more similar."
"I thought I was the only one who noticed."
"Could she have plagiarized Ali?"
The word "plagiarize" left an uneasy silence all around.
Ali was the champion of the 18th ’Shining with You’ competition.
It was his first ti participating in a jewelry design contest, and he had been entirely consud by nervousness and excitent, barely paying attention to the other designers.
Only after the finals concluded and he received his award, he shook hands with her and said, "Congratulations."
Chen Jiayuan rembered it clearly. Ali was a striking woman in her forties with an extraordinary aura.
At the ti, he thought that, at her age, having yet to make a na in the industry ant her biggest achievent in this lifeti would be that championship title from ’Shining with You.’ At the post-event banquet, he didn’t bother interacting with her, focusing instead on several young outstanding designers around his age.
That event introduced him to those individuals, paving the way for what later beca Shiny.
Afterward, Ali vanished from the industry, just as he’d predicted.
He hadn’t expected her na to resurface, now alongside Ye Li’s.
Chen Jiayuan turned to Ye Li in the front row, chatting with Wan Mingyi, and felt his heart pounding erratically.
No wonder Ye Li was so sensitive about plagiarism.
Turns out she herself was the plagiarist!
If that were the case, where did she even get the nerve back at the Bishui Bay exhibit to pin that accusation of plagiarism on him?
Ha...
"All 56 pieces have now been displayed, and the judges’ scoring is complete. Next, our staff will proceed to calculate all final scores. Let us wait eagerly for—"
"Wait!"
The host was mid-announcent when soone interrupted.
In the tense silence, all eyes turned toward the voice’s origin.
Chen Jiayuan slowly rose to his feet. "Myself and several colleagues present here harbor doubts regarding designer Ye Li’s entries in this competition."
"We suspect that Ye Li’s designs draw their inspiration from last year’s champion, Ali."
Bang!
The entire venue erupted in chaos.
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