The girl walked foward and her face was revealed to the crowd.
"Lili?" Wan Jia gasped. She bailed out on her on the last minute? She gritted her teeth as she watched the models walk out one by one in white dresses.
"Seriously, they ruined my dresses! How could they make them all white? Can't they even plagiarize correctly? The second dress is too short. The third one should be made of lace. How could they cut short all nine dresses? Can't the see the seventh one now looks too showy? The last one...."
"Wanwan?" While Wan Jia nitpicked on the dresses on stage, she didn't realise Yun Xuan was right beside her. She jumped into her friend's arms and cried like a baby as soon as she saw her.
"Honey, what happened?" Yun Xuan asked as she rubbed her back gently.
"They stole my model! Now what should I do?I don't even have much time." she sobbed.
"Don't cry, you can't get a solution by crying. Erm, I'm sorry but I can't help you much right now, I'd let you use one of Ran Ran's models but she'll go in right after you."
"I understand." she wiped her tears away with her fist. Yun Xuan thought of something. "Can I make an extremely audacious suggestion?"
"Uh huh" Wan Jia was still sniffling.
"Why don't we contact Lu Aotian... Don't yell at me, it's really urgent this time and we don't have many options."
"His phone is off. I tried calling him already."
"You already did?" Yun Xuan was about to ask for gossip but stopped herself. It wasn't the right time. "We seem to be out of options then. Besides even if we called anyone to help us get a model, she would be too late." Yun Xuan was extremely sad for not being able to help her friend. Even using her connections, all she could do was get a model but Lu Aotian could get the organizers to change her position to last without even using the slightest effort . How could his phone be off? What happened to romance stars who always appear even without being summoned when their women need them the most?
Inside the hall.
"Those dresses are so....white"
"Although they're quite beautiful, why are they all white? Are they trying to imply that color doesn't match the theme of 'life'? someone critiqued.
"They're too short as well. Look! that one ends just a little below the bum."
The judges soon presented their points.
First judge 7 points.
Second judge 6.5 points
Third judge 6 points. The judges didn't seem too impressed. The other two also gave 6.2 and 6.3 points respectively.
The audience broke into discussion. "Eh? Why did they lose so badly?"
"I don't know, it must be because of the crazy lenghts. I say most of them would look much better if they were longer."
Mo Zilian was embarassed. How could she lose even with Wan Jia's designs? She had in fact made them even better looking. Were the judges blind?
Outside.
"Wanwan, they lost! Yours are the original ones, right? Go show them who's boss. Even if I'm sure I won't win anymore, I'll be happy for you if you win."
The girls embraced each other in a tight hug. "Hurry now. The second one is already on stage."
"But...the model..." Wan Jia looked sad.
"Come on, what happened to my strong Wanwan? Keep the best dress for a better use and present ten." It was the best solution. The requirement was nine to twelve and ten was still enough. Wan Jia's eyes lit up.
"Thanks Xuanxuan"
"Run along. I'll cross my fingers for you!"
Wan Jia ran into the backstage.
"Designer Wan, you disappeared on us. We were worried."
"Listen girls, Lili isn't coming. You girls just assume she wasn't part of us."
She crossed her fingers. The third group was now on stage. Just a few more minutes and they would be out there. She couldn't help feeling nervous. This was her first time in a competition. Finally, her models got into position. Her phone rang with a new message. [All the best. I'm watching with Little Jia -- Lu Aotian]
Curse you! Where were you just now when I tried to call you? I had to keep my best dress in the end. Do you know how much of a bonus it would have made? She scolded him in her heart.
"Up next, Designer Wan Jia from Mondial Studios!" the host announced.
"Huh? Why are there two participants from Mondial?" someone spoke up as soon as the host dropped his last word.
"Yeah, other studios have only one." another echoed.
"It would be something else if their designs were good enough but the first was terrible. We don't want another."
"Call out the next contestant! We don't want Mondial!" someone shouted at the top of their lungs. Mo Zilian and Su Ling exchanged evil looks.
Mo Zilian sent a message and a young man hopped onto stage unceremoniously. "I'm here to explain why there are two contestants from Mondial Studios." It was too late for the organizers to remove him. If he was kicked out now, the audience would just cause trouble to know the so called truth he was going to say.
The man smiled and secretly winked and Mo Zilian who was urging him on wordlessly. "It's like this because designer Wan from our studio is a thief."
Gasps filled the entire hall. Wan Jia was also stunned. Thief?
"She not only stole the designs belonging to Miss Su Ling, she also used underhanded methods to be allowed to participate despite the company nominating Miss Su Ling.