Chapter 121: Face-Slapping Time

Chapter 121: Chapter 121: Face-Slapping Time

Sienna Everett looked at Maxwell Sawyer’s design on the big screen, her expression unwavering. She already had a good idea of what score the judges would give him. As she withdrew her gaze, her eyes met his.

Sienna Everett was slightly taken aback, then gave him a gentle smile.

Maxwell Sawyer’s lips curved in response, his smile as warm as a March spring breeze.

After Maxwell Sawyer’s design draft was shown, the judges began to score it.

After some discussion, the five judges gave a final score of 9.5.

Seeing the score, Sienna Everett raised an eyebrow knowingly. It was just as she’d expected.

When the audience below saw the score, their faces fell, and a wave of disappointment washed over them.

"How is it only 9.5? It’s lower than Eric’s score again!"

"I thought Maxwell Sawyer’s design was so good he could beat Eric, but... If even Maxwell Sawyer can’t do it, then our only hope is Shannon Everett."

"Shannon Everett is our last hope! Team Celestria has to win at least once!"

「On the stage.」

Seeing Maxwell Sawyer’s 9.5, Eric’s expression grew even more smug. "My apologies, I’ve won again. So this is the level of your Team Celestria designers. I thought the participants in this design exchange conference were all incredible, but it seems you’re nothing special after all."

Maxwell Sawyer’s face darkened. He said coldly, "My losing to you only proves my own skill is lacking. It doesn’t mean the other designers from Celestria will lose to you as well."

Maxwell Sawyer’s words were dignified and composed.

But Eric just sneered. "But I’ve already beaten four of your Celestrians in a row, including you!"

Eric’s tone was filled with contempt and disdain for Celestria’s designers.

Maxwell Sawyer wanted to retort, but it was the truth. There was no refuting it.

Hearing this, Sienna Everett glanced nonchalantly in Eric’s direction, her expression as cold as frost.

The audience below couldn’t hold back when they heard what Eric said.

"Damn it, how can this Eric guy be so arrogant?!"

"He’s a foreigner in our country, and he’s looking down on us like that? How shameless! Someone like him will never get far, no matter how skilled he is at design!"

Anyone would feel upset being looked down upon on their own turf.

Now, Team Celestria had lost four times in a row. Only Shannon Everett’s and Sienna Everett’s designs had yet to be shown.

The audience’s anger and desire to win were stoked. They all turned in unison to look at Shannon Everett, pinning all their hopes for victory on her.

"Shannon Everett, you have to win!"

"The reputation of our Celestria designers is all on you now!"

"Don’t worry, everyone! We’ve all seen Shannon Everett’s skill before. She’s so talented, she’ll definitely win! She’ll definitely beat Eric!"

In the crowd, Mason Everett heard the audience’s high expectations and hopes for Shannon, as if they were treating her as a savior. A roar filled Mason Everett’s chest, and his heart began to pound with excitement.

’Shannon... She really is the Everett Family’s lucky star!’

’If Shannon can beat Eric this time, she’ll definitely restore the Everett Family’s reputation and become an object of everyone’s gratitude!’

’Then, the Everett Family’s business, everything for the Everett Family, will just get better and better!’

Finally, it was time to display the design from Team Celestria’s Designer #5, Shannon Everett.

The entire audience nervously turned their eyes to the big screen.

It was a pink formal gown, so beautiful it captured everyone’s attention. Its wide skirt was adorned with a cascade of flowers and vines, arranged artfully to look as if they were growing vigorously upward. It was like a spring breeze had swept through a vast peach grove, causing thousands of blossoms to burst open. The sight was so beautiful one couldn’t look away. The neckline was made of a sheer material, embroidered with several pink stars.

Seeing this design, which seemed to radiate the very essence of spring, the audience’s eyes widened.

"It’s... It’s beautiful!"

"This is just gorgeous! I want to wear this gown so badly!"

"That’s Shannon Everett for you! Truly a rising genius designer! To create such a unique design in just one short hour!"

"This time, she should be able to beat Eric, right?"

In the crowd below, Evan Shelby saw the design on the big screen. His eyes narrowed slightly as he scrutinized it from top to bottom, a hint of mockery surfacing in his gaze.

’This is clearly Kian’s design style!’

Evan Shelby was certain this was one of Sienna Everett’s old designs.

’That Shannon Everett actually memorized Sienna Everett’s design and is passing it off as her own in the competition!’

On the stage, Sienna Everett recognized the gown the moment she saw it. It was a design she had casually sketched in the past, and Shannon Everett had actually gone out of her way to memorize it.

However, Shannon Everett had added something to the original design.

’A foolish, superfluous addition.’

After the five judges finished examining Shannon Everett’s design, one of the most senior judges couldn’t help but speak up.

"Shannon Everett, I have seen the work of many designers, including some very famous masters. Now, seeing this design of yours, the first person who comes to mind is..."

Sitting in her seat, Shannon Everett’s fingers, hanging by her side, suddenly clenched into a fist, but she kept a smile on her face. "Sir, what are you trying to say?"

The judge stroked his beard. "Shannon Everett, your design style is very similar to Kian’s."

The moment the name "Kian" was mentioned, a commotion erupted both on and off the stage.

After all, Kian was a legendary figure in the design world. Since these were all people from the industry, they naturally understood the weight that name carried.

The smile on Shannon Everett’s face stiffened slightly. She forced herself to speak in a natural tone.

"I’m a big fan of Kian’s designs, so my style has probably drifted toward hers unintentionally."

The judge looked thoughtful. "Is that so... Shannon Everett, this design of yours is full of inspiration and talent. I dare say it surpasses almost every other designer present."

The moment he finished speaking, the entire venue was in an uproar.

But on second thought, it made sense. How else could Shannon Everett be called a rising genius designer? She was just that good.

Hearing this, Mason Everett puffed out his chest with pride, looking as if he shared in the honor.

Evan Shelby’s face was full of disdain. ’Heh, of course a stolen Kian design would be better than anyone else’s here.’

"However," the judge’s tone shifted, "Shannon Everett, the few pink stars you drew on the gown’s neckline are a bit out of place. These pink stars have ruined the overall perfection of this gown."

At these words, Shannon Everett’s expression instantly became rigid.

Sienna’s original design didn’t have those stars. Shannon had added them herself to conform to the competition’s "star" theme. She never imagined it would ruin the entire piece...

The judge sighed with deep regret. "This piece is truly excellent, but it’s such a pity. These stars are like a fly in the ointment, ruining the whole thing. This could have been a perfect score, but now I can only give you a 9.7."

When the score was announced, Mason Everett stood there, dumbfounded.

’9.7... Shannon only got a 9.7, while Eric has a 9.9. That means... Shannon didn’t beat Eric...’

’He had hoped this would restore the Everett Family’s reputation, but now it was all for naught.’

’Damn it, how did it turn out like this?!’

The audience’s disappointment was as great as their earlier expectations had been.

"You’ve got to be kidding me. And after I had such high hopes for Shannon Everett... Adding those stars was such a trash move. Ugh!"

"It’s over, it’s over. Even Shannon Everett couldn’t beat Eric. The Celestria design world has completely lost to the foreign team. No one can beat them now."

"Look at Eric! He looks so smug he could fly!"

Eric sat in his chair, the contempt on his face even more pronounced. "Team Celestria, I beat your entire team all by myself. Now, what do you have to say?"

Maxwell Sawyer’s brows furrowed tightly. "You’re speaking too soon. We still have one designer whose work hasn’t been shown."

Eric knew who Maxwell was talking about. He glanced in Sienna Everett’s direction, completely unimpressed. "She stopped drawing after less than twenty minutes. What could she possibly have designed? She probably didn’t even finish the draft, did she?"

The other designers on the foreign team burst into laughter at his words.

The faces of the audience members flushed red as they hung their heads in despair.

"Just forget about Sienna Everett. Even if she can design, she stopped after less than twenty minutes. How could she possibly beat Eric?"

"Don’t even show Sienna Everett’s draft. It’ll only bring more shame to Team Celestria."

"Exactly! Eric already looks down on us. Showing Sienna Everett’s trash design will just give him more reason to!"

"I give up. Why did that idiot Sienna Everett, who knows nothing about design, even get on stage to compete? Is she just offering up her face for people to stomp on?!"

"Sigh... I can’t believe the Celestria design world lost to the foreign team just like that. If only Master Kian were here."

Just then, Evan Shelby stood up. His blue eyes were icy cold, as if he were looking at a crowd of foolish mortals. "Since this is a competition, let’s have every contestant present their design. That’s only fair, isn’t it?"

Evan Shelby was the founder of G.Y. and the vice president of the Valenti Fashion Association. Today’s design exchange conference was backed by the Valenti Fashion Association itself.

Therefore, as soon as Evan Shelby spoke, none of the designers present dared to object.

But they showed no enthusiasm, looking toward Sienna Everett’s design on the stage with expressions of disgust.