Chapter 507: Slapping Faces at the Competition Venue

Chapter 507: Chapter 507: Slapping Faces at the Competition Venue

The design competition announced that the top twenty finalists had been decided, and the next round would commence in three days. Before the competition began, however, there would be a preliminary award ceremony. This event wasn’t to crown a champion or runner-up, but to encourage the twenty finalists to stay dedicated to design and to go far in their careers, regardless of where they ranked.

As per annual tradition, the ceremony would be broadcast live. Over the years, only Miss Ember from three years prior had declined to show her face. But since Claire Yeats was Ember, her presence this year would more than make up for it.

Three days later.

The contestants’ friends and families filled the venue. The livestream began, and the hall buzzed with lively chatter.

[Here to see Claire!]

[Who’s that next to Claire?]

[That designer is Liza Shelby. She placed twenty-first, remember?]

[Oh, I know her. After Estelle Lockwood was exposed for seducing a judge, Liza filed several appeals. In the end, Estelle was disqualified, and Liza took her spot in the top twenty.]

[Well done, Liza!]

[So Liza and Claire are friends?]

[Yeah, they’re both from Capital City. Of course they’d be friends; it’s nothing surprising.]

Liza Shelby scanned the hall, looking immensely proud of herself. "Claire, it looks like that annoying bitch won’t be showing up!"

Claire Yeats bit her lip helplessly. "Liza, we’re on a livestream today. Even if you hate Estelle, you shouldn’t use such ugly words."

Liza didn’t care at all. "She is a bitch, so what? I’ll curse her all I want. If she hadn’t been caught seducing a judge, she would’ve stolen my spot. What a slut!"

Claire sighed and shook her head in resignation. "You really should keep these thoughts to yourself in private. After all, Estelle still holds a certain status. Even if she can’t compete, she still has a place in the design circle.

"If you offend her and she holds a grudge, you’ll be the one to suffer in the end."

Claire deliberately lowered her voice when she said this, but she knew there was a camera nearby, ensuring her words would be picked up by the livestream.

[?? Is Estelle Lockwood still trying to threaten people?]

[How shameless can she be? She used underhanded methods to get ahead, and she still has the nerve to make things difficult for others?]

[I heard it was Liza who reported her...]

[So what if she did! If Estelle did such a thing, she shouldn’t be afraid of people talking. Besides, if Liza hadn’t reported it, she would have been the one eliminated. It’s completely normal for her to be upset.]

Malice and jealousy surfaced in Liza’s eyes. "Claire, you’re the only one kind-hearted enough to consider withdrawing from the competition to let Estelle have her way. People like her are just jealous of you. If you withdrew, you’d only be giving her exactly what she wants. Why should you!

"What does a bitch like her have besides a pretty face? She’s just a cheap slut who’ll sleep with anyone!"

Claire sighed. "Alright, given Estelle’s current reputation... Anyway, let’s not add fuel to the fire."

The surrounding contestants exchanged awkward glances, but no one said a word.

In the audience sat the contestants’ families and friends. Almost everyone who could make it had come, making up a crowd of about a hundred people. Old Mrs. Yeats and the rest of the Yeats Family were naturally seated right in the center. They soaked in the flattery from the other contestants’ relatives, while Claire basked in the compliments from her peers. This was the Yeats Family.

Old Mrs. Yeats raised her chin in satisfaction. They were destined to be the elite, born superior to the rest.

Soon, the award ceremony was about to begin. The host positioned Claire right in the center and fawned, "Miss Yeats, as the hot favorite for the championship, you simply must stand in the very center."

Claire had no choice but to graciously accept the host’s kind gesture.

"Alright, all contestants are present. Now, I would like to invite Ms. Foster, the head of the judging panel, to present the trophies. We hope you will all go further and further on your design journeys—"

BANG!

Before the host could finish, the main doors of the venue slammed open!

Ms. Foster marched into the hall with a dark expression, leading someone in beside her.

...Estelle Lockwood?!

Claire and Old Mrs. Yeats’s expressions froze simultaneously.

"Hold on!" Ms. Foster called out coldly. "I have an objection!"

Just moments before, in the stands, a spectator had been fawning over the Yeats Family. "Old Mrs. Yeats, I heard you raised Miss Yeats as your own biological granddaughter. She certainly has the grace of a prominent family."

The members of the Yeats Family had all worn satisfied smiles.

Old Mrs. Yeats had looked particularly smug. "Although Claire’s bloodline is quite distant from our main branch, she grew up by my side. Her vision and knowledge are far beyond what ordinary people possess.

"Some people think a flimsy blood tie is enough to make them a true part of the Yeats Family... Hah! I hate to say it, but they’re incredibly naive!"

Everyone present had known exactly who "some people" referred to.

Zion Yeats had opened his mouth, initially wanting to stop his mother from humiliating Estelle in front of outsiders. But remembering that Estelle was indeed in the wrong this time, he had snapped his mouth shut.

It was at that exact moment, just as Claire was positioned in the center and Old Mrs. Yeats was preparing to boast some more, that the venue doors slammed open.

Then came Ms. Foster’s icy declaration: "I have an objection!"

And then they saw her.

"Estelle Lockwood?!"

Old Mrs. Yeats’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head. She sprang to her feet and roared, "She’s a tramp who seduced a judge! Who let her in?!"

Estelle wasn’t surprised by the crowd’s reaction. Her gaze swept over them indifferently.

Before Ms. Foster could continue, Liza had already bellowed, "Estelle Lockwood! Why are you here? Does a cheap slut who seduced a judge deserve to come here and insult design?!"

Everyone glared at the doorway in displeasure. Not daring to criticize Ms. Foster, they directed all their anger at Estelle.

Estelle, however, curled her lips into a smirk. Looking at the furious Liza, she asked leisurely, "Am I not allowed to be here?"

Liza laughed out of sheer anger, acting as if she had the moral high ground. "You’ve already been expelled! Have you no shame?!"

Estelle tilted her head. What was going on? Why did Liza seem so confident? Did she truly not know the truth?

One judge stood up with a frown. "Estelle Lockwood, the XM design competition has already stated that you are permanently banned. We’ve thoroughly investigated your seduction of a judge. What are you still doing here?

"If you have any shred of dignity left, walk out on your own. We are broadcasting live!

"Do you really want everyone to witness your shamelessness?!"

Estelle’s expression remained placid. Upon hearing this, she feigned a look of surprise and leisurely replied. "I’m here... to continue competing, of course."

Estelle tilted her head, asking curiously, "Who said I was permanently banned?

"My ranking has been fully restored. The notice might have been a bit delayed, but I made it just in time. What’s the matter? Did the judging panel not receive the memo?

"Or perhaps you did receive it, but you refuse to accept the XM organizing committee’s decision, so you’re playing dumb?"

A stunned silence fell over the room.

[What does she mean?!]

[Estelle Lockwood is coming back to compete? Impossible! That’s completely unfair!]

In the venue, Liza’s expression warped drastically. "Bullshit!" she shrieked. "On what grounds?!"