Yara Lu and Xia Ling sat frozen in the audience. Cheers thundered all around them for Celia, yet they themselves were lost in the crowd, their presence forgotten.
How could this be happening?
They had been so certain of victory. In their minds, Celia had only come to embarrass herself. She had never studied fashion design—how could she possibly compete with them?
But the reality was merciless. Celia's reimagined Hanfu collection stunned the entire venue. Every piece showcased exquisite craftsmanship, and the traditional Chinese–inspired stage design brought the audience an immersive feast for both the eyes and the ears. Even Xia Ling, who had trained professionally overseas, was left far behind.
Xia Ling slumped into her seat. With trembling hands, she pulled out her phone. The numbers on the livestream nearly stopped her heart—Celia's show had already surpassed one hundred million viewers, and more than two hundred and twenty million people were watching live.
Celia had just made history.
Online, comments poured in like a flood:
"Oh my god, who is Su Xian? I thought she was joking about fashion design, but this runway could rival Fashion Week!""The last time I saw something this spectacular was CC's Little Buddha collection.""I must be hallucinating… did I just see shades of Little Buddha in her work?""The champion has to be Celia!""That performance with Su Xian and Lady Xia was divine. Legends, both of them."
The scrolling feed was endless.
Xia Ling felt like a punctured balloon. She turned weakly to Yara Lu. "Yaoyao… we lost."
Yara Lu, who had basked in attention earlier for her striking looks, was now completely forgotten. No one so much as glanced her way. Her expression darkened until it seemed water could drip from her face.
She had lost.And once again, she had lost to Celia.
Just then, the host stepped onto the stage, microphone in hand, and declared with a booming voice, "Ladies and gentlemen, the champion of Fu Group's Fashion Contest is… Celia!"
The crowd erupted.
Celia reappeared in a new gown, her posture graceful and steady. Applause thundered, flowers showered down, and she stood beneath the lights, fully deserving of every ounce of glory.
The competition ended in dazzling perfection. Among the celebrating crowd, Celia and Xia Xiaofu were surrounded by waves of congratulations.
Jin Han stepped forward with a polite smile. "Miss Su, congratulations."
Celia returned the smile warmly. "Thank you, Mr. Jin."
Then Xia Xiaofu spotted Nathaniel Fu standing behind Jin Han. Raising a brow with a playful grin, she teased, "Mr. Fu, since your Fu Group hosted this contest, shouldn't you congratulate our champion as well? If I remember correctly, you nearly disqualified her."
"Xiaofu!" Celia tugged her friend aside in embarrassment.
But Nathaniel had already crossed the distance. His gaze lingered on Celia's delicate, composed features. His voice was calm but carried weight. "Miss Su, congratulations."
Celia met his eyes steadily, her clear gaze unshaken. "Thank you, Mr. Fu."
"Miss Su," Nathaniel asked after a pause, "have you studied fashion design before?"
He wasn't the only one curious—the question was on everyone's mind.
Celia only smiled faintly, unwilling to reveal more. Before she could answer, Xia Xiaofu slipped an arm around her and laughed. "Mr. Fu, my Ci Ci has learned far more than you'd ever imagine."
Nathaniel's sharp gaze softened. He could tell she was concealing many secrets.
Jin Han suddenly interjected with curiosity. "Mrs. Jin, forgive me, but did you once ride a school bus with Miss Su and go dancing together?"
Xia Xiaofu thought for a moment before nodding. "Yes, I used to dance with Ci Ci."
Nathaniel's chest tightened. His heart skipped a beat. So… it really was her.
At that moment, Yara Lu stepped forward, forcing a gracious smile. "Miss Su, congratulations. According to the competition rules, my wedding dress now belongs to you. I trust you'll design something that will satisfy me, won't you?"