Chapter 532
In the next two days, Lu Xinyi found herself cramming to attend both her morning classes and check the progress on Flair Apparel by the afternoon. She was really thankful that she wasn’t part of the selections for the competition.
Just as she thought she was safe from school activities, Lu Xinyi received an invitation from Headmistress Han to preside as a judge again. The final round for the selections between junior and seniors had been rescheduled next week to give the finalists enough time to review and hone their cooking skills.
“Miss, Starlight’s launch is about to start. Are you sure you want to attend?” Jiao Jiao asked as she helped her mistress tie her long hair in a bun.
“Jiao Jiao, I’m about to see the fruits of your work with Zhang Qing. How can I stay still, knowing Sun Qiyan is about to fall?” She turned her head to the side, checking the soft curls on her back.
When they arrived at the hotel where the event was to take place, Sun Qiyan gave Lu Xinyi a mocking glare as if today’s event would prove how inferior the latter was compared to her.
As she walked into the hall, she was blocked by a horde of reporters, asking her opinion about Sun Feiyan’s stepping down as CEO, her expectations for tonight’s launch of Starlight, and why President Shen wasn’t attending with her.
The reporters were clearly interested in her, not the event itself. When the staff of the Sun Corp saw the chaos Lu Xinyi’s attendance brought, they immediately asked for more security personnel to be deployed, securing Lu Xinyi’s way so she wouldn’t be harassed by the media.
“Lu Xinyi… wow, you’re brave. I’ll give you that. I wasn’t expecting that you’ll be brave enough to see your own downfall.” Sun Qiyan taunted her when she stepped inside the main hall.
Lu Xinyi raised a brow and took a glass of wine from a passing waiter near her. She took a sip without breaking her gaze at her cousin. She didn’t get an invitation to this event, but since she was now part of the shareholders’ committee, she could attend without Sun Qiyan’s permission.
“I’m here to see the fate of the wicked,” she replied with a smile, leaving Sun Qiyan confused as to what she meant. However, she was angered by Lu Xinyi’s arrogance.
So what if she’s the Young Madam of the Shen family? Tonight, she’d lose face as Starlight trample Lu Xinyi’s Flair Apparel with her own hands.
Lu Xinyi smiled, walked around Sun Qiyan, and proceeded to greet the other guest politely, with the reporters flocking around them. Sun Qiyan had forced her little sister to taste the bitter pill of betrayal; now, it was her turn to taste the bitterness of regret and failure.
Just like what Shen Yi told her, the business world was like a battlefield. This was a kind of war that one shouldn’t enter unprepared. Lu Xinyi didn’t mind the gazes she received from the other guests. She sat in her seat and waited for the event to begin.
As the COO for Starlight Collection, Sun Qiyan gave a speech and promised an unforgettable night to everyone. The audience applauded as the new designs were launched.
“We introduce now the newest set of Starlight Collections, The Finest Stitch!”
With the emcee’s introduction, the models started to come up with the stages and showed the pieces one by one. Sun Qiyan lifted her chin as her eyes swept around the audience like she owned everything. When her eyes landed on Lu Xinyi, a faint, supercilious spread on her lips. ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
‘Lu Xinyi, I’ll let you know the difference between us is like heaven and earth. Someone like you isn’t worth competing with,’ she thought.
Lu Xinyi wanted to laugh as the emcee started to explain each piece and where the inspiration came from. It was all counterfeit of Xia Yuhan’s works! Indeed, this clothing set was undeniably similar to the initial designs Xia Yuhan showed to her for their Fire and Ice campaign.
Her eyes then spotted Sun Qiyan staring down at her, her eyes filled with ridicule. Ah, she so wanted to see how Qiyan would react later. In the public’s eyes, Sun Qiyan’s reputation was good, and they all praised her for her achievements. However, none of them knew how many people Sun Qiyan climbed over, ruining their lives just to secure her spot.
According to Zhang Qing, Sun Qiyan spent all her money on this new set of clothing designs. It was evident that, without Sun Corps backing and limited resources, Starlight wouldn’t be able to proceed as planned.
Several popular celebrities were also seen to give Sun Qiyan support, including Chu Ting and Yao Zhelan.
“After this event, everyone can purchase which is available in all Starlight boutiques and leading department stores. Thank you, everyone, for supporting Starlight Collections! Now, please see our commercials which will air tonight.” Sun Qiyan appeared at the stage again for the closing ceremony. It was expected that by securing a commercial at primetime, the popularity of Starlight’s Finest Stitch would soar.
During a short break, the guests were free to mingle with each other while enjoying the dinner served by the Sun Corporation. Sun Qiyan greeted her friends as well as the media, but when she met Lu Xinyi again, she couldn’t help but brag Starlight’s success tonight.
“Lu Xinyi, you are still here? Are you sure you still want to stay given how successful our event is? I now admire your tenacity. Let see if you still have a face to show everyone once my Starlight crushes your Flair Apparel.”
“Qiyan, you sure talk a lot of nonsense, and you speak too soon. Your designs are nothing but copycats,” Lu Xinyi ambiguously answered back, her eyes glued at the huge screen behind her cousin.
Sun Qiyan laughed and shook her head. She leaned closer to Lu Xinyi to whisper.
“The day after tomorrow, Flair Apparel will hold its launching, no? I’m curious to see how it will end.”
“Quick! Look! The commercials are about to be played.”
“Didn’t they say Yao Zhelan is the newest face of Starlight? Let’s see if she really nailed it.”
The clock hit 7 PM, and everyone waited expectantly for the commercials for Finest Stitch, and yet—instead of Yao Zhelan’s face—a familiar woman was seen being dragged by two men, screaming for help.
“Qiyan! Yan Jie! Yan Jie! Help me! Help me! Don’t do this to me!”