"That's all for now, it's about to begin."
The competition was being broadcast live online, with a considerable audience and cameras set up in the middle. Below the runway sat a row of judges, several of whom Jiang Jianhuan recognized because he had specifically attended their individual fashion shows before.
Backstage was still busy, and the contestants barely interacted with each other unless they already knew each other. Everyone was focused on their hands, changing clothes for the models and matching their makeup and accessories.
Jiang Jianhuan drew number ten to perform, which was neither good nor bad. The works of the previous contestants were also mediocre, with nothing particularly outstanding. She breathed a slight sigh of relief, noticing that the judges' scores were also just average.
When it was her turn, Jiang Jianhuan involuntarily straightened her back, and the designer from the same company next to her smiled and comforted her.
"Don't worry, I think your work is great."
"Thank you." Jiang Jianhuan smiled at her, easing some of her tension.
The first one to step out was a light green dress. Jiang Jianhuan had searched for the color and fabric in several cities. The fresh and bright color immediately caught everyone's attention, and several judges couldn't help but nod in approval.
Next up was the deep pink outfit. The previous model was still standing in front, and the two colors together looked inexplicably harmonious and beautiful. Then, the next second, the pale yellow outfit appeared.
A low murmur began to ripple through the crowd; everyone seemed surprised, as few people would dare to use so many colors together.
When the purple outfit was revealed, the judges couldn't hide their admiration. However, after the extravagantly tailored colorful dress was exposed to the public, that admiration instantly turned into amazement.
After showcasing the clothes, the five models walked side by side, chests out and stomachs in, confidently from the back of the stage to the front. The five garments were placed together and displayed side by side by the models, with the dress in the middle, worn by a slightly taller model, and the others laid out in sequence.
When viewed individually, each piece of clothing has its own unique charm and distinctive color. But when placed together, the vibrant colors and lively atmosphere immediately invigorate the senses, and most people immediately think of one word.
spring.
The specially trained models exuded confidence and radiance. After walking the long runway, they struck a pose at the front and held the pose for a few seconds. The camera quickly captured this stunning moment.
After the fashion show ended, Jiang Jianhuan came to the front of the stage from the back. She was wearing a black and white suit, wide-leg trousers and high heels. Her thick, black hair was draped behind her. She had a beautiful, fair face, a full forehead, and a faint smile on her lips.
Behind the heavily made-up models, there was a subtle, ethereal beauty, like a rare orchid in a secluded valley.
A round of applause erupted from the audience. The host handed over the microphone, and Jiang Jianhuan first bowed to the judges before beginning to explain his design concept.
"My idea is 'Spring,' and I'm sure everyone has felt that from the work. I've thought of countless ideas about 'birth,' but the one that remains in my mind most directly is the color of spring."
"There is greenery, seedlings, branches, vines, and tender flowers."
“I think all of this represents ‘birth’, the beginning of everything that is about to happen.”
Thank you everyone.
Amidst thunderous applause, Jiang Jianhuan bowed deeply once again.
In this round, the judges gave extremely high scores, with several results approaching full marks. After the competition, the host announced the total scores with a smile.
"We've already achieved our highest score, thanks to Jiang Jianhuan, a designer from the iro brand. We hope our next contestant will continue to do well. Please welcome the next one—"
Jiang Jianhuan finally felt relieved, but then a slight unease crept over her as she focused intently on the upcoming entries, oblivious to the numerous vibrations of her phone.
It was someone next to her who reminded her.
"Your phone sounds like it's ringing in your bag."
"Ah, thank you." Jiang Jianhuan quickly took it out and found that there were several missed calls, all from Li Sa.
Jiang Jianhuan walked to the empty corridor before replying to him.
“Ms. Jiang, I’m at the front desk of the hotel where you stayed last night. The police came and checked the surveillance footage and confirmed that the two people were impersonating public officials. They haven’t yet verified their intentions and identities. The hotel explained that the front desk staff were negligent last night and have been punished. They have also promised to strengthen the hotel’s management and security system.”
"I understand, thank you." Jiang Jianhuan felt a wave of fear wash over her; thankfully, she hadn't opened the door to just anyone.
"I'll keep following up and let you know if there's any news. By the way, the hotel wants to settle with us, offering some compensation and asking us to handle things discreetly. What do you think...?"
"Handle it discreetly?"
"It's probably best not to make a big deal out of it. Similar situations have occurred elsewhere before, and when the parties involved posted about it online, it had a significant impact on the hotel's reputation."
“I don’t want to make a big fuss, but what if I had opened the door last night? This is not a problem that money can solve.”
"I will have them investigate thoroughly."
"Thank you for your hard work, Li Sa. I should be almost done here. I'll come find you then." Jiang Jianhuan took a deep breath and suppressed her emotions.
Because of this phone call, her attention was diverted quite a bit from the competition. The fashion show was almost over, and each designer's work was a carefully crafted exhibition. As an audience member, appreciating it was also a visual feast.
Jiang Jianhuan missed the showcase of several people's works and was unaware of the judges' scores. When the final results were announced, she had a general idea from the envious glances cast at her by others.
"All the entries have been displayed, and the final results are in my hands. Who will take home today's prize?"
The host kept everyone in suspense, then smiled mysteriously and began to read out the list in his hand.
The final award is determined by a combination of scores from the dozen or so professional audience members and the judges, so no one knows the answer until the very last moment.
Of course, the higher the score given by the judges, the greater the chance of winning.
There are eighteen contestants, and ten awards in total. There are quite a few consolation prizes, so that contestants don't bring their hard-earned clothes only to leave empty-handed.
The host started by announcing the Outstanding Design Award, which had five winners and a prize of three thousand yuan.
The person whose name was called felt more disappointed than happy, but still went on stage to accept the award with gratitude.
Next up are the Most Watched Awards, two winners. And the Most Commercially Valuable Awards, three winners.
......
The later stages became increasingly tense. The third prize was won by a young girl who was only twenty years old. Her work, "Jiang Jianhuan," left a deep impression and was full of inspiration. This result was well-deserved.