Backstage was louder after the first round.
Designers whispered. Assistants rushed. Fabric rustled like nervous breathing.
Liu Meilin stood at her station, carefully covering her garment with a protective cloth
She didn't celebrate.
She didn't relax.
She knew something important
When powerful people feel threatened, they don't argue.
They remove obstacles.
Lu Jianfeng entered the preparation area casually, hands in his coat pockets. He looked like a man observing art, not guarding a battlefield.
But his eyes scanned everything.
Exit points.
Security placements.
Unfamiliar faces.
Then he saw it.
A young female volunteer lingering too close to Liu Meilin's station.
Too nervous.
Too stiff.
The girl reached toward the covered mannequin.
Lu Jianfeng didn't move yet.
He watched.
The volunteer's hand slipped under the cloth.
A tiny glass vial between her fingers.
Liu Meilin turned at that exact moment.
Her eyes locked onto the movement.
Time slowed.
Without panic
She stepped forward and grabbed the girl's wrist.
The vial slipped.
Shattered on the floor.
A faint chemical smell rose instantly.
Bleach.
Strong enough to stain silk permanently.
Gasps erupted nearby.
"What are you doing?!" someone shouted.
The volunteer went pale.
"I-I was just checking"
"Checking with bleach?"Zhao Lihua's voice snapped from behind.
Yes.
Zhao Lihua had insisted on coming as "family support."
And she looked ready to fight.
Security rushed over.
Lu Jianfeng stepped forward now.
He picked up a small fragment of glass with a handkerchief.
Examined it.
Then looked at the volunteer.
Who told you to do it?
The girl's lips trembled.
No one… I was just
Lu Jianfeng's gaze hardened.
"You're not good at lying."
The head coordinator hurried over, flustered.
"This is unacceptable! We will investigate immediately!"
Miss Zhao appeared at the edge of the crowd.
Concern perfectly arranged on her face.
"Oh my… how terrible. Accidents happen during events like this."
Liu Meilin met her gaze.
"Bleach isn't an accident."
The air thickened.
Miss Zhao's eyes flickered for half a second.
Then she smiled softly.
"You're implying something?"
"I'm stating something."
Silence.
The volunteer began crying.
Security escorted her away.
But Liu Meilin noticed something important.
The sponsor representative was watching carefully.
Observing.
Lu Jianfeng leaned slightly toward Arielle.
"That wasn't amateur."
I know.
He lowered his voice further.
"The girl's family has outstanding hospital debts."
Liu Meilin glanced at him.
You already checked.
"Before we arrived."
Of course he did.
She exhaled slowly.
"Then this is pressure from above."
"Yes."
Zhao Lihua stepped closer, furious.
"These people are shameless!"
Liu Meilin's gaze returned to Miss Zhao.
Who was still standing there.
Too composed.
Liu Meilin spoke clearly enough for nearby contestants to hear.
"If someone feels threatened by silk, perhaps their foundation is weaker than they admit."
A few contestants exchanged looks.
Whispers began shifting direction.
Miss Zhao's smile tightened.
"You're very bold for someone without backing."
Liu Meilin tilted her head slightly.
"Confidence doesn't require permission."
For the first time
Miss Zhao's expression cracked.
Later that evening
Judges' Deliberation Room
Five judges sat around a long table.
Liu Meilin's design was displayed among the finalists for consideration.
Judge Chen adjusted his glasses.
"Her structure is ahead of current trend."
Judge Liu nodded slowly.
"It's… disruptive."
The sponsor representative leaned back.
"Disruptive can also mean commercially risky."
Judge Chen countered calmly.
"Or visionary."
Silence lingered.
The sponsor representative tapped the table.
"There was an incident backstage involving her station."
Judge Liu frowned.
"She was the victim."
"Yes," the sponsor replied smoothly. "But controversy can damage the competition's reputation."
Eliminate her quietly.
Judge Chen's voice hardened slightly.
"Are we judging garments or rumors?"
The tension in the room rose.
Meanwhile
In the hallway outside.
Lu Jianfeng stood near a window, speaking quietly into a phone.
"Release the information."
A pause.
"Not to media. To the board."
His eyes remained calm.
If they want to pressure through money, we pressure through exposure.
He ended the call.
Liu Meilin approached him.
You're interfering.
"I'm balancing."
She studied him.
What did you do?
"Nothing illegal."
That almost made her smile.
"You didn't need to."
Yes, I did.
His gaze softened just slightly.
"I won't let them corner you politically."
She held his eyes.
"I can fight my own battles."
"And I respect that."
He stepped closer.
But I choose to stand beside you.
Not in front.
Not above.
Beside.
The difference mattered.
Announcement Hall
Contestants gathered.
Tension electric.
The coordinator stepped to the microphone.
"After careful deliberation, the following designers advance to the final round…"
Names were called one by one.
Miss Zhao.
Applause.
Others followed.
Then
"Contestant 47. Liu Meilin"
A ripple of surprise spread through the crowd.
Miss Zhao's hands stopped clapping.
Just for a second.
Liu Meilin didn't react outwardly.
This was no longer a rural curiosity.
She was a threat.
The sponsor representative watched from the balcony above.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
As the crowd dispersed
Miss Zhao approached once more.
"You survived today."
Arielle met her gaze evenly.
"I plan to do more than survive."
Miss Zhao's eyes hardened.
"Final round is presentation plus investor evaluation."
"I'm aware."
"This isn't a charity stage."
Liu Meilin's lips curved faintly.
"Good."
Because she didn't come for charity.
She came for control.