COMMENT Chapter
40
"Wha..." The audience stood up, amazement quickly shing across their faces, only to be reced by confusion and surprise.
The four judges in the panel were just as baffled, ncing at each other before one asked, "What''s going on? How are these two contestants wearing the exact same outfit?"
Another judge chimed in, "Did the production team mess up, or or is someone guilty of giarism?"
In the design industry, giarism was the ultimate taboo. If someone wasbeled a giarist, their career in the industry. was as good as over.
The host was equally stunned, Cameron hurriedly called for the recording to stop and walked onto the stage.
Emily returned to the center of the stage, standing side by side with Sharon, the two of them looking like twins,
Though Emily''s face showed surprise and confusion, deep down, she already knew the answer. Well, it looks like I made the right call showing up today. I never expected such an unexpected surprise, she thought. I knew it! There''s no way Ophelia''s talent is real. She''s only made it this far by stealing ideas!"
The two designers then walked onto the stage. Brock, utterly shocked, turned to Ophelia with disbelief. "Miss Spencer, can you... Can you give me a reasonable exnation?"
Since Brock''s work had been shown first, everyone automatically assumed Ophelia was the one guilty of giarism. Besides. their status in the industry was worlds apart, making it all too easy to draw that conclusion.
As she looked at Brock''s stunned expression, she couldn''t help but sneer inwardly as she asked, "Mr. Decker, are you sure this is your design?" She kept calling him "Mr." with such respect, raising him onto a pedestal "Well, of course, Miss Spencer. I''ve always admired your work, but I never imagined... he sighed and shook his head in disappointment.
As soon as they heard that, someone in the crowd eximed, "Wow. I used to be a big fan of the Poker Face Allies, but I had no idea the designer was such a disgrace! Stealing someone else''s design? Unbelievable!" Another added, "Yeah! And she didn''t even try to hide it. The designs are identical!"
Yet another said, "Who knows, maybe all her previous work was copied too, and we just didn''t know it!
"Judging by the way she acts, she''s definitely done this before!" another scoffed.
Another person chimed in. "Didn''t someone online already dig up her designs and say they were suspiciously simr to La Reverie''s style? Maybe she''s been copying their work all along!"
Sharon looked at Ophelia with deep concern. She trusted that Ophelia would never giarize, but hearing the crowd twist the truth with their gossip, she couldn''t help but worry about what kind of damage this would do to Ophelia
Cameron hadn''t expected this turn of events. He cleared his throat and frowned before saying, "We''ll handle this backstage." After speaking, he nced at Brock, seeking his opinion.
"I''m fine with whatever," Brock replied confidently, with an air of someone who had nothing to hide.
At that moment, Miles slowly walked up from the VIP section, his gaze toward Ophelia filled with coldness and disdain. "Mr. Bishop, I think we should settle this here! Let the audience see the truth. Whoever''s guilty of giarism will be revealed once we check their original designs, right?"
"Miss Spencer, I''ll give you one more chance. If you admit to the giarism and apologize to me right now, I won''t pursue
the matter any further: I don''t want to ruin the future of someone as talented as you" Brock''s voice was full of apparent concern, which, in the audience''s eyes, made him seem even more noble.
One person in the crowd shouted, "When Mr. Decker was designing dresses, she was still in diapers!"
Another chimed in, "Exactly! Mr. Decker is a highly respected designer-giarism? What a joke!"
Another scoffed, "Does someone this shameless even deserve a second chance?"
Emily stood off to the side, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle, waiting to see how Ophelia would handle the situation.
Ophelia, calm andposed, said, "Let''s go with Mr. Lewis'' suggestion and settle this right here, in front of everyone."
To the crowd, it seemed like Ophelia was putting on a brave front. But they thought, of course, a giarist who already stole someone else''s work wouldn''t admit to it so easily.
Seeing that she was still stubborn, Cameron had no choice but to address the audience. Just so everyone knows, to secure David as an international judge, the show had sent all the original design drafts to Mr. White himself three days before this."
my office He continued. "At that time, there were indeed four different design sketches. The originals are currently locked in safe, and no one has touched them since. Since everyone here wants to know the truth, I will personally retrieve the designs along with the four judges." No one had any objections to this approach.
About ten minutester, Cameron returned with the four judges and the safe. He then stood in front of everyone, entered the code, and pulled out the four original designs.
He looked at Ophelia and seriously asked, "Ophelia, are you sure you want to go through with this?"
"Open it," she replied without hesitation.
Cameron sighed, thinking to himself that she had been given a chance, but she didn''t appreciate it.
Each sealed bag had the name of the contestant written on it. Cameron directly pulled out the ones for Brock and Ophelia, saying, "Tm opening them now."
Everyone''s eyes were glued to the sealed bags in Cameron''s hands. He opened Ophelia''s design first, taking out a sketch. As he turned the paper over, it revealed a yellow dress, which waspletely different from the one Sharon was wearing today. The moment the crowd saw the design, their gazes toward Ophelia instantly turned to mockery and scorn.
One person in the crowd sneered, "She really won''t admit defeat until she''s backed into a corner. Let''s see what she has to
say now!"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.
"Stealing someone''s work-absolutely shamefull" someone else shouted.
Emily sneered inwardly, ''It seems the heavens are helping me. I was just worrying about how to drag her name through the mud!''
A sly glint shed in Brock''s eyes, though he wore a regretful expression as he said, "Miss Spencer, if you had used your own designs in thispetition, I believe you still could have done very well. Why try to cut corners and take shortcuts?"
What else do you have to say for yourself?" Miles'' disgust toward Ophelia deepened..
Hearing Miles speak, Cameron immediately dered, "Since it''s been proven that Ophelia is the giarist, on behalf of the show, I hereby revoke her participation righ-
Just then, a person with a thick Thalorin ent interrupted Miles and Cameron from behind. "Wait a minute."
It was David, the internationally renowned designer invited by the judging panel. His deep-set features and curly hair tied
into a small ponytail behind his head made him stand out.
He said, "Sorry. But would it be alright if I took another look at Mr. Decker''s design?"
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Cameron clearly wasn''t pleased about being interrupted by this foreigner, but considering the hefty price they''d paid to invite David, he held his tongue. After noticing no objections from anyone else, Cameron nced at Brock for confirmation before handing over the design draft. David tore open the sealed envelope and pulled out the sketch. Instantly, everyone could see it was identical to the outfit worn by the two on stage, with "BC" signed in the bottom right corner.
He remarked, "Mr. Decker, when I first saw this design, I was curious. Why did you choose such a muted ck?"
Brock replied, "Because ck represents solemnity and stability, It''s also a symbol of nobility. Most people think red carpet outfits should be shy and eye-catching, but they overlook the mystery and intrigue ck can evoke." Many in the audience nodded, agreeing with his view. David then said, "But the ck you chose isn''t just