Chapter 25
"Lin Ting, get ready for the model show."
The atmosphere between the two instantly turned serious when the staff member called out.
"Don't be too nervous. I laid a good foundation in the last round, so we have a chance of winning. Even if we lose, I'll be satisfied with making it to the finals," Lin Ting comforted her.
Chen Zhiyi smiled and said, "Okay, let's do our best together!"
The stage was brightly lit, and the fashion show had begun.
The effects of static and dynamic displays of an item are worlds apart.
The other contestants went all out, hiring professional models to enhance their outfits. Clothes that had performed poorly in the previous round suddenly gained immense popularity on the runway, captivating the audience and eliciting continuous applause and cheers.
In the finals, with only one step left to win the championship, no one wanted to lose, including Lin Ting. What she just said was simply to avoid transferring the pressure to Chen Zhiyi.
But now, she clutched the hem of her dress, her eyes fixed on the dazzling lights on the stage, losing the confidence she had built up in the previous round amidst the bizarre spectacle.
Chen Zhiyi tugged at her sleeve. Her entire face was covered by a mask, leaving only her eyes, which looked even more profound. "Just like you said, it's already amazing to make it to the finals."
Lin Ting knew he was trying to comfort her, and her gaze softened. "I know."
...
"It feels like all the fashion shows follow the same formula: the same lighting, similar background music, even the walking posture and rhythm are identical. There's nothing new. Why can't they make some changes based on the characteristics of the clothing? For example, sportswear could be paired with movements like playing ball or running, while workwear could simulate an office setting. And if we have a bit of Chinese style, we should blend it in and highlight the traditional features, instead of it all being the same. With the clothes all looking the same, how can you tell the difference in style?" Chen Zhiyi crossed his arms and looked at the stage casually.
However, his words were like a wake-up call, enlightening Lin Ting. She carefully examined the overall stage setup and lighting arrangement and came up with a plan.
So she quickly ran over to the sound and lighting technicians and said a few words. Chen Zhiyi was a little confused by her sudden action. Just as he was about to ask her what she said, she hooked her arm around his neck, signaling him to bend down, and then whispered something in his ear.
Chen Zhiyi's eyes immediately brightened and sparkled; he understood her intention and nodded firmly.
While the audience and judges were still reveling in the dazzling lights and dynamic music, all the lights suddenly stopped, and a faint yellow glow gradually emerged from the darkness, creating a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere.
This sudden change in style left everyone bewildered yet also excited. Was there some kind of surprise performance in store?
A spotlight shone on the center of the stage, and two people slowly walked onto the stage from both sides. When they reached the spotlight, they clasped their hands together and bowed to each other. Then they turned around and walked side by side with their heads held high and chests out, slowly walking to the front of the stage with their arms outstretched in front of their chests, their hands still clasped in a bowing posture.
The small lights along both sides of the stage lit up one by one with each step the two took, a clever effect that perfectly captured the essence of "a gentle breeze with every step, a lotus flower blooming with every step" in real life.
As the small spotlights on both sides illuminated, the two individuals walked to the front of the stage, bowed to the judges, and then repeated the gesture to the audience on either side. Throughout the entire process, they walked with their chests out, smiles on their faces, and eyes as clear as a spring, appearing calm and composed yet dignified. Completely different from the previous two performances, in a modern performance saturated with various trends and fashions, this performance, which fully showcased traditional Eastern etiquette and embodied the cultural confidence of a great nation, was far more captivating, garnering purer and louder applause rather than shouts and cheers.
The applause lasted for a long time. When it subsided, the host, A-Kuan, walked over and first looked at Lin Ting with an incredulous expression, then sighed.
"This is so unexpected. Why would they present their designs in this kind of fashion show?"
Lin Ting smiled slightly to express her gratitude and then began to explain into the microphone.
"Firstly, we chose a more Chinese-style performance style to match the design. Secondly, Jinshi is also an ancient city with a rich historical heritage, which is an important feature that we need to showcase at the World University Games. Therefore, the presentation style tends to be more dignified and elegant. Moreover, bowing is an important ancient etiquette that means welcome and respect, thus expressing our warm welcome to friends from all over the world."
Although Chen Zhiyi stood silently to the side, his eyes were always looking down at her. Although his expression could not be seen through the mask, his eyes spoke volumes. His bright and deep eyes held a burning admiration.
The judges were highly impressed with Lin Ting's eloquent presentation. They remarked that new talents emerge constantly, and that such a young person possessed such mature and innovative design concepts, with a unique approach to integrating traditional folk culture. Lin Ting's emphasis on promoting traditional culture and strengthening cultural confidence resonated deeply with the audience, earning praise not only from the judges and viewers but also from her competitors, who applauded her performance.
Chen Ting was overjoyed. A girl who couldn't hide her feelings, she shouted loudly on the spot, "I choose you, I choose you." This made Lin Ting both shy and happy.
"Can you give me the women's version after the competition ends?" Chen Ting asked expectantly.
"good!"
For a designer, receiving such straightforward appreciation for their own designs is a tremendous encouragement.
Throughout her life, Lin Ting had never encountered anything like this. The approving glances, words of praise, and enthusiastic applause swept over her like a sudden storm, giving her a moment of fervor. She loved this exhilarating feeling. For someone who had once been rejected and abandoned, she needed this unreserved affirmation and affection. In this fervor, a faint starlight appeared in the corner of her eye.
Finally, the time came to announce the results. The candidates stood side by side on the stage, waiting for the host to announce the winner.
The winner is pretty much decided, but since it hasn't been officially announced yet, everyone is still tense and expectant.
Lin Ting remained standing with a dignified posture and a smile in her eyes, but she was anxious and uneasy inside. Her hands were clenched into fists, with her thumbs pinching her index fingers, and she maintained her calm and composure despite the slight pain.
At such crucial moments, the host likes to create a tense atmosphere, pausing when he reads out the words "the winner is".
The entire room was silent. Lin Ting could clearly hear his own heart pounding, and his throat bobbed violently.
"Congratulations to Lin Ting! You've won first place in both the judges' scores and the number of votes from the audience—a landslide victory!"
Instantly, cheers erupted from both the stage and the audience!
Lin Ting first lowered her head and let out a long breath, then stepped forward and bowed three times in different directions to the audience. Her eyes sparkled with a bright light, like dazzling stars. It was a deep, fervent, and undisguised joy.
Host: "Before receiving the trophy, is there anything you'd like to say? Or anyone you'd like to thank?"
Lin Ting took the microphone from the host, "Actually, just now, someone told me that if I win this competition, I must specifically mention him and thank him, and I promised him. So now I'm going to fulfill my promise. Thank you for your encouragement and support when I wanted to give up on this competition at the beginning. It was your encouragement and support that gave me the confidence and courage to challenge it. Thank you for appearing in time during the second round of the model catwalk to help me out of the crisis and perform a different kind of catwalk with me, which ultimately helped me win in the end. I just want to say that you helped me take the first step towards my ideal, and I will also protect your dream in the future. I hope that in the future, we can both shine in the fields we want to reach. Keep it up, young man!"
"Would you like to come up and accept this trophy with me?"
Lin Ting stared intently at Chen Zhiyi.
Chen Zhiyi was just joking at the time, but he didn't expect her to actually remember it and do it.
Without any hesitation, he stood up, walked through the crowd, and headed towards the stage.
Upon reaching the steps, he couldn't help but quicken his pace. As he walked onto the stage, he ran over, bringing the wind with him, and opened his arms to hug Lin Ting.
Lin Ting did not resist and gently hugged his waist with both hands.
This was the first real hug the two of them had shared in all the time they had known each other.
"Okay! Let's work hard together, and next time we stand side by side on the stage, we'll both be standing at the peak of our respective dreams."
"Yes, let's work hard together."
The two accepted the trophy together under the spotlight, with cameras clicking incessantly to capture this moment of victory.
A group of people dressed in black formal attire walked past in the corridor outside. Their steps were steady, and their demeanor was dignified. As they walked, their gazes were firm and focused, constantly observing their surroundings and the people around them.
As they approached the side door, which was half-open, a group of people witnessed the awards ceremony.
A middle-aged man with a tall and composed figure stopped and looked at the situation on the stage.
A young man next to him leaned close to his ear and said, "Secretary Chen, today is the final of the competition for designing the athletes' entrance uniforms for the University Games, and the girl on stage is the champion."
He didn't say anything, his eyes were fixed on the boy standing next to the champion, and he recognized him at a glance, even though the boy was wearing a mask.
He lingered for a moment and then walked away, only saying to the young man next to him, "Send me today's champion's personal information and winning entry."
"Yes, Secretary!"
...
After the competition, on her way back to her school dormitory, Lin Ting was in a daze, feeling that winning the championship was unreal, but the championship trophy in her bag reminded her that it was real.
This must feel like a dream come true!
The moment she opened the dormitory door, a deafening burst of firecrackers rang out, followed by a shower of colorful fireworks that enveloped Lin Ting like falling petals. Amidst the vibrant colors, she saw the joyful and proud smiles on her roommates' faces.
Yun Shu, the dorm leader and the oldest of the four girls, was the first to rush forward and hug Lin Ting tightly, saying, "You're amazing! We're all so proud of you."
The other two also gathered around, expressing their joy and congratulations all at once. Ren Jingjing patted Lin Ting on the shoulder, "You've really brought honor to our dormitory this time, we need to find some time to celebrate properly."
Ren Jingjing, as her name suggests, is a quiet girl. Her personality is very similar to Lin Ting's, and the two are closer.
Zhong Xiaoman took a piece of chocolate from the drawer and put it in Lin Tingli's mouth, saying, "A chocolate with a liqueur filling, sweet on top of sweet."
Lin Ting took a bite, and the sweet, flowing filling instantly filled her mouth. The irresistible sweetness and aroma were like a wondrous spirit that needed no words, bringing her an even more pleasant and happy feeling.
Zhong Xiaoman said with a smile, "Isn't it super sweet? Sweetheart score 100." She is the youngest in the dormitory, and she is a sweet girl in real life.
"Mmm, so sweet."
The dormitory was filled with laughter and joy. Everyone was immersed in this happiness. Looking at her roommates' enthusiastic faces, Lin Ting felt grateful and warm inside.
“I thought you would blame me for not telling you honestly that I participated in this competition. Because I was afraid that if I told you, you would think I was overestimating myself.”
Yun Shu put her arm around her shoulder and sighed, "You're just overthinking things. Your design skills are among the best in the entire department. It's perfectly normal for you to want to give it a try. How could we laugh at you? We'd only think you're courageous, which is something to be proud of."
Ren Jingjing: "If you had told us earlier, we could have helped you. At least we could have assembled a group of friends and family to support you on the spot."
Zhong Xiaoman: "Yes, we couldn't get in touch with any new models, and we were really worried that you wouldn't be able to continue the competition, so we all rushed to the venue. But the security guards stopped us and said we couldn't get in without tickets. I saw on the live stream that all the other contestants had their friends and family in the audience, but you didn't. It made me so angry."
Lin Ting felt a burning sensation in her eyes and quickly covered them with her hands.
Yun Shu took the hand that was covering her eyes and patted the back of her hand. "Lin Ting, don't keep everything to yourself. Our friendship has grown very deep over the past four years, and it will continue in the future. Even if we are separated next year, if any of us encounter difficulties, I hope the other three will be the first to know. We are family."
Ren Jingjing and Zhong Xiaoman also placed the backs of their hands on it, saying, "Yes, family."
At this moment, Lin Ting felt that perhaps God felt that she lacked family affection since childhood, so he let her meet three friends who were like family when she grew up. It was amazing that for the past four years, the dormitory had always been full of laughter and joy, and there had never been any disputes. Common problems that existed in other dormitories, such as jealousy, falling in love with the same boy, conflicts caused by differences in living habits, and passive-aggressive treatment, had never happened in their dormitory.
Yun Shu's generosity, Ren Jingjing's tranquility, Zhong Xiaoman's playfulness, and Lin Ting's independence—fate is a bridge that connects these four people with different personalities, but who are all tolerant and understanding.
Yun Shu spoke up again, "Let's set a time to go out for a meal together and celebrate with Lin Ting."
Zhong Xiaoman: "Okay, according to the rules, it's my turn to pay this time when we go out to eat together."
Lin Ting was a little embarrassed, "How about I do it this time? I didn't expect there would be a prize of 20,000 yuan for the champion."
The other three shouted in unison, "How much?"
Seeing their identical shocked expressions, Lin Ting couldn't help but smile, "20,000."
Yun Shu turned to the table to find her phone. "I have to check Dianping reviews and then I'll rip you off."
Zhong Xiaoman became interested. "I know a super expensive seafood buffet that's super fresh, and they even have barbecue. I'll find it for you."
The two huddled together and looked through their phones.
Ren Jingjing suddenly thought of something, "Who helped you walk the runway later? Was it a model we found at the last minute?"
Lin Ting: "He's not a model, he's just the kid I've been tutoring recently. He happened to be watching the competition and noticed my predicament, so he helped me out."
Yun Shu: "Even though she's wearing a mask, she seems to have a good figure and outstanding temperament. You can tell she comes from a well-off family. How old is she?"
Lin Ting: "He's a senior in high school now, and his family is indeed well-off. He lives in Xiangyi Zijun."
Zhong Xiaoman: "That's the most upscale neighborhood in Jinshi. She's beautiful and rich. Where can you find such a good job?"
Lin Ting: "My senior recommended it to me during the summer vacation."
Zhong Xiaoman grinned mischievously: "I saw him go on stage and hug you at the end. Are you two up to something?"
Lin Ting tapped Zhong Xiaoman's forehead with her index finger. "What are you thinking? She's still a high school student. I just treat her like my tutor's student, nothing more."
Yun Shu: "Xiaoman, you've really overthought things this time. You've forgotten that Lin Ting is a well-known ice queen in the department. Even Abbess Miejue isn't as cold-hearted as her."
A burst of laughter erupted.
Zhong Xiaoman: "Lin Ting, where else can I find such a good job? I am willing to work hard from now on for the sake of the next generation of our country, review the knowledge points of high school, and contribute to the rise of education in China."
Ren Jingjing suddenly remarked from the side, "Who sleeps until noon all day long?"
Zhong Xiaoman immediately shot over with a death stare.
The moonlight outside the window gradually deepened, but the dormitory was still filled with laughter and cheerful conversation.
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