Chapter 134 Special Permissions
After finishing breakfast, Zhou Shufen washed her face and decided to go out for a walk.
She strolled around outside, walking from the entrance of the residential area to the park in the center of the street, and then around to the commercial pedestrian street.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of people coming and going, her thoughts calmed down.
Back at the hotel, she immediately opened the still-unfinished design and laid it out on the table to examine it carefully.
Looking at it from left to right, I always feel that many aspects are not quite right.
The lines are too rigid, the color scheme is a bit outdated, and the overall design lacks dynamism.
She picked up a pencil, closed her eyes, and recalled the images that flashed through her mind during her walk, scrutinizing every detail.
Finally, I took a deep breath and started making changes to the drawing.
In the blink of an eye, an hour had passed.
Zhou Shufen packed up her drawings and tools and headed to the competition venue.
When I arrived, I found that there were already many people there.
Some of her colleagues saw her from afar and waved to her.
To Zhou Shufen's surprise, Cheng Yulu didn't come this time.
But she didn't ask any more questions.
After all, we've only known each other for a few days, and our relationship isn't very deep yet.
"Shufen, have you finished your drawings?"
A girl in a blue coat leaned over and asked.
"Shufen is so capable, she must have taken care of it long ago."
Another person chimed in with a laugh.
Zhou Shufen smiled slightly.
"We've just finished the initial phase and are now preparing to make the garments. We've selected all the materials, and we'll start work in a little while."
After hearing this, others didn't press for details, and the conversation naturally ended.
She bypassed the crowd and found a corner to start making clothes.
A cacophony of voices rose from the crowd.
Some people were talking in hushed tones, some were rustling as they turned over fabric, and others were complaining from time to time about not having enough tools.
Zhou Shufen turned slightly to the side and walked towards the corner by the window.
The room was well-lit, and an empty workbench lay quietly awaiting use.
She laid out the fabrics and tools she had brought one by one.
Take a deep breath and get to work.
First, quickly sketch a draft on paper.
I tore off another piece of sample fabric and tried sewing a small section of the cuff.
If you're not satisfied, tear it down and start over.
The second attempt used an embedded lining, which indeed made the silhouette more structured.
The collar design has been adjusted for the third time.
The original V-neck has been changed to a side-opening, overlapping design, adding a touch of classic charm.
Finally, after finishing the last stitch, she gently smoothed the fabric, stepped back half a step, and examined it closely.
The garment has smooth lines and distinct layers.
It possesses both modern aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship.
A slight smile played on her lips, and a sense of accomplishment welled up inside her.
This piece represents nearly a week of her hard work.
From material selection to pattern making, and then to the key parts of hand sewing, not a single step was done perfunctorily.
Other contestants may pursue speed, but she focuses more on quality.
As long as the scoring process is fair, she is confident of advancing to the next round, even against strong opponents.
When I went to submit my work, I unexpectedly ran into Cheng Yulu at the submission area.
She was standing next to the contestant in front of her, seemingly confirming something with the staff.
Zhou Shufen was about to say hello.
To her surprise, the other person didn't even glance at her and walked right past her.
Their indifferent demeanor made it seem as if they had never met.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment, Zhou Shufen's hand froze in mid-air, and then she slowly lowered it.
Although they had only known each other for two days, their previous interactions had been quite polite.
Did I say something wrong?
Or did I offend her unintentionally?
But she immediately shook her head to dismiss those thoughts.
It's only the second day, and there's no conflict of interest between them, so how could they be enemies?
Moreover, in a competition of this caliber, who would bother to target a newcomer who has just emerged?
Cheng Yulu might just be in a bad mood, or she might be in a rush.
They might not have come specifically for her.
When it was her turn, the staff opened the register to check her information.
Zhou Shufen glanced at the front page and saw that it read "Cheng Yulu".
The ink on the signature had dried, and a label with the artwork number was affixed next to it.
The submission time is shown as 10:15 AM.
He arrived almost two hours earlier than her.
This made Zhou Shufen admire the other party's professional attitude.
She looked away, took the receipt from the staff member, carefully folded it, and put it into her bag.
He then returned to the waiting area with the other contestants.
A few people gathered together in twos and threes.
Some people were discussing the details of the artwork in hushed tones, while others sat in a corner quietly resting with their eyes closed.
Zhou Shufen found a seat against the wall and sat down.
The atmosphere around them wasn't relaxed; everyone looked tired.
Listening to the sounds of conversation around her, she slowly adjusted her breathing and calmed herself down.
About half an hour later, a middle-aged man walked up to the small podium, holding a list in his hand.
He cleared his throat, his voice steady.
"Attention all players, excuse me for interrupting."
The entire venue gradually quieted down.
"All the submissions have been collected, and the results will be announced tomorrow. The second round theme will also be announced after the results are released tomorrow. Everyone has worked hard today, go back and rest."
A young male contestant wearing round-framed glasses grinned and patted his teammate on the shoulder.
"Finally, I can go home and lie down!"
On the other side, a girl with a ponytail frowned.
"I wonder if the next question will be difficult... Should I look up some information tonight?"
People around immediately chimed in, and the atmosphere suddenly became lively.
Zhou Shufen remained seated, her expression calm and her gaze steady.
In truth, she wasn't entirely without inner turmoil, but she had long since learned to keep her emotions hidden.
Moreover, for her, it doesn't make much difference what the theme is.
Whether it's ancient palace style or urban minimalism, she has the corresponding knowledge and practical experience.
As long as the topic doesn't restrict the materials or style, she can quickly find a starting point and come up with a brilliant solution.
This confidence doesn't come from nowhere; it's the result of honing skills day after day.
Just as she stood up and reached for her bag, a deep male voice entered her ears.
"Shufen!"
She frowned slightly, and her heart skipped a beat.
Looking back, it was Zhou Dajun.
He reached out and beckoned to her, his expression a complex mix of emotions.
Zhou Shufen's back straightened slightly.
How did this person end up here?
What is he planning to do now?
She immediately became alert.
"Just say what's on your mind."
Zhou Shufen spoke.
Zhou Dajun seemed unaware of her wariness and remained calm.
He pulled two pieces of paper directly from his bag.
Zhou Shufen recognized it at a glance; it was the blueprint used in the competition.
Her heart skipped a beat, and her brows furrowed involuntarily.
Why did Zhou Dajun show me the competition drawings?
In principle, all submitted works should be kept strictly confidential until the review process is completed, and are strictly prohibited from being leaked or displayed privately.
Is he a judge?
Or do you have some special privileges?
Even so, it shouldn't be taken out so casually.
Before she could even finish the thought, the other party had already handed her the blueprints.
Zhou Shufen hesitated for a moment, but ultimately accepted it.
She looked down and her mind went blank.
The composition, the lines, the color scheme...
Isn't this the work I submitted myself?
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