Chapter 135 Disqualification
She suddenly looked up, her eyes fixed on Zhou Dajun, a raging fire burning deep in her pupils.
Zhou Dajun nodded to her, then gestured towards another drawing.
The meaning couldn't be clearer.
Don't jump to conclusions yet, read on first.
Zhou Shufen gritted her teeth, suppressing her anger and unease, and reached out to pull out the picture below, examining it carefully.
The overall style of this picture is very similar to her works.
To be precise, it's almost the same style as the version she stayed up all night drawing last night.
The only difference is that the layout of this picture is a bit stiff, as if it was rushed.
When she saw the name signed at the bottom of the picture, she understood everything.
Cheng Yulu!
Ah, so that's how it is.
No wonder they were so attentive this morning, bringing breakfast and knocking on the door to come in.
It turns out they had ulterior motives.
Thinking of this, Zhou Shufen felt a tightness in her chest and a surge of anger rushed to her head.
But she also knew that getting angry wouldn't help.
It was my own carelessness that allowed someone to take advantage of the situation.
If the blueprints had been locked up earlier, or if outsiders hadn't been allowed into the house at all, things wouldn't have escalated to this point.
But now, the only way to hold people accountable is through rules, not emotions.
"This matter concerns the fairness of the competition, and we will investigate it thoroughly."
Seeing that she had been silent for a long time, Zhou Dajun finally took the initiative to speak.
Zhou Shufen did not object.
If her things were stolen, then she's in the right.
Even if the other party has connections or powerful backers, the nature of this matter will not change.
What are you planning to do?
She raised her head, her gaze sharp and intense.
She couldn't swallow her anger when it concerned her own efforts and opportunities.
They certainly wouldn't swallow this insult silently.
"We will meet with Cheng Yulu in person to understand the situation."
Zhou Dajun answered crisply and decisively.
"If necessary, we will also retrieve the log records of the submission system to verify the upload time and version change traces."
He paused, his voice lowering slightly.
"If plagiarism is confirmed, her qualification will be revoked immediately, without any leniency."
Actually, if you put these two pictures side by side, it's obvious at a glance who copied whom.
Although the styles are similar, Zhou Shufen's designs are more complete and richer in detail.
In contrast, the other design, while seemingly similar at first glance, appears stiff at key points and lacks a true creative core.
However, a decision cannot be made based on mere intuition.
Zhou Dajun put the blueprints back, his expression becoming more serious.
"But if it is ultimately proven that you plagiarized someone else, you will still be disqualified."
He looked at Zhou Shufen and said, word by word.
Zhou Shufen gave a soft "hmm," her expression calm.
Those who are innocent will remain innocent; there is nothing to be afraid of.
"Is there a possibility that the blueprints could be leaked?"
Zhou Dajun then asked another question.
His tone softened somewhat, but it still carried a sense of caution and inquiry.
“I finished drawing very late last night. Cheng Yulu came to see me early this morning, probably when she saw the sketch. But she only saw a rough outline, and I changed a lot of things later.”
Zhou Shufen answered truthfully.
“I didn’t plagiarize anyone. I stayed up until 2 a.m. to finish the first draft of this picture, and I revised it repeatedly today. I even adjusted the details when making the proof. I have lived up to my efforts and this competition.”
Zhou Dajun then asked a few more detailed questions.
Such as the source of inspiration for a certain pattern, the psychological basis for color matching, and the feasibility considerations for its implementation.
She answered clearly and logically, even accurately stating the data parameters.
"Go ahead and investigate. I'll do my best to cooperate with whatever you need me to do."
Zhou Shufen added.
She proactively opened her phone's photo album and pulled out photos of the design process taken the previous night.
It also showed the file modification time records on the computer.
All evidence is complete and traceable.
Zhou Dajun nodded and said.
"Okay, I'll look into it. But don't leave before the results are in."
Zhou Shufen thought about it and agreed that it made sense.
Only when the truth comes to light can suspicion be completely cleared and the fairness of the competition be upheld.
The two went to find Cheng Yulu together, and happened to run into another investigator who had just finished asking questions and came out.
Upon seeing Zhou Shufen approaching, Cheng Yulu's expression immediately changed.
She suddenly stood up and pointed directly at her, shouting.
"I submitted my design a long time ago! She must have looked at my proposal and then changed her own!"
Zhou Shufen remained calm in the face of criticism.
"I've never seen anyone plagiarize others' work and talk about it so confidently."
She paused, a cold smile curling at the corner of her lips.
"Cheng Yulu, you're crying 'stop thief' like a thief! You dare to play this game? Shouldn't this show end here?"
Upon hearing this, Cheng Yulu's expression changed instantly.
The color drained from his cheeks instantly, his lips trembled slightly, and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes.
She could no longer control her emotions and shouted loudly.
"What nonsense are you talking about! I didn't plagiarize at all! You're the one who copied my idea! From the very beginning, you were peeking at my design drawings, deliberately delaying the deadline, and only submitting your work at the last minute, just to make people think you were more original!"
After saying that, she turned around abruptly to face Zhou Dajun and another judge.
“You can check the submission time! I arrived early this morning, registered the first draft information before seven o'clock, and spent the whole time in the studio revising and adjusting. How could I have had time to copy her work?”
She raised her voice and pointed her finger forcefully at Zhou Shufen.
"She didn't hand it in until 9:30! That's a full two hours late! Who do you think is more suspicious?"
In Cheng Yulu's view, everything was flawless.
She believes that the record of time will prove her innocence and is certain that Zhou Shufen will be unable to produce more compelling evidence.
The judges turned to look at Zhou Shufen, their brows furrowing slightly.
Based on the submission time, Cheng Yulu did indeed submit her application earlier than Zhou Shufen.
Seeing that Zhou Shufen remained silent, Cheng Yulu seized the opportunity to deliver the final blow.
"Did she secretly look at my design, go back and spend the whole night making changes, then change a few details and pass it off as original?"
As she spoke, she glanced around, trying to gain the sympathy of the onlookers.
"She submitted her work so late, she had plenty of time to refine it repeatedly! But I was focused solely on creating, and I simply didn't have the energy to imitate her!"
"Oh."
Zhou Shufen suddenly chuckled softly.
"She's quite eloquent and good at making up stories."
"But clothes can't be made just by looking at blueprints. True design depends on the finished product, the wearing experience, and the underlying craftsmanship."
Her gaze swept over Cheng Yulu's artwork display.
"Your ready-to-wear garment has rough stitching and the shoulder line is off by nearly two centimeters, while my work, in terms of both tailoring and texture, is far superior to yours."
After speaking, she turned to Zhou Dajun, her expression calm.
"Please bring me my work. I have my own way of proving that I did not plagiarize."
Zhou Dajun gently raised his hand.
One of the staff members immediately understood and quickly walked backstage.
Soon after, the two competition outfits were brought out and neatly arranged on the display shelf.
Zhou Shufen stepped forward, opened the lining of her clothes, and showed it to everyone in its entirety.
Her lining features a unique waist-cinching design.
The use of elastic stitching technology makes the entire garment fit the body's curves better.
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