The fashion show ended in ease as the morning headlines burst into news about the events that happened in one night.
"De L'amour's mysterious designer is revealed to be retired supermodel, Han Yue Ling."
"Han Yue Ling not only shook the modeling world, but also the fashion."
"Retired supermodel, Han Yue Ling is in a relationship with Lu Corp's CEO, Lu Tian."
News articles surface one after another beyond anyone's imagination. This is the first time Imperial was given such shock that even the netizen was in a chaotic mess. The top search was not about Han Yue Ling and Lu Tian's relationship, but her reveal as the mysterious designer.
How can anyone not be surprised to find out that the model everyone idolized is the designer of the brand everyone loves to purchase!
However, while the world turned chaotic, a private room inside Imperial Hotel was not much of a difference. The sound of glass shattering on the floor can be heard from outside. The maids on duty could only tremble as they walk pass with no one daring to take a look.
"How could you do this to me?!"
Outside, one can hear a woman's voice roar in rage while the continuous sound of items being thrown can be heard.
If one were to enter, one would think that a massive tornado had come through the room.
The woman had great looks, but her shouting and sabotaging the room made her look ugly as she paces back and forth inside. She held her forehead and breathes heavily.
"I have never been this humiliated in front of the entire world! You could have changed the outcome but instead, you chose her with everyone else!"
She inhales a mouthful of air that caused her body to tremble in rage. Continuing to breath, she slumps onto the edge of the huge hotel bed.
"Limei, you know that I couldn't do that. None of us invited as a judge could."
Standing in front of the opened bathroom, a man wearing Imperial Hotel's robe steps out into view. He was a man in his late thirties with a devilish look and he was none other than one of the five judges during the fashion show.
He stares at the pretty woman thrashing her anger at everything she could get a hold of and annoyance rose inside him. However, he kept a smile and walks over to Chen Limei.
"What is done, is done. Why anger yourself over something you knew that was going to happen?"
He sits down on the bed and wrap his left arm around her waist. Pulling her closer to his body, he trace the side of her arm with his fingers intending to take off her coat.
"Let's forget about the fashion show and enjoy ourselves since we are already here."
*Slap—
A loud slap echoes inside the room before the man could touch any further. His head turns to the right and a murderous glint flashes in his eyes. He scoffs and caress his cheek that was slapped.
"You could have changed the name of the winner. If you had done so, the other judges would have agreed with you!"
Hearing Chen Limei's annoying nagging, the man turns to her with glaring eyes.
"Do you hear yourself? You expected me to change the name of the winner. Do you know what would have happened if I did that?"
He abruptly stood from the bed and his gentleman persona is ripped off. Without a care about Chen Limei's feelings, he walks to the table that had only one wine bottle and a glass cup still intact.
"Did you forget who was hosting the event?"
The man opens the wine and pours himself a glass and downs the drink in one gulp.
"Limei, you and I both know that Wu Jing is a well temperament person, but we have seen what he is capable of. If I had lied in his territory, not only mine, but your entire career would have been over within seconds!"
He then slams the cup on the table and his words continue to remind the idiotic woman.
"Not only was Wu Jing there, Lu Tian was also there. If you couldn't remember, let me remind you that General Ji was also present. To forge a lie in front of three of Imperial's most highly respected men is like asking for death. So, tell me, why should I give up my hard work so that you could win first place?"
"…."
Chen Limei was tongue-tied hearing the man's reminder. However, as someone close to her, she thought that he, out of the three judges she knew would help her. Yet…
She inhales a mouthful of air and stood up from the bed. Straightening her coat, she turns away and walks out of the room.
"Since you are afraid of them, our affair ends here. I have no more use for you."
--------
Leaving Imperial Hotel in anger, Chen Limei drives herself to An Qing. After experiencing her first lost, she could not bring herself to stay idly at home.
"Miss Chen."
Upon Chen Limei's arrival inside the tall building of An Qing, her assistant greets her as usual. However, Chen Limei does not say anything and walks through the almost empty lobby until she enters her private elevator.
What she did not took notice of was the many stares that were cast upon her.
"Schedule a meeting with my design team. I want a head start on next year's designs."
The assistant glance at Chen Limei and bit her lower lip.
"Umm, Miss Chen…about that…"
Hearing the assistant address her as Miss and not CEO, Chen Limei scoffs in annoyance. Her head turn to look at her assistant.
"What? Now that I have experienced my first lost, you can speak to me in such ways?"
Taking a step forward, she stood closer to the assistant.
"Let me remind you, I am and will always be the CEO of An Qing."
She eyes the woman from head to toe in disgust and sneers.
"Go collect your monthly pay from Human Resources. I have no need for someone useless like you."
Saying this, she press a floor level and stops the elevator.
"Scram!"
The assistant stares at Chen Limei in disbelief. However, taking a deep breath, she lift her legs and steps out of the elevator.
As the elevator doors close, Chen Limei leans against the wall and massage her temples.
One night.
All it took was one night for her to be humiliated in front of the entire world. Even her stupid assistant is looking down on her.
*Ding—
Soon, the elevator sounds as it stops on the highest floor inside An Qing. Chen Limei takes a deep breath to calm herself down and exits the doors. However, the moment her figure stepped out she was rendered speechless at the scene that greeted her.
