Cui Yuelan hadn't expected Shen Qi to be so dismissive of her, let alone publicly embarrass her. Instinctively, Cui Yuelan wanted to teach Shen Qi a lesson. But then she recalled the month of copying scriptures on the mountain and the hardships she endured, and she quickly calmed down. She shot Shen Qi a fierce glare, and for once, didn't throw a tantrum, obediently heading to the back of the line.
Shen Qi was surprised to see Cui Yuelan acting like a different person. However, Shen Qi didn't have time to dwell on Cui Yuelan's change. She had more important things to do now.
After waiting in line for over two hours, it was finally Shen Qi's turn. She handed over the downloaded registration form. The person gave her a long, meaningful look before accepting it. "Excuse me, aren't there other personal details to input? Where do I do that?" Shen Qi asked, unable to hold back when the other person remained silent.
The person replied impatiently, "Today is just for submitting forms. You'll be notified before the official competition." Even though this differed from what was posted on the website, Shen Qi didn't press further. She simply said, "Alright, I'll stay here today and wait for news."
After Shen Qi left, the person immediately set her form aside and sneaked off to make a call. "Miss Feng, I've held back Shen Qi's registration form as you instructed. But I think I also saw Cui Yuelan just now..." "What? Cui Yuelan is here too? Truly, there's a path to heaven you won't take, and no door to hell you won't barge through!" Feng Kexin gritted her teeth on the other end of the line. "Wait! Change of plans! Since they're both here, put them together! This competition has plenty of team collaboration segments. I want to see how they manage to work together!" "Yes! I'll arrange that right away!" Hearing Feng Kexin's orders, he quickly devised a plan.
Shen Qi hadn't waited long before Cui Yuelan submitted her form. The registration staff immediately called Shen Qi over to input her personal details. Though they hadn't signed up together, they were still assigned to the same room and team.
When the results were announced, Shen Qi remained unfazed, but Cui Yuelan couldn't hold back. "Hey! Are you guys serious? We didn't even come together, and there were so many people in between. Why are we paired up?" The staff member looked at Cui Yuelan. "If you want to switch rooms or teams, find someone else to swap with!" Cui Yuelan immediately turned to look at the others. No one paid her any attention. She grew even more displeased.
Back abroad, she had always been treated like a princess. Her adoptive parents doted on her more than their own daughter. Because of their influence, everyone around her flattered, praised, and fawned over her! But the moment she returned home, before she could even have a proper heart-to-heart with He Yining, that seductress had stolen her Yining-ge away! She tried to win over the old lady, only to be sent up the mountain to copy Buddhist scriptures for a month! If it weren't for marrying Yining-ge, she would have had enough of this! Now even a minor staff member at a designer competition dared to give her attitude! Hmph! Once she married Yining-ge, she'd make sure these people paid!
Cui Yuelan looked at Shen Qi with disdain. "Fine, since no one else wants you, I'll reluctantly agree to share a room with you." Shen Qi could only force a bitter smile at such insincere words. She already had a feeling about how "exciting" the days ahead would be.
After registration ended, Shen Qi returned to the villa. No one was home. Feeling a bit disappointed, she packed her things, ready to move into the competition-provided accommodations. To ensure fairness, all participants were cut off from the outside world. Phones and computers had to be handed over. If she couldn't see them tonight, it would likely be after the competition.
Elsewhere, He Yining was on the phone. "Lanlan, I really am busy. It's not that I don't want to see you." Cui Yuelan's soft, delicate voice came through. "Yining-ge, I've spent a month copying scriptures for the old lady, and I've truly learned a lot. I won't be willful or cause you trouble anymore. Yining-ge, I used to be immature and upset you. That won't happen again. Miss Shen is also joining the competition, so I'll take care of her for you." He Yining glanced outside. The sky wasn't raining blood! Had Cui Yuelan really changed that much? Could copying scriptures really be that effective?
"Yining-ge, I'm moving into the competition hotel tomorrow. I won't let you down! I'll make you proud of me!" Cui Yuelan continued. "I can definitely become the best designer!" He Yining waved at Fan Sheng and Fan Li and spoke into the phone. "Alright, if you win, I'll give you a big gift."
After hanging up, Fan Sheng asked, "Are you sure you won't see her tonight?" He Yining gave a bitter smile. "My mom gave me an ultimatum. If Xiao Qi loses this competition, I have to break up with her. To deal with my mom, I need to prepare in advance." "Isn't the old lady on Xiao Qi's side?" Fan Li couldn't help asking. "That's exactly why it's so troublesome. I don't know what my mom and grandma are fighting over, but I'm stuck in the middle," He Yining shook his head helplessly. "Hopefully, Xiao Qi can make it to the end, and my mom will have nothing to say." "So, after all these years of your grandma not letting her come home, she's pretty resentful, huh?" Fan Sheng and Fan Li said in unison, grinning. "But isn't it unfair to Xiao Qi, making her the pawn in their feud?" "Unfair indeed..." He Yining sighed softly. "I'll bring my parents back first. As for Xiao Qi, I'll figure something out." "Your parents are clearly backing Cui Yuelan, while the old lady is supporting Xiao Qi. I just got word that someone else has meddled in this. Apparently, Cui Yuelan and Xiao Qi have been assigned to the same dorm," Fan Li said, lowering the phone from his ear and turning to Shen Qi. "Are you sure you don't want to see them tonight?" "What?" He Yining's expression darkened. "Damn it, who's meddling this time? My mom and grandma are already enough of a headache. Who's stupid enough to walk into the line of fire? I'm going to see Xiao Qi!"
With that, He Yining turned and left, dialing Shen Qi's number as he walked. "Xiao Qi, where are you?" Hearing the urgency in He Yining's voice, Shen Qi felt a soft pang in her heart. "I'm at the villa, packing." "Good, I'll be right there. Wait for me," He Yining said urgently. "This is getting serious. I'll explain when I get back."
As he jumped into the car, He Yining's phone rang again. It was his mother. "Yining, no matter how this competition goes, you're not to interfere. Didn't you promise me how amazing Shen Qi is? Fine, let her prove it in this competition!" "Mom!" He Yining was frantic. "Several parties have already interfered. Who arranged for Lanlan and Xiao Qi to be together?" Mrs. He snorted coldly. "I don't care who arranged it or how many people are involved. Yining, if you still acknowledge me as your mother, you won't interfere!" "Mom!" He Yining was truly exasperated. "Enough, it's settled," Mrs. He said firmly. "As a mother, if I can't even decide who my daughter-in-law is, what kind of assassin am I?" He Yining wanted to say that when his father got together with her, Grandma had opposed it too. But why was it okay for them, yet he was being interfered with? He couldn't say that, though. If he did, his doting father would give him a thorough scolding and then whisk his mother off on another world tour. All his years of hard work would be for nothing.
"Lanlan is with that Shen Qi now. She's bound to be upset. Go comfort her," Mrs. He said, her tone softening noticeably when mentioning Cui Yuelan. Clearly, having raised her, she felt differently. "Mom, I have my own plans. I promise not to interfere with the competition, but you have to promise me the same. If Lanlan wants a fair match with Xiao Qi, let them compete. Otherwise, if you interfere, I will too. It'll get ugly," He Yining didn't agree to Mrs. He's request. Mrs. He's tone turned cold. "So all your talk about wanting me to come home was just empty words." "Mom..." He Yining was at a loss. It was always like this!
"The old lady made my life difficult for years. I thought having a son would mean having someone on my side. But it turns out he's a son who forgets his mother once he gets a wife," Mrs. He suddenly shifted, her voice turning sorrowful. "I suppose it's understandable. I've always been hard on you, pushing you to be perfect. If you resent me, I get it..." "Mom... I don't," He Yining sighed helplessly. "Fine, I'll go see Lanlan." Having achieved her goal, Mrs. He hung up satisfied.
No sooner had she hung up than He Guoxiang called, giving He Yining a thorough scolding. He Yining felt utterly helpless. Outside, he was a commanding emperor. But in front of his parents, he was always the one being pushed around. There was no helping it—He Yining was a devoted son. The He family placed great importance on filial piety. He Guoxiang had given up his inheritance to chase his wife around the world, but when it came to his parents' birthdays, he still obediently returned and knelt at the door all day. It was a family tradition, and no He family member could defy it.
Under the dual pressure from He Guoxiang and Mrs. He, the filial He Yining had no choice but to go see Cui Yuelan first. Cui Yuelan had already dressed up exquisitely, waiting in her hotel room for He Yining to arrive. She had called He Guoxiang and Mrs. He, and He Yining obediently showed up. What was Shen Qi compared to her?