"Some things, when the younger generation can't handle them, the elders should step in and help if they can." Old Madam He smiled kindly. "That girl must grow up before she returns. Otherwise, how will she contend with her mother-in-law? That daughter-in-law of mine is no pushover."
"I understand your meaning," the butler replied with a bowed head.
On that night of clashing forces, Shen Qi slept in utter peace.
She had no idea she had become the target of countless eyes.
Her gains and losses were no longer just a matter of her personal achievements.
They were the outcome of a power struggle among multiple factions.
That night eventually passed.
When the dawn of the next day arrived, the roster had been thoroughly reshuffled.
The remaining 60 contestants suddenly felt the pressure cut by nearly half.
Choosing 20 people out of 60 was far better than picking 20 out of 105.
Yet, even so, the weight of pressure still hung over everyone's heart.
Shen Qi herself wasn't very confident.
This was her first time participating in such a competition, and she was completely in the dark about the entire process.
She had no guidance; everything had to be figured out through her own exploration.
She had some confidence in making it from the semifinals to the finals with 20 people, but not much.
Because she had no idea about anyone else's true abilities.
In the previous two rounds, everyone had competed in secret, leaving their skill levels shrouded in mystery.
Shen Qi had studied under Mr. Charles, so she had a bit of self-assurance.
But when it came to advancing from the finals to the grand finals—picking five out of twenty—she severely lacked confidence.
After all, this competition was truly packed with talent.
Otherwise, it wouldn't have attracted so many CEOs and chief designers to come and observe.
At that moment, Shen Qi desperately wanted to call her teacher Charles, even just to vent or hear his comforting words.
If her teacher were by her side, he would surely guide and soothe her.
But that wasn't possible now.
Her teacher was far away, and communication was forbidden. She had to bear all the pressure alone.
Facing everything on her own felt absolutely terrible.
Yet, on this path, there was no retreat without progress.
If she stopped, all her efforts would be wasted.
She had no right to admit defeat. All she could do was fight, and fight harder!
For the past eighteen years, every day had been filled with tension and struggle.
Today would be no exception.
Shen Qi, keep going!
You can't give up easily!
Think of your dreams, think of your brother, think of the future!
Fight! Give it everything you've got!
Move forward and live; fall back and die!
I, Shen Qi, will never surrender!
Shen Qi's eyes snapped open, her gaze filled with unshakable determination.
Liu Yi sensed Shen Qi's transformation.
She was genuinely happy for her.
Yesterday's Xiao Qi had still been a bit lost and uncertain.
But today's Xiao Qi seemed to have been infused with new vitality, shining so brightly that she was impossible to ignore.
Xiao Qi, keep going!
You can do it!
Win or lose, you've already achieved your goal here!
The remaining contestants were gathered together again.
The head of the organizing committee scanned the room and said slowly, "Those of you left are the elite talents of this competition. I hope everyone can advance successfully. But hope is just hope; reality is always cruel."
The sixty people below didn't respond, each lost in their own thoughts.
"Now, I officially announce the exam topic for the semifinals advancing to the finals," the head of the organizing committee said. "This time, the topic will be set by the renowned shoe and bag brand designer, David."
As soon as the head finished speaking, David stepped forward and nodded to the contestants. "It's an honor to participate in this selection. We hope to find partners in this competition who can work and strive together with us. And for those who may not be lucky this time but are still strong, I look forward to future opportunities to collaborate."
When David finished, Shen Qi took a deep breath.
David's name was very familiar to her.
He was second only to Mr. Charles in the design world.
A true standout in the field.
Frankly, having David set the topic for the semifinals was a mark of real prestige.
The other contestants also knew David's reputation well, and the moment they saw him, cold sweat broke out on their palms.
David's strictness was known worldwide.
It was said that to achieve the perfect design draft, he would不惜 scrap entire production lines of finished and semi-finished products, bearing all the losses himself, and resubmit new designs.
That year, the brand of bags David designed sold like hotcakes.
Both the style and quality were flawless.
Sales rivaled top-tier brands.
The CEO at the time nearly split his face from grinning.
A perfectionist designer like him wouldn't make the exam topic easy.
David looked at the sixty people below and said with a smile, "So, today's exam topic is actually very simple. Show me all your talent. Design whatever you want, but let me see your creativity, your skill, and your determination to go all the way!"
Shen Qi and Liu Yi clasped hands tightly.
The real test had finally arrived.
The first two rounds had tested one's foundation and character.
Now, from this point on, it was about testing one's roots and adaptability.
If the semifinals were already this brutal, the finals and grand finals would likely be merciless.
But then again, with such a high elimination rate, the topics had to be tough to weed out so many people.
David added, "From now on, aside from not communicating with the outside world, you can do anything permitted by the organizing committee. You have three days. I hope to see your submissions in three days, and I hope everyone can face the outcome with a calm mindset. Alright, that's all."
As David finished, everyone applauded.
After David left, Shen Qi whispered to Liu Yi, "Xiao Yi, David specializes in shoe and bag design. A lot of people will probably cater to that and design shoes or bags. We should avoid that trend."
Liu Yi nodded. "There are too many ears here. Let's talk back in the room."
Back in the room, after confirming there were no cameras or listening devices, Liu Yi said, "Xiao Qi, what are you thinking?"
Shen Qi replied, "I think David wants designs that stand out, not ones that blindly follow others. Sure, borrowing from established masters can secure a baseline score, but it's also the easiest way to fall into clichés. My suggestion is to design something niche, like small accessories or trinkets."
"True, with so many people, a lot will choose to design clothes, shoes, or bags," Liu Yi agreed. "Do you have a specific idea?"
"Xiao Yi, have you noticed? Everyone focuses on big, broad concepts, but no one pays attention to details, like buttons," Shen Qi shared her thoughts. "Why do people think cheongsams are beautiful? Because they highlight a person's best curves and are exquisitely crafted. But a cheongsam's beauty relies on many details, like embroidery or frog buttons."
"So you want to design buttons?" Liu Yi looked at Shen Qi in surprise. "That's really niche. In modern fashion, buttons are important but not that crucial."
Shen Qi nodded. "Yeah, I want to make something out of buttons."
"Buttons are important, but they're too small. How will you showcase your design?" Liu Yi shook her head. "Xiao Qi, the risk is too high!"
Shen Qi looked at Liu Yi firmly. "Xiao Yi, in a competition like this, following the crowd can get you crushed. Maybe taking a different path will yield different results. There are sixty people, and each one will bring their best work, including professional clothing and shoe-bag designers. Do you think I can compete with them with just a few months of theoretical knowledge?"
Liu Yi shook her head.
Shen Qi continued, "So why should I use my weakness to attack their strengths? Buttons are so small that they probably won't bother designing them, right? I'll try this unconventional route! If I make it to the finals, it proves my path is right. So, Xiao Yi, what are you planning?"
Liu Yi scratched her head casually, looking clueless. "I don't know either!"
Shen Qi sighed. "We have too little time and too much to prepare. If you're not sure either..."
Before she could finish, Liu Yi waved it off. "You design buttons, I'll design belts! If you're doing accessories, I'll do accessories too!"
Shen Qi sighed again. "Women's clothing buttons have endless variations, but belts..."
"It's fine! Fashion belts can be just as varied," Liu Yi said dismissively. "I'm different from you. Even if I can't be a designer, I can still be a boxer. But you're determined to be a top designer, Xiao Qi. Keep going!"
Shen Qi smiled at Liu Yi. "Yeah, let's keep going together!"
After Cui Yuelan returned to her room, she immediately spent money to send out messages and had someone dig into Shen Qi and Liu Yi's designs.
Soon, the informant returned, reporting that Shen Qi and Liu Yi never discussed their designs in public.
And there were no discarded drafts or sketches in their room; everything was shredded.
Seeing how cautious Shen Qi was, Cui Yuelan had to let it go.
Jiang Xiaojiang, that pawn, was already useless, making things less convenient for her now.
At Fan Sheng and Fan Li's villa, Feng Manlun raised his glass to toast He Yining. "President He, you've finally gotten what you wanted."
"Mutual benefit," He Yining replied with a smile. "Brother Manlun is also a winner here."
Feng Manlun just smiled without a word.
He Yining continued, "David is your man. In the upcoming matches, please go easy on us!"
Feng Manlun chuckled lightly. "David is a straightforward person. I won't interfere with any decision he makes."
"But even straightforward people have their weaknesses," He Yining said, still smiling cheerfully. "Given your temperament, Brother Manlun, you wouldn't let a talented person slip out of your control, would you?"