Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
These words caused the rims of Zhuang Nainai’s eyes to turn red.
Back then, because Teacher Zhao had treated her unjustly, she had lost the chance to enter the fashion design department.
But luckily, she hadn’t given up on her dreams. That was how she managed to get to where she was today.
Upon seeing her in this state, Zhao Ming took a step back from her, then bowed deeply to her. Zhuang Nainai was shocked to see him do this and hurriedly moved to the side to hide. Then she heard Zhao Ming say, “Zhuang Nainai, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed that you had plagiarized another person’s work right after hearing what the judges had decided. I shouldn’t have kept the matter under wraps, on my own subjective opinion that it was for your own good. I also shouldn’t have been so sarcastic toward you after the competition. Now that I think back to what had happened, I must have been blind. I should have thought about your talent before jumping to conclusions.”
These words made her feel bitter and wronged. However, what Teacher Zhao had done was not wrong.
So what if he had told her what had happened?
She had been a college student. Without any backing from anyone nor a position in the industry, if she had been accused of plagiarism, how could she have absolved herself from these accusations?
Instead, the impulsiveness she’d had back in college would probably have led her to kick up a fuss without worrying about the consequences. Should that have happened, and should the public backlash have been severe as a result, would she have been able to deal with the pressure?
Upon thinking about this, Zhuang Nainai felt that everything happens for a reason.
She looked at Zhao Ming. “Teacher Zhao, back then, which work did the judges think I plagiarized?”
She was sure that she had not plagiarized any work. Furthermore, she had felt that the Starlight competition was the best chance for her to get recognized. Thus, she had submitted a controversial work to the competition.
It was creative and unconventional. Such a work would either bring about high praise or would never see the light of day.
Thus, it was impossible that someone had had the same idea as her.
Zhuang Nainai’s gaze grew determined. At this moment, she strongly sensed danger looming over her.
Zhao Ming was silent for a moment. He turned to look at Si Zhengting. “It was the work of your Imperial Group’s design department’s director. Mi Nuo had entered the Starlight competition that year and won the first prize.”
After she heard this, Zhuang Nainai’s eyes widened.
Mi Nuo?
How could it be her?!
For some unknown reason, Zhuang Nainai suddenly recalled the animosity Mi Nuo had been showing her. From the first time that they had met, Mi Nuo seemed to have been sizing her up. Moreover, Mi Nuo seemed to have some dealings with the Gus.
However!
When she entered the Starlight design competition, she had been in her second year of college. She hadn’t even had any interaction with Mi Nuo!
How could this be?
Zhuang Nainai narrowed her eyes. Zhao Ming sighed.
Neither of the two spoke. Then Si Zhengting, who had been standing silently at the side, suddenly spoke up. “Teacher Zhao…”
After he said this, Zhuang Nainai and Zhao Ming turned to look at him. Si Zhengting’s expression was dark, and an imposing aura emanated from him. “I hope that Teacher Zhao can be a model of virtue for others and make the right decision. I hope you don’t make another wrong judgment and ruin someone else’s life.”
His words were cruel and piercing, and Teacher Zhao Ming’s face flushed after he heard what Si Zhengting had to say. Teacher Zhao Ming usually had a ready retort for everyone, but at this moment, he was at a loss for how to respond to Si Zhengting.
And Zhuang Nainai didn’t know whether to laugh or cry in response.
The oppression and depression that she felt vanished in that instance.
She had been wronged, but Si Zhengting was even angrier about that than she was. This showed that he cared for her more than she cared for herself.
This realization made her feel that she benefited more from this reunion not by the rekindling of her relationships with her classmates but by the improvement of her relationship with Si Zhengting.
