Ever since she knew about the design curriculum of the finals, Wen Xinya had mostly stayed in her room working on her designs. Her days were rather pleasant.
The only imperfection was that she couldn’t contact outsiders and had not spoken to Si Yiyan on the phone for a few days already. Ever since she got together with Si Yiyan, although they were frequently apart as Si Yiyan was busy with work, such instances of no contact for days were rare.
Thus, an uncontrollable longing for Si Yiyan arose in Wen Xinya’s heart.
Four days passed while Wen Xinya was immersed in working on her designs and missing Si Yiyan at the same time.
It was finally the deadline for the submission of the drafts for the finals.
Mr. Ronda knocked on Wen Xinya’s room door and finally brought her to the Milan World Expo. This time, the International Jewelry Design Competition was held right at the Milan World Expo.
Wen Xinya stayed at a hotel slightly further out from the Milan World Expo—it took about one hour by driving.
When they reached the Milan World Expo, it was already 10 A.M.
At the Milan World Expo, Wen Xinya chanced upon a familiar person.
About three years ago, when school started at the Capital University, she had come to the Capital city with Xia Ruya for further studies and had been jealous and resentful towards her because she had become Ji Shihan’s student—Yan Menglu from the Yan Family from Harbor City!
Yan Menglu obviously saw Wen Xinya too as her footsteps halted slightly before she walked towards Wen Xinya. “Miss Wen, it’s been a few years. How have you been?”
The few years had done tremendous changes to Yan Menglu. She was wearing a red cheongsam with peony embroidery. On the collar of the cheongsam was a pigeon-blood ruby, the size of a fingernail, which was polished, glowing, and gorgeous. Her light brown hair was kept in a bun behind her head with a red jadeite hairpin with flower engravings. She radiated the strong aura of a Chinese beauty.
The cheongsam, which was known for its conservativeness, elegance, and mysteriousness, when worn on her, gave off an arrogant, cold, and overbearing feeling. However, the hostility from her eyes had decreased dramatically.
Wen Xinya could tell that her tone wasn’t friendly and smiled mildly. “Still the same.”
Honestly, Wen Xinya was indifferent to Yan Menglu. Previously, when she just came to the Capital city with Xia Ruya to sow discord, she had indeed had a few clashes with her, attributed to Yan Menglu’s arrogance. After that, after everything had cleared up, things were peaceful between them. Undoubtedly, Yan Menglu was indeed an intelligent person.
Yan Menglu was quite talented in jewelry design and often secretly competed with her. However, during the second semester of their first year in the university, Yan Menglu had returned to Harbor City. It was rumored that the Yan Family had found a world-renowned jewelry designer to tutor her.
Since then, Wen Xinya had stopped noticing her.
She had heard that her talent in jewelry design was well-known in the upper-class society of Harbor City. This time, at the International Jewelry Design Competition by the Milan World Expo, she had proceeded smoothly through the stages only to be eliminated before the grand finals. Nevertheless, her accomplishment at such a young age had been praised by everyone.
“Miss Wen must be kidding. How are you still the same—you’re doing as well as you can. These past few years, even though I’m in Harbor City, I’ve heard all about your accomplishments. Miss Wen is really something to be even famous in Harbor City.”
Yan Menglu stood tall at 1.7 meters, and, with her 15-centimeter high heels, standing before Wen Xinya right now, she had a height advantage which made her have an odd sense of superiority when facing Wen Xinya.
Yan Menglu disliked Wen Xinya very much. In the semester when she studied at the Capital University, she was obviously on par with Wen Xinya regardless of background, looks, talents, or capabilities. However, Wen Xinya trumped her in all aspects.
Wen Xinya became Ji Shihan’s student and started to excel in jewelry design, gradually surpassing her. Thus, everyone compared her to Wen Xinya, saying that she was inferior. This made the proud Yan Menglu feel horrible and hate Wen Xinya even more.
Yan Menglu’s words were still mean and harsh as before. However, compared to the past, they were already much prettier. “Miss Yan, you flatter me.”
The mild words were neither serious nor frivolous and neither soft nor hard, but they made Yan Menglu’s mocking words feel like punching cotton, which enraged her.
“Wen Xinya, do you think I’m praising you?” Yan Menglu detested how Wen Xinya always looked so calm as if she didn’t have a care in the world and everyone was worthless ants in her eyes. Every time she saw this look of hers, she couldn’t help but grit her teeth.
Seeing how Yan Menglu was smiling mildly without speaking, Wen Xinya totally ignored her sarcasm.
Yan Menglu’s expression changed mysteriously and suddenly laughed weirdly. “Wen Xinya, I admit that you’re indeed talented in jewelry design and better than me. However, today, your journey will only stop here. If you’re thinking about emerging as champion, it’s only wishful thinking.”
Based on her knowledge, the grand finals this time was based on the design theme of the ruby. Everyone knew that Wen Xinya had previously used ruby for a couple of her designs for the red-themed jewelry series for the Wen Corporation. With that precursor, it would be even more difficult for Wen Xinya to use the same theme and win.
Wen Xinya knew what Fang Menglu meant and said mildly, “Miss Yan doesn’t have to worry about this. It’s not up to you to decide my competition results.”
Indeed, to Wen Xinya, the design curriculum was a huge challenge. However, Wen Xinya was already currently better than before. Because of that seven treasures necklace, she had officially entered the ranks of the great jewelry designers. Recently, with the assistance of Teacher Ji, she stayed focused and drilled on what she had already learned. Naturally, the products that she designed would surpass her previous works.
Rebutted by such neither casual nor serious remark, Yan Menglu couldn’t help but become agitated momentarily as the hostility in her eyes gradually grew. “Oh, is that so? We’ll watch and see, then.”
Yan Menglu had followed her senior to Milan this time. Her senior, Shen Siwen, had entered the grand finals of this Jewelry Design Competition in second place, right behind Wen Xinya.
Wen Xinya was Shen Siwen’s strongest competitor.
Shen Siwen was very wary of Wen Xinya. However, after knowing about the theme of the grand finals, she was no longer afraid of Wen Xinya.
“Okay!”
The plain word was said in a calm tone, without the least bit of emotion.
