The hall fell into an eerie silence. All eyes turned toward Liza, their expressions a mixture of shock and confusion. Whispers began to ripple through the crowd, particularly among those who didn’t recognize her. “Who is she?” someone murmured. “I don’t know, but she’s stunning,” another replied, unable to look away. “Are you serious? So what if she’s pretty? Does being good-looking give her the right to act recklessly?” a skeptic chimed in. The boldness of Liza questioning the judges’ decision left many in disbelief. To them, it was sheer madness to challenge the results so openly, especially when Serena was the undisputed favorite for first place. Serena had long established herself as a cherished figure in the university. Her victory seemed so well-deserved that even the idea of someone challenging it felt absurd.Even Gavin, sitting quietly nearby, was momentarily caught off guard by Liza’s unexpected action. His gaze shifted to her, studying her closely. Despite the waves of tension coursing through the room, Liza remained unfazed. Her relaxed demeanor, coupled with the faint smirk playing on her red lips, suggested she wasn’t even aware of the stir she had caused. George, who was observing from a distance, swallowed nervously. “Madam… Madam…” he muttered under his breath, as if hoping she’d reconsider her actions. He was well aware of the animosity between Liza and Serena, but this was far too public a platform for personal grievances. Surely, there were better ways to confront Serena than questioning the judges’ verdict so brazenly. In stark contrast to the tension among the audience, Mason seemed utterly unfazed. If anything, he appeared relieved. Finally, Sister Liza had shown up—something he had been hoping for.The sudden disruption left even the host at a loss. His gaze darted nervously toward the university officials, silently pleading for guidance. But to his dismay, the leaders sat motionless, ignoring his signals entirely. Stunned, the host faltered, unsure of how to proceed. On stage, Serena held the microphone tightly. Her composed expression betrayed only a faint trace of unease as her eyes met Liza’s. After a pause, she broke the silence, her gentle voice amplified across the room. “Sister, please stop causing a scene,” she began, her tone soft but firm. Her words were laced with what seemed to be concern, but her carefully chosen phrases carried a subtle sting. “I know how much you want to win first place in this competition. I understand your dream of joining Stone Corporation and pursuing a career as a designer. But…” Serena hesitated, biting her lip as if reluctant to speak, “...you didn’t even have the courage to enter the competition in the first place.”The room buzzed faintly as her words sank in. Serena, ever the picture of grace, continued, her voice tinged with a mix of pity and condescension. “Dreams are admirable, but as designers, we must be brave and innovative. It’s only through courage and determination that we can create a brighter future for our craft. Simply dreaming isn’t enough; one has to take bold steps to make those dreams a reality.” Her speech was delivered with a theatrical flair, sounding almost like an inspiring proclamation. The audience couldn’t help but applaud her, their cheers resonating throughout the hall. Meanwhile, George felt as though he was standing on a bed of hot coals. His mind raced as he scrambled to think of a way to defuse the escalating tension. And yet, amidst all the chaos, Liza remained perfectly composed. Her calmness was so unsettling that it only heightened the intensity of the moment. Finally, the university leaders, who had been forcibly dragged back to the venue by Mason, began to stir. They exchanged perplexed glances as they observed Liza, their confusion evident. After a brief, whispered discussion, they signaled discreetly to the host, indicating they had made a decision. The host returned to the stage, clearly trying to regain control of the situation. Clearing his throat, he addressed the audience with a composed expression. "Ladies and gentlemen, it seems we’ve encountered an unexpected situation," he announced, his voice cutting through the murmurs in the room. As he spoke, the spotlight shifted to him, capturing everyone’s attention. He turned toward Liza, his tone calm but probing. "Student, could you explain why you believe Serena is undeserving of first place?" He extended the microphone in her direction, waiting for her response. Liza, unfazed by the tension in the room, casually adjusted her posture, her expression remaining indifferent. Her voice was steady and nonchalant as she said, "Why? Because she plagiarized." The single word, plagiarized, landed like a bomb in the room. “What?! Plagiarism?!” someone exclaimed, breaking the stunned silence. The designers in the audience exchanged shocked and indignant looks. For them, plagiarism was a grave offense. Each sketch was the culmination of a designer’s hard work, creativity, and passion. To steal another’s work and claim it as one’s own was nothing short of disgraceful. The crowd erupted into whispers, their collective disdain for plagiarism palpable. Serena’s face briefly flickered with panic, but she quickly regained her composure. Impossible! she thought to herself. There was no way she could have been caught! She hadn’t outright plagiarized; she had simply "borrowed inspiration" from Master Ruby co’s work. That wasn’t the same as stealing… was it? Taking a deep breath, she looked at Liza with an expression of wounded innocence. “Sister,” she said, her voice trembling slightly as though holding back tears, “do you even realize the weight of your accusation? Do you know what this could do to me? A designer’s reputation is everything. Just one word from you, and my entire future could be destroyed!” Her voice cracked, and she seemed to choke back a sob, further tugging at the audience's emotions. The host, caught between the dramatic exchange, hesitated before addressing Liza again. “Serena is right. An accusation of plagiarism is not something to take lightly. If you’re claiming that she plagiarized, you must provide evidence to support your claim.” He paused for a moment, gesturing toward Serena’s winning design displayed on the screen. “I may not be an expert in fashion design, but even I can see that Serena’s work is innovative and vibrant. It’s unlike anything I’ve seen before. Are you sure you’re not mistaken?” Just as the host finished speaking, a figure stormed out from backstage, drawing everyone’s attention. "Of course she’s mistaken!" the girl shouted, grabbing the microphone from Serena. Her voice was filled with righteous anger as she pointed accusingly at Liza. “Don’t believe a word she says! This is Liza we’re talking about—yes, that Liza! The so-called eldest daughter of the Sinclair family who was brought back from the countryside!" The crowd began murmuring again, their gazes shifting back to Liza, some curious, others skeptical. The girl continued, her voice dripping with disdain. "She knows nothing about fashion design! She’s only here because the Sinclair family pulled strings to get her into Li City University’s design program. She’s never studied design, and she doesn’t have an ounce of talent! She’s just bitter about Serena’s success and is trying to stir up trouble!" The room buzzed with tension, the audience unsure who to believe. Some cast doubtful glances at Liza, while others watched her carefully, waiting for her response. Meanwhile, Serena lowered her gaze, hiding the flicker of triumph in her eyes. She couldn’t have asked for a better distraction. The accusations against her might’ve been dangerous, but this sudden intervention had shifted the narrative completely in her favor.