The room erupted into chaos as murmurs and questioning looks were directed at Liza. The accusation had sparked a wildfire of speculation. George, standing close to Gavin, leaned in and whispered with curiosity, “Could the Sinclair family really have pulled strings to sneak Madam into Li City University?” Gavin gave him a side glance that practically screamed disbelief. “Do you think a university works like a high school? This isn’t about transferring students.” He continued in a calm but firm tone, “It’s impossible to suddenly place someone who hasn’t attended university into their fourth year. What nonsense are you spouting?” George scratched his head, muttering, “Then how exactly did Madam get in here?” Gavin turned away without answering, the unspoken "Don’t ask me, I have no idea" hanging in the air. Meanwhile, Mason’s patience snapped. “What utter nonsense!” He slammed his hand down on the table, his temper flaring. “My Sister Liza was personally invited to this university by me! This has nothing to do with the Sinclair family!” The murmurs grew louder as students exchanged confused glances. Meanwhile, the lights had dimmed slightly, hiding Serena’s expression from the audience. Her silence, however, spoke volumes, subtly lending credibility to the wild accusations swirling in the air. Sensing the mounting tension, the host stepped forward, attempting to regain control. “Everyone, please mind your words. Let me make this clear: apart from special admissions, all students at Li City University are admitted through standard procedures. There is no such thing as bypassing the system.” The girl who had spoken earlier sneered, her tone dripping with mockery. “Oh, really? Then how do you explain Liza? She just magically appeared here one day!” The host hesitated, clearly unsure how to respond. “Well… this…”At that moment, Serena stepped forward, adopting her usual gentle and composed demeanor. “Allow me to clarify on behalf of my sister,” she said with a soft smile. “She isn’t actually an official student here. She’s just auditing classes. My father felt that since my sister grew up in the countryside and never attended university, this would be a valuable experience for her. He worked tirelessly to make this happen, so I hope everyone can understand.” Her words, while spoken in a seemingly kind manner, carried an unmistakable air of condescension. Serena assumed her explanation was foolproof, but Mason’s anger flared again. He couldn’t bear to listen any longer. “Auditing? Are you kidding me?” he barked. Standing tall, he pointed directly at Liza. “Let me make this crystal clear—Liza was personally invited by me to join this university. Your father had absolutely nothing to do with it!” Serena’s face drained of color at his outburst. “President… you…” she stammered, visibly shaken. After a pause, she bit her lip and spoke hesitantly, her voice laced with reluctance. “I… I understand that you have a special relationship with my sister and that you even stood up for her backstage. But no matter how close you are, it doesn’t justify distorting the truth.” Her insinuation was as sharp as a dagger. She wasn’t just questioning Liza’s enrollment—she was implying something inappropriate between her and Mason. The crowd gasped softly, and all eyes turned toward Mason and Liza, their expressions ranging from curious to judgmental. Gavin, who had been observing silently, narrowed his eyes. His piercing gaze shifted between Mason and Liza, dark and thoughtful. George, thoroughly baffled, whispered, “Why is Mason defending Madam so fiercely? Do they know each other? And why would he invite her to this university?” Gavin’s fingers lightly tapped against his knee as he tilted his head, his gaze lingering meaningfully on Liza. “Who knows?” he muttered, though the look in his eyes suggested he had his suspicions.Sensing Gavin’s intense scrutiny, Liza rubbed the tip of her nose, trying to maintain her composure. Does he already know who I really am? she wondered silently, her heart skipping a beat under his unrelenting stare. It didn’t really matter to her anymore—she had no intention of keeping this a secret. A rhythmic tapping sound echoed through the room as Liza gently tapped the microphone with her finger, drawing everyone’s attention to her. “Have none of you noticed something yet? I’ve been sitting here for quite a while,” she said, her tone calm yet laced with a deeper meaning. Mason chuckled audibly, breaking the brief silence. “Hah! A room full of blind people!” he exclaimed, his laughter unrestrained. Only then did the crowd realize where Liza was seated—right in Master Ruby co’s chair, the one the host had introduced earlier as the revered designer’s spot. A wave of disbelief rippled through the room.“Wait… what? She’s actually sitting there?!” “This is insane! Who does she think she is to sit in that chair?” “Unbelievable. Is she trying to get President Gavin’s attention by pulling this stunt?” “She needs to move! That’s Master Ruby co’s seat! She’s defiling it just by sitting there!” Liza blinked, her brows raising slightly at the sheer absurdity of the comments. “Excuse me?” she muttered to herself, caught off guard by how things had escalated. Among the murmuring crowd, Serena’s expression shifted slightly. Her eyes sparkled with subtle satisfaction as she feigned a concerned tone. “Sister,” she began sweetly, “how could you sit in the master’s chair? That seat isn’t—” Before she could finish her sentence, Liza’s sharp voice cut her off. “Shut up! I don’t recall ever taking on a disciple like you!” The entire venue went deathly silent.With an air of calm authority, Liza’s fingers lightly tapped on the table in front of her. Her usually composed face was now shadowed by a stormy expression, her furrowed brows betraying her irritation. Her voice, cold and steady, resonated across the venue as she spoke into the microphone. “Allow me to formally introduce myself. My name is Liza. My professional alias is Ruby co, and I am a special instructor personally invited by the fashion design department of Li City University.” The room froze as if time itself had stopped. The crowd stared at her, their expressions ranging from utter disbelief to shock. Without waiting for anyone to recover, Liza continued smoothly, her tone carrying an air of professionalism. “The theme of this design competition is ‘Five Grains.’ Most participants incorporated elements related to this theme into their designs. Among them, Serena’s design undeniably stands out as one of the most notable.” The audience remained silent, captivated by her words. Liza then elaborated, describing Serena’s piece in detail. “Her design features layers of fabric that resemble golden wheat ears, meticulously crafted to form the skirt’s structure. The waistline is elegantly segmented, creating a striking visual balance. The bold addition of sleeves that drape across a deep V neckline evokes the imagery of wheat basking in sunlight, growing tall and radiant.” Her explanation was so vivid that everyone could imagine the masterpiece in their minds, though murmurs of confusion and doubt still lingered. Liza’s poised demeanor left no room for interruption. She remained calm, letting the weight of her words settle across the room, as every single person tried to process what they had just learned.