Chapter 512: Zero Point 4
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
From any perspective, it seemed unbelievable. Ye Xiyuan’s design draft was undoubtedly the best so far, breathtakingly so. Moreover, such a gown represented countless girls’ dreams. It also aligned perfectly with the theme.
Yet this design had garnered the lowest score. One could say it was the lowest in competition history.
“Impossible!” Ye Xiyuan stared at the brazen zero, eyes filling with disbelief. She cried out, then whipped around to meet Ye Leng’an’s mocking gaze.
It must be her. Ye Lengan was behind this. Otherwise, a zero score made no sense.
“There’s a conspiracy here!” Ye Li charged onto the stage to stand by Ye Xiyuan, jabbing an accusing finger at the judges. “Xiyuan’s is clearly the best work today. But you gave this result. This is unfair!”
“Provide a reasonable explanation or the Ye Group will respond without mercy, even if you represent Neo Fashion!”
His glare fixed fiercely on Ye Lengan, carrying a warning. His words obviously targeted her.
Ye Lengan merely lifted her brows, indifferent. She considered herself a victim of injustice here. Of all the designs for Ye Xiyuan to steal, it had to be this one. It could only mean even the heavens opposed her! What fault was that of Ye Lengan’s?
“Can’t you see the reason?” asked a Neo Fashion executive. “One zero score might indicate a fix. But unanimous failure from all judges signals an issue with the Ye Group’s entry itself.”
Ye Xiyuan’s heart plummeted at this. His hinting troubled her. Could her design really have problems? That seemed unlikely, given the fervor this gown’s debut would eventually incite!
“It’s you, isn’t it?” Ye Li grasped nothing of what transpired, simply jabbing a finger at Ye Leng’an. “You sabotaged this, intending the Ye Group’s defeat!”
The others considered the score more carefully despite their disbelief. Not like Ye Li’s outburst.
The judges were no fools. Openly targeting the Ye Group made no sense. Their unanimous zero implied flaws in the draft itself, spotted by all.
“Now you only shirk responsibility?” Ye Lengan sneered at Ye Li. “We’ve reached this point, yet you still see no issue?”
Ye Li likely grasped the problems but proved reluctant to acknowledge them!
Ye Xiyuan felt her pulse race and her breath grow short. She might have played herself for a fool.
“What problem?” Ye Li demanded angrily. “Xiyuan designed a great gown easily the best skill seen today. Your zero score has to involve conspiracy.”
“The draft does boast shock value and outstrips all others,” Sun Liyi said bluntly. “But we had seen this gown before today – not merely designed, but already produced.”
“What?” cried Ye Xiyuan, eyes filling with disbelief.
Impossible! She clearly recalled this dress debuting in Paris next year. How could it exist already and also be produced?
Murmurs rose from below as the revelation sunk in. As a famous international designer, Sun Liyi would never lie. Ye Xiyuan’s work showed clear plagiarism by her telling.
If true, the unanimous zero made perfect sense.
Suspicion toward Ye Xiyuan flashed in every gaze. Like staring at a thief. In fashion circles though, plagiarism counted as an even graver sin than theft.
“Yes, and the gown’s designer stands among us today,” Linda affirmed with a nod. “Ye Xiyuan’s draft proves nearly identical, except for minor details altered. What else could this be but plagiarism?”
Ye Xiyuan had claimed a sparked inspiration seeing the theme. Yet the finished product already existed. The question of copying appeared rather obvious.
Hearing this, Ye Xiyuan whipped her head up to glare at Ye Leng’an, eyes filling with hatred. “It was you, wasn’t it? This is your doing!’
Surely Ye Lengan had designed the gown early, laying this trap to ruin Ye Xiyuan’s name and future!
In fashion circles, a plagiarist would never work again.
“I’ve no involvement whatsoever,” Ye Lengan said with a shrug. “I’m merely here as Neo Fashion’s talent judge, not for design expertise. I could never manage such a stunning creation..”