She immediately contacted Lu Shan via text message:
— Nan Shiqing: [You have to do me a favor now, otherwise, all our previous cooperation is void!]
— Lu Shan: [What favor?]
Lu Shan replied to the text quickly, and Nan Shiqing typed all her thoughts onto the screen.
"There are still three mini-competitions, and the prize for the final winner remains unchanged. There is another mini-competition today. After it concludes, our organizing company will provide accommodation for you. The remaining two mini-competitions will take place the day after tomorrow."
"A design competition taking this long, are they deliberately trying to mess with our minds?"
"Exactly, this is the first time I've seen a competition like this. Are you guys genuinely looking to select a champion?"
"I really don't know what the organizers are thinking! They've invested so much, but I can't agree with what the examiner just said. We are all here to compete. For the same thing, ten people have ten different opinions. We can be contestants, why can't we be judges?"
Someone in the crowd voiced this opinion, and it garnered mixed reactions:
"We have hundreds of contestants, so there's nothing wrong with us voting!"
"Of course not! We are here to compete; we are not qualified to judge others' work. If you don't trust the judges, then why not leave it all to the public?"
...
The works were displayed on the official website, allowing netizens to choose, letting loyal fans select which was the best work in their hearts.
"But what if someone uses fake accounts?"
"You can rest assured about that. Each voting person gets only one vote per day, and it requires real-name verification. Additionally, voters must have had a consumption record on our company's official website for over a year."
One of the judges immediately followed up on someone's suggestion.
This proposal was immediately met with approval from everyone. After all, they had all come to participate in the competition enthusiastically, and no one wanted to leave disappointed.
"Then today's competition ends here. Voting will take place tomorrow, and the second mini-competition will begin the day after tomorrow, and so on."
So, calculated, each mini-competition would take two days, and for four, that would be eight days.
Many things could happen in these eight days.
Nan Shiqing herself was quite satisfied with this timeframe.
Therefore, she quickly edited and sent a text message to Lu Shan:
— Nan Shiqing: [Not yet, I still have plenty of time.]
— Lu Shan: [The boss said that if you win first place, we can continue to give you better time. Otherwise, you should understand that sincerity is the most important condition for a win-win situation.]
With Mu Yinyin present, she had no way of winning this competition, even though her mother had found someone for her.
This was because Mu Yinyin's ability was not only recognized by her but also by others. She had seen the elder's affirmation of Mu Yinyin.
Furthermore, at the moment Mu Yinyin's painting was revealed, the astonishment, jealousy, and envy from everyone present were evident.
Thinking of this, Nan Shiqing fiercely pinched her palm.
All contestants were assigned hotels, and meals were delivered to their room doors by dedicated staff. Some even quipped about the competition:
"Is this imitating ancient imperial examinations? But it's better than ancient imperial examinations because there are toilets, and we can also eat!"
Of course, some were also dissatisfied. "Isn't this giving us an opportunity? To better compete and select excellent works."
"Four mini-competitions, I've never seen an exam like this. And the examiner's immediate affirmation of the girl with the green-faced, fanged mask. Speaking of which, should we go and see her?"
Even though the competition rules allowed masks, it would still be good to see her.
However, with hundreds of contestants, they had no idea which room she was staying in. Moreover, guards were stationed outside each room, prohibiting them from leaving.
The first reason was to prevent people from visiting each other, and the second was to protect the contestants from harm.
Nan Shiqing felt very frustrated by this.
Because she wanted to find Mu Yinyin!
Unable to face her directly, Nan Shiqing tentatively sent Mu Yinyin a text message:
— Nan Shiqing: [Sister, are you there? I have something, and I need your help.]
When Mu Yinyin received the text, she was leaning on her bed. The change in the competition rules had indeed surprised her. Therefore, the first thing she did upon checking into the hotel was to check the room for any surveillance cameras.
She couldn't expose herself yet.
Only after confirming there were no cameras in the room did she feel relieved and remove her ghost-face mask.
While lying in bed watching TV, she saw the text message from Nan Shiqing and narrowed her eyes.
What good could Nan Shiqing want from her?
Since she had come here, she wasn't afraid of being recognized by Nan Shiqing, and she knew that even if Nan Shiqing recognized her, Nan Shiqing wouldn't expose her in front of everyone! A cold sneer flashed across Mu Yinyin's eyes.
— Mu Yinyin: [Now you are not only a designer at Mu Corporation but also the most important woman by Fu Siye's side. I'm curious, why don't you go to Fu Siye for help, and instead come to me?]
Fu Siye's presence, so powerful and dazzling, if Nan Shiqing sought his help, she might even unearth more formidable designers.
But then again, Nan Shiqing had presented herself so well in front of Fu Siye; she would never expose her incompetent and disgraceful other side to him.
How could Nan Shiqing not understand that this was Mu Yinyin's deliberate taunt and sarcasm?
— Nan Shiqing: [Sister, some things cannot be helped by others. Between us sisters, can past affection truly be disregarded and ignored?]
Nan Shiqing's mention of past 'affection' was what Mu Yinyin found most amusing.
If Nan Shiqing cared about past affection, how could she so rightfully stand by Fu Siye's side? If she had affection, even if Fu Siye had made promises, shouldn't she stay far away from him?
And! She wouldn't have poisoned her father, seized her family's assets, and so righteously enjoyed the sense of accomplishment she had once brought her!
— Mu Yinyin: [Is there any affection between us? Don't bother me, I don't want to talk to you right now.]
The text messages Nan Shiqing sent were very cautious, yet they touched upon everything.
She didn't want to argue with Nan Shiqing anymore, nor did she want to waste time on her, because verbal arguments were useless.
She attacked Nan Shiqing with emotion.
The word "老子" (laozi) surprised Nan Shiqing because—
It was the first time Mu Yinyin had used profanity in front of her.
Ever since Fu Siye divorced her, Mu Yinyin had become increasingly different from before. Could it be that she had suffered a blow and was experiencing problems?