Lou Xiao's public displays of affection were ignored by him, but Zheng Nanrong couldn't quite handle it. She kept looking around nervously, "Stop messing around, what if someone sees us out here?"
"You weren't so conservative yesterday, Madam." Lou Xiao had been with many women, but this one, though not as tender as younger women, was still charming and possessed a unique allure that younger women lacked.
It made him linger.
Zheng Nanrong got out of bed and was a completely different person from when she was on the bed. "Do things at the right time. Night is for night, and day is for day. If you don't want me to never see you again, then behave yourself."
Lou Xiao chuckled lightly, "Alright, as you wish."
He seemed very doting, but a dark glint flashed in his eyes.
The two deliberately kept their distance and left the hotel.
Unbeknownst to them, Lu Junze had seen everything. He knew this woman was Shen Qingqing's aunt and that she had strong opinions about her.
He found the manager and, using the excuse of having lost something, went to the surveillance room. He then secretly saved the footage of the two entering and leaving the hotel.
He immediately sent it to Shen Qingqing.
Shen Qingqing called him directly, "This video footage of yours is quite explosive."
"How was it? Wasn't it incredibly exciting?" Lu Junze said with a grin.
"It was indeed quite exciting." Shen Qingqing knew why he had saved the video. "This will be very useful to me. Thanks, I'll treat you to a meal next time."
"Okay, okay."
Soon, it was time for the preliminary round of the design competition. The venue was crowded, and Shen Qingqing saw many unfamiliar faces as well as many familiar ones.
However, she soon saw another person, Shen Yaoyao.
Why was she here?
Shen Qingqing observed subtly and realized that Yaoyao was here to participate in the competition and had already mingled with the other contestants.
She felt like laughing. What kind of design would Shen Yaoyao draw if she participated?
Would she draw an egg?
As she was thinking, Shen Yaoyao took out a drawing and presented it to everyone, claiming she had spent three months on it.
Frankly, the work was indeed quite good.
No one could honestly say the design was bad, so they all praised her profusely.
The sound of high heels approached from a distance. Everyone instinctively looked up and saw Shen Qingqing walking in elegantly in her heels.
People often said that designers were the most fashionable, but in reality, it was quite the opposite. Many designers were so engrossed in their work that it was common for them to neglect themselves for ten to fifteen days.
To put it bluntly, people who pursued art often paid little attention to their own image.
But Shen Qingqing was different. She was like a blazing fire, burning intensely as she moved through the crowd, instantly becoming the center of everyone's attention.
Shen Qingqing's gaze fell on the design drawing in Shen Yaoyao's hand. "Are you sure this drawing was actually done by you?"
Shen Yaoyao tilted her head back, "Of course!"
Shen Qingqing chuckled, "Your ability to lie with your eyes open is truly getting better and better."
"I'm not lying. What evidence do you have to say this drawing isn't mine?"
"Do I need evidence? You've never been able to draw, nor have you ever been involved in design. How could you possibly create a drawing like this?"
Shen Qingqing not only knew her well but also because this drawing was the work of a friend of hers. When this piece was first created, her friend had shown it to her.
The style was novel and unique; she remembered it very clearly.
Shen Yaoyao put on a wronged expression, "Why are you like this? You come over and falsely accuse me with just a few words. I don't think I've ever offended you."
A beautiful woman's tears always evoked pity, and the gentlemen around them couldn't bear to watch.
"Why are you like this? You're accusing someone else's work of being stolen without any evidence. Do you know how much harm that can cause, and that it's also slander?"
"Yes, don't just say things."
"I believe Yaoyao wouldn't do such a thing."
Shen Qingqing was also beautiful, but her beauty was too aggressive, making her seem unapproachable to the men. In contrast, the quietly wronged Shen Yaoyao evoked the pity of most men.
Shen Qingqing's red lips parted slightly, "A bunch of idiots."
The men's eyes widened, "How can you insult people?"
Shen Yaoyao lowered her head, a smirk playing on her lips. When she looked up again, only anger remained on her face. "You can say whatever you want about me, and I won't bother with you. But you insult everyone, and I can't stand that. You say this drawing isn't mine, but you're just a designer who started not long ago and doesn't even have a name yet. What right do you have to question me?"
Shen Qingqing gave a cold laugh, "Just because I know the original owner of this drawing."
Shen Yaoyao was startled, "That's impossible!"
"Whether it's possible or not, I can just call her. Won't that tell us?"
Everyone instinctively looked at Shen Yaoyao, who bit her lip and remained silent.
Her appearance of being bullied made everyone's sense of justice surge.
"You don't think you can just find someone to answer the phone and say they're the original owner of this work, and we'll believe you?"
"If you're going to put on a show, at least make it more convincing."
Shen Qingqing ignored the mockery from everyone and found someone's account to call. Soon, a pretty-looking girl appeared on her phone.
"Sister Qing."
"Xiao Xi, is this your work?"
Shen Qingqing aimed the phone camera at the design drawing. Xiao Xi glanced at it and stated confidently, "It's my design. I spent a month drawing it."
"You're talking nonsense..."
Before Shen Yaoyao could finish speaking, Xiao Xi said in her energetic voice, "Sister Qing, you're at the design competition held in China right now, aren't you? They invited me to this competition too, but I was too busy recently, so I declined. If I had known you were going, I would have gone too."
Shen Qingqing said, "So, did you submit this design drawing to the competition?"
"I didn't submit it. My teacher sent it. My teacher wanted me to participate, but I really couldn't find the time recently."
Xiao Xi grumbled, "You have no idea how tired I've been lately."
Shen Qingqing said, "So, that means if we check with the organizers now, they can also find out that this design drawing was sent from your end."
"Yes."
The venue fell silent.
Shen Yaoyao stood there, stiff as a board, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
How could this be? How could this be?!
Zheng Nanrong had clearly said that no one knew the author of this design drawing, and the author was abroad. Using this author's work to enter the competition was a sure thing.
Even if this design drawing had already appeared before the organizers, Zheng Nanrong had said that everything had been taken care of and there was nothing to worry about.
And now, Shen Qingqing had ruined everything!
Everyone glared at her with anger and disdain. Those who had spoken up for her earlier now wished they could disappear into the ground with shame.