Chapter 71
Listening to their praise, Chloe's smile grew brighter and brighter, though she still tried hard to stay composed as she walked back to her seat with unsteady steps amid the thunderous applause.
"Chloe, you were absolutely amazing! The championship is definitely yours!" Mandy grabbed Chloe's hand excitedly and said.
The woman smiled modestly, but her eyes couldn't hide her smugness.
Of course - this painting was specially created by referencing Queen's work! A high score was only natural!
But she still pretended to be modest, smiling faintly, "Mandy, you can do it too."
Mandy wanted to say more, but she was up next, so she had to give up for now and turn to go on stage.
Her work had a completely different style - soft tones, flowing lines, with an ethereal beauty that naturally drew a chorus of admiration.
Just as the two thought the championship and runner-up positions were already in their pockets, suddenly the host came on stage looking excited, speaking with passion.
"Thank you to all contestants for their wonderful performances! Now we're about to enter the most exciting part! As everyone knows, this competition's judges are all giants and leaders in the design world, but the most important one hasn't been revealed yet. Let's give our warmest applause to welcome her!"
"Queen!"
The moment those words fell, the audience erupted in thunderous applause.
At this moment, the smugness on Chloe's face had completely frozen with the host's words, her expression showing hints of shock.
"How is this possible?!"
The next moment, under everyone's gaze, a graceful figure appeared in the judges' entrance passage on the right side of the stage.
It was Charlotte, wearing a simple haute couture suit!
She walked calmly, her cool face looking especially refined under the spotlight, her whole being radiating a subtle sense of distance.
"This is impossible?! How could it be her?! How could Queen be her?!"
The moment she saw that face clearly, Mandy shot up from her seat with a sharp voice that drew the attention of many contestants, all showing strange expressions.
"Host! I object!"
Chloe stared hard at Charlotte, who had walked to the center of the judges' panel and sat down, then stood up and shouted loudly, "Charlotte didn't even participate in the semifinals, what right does she have to sit on the judges' panel?!"
"Does this competition have any fairness left at all?!"
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere suddenly went quiet, and countless reporters, sensing something unusual, pointed their cameras at her and Charlotte.
Regarding Chloe's questioning, Charlotte barely lifted her eyelids, a cold smile playing at the corner of her mouth as she looked down and twisted the ring on her index finger, appearing completely unconcerned.
After hearing her words, the host's face looked rather unpleasant.
But considering this was a global competition, he still held back, speaking with a forced smile: "Ms. Johnson, please watch your words."
"Ms. Johnson indeed did not participate in the semifinals, but she was confirmed as a lifetime honorary judge by the World Design Competition's official organizing committee three years ago, so she naturally has the right to be here!"
"Furthermore, regarding whether she is Queen, our organizing committee has conducted comprehensive identity verification. There is absolutely no possibility of error."
The moment she heard these words, Chloe's mind exploded with a "boom."
For a moment, ringing filled her ears, making her unsteady on her feet as she swayed.
"This... this is impossible... three years ago... specially appointed lifetime honorary judge..."
Seeing her still unwilling to believe, the host's smile was starting to slip.
"If anyone doesn't believe it, you can check the official website after the competition ends. After all, that can't be faked."
Charlotte, who had been silent, glanced at the woman's ugly expression in the distance, curved her lips, and moved her slender fingers slightly to turn on the microphone in front of her.
"If Ms. Johnson has doubts about my qualifications, you're welcome to investigate, or choose to withdraw from the competition. Either is fine."
"Of course, if you want to continue competing, please sit back down and don't waste everyone's time."
After hearing this, the other contestants also began to condemn Chloe.
"What is this person trying to do? If she thinks it's unfair, she can leave."
"Exactly, if she doesn't want to participate, others do."
Hearing the dissatisfaction around her, Chloe was grinding her teeth in hatred.
She glared fiercely at Charlotte, then sat back down.
Damn Charlotte, this isn't over!
Seeing her being somewhat sensible, the host breathed a sigh of relief and put on his standard smile again.
"Alright, after that little interruption, let's get back to business."
"Now, please welcome our head judge, Queen, to provide final comments and scores for the finalists' works!"
"Who will win the championship?"
As he said this, the host deliberately paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone's faces.
Sure enough, he saw the fervor and excitement in all the contestants' eyes.
Satisfied, the host curved his lips and waved his hand grandly.
"Without further ado, the scoring begins now!"
The moment those words fell, the stage lights began to flash, pushing the atmosphere to new heights.
"Contestant number one, decent composition, but colors too conservative, 8.5 points."
"Contestant number five, off-topic concept, feels like showing off, 7.0 points."
"Contestant number fourteen, work has good spirit, but structure is slightly loose, not tight enough, 9.0 points."
Hearing Charlotte's sharp comments, everyone nodded in agreement.
Those who had been half-doubtful about her abilities now showed some admiration.
Soon, the paintings on the screen rotated to Chloe and Mandy's works.
Charlotte stared intently at these two pieces, not speaking for a long while, and the atmosphere in the venue immediately became tense.
"These two..."
"Contestant number twenty-three, Chloe, and contestant number twenty-four, Mandy..."
"The works are indeed good, and the previous judges gave high scores..."
Hearing Charlotte's words, Chloe puffed out her chest slightly, her eyes full of smugness.
So what if Charlotte was a judge?
She had paid good money to have someone clean this design - there was no way she could tell!
Noticing her expression, Charlotte narrowed her eyes coldly, a mocking curve forming at the corner of her mouth.
"However, in my opinion, this work number twenty-three seems quite similar to an unpublished draft I once had."
"Could it be that contestant Chloe's ideas coincidentally match mine?"
"You're making false accusations!"
Hearing this, Chloe's face twisted for a moment as she shouted loudly, "This work was clearly drawn by me staying up all night. You can't say this is your work just because we have a personal grudge!"