Chapter 731
731:
Dustin froze at Collin’s words, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face. “Wait, Collin—Arthur is our designer. Shouldn’t we be backing him all the way?”
Confidence returned quickly as Dustin continued, “And besides—Arthur’s work speaks for itself. It’s refined, sophisticated. Contestant No. 3 might be creative, sure, but nothing they’ve done stands out as groundbreaking.”
Collin didn’t reply right away. A few quiet moments passed before he finally said, “They took a plain white T-shirt, dyed it by hand, embroidered three figures, and reshaped the silhouette entirely. Aren’t those standout features?”
Dyeing and stitching might not appear to be standard methods in a fashion design competition, but there was no denying that the visual impact they created still played an essential role in the world of fashion design.
The simplicity of Collin’s response left Dustin at a loss for words. With a new lens on the competition, he couldn’t help but glance back at Arthur’s work—and for the first time, it felt underwhelming.
CR Corporation already stood at the top of the industry. Dozens of companies at the event depended on its influence just to stay afloat. Given its status, CR Corporation had no real need to battle it out in a public design contest. Brand recognition was never a problem, and they didn’t need the exposure the rankings promised.
But Collin had his reasons.
By hosting a design competition that brought together several companies, CR Corporation aimed to elevate its global standing through a process marked by precision and high standards. If Arthur, the designer representing CR Corporation, managed to win today’s contest, it would not only promote the brand but also boost its prestige and draw in potential partnerships with other firms.
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It was a calculated play—one that carried little risk.
But if another company’s designer walked away with the trophy, CR Corporation would have to surrender a portion of those hard-won benefits.
Meanwhile, back at the event, Linsey hadn’t slowed down one bit. Her vision was still unfolding.
Not long ago, she had asked the staff member to turn up the heat inside her booth.
Now, despite the shirt being nearly dry, sweat clung to her skin and dizziness crept in like a slow tide.
At the same time, a stinging pain began pulsing through her right wrist.
Drawing in a steady breath, Linsey tried to regain focus.
Every step she had taken so far demanded precision—one wrong move, and the whole design could unravel.
A part of her questioned whether the concept had been too ambitious from the start.
That hesitation had been why she stood still so long in the beginning, caught between risk and resolve.
Still, she didn’t let that stop her for long.
Lifting the wide collar, she located its midpoint, pinched it upward to form a fluid ripple, and fastened it neatly with silver chain buttons.
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