Chapter 726

 726:
“Hang on—those colors on the palette… they’re oddly pleasant when they swirl together.”
“Now that you say it, they do have a nice harmony to them. Kind of peaceful, actually.”
“I don’t know why, but I’m getting the feeling that today’s competition might take a turn no one expected.”
To ensure fairness, each designer’s booth was insulated from outside sound, eliminating any distractions or unsolicited feedback.
Still, even if Linsey could hear the skepticism, it wouldn’t have shaken her.
Composure remained etched on her face as she stayed locked into her process.
Once she had the colors just right, Linsey lowered the board into a bucket of paint with steady hands.
Gradually, the pigments began to swirl to the surface, dancing along the water like silk threads unraveling.
Those watching online instinctively zoomed their view onto Linsey’s workstation.
“Is that mist? Looks like there’s ice in the bucket.”
“The chilled water must be for controlling the paint. Cold temperatures help it set faster, reducing the chances of colors bleeding into one another.”
“But can it really stop the colors from blending entirely? Look—some sections are already mixing, forming soft waves. I’m not sure this method will hold together.”
“That seventh color in the water looks incredible! How did she manage that mix? I’m an art student, and I’d love to try it myself!”
“Have you noticed how beautifully those shades melt…”
“Together?”
“Wait—I just realized! Those hues resemble how colors appear in natural daylight!”
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“What’s Contestant No. 3 up to? I can’t look away!”
After ensuring each pigment had fully dispersed into the water, Linsey reached for the plain white T-shirt provided at the start of the challenge.
With steady hands, she unfolded the fabric and dipped the center into the swirling colors, letting it soak up the delicate blend.
Bit by bit, she eased the rest of the shirt—starting with the collar, then the sleeves and hem—into the chilled bucket.
During the process, her gloves brushed against the surface, absorbing some of the frigid water.
That was when something unexpected happened.
A faint smudge of dark dye bled from her gloves, blooming across the otherwise soft-toned water.
When she realized what had happened, Linsey’s pulse spiked. She jerked her hands upward, trying to minimize the damage.
But the harm had already begun—cool, pale water now carried an inky mark.
“This is awful! Who thought it was a good idea to hand out gloves that bleed dye?”
“Unbelievable. Looks like the sponsors went cheap with the materials. Those gloves just ruined the entire bucket!”
“You all really believe Contestant No. 3 was going to pull off something extraordinary, huh?”
“Why feel bad? The designer in the center—Arthur—is almost finished, and his work is already shaping up to be a masterpiece.”
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