Chapter 298: This was her stage...her kingdom
One fan screamed, almost choking on their words.
"It really is him! The genius designer!" another shouted, voice breaking with excitement.
"I can’t believe it! Elliot Vance agreed to design for Hua Ling!"
The screams turned shrill, dozens of voices overlapping each other. Fans pointed, cameras zoomed in, and reporters scrambled to get the perfect shot of the duo side by side.
It was a collaboration no one had anticipated—yet here it was, dazzling the red carpet.
But not all the cheers were joyful. Among the sea of voices were murmurs and scowls, especially from the cluster of Lin Qian’s loyal fans. Their banners fluttered in the crowd, though their smiles had disappeared.
"That was supposed to be Lin Qian’s designer," one fan muttered bitterly.
"How could Elliot betray her like that?" another said through gritted teeth.
"He’s a traitor. Just wait, karma will catch up with him."
Their displeasure was palpable, their chants of Lin Qian’s name clashing with the thunderous shouts of Hua Ling’s supporters. The air seemed to vibrate with the tension of two fan bases colliding.
Yet Elliot Vance appeared utterly unbothered. His grin stretched wide as he strutted confidently alongside Hua Ling, one hand constantly adjusting the folds of her gown to make sure every angle remained flawless under the cameras.
Whenever she moved, he bent slightly to ensure the train of her dress spread like flowing water behind her.
Whenever she paused for a photo, he stepped back just far enough to give her the spotlight, but close enough that everyone knew whose genius had crafted her look.
He soaked in the attention almost as much as Hua Ling did, clearly reveling in the fact that his name was now trending simply by association.
And Hua Ling herself? She basked in the moment, eyes gleaming as the chorus of voices worshipped her. She could practically feel her sister’s fans choking on their anger in the distance, and that only sweetened the moment further.
Every cheer, every flash, every scream of "Hua Ling!" was a declaration of her victory.
This was her stage now, her kingdom!
Her dress shimmered like liquid light, each movement capturing the beams of the spotlights at just the right angle, scattering them in a dazzling play that left onlookers gasping.
It wasn’t merely fabric—it was a weapon of brilliance, crafted to draw eyes and hold them prisoner.
Elliot Vance’s signature was written all over it. The European designer, infamous for being elusive and impossibly selective, had built his career on exclusivity.
His creations rarely reached the public market, often vanishing within minutes of hitting the runway. Many of his designs were whispered about like treasures—seen only once before disappearing into private collections.
And yet here he was, walking beside Hua Ling, beaming as though he had just painted a masterpiece. To the crowd, the message was clear—Hua Ling wasn’t simply beautiful tonight. She was chosen. She was special.
Reporters surged forward, their voices crashing over one another in a chaotic wave. "Miss Hua Ling! Over here, Miss Hua Ling!" Cameras popped from every direction, and microphones thrust forward like weapons.
"How does it feel wearing an Elliot Vance original tonight?" one asked breathlessly.
"Do you feel you’ve set a new standard on the red carpet this year?" shouted another.
"Is this a hint that you’ll be collaborating again in the future?"
Hua Ling’s media training showed in every graceful tilt of her head and every perfectly measured smile. Her eyes sparkled with confidence as she answered, never faltering, her voice smooth and polished. She praised Elliot for his genius, expressed her gratitude, and let the words roll off her tongue like honey.
The moment she appeared on the big screen broadcast across the country, the viewership count spiked dramatically. At-home audiences lit up the comment sections with a frenzy that rivaled the noise at the venue.
"She looks like a queen!" one viewer wrote.
"I swear this woman was born for the spotlight," another gushed.
"If she doesn’t sweep all her categories, I’ll riot!"
"She’s the reason I’m watching tonight. I can’t wait for her stage—three songs in one medley? She’s about to own this show!"
The flood of praise continued endlessly, every word further cementing her dominance in the night’s narrative.
A reporter raised his voice above the chaos. "Miss Hua Ling, tonight you’ll be performing not just one, but three songs in a medley. How are you preparing for such a demanding performance?"
Her smile widened, serene and confident. "I’ve worked very hard for this, and I’m excited to share a part of myself with everyone tonight," she said smoothly. "It’s not just about singing—it’s about creating a moment that no one will forget."
The red carpet lights glared brighter the moment the bold reporter stepped forward. He was young, dressed a little too sharply for his age, and wore a sly smile that instantly set him apart from the rest of the shouting, scrambling crowd. His steps were deliberate, almost cocky, and when his gaze locked with Hua Ling’s, he gave the slightest wink.
Hua Ling’s lips curved faintly. She had been waiting for this.
"Miss Hua," the reporter began, his voice loud enough to silence the surrounding chaos. "Very recently, your relationship with Scholar Xu was revealed. Do you have anything to say about this?"
The effect was immediate. Cameras zoomed in, flashes intensified, and all noise condensed into one sharp gasp from the crowd. The air itself seemed to still.
Scholar Xu—Xu Ming—was a name that carried weight in the entire country. To have it connected with Hua Ling was explosive enough, but to ask it so boldly on the red carpet? That was dynamite.
Hua Ling froze for the briefest second, her composure cracking just enough to betray a very telling reaction.
A blush bloomed across her cheeks, delicate and undeniable. Reporters pounced on it instantly, snapping photos like a frenzy of hungry wolves.
Her expression—shy, flustered, yet not denying—was all the confirmation the crowd needed.
She finally composed herself, her voice soft yet steady, the kind that left room for speculation without providing a direct answer.
"Today is a very important day," she said smoothly, the smile never leaving her lips.
"Let us just focus on the awards. Any other question unrelated to tonight, I will answer after the show is done."
