Chapter 206: Chapter 0206: The Gambling Game with Mu Lan as the Bet Chapter 206: Chapter 0206: The Gambling Game with Mu Lan as the Bet Mu Lan completely disregarded her disheveled appearance as she looked at Huo Tingxiao with determined eyes.

“You promised something, you can’t go back on your word.”

Huo Tingxiao was about to lose his mind. Was a competition more important than her health?

Seeing her soaking wet and enduring pain, he felt as if someone was squeezing his heart painfully.

He clenched his fists, then released them. In front of her, it seemed he could only bow his head.

“Alright.”

Mu Lan sighed with relief.

“Thank you.”

Mu Lan was limping back to the backstage area with the help of Huo Tingxiao. The staff, seeing her in such state, were shocked.

Her whole body was drenched, even her hair was still dripping, and she was barefoot, looking as disheveled as one could be.

“Designer number 5 just went up, it’s almost your turn. Can you even go on stage like this… ”
Mu Lan nodded.

“It’s fine, I think going on stage like this matches the concept of my work even better.”

“You still want to go on stage?”

Huo Tingxiao’s voice deepened as he looked at Mu Lan.

“Of course, as a designer, displaying one’s works to the judges on the stage is a fundamental duty.”

Mu Lan’s words caused Huo Tingxiao to frown.

“Your foot is swollen like this. How are you going to stand on stage? You’ve already delayed treatment. If you persist and your foot ends up ruined, what then?”

Mu Lan looked at the undisguised worry in Huo Tingxiao’s eyes and felt an indescribable emotion in her heart.

After a pause, she insisted,
“This is a hard-earned opportunity for me. I just want to do what I desire.”

“You…”

“It’s your group’s turn now, get ready to go on stage.”

The show director came over to hurry them, with Huo Tingxiao following the male models lastly, appearing as the finale.

Although he had never experienced a runway before, Huo Tingxiao’s pacing was impeccable, hitting his marks with extreme accuracy.

Vincent, sitting in the judges’ seat, was surprised as he watched Huo Tingxiao walk out wearing that asymmetric shirt and prototype patched trousers.

Suddenly, he remembered what Huo Tingxiao said during dinner the night before yesterday.

—–
“Mr. Vincent, we meet again.”

Huo Tingxiao was graceful, and Vincent looked at him, a smile on his face.

“You don’t seem like you’re here to talk business, but you also wouldn’t be here just to see me, so…?”

Huo Tingxiao smiled noncommittally.

“You’re right, Mr. Vincent. I did come to Paris for another reason.

However, I can’t say for now. Consider it a little surprise I’ve prepared for you.”

Curiosity piqued, Vincent wondered what this so-called surprise might be.

“So, could you give me just a tiny hint, and let me enjoy the fun of guessing?”

“It’s related to the design competition the day after tomorrow, but more than that, I cannot reveal.”

Huo Tingxiao put on a mysterious air, but Vincent had already guessed what was going on.

“Then I’ll wait and see.”

—–
Vincent brought his thoughts back to the present; he thought it was a huge surprise just to see a contestant he admired appear, but he never imagined that Huo Tingxiao would actually show up on the runway.

Hmm, it was a pity, if such a promising newcomer could enter the fashion industry and become a model, perhaps it could change the standing of Asian male models in the global fashion scene.

However, the esteemed CEO of TX wouldn’t have appeared on today’s runway if not for his wife.

Huo Tingxiao was truly multitasking, striving not to make any mistakes on one hand, and on the other hand, worrying about Mu Lan’s condition.

He had never noticed before how stubborn this person could be; once he set his mind on something, no one could persuade him otherwise.

But…

If Mu Lan weren’t so stubborn, she probably wouldn’t have been able to love him, the bastard, for so many years, Huo Tingxiao thought self-deprecatingly.

After all models were positioned, some industry bigwigs sitting in the front row of the audience couldn’t help but start talking to each other.

They were all aware that this year’s competition featured a contestant whom Vincent greatly admired. They had seen some of the design drawings beforehand, which were decent concepts, but the finished products displayed were even more surprisingly delightful.

After all, a sketch is flat, and there’s a discrepancy with the three-dimensional reality. Many designers sketch well, but it doesn’t mean they can create a perfectly tailored piece that matches the drawing.

This requires deep knowledge of fabrics, knowing which type could achieve the best effect.

And a good designer not only achieves a good result but also keeps costs under control.

But nowadays, many ambitious young people are thinking of launching their own luxury brands, completely disregarding the consideration of costs.

Sitting in the central position of the first row, the editor-in-chief of “V Magazine,” Sara, fiddled with the sunglasses in her hand, looking at the 12 pieces on the stage with a smiling glint in her eye.

Next to her sat Lauren, the editor-in-chief of “E Magazine.” The two were jokingly referred to as the “two empress dowagers” in the fashion world, loving and fighting each other, since they both headed top-notch fashion magazines and each aimed to be the undisputed top 1.

Sara scanned around, seemingly casually stating:
“I heard that this player number 6 hasn’t studied abroad and doesn’t have their own brand studio either. To produce such work the first time competing shows some promise.”

Lauren raised an eyebrow, secretly admiring Mu Lan as well, but due to her rivalry with Sara, she purposely contradicted.

“But this style, don’t you think it reminds one of Vincent’s early works? Moreover, the minimalistic style–CELINE has already perfected it. Launching another similar brand, I fear…”

Sara raised an eyebrow, laughing softly.

“It looks like we disagree again. I think she has a lot of potential. I admire this contestant, especially since Vincent’s judgment is never wrong. I bet she will win this year’s gold award and might very well become a hot topic in the fashion world. Our ‘V Magazine’ should do an Eastern-themed issue.”

At this, Lauren looked displeased. She also harbored this thought, but still retorted stubbornly:
“Katrina from the Paris Design Institute is also competing this year, so it’s still uncertain whose laurels will be claimed.”

Sara pursed her lips.

“Why don’t we make a bet? If Tracy wins the grand prize, you can’t use any of IT’s brands in this year’s Milan Fashion Week report. Otherwise, if Katrina wins, I won’t use it.”

Lauren hesitated, as IT owned several top luxury brands, and she relied on these brands’ trends to attract advertisers during Fashion Week. The bet was weighty…

Seeing her hesitation, Sara smiled slightly.

“What, don’t dare?”

Lauren scoffed:
“Who says I don’t dare? You’re on.”

The big shots were throwing tantrums, and ordinary folks might well tremble, for the October Fashion Week report was destined to be steeped in turmoil.

As the host introduced Mu Lan’s name and signaled for her to come onstage, Mu Lan endured the pain, waited until the models in front had all showcased their outfits, and then limped onto the runway…

As she stood there, looking at the audience, rhythmic background music filled her ears.