CHAPTER 90: CHAPTER 90: SERENA JENNINGS IS MINE TONIGHT

Peter rushed to the Blue Ocean International Convention Hall after finishing a board meeting, nearly running a red light in the process.

He checked his watch, calculating the time, and sprinted out of the car.

As he pushed open the hall door, Serena Jennings was just taking her designed competition piece off the model’s head on stage.

This headscarf was not symmetrical.

When Serena fastened the dangling metal lace ends together, the headscarf instantly transformed into a three-dimensional model.

Peter smiled knowingly.

Serena had won!

Even though the scores had not been announced, he could already predict the result.

Thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Patrick Rhodes, who had just rushed back from the restroom, stood up excitedly and clapped.

Not far away, Quentin Xavier was also clapping, his expression full of disbelief.

Serena said nothing, silently presenting her work to the judges.

She believed the work itself could answer the judges’ doubts.

On stage, Claire Shaw trembled with rage.

How could this be...

How could Serena have such creativity!

Besides Claire Shaw, other contestants couldn’t help but applaud Serena.

Claire Shaw’s reaction was a beat slow, reluctantly clapping to keep up appearances.

Serena’s design, when worn on the head, was a priceless, dazzling 22K white gold headscarf fully encrusted with gemstones.

And when taken off and fastened, it became a model of a human brain.

One side featured a Ruby, while the other side had a Sapphire, perfectly forming the left and right brain.

In Serena’s view, AI is far more than what a robot can encompass.

It is the computer system’s simulation of human intelligence, applied across various areas of everyday production and life.

What it embodies is the magnificent arc of human wisdom.

The perfectly cut colored gemstones she employed, paired with countless small diamonds, and using her innovative hidden setting technique to maximize the fire of the gemstones, was precisely to express the brilliance of human wisdom.

Serena didn’t utter a single word of this.

Yet everyone present understood this layer of meaning through her work.

In the end, the competition jury awarded Serena’s work a perfect score of 100.

Serena triumphed over all and won the New Star Jewelry Design Competition championship.

The prize money goes without saying, but Serena most valued obtaining the participation qualification for the LD Jewelry Fashion Week, which she finally received, a true win-win.

On stage, Serena was accepting her award.

Peter gazed intently at Serena, unaware of when Leo Grant had come up beside him.

"Mr. Peter, that’s not very fair of you."

Peter snapped out of his daze, looking at Leo Grant with confusion, "President Leo, I don’t understand what you mean."

Leo Grant chuckled, pointing at Serena on stage.

"This Serena...isn’t she your FY piano series design master BYC, right?"

"Ah..."

Peter’s mouth fell open, taking a sharp breath, neither confirming nor denying.

Leo Grant saw Peter’s dilemma and added:

"The hidden setting technique Serena showcased on stage, isn’t that unique to the piano series? And her cutting technique is also... highly unusual... plus that unique design concept..."

Leo Grant regretted more and more as he spoke.

He shouldn’t have been so hasty as to immediately write Claire Shaw a recommendation letter after seeing her design.

This was partly Ronan Ross’s fault, who initially strongly recommended Claire Shaw, claiming Serena couldn’t compare.

But hearing is misleading, seeing is believing; the final competition tonight completely overturned his previous impression of Serena.

Yet Leo Grant thought, if not for those earlier events, Serena might not have participated in this competition, and he wouldn’t have seen such outstanding design.

And because of this misfortune, he guessed BYC’s true identity.

"Does Serena have something she can’t reveal? If she had disclosed she was Master BYC earlier, she wouldn’t even need to compete; LD Jewelry Fashion Week would be rushing to invite her."

"Well...there are indeed unspeakable reasons..."

Peter scratched his head, unable to explain.

Because he also didn’t know why Serena disliked fame so much.

But one thing he’s sure of—

is that Serena’s piano series design inspiration didn’t come from a good thing.

And that bad thing, Serena refuses to speak of.

Leo Grant promised Peter not to disclose that Serena is BYC.

After the award ceremony, Serena was surrounded by media, collectors, and industry leaders, leaving no space around her.

The other designers packed up and left, leaving Claire Shaw standing on stage in a daze.

But no one noticed her.

Watching Serena win and become a darling of many, Claire Shaw’s face twisted with anger.

She pulled out her phone, checked the time, and called Caleb Lockwood.

In the still of the night, the lighting in the Blue Ocean International Convention Hall was gentle like a nocturne.

It wasn’t until late that Serena finally had time to pack up her things.

"Congratulations."

Seeing Peter, Serena’s face lit up with a big smile.

"I finally did it! At least completed the initial requirements of the investors," Serena said, feeling how being a boss was much more stressful than being an employee.

"Let’s go, I’ll treat you to a late-night snack."

"Wait a minute!"

Suddenly, Serena heard Patrick Rhodes’s voice, surprised that he hadn’t left yet.

"With me here, where do you get off treating her? Serena is coming with me tonight."

Peter knew who Patrick Rhodes was, but wasn’t familiar with him.

He turned to Serena, "Your friend?"

"My...husband’s friend."

Serena’s introduction made Patrick Rhodes anxious.

"What do you mean your husband’s friend? I’ve had meals with you, I took you home when you were drunk, I bandaged your hand when it was injured, and you..."

"Alright, alright, you’re my friend."

Serena couldn’t handle Patrick Rhodes.

She felt Patrick Rhodes’s attitude towards her had recently improved tremendously, but she couldn’t figure out why.

Peter, watching from the side, didn’t look too happy.

He always felt that Serena was more relaxed when talking to Patrick Rhodes than with him.

Unintentionally, Serena’s gaze slipped between Peter and Patrick Rhodes, spotting Quentin Xavier standing at the doorway.

Quentin Xavier’s expression at that moment was much more genuine than when facing her usually.

Serena said nothing, watching Quentin Xavier turn and leave the convention hall.

Ultimately, Serena didn’t accept either Peter’s or Patrick Rhodes’s invitation, but both were noted down, each owing her a meal.

Serena drove herself to a KTV, finding a designated small room.

"Congratulations to our returning design master!"

Bam! Bam!

Lana Xavier set off party poppers, startling Serena.

"Congratulations, I knew you could win!"

Lana Xavier presented Serena with the pre-ordered cake, along with a prepared gift.

"Lana, you really shouldn’t have gone to such expense."

"This isn’t extravagance, and you’re being too modest."

"Thank you..."

Serena was deeply moved.

The reason she declined Peter’s and Patrick Rhodes’s invitations tonight was because she promised Lana Xavier long ago to celebrate her victory with her.

The two ate cake, sang songs, and had a bit of low-alcohol champagne.

Serena was very happy, but she didn’t forget the important business.

She sent Caleb Lockwood a WeChat message:

Caleb Lockwood, I won the competition, is our bet still valid?