CHAPTER 202: CHAPTER 202: HONOR

Holly covered her mouth, her eyes red with emotion, looking utterly astonished.

Amid the congratulations from those around her, she stood up, her steps towards the stage unsteady with excitement.

The spotlight focused on her as she took the golden trophy from the presenter, holding it tightly in both hands.

She walked up to the microphone, and before she could speak, tears had already begun to fall, which she shyly wiped away.

Holly’s voice, choked with emotion, filled the hall and reached Blake Sinclair’s ears through his tablet:

"Thank you! I am deeply grateful to the Blue Orchid Cup organizing committee and to the judges for awarding me this honor. ’Three Springs’ is an extraordinary piece for me. It is not just a piece of pottery, but a reflection of years gone by, gratitude for familial love, and the courage to embark on a new journey.

Having left this field for many years, I was once lost and full of self-doubt, but fortunately, I never truly gave up.

I want to thank my mentor, Mr. Miles Quill, for his guidance and encouragement, my family for their selfless support and understanding, and the person who always believed in me, stayed by my side, and gave me the courage to stand here once again.

This trophy, this honor, is to be shared with all of you!"

Her heartfelt speech moved everyone, and applause erupted once more from the audience.

Blake Sinclair watched the woman shining on stage, tears in her eyes, and felt his heart fill completely.

Pride and emotion flowed through him.

He seemed to see the little girl from years ago, playing with clay and laughing unrestrainedly in the Port Kallow sunlight.

Time flies, despite the setbacks along the way.

Yet, his Holly had finally blossomed again, radiating her brightest light in the field she loved.

Unconsciously, he reached out his fingers, gently caressing her tearful smiling face through the screen.

"Cole Tanner." Blake Sinclair spoke, without taking his eyes off the screen.

"Yes, President Sinclair, at your command."

"Did the air-freighted gifts arrive yesterday?"

"They just arrived this morning," Cole Tanner replied.

"Well, pack them carefully and put them in my car."

Blake Sinclair looked at the figure on the screen bowing and smiling, his eyes filled with joy.

He took out his phone, quickly typed a message, and sent it.

"Notify everyone, this morning’s meeting is rescheduled."

"Yes, President Sinclair."

Almost simultaneously, Holly, during the interlude of stepping down from the stage, discreetly glanced at her phone, her lips involuntarily curving upwards.

After the awards announcement came the time for interviews with reporters.

As the gold award winner, Holly naturally became the first target of interest for the media and reporters.

In comparison, Shannon Yarrow, who had won the bronze award, had only a few reporters around her, conducting interviews according to the organizer’s procedures.

Shannon Yarrow stared intently at Holly, surrounded by reporters and basking in glory, then looked down at the bronze trophy in her hand.

The jealousy was unbearable!

She had poured so much effort into this, using all sorts of means, yet in the end, she still lost to Holly.

How could Holly have such a good fate, so effortlessly achieving everything she had longed for?

Blake Sinclair’s love, the title of Mrs. Sinclair, and now even the Blue Orchid Cup’s gold award had fallen into her lap.

It was utterly unfair.

As the anger in her heart burned, she noticed the seating of Skye, who had won the silver award.

Skye’s gaze would occasionally drift toward where Holly was, filled with complicated emotions.

Shannon Yarrow sneered, stepping forward with an expression of regret, "Skye, I think your piece this time was very spirited, with intricate ideas and skillful techniques. It’s truly a shame that it didn’t win the gold award."

She paused, casting a suggestive glance in Holly’s direction, "Teacher Holly has been absent from the field of pottery for so many years, and only just returned, yet she managed to snag such a highly coveted gold award. Her luck is really something else."

Skye had originally been organizing her thoughts to ask Holly for a photograph and signature once things calmed down, but hearing Shannon Yarrow’s words, she frowned slightly.

Though it sounded as if she was standing up for her, every word insinuated the impurity of Holly’s award.

She glanced at Shannon Yarrow, her tone even: "Thank you for your kind words, Shannon. However, I believe Teacher Holly’s ’Three Springs’ is deserving, whether in concept, craftsmanship, or emotional expression, especially the exquisite carving of the aroma lamp."

Compared to that, Shannon Yarrow’s bronze award was truly lacking in legitimacy.

Shannon Yarrow was subtly but firmly rebutted, her expression changing slightly.

But she soon adjusted her expression again, leaning in closer, "Skye, you’re still young, and may not be aware of some rules within the circle. If you really feel dissatisfied and want to reclaim the honor that should belong to you, I can help you."

Skye looked up, curious, "Oh? What method do you have, Teacher Shannon?"

"There are certainly ways."

Seeing her seem moved, Shannon felt pleased inside.

"As long as you want, I can make you the true gold award winner. How can a gold award achieved through unclear relations deserve to stand in this position?"

As she finished speaking, a disturbance suddenly emerged on Holly’s side, who was being interviewed by a group of media.

A male reporter with black-framed glasses excitedly rushed forward, his microphone almost poking in front of Holly, his voice sharp.

"Teacher Holly, we received an expose saying that there was manipulation behind your win of the Blue Orchid Cup gold award this time; is this true?

According to reliable sources, you’ve already applied to the Art Corinium! And as far as we know, usually only gold award winners of such events are eligible to apply directly! Did you know you would win and applied in advance? Please respond directly!"

These strings of malicious questions made the whole venue instantly silent, all cameras pointed directly at Holly.

The live stream bullet comments exploded.

Holly’s smile froze on her face.

The matter of applying to The Corinium Exhibition, aside from Miles Quill and Aiden, she had never mentioned to outsiders, how did this reporter know?

Just as she was about to explain, she suddenly realized that no matter how she explained there was no fixed arrangement, from the moment she spoke, she was already falling into a trap of self-incrimination, painting herself darker.

She cannot follow the rhythm of the opponent!

Holly lifted her eyes, directly meeting the questioning reporter.

"Before this reporter friend makes such malicious accusations, shouldn’t you first provide evidence?

You keep saying ’received an expose’, ’reliable sources’, so may I ask who your source is? Can they come forward to confront directly?"

Her counter-question straightaway kicked the ball back, the reporter hadn’t expected her to calmly counter, was momentarily speechless, face turning red, "I...I..."

Holly didn’t give him a chance to breathe: "Regarding the issue of application eligibility for The Corinium Exhibition, I’m sorry but your information seems somewhat delayed.

Since the first half of this year, The Corinium Exhibition in the Asia Pacific region has already adjusted its application policy. Apart from gold award winners having direct application eligibility, a new channel was added.

If two or more influential veteran artists or critics co-recommend and guarantee, you can equally enter the application process, just with an extra review phase."

She lifted her chin, "This reporter friend, I hope next time when you conduct interviews, especially when asking questions that may impact others’ reputations, you conduct basic fact-checking work beforehand. It is respect for your own profession, as well as basic respect for the interviewee. Okay?"

Her rational and measured counterattack gained applause from many present.

The reporter was rendered speechless, sweating, could only mumble and lower his head.

But his gaze shifted, lifting his head again, unwillingly launching another attack.

"Fine! Even if the Corinium matter is a misunderstanding! How do you explain the issue of your personal conduct?"

"Rumors online say your husband Blake Sinclair and this time’s bronze award winner Shannon met and fell in love in Brelond! Although related news was later deleted, the truth is in people’s hearts! How do you explain this?"

As soon as these words came out, the crowd uproared.

The media’s cameras split off, targeting Shannon standing outside the crowd.

She had a pitiful demeanor, as if suffering a great grievance.

"The truth is in people’s hearts?"

Holly found this absurd scene extremely laughable.

"Then may I ask, what is truth? What is justice? Is it a truth determined by a few photos, a few people’s narrations? Anyone here who has personally witnessed this so-called love story?"

And just at this moment, Shannon stepped forward, eyes reddening, bowing deeply towards Holly and the camera.

"Teacher Holly, I’m sorry. I truly didn’t know such things would happen today, causing everyone distress, it’s all my fault."

Her white lotus-like appearance instantly stirred the protective desire of her fans.

"Sis, don’t apologize! It’s not your fault!"

"You and President Sinclair are true love! Holly is the third party!"

"Holly! Dare you clarify in front of the live camera, what’s going on between you and President Sinclair!"

The scene was somewhat out of control.

Holly looked at this well-orchestrated farce, Shannon’s hypocritical performance, the anger within her grew stronger.

Just then, a journalist excitedly exclaimed, "Look at Twitter! Blake Sinclair tweeted! My God! Is this a ten-year crush?"