Chapter 144: Press Conference
It was a little past seven in the morning.
After a simple breakfast at home, Vivian Lowell and Julian Faulkner set off for the hospital. Today was Monday. There were quite a few cars on the road, but fortunately, it was still early enough to avoid traffic jams.
When they arrived at the hospital, the doctors and nurses had just finished Grandma Faulkner’s preliminary examination. Ms. Shaw had helped her back to the ward and was planning to do some Tai Chi with her.
"Why aren’t you resting? You’re sick, you should be recuperating," Julian said, naturally a little worried seeing his grandmother so lively.
Vivian felt the same. She leaned in and asked, "How did the examination go this morning? Grandma, are you still feeling unwell anywhere?"
Grandma Faulkner, who had just struck a "White Crane Spreads its Wings" pose, was interrupted by her eldest grandson and granddaughter-in-law. She turned her head and gave them a helpless look.
"My body is perfectly fine, all my vitals are normal! The detailed examination report isn’t out yet, so don’t interrupt me and let me do my Tai Chi!" Showing a rare stubborn side, Grandma Faulkner continued, "Doing Tai Chi isn’t a strenuous exercise. I asked the doctor, and he said it was fine!
"Besides, I usually go out to walk the dog and whatnot. If I just sit around resting all the time, I’ll get antsy!"
After her stubborn display, she suddenly looked quite aggrieved.
Vivian and Julian exchanged a glance. They had both wanted to persuade Grandma Faulkner to get some proper rest, but faced with her acting like such a playful child, they were truly at a loss.
"Well, all right." After some thought, Vivian said to Julian, "Aren’t you supposed to have a morning video meeting with your company? Go to the next room and have your meeting first!
"I’ll stay here and accompany Grandma in doing Tai Chi."
Julian nodded.
Grandma Faulkner broke into a smile. Taking Vivian’s hand, she asked, "Vivian, you know how to do Tai Chi too? That’s wonderful! Let’s practice together from now on, okay?"
"Sure. I actually learned it in PE class back in college; it was a mandatory course. Hmm... I just haven’t practiced in a long time and have forgotten a bit, so you’ll have to teach me, Grandma."
"Mm-hmm."
In the next room.
Julian stood by the door, taking in everything that happened between Vivian and his grandmother. Feeling reassured, he turned back to the small table, ready for his meeting.
Vivian stayed at the hospital with Grandma Faulkner for the whole day.
In the afternoon, Julian went back to the company. As the CEO, he had a lot on his plate, and some matters required his personal attention, so he couldn’t stay at the hospital forever.
Vivian was going to hold a press conference that evening.
She had Vance Wyatt contact the media in advance, announcing that the internationally renowned designer, Miss Nox, would be making a public appearance and inviting brands for potential collaborations.
This was huge news.
Within the International Designers Association, Nox was in a league of her own. She was the youngest member, blessed with extraordinary design talent, and her imaginative creations were highly sought after by numerous domestic and international brands. At the same time, she was the only one among Veridia’s many designers to have joined this prestigious association, a testament to her immense value.
Unfortunately, Nox kept a very low profile. She usually only took on the occasional design commission based on her personal preferences. People couldn’t find her even if they tried, let alone know what she looked like.
But this time...
Vivian’s press conference, claiming that Nox would be there, had absolutely shocked the entire domestic design industry. Several big brand executives who were planning to launch new products had flown into Aethelburg overnight, hoping to attend the press conference and meet the legendary Miss Nox.
At seven o’clock.
Vivian left the hospital and headed to the Grand West Aethelburg Hotel.
Vance had already arranged for people to set everything up. Vivian had also sent her design company’s staff over in advance to prepare. Tonight... Once she revealed this secret, her company would likely become very busy.
Just as she arrived at the hotel entrance.
Leo happened to be outside on the phone. Seeing Vivian, he waved at her and hung up his call.
"Vivian, you’re here! The setup tonight is massive! When I got here, there were so many reporters crowded around the entrance of the Grand West Aethelburg Hotel. Too bad they can’t get in.
"By the way, is that Miss Nox you mentioned really coming tonight? Ever since the news of this press conference broke out, my phone has been blowing up!
"Many of our former corporate clients who know I work for you have called, wanting to attend tonight’s conference just to meet Nox.
"It’s a shame that tonight’s event is invitation-only. There’s no way they can get in even if they wanted to."
Leo was still incredibly curious. It was said that Miss Nox was very young and highly accomplished. He wondered who was more skilled between her and Vivian.
Leo felt it was hard to say.
"Well..." Vivian looked at Leo’s curious expression and flashed him a mysterious smile. "Actually, Leo, you’ve met Miss Nox before. You just didn’t know it."
"I have?" Leo looked completely baffled. He glanced left and right, and upon realizing there was no one around, he began to press her for answers.
Just a few minutes before going on stage.
Vivian finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and told all her company employees backstage that she was, in fact, "Miss Nox."
"It happened during college when I was a foreign exchange student. I incidentally did a non-profit design project that caught the eye of the association’s president, who then invited me to join," Vivian explained, still finding the memory a bit surreal. "Everyone says how hard it is to get into the International Designers Association, but I really didn’t feel that way.
"When she invited me, I thought it was just an ordinary little club where like-minded people gathered to chat about creative ideas and stuff, so I agreed.
"I never expected... the association to have such a huge reputation.
"Since I was still in school at the time and couldn’t take on many commercial design commissions, I asked her not to publicize my real identity.
"Because of that, my initiation ceremony into the association was very simple. Besides a few high-level executives, no one had ever seen me.
"Those executives are all internationally renowned designers themselves; they didn’t have the free time to go around exposing my identity.
"And because of all these reasons... my identity has been kept hidden until now."
Vivian really wasn’t trying to humblebrag.
It was only after joining that she realized ordinary applicants had to submit entire portfolios of their design work and go through layers of rigorous screening. The qualifications for membership were practically one in a million, and on top of that, you needed an internal referral from someone already within the designers’ association to even be considered.
Hmm...
Vivian’s entry was just a massive coincidence.
Her "submission" was simply her non-profit design project that the president happened to see, and then the president herself provided the internal referral.
Everything truly was just a lucky coincidence.