Chapter 148: Curtain Call
Designer Jacobs was stunned.
He never imagined that the "killer move" he had so carefully prepared for today would end like this.
He refused to accept it!
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! Vivian Lowell, how could you be Miss Nox? I don’t believe it!"
Designer Jacobs began to roar.
He tried to rush onto the stage.
Seeing Designer Jacobs’s behavior, Vivian Lowell shook her head and sighed. She signaled for Vance Wyatt to have security restrain him, then said flatly, "Everything I said is true."
"If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do."
The moment she finished speaking.
From the side, Julian Faulkner spoke up slowly, "No, there is a way. Everyone... you can take out your phones now and take a look at X."
"Regarding whether Vivian is a member of the International Designers Association, the president of the association has already posted on X."
As soon as Julian Faulkner said this, the people in attendance couldn’t hold back. They immediately took out their phones, opened X, and started scrolling through the news.
Sure enough.
The top trending topic was another bombshell.
The president of the International Designers Association also had an X account. She usually synced it with her Instagram to post some of her own design work and recent outstanding pieces from within the association.
She had a huge number of followers, not just from the design world. Many people who loved their work as a form of art followed her as well.
Today.
The president, who for years had only posted "official business," had actually sent a personal post, telling everyone online that the one member from Veridia who had joined the Designers Association was, in fact, Vivian Lowell.
She decided to announce this news because she felt that Vivian Lowell had recently been embroiled in a great many issues.
As the president of the Designers Association, she felt it was necessary to show support for a member of her own organization.
X exploded again.
Many of the user comments below expressed shock.
"I can’t believe Vivian Lowell is actually a member of the International Designers Association! Oh my god, the only person in all of Veridia to join, that’s amazing!"
"Hehe, to the person above, you didn’t know? My Vivian has so many outstanding design works. I always thought my Vivian was so talented she would definitely get in, I just didn’t realize she was already a member!"
"??? Your Vivian? What kind of stan are you?"
"Don’t talk nonsense! We formed a fan club spontaneously because we recognize Vivian’s work! And most of us are students at Aethelburg University. You just don’t know, our senior Vivian..."
Beneath this comment, the thread went off-topic.
That "fan club" member started educating others on some of Vivian Lowell’s "glorious achievements."
For example, the awards she won in school, her work rescuing small animals, and her outstanding design pieces—they listed them all as if they were family treasures, almost seeming to know Vivian Lowell better than she knew herself.
"Vivian~"
Eleanor Rhodes also checked her phone at this moment. She backed out of the comments section with a satisfied smile, then said cheerfully to Vivian Lowell, "I had no idea you were this amazing~"
"Hehe, I want to be the president of your fan club! Hmm... our Vivian is now the queen of online buzz! In terms of popularity, you’re almost on par with A-list actresses."
Vivian Lowell quickly shook her head.
’A man dreads fame just as a pig dreads fattening. I just want to focus on my design work; I’d rather do without everything else.’
"Shh, don’t be ridiculous!"
Vivian Lowell said in a hushed voice.
At this point, Vance Wyatt saw that the situation was more or less settled. Everything that needed to be said at the press conference today had been said, so he signaled to the media that they could disperse.
"Today’s press conference is now over. If any partners wish to collaborate with Miss Lowell’s company in the future, you may contact them. Goodbye."
Vance Wyatt gave a bow.
Vivian Lowell also took the opportunity to stand up and returned backstage with Julian Faulkner.
Before leaving, Vivian Lowell glanced in Designer Jacobs’s direction.
Designer Jacobs was holding his phone, his face ghastly pale. He stumbled as he tried to leave, but he was quickly apprehended by Vance Wyatt’s men.
Designer Jacobs wasn’t going anywhere.
The two design works with bow elements that Vivian Lowell had previously released were just something she had drawn for fun on a whim; she had never used them for commercial purposes.
She had posted them online just to show them to people.
Designer Jacobs using this incident to accuse Vivian Lowell of plagiarism was pure slander.
However, when it came to Designer Jacobs plagiarizing Vivian Lowell’s work, Vivian had irrefutable proof. Designer Jacobs couldn’t deny it, and he would be facing a lawsuit from Vivian Lowell!
「Backstage.」
When Leo saw Vivian Lowell return, she came right up and gave her a big hug, saying happily, "Vivian, your performance tonight was absolutely outstanding!"
"You really stood up for us, it was amazing!"
"Oh, it was nothing." Vivian Lowell was being very modest. The moment she finished speaking, Leo’s phone rang.
Leo quickly let go of Vivian Lowell, glanced at her phone, and said to her, "Look, it’s that potential partner who looked down on me before. They’re calling me now."
"I guess it’s because they found out about your hidden identity. Vivian, should I answer it?"
Vivian Lowell glanced at the name displayed on the phone screen.
This was a relatively large company in the industry. They had worked with the Lowell Group before and had a good relationship with Robert Lowell and Sharon Galahad.
Now that the Lowell Group had collapsed, he had probably thought he had many better options in the industry and had thus been dismissive of the company Vivian Lowell started on her own.
"Leo, you can decide for yourself."
Vivian Lowell gave a lazy glance and said, "Our company won’t be short of offers from now on. In any case, we’d rather have quality over quantity. Understand?"
"Mhm, I understand!"
Leo nodded emphatically and immediately hung up the phone.
’Heh, you ignored me then, but now I’m out of your league!’
Leo thought to herself, feeling pretty satisfied.
’Yes, I have to make a name for myself in the future and make all those people who looked down on me learn the meaning of the word ’regret’.’
"Alright, since the press conference is over, you all should go home and rest. Come to the company early tomorrow. We’re going to be very busy from now on."
"As for offers, just pick some good ones. I’ll also be recruiting new employees, but the same rule applies: quality over quantity, got it?"
Everyone agreed and left through the back door of the Grand West Aethelburg Hotel.
There were still many reporters at the front entrance—the ones who hadn’t been invited. They were waiting eagerly outside, hoping to dig up some more information after the press conference ended.
The "cake" at the press conference had surely been all carved up by now, but they’d be happy to scoop up any leftovers!