Chapter 526: The Champion is Estelle Lockwood!

Chapter 526: Chapter 526: The Champion is Estelle Lockwood!

But now, not only did she fail to make the top three, she didn’t even make it into the top eight!

Zion Yeats felt utterly humiliated, his face flashing from red to white. "You... you’ve truly disappointed me!"

"What is Old Mr. Yeats so disappointed about?" Estelle Lockwood asked casually. "What does my design skill have to do with you?"

Zion wanted to cover his face in shame. "Of course it has something to do with me..."

"Did you spend money to train me?" Estelle asked. "Did you pay for me to study design? Or did the Yeats Group provide a dedicated studio for me to practice in?"

The Yeats family had spent a fortune hiring tutors for Claire Yeats, giving her a company and a studio just so she could practice. Under those circumstances, if she failed to achieve a satisfactory rank, only then would Zion have the right to say, "You’ve truly disappointed me." But to say that to her? Where did Zion get the audacity?

"Instead of feigning concern for me, Old Mr. Yeats, you’d be better off eating a few more bowls of rice. I have no need for your disappointment."

Zion choked, his expression shifting rapidly, but he couldn’t formulate a retort.

"However," Estelle chuckled lightly, "if we’re talking about someone not making the top three, then Old Mr. Yeats should brace himself for disappointment."

"Ridiculous! Who else could Zion be disappointed in but you?!" Old Mrs. Yeats snapped furiously. "Don’t tell me it’s Claire! Do I need to remind you that our Claire is the champion? As someone who didn’t even make the top eight, you should just keep your mouth shut!"

Estelle smiled unhurriedly.

Claire caught their entire conversation. Her eyes darted thoughtfully before she called out, "Respected judges."

The host was just about to announce the champion. When Claire suddenly spoke, the host paused. Out of respect for the presence of the Yeats family, the judges had no choice but to ask politely, "Is there something you’d like to say, Miss Yeats?"

Claire stood up with a smile and gave a slight bow. "Before the champion is announced, I have a few words I’d like to share with everyone."

The host gestured for her to continue.

"Actually, this competition is just a way for us to discover ourselves," Claire said with a soft smile. "There’s no need to care so much about winning, losing, or rankings. As long as we recognize our own weaknesses, that is enough.

"Therefore, I hope the winners will remain humble, and those who didn’t win won’t feel disappointed. Life is long, and a single failure doesn’t mean you will fail forever."

Looking at Estelle with sincere eyes, Claire added, "Estelle, as long as you can take the first step, the road ahead will be much easier. What we need is the courage to face ourselves. No matter what rank you get, don’t be sad or blame others."

Claire failed to notice the subtle change in the expressions of the judges and the host.

Resting her chin on her hand, Estelle looked at her with amusement. "So Miss Yeats means... one shouldn’t be disappointed even without a ranking? But since we’re all here to compete, who wouldn’t want to get first place? Wouldn’t you agree, Miss Yeats?"

Claire shook her head helplessly. "Estelle, if you only care about winning and losing, you’ll never see the true essence of things. Have you ever considered that rankings aren’t the most important part of this competition?"

"Oh, I see," Estelle said, feigning sudden realization. "You mean rankings don’t matter."

Claire’s mind raced. "Rankings don’t matter? Of course they matter to me, but they don’t matter for Estelle! What is Estelle anyway? She’s nothing but the mud on the ground compared to the clouds above. She actually wants a ranking? That’s pure delusion!"

To display her magnanimity, Claire smiled shyly. "Yes, after all, there will be many more opportunities. There’s really no need to take one competition to heart. I know you’re upset... but this can still be considered an interesting life experience, right?"

[Claire is seriously the best! Even though she’s the champion, she’s still comforting the other contestants. How can there be such a good person?]

[She’s so kind, yet Estelle still targeted her. But Claire repaid her malice with kindness and comforted her anyway.]

[If you ask me, Estelle is just being petty. She didn’t work hard enough, and she still has the nerve to blame the Yeats family?]

[They’re about to announce Claire as the champion! Point the camera at Estelle, I want to see the look on her face! Hahaha, it’s probably going to be super ugly.]

"Yes..." Estelle nodded faintly, waiting until Claire finished speaking. "It’s good that you think that way."

Claire’s smile stiffened. For some reason, she felt that something was off. But maintaining the smile on her face, she said, "I’ve finished. Please continue."

The host stepped forward with an awkward smile. "Alright, then we will now announce the champion of this year’s XM Design Competition!"

Claire’s smile grew even more radiant. Zion and Old Mrs. Yeats were trembling with excitement.

Liza Shelby sneered at Estelle. "Alright, be as jealous as you want. This is our Claire’s shining moment."

The host’s voice echoed through the hall. "She is—"

Old Mrs. Yeats was thrilled, a rush of vindictive pleasure surging in her heart. Back then, she had never been able to get the better of Eleanor Yeats. But now, she could finally let her granddaughter completely crush Eleanor’s daughter! This was retribution!

She looked at Estelle with utmost disdain. "Envious, Estelle? There’s nothing you can do. This is Claire’s destiny, and this is yours! A mere ant actually dares to compete with Claire!"

The other contestants couldn’t help but offer their compliments. "Congratulations, Claire."

"I’m so jealous. Winning the championship twice at such a young age..."

Claire smiled bashfully. "Please don’t say that, everyone. The final name hasn’t been announced yet. What if it isn’t me, but Estelle? There’s also a chance I’m in tenth place."

Estelle simply smiled.

Curling her lips, Claire continued, "Everyone here is amazing. I’m just an ordinary person, really. There’s nothing to be envious of—"

"Estelle Lockwood!"

A loud, impassioned voice drowned out Claire’s humblebrag. The crowd was stunned. What was going on? Who was shouting Estelle’s name so loudly at a time like this? Wait, wait, something wasn’t right... That voice just now seemed to be...

Raising his voice even louder, the host repeated, "Let us congratulate the champion of this year’s XM Design Competition—Estelle Lockwood!

"Please welcome Miss Lockwood to the stage! Mr. Lynch will personally present the championship trophy to her!"

The venue fell into a dead silence. Everyone was dumbfounded, convinced they had misheard. Wait... whose name did the host just call? Estelle?!! How could it be Estelle! They must have heard it wrong!

Claire’s expression twisted. Terror gripped her heart as a bead of sweat dripped down her forehead.

"The champion is Estelle!?" she thought wildly. "Impossible!!

"The champion should obviously be me!"

But in the next moment, Estelle had already risen gracefully to her feet. With a slight curl of her lips, she cast a glance at Claire. "Well, Miss Yeats certainly knows herself well."

The venue plunged into silence once more. "Knows herself well..."

Just moments ago, Claire had said, "The final name hasn’t been announced yet. What if it isn’t me, but Estelle? There’s also a chance I’m in tenth place." And now, the champion was indeed Estelle. As for Claire’s name, she was nowhere to be found from eighth place all the way to first. She truly... knew herself well.