"Oh my god! Sister Aya! Are you serious?!"
"Free help and guidance?! This... this is too much!"
"I'm in! Sister Aya! Please take a look at my dress!"
"Sister! Are you an angel?!"
The models backstage were practically losing their minds!
This legendary master, with her divine skills and ethereal grace, was actually offering to adjust their gowns for free, all in pursuit of perfect harmony?
"Kind" didn't even begin to describe her—she was practically a saint! No, even more than that—a goddess descended to earth!
The Show Director and the Costume Designer nearly jumped for joy.
They hadn't even dared to voice their slightly "presumptuous" idea, yet she had already proposed it herself.
What's more, if they agreed, she would not only adjust everyone's gowns for free but also waive any compensation for serving as a temporary model?
This was utterly overturning the natural order, a windfall they could scarcely believe!
Was this the childlike devotion of a true master toward their beloved craft?
Respect!
The bespectacled Show Director eagerly grabbed "Aya's" hand, instantly startled by its delicate texture—
Wow! So this is the hand of a goddess? So smooth!
Ah! No! This isn't the time to get lost in her beauty!
She quickly shook her head, snapping out of her daze. With a look of genuine emotion, she exclaimed:
"Miss Aya! You... you're truly too... too generous! This... this is a surprise beyond our wildest dreams!
"Rest assured! Whether as compensation for your temporary modeling or costume design work, Starry will provide the absolute best compensation! We would never let your efforts go unrewarded!
"I'll report this to President Li immediately! He'll definitely agree! President Li always strives for absolute perfection!"
The Show Director, her voice trembling with excitement, snatched up her phone and hurried to a corner, eagerly reporting this windfall.
The Plump Costume Designer rubbed her hands together excitedly, her eyes fixed on "Aya" as if she were a walking "art gold mine," her mind racing with thoughts of "learn, learn, learn!"
Only Lu Yue stood rooted to the spot, watching "Aya" bask in the attention of the crowd once again, radiating an almost saintly aura. He forced a "magnanimous" smile to his lips:
"Sister Aya, you're truly too... too selfless."
Yet inwardly, he was seething with rage:
Aaaargh!!!
Another cheap trick to win people over!
"Hypocrite! Utterly hypocritical!"
"You already have a high chance of snatching the Center-spot with your outfit alone! Now you're playing this emotional card, using a blatant scheme to win over everyone, especially the Starry Team!"
"You woman... how low can you sink?
"Are you trying to completely crush me, to extinguish every last ember of hope for my comeback?!"
"Little Ya! This must be your doing! Just you wait! We're not finished yet!"
Lu Yue could practically see it: during tonight's Starry Light heist, this "helpful" seamstress sister would undoubtedly find some way to cause him "accidents."
And then there was Big Sister Cifera, lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce at any moment...
His future looked utterly bleak.
It wasn't just backstage. The Bullet Comments in the live broadcast room were flooding the screen with praise for "Aya's" skills and character:
[Sister Aya is simply the perfect goddess! Beauty and talent combined, and her character is impeccable too!]
[Free guidance, all for the sake of perfection! What divine level of dedication is this? Denying her the Starry Light would be a blasphemous waste!]
[This is true passion! Elevating tailoring to its highest form, radiating brilliance! Sister Aya has redefined the profession!]
[Waaah! I'm a fan now too! From today onward, I'm a loyal follower of Sister Aya! Cifera, I'm so sorry, but I'm climbing the wall for just one minute!]
[Little Grandchild's composure is about to crack, hahaha! I feel bad for a second, but Sister Aya is worth it!]
[Sister Dao'er and Sister Pang, the Costume Designers, look like they've struck gold! Their expressions are killing me!]
Studio.
Host Qiu Qiu stared at the screen, her face radiant with undisguised awe and admiration.
"Oh my! Ladies and gentlemen, I'm sure you're as captivated as I am by Miss Aya's extraordinary talent and character!
"That graceful composure, that ability to transform the mundane into the miraculous—no, to transform the ordinary into divine artistry! And that pure-hearted pursuit of artistic perfection, coupled with her willingness to help others!
"She's simply the epitome of the perfect woman! For Starry to have found her as a last-minute replacement is the greatest stroke of luck for tonight's Charity Auction!"
She turned to Inspector Nie Junfeng, her voice still trembling with excitement.
"Inspector Nie, look! This is the power of passion and professionalism! Miss Aya, an ordinary citizen, has proven to us that any profession, when mastered to its fullest potential, can shine with dazzling brilliance!
"This radiance even surpasses the so-called 'halo' of celebrities!"
Nie Junfeng, rarely abandoning his signature "I see through everything" smile, nodded earnestly:
"The host is absolutely right!
"Whether Miss Aya's true identity is 'Little Ya' or not, what she has demonstrated is the bearing of a master craftsman who has honed her skills to perfection.
"Her unwavering pursuit of beauty, her pure passion for her profession, and her selfless willingness to share and help others all deserve our utmost respect.
"In these turbulent times, such dedication to a single pursuit, striving for absolute excellence, is especially precious.
"Her actions, as witnessed by all of us, are themselves a magnificent 'work of art.'"
[Well said, Inspector Nie!]
[Huh? I recognize your username from earlier. Aren't you from the Nie Family? Why aren't you calling him the Patriarch anymore?]
[Oh! I'm a disciple of the Ya Sect now! What's the Nie Family? I have no idea!]
[Ha ha, keep pretending! You've clearly become an Aya fan and are deliberately avoiding mentioning the Patriarch's name because you're afraid his "Poison Milk" will jinx her, right?]
[So that's how it is! Inspector Nie, you're brilliant! Aya, I love you!]
[LOL, even the Nie Family Patriarch is being dissed by his own followers.]
Pursuit Team's Temporary Operations Room
The atmosphere in the room was tense and focused. The live feed from the backstage security cameras played clearly on the projection screen—
The shockwaves from Aya's stunning gown hadn't yet subsided. Starry staff were discussing revising the schedule, considering bringing out all the jewelry early.
This undoubtedly added more variables and challenges to the security arrangements.
Just then, the phone rang, shattering the room's silence.
Nie Bing quickly answered and put the call on speakerphone.
"Hello? Officer Nie? Is Old Liu there?" Lei Gang's deep, resonant voice filled the room, his demeanor once again steady and authoritative as the Security Chief.
"Yes, Minister Lei, please proceed," Liu Shanhe replied calmly.
Almost simultaneously, the surveillance footage of the Vault's entrance showed Lei Gang himself standing under the camera, waving vigorously at the lens, his face clearly visible.
Zhang Hong and Feng Chiyu stood on either side of him like bodyguards, smiling at the camera.
This was to assure Liu Shanhe and his team that the caller was indeed Lei Gang, not an impostor.
"Understood, Minister Lei," Liu Shanhe replied, his sharp gaze sweeping across the screen as Lei Gang waved in acknowledgment.
"Good!" Lei Gang's voice came through the line. "President Li just issued an urgent directive. The Starry Team, who are planning the charity auction's opening act, are insisting that all the top-tier jewelry scheduled for tonight's auction, including the 'Starry Light' necklace, be delivered to the stage immediately for a full-dress rehearsal."
His rapid speech made it clear that Li Zhanting had ordered him to act swiftly.
"The team needs the models to wear the actual jewelry under professional lighting to finalize the overall effect and make minor adjustments. President Li has already approved this change in procedure."
"President Li emphasized that while this sudden shift is unexpected, artistic excellence must take precedence. He fully supports the team's vision but insists that security cannot be compromised!"
"As per your earlier instructions, the Vault can only be opened with representatives from both our sides present. Old Liu, we urgently request that you and the Expert Team join us here immediately."
"Understood."
Liu Shanhe didn't hesitate for a moment:
"We must respect the artistic pursuit of perfection. Since President Li and the Starry Team believe it's necessary, the Pursuit Team will fully cooperate. We'll move to the Vault immediately.
"But remember this, everyone!
"The moment the Starry Light leaves the Vault, the real battle begins.
"Contestant Cifera predicted the theft would occur after the Charity Auction begins, but we can't fully trust the Deceiver's word.
"We must also be prepared for the potential appearance of the Grandchild of the Phantom Thief.
"Therefore, beyond the Starry Light, all other jewels must maintain maximum vigilance and protection during transport and rehearsals. Understood?"
"Understood!"
Zhang Hong and Feng Chiyu's voices rang out from the other end of the line, with Lei Gang joining their shout.
In the operations room, Lin Zhiyuan, Nie Bing, and Wang Lei responded in unison, their expressions solemn.
Old Liu was right. The moment the jewels left the Vault, the true battle would begin.