CHAPTER 123: CHAPTER 123: DISQUALIFIED

In the office, Serena Jennings was looking at the jewelry sample Sharon Sanders had just given her.

This was a necklace designed and crafted by Sharon Sanders herself, featuring an emerald.

Of course, it wasn’t made of high-quality natural emeralds, but with synthetic ones.

Although the cutting still had a lot of room for improvement, the design wasn’t bad, and Serena Jennings praised it repeatedly, which made Sharon Sanders blush.

Sharon Sanders knew very well that her design skills were far below Serena Jennings’ standards.

Just comparing to her own previous works, it was a significant improvement, so Serena Jennings was encouraging her, and she couldn’t get carried away.

"Excuse me, sir, whom are you looking for? This is J Jewelry’s office, private access is not allowed."

Nancy Young, who sat closest to the entrance, stood up.

She didn’t recognize the man who strode into the office, but he was quite handsome, dressed elegantly in exquisite attire, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, looking like a refined and young university professor.

Upon hearing Nancy Young’s words, others in the office also noticed the presence of this unexpected guest.

Patrick Rhodes had clearly just reminded himself to avoid contact with Ian Blackwood if possible, yet today, Serena Jennings met Ian Blackwood again.

Ian Blackwood was wearing a different suit from last time, but still had on the gold-rimmed glasses, with a playfully arrogant smile on his face, which diluted his confusingly refined aura a bit.

This time, Ian Blackwood did not come alone.

He brought someone with him.

Serena Jennings was not welcoming, even loathing Ian Blackwood’s arrival.

But the person behind Ian Blackwood piqued her interest.

The person was a woman.

The woman, though appearing to be from Country A, had her hair styled in large golden waves, and everything about her makeup and attire gave off the impression of a big name in the Western fashion world.

In fact, she was indeed a big shot.

Serena Jennings knew the woman, but thought she wouldn’t know her.

The woman was named Miranda, editor-in-chief of the top global jewelry magazine "Radiance", a foreign Chinese who had become an authority in the jewelry fashion industry at a young age.

Serena Jennings had only seen photos of Miranda in magazines or online before, never expecting to meet her in person today.

Miranda entered with an international luxury brand ensemble from head to toe, her aura even overshadowing Ian Blackwood’s.

Initially, Nancy Young had thought Ian Blackwood had come to the wrong place, but she sensed the imposing aura from Ian Blackwood and Miranda, as if they came to cause trouble.

"Boss..."

Nancy Young immediately hid next to Serena Jennings, clearly a bit scared.

The only male employee in their studio, Quentin Xavier, happened to be out, so if Ian Blackwood indeed meant to pick a fight, perhaps only Serena Jennings, who had practiced martial arts, could possibly be his opponent.

However, Serena Jennings didn’t believe Ian Blackwood came here intending to start a fight.

Because the person Ian Blackwood brought was not a thug, but Miranda.

"Mr. Blackwood, please state your purpose; otherwise, I’ll have to call security to escort you out."

Serena Jennings stood up, her aura almost equal to Ian Blackwood’s.

Ian Blackwood glanced at Serena Jennings, pushed his gold-rimmed glasses, and lowered his gaze onto the desk in front of Serena Jennings.

"Is this the sample you prepared for the LD Jewelry Fashion Week?"

Ian Blackwood picked up the emerald necklace from Serena Jennings’ desk and examined it from all angles.

"Just this...?"

He didn’t finish his later words.

He meant to say, is this even fit to be Claire’s competitor?

But because Miranda was here, he refrained from mentioning Claire Shaw’s name, to avoid inadvertently helping her.

"This style is a rip-off of Van Cleef & Arpels’ clover, don’t you think?"

As Ian Blackwood’s voice fell, Sharon Sanders’ face turned as red as if it got slapped.

She didn’t actually copy Van Cleef & Arpels.

But the inspiration for the clover indeed referred to Van Cleef & Arpels.

"Vulgar, cheap."

With a slight force in his hands, Ian Blackwood snapped the emerald necklace.

The fractured metal and gemstones clattered to the ground.

Serena Jennings saw Sharon Sanders standing aside, almost on the verge of tears.

"Ian Blackwood, apologize to me!" Serena Jennings shouted angrily.

Ian Blackwood shrugged with a laugh, pushing his gold-rimmed glasses.

"I won’t apologize, what can you do to me? Call the police to arrest me? A copycat high imitation synthetic fake emerald necklace, it’s just trash, and you’re the one treating it as a treasure, trash with trash, all garbage together, a perfect match!"

The words from Ian Blackwood’s mouth sharply contrasted with his cultured demeanor.

Before Serena Jennings could retort, Miranda beside her let out a derisive cold laugh.

"Mr. Blackwood is right, this is junk. If all you can design are such pieces, there’s no need for you to attend the LD Jewelry Fashion Week; you’d only tarnish our eyes."

Serena Jennings had heard a bit about Miranda’s personality.

Miranda was arrogant and condescending, even top brands had designs she looked down upon, and she would mercilessly belittle them.

"Ms. Miranda, I am the champion of the first New Star Jewelry Design Competition held by the LD Jewelry Fashion Week organizers, so you shouldn’t be able to disqualify me."

Facing Miranda, Serena Jennings maintained a composed demeanor.

Only now did Miranda really look at Serena Jennings properly for the first time.

She smiled slightly, her fiery red lips both charmingly feminine and inexplicably oppressive.

"Since you already know who I am, then you should understand... I don’t care whose champion you are, if I say your qualification to participate in the Jewelry Fashion Week is canceled, then it’s canceled."

Miranda wasn’t joking in saying that.

She initially thought that after hearing this, Serena Jennings’s face would at least show some hint of urgency.

However, Serena Jennings remained unruffled, smiling subtly.

"Then you’re missing out on a world-class designer."

Miranda’s eyes brightened.

Beside her, Ian Blackwood pushed his gold-rimmed glasses, watching Serena Jennings with an amused look.

In his impression, this wasn’t like Serena Jennings’ usual speaking style.

Serena Jennings had seen many interviews with Miranda, who appreciated designers confident in their own design talents, so she deliberately spoke like that to make a good impression on Miranda.

Miranda smiled; this time, her smile wasn’t as contemptuous as before.

In her impression, the culture of Country A emphasized modesty.

This Serena Jennings seemed somewhat interesting.

"Do you know that blind confidence is called arrogance? In my eyes, there is currently only one person in the world who can be said to be a world-class designer..."

These words aroused Serena Jennings’ curiosity.

Before establishing her own studio, she wasn’t really up to date with the world of jewelry designers.

"It’s the mysterious designer BYC of the FY Piano Series."

Upon hearing this, Serena Jennings choked on her own saliva, coughing for quite some time.

"Of course, I wouldn’t expect you to compare with BYC; the amazing design talent expressed in the Piano Series can be said to be unprecedented."

Serena Jennings fell silent, touching her flushed face.