"May we call our designers to come up to the stage and join our beautiful models?" the host called out from the crowd. One by one, designers who participated and managed to enter the top ten made their way up to the stage one after another.

  Li Meili stayed rooted in her place, her hands a little sweaty from nervousness. Did she really have to go up there and let everyone know that she was the Black Nightingale? At a time like this, she hoped that Tang Moyu was here to assure her that everything would be alright.

  "Meili…" Zhang Jiren called her, noticing the hesitation on her face. "It's alright, darling. It's alright."

  Li Meili stared right into his eyes and heaved a breath, feeling grateful for his presence. She was still perturbed by his mention of their impending separation earlier. Honestly, remembering it gave her a sense akin to losing control— as if any time, Zang Jiren would slip from her grasp. She feared that one day, she wouldn't be able to see and talk to him like this, but for now, with everyone waiting for the Black Nightingale to make her appearance, she felt thankful that he was by her side.

  She mustered all the courage she had to stand up and join the others on the stage. Many spectators looked at her in confusion as if wondering why the heiress of the Li family was making her way to the stage. Only when she stopped and stood next to Luo Qingqing did everyone realize what was happening.

  "Oh my god! It's Li Meili all along! No wonder her taste and designs suited the socialite circle really well."

  "She'd been within the circle since she was young. Unlike Liu Ruoyan whose family's reputation only rose just recently courtesy of the influence of the Song family, Li Meili came from a strong background. The Lis have been in the circle for as long as I can remember."

  "No wonder she could be so daring that even Liu Ruoyan couldn't intimidate her!"

  As the top 5 finalists were announced, allowing half of the people to leave the stage, Li Meili found herself staring at the VIP lounge. Her eyes widened in surprise seeing her best friend seated there with Feng Tianyi waving a hand at her in greeting.

  'Moyu…' Her eyes stung with tears. In every step she made in her career, this person was there to guide and accompany her. No matter how many times she found herself failing, Tang Moyu was there to help her rise up and keep going.

  Tang Moyu allowed a smile to cross her lips and gave her friend a slight nod as if telling her 'Go and tell everyone that you aren't here because of your family name. Tell them you are here as Li Meili, the person behind the Black Nightingale.'

  Li Meili nodded in understanding. All the worries and anxieties she had earlier had now disappeared. Aside from Jiren's presence, knowing that the empress was here had been the greatest reassurance for Li Meili.

  Atop the stage, everyone was anticipating the announcement of winners. Two prominent figures within the fashion industry were called out by the hosts to join them. The first one was a man who was known internationally for his ethereal designs, while the other was a woman who gained popularity through the use of social media.

  While everyone was at the edge of their seats, waiting to announce the winners, Luo Qingqing leaned forward to whisper to Li Meili. She had heard the whispers of surprise from the crowd earlier. She already expected this kind of reaction from everyone, and wondered if it wouldn't bother Li Meili at all. However, thinking about it, the Black Nightingale probably gave it a good thought and knew this would happen the moment she joined the competition.

  "Miss Li, just letting you know, it's a great honor for me to wear the first ever dress you made for a competition." Just the thought of being able to wear a creation made by the mysterious Black Nightingale was enough for other stars to envy her.

  "The honor is mine, Miss Luo. Because you have such a graceful body and beautiful face, it managed to give my dress an edge compared to the other dresses," the Black Nightingale said in return.

  Luo Qingqing blushed but didn't say anything more. Below the stage, there was an ocean of people staring at them. As she stood there in such a high position, she realized that being a film empress wasn't enough. She still had a long way to go to prove herself.

  "Let's continue working hard in the future," Li Meili suddenly told her as if she knew what was going on in her mind.

  "En," Luo Qingqing agreed. This profession had somehow grown on her.

  She wasn't planning to become an actress in the first place. The only reason why she decided to join the show business was out of despair. A long time ago, after she gave birth to Yunyun and buried her dead parent, it was hard for Lan Xiyan to support herself as well as her daughter financially.

  There were so many times whenever Lan Yunru fell sick and burning with fever that she kept wondering if she should swallow her pride and give Song Fengyan a call which she eventually did. Too bad Song Fengyan had just gone to France and she'd missed talking to him.

  That event led her to accompany her friend to an audition which she ended up getting the role instead. From that point on, even if Lan Xiyan knew the danger of people knowing about her being a single mother to a daughter, it didn't stop her to continue acting.

  She then started seeing acting as a craft which she later became passionate with. That was why, no matter how hard the script was, if it was to her liking, she would practice for hours just to perfect her acting.

  Looking at the woman standing next to her, Lan Xiyan discovered that being part of Tang Moyu's circle of friends had made her realize that her hard work would eventually pay off. Knowing these amazing women had also helped her have confidence not only in her acting but as a person.