His physiological preference

During the final week of training, the organizing committee announced the competition format.

The announcement was made in the lecture hall, with all the contestants sitting below, and a few lines of text were projected onto the screen.

This year's finals are different from previous years; they are not individual competitions but rather team events.

The classroom erupted in discussion. Some agreed, "Finally, I don't have to carry this alone anymore."

Some objected, saying, "I worked so hard to get to the finals, why should I share the spoils with others?"

A chorus of voices rose and fell; some slammed their fists on the table, some threw down their pens, and some stood up to question the staff.

The staff member stood beside the podium, expressionless, and only spoke when the voices gradually subsided.

"To promote cheongsam culture, working alone is not enough. You must learn to team up and cooperate. Those who have objections may withdraw from the competition."

Having overcome numerous obstacles to reach the finals, how could anyone possibly withdraw?

Groups were formed freely, bringing joy to some and sorrow to others.

Some people quickly found their teammates, while others stood in a corner with a pile of documents, unsure of who to look for.

Yang Zhiyan, Xu Yun, and Su Wan exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously. They formed a group.

The last week of training is also the competition week.

They prepare from morning till night every day, drawing, pattern making, sewing, and making corrections. The three of them work together and their coordination is becoming more and more tacit.

The match will begin at 2 p.m. on Friday.

The event was held at the Beijing International Convention and Exhibition Center, in a large exhibition hall. The lighting had been adjusted several times, the audience seats were full, and several senior figures in the domestic cheongsam design industry were seated on the judging panel.

The corridor outside the exhibition hall was filled with flower baskets, and the air was filled with the fragrance of lilies and roses, mixed with the smell of new clothes and hairspray.

Yang Zhiyan stood backstage, trying on the cheongsams designed by her group.

Made of Suzhou brocade fabric, the neckline is embroidered with Suzhou embroidery in silver thread, winding from the neckline to the shoulders, with petals layered and unfolding.

The waistline is high, and the hem flares out slightly, creating a graceful sway when you walk.

Her hair was tied up with a white jade hairpin, making her look like a fairy who had stepped out of an ancient painting.

Qin Yuzheng sat in a corner of the audience. He was wearing a dark suit today, without a tie, and the top button of his shirt was undone.

Grandma Qin sat next to him, wearing a dark red silk blouse, her hair neatly combed, and a pair of pearl earrings.

Her hand rested on Qin Yuzheng's arm, her eyes searching the stage.

"Where's Zhiyan? Hasn't she come out yet?" Grandma Qin's voice was filled with impatient eagerness.

Qin Yuzheng looked towards the side of the stage. "It'll be soon."

The competition consisted of two parts. The first part was a quiz on cheongsam knowledge.

A question is displayed on the big screen, and groups work together to answer it.

Yang Zhiyan answered questions quickly and accurately, her basic knowledge was so solid that she was like a walking textbook.

Su Wan was responsible for supplementing and expanding upon the content, while Xu Yun was responsible for designing the knowledge modules.

The three worked together flawlessly. When the quiz ended, their score was displayed on the big screen—the highest of all.

The second segment was a qipao design showcase. The organizing committee stipulated that no models could be used for this showcase; instead, group members would present the designs themselves.

The reason given is that cheongsams can be worn in everyday life, and if they only look good on models or are only used for fashion shows, they will lose their charm.

The cheongsam should be worn by every contestant, and different cheongsams should be designed according to each person's body shape so that the person wearing the cheongsam will be eye-catching.

Yang Zhiyan, as the presenter of the cheongsam design, walked out of the venue.

The music began; it was a guqin piece with a melodious and distant tune, like a mountain stream.

She walked out from the left side of the stage, the spotlight shining on her, her cheongsam gleaming softly under the light.

The Suzhou embroidery on the neckline meanders from the neckline to the shoulders, with layers progressing in the changing light and shadow.

Her waist was slender, and the cheongsam accentuated her figure beautifully, showcasing all her strengths. The skirt swayed gently with her steps, graceful and elegant, like lotus blossoms with every step.

Yang Zhiyan had no formal training in runway modeling, but she had learned a few basic tricks. This made the overall presentation more authentic, allowing the audience to feel that the cheongsam could showcase the best features of a woman's figure to the fullest extent.

Su Wan stood on the right side of the stage, holding a microphone, her voice clear.

"The design inspiration for this cheongsam comes from... We used the technique of layered embroidery on the neckline and shoulders, using three different shades of thread in each area to create a gradual transition."

Su Wan was also wearing a cheongsam today, a light purple color, embroidered with pale pink lotus flowers. The buttons on the collar were made by herself, each a lotus bud about to bloom.

She speaks slowly, with a calm demeanor that makes you want to listen attentively.

Xu Yun stood on the left side of the stage, wearing a Chinese-style suit made of imported wool blend fabric, with a white shirt underneath.

He stood there, his posture ramrod straight. His voice was strong and clear when he spoke.

"The cheongsam shouldn't just exist in museums and on runways; it should return to everyday life. Our designs aren't for fashion shows, but for everyday wear. It can be a shirt dress for work, a cocktail dress for a date, or a formal outfit for a dinner party. We hope that everyone who wears this cheongsam can feel their own beauty."

The three people on the stage were Yang Zhiyan in the middle, Su Wan on the right, and Xu Yun on the left.

Light shone from different directions, casting the shadows of the three people on the ground, where they gathered together and then dispersed.

Yang Zhiyan stood in the center of the stage, turned slightly to the side, and the hem of her cheongsam swayed gently with her movement.

The spotlight shone on her, and her cheongsam shone like a clear spring in the light.

She stood in that beam of light, quiet and serene, like a flower fairy slowly blooming in the morning light.

Applause erupted spontaneously from the audience.

Grandma Qin clapped the loudest, and after she finished, she patted Qin Yuzheng's arm.

"Zhiyan is really beautiful." Qin Yuzheng didn't speak, his gaze remained fixed on the person on the stage, never leaving her for a moment.

Unsurprisingly, Yang Zhiyan's group won first place.

The moment the host announced the results, Su Wan hugged Yang Zhiyan tightly, her eyes welling up with tears.

Xu Yun stood to the side, extended her hand, and shook hands with Yang Zhiyan.

After the awards ceremony, the contestants returned backstage.

Backstage was in chaos; some were laughing, some were crying, some were packing up, and some were making phone calls.

Yang Zhiyan stood next to her seat, changed out of her cheongsam, and carefully hung it in a dust bag.

Someone walked up behind her. She turned around. Qin Yuzheng stood in front of her, holding a bouquet of flowers.

The white lisianthus was wrapped in light gray wrapping paper and tied with a ribbon of the same color.

He stood under the backstage lights, and a crowd surged past him, some carrying clothes, some holding documents, and some dragging suitcases.

He was not affected by those people; he stood there like a steadfast tree.

"Congratulations." He handed over the flowers.

Yang Zhiyan took the flowers and held them in her arms. The fragrance of lisianthus was faint, not strong, but very pleasant.

Looking at Qin Yuzheng, she felt a lump in her throat. Many of her wonderful experiences came from Qin Yuzheng.

Qin Yuzheng reached out and pulled her into his arms, embracing her.

Yang Zhiyan didn't struggle or feel shy. She buried her face in his chest, inhaling his scent. She felt relieved and at ease; her longing vanished.

Su Wan stood to the side, still holding the high heels she had taken off. When she saw this scene, she opened her mouth slightly, then closed it again.

She nudged Xu Yun beside her with her elbow, her expression one of genuine admiration.

"Wow, they're so happy. The man has a powerful presence, and the woman is beautiful and charming. They're such a sight for sore eyes."