[Sister Aya's social skills are absolutely legendary! She fit right in!]
[So elegant! Utterly elegant!]
[She radiates a presence that's larger than life! Even among the models, she shines brighter than the stars!]
[I've decided! Sister Aya is exactly the kind of woman I want to become when I grow up!]
[To the girl above, no offense, but first you need to make sure you have the same "model" as her, you know?]
[I think Little Grandchild's chances of keeping the center spot are really slim now...]
The Pursuit Team naturally noticed the sudden spotlight on this newcomer.
Lin Zhiyuan frowned as he flipped through the model dossiers in his hand. "This Aya... isn't on our list."
"Didn't Starry's staff say she was a last-minute replacement for an absent model? Just a regular person they pulled in."
"I have to say, Starry's talent scouts have an eagle eye. If Aya debuted, she'd definitely be a top star. I bet most entertainment agencies watching the live stream are already eyeing her."
Wang Lei, a veteran of the entertainment industry, couldn't help but comment, indicating that even he was interested in signing Miss Aya.
"Teacher Wang Lei, Lin Zhiyuan means we should also keep a close eye on Aya. We can't rule out the possibility that she's Cifera in disguise, having infiltrated as a substitute model."
Nie Bing's cold voice cut through the air from the Technical Booth, but she didn't even look up, her eyes glued to the surveillance monitors displaying footage from every corner of Starry.
"Oh, oh, right! That makes sense. She is suspicious, ha ha... Um, even though Aya looks nothing like Cifera, that confident aura of hers is remarkably similar. Maybe she really is Cifera in disguise!"
Wang Lei remained unfazed by yet another rebuttal. He knew his role in the Pursuit Team perfectly well: to lighten the mood and handle odd jobs.
Hearing Wang Lei's remark, Liu Shanhe withdrew his gaze from Aya and chuckled.
"Teacher Wang Lei, while it's true that anyone appearing unexpectedly during this sensitive time warrants scrutiny, we can't jump to conclusions without evidence.
"At least for now, Miss Aya's physical attributes are undeniably exceptional. It's perfectly plausible that Starry staff discovered her and arranged for her to step in as a temporary replacement."
"We can keep a peripheral eye on her, but our primary focus remains Lu Yue, the most likely to come into contact with the Starry Light.
"However, we must be cautious. While Cifera's disguise skills are formidable, we can't afford to be paranoid and see threats everywhere. Spreading our resources too thin would only exhaust our minds and leave us vulnerable to missing the forest for the trees."
Hearing Liu Shanhe's words, Lin Zhiyuan nodded vigorously, while Nie Bing's gaze remained fixed on the screen, deep in thought.
Wang Lei, on the other hand, looked up with undisguised admiration. "As expected of Old Liu! Wang Lei has learned much today!"
[The Pursuit Team's paranoia has reached terminal levels. They're even suspecting Sister Aya?]
[Understandable, considering Cifera's disguises are truly terrifying. Now everyone looks fake...]
[It's clear Lord Lin and Little Bingbing are suffering from excessive vigilance, seeing threats everywhere. Teacher Wang Lei's relaxed, joking approach is far more effective. Old Liu is deliberately using Teacher Wang Lei to jolt the youngsters out of their excessive tension.]
[Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure. At times like these, having an experienced senior criminal investigator like Old Liu is invaluable!]
[By the way, where did Feng Shen and Brother Zhang go? They should be helping to ease the pressure.]
[Need you even ask? They're obviously escorting Big Pecs to the restroom!]
[Hahaha!]
Backstage, Lu Yue had already entered the dressing room to change.
Aya, meanwhile, remained temporarily where she was.
In the distance, several staff members responsible for costume coordination and show direction gathered, whispering as they observed Aya. Their faces were a mix of awe and obvious concern.
"Forget her stunning beauty for a moment. Her very presence is a perfect match—she's truly the embodiment of 'Starry Light'!"
The bespectacled female Show Director, who had originally invited Aya, spoke softly.
"Exactly," another agreed. "She captures the mysterious and noble essence of 'Starry Light' far better than Lu Yue's cold, heroic aura."
"But..."
A slightly plump costume designer frowned, holding a measuring tape. "The biggest problem is the clothes!"
"The main gowns designed to complement Starry Light were all tailored to the standard height and frame of tall runway models. While there's some leeway, it's limited.
"Miss Aya, though perfectly proportioned, is simply too short. Her shoulder width, bust size, and skirt length are all wrong! There's no time for last-minute alterations!
"The backup dresses come in smaller sizes, but their quality and design fall far short of Starry Light's grandeur—they simply can't do it justice!"
Hearing this, the bespectacled Show Director sighed:
"Ah, it's my fault for getting too excited when I saw Miss Aya. I didn't think things through properly. I was so focused on her aura matching the theme that I overlooked the practicalities..."
The staff's discussion was also being broadcast to the live stream viewers:
[Ah... what are these people doing? Did they just invite her up here to stand around?]
[So the clothes don't fit? Hardware issues are a real headache. Sister Aya looks at least 1.65 meters tall, but that's still quite short compared to typical runway models.]
[What a pity! Sister Aya's aura is absolutely stunning. Could she really miss the chance to wear Starry Light because of the dress?]
[No wonder Little Grandchild is so calm. Did he anticipate this all along? Damn those long legs!]
[Some argue that since Little Grandchild earned his role as Lu Yue through sheer talent, it would be a greater shame if a sudden newcomer stole his spotlight.]
[No! Not at all! I'm a Cat Fan. I just want Little Grandchild eliminated by the Pursuit Team ASAP so he doesn't interfere with Cifera stealing the Starry Light!]
[It's hard to say if Cifera will even appear tonight... sniff My Cifera, please show yourself!]
The staff's conversation also included "Aya."
Though they spoke in hushed tones, Cifera, as the Kitty Phantom Thief, possessed exceptionally keen hearing. She had already overheard their entire exchange and chuckled inwardly:
No suitable outfits for me?
Heh, a minor problem. I'm the Seamstress, Aglaea, now~
With that thought, "Aya" smiled faintly and approached them with poise and grace.
"Are you all struggling to find a dress in my size that complements the Starry Light?" she asked.
Hearing Aya suddenly ask this question, everyone froze in surprise.
We had made sure to walk far enough away; she couldn't possibly have overheard us. Could she have guessed?
But weren't we supposed to keep the real reason for bringing her here—to wear the Starry Light—a secret? How could she be so certain?
Unless... she's so confident in her own qualities that she's already figured out our true motive!
Good heavens! This woman possesses both beauty and brains!
After the initial shock, the bespectacled Show Director who had brought Aya upstairs blushed slightly, feeling a bit awkward. She didn't even ask how Aya knew:
"Miss Aya, I sincerely apologize. It was my oversight. We truly hoped you would try on the Starry Light so we could compare its effects with Lu Yue's.
"But now... there isn't a suitable gown available. Rushing a custom-made one or making significant alterations is simply impossible at this late hour..."
As she spoke, the Show Director's voice grew softer and softer, barely daring to meet Aya's eyes. She couldn't bring herself to say the remaining words: "We might have to settle for other jewelry for you to wear on stage."
After all, in the Show Director's eyes, Aya had likely guessed their true reason for bringing her here—to wear the Starry Light—which explained her ready agreement to help.
The legendary diamond, Starry Light—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to wear it, witnessed by a live audience and countless viewers—would be incredibly appealing to any woman.
Yet now, she had broken her promise. Miss Aya must be deeply disappointed.
But why did she still appear so graceful? Why did that enchanting smile remain on her face?
Such a strong, accomplished woman, and I've hurt her...
Argh, I'm such a monster!
Just as the bespectacled Show Director was drowning in self-reproach, Aya's gentle yet undeniably firm voice cut through the air:
"It's alright. You must have a clothing studio here, right? One equipped with sewing machines, irons, basic fabrics, and accessories?"
The slightly plump costume designer paused, startled by Aya's sudden question:
"We do have one at the far end of the backstage area. It's mainly for our costume team's emergencies, but Miss Aya, what exactly do you mean...?"
"I'm a seamstress."
Aya's enchanting smile returned, but this time, her words carried the weight of unshakeable confidence.