Chapter 83: Revelations.

It wasn't just Tā de gunning for Secondhand, there were at least another four brands there wanting to topple them also.

So when the accusations came flying out they all voiced their disgusted thoughts and even concerns of corruption were muttered from their lips just to add fat to the fire.

Tā de's Mr Hui saw this and he found his second wind as he started making more accusations against Yang Mingchun.

"Old Yang! Don't you think an explanation is in order here!? As a member of the Ouxiang Up committee and judging panel I believe that you should be stripped of all titles and that of your role as such a member due to this matter. These actions of yours and your Secondhand against Mr Jie are truly vile. I have it on good authority from independent sources that what Mr Jie claims are indeed true."

There was no question that Secondhand and Tā de were at loggerheads with each other both business wise and personally.

"Heh! . . Mr Hui seems to have already made a decision after seeing one side of the page! Your investigation skills are even better than PIT's! If an explanation is what you want, then I can offer one. . . But, will you all permit me four questions to Mr Jie before I do?"

Mr Jie snarled at Yang Mingchun,

"Heh, old man! I'm not scared of anything you throw at me, I will make you regret so much for stealing from me!"

"Great, I look forward to it. Okay, first question, what was your military issued id, unit and rank?"

"I didn't serve our great military, I believe that there are other ways to aid our country than to be a soldier."

"That is true, there is indeed more ways to help our country than to be a soldier."

"Second question, are your parents well?"

"Ah . . My parents are both fine, they are here in the audience right now."

Mr Jie gloated as he pointed them out. Yang Mingchun looked to them and they both held disgusted and arrogant looks.

Everyone close to the parents took this to mean they were disgusted at what was playing out on the stage.

Yang Mingchun didn't care and continued,

"Oh? . . That's good to hear. Alright, Third question. Who are Aunty Sun, Aunty Zihan, Aunty Susu, Wú Ling, Mingyu and Qianyu?"

"I have no idea who any of those people are! Nor what their relevance to my designs could possibly be!"

"Okay, final question who is Lu Mingxi?"

"Like the last people you mentioned I have no idea!"

Mr Hui and Mr Jie sneered at Yang Mingchun as Mr Hui quickly added,

"Old Yang! You've asked your nonsensical questions, now it's time you gave us an explanation!"

Yang Mingchun just shrugged then replied in a nonchalant manner,

"Well I think those that owes an explanation, is the four of you,"

" . . . "

"Old thing! Has the sun finally dried out your brain?"

"Not at all! The four questions I've asked have verified the two things I wanted answered."

"One, Mr Jie has never worked for Secondhand and two, he, along with you three didn't design this collection."

"What on earth are you talking about!?"

"Well I ask all of you! Do any of the names I mentioned in questions three and four ring a bell to anyone of you?"

Three of them said no straight away but one hesitated but said nothing. They had no idea why that name was brought up.

"Did you know that while you were announcing "your" collection, out of everyone here, two people weren't cheering? Actually, one looked like they could murder the four of you, the other was clearly heartbroken."

"Why do you think that is Mr Jie?"

" . . . "

Mr Jie didn't get a chance to answer as he was soon pelted with an iced coffee.

"It's because you're a damn shitty thief and a liar!"

Lu Mingxi shouted as she and Qin Qianyu made their way on stage, Mr Hui was furious at what was transpiring.

He glared at Lu Mingxi and Qin Qianyu then called out to behind the two teens,

"Those are some bold claims and accusations there young lady! You there! Arrest these two women!"

Qin Qianyu turned and saw a bevy of officers along with members of PIT coming towards them.

Song Zhaoge spotted Qin Qianyu and couldn't believe his luck.

"Well if it isn't the haughty hospital girl! You don't seem like much without your bodyguards hehe! . . "

Song Zhaoge uttered out in his normal voice. However, everyone heard it thanks to the mic and the dead quiet audience wondering what was going on.

"Pfft! You don't seem like much, period! Even more so without you brown nosers!"

Qin Qianyu added without batting an eye. Song Zhaoge just snorted through his nostrils as if he wasn't fazed by the comment at all.

Qin Qianyu the continued,

"Besides, why would I need them when they're here?"

She pointed out the police and members of PIT to him.

"Don't start crying when they drag all of you away."

"Heh! What can the police do to me?"

Qin Qianyu didn't get a chance to answer as Ji Yunhao interrupted,

"Mingxi! What's the meaning of this!?"

Lu Mingxi looked to the middle aged woman in disgust and replied,

"Hey lady! Don't go calling my name casually! We aren't familiar with each other!"

"Lu Mingxi! Is this how your father teaches you!?

"Lady! Why are you bringing my father into this!? Maybe I learnt it from the woman that abandoned her two children and husband for her sleazy lover!?"

" . . . "

Lu Mingxi was shocked stupid as she stood in the audience and watch the mother that had abandoned her family for a thieving scum and prance around the thief like a trained monkey earlier.

She then realised how her designs were stolen from her.

"You actually gave this scum all access to my cloud account!"

"Lu Mingxi what on earth are you talking about! What access, what clouds?"

"Heh! . . You really make me sick. Lady don't talk to me now or ever again. I'd happily spend time in jail for punching all your teeth out!"

"No one will be punching any teeth out."

Qin Qianyu recognised the Lieutenant that just spoke and also Yi Ma, they in turn recognised her also.

Yi Ma gave a slight nod to Qin Qianyu and stated,

"Miss Qin, we're meeting quite often these days,"

"I swear it isn't me this time, but my friend. She would like to report a case of fraud, corruption, theft of property and intellectual rights, forgery and identity fraud, hacking and other related cyber crimes committed against her by these four here."

"You can't just spout out nonsense to suit you little girl! Who do you think you are to report us for such nonsense!?"

"Nonsense you say? What if there's verifiable evidence that the designs of this collection were stolen and used here by you four claiming collaborative ownership of these dresses."

"What nonsense are you talking about girl! These designs are my own! And that old man there knows it. It's all a set up and you're both in on it aren't you!? It's not the first time he's swindled me!"

Mr Jie announced loudly. Ji Yunhao looked to her boyfriend then her daughter confused,

"Why is Mingxi here causing a scene? Is she trying to get my attention? How could she have designed these!? . . . She's nowhere near as talented as Mingyu, it must be a trick set up by those scums at Secondhand!"

The Lieutenant turned to where Mr Jie was pointing only to see Yang Mingchun smile back at her.

The Lieutenant quickly stood straight as a steel pole and commanded the members of PIT to salute Yang Mingchun.

"We salute Lieutenant General Yang!"

They yelled collectively.

Everyone went wide eyed when they heard and saw several people salute Yang Mingchun.

Those that were going against Secondhand and Yang Mingchun swallowed hard especially Mr Jie and Mr Hui.

"Lieutenant General!? . . How could this be!?"

Many knew that to have such a title, Yang Mingchun must had done many meritorious deeds for the country and military.

"Be at ease, I'm retired now. Lieutenant, why is PIT here at this event?"

She explained to Yang Mingchun that because they are investigating the SIC matter they had received a report of shenanigans going on at this event involving the Ouxiang Up.

"Because of that fact, we are here today to thoroughly investigate the complaint of corruption as Ouxiang Up is considered the social counterpart of SIC, Ma'am."

"Huh? . . Ma'am?"

Mr Hui mumbled as he stared confusingly at Yang Mingchun,

"Old Yang isn't a man but a woman!?"

Everyone was confused at this. They had all thought that Yang Mingchun was a man.

The misunderstanding came about because she always wore men's clothing and had short immaculate hair.

However, what people not in know didn't know, was that during her time when the invaders occupied the country, her grandfather had dressed her as a man to hide her identity as a woman.

This was then carried through even after the invaders left due to daily habit.

Mr Hui soon shook those thoughts from his mind as he came to his senses and interrupted the Lieutenant,

"There must be some mistake! This is an event held by Song Textiles and Tā de, it has nothing to do with Ouxiang Up."

"It has everything to do with Ouxiang Up thief! You're showcasing my stolen designs as your own including my own submission for Ouxiang Up!"

"What!? . . You . . Who put you up to this!? This is slander I'll sue you, you know!"

Lu Mingxi snorted then continued,

"You're a major sponsor and also sit on the judging panel for Ouxiang Up, but who knew that you and your cohorts you've been praising nonstop would steal a students work, and a Ouxiang Up participants submission and claim it as your own! And not only have not bothered to change the themes name, you actually have no idea what it really means! You've all totally butchered the concept of my designs!"

Lu Mingxi decried clearly for all to hear.

"Bold claims but do you have proof that these are you designs?"

"You want proof!? . . Alright! However deep you want to dig yourself a hole I'll not stop any of you!"

"Madam Yang asked four questions, this thief couldn't answer the last two, but I can! And I'll start with the easiest one, question four. Who is Lu Mingxi? I am Lu Mingxi!"

"This isn't proof of anything!"

"Keep digging your hole, if you get tired hand the shovel to your other three cohorts, they look bored!"

" . . . "

"Pfft!"

Qin Qianyu sniggered which I turn caused others to quietly join her.

Lu Mingxi stood straight without cowering then continued,

"Since it was Madam Yang that asked these questions, I was wondering, Madam Yang can you please enlighten the thief,"

"Sure, I don't mind at all."

Yang Mingchun says with a smile. She starts pacing the stage and stops in front of a couple of models then replied,

"So, like many artists be it painting, drawing, literature and so on, the artist would always sign their work. Fashion is no different. Some see it as arrogance but it's also part of the designers style and flair."

Yang Mingchun took a breath then continued,

"The reason I asked you all who Lu Mingxi was, was because, I had spotted that name placed inside the design of every single dress on this stage."

Yang Mingchun pointed out eight before telling everyone else to find the name themselves.

"Thank you Madam Yang."

"Just a small thing,"

"Now to answer question three! Since none of you know these names allow me to enlighten you with the aid of madam Yang."

Lu Mingxi asked Yang Mingchun to bring Aunty Sun. When she said that Yang Mingchun pointed out 7 models and had them come together in a group.

She soon done the same for Aunty Zihan and Aunty Susu. Each Aunty had seven models.

Next she called the four center pieces over.

"Those that are still standing are not part of the collection. Those were some random designs I had done prior to this lot here, that were all for the considerations of Ouxiang Up,"

Everyone looked to the left over dresses on the models and soon realised that they were all indeed random.

There was no cohesion between any of them unlike the named ones. People started drawing their own conclusions now,

Lu Mingxi then started to a introduce each "person" starting off with the aunties.

"This collective aptly named bonds is based on my bonds with certain women whom I've come to admire."

She then described the characters and traits of all these people and how she implemented them into the design.

Aunty Sun was robust yet endearing and playful.

"She strong enough to protect you, and playful to the point that you won't be intimidated. This is what these dresses of Aunty Sun reflect."

Aunty Zihan, was kind, gentle and motherly.

"Aunty Zihan is the mother some all wish they had. Kindness that eases your mind, gentle to enough to mend your wounds with a mere look. And able to soothe all your worries as a mother would."

Everyone that heard looked to the dress named Aunty Zihan.

The keywords that Lu Mingxi spoke where reflected and seen in the design and style of the dresses.

Aunty Susu, poised, elegant and domineering as is her character as a minister of the country should be.

"Aunty Susu, undoubted in both manner and style, a strong authoritarian figure, with a touch of elegance that exudes power."

When the audience heard that the "Aunty Susu" dresses where created with Xi Susu as it's muse, they were all shocked.

The dresses did indeed have a seen of power, they could be wore at former events and everyday outings and still hold the same meaning.

"Next we have a very good friend of mine, and also the daughter of Minister Xi, Wen Wú Ling."

She described Wú Ling as cheerful, upbeat and supportive.

This was reflected in the dress by the support it offered key areas of the body like the hips waist and bust and how this dress could be used for occasions such as celebrations and family gatherings keeping the mood high.

Next up was Qin Qianyu, the dress represented a calm and collected vibe. And even under the toughest of strain it would not break nor bend to the whims of others.

"Next the daughter of Aunty Zihan, my other good and close friend, Qin Qianyu! These dresses are smart. There are no two ways about it. Calm, stable, collected, smart!"

This dress was suitable for all occasions be it a private function, or a formal event.

Lu Mingxi then pointed out Mingyu.

The dress wasn't gaudily presented, it was pure, it was without vanity or superficial embellishments just like her sister.

"And finally myself! . . It's just good to be me. I can fit in with any and all of the "ladies" on stage because we all share a bond, . . "

"A bond of sisterhood, womanhood and a bond of friendship. That, Mr Thief, that is the true meaning of bonds, not that superficial bullshit you two were harping on about!"

While Lu Mingxi was introducing each piece, Yang Mingchun was showing them the names on them, the names she had asked in question three to Mr Jie earlier.

Just like Lu Mingxi had done with her own name she had done with the others and incorporated them into the design of the dresses.

Everyone was convinced at this point, Tā de, Song Zhaoge, Mr Jie and Yi Yunhao were filthy thieves that stole the work of a student and tried to pass it off as their own.

Mr Hui turned to Lu Mingxi and offered a bow and tried to apologise to her.

Lu Mingxi cut him off before he could even start.

"Hey thief! . . . Would you let me off with an insincere bow and empty words? Weren't you ready to sue me for slander not so long ago! If the roles were reversed, you'd have a team of lawyers here, police, the media and even have the women from your corporate office come down and be your backup dancers as you sing and dance in front of the entire crowd and vehemently decry my actions."

"Look at the four of you! You have someone so delusional he even believes his own lies, one has his head so far up his arse that he thinks he's taking a walk through a rose garden, then there's you who's done nothing but throw out threats while telling people to live their dreams and not let anyone hold them back, and finally this lady here! A muse? She's so damn fake on so many levels!"

" . . . "

"What!? Did you actually think you were all like Cheng Yifei by telling people to reach their hopes and dreams through you four!? You can't even touch your own hearts because there's nothing there to touch! All four of you are corrupt, scheming, fraudsters I'll fight this and you, all the way til end!"

"This, this is all Secondhand's doing, they can't even leave me be after I left from being a designer there!"

"Tsk! To borrow the words of the young Miss Lu, "if you want to keep digging that hole, I'll not stop you!" so let me give you a hand!"

"Lieutenant can you please enlighten everyone here why it's impossible for this idiot to ever be a designer of Secondhand if you please,"

"As you wish ma'am."

"Do you know what secondhand stands for?"

"Heh! Everyone does, the buyer of the dress is the Secondhand to ever touch the dress, except the designer!"

"Tsk! Nope! . . That's the romanticised version created by a loon,"

" . . . "

"PIT and Secondhand have a long honoured history together. PIT didn't have the glamours name it has now, in the beginning it was literal, it was and meant what it says. The founding members of PIT were all women! They would sacrifice themselves by laying deep within the trenches, toilets and pits to gather "Firsthand" information on the invaders."

"This information would then go to a tailor who would embed this information into clothing becoming the "Secondhand". Are you starting to get the picture now? . . Only past members of PIT or orphaned children of PIT members can become designers at Secondhand. Times have changed, but this! This is a time held and honoured tradition that has carried over even to this day. There has never nor will there ever be a non member designer at secondhand."

"So, You! Who has never served, and still have your parents, oh, and the fact that you called the founder of PIT, Lieutenant General Yang, a man, proves that you've never been a designer at Secondhand."

All the guest, the audience members and even the models all sucked in cold air as they gazed upon Yang Mingchun and the revelations made today.

This person was or rather is, a living legend.