I gave higher scores than the average for the previous few works, but when it came to Harley's work, I gave her a "zero".
Everyone present looked at me in astonishment.
Other judges tried to defuse the situation, saying, "Miss Hersey must have made a mistake."
I smiled at Harley's angry eyes.
"I didn't make a mistake. Learning calligraphy is about cultivating one's character. Unfortunately, someone has a twisted character."
"Tilda, what are you talking about? Don't sling mud at me!"
Harley stood up abruptly and pointed at me, cursing loudly.
"Harley, don't you know that pointing at someone is very rude?"
The others looked at each other and dared not speak when they heard us quarrel.
"Tilda, I know. You are jealous that my calligraphy is better than you, so you want to slander me, right?"
I sighed softly, "Stop overestimating yourself, OK?"
Just then, a surveillance video appeared on the big screen behind me, showing the room with the entries.
Among a pile of works, a man wearing a hat sneakily switched one of them.
People at the scene started to discuss when they saw that.
Hersey's face turned pale.
A well-known strict judge stood up, looked at Harley, and asked her, "I'll give you one more chance. Is this your work?"
"Of course, it is," Harley said. She clenched her teeth and refused to admit it.
"Really? Then why did my assistant find a work with your name written on it in the trash can outside the corridor?"
I nodded, indicating my assistant to open the thing on the desk.
A piece of paper with Harley's name on it was unfolded, and the audience burst into laughter when they saw the horrible handwriting.
The evidence was conclusive. Harley's face turned livid, and she covered her face and ran out under the contemptuous gaze of the crowd.
"Miss Hersey..." The organizer looked at me with a difficult expression.
"Don't worry. Someone will be here to clean up the mess for her."
I left smartly.
I was sure that after this, Harley would never defile the things I liked again.
I wanted to go home and rest after leaving the venue, but I realized that Harley would definitely go back and complain to my parents, so I turned and went to the bar.
Just as I arrived at the bar, my mom called.
"Where are you now?"
I casually shook my glass and didn't answer her. I said, "What's up?"
Probably being annoyed by my attitude, she was silent for a while.