Elaina opened her email and saw a pile of drawings inside. Her eyes grew brighter and brighter.

"Holy cow! Darling, you really are a genius!"

She said excitedly, her eyes sparkling intensely. "These designs could compete in a world-class competition! You're still as sharp as ever!"

Hazel smiled faintly. "Glad I could be of help."

Elaina showered her with more flattery, rubbing her hands together excitedly. "I heard that bitch Oliver is entering next week's Jewelry Design Competition. How about we pick one to enter too?"

Hazel nodded without hesitation.

If you're going to humiliate someone, you might as well do it thoroughly...otherwise, how will Oliver ever learn her lesson?

"When you send these sketches over, tell the partners outright that I'm the designer. You can also state on the company website that I've returned to your design studio."

Elaina's eyes widened in disbelief. "Really?"

When Hazel left the studio, she had announced her retirement from design. Yet her work still commanded admiration in the jewelry circle to this day. She had thought Hazel's willingness to help was already generous enough...never expecting Hazel would actually be making a comeback!

Elaina blurted out excitedly, "Then...then I'll return all the shares to you--"

"No rush. We have a more pressing matter now."

Hazel pulled her laptop from her bag. "First, do exactly as I say."

Hazel's slender fingers danced swiftly across the keyboard. Opening a web page, she was immediately confronted with a flood of negative news about Kathy.

(Tsk, tsk, all that hype about a 'genius beauty designer'? Turns out she just used her body to climb the ladder.)

(Poor Oliver...earned the final design rights through skill, yet still got beaten up.)

(Ban her already! Boycott her entire Dream High Studio too!)

(Don't even think about it. Dream High was founded by our God 'Ray of Light' herself. Even though she's retired, it's still our cherished memory.)

@Miss Ray of Light -- since she left, Dream High designs have lost their sparkle. Using designers like this now? Utterly rotten!

Hazel's eyes turned cold as she opened a long-dormant messaging app and tapped on a black profile picture.

"Kathy's case -- I want every detail. Once you find it, I'm releasing it online."

The reply came back instantly: "Holy shit! Ray of Light is back from the dead?!"

Hazel didn't waste words. "Hurry up. I need this resolved today."

The response came back: "Got it."

Only then did Hazel log back into her Twitter account and post a message:

Ray of Light: Justice may be delayed, but it never fails to arrive. Also, I'm back.

Within half a minute, Twitter crashed.

Netizens who had been fiercely attacking Kathy's page vanished in unison, swarming to Hazel's account instead.

Holy crap! Ray of Light is alive? Does this mean she's making a comeback?!

No way! The official Ray of Light account confirmed it -- our God is back!!!

From the sound of it, there's more to Kathy and Oliver's situation...I'm choosing to believe my God Ray of Light.

Some of Oliver's fans weren't having it.

"Who the hell is this random chick? Never even heard of her before!"

"She's definitely trying to ride on Oliver's popularity! Maybe that bitch Kathy hired her to whitewash herself!"

But the backlash was swift.

Does our God Ray of Light need to ride anyone's coattails? Get real! She's a legend in jewelry design -- the only one under 25 to win a world-class award!

Your idol's designs are trinkets. God Ray of Light's creations are national treasures -- one's even in the British Museum, okay?

In an instant, online sentiment shifted. Many who had previously attacked Kathy now remained neutral, demanding the project team produce evidence.

*****

At the top floor of the Howard family villa, Oliver watched the trending posts, grinding her teeth in fury.

"Where did this Ray of Light come from? How dare she ruin my plans?!"

She smashed the cup on the table into shards, splattering the maid nearby -- who didn't dare utter a word.

After venting her rage, Oliver finally calmed down and dialed a number.

"Have that project manager post on Twitter too -- claim that Kathy seduced him! Release the photos taken that day!"

But to her surprise, the voice on the other end sounded grim.

"Miss Howard, it's hopeless...someone's already leaked the full video of us taking those photos. Netizens are now accusing the partner of sexual harassment!"

Oliver paled. She reopened Twitter, and sure enough, the trending topic #KathyTwist was plastered across every feed.

All the big names in the jewelry industry were reposting it, and several paparazzi accounts with tens of millions of followers were circulating the video across platforms!

How could this be?

To ruin Kathy's reputation for her ungrateful behavior, she had specifically arranged for that partner to get Kathy drunk at a so-called "drinking party," then attempt to drug her and take suggestive photos as "evidence."

But Kathy had escaped -- and Oliver had ensured all footage was deleted.

So how did it resurface now?

She stared at the screen in utter panic when her phone rang again. It was the same partner who had helped frame Kathy.

"Miss Howard, you have to help me! If this blows up, our company is finished! I risked my neck for you -- out of respect for CEO Knight!"

"If you don't help me, I'll have no choice but to spill everything!"

Oliver's expression darkened further.

*****

The next day.

When Hazel arrived at the studio, her eyes fell on the office where Kathy worked. It was still dark. She wasn't there.

"Is Kathy still hiding at home?" she asked Elaina.

"Cyberbullying is terrifying! When I went to see her, reporters blocked my way. Looks like she won't return to work until this scandal dies down."

"Hazel, she's so talented! To be framed like that by Oliver...it's utterly unfair!"

Elaina, ever the loyal boss, was furious about the situation yet powerless to act. After all, in this city, no one dared to cross Rayan Knight.

"Contact her," Hazel said calmly. "Regarding the plagiarism incident, tell her the studio will handle it thoroughly. She should stay home and wait for updates."

Elaina's eyes flickered with hope. "Hazel, you have a solution?"

"Yes. Leave it to me."

"That's wonderful! Hazel, you're truly my savior!"

Overwhelmed with excitement, Elaina threw her arms around Hazel, almost ready to plant a kiss on her.

"Alright, I need to get back to work. There are still orders to fulfill at the studio, right?"

"Then what do you want to eat? I'll buy it for you! Hazel, I'm your loyal little sidekick -- just give me orders!"

Her best friend clung to her arm, acting all cute and clingy, leaving Hazel both amused and exasperated.

"Alright, alright. Don't be so formal with me. If you hadn't taken me in, I wouldn't have had anywhere to go after my divorce."

Elaina's eyes welled up at Hazel's words, about to launch into another heartfelt speech -- but Hazel gently dismissed her.

"I want cold coffee. Seven parts sugar, with milk."

"No problem! Coming right up!"

After Elaina left, Hazel logged into her Twitter account on her computer.

Among her friend list was a user named Dark Hunter. She clicked open the chat window.

The individual was a notorious online troll leader -- whatever the latest gossip was, he was sure to be there. Known for his scathing online commentary, he had amassed a significant following.

Now a prominent figure in the gossip sphere, any scoop he leaked would instantly attract massive attention.

Hazel organized the evidence in her hands -- all of it concerning the competition judges.

(Hey, I've got some juicy dirt on Evan Grey, one of the judges for the design competition.)

The other party replied almost instantly, firing back a question:

(How much for the scoop?)

Hazel chuckled, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

(You won't need to pay for this information. Consider it a favor. All you need to do is take this material to Evan and demand that he publicly clarify Kathy didn't plagiarize. Otherwise, I'll expose him myself.)

The other party fell silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the potential benefits.

(What if he refuses to clarify?)

(Then you can handle it however you see fit. If he does clarify, I'll give you another exclusive scoop -- guaranteed to satisfy you.)

After hitting Enter, Hazel promptly sent the documents over.

Opening the files, Dark Hunter found the content explosive -- utterly riveting.

If it leaked online, it would cause a huge uproar.

But even if he couldn't leak it, he wouldn't lose much either.

After all, this was his livelihood -- the steady stream of insider information was what kept the money flowing in.

If Hazel could dig up such private matters, uncovering other secrets would surely be a breeze.

(Alright, leave this to me. You're a true friend.)

(You flatter me. I believe evil deeds will always meet retribution.)

Hazel deliberately avoided using an alternate account for the negotiation, aiming to demonstrate her sincerity.

If Dark Hunter wanted to trace the account back to its owner, it would be a simple matter.

Rather than risk suspicion, she preferred directness.

Her Twitter account and Kathy's belonged to the same studio anyway -- Dark Hunter would understand her reasoning.

(Wait for my message, Miss. Also, congrats on your comeback.)

Hazel's lips curled into a smile as she read the reply on her screen.

Who would have thought -- this Dark Hunter was actually one of her fans?

****

Evan Grey, the renowned judge of the design competition, led a vibrant nightlife. At this moment, he was lying in a private room at a nightclub, completely drunk.

His head rested on a beautiful woman's lap as he dozed off.

His phone buzzed incessantly in his pocket. Annoyed, he frowned and pulled it out.

"Who the hell is this...?"

It was his private number -- he rarely received calls from unknown sources.

There was only one possibility: the beautiful woman he had his eyes on a few days ago couldn't resist any longer and was finally offering herself tonight.

Grinning lewdly, he pushed away the woman leaning toward him and stepped out of the private room with his phone.

Outside was much quieter. He cleared his throat twice before answering, "Hello, is this Kathy?"

Dark Hunter on the other end got goosebumps all over. So he really was the kind of man who loved backdoor deals -- pretending to be respectable in public, but a slimeball behind closed doors!

"Sorry, I'm not Kathy. But don't hang up just yet. What I'm about to say will shock you -- make sure no one else can hear."

The middle-aged man's face darkened. He thought it was some kind of prank.

"Got something to say? If not, hang up."

"You remember the incident with Lucy Chen, right? The one you took advantage of?"

Evan's eyes flashed, his entire body stiffening. The alcohol sobered him almost instantly.

"If Lucy Chen doesn't ring a bell, how about these names -- Jessica, Maya? Remember them now? They're big names in the art world, past champions of the design competition. But they only won because they slept with you, right?"

By the time Dark Hunter finished, Evan's scalp tingled.

Even so, he refused to admit it.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Do you have any proof? I can sue you for defamation!"

"If it's not true, why are you so flustered? Want to see my evidence? Evan Grey, check the photos and videos I just sent you -- then call me back."

Dark Hunter hung up abruptly.

Moments later, videos and images appeared on Evan's phone.

Upon seeing them, he nearly fainted.

The footage was unspeakable -- yet undeniably showed him in a hotel room with those very champions.

Evan felt his entire career crumbling before his eyes. If this was exposed, the consequences would be catastrophic.

Without hesitation, he dialed the number back.

"How much do you want? Name your price!"

"Evan Grey, I don't want money."

"Then what do you want?" His voice grew tight. Someone who didn't want money was far more dangerous.

"Simple. The plagiarism scandal surrounding the design competition -- you started that, didn't you? Clear Kathy's name. She didn't plagiarize. End this farce."

The man exhaled in relief, but his heart sank again at the thought of Oliver.

"You want me to offend President Knight? Do you even know who's backing Oliver Howard?"

Compared to ruin and disgrace, Rayan was terrifying too!

"That's your problem. Maybe there's a way to save both sides. Figure it out yourself. You have one day. By tomorrow night, I want to see the clarification!"

The call ended abruptly.

Evan kicked a trash can in frustration and hurried off to find a solution.

One day. He had to issue a clarification without offending Oliver -- or the devil Rayan behind her.

How could this not be a death sentence?

Hazel finished drawing the last sketch and finally allowed herself to relax.

She stretched lazily, her coffee cup long empty.

Elaina had vowed to stay up and fight alongside her until the end, but within moments she had fallen asleep, slumped on the sofa.

"Elaina, wake up. We can go home now."

She rose groggily, rubbing her eyes. "Hazel, you finished everything? You really worked hard."

"It's fine. Let's go home."

Elaina had rented an apartment for Hazel within their residential complex, so they were heading in the same direction.

The moment they stepped out of the taxi, Elaina received a call from Kathy.

In the quiet of the late night, the excitement in her voice was unmistakable.

"Elaina! The plagiarism scandal has been cleared up!"

Elaina's drowsiness vanished instantly, her hand trembling slightly as she gripped the phone.

"What did you say?"

"Check the news! The design competition judge just issued a statement--he confirmed I didn't plagiarize. My name is finally cleared!"

Kathy wept with joy on the other end. The relentless online abuse over the past few days had nearly driven her to depression.

"That's wonderful, Kathy! If it's convenient, come back to work in the next few days, okay?"

She offered a few more soothing words, urging Kathy to rest.

After hanging up, Elaina grabbed her best friend by the arm.

"Hazel, did you really do it? This is unbelievably fast! How did you manage it?"

Faced with the barrage of questions, Hazel smiled helplessly.

"The process doesn't matter...the result does. Kathy's cleared her name, and the studio can reopen. This is my way of repaying you for taking me in."

"Oh, come on, that's what best friends are for! Hazel, having you around is such a blessing. If it weren't for you, I don't know how I would've gotten through this crisis."

Arm in arm, they shared a quiet laugh under the night sky.

Having stayed up late, Hazel slept in and didn't wake until noon.

When she opened her phone, she found a string of messages from Dark Hunter.

(Miss, I did what you asked. Pretty efficient, huh?)

(Busy? Did you see the news?)

(Miss, what about the exclusive scoop you promised me? You're not bailing on me, are you?)

Hazel tapped her forehead. She had completely forgotten about Dark Hunter.

(Just woke up, sorry about that. What do you want--entertainment gossip or an inside scoop on the city's bigwigs?)

(Wow! I get to choose? Miss, considering how awesome I am at getting things done, can I have both?)

Hazel blinked. Well, why not?

She tapped the black profile picture and quickly forwarded several explosive pieces of gossip to him.

The recipient immediately sent back several "worship the god" emojis. Clearly, as the leader of the online army, he was utterly shocked--something he had never experienced before.

(Miss, you are my one and only from now on!)

(No need for formalities. Thanks for this time, and please keep everything confidential.)

(Rest assured! I have strong professional ethics!)

Though he had lost the scoop about the design competition judge, Dark Hunter had gained far juicier news.

This deal was a total win for him.

Hazel closed the chat history with Dark Hunter and checked the latest updates online.

Although the design competition judge had clarified the plagiarism allegations, to avoid offending Oliver, he took the entire blame upon himself.

Upon verification, Kathy's work is indeed original. Oliver's piece, with its distinctive style, remains the most acclaimed entry in the competition and the undisputed champion.

Hazel scrolled down to the comments section, which was flooded with angry remarks:

Are you kidding me? When Kathy was getting slammed earlier, why didn't you step in to clear things up?

What's so great about Oliver's work? It's just another viral internet piece. Did the judges even look at it?

This is hilarious. Total hindsight. This design competition has zero credibility--it's all rigged!

Exactly! It's rigged! Oliver is clearly manipulative. Who knows what tricks she pulled? Poor designer Kathy!

Online sentiment shifted so easily...one statement could change everything.

It was truly laughable.

Hazel closed Twitter just as a message from Elaina arrived.

"Hazel, Kathy wants to treat you to dinner tonight. Are you in?"

Hazel thought for a moment and agreed, but added one more thing:

"Why not invite the whole studio team? Let's celebrate getting through this crisis! It's on me!"

Elaina replied instantly:

"Where did you get this secret stash?"

Before Hazel could respond, another message popped up:

"Fine, I'll treat. That's settled. Keep your money for chasing handsome guys."

Hazel chuckled at the teasing and dropped her insistence on paying.

Despite the online backlash against Oliver, Rayan would always rush to defend her whenever she played the victim.

Rather than wait for that, Hazel decided to take the initiative--let the "green tea bitch" taste the bitterness of her own downfall.

Only then would Oliver truly feel the sting.

Hazel reopened her phone and messaged Dark Hunter again.

(Do me a favor.)

(Just tell me what you need! I'll walk through fire for you!)

Surprised by Dark Hunter's loyalty, Hazel laid out her plan: team up with RK Corporation to hype Oliver.

(Why promote her? She's just an internet-famous designer at best. What if she becomes too big and overshadows you?)

Hazel was momentarily taken aback. He actually considered her interests--he genuinely cared.

(Ever heard of killing someone with flattery? Don't worry. I'm not afraid of people without real talent.)

With that, Dark Hunter understood immediately and agreed without hesitation.

He didn't even need Hazel to explain the details.

He contacted RK Corporation directly and presented his proposal.

The water army leader's account carried considerable clout, and collaborating to hype and praise Oliver's work promised lucrative returns.

"We'll split the profits 40/60. I'll take the smaller share. How about it? Online sentiment toward Miss Howard isn't exactly favorable right now."

The other party had already sensed the situation turning sour and was looking for a solution.

Dark Hunter's timely offer was like finding a pillow when you're sleepy!

"Deal! Profit isn't the priority--making Miss Howard a sensation is what matters most!"

The person on the other end nearly burst out laughing. If they could truly make Oliver a sensation, the President would surely reward him handsomely.

"Bro, relax. I'll work with you perfectly. Let me show you the power of the Internet!"

Each harbored their own hidden agenda, calculating their own gain.

That very night, Dark Hunter deployed a massive army of paid commenters to hype the popularity of Oliver's work.

They even gave her a clever new nickname--"the ghost designer."

The implication was clear: her ever-changing style marked her as a genius whose talent others could only envy.