Walter's outburst didn't go unnoticed. Several nearby designers from other car companies turned to look, puzzled by the sudden noise. After a quick explanation, the mood shifted.
Many of them nodded.
"Isn't that typical of Chinese brands?" someone muttered.
"Always imitating the West," another scoffed.
"I bet that guy got offended because Walter hit a nerve."
"Let's see if he can back it up when the covers come off."
With narrowed eyes and folded arms, they all turned their attention to the Audi booth. The cars were still under wraps, the covers waiting to be pulled. Every manufacturer followed the same routine: conceal until showtime. Build the mystique. Create impact.
But now, these skeptical designers were practically salivating.
They wanted to see it happen—live and in front of everyone.
They wanted Haifeng to be embarrassed.
Word had spread that he had personally led the design of the new models. If his work turned out to be derivative? It would be blood in the water.
Walter crossed his arms and sneered.
"Let's see what car you copied," he muttered. "When that cover comes off, I'll humiliate you myself."
Haifeng watched from the lounge. On the massive overhead screen, he saw the first judges entering the Audi display area.
The tension in the room shifted.
The other designers clustered behind the feed, waiting for the moment of truth.
Audi's assigned spokesperson inside the booth—the same sharp, confident sales rep Haifeng had briefed earlier—saw the group approaching. She didn't hesitate.
With a smile, she stepped forward, took hold of the two car covers, and pulled.
Two cars appeared.
The crowd gasped.
"Whoa…"
"My god, it's beautiful!"
"That red coupe—damn, that's gorgeous!"
"Is that the Audi TT? Even the name's cute!"
"I'm into the A4L," another said. "That big honeycomb grille and sculpted body… the lines are insane."
"And the color combo—white with a black floating roof? It's so striking. You can't look away."
The A4L, transformed by China Star's lab team, looked like a different species from its older sibling—sharp, bold, with presence. Next to it, the TT sat like a loaded spring: compact, aggressive, playful.
Instantly, the judges were crowding closer.
The sales rep stepped in with perfect timing.
"Thank you for your interest, everyone. Now that you've seen the first form, let me show you the second."
The judges blinked.
"Second form?"
"What is this, a Transformer?"
"Show us already! I'm ready to start scoring!"
The sales rep smiled and pulled two smart keys from her pocket—sleek devices with integrated touchscreens. Haifeng modeled them after the BMW 7 Series keys, a proven design with tech appeal.
The judges murmured approvingly.
"Even the keys look high-end…"
She raised both hands.
These vehicles can be started remotely via a smart key. Like this."
She pressed both buttons.
Rrrrmmm—rrrmm!
The engines roared to life. The exhaust notes were tuned to perfection—low, refined, but powerful. The crowd leaned in.
Then the headlights ignited.
"Oh damn…"
"What is that? Those lights—are they standard? High beam? Daylight?"
"I've never seen a headlight design like that. Looks like something out of sci-fi."
"The A4L looks even meaner with them on. And the TT? It's got this cute-but-fierce vibe. It's wild."
"I'm giving it a ten. For the lights alone."
"Same here. Full marks."
The response was overwhelming.
The sales rep let them enjoy the moment, then explained:
"These are Audi's original matrix LED headlights—our latest black-tech innovation. Fully automatic. The running lights activate on startup, giving it function and visual identity."
She paused for effect.
"They aren't just headlights. They're signature features. A form of language."
The crowd nodded, impressed. Not just by the lights, but by how well the story was told.
More judges flooded into the booth, drawn by the buzz. Some still hovered around the exteriors, but many had moved to the interiors.
That's when jaws dropped again.
—
Inside, the A4L and TT were loaded.
Whole digital dash clusters. 12-inch center displays. Every surface was wrapped in stitched leather. Sport seats in fire-red. Chrome-accented toggles. Yacht-style gear levers. Ambient lighting in twelve selectable hues. And panoramic sunroofs overhead.
Silence.
Then awe.
"This interior's insane…"
"The leather quality's amazing. Everything's soft-touch."
"It's premium, but not overdesigned. And the screen layout makes sense."
More and more, the scoring tablets lit up with top marks.
And back in the designer lounge, the mood had turned completely.
The crowd that had gathered to mock Audi?
Now they were quiet.
Even Walter hadn't spoken since the covers came off.
The scoreboard told the rest of the story. Audi's votes weren't trickling in.
They were exploding.