Ch. 331..340

Chapter 331 The Kindness

When Audrey asked her questions, Catherine stayed quiet, as if she didn’t hear anything. Korbin, noticing Catherine’s attitude, couldn’t resist but complain to Audrey, “You see it too, right? It’s not me being too tough on her. It’s her attitude.”

Audrey sat there feeling embarrassed, unsure of how to respond to her father. In her upbringing, Catherine’s attitude was indeed inappropriate. After all, she was the daughter, and she shouldn’t treat her father this way.

However, Audrey also felt that Catherine had her reasons. Perhaps it was because Korbin didn’t fully understand Catherine’s personality, which had led to the current misunderstanding.

Seeing her father turn away in frustration, Audrey had no choice but to try to persuade Catherine. After all, they were all family.

“Kathy, if you know anything about that Hacker Alliance, just let Dad know. We’re all family, and there shouldn’t be any secrets between us, right?”

Catherine gave Audrey a cold look, but Audrey remained sincere, not at all intimidated by her. She even winked at Catherine, sending her a subtle message.

After a few seconds of silence, Catherine turned her head and looked at Korbin with a cold gaze. Thinking that Audrey’s words had worked, Korbin felt a bit pleased. However, Catherine didn’t answer his. question. Instead, she asked a new one.

“Has Xavier contacted you?”

Korbin was taken aback, not expecting Catherine to turn the tables on him. After a moment, he nodded and narrowed his eyes, signaling danger as he stared at Catherine. “So, the photo Xavier showed me is real? You know members of the Hacker Alliance?”

“Not familiar,” Catherine replied plainly because she wasn’t lying. The Hacker Alliance had grown so large, with countless members scattered around the world.

She was one of the founders of the Hacker Alliance, so how could she possibly know every member?

They usually used chips to distinguish between friend and foe, with clear rank distinctions on the chips. She held the highest rank as one of the founders,. and ordinary members rarely had the opportunity to meet her. So, she told the truth.

“Wait, you’re not familiar with them?” Korbin stared at Catherine suspiciously, then continued to ask, ” So why did you help return the Winfreds ‘secret son to them on behalf of a Hacker Alliance member?”

“Taking money to help people out is something Hacker Alliance members do in the black market,” Catherine replied.

Korbin now understood. Catherine knew some shady characters on the fringes of society, and he was aware of this. Those people were not to his liking at all.

It seemed like Catherine’s involvement with Xavier was purely coincidental. Knowing the reason behind this, Korbin secretly rejoiced.

This meant that they had acquired the Winfreds’ valuable resources all thanks to Xavier’s misunderstanding, thinking that the Swanns were connected to Catherine and the Hacker Alliance.

Now, all they had to do was find Erick and hand him over to the Winfreds for a profit. Seeing Korbin still, Audrey hesitated and spoke up, “Dad, did you hear what Catherine just said?”

Korbin’s thoughts snapped back, and he unconsciously glanced at Audrey. His cold stare had softened somewhat, and his voice was less stern than usual.

“Okay, I’ve got it now. Since Catherine doesn’t know them, there’s no need to worry. You all come back, let’s have a meal together before you leave.”

Audrey was left speechless by Korbin’s unexpected gentleness. It was the first time in so many years that he had spoken so softly.

Moreover, their father inviting them to have a meal together was something they couldn’t have imagined. Then, Korbin turned and headed to his study, as he still had important matters to attend to.

The resources that the Winfreds were willing to give up were certainly significant, and Korbin was in a good mood. Naturally, he was much nicer to Audrey.

After Korbin had vanished from sight, Audrey dared to approach Catherine and asked her in a hushed voice, ” Kathy, did Dad go crazy today?”

Catherine couldn’t help but smile inwardly. She didn’t anticipate Audrey making such a bold statement. It looked like being around her had rubbed off on Audrey and made her adopt some cheeky habits.

Korbin wasn’t necessarily acting crazy. He was simply in a good mood and being more generous. As a wealthy family, inviting them for a meal was a minor gesture, especially since they were the Swanns’ biological daughters.

Catherine understood the reason for Korbin’s happiness. Xavier must have offered something valuable to the Swanns in exchange for finding Erick, and this pleased Korbin greatly. While Catherine didn’t know the specifics of their deal, she knew it must be highly beneficial to Korbin.

Initially, Catherine didn’t plan to stay for dinner, but seeing Audrey so excited, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse, so she agreed. Korbin not only asked them to stay for dinner but also ate with them.

The long-lost fatherly affection left Audrey feeling a bit overwhelmed, and she couldn’t help but smile with her hand covering her mouth throughout the entire dinner.

After dinner, Audrey took Catherine and left. Korbin didn’t say anything. It was better for Catherine to stay with Audrey instead of being at home and possibly having conflicts with Rachael. On the way back, Audrey was still in high spirits.

“Kathy, as I’ve told you before, as long as we behave well, Dad will see our merits and eventually accept us,” she said.

Catherine didn’t intend to crush Audrey’s hopes, but she also didn’t want Audrey to have unrealistic expectations and later feel disappointed. So, she chose to gently remind Audrey.

“I don’t need acceptance from anyone in the Swanns.”

Her cold tone was like a splash of cold water, jolting Audrey back to reality. Audrey realized that Catherine was different from her.

While Audrey had grown up around her parents, even though they weren’t particularly affectionate, her grandfather had always treated her very well.

She had a comfortable life growing up. If it wasn’t for that awful man who hurt her grandfather and made her move out of the Swanns to live on her own, things would have been different.

However, Catherine was sent to the countryside to fend for herself shortly after birth, and she went through a lot of hardships to get to where she was today.

She likely had hard feelings towards her family. In reality, it should have been her accepting her family, not the other way around.

Once Audrey realized this, she understood that Catherine shouldn’t be blamed for it. She could understand how Catherine felt.

Audrey gently patted Catherine’s shoulder to show her support and understanding. Looking at Audrey’s expression, Catherine couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Did Audrey pity her? There was really no need for that!

Chapter 332 Branden’s Cat

In a remote estate in Casier. Triston was in high spirits today. He had organized a wine tasting event and brought out his long-cherished wines for the occasion.

What excited him even more was Branden’s presence. He had initially thought that Branden wouldn’t come, but to his surprise, he did.

“Branden, how’s this wine? Pretty good, right?”

This wine came from a vineyard in Veridonia and had been stored for thirty years. It was quite rare, and Triston had spared no expense to treat Branden. People outside saw Triston as a notorious playboy, always living it up and never getting down to serious business.

He neglected the family’s business and instead hung out with women, and purchased islands and vineyards. This was in stark contrast to Branden, who had been attending high-level meetings at the Duncan Corporation since he was eight.

However, only Branden knew that Triston, in reality, was quite cunning. Despite his carefree image, every time he took action, he made a significant profit.

To consistently make money in every business deal was no small feat, and Triston’s exceptional performance showed his remarkable business talent.

The Lamberts’ situation was more complicated than the Duncans’, as Triston had an older brother, Michael. Michael had been groomed as the Lamberts’ successor since childhood, diligently preparing for over a decade.

If Triston got too involved in business, there was a possibility that the Lamberts might choose a different successor for their future interests.

Triston’s choice of a dissolute lifestyle was also for his brother’s benefit. Combined with his naturally carefree personality, he felt even more at ease in this way. As for the judgments of society, Triston didn’t care about that at all.

Branden tilted his head back and downed the wine in his glass in one gulp. The warm yellow light highlighted his perfect jawline, making him look so handsome that it took one’s breath away.

Triston could tell from Branden’s expression that he was very satisfied with the wine.

In Casier’s high society, here was always this puzzling question. In theory, someone like Branden, with his personality, should have become friends with Michael, the Lamberts’ successor.

However, Branden didn’t interact much with Michael, and their limited contact was mostly due to Triston, who appeared a dandy.

Triston confidently approached Branden, wearing a friendly smile. ” Branden, I saved some of this wine for you. I’ll ask someone to deliver it to your place, how about that?”

Without even looking, Branden could tell what was on Triston’s mind. “Go ahead, what do you want?”

Upon hearing this, Triston couldn’t help but laugh happily. “You know me the best!” he said. Then he continued, “Branden, do you know what the Winfreds are up to now?

I received word that the Winfreds have allied with the Swanns!”

Like the Lamberts, the Swanns had been doing well in Casier’s business scene. However, with the presence of the Duncans, it was challenging for the Lamberts to expand further.

To break through, they had to venture into Oceanvile, an area the Duncans hadn’t explored much.

Two years ago, Michael had extended the Lamberts’ business there. If the Winfreds were really cooperating with the Swanns, they needed to be prepared. It wasn’t that the Lamberts were afraid of the Swanns. It was just that the Swanns were different now.

The current leader of the Swanns was Catherine, whom Branden had openly acknowledged as his fiancée. The Lamberts couldn’t risk damaging their long-standing relationship with the Duncans for the sake of any profit in Oceanvile.

That was why Michael contacted Triston to gather information. If the Swanns were serious about collaborating with the Winfreds, then the Lamberts needed to prepare in advance. Just three minutes ago, Branden had received a message.

Erick had been placed in Sean’s place by Catherine. Even though the Winfreds and the Swanns didn’t know yet, it was just a matter of time before it became known. Branden slowly stood up and gave his answer.

“Catherine won’t collaborate with the Winfreds!”

Given Catherine’s personality, since the Winfreds had deceived her once, she wouldn’t give them another chance. Triston paused for a moment, then realized what Branden meant.

Branden was referring to Catherine, not the Swanns. That meant that there was indeed a collaboration between the Swanns and the Winfreds, but the one in charge was Korbin, not Catherine.

As long as it wasn’t Catherine getting involved, it had nothing to do with the Duncans. So, whether the Winfreds could join forces with the Swanns depended on whether the Lamberts would agree to it.

Even though the Swanns and the Lamberts were both prestigious among Casier’s four noble families, if the Lamberts decided to target the Swanns, the Swanns wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Branden prepared to leave, his eyes falling on the strawberries Triston had prepared for guests. The fresh strawberries were big, red, and extremely tempting. This basket of strawberries had just been won at an auction in an island country’s market, and it was incredibly sweet.

Recalling the last time Catherine ate strawberries and made a face because they were a bit sour, Branden said with a serious tone, “Add these to the delivery and send them to my apartment.”

Triston followed Branden’s gaze towards the strawberries on the table and quickly nodded. “Don’t worry, I’ll arrange later!”

Considering the big favor Branden had just done, sending some strawberries was only fair. Although these strawberries were expensive, Branden’s help made the cost worthwhile.

After Branden left, someone nearby became curious and approached Triston to ask, “I never saw Mr. Duncan eat a single strawberry during the whole event. Why did he ask to take some with him as he left?”

Branden hadn’t eaten anything throughout the wine-tasting event. It seemed strange that he would want to take some strawberries with him as he left.

The person asking this question was trying to find out Branden’s preferences. Countless people wished they had the chance to meet Branden, but it was nearly impossible.

If they could discover what Branden liked, it would be seen as quite an achievement. Triston understood this guy’s intentions and gave him a disdainful look, saying, “This isn’t for him, it’s clearly for his cat!”

The guy was stunned. Branden had a pet cat?

He hadn’t heard about this. Indeed, even giving such fancy fruit to a cat revealed that this was a world of super-rich elites beyond the understanding of regular folks.

Triston also stared at the plate of strawberries, contemplating. Right now, the only thing he was grateful for was that Catherine hadn’t agreed to cooperate with the Winfreds.

However, because Branden had a strong liking for Catherine, if she tried to persuade him, he might have shifted his focus and caused trouble for the Lamberts. The Lamberts would be in big trouble if that’s the case.

Chapter 333 Backing

Triston’s estate served multiple purposes. The top floor was his private space for hosting guests. The first and second floors housed a bar and club, respectively. Triston had developed this entire estate to the fullest.

Apart from “Charm Bar,” this club was also very well-known in Casier. Many wealthy people frequented it for leisure.

One had to pass through the first floor to leave the top floor. After concluding his discussion with Triston, Branden descended from the top floor. Branden glanced at an open private room as he walked through the first floor.

He noticed someone he knew inside, which caught his attention. Paxton noticed that Branden had suddenly stopped, and following Branden’s gaze, he saw Audrey standing in the private room.

Audrey was with a few fat men, and one of them, the film producer Jeff Baker, was seen holding a glass and pouring Audrey a drink. Considering Audrey’s relationship with Catherine, Paxton proactively asked, ” Mr. Duncan, should I go over?”

Branden didn’t respond to him but instead walked directly toward the private room. This surprised Paxton once again, as Branden was usually indifferent to such matters.

If it had been Catherine inside, he wouldn’t have been surprised, but for Branden to personally intervene for Catherine’s sister indicated that Catherine held a significant place in his heart.

The once lively private room suddenly became eerie. The intense atmosphere made everyone look towards where the strange feeling came from.

Among the film producers, some recognized Branden and quickly stood up, approaching him with great respect.

“Mr. Duncan, such an honor to see you!

“Mr. Duncan, so good to see you!”

In Casier, when someone was addressed as “Mr. Duncan” and treated with such respect by Mr. Baker, who was typically quite arrogant, it was clear that there was likely no one else but Branden who could command such reverence.

Everyone was shocked and didn’t understand why Branden had come over. Branden glanced coldly at Audrey, who was standing nearby, and Audrey immediately lowered her head.

Given Catherine’s relationship with Branden, Audrey could consider Branden as someone close to him. Being caught in such a situation by Branden, Audrey felt incredibly embarrassed.

Jeff followed Branden’s gaze and saw Audrey’s reaction, which surprised him. There had been rumors in the industry about Audrey having a powerful background, but she hadn’t made much impact after her appearance on the variety show.

She would have already had plenty of acting chances if she had such strong connections. So why come to him for a role in his movies?

Jeff didn’t think much of it and, seeing Audrey’s attractive looks and figure had thought of having some fun with her. He hadn’t expected her to know Branden. Now, he was doomed!

If he upset Branden, it wouldn’t just affect him in Casier. Jeff was concerned he might be unable to work in the industry anymore.

Jeff felt highly anxious, like waiting for an impending storm. However, to everyone’s surprise, Branden didn’t say anything. He simply turned and walked away. Audrey understood that Branden had looked at her before leaving, signaling her to follow him.

Branden’s strong presence made Audrey not dare to oppose him, so she obediently followed him. Before leaving, she also apologized to Jeff.

“Mr. Baker, I’m sorry, I must go now.”

Jeff couldn’t blame Audrey for anything but felt grateful for her. “Miss Swann, take your time. We can discuss the contract signing tomorrow. Audrey gave a bitter smile, thinking about how superficial society could be.

Just a moment ago, Jeff acted as if he wouldn’t cast her in his movies without taking advantage of her. Now, he was willingly offering a contract, all because of Branden’s influence.

Knowing that Branden was waiting, Audrey didn’t dare hesitate. She nodded casually and walked out the door quickly. As she reached the doorway, she noticed a black Maybach parked outside.

The car door was open, indicating that it was waiting for her to get in. Audrey sensed the tense atmosphere in the car but understood that disobeying Branden could have serious consequences. In the end, she forced herself to get into the car.

Inside the car, she saw it slowly heading towards the apartment. Branden also lived in that area, so this was probably just a convenient ride he offered her.

Audrey secretly breathed a sigh of relief but remained tense. The car was eerily quiet, and even the sound of breathing was distinct.

Her scalp tingled with anxiety, and she tried to speak several times but was subdued by Branden’s imposing presence. Finally, she mustered the courage to speak. “Mr. Duncan, can I ask you for a favor?”

Audrey sat in the back seat, separated from the front by a partition. The car was initially silent, and with Paxton’s excellent hearing, he also heard Audrey’s words clearly.

A trace of disdain crossed Paxton’s lips. He had seen countless women like Audrey. In his eyes, perhaps Branden would help her out of respect for his sister Catherine.

After all, asking Branden for a favor was a better choice than mingling with those older men. Branden heard Audrey speaking, turned his head to look at her, and motioned for her to continue.

Seeing that Branden wasn’t angry and remained composed, Audrey finally dared to speak slowly, “Mr. Duncan, I just want to ask you not to tell Catherine about this, would that be alright?”

Audrey had Kim take her out to socialize because she didn’t want to burden Catherine. Catherine had endured a lot, and now that she was back from the countryside and dating Branden, her future looked promising.

How could she bear to see Catherine humbling herself for her sake?

Having grown up in high society, Audrey knew all too well how important it was to have a powerful husband.

In this world, a husband’s power determines his wife’s social standing and honor. Though it might sound harsh, it was the reality.

Catherine had asked Branden for help several times before to make Audrey’s path easier, ensuring she could join variety shows without fearing retaliation or compromising herself.

But Audrey didn’t want to rely on Catherine all the time. She was Catherine’s elder sister, she would need to become stronger.

Even though she couldn’t help Catherine with the Swanns’ issue, Audrey hoped to be there for Catherine in other ways. In the future, she wanted to become Catherine’s support and help her gain a higher standing in Branden’s eyes.

Chapter 334 The Affection

Branden and Audrey returned together, and as soon as the elevator doors opened, they happened to see Catherine coming out.

The encounter of the three seemed somewhat awkward. Catherine had her hands in her pockets, standing there with a carefree attitude.

Audrey, on the other hand, appeared somewhat awkward and had an inexplicable feeling of being caught off guard! Once she realized it, Audrey quickly distanced herself from Branden, who was initially quite far away.

“Kathy, please don’t misunderstand. I just happened to run into Mr. Duncan, and he knew I was coming back, so he gave me a ride back!” Audrey explained anxiously.

Catherine looked at Audrey calmly. Compared to Audrey’s flustered state, Catherine seemed much more composed.

To Catherine, it was usual for Branden to run into Audrey and give her a ride home. So, Catherine wondered why Audrey seemed so nervous.

“What’s wrong?” Catherine asked. Audrey paused briefly, relieved that Catherine didn’t suspect anything.

“Nothing, absolutely nothing!” she said. Then Audrey continued, “Kathy, it’s already late. Are you planning to go out?

Catherine nodded slightly. “I’m hungry!

Audrey was surprised and worried, ” You haven’t had dinner yet?”

Branden had social obligations tonight, so he hadn’t made dinner for Catherine. Catherine had initially planned to have dinner with Ronin, but when she arrived at the restaurant with him, the dishes didn’t appeal to her.

She had only eaten a little. Feeling a bit hungry now, Catherine had just gone out to find something to eat and unexpectedly bumped into Audrey.

Branden stood by silently, raising his eyebrows when he heard that Catherine hadn’t even had dinner.

“Why haven’t you eaten yet?” Branden asked.

Catherine just stared at him, not saying a thing, with a determined look in her eyes. Branden could read something from her eyes and let out a resigned sigh.

It seemed like he needed to find a chef and learn some recipes because Catherine was becoming increasingly picky.

“Would you like me to make some noodles for you?” he asked. His voice carried a rare gentleness filled with affection and tenderness.

Catherine took a moment to think and then nodded casually. Audrey was quite puzzled. Branden was usually serious and aloof outside, but he seemed so easygoing and approachable in front of her sister. It was genuinely intriguing.

Branden extended his hand and brushed aside a few loose strands of hair from Catherine’s shoulder. He gently said, “Take a rest for a bit. It’ll be ready in ten minutes.”

“Okay,” Catherine obediently nodded and turned to enter the apartment. Branden then followed them inside. Audrey could see that Branden was genuinely caring for her sister. If it were an ordinary man, she might have had some reservations.

But when someone was as remarkable as Branden, there was no need for more scrutiny. As soon as Catherine entered the apartment, she flopped herself onto the sofa, lazily lying down.

Audrey, equally exhausted, lay down beside her.

“Kathy, there’s something I think I should talk to you about,” Audrey said.Catherine let out a muffled sound with her eyes closed, indicating for Audrey to continue. As sisters, there were no taboo topics between them.

“Kathy, you see how incredible Mr. Duncan is. Don’t you think you should make your move? A guy like Mr. Duncan probably has many women lining up for him out there!”

Although Audrey felt it might be a bit early to talk to her younger sister about this, she couldn’t help but worry.

Audrey was worried about her sister, Catherine, even though she thought Branden truly liked Catherine. She was concerned because many other women were also interested in Branden.

Catherine raised an eyebrow, her gaze piercing as she looked at Audrey. Audrey felt a shiver down her spine under Catherine’s intense scrutiny.

“Kathy, why are you looking at me like that?” Audrey asked, confused by Catherine’s unusual expression. She wondered if she had said something wrong, causing Catherine to give her such a strange look.

Catherine replied calmly and straightforwardly, “So, you were rushing to explain earlier because you were afraid I’d get the wrong idea about you and Branden?”

Audrey blushed and lowered her head. Although Branden was an exceptional man, he was already her sister’s boyfriend, and Audrey would never entertain any inappropriate thoughts about him.

Her explanation earlier had only been to ensure that Catherine didn’t misunderstand. Catherine couldn’t understand what Audrey was thinking. She couldn’t figure out why Audrey would have such thoughts.

If a man wanted to cheat, no amount of watching would prevent it. If a man were faithful to his relationship, no matter how tempting other women might be, he wouldn’t be swayed.

As for Branden, it was true that many women were interested in him. After all, finding someone more outstanding than him in Casier was not easy. It was unlikely for Catherine to keep worrying about someone trying to take Branden away.

If Branden ever cheated, Catherine would deal with him firmly. She believed she could get whatever she wanted, no matter the cost. Audrey couldn’t help but feel that Catherine’s expression was somewhat terrifying at that moment.

Just as Audrey was about to say something to ease the awkward atmosphere, Catherine’s phone suddenly rang, and she glanced at it before standing up, saying, “I’m going to eat!”

Audrey nodded without hesitation, almost blurting out, “Sure!”

When Catherine opened the door, she saw the kitchen door was already open. Branden was casually leaning against the doorframe, with the backlight highlighting his tall, lean figure.

He waved his hand towards her in the backlight, signaling for her to come closer. As if under a spell, Catherine didn’t hesitate and instinctively walked towards him.

The familiar scent became stronger as she got closer, and Catherine was captivated by its delightful fragrance.

Branden instinctively took her hand and guided her into the dining room. The pasta primavera, rich with flavors and aromas, was incredibly tasty. It was quite different from Catherine’s usual preference for spicy food.

Even though there weren’t any spices in the pasta, Catherine didn’t find it. unpleasant. In fact, she couldn’t wait to eat. She knew Branden was a skilled hunter.

He excelled at the art of seduction, patiently setting traps and enticing his prey step by step, making them willingly fall into his snare.

Branden handed her a fork, encouraging her to enjoy the pasta. Catherine didn’t hesitate and took a bite of it. Just as she had expected, it was incredibly delicious.

The broth was full of flavor. It was cooked well and very tasty.

Chapter 335 Sweet Strawberries

Branden didn’t seem hungry at all, as there was only a plate of pasta primavera on the table. While Catherine was eating, he sat quietly by her side.

Occasionally, he picked up his phone to attend to messages, seemingly working. Even though he was wrapped up in work, Branden still watched Catherine closely, never taking his eyes off her.

Unlike Catherine’s dominating and cold demeanor, she was exceptionally graceful while eating, clearly indicating the strict training she had likely received since childhood. She ate quickly but with a touch of elegance in every bite.

Catherine had a rhythmic way of eating, taking a bite of pasta followed by a sip of soup, almost like a well-rehearsed performance.

Before long, Catherine had polished off her pasta primavera, leaving just a bit of soup. She gently pushed her empty plate forward as if showing off her accomplishment.

Branden’s hands, calloused from years of gun practice, gently brushed her cheek. Catherine was quite familiar with those calluses, and their location revealed his frequent shooting practice.

Catherine had similar calluses once, but Ronin had discovered them. Ronin had forced her to apply various softening creams, transforming her callused hands into the soft, delicate ones they were now.

According to Ronin, a girl’s hands should be soft and smooth. Catherine didn’t really mind, but since Ronin insisted, she went along with it.

Branden’s deep, raspy voice whispered, “Babe, just relax for a bit, and I’ll join you once I’m done with the dishes.”

At first, Catherine wanted to refuse him. After all, she wasn’t a child. She didn’t need him to look after her. But when she looked into Branden’s gentle eyes as she raised her head, all the words she had planned to say disappeared.

Branden’s eyes were not just good- looking. They had a way of convincing people, and whatever he said was hard to resist. Catherine had to go along with whatever he wanted.

If Ronin were here, he would surely be surprised. After all, Catherine had never been this obedient before.

Branden arranged Catherine on her favorite recliner sofa and let her play games on her phone while he worked beside her.

Half an hour went by, and Catherine’s game ended with her expected win. She placed her phone down, ready to give her eyes a rest.

Branden had also completed his work and shut his laptop. Just when he was about to turn to Catherine, the doorbell suddenly rang. Catherine looked at Branden, and he signaled for her to stay put.

Then, Branden got up and went to open the door. The visitor was someone Triston had sent to deliver things. When he saw Branden, he greeted him respectfully.

“Mr. Duncan, Mr. Lambert asked us to deliver these items. Where would you like them placed?” he asked. Branden stepped aside and let him in, indicating that he should place the wine on the floor.

The guy acted with great care. Once everything settled, he slowly backed out, and just as he turned to leave, he happened to catch a glimpse of Catherine reclining on the sofa. In just one look, he was stunned by Catherine’s stunning beauty.

He never thought he would run into such a stunning girl in the world, as if she was a princess who stepped out of a fairy tale. But he dared not sneak another peek, promptly lowered his head, and quietly left.

No wonder Triston had been telling his friends lately that Branden was in love and didn’t have time to hang out with them.

It would be odd for any man to want to go out when there’s such beauty at home. Catherine had noticed the guy looking at her, but she saw no reason to confront him since he meant no offense.

Once the man left, Branden closed the door and brought a box of strawberries over to Catherine. Because Catherine was sitting, he half- squatted to place the box of strawberries in front of her.

“Do you want to eat them now, or should I wait?” he asked.

The strawberries were a bright red, with dewdrops glistening, showing how fresh they were. Their sweet aroma wafted through the air, enticing anyone who caught a whiff.

Their sweet aroma wafted through the air, enticing anyone who caught a whiff. Catherine wasn’t usually a fan of fruit, but Branden always took care to present it to her.

Today, the strawberries looked very tempting, and she felt like trying them. She nodded as she looked at the strawberries, unconsciously licking her lips.

Branden kept his eyes on her the entire time and couldn’t resist the temptation either. His usually strong self-control crumbled in Catherine’s presence. He quickly lowered his head. Branden whispered in a husky voice that carried a hint of unease. “I’ll wash the strawberries.”

Catherine was puzzled and looked up. She saw Branden almost running away.

She smiled faintly. She recalled a fellow trainee back at Creybia, Theisia, who was self-assured and lived a lavish lifestyle. Catherine didn’t think highly of Theisia, who spent her time surrounded by different men, relying on her looks.

However, Theisia had told her that she didn’t truly know men. She mentioned that when Catherine became interested in a guy, she would also become curious about his body. At this moment, it seemed she had developed an urge to know Branden more. How amusing!

With Branden devoting all his patience to her, should she perhaps give something back?

As a way of saying thanks?

Branden spent half an hour in the kitchen washing the strawberries before finally walking out. Hearing footsteps, Catherine lazily opened her eyes and shot him a casual look.

Her gaze was like a light breeze that gave one a brief, ticklish sensation and vanished completely when one tried to catch it.

Catherine gazed up at Branden, her lips painted a bold red and curved into a slight smile. Her tone was composed as she asked, “Why did it take so long?”

Indeed, it did take quite a while to wash those strawberries! Although Branden knew she was teasing him, he didn’t show the slightest sign of annoyance.

He grabbed a fresh strawberry from the bowl and held it up to Catherine’s mouth. Catherine simply opened her mouth, not bothering to lift her head, and let Branden feed her without any fuss.

The juice slid down her rosy lips, and it tasted incredibly delicious. Branden withdrew his hand, lightly licking his fingers. With that handsome face and the way he did it, it was utterly breathtaking!

“It’s sweet!” he said after tasting. His deep, controlled voice, oozing irresistible masculinity, almost drove Catherine wild!

At that moment, Catherine couldn’t contain herself any longer and jumped up, making her quick getaway. Was Catherine a deserter for the first time?

Branden’s sensuous lips curled into a subtle smile while watching Catherine’s retreating figure.

“Hmph, now we’re even,” he thought with a sense of satisfaction.

Chapter 336 The League

In the blink of an eye, it was time for the National Literary and Art League. Loyalty Academy had a total of three slots, and Class 8 managed to secure two of them.

The principal specifically instructed their homeroom teacher, Myra, to keep a close eye on these two teams and do her best to bring glory to the school. Myra wasn’t worried about Liana’s team at all. Liana worked harder than anyone else.

Even the school’s music department teachers praised her as a promising talent, noting how diligently she practiced daily.

On the other hand, Catherine’s team was rarely seen rehearsing, which always left Myra sighing. There were three people on that team. Ronin was quite unruly, and Myra couldn’t seem to get any chance to communicate with him.

As for Bryan, his enthusiasm for participation was relatively low from the start. Myra had no choice but to approach Catherine, who appeared the most difficult to get close to, but still had some room for negotiation.

“Catherine, for the National Literary and Art League, I hope you all will take it more seriously. I’m not saying you have to win, although winning would be awesome. But could you practice more in your free time?”

Myra spoke cautiously, not knowing why she always felt nervous around Catherine. Although she was Catherine’s teacher.

However, Catherine’s natural presence made her feel a certain sense of awe, causing her to speak more carefully. Catherine couldn’t help but be amused by Myra’s humble demeanor.

“Miss Joyce, does our performance affect your job evaluation?”

Catherine was initially speaking casually, but unexpectedly, she hit the mark. Myra awkwardly nodded. “In some way, yes.”

Then, she lowered her voice and said, ” Let me tell you a secret. The principal has hinted at me. If you guys manage to perform well this time, I might not only get a bonus but also have a shot at a promotion!”

Seeing Myra’s delighted expression, Catherine found her particularly adorable. Myra was a decent, fair-minded woman who always stood up for Catherine.

Catherine raised an eyebrow, giving Myra a meaningful look, and whispered. “Miss Joyce, relax. Your promotion and salary raise are just around the corner!”

After saying that, she walked confidently toward the classroom. Myra was still standing there, feeling a bit stunned. She thought, “Is Catherine a bit too confident?”

But why did she feel like Catherine’s words made a lot of sense as if the championship trophy was already theirs?

So odd!

After returning to the classroom, Ronin excitedly looked at Catherine and shared the latest news.

“Catherine, I just got a message from the organizing committee. The competition rules have changed.”

Bryan, seated nearby, also caught wind of this news and promptly furrowed his brow.

“Why would they change the rules at the last minute when the first round begins tomorrow? What on earth were the organizers thinking?”

Usually, the organizers would notify the participants of any rule changes at least half a month to a month in advance, giving them time to prepare. This sudden change in rules was highly unusual.

“Ronin, are you sure you got the message right?” Bryan asked skeptically. Ronin glared at him, “Nah! Do you think I could get my sources wrong?”

On the contrary, Catherine remained instead composed.

“Ronin, what are the new rules?” she asked. What mattered most now wasn’t assigning blame to the organizers but knowing the latest rules and figuring out how to adapt.

“Catherine, the message from the organizers says they’ve changed the evaluation criteria to a comprehensive assessment. It’s not just about one thing anymore. They’ll be looking at vocal skills, dance abilities, and stage creativity. All of that counts toward the scores now!” Ronin explained.

Upon hearing this, Bryan was shocked. “That’s a big change!”

Although Bryan wasn’t majoring in performing arts or music, he understood how significant these changes could be for the outcome. Changes like these wouldn’t be announced so close to the competition without a reason.

“Ronin, do you still think there’s no issue here?” Catherine asked. Ronin sighed in frustration. ” Catherine, it’s my fault. I didn’t think someone from the organizers would mess with this and deliberately delay telling us. Everyone else got the message before us.”

To win a competition, one could resort to various means.

Finding out the mastermind behind this manipulation wouldn’t be easy. During the previous school celebration gala, Catherine’s team performed exceptionally well, impressing many professionals who thought they were incredibly talented.

Someone might want to hinder them, preventing them from winning the championship. Investigating would take time, and the competition might already be over by the time they uncovered the culprits. What would be the point then?

Ronin, seeing Catherine’s silence, made a suggestion. “Catherine, how about we start practicing choreography now? If we dedicate the whole day to practice today, maybe we’ll make it in time!”

Their bodies were agile, and with diligent practice, they might not achieve the best results, but they could still make some progress.

Catherine gave Ronin a sidelong glance, her eyes carrying a hint of dissatisfaction. “Do you want to work me to death?”

Making her practice dance all night?

Ronin’s idea was quite demanding! Being scolded by Catherine, Ronin realized she had a point. It wasn’t worth exhausting Catherine like this just for a competition.

Observing Catherine’s calm demeanor, Bryan believed she probably had another plan. After all, Catherine had never disappointed them before.

“Catherine, if you happen to have any plans, please just tell us. Don’t keep us hanging,” Bryan urged.

He felt they could either choose not to participate or participate without worrying too much about the outcome. However, they would be very disappointed if they fell victim to such schemes and didn’t achieve a good ranking. Catherine remained composed, showing no signs of nervousness.

“Let’s just wait and see. Tomorrow’s performance will go ahead as scheduled,” she replied before resting her head on the desk.

Although Bryan didn’t completely understand, he didn’t dare to press for more details. The three of them concentrated on the new rules, unaware that a pair of intense eyes was observing them from the sidelines.

Liana had received notification from the organizing committee a month ago, and she also knew one crucial detail: Catherine and her team had not received any notice about the rule change!

When Ronin had mentioned it earlier, Liana overheard and couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.

In her eyes, it was all Catherine’s fault for seeking the spotlight and rubbing people the wrong way. Otherwise, why would someone want to scheme against her?

She was eager to see how badly Catherine would lose once the competition began.

Chapter 337 National Literary and Art League

On the day of the National Literary and Art League. To support the three teams they had sent out, Loyalty Academy allowed all the students to end school earlier so that the students could go and support their fellow schoolmates.

Because this was the National Literary and Art League, all the participating teams were elites sent from the various prestigious high schools. Hence, although this was only the preliminary rounds, it garnered the entire nation’s attention.

As long as one had access to the internet, one would be able to witness this sensational competition. Some celebrity teams had a large fanbase online.

Take the representative team from Belmont High School as an example. As the most esteemed art academy in the nation, students who graduated from there always entered the entertainment industry.

Many students already drew public attention when they enrolled in Belmont High School. The students representing Belmont High School were determined to win. Their only goal was to win this competition.

As the team’s representative, Ronin went up to draw lots to decide on the order in which their group would perform. After what happened last time, Ronin was more vigilant. He would cripple the legs of whoever dared target them!

“Catherine, I’ll go to draw the lots now! ” he said.

Catherine nodded. Compared to the tense and nervous feeling of the people around her, who seemed combat- ready, Catherine did not seem like one who was here for a competition. Even those invited to be spectators of the competition were more excited than her. The lots were drawn quickly. Ronin came back cheerfully and showed Catherine the lot.

“Catherine, we are the eighth team, which means we’re in the middle. It’s perfect!”

Their team was neither too front nor back. Ronin felt that he was very lucky to draw such a lot. Upon hearing the result, Catherine was a little displeased. She was hoping that their team could be the first. That way, after their performance, she could go back and sleep!

If it were not for the fact that she had to fight for the honor of her class, she would not even bother participating!

For her class to rise in the ranks, Catherine had no choice but to participate in this competition. Liana had drawn the lot earlier than Ronin. Her team was second and would start their performance earlier.

Catherine checked the time. Realizing that it was still early, she turned to Ronin, who was standing beside her.

“I’m going to rest for a bit. Wake me up when it’s our turn,” she instructed. The students of Class 8 were beside Catherine and the rest of the team, accompanying them. When they heard what Catherine said, everyone was startled. This was the National Literary and Art League!

It was okay if Catherine was not nervous, but should she not use this time to go over the song lyrics and the movements?

She still wanted to sleep?

It was apparent that Catherine did not take the National Literary and Art League seriously at all! However, Ronin did not have a problem with that. He even changed his position and blocked the light shining on Catherine’s face. When everyone saw that, they knew that this fellow was hopeless.

The students of Class 8 turned their gazes to Bryan, hoping he was rational enough to persuade Catherine.

“Bryan, aren’t you going to do anything about this?”

Bryan glanced at the classmate who had said that and rolled his eyes.

“What do you want me to do? If you have the guts, you do it!”

If that classmate did not have the guts, he should not have come and annoyed him like so. Nobody had the guts, so why did they think that he was brave enough to do so?

It was a well-known fact that Catherine should not be disturbed while sleeping. He did not want to take this risk.

What was the worst that could happen? At most, they would be the team that was ranked last. Between offending Catherine and embarrassing themselves, Bryan would choose the latter option without hesitation.

Being last was a small matter, but he would be in big trouble if he offended Catherine! Ronin did not want to do anything, and Bryan was not gutsy enough to do anything.

In the end, everyone could only helplessly watch Catherine sleep openly in a venue where all eyes were on them. She was most definitely the only one like that.

Meanwhile, at the Duncan Corporation. Someone who should have been in a meeting with his executives was now sitting in front of a large screen and watching the National Literary and Art League with Triston. Triston could not help but grumble when he saw the host talking non-stop.

“Mr. Duncan, why is the host talking so much? She should hurry up and announce the start of the competition! Isn’t Kathy going to be competing today? I’m waiting to watch that!”

Bright and early in the morning, Yesenia had sent many messages in the group chat. She told them that Catherine was competing today in a nationwide competition and hoped everyone could tune in to support Catherine.

Initially, Triston thought that judging from how much Branden doted on Catherine, he would be at the scene to support Catherine.

Unexpectedly, Branden was in his office. Triston thought that if he had not rushed over and turned on the large monitor, Branden might not have even watched the live broadcast.

Seeing that Branden did not answer him, Triston could not resist adding, ” Mr. Duncan, why do I feel that you’re not concerned about this at all? If I didn’t come, you wouldn’t have watched the live broadcast?”

Even Paxton, standing at the side, felt that Triston was babbling too much, not to mention Branden.

“Why would Triston think that if he didn’t come, Mr. Duncan wouldn’t watch the live broadcast?” he thought.

Branden had already instructed him to cancel a very important meeting very early on. After that, he had been waiting for the competition to begin.

Triston was merely behaving like a smart alec. Triston wanted to say something else, but Branden glanced at him. Triston’s face turned ashen white in fear, and he hurriedly shut his mouth. He could offend anyone except for Branden!

The director switched the scene from the host to the audience and the waiting area. Although it was just a second, Branden still caught sight of that beautiful figure. Among all the competitors, she seemed so out of the ordinary.

Branden wanted to phone her but stopped himself. Since Catherine was resting, he decided not to disturb her. That way, she could have a good rest.

When Catherine set out this morning, Branden had personally sent her to the venue. Before she got out of the car, Branden specifically asked her if she wanted him to go with her. In the end, she rejected him without any hesitation.

Catherine was the only one who would reject him so promptly and arrogantly. He would listen to her since she did not want him to go.

Branden would only go if she told him to. Back to the competition venue. After giving the basic opening speech, the host introduced the competition’s judges.

There was not only a highly reputed and respected elderly senior in the arts industry but also a famous manager in the entertainment industry. In the end, the host also introduced a mysterious judge.

The host blinked her eyes and stared in fascination below the stage. “Come, let us welcome the dream man of millions of girls, Grayson Clifford!”

When they were promoting the show, the production team only mentioned that there would be a mysterious guest. Everyone guessed that that person would be Grayson. However, no one expected that Grayson would appear as a mentor and a judge.

This implied that Grayson, who never participated in any variety show, would be here from the preliminary rounds until the finals as a judge. This news resounded in everyone’s ears like a thunderclap. Everyone burst into an excited uproar.

Catherine was in deep sleep when she suddenly heard the environment become noisy. She opened her eyes in a daze.

“Is there an earthquake?” she murmured. Using his phone at the side, Ronin heard her words and answered, “No, it’s not an earthquake. They just announced that Grayson is a judge. Go ahead and sleep. When it’s our turn, I’ll wake you up.”

Catherine made a muffled sound of acknowledgment before turning her head and sleeping again.

The people around them, who were initially excited, heard Ronin and Catherine’s conversation. All of them stopped their actions. What kind of queer team was this? This seemed like it was made up of a mistress and her servant.

Why were they not the least bit excited about such astonishing news? If this continued, they felt nothing would affect Catherine’s sleep, not even if the sky fell!

Chapter 338 Are You Blind?

The competition officially began. Because it was the preliminary rounds, it was relatively simple. Each team had five to ten minutes of performance time. After ten minutes, the music would automatically stop, signaling their time was over.

After the sixth team finished their performance, Ronin still did not intend to wake Catherine. When Bryan saw that, he became a little anxious.

He reached out to push Ronin, who was playing games on his phone and said in a low voice, “Stop playing. It’s almost our turn to go backstage and prepare.”

The ninth and tenth team was eagerly awaiting their turn to perform. However, being the eighth team, they were still behaving in an unhurried manner. The lead singer was still sleeping!

Ronin looked at Bryan disdainfully.” What’s the hurry? It’s not as if you’re rushing to meet your end.”

Bryan’s temper sparked upon hearing his words. He wanted to charge toward Ronin and fight him. However, it was almost their turn to perform, so Bryan could only give up on that notion. He would endure it first!

Bryan suppressed his anger, and Ronin did not push his luck, too. He patted Catherine’s shoulder lightly and said, “Catherine, it’s almost our turn to perform!”

Following that, he heard a pleasant- sounding voice.

“Okay.”

Although the sound was soft, there was a seductive tinge in her hoarse voice. It was extremely pleasing to the ears. After that, Catherine removed the hat covering her face, revealing her beautiful features.

Liana’s team was one of the earlier ones to perform, so they had already ended their performance some time ago.

Having mingled in the art industry for a long time, Liana knew many people. She was acquainted with many participating teams.

At this moment, Liana had her arm linked with another girl’s. That girl was the team leader of Belmont High School’s representative team and the campus belle. It was said that she was an all-rounded artist.

Her name was Emma Hazel. Hailing from a family of performers, Emma learned the cello since young. She was well-known in the music industry for being an exceptional and gifted cellist. Moreover, she was even hailed as the hope of all cellists in Casier.

However, when she was taking the admission examination for the art academy, this genius, who had a guaranteed spot overseas, gave up on that chance and her career as a cellist that she had been pursuing. Instead, she chose to enroll at the famous Belmont High School.

Although Belmont High School was also an art academy, it was not a school that nurtured artists. Instead, many students would be sent into the entertainment industry every year.

Everyone was puzzled by Emma’s decision. They felt she was akin to a star that had fallen from the sky and wasted her marvelous talent. However, by the principle, “A real diamond never loses its shine,” Emma proved everyone wrong.

She was an amazing cellist. Despite giving up on that career path, when she entered Belmont High School, she was like gold and continued excelling in everything she did.

Many entertainment agencies were desperate to have a look at this beautiful and talented rising star. Especially since Emma was born into a family of performers, many of her elders had a say within the industry.

Many people were certain that Emma could quickly become the most popular and youngest actress once she entered the entertainment industry.

Emma had not even officially entered the entertainment industry yet, but many people had heard of her name. Once she became formally part of that industry, with some promotion and marketing, and as long as she had a natural appeal to the public, she could become renowned.

If they handled this well, she could gain large crowds of fans and get much media attention. Hence, many eyes were drawn to Emma the moment she appeared. Some people predicted that her team would become the winner. After all, she was very influential.

Liana held onto Emma’s arm and walked up the stairs. The initially narrow path became even narrower as they walked side by side.

Catherine kept her head lowered as she kept close to the wall and walked downward. Her shoulders brushed lightly against the other party’s.

It was a gentle brush against the shoulder. Normal people would not be bothered about that, so Catherine kept quiet. However, when she took a step forward, a voice called out.

“You aren’t going to apologize after knocking into someone? Are you blind?

The person who spoke was rude. Not only was her voice loud, but it was also full of mocking contempt. The surrounding people all looked over. Realizing that Emma was the one who had spoken, an increasing number of people looked over.

Catherine stopped and turned around. Without waiting for her to speak, Ronin, who had been behind her, stepped forward.

“Don’t you have manners? Don’t babble nonsense the moment you speak. You have created such a big fuss in the venue. Are you going to be held accountable for it?” he remarked.

Catherine looked up slightly and looked over at Emma. Coincidentally, when she looked over, Emma also looked toward her.

With just one glance, Emma recognized who Catherine was. Emma liked to be fully prepared. When she decided to participate in this competition, she did a background check on all participating teams.

She knew that the girl staring at her was Catherine, the popular candidate whose name had previously been on the trending topics!

Emma crossed her arms around her chest. She lowered her chin and lowered her eyes at Catherine in a condescending fashion.

“Oh? I wondered who it was… So it’s the champion of the Loyalty Academy’s celebration gala. No wonder she’s so arrogant.”

After saying that, Emma threw a side glance at Liana.

“Liana, I heard that you lost to her last time. Tsk, I really feel that it’s a pity that you lost. I wonder what kind of tricks she used in order to win. She’s remarkable!”

Earlier, when they were heading up the stairs, Emma had already seen Catherine. Emma subconsciously tilted her body to the side when they walked past each other to avoid Catherine, but Liana shoved her a little.

Emma would not have bumped into Catherine if it were not for Liana. Although Emma knew what Liana was planning, she did not mind Liana making use of her to teach Catherine a lesson. After all, she also detested Catherine.

“I heard that you gained quite a lot of popularity because you are rumored to be in a relationship with Grayson. Is that true? If it is, why don’t you teach us how you did it? Allow us to learn a trick or two from you.”

The people surrounding them stared at Catherine with knowing looks, seeming to be certain that something was going on between her and Grayson. After all, there was news on Twitter previously that claimed that Catherine and Grayson were quite close to one another.

Could it be that Catherine harassed Grayson in order to achieve her goal?

Nobody knew the truth except for the parties involved. Ronin and Bryan were enraged to see how rude Emma was toward Catherine. Ronin was about to explode in anger. All he wanted to do was dash up and tear that pretentious bitch apart!

Seeing that Ronin wanted to attack Emma, Catherine subtly blocked him. However, she managed to block Ronin, but not Bryan. Bryan stepped forward, and his cold gaze landed on Emma, staring at her with disgust.

“As a girl, I can’t believe that you would slander another girl’s reputation in public like this based on groundless accusation. To think that you were born into a family of performers. Emma, if the elders at home get wind of this, do you think they’d feel ashamed of you?”

Emma did not expect that Bryan would stand up for Catherine. His handsome looks alone were enough to make the girls around go crazy for him and lose their sanity. Emma was furious and yelled at Bryan, “Y-you…”

Bryan interrupted coldly without waiting for her to speak, “All I want to do now is hand you a mirror so you can see your reflection. That way, you’ll know how ugly you look now.”

Bryan paused, and Ronin finally had a chance to step out and say, “That’s right, you ugly woman! You really remind me of a saying that ugly people often make trouble!”

Emma was boiling with anger, and she clenched her fists tightly. She stared at Catherine with a dark and seething look, seeming like she would go up in flames at any moment.

“You’re indeed amazing, Catherine, to be able to fool all these boys and let them stand up for you.

“Are you a clown who only knows to hide behind boys’ backs and depend on them to defend your image?”

Chapter 339 You Can Do it

Catherine suddenly looked up. Her original cold gaze had a devilish look in it now. She curled her lips and chuckled lowly. Catherine was enchanting and mesmerizing, yet giving off a creepy vibe.

“So, are you envious or jealous of me?” Catherine asked. Bryan was, without a doubt, an outstanding man. The same goes for Ronin, who got first place in the National Olympiad and was granted special admission to Loyalty Academy.

Both boys had different looks and demeanor, but both were giants among men. Few people were on par with them. Any girl would be green with envy to have such boys defending her. Upon hearing that, Emma was fuming.

She seemed like a mouse with its tail stepped on, and hair bristled with rage. Her oval eyes widened in anger as she glowered at Catherine. “Do you think everyone is the same as you? I am Emma Hazel. Do I even have a reason to be jealous of you?”

Catherine scoffed coldly. Following that, she lifted her brows and looked up. There was a look of mild displeasure on her face. She said coldly, “So you finally realize that you’re the one acting like a fool?”

Emma was boiling with anger to see how arrogant Catherine was behaving. The event was being broadcast live. It would not be good if the public saw this.

Hence, a friend of Emma’s came over to persuade her. “Emma, forget it. Why do you want to quarrel with someone like that?

“For people like them, who knows if they can get to the semi-finals.”

Only now did Emma realize what had happened. She had been led by the nose by Catherine. Once she composed herself, she imitated Catherine’s expression and chuckled coldly at Catherine again.

“I’ll see you at the finals. That is if you manage to get there.” Emma had a very arrogant attitude, as if she were certain that Catherine would not be able to get to the finals.

As he watched Emma and the rest leave, Ronin felt very aggrieved.” Catherine, why did you hold me back? I want to tear her mouth in pieces.”

He was furious at how anyone could behave so arrogantly toward him. Did they think that he was someone who they could easily bully?

As compared to how angry Ronin was, Catherine was very calm. She stuck her hands into her pockets and said casually, “Didn’t you hear the loudspeaker announce that it’s our team’s turn?”

Ronin immediately snapped out of it. Hearing that the announcer was already urging their team to prepare, they had to rush to the backstage.

Liana was sitting in the waiting area. She was in a good mood. Earlier, she was overjoyed to see Emma calling Catherine out. Now, she was looking forward to seeing Catherine make a fool of herself on stage.

Catherine had only gotten the news that the production team had changed the competition format close to the competition date. She did not believe that Catherine’s team had time to make changes to their performance!

It would be very satisfying to see Catherine’s team not being able to even get through the preliminary rounds!

The music sounded. The eighth team performance officially started. Liana had guessed correctly. Indeed, Catherine did not have time to change their performance, so they decided to perform their original arrangement.

There was no stage performance but just pure singing. The three wore the same outfits. The boys standing on either side of Catherine were handsome, but Catherine was the most captivating. The moment she appeared, she captured everyone’s attention.

Catherine seemed to have a natural affinity for the stage. No matter the occasion or setting, Catherine could become the brightest star as long as she was willing.

The moment the trio appeared, the audience at the venue and the online audience got into an uproar. After all, everyone loved to see a team of attractive people.

Meanwhile, at the Duncan Corporation. Triston took two sets of contracts and rolled them up. Using them like microphones, he shouted through the hole, “Come on, Catherine! You can do it! You’re the best!”

Paxton coldly stared at Triston as the latter continued this idiotic act. Paxton felt that it was beneath his dignity to do something like that.

Triston was not bothered by Paxton’s contempt toward him. He did not dare ask Branden, sitting quietly at the side, to join him. Hence, he could only target Paxton.

Triston pulled onto Paxton’s hand and said seriously, “This is your boss’ future wife. As one of his subordinates, you aren’t cheering for her. Aren’t you worried that he’ll fire you for this?”

Paxton frowned when he heard Triston’s words. Feeling immense pressure assaulting him, he turned to look at Branden. However, Paxton realized Branden, who usually did not like entertainment, was watching the monitor intently.

He was so focused that one might think he was discussing a deal that involved hundreds of billions of dollars!

Triston softly muttered, “Paxton, don’t blame me for not reminding you. If you want to have an easy time in the future, it’s better for you to be more proactive now.”

Triston said, “Come, let us cheer for her together! Catherine, you’re the best!”

Paxton frowned and hesitated momentarily before saying coldly, ” You can do it…”

When Triston saw Paxton’s expression, he wanted to laugh so badly. It was simply hilarious! Triston said, “Yes, that’s it. Be more passionate. Repeat after me. Catherine, you can do it…”

After a momentary pause, Paxton chose to listen to Triston’s suggestion. Their cheering voices rose and fell in succession. There was a cheerful, festive atmosphere in the usual solemn office.

The atmosphere at the Duncan Corporation was very lively, and Catherine’s live performance was also exceptional. Previously, during Loyalty Academy’s celebration gala, Catherine’s group had already astonished many people.

However, this time, their performance was even more impressive. With time, the chemistry between the three of them had slowly developed. Even in some difficult parts, Catherine and the two boys could coordinate perfectly.

The entire performance could be said to be an extravaganza. Catherine’s divine voice lulled everyone into a dream-like state.

At the judges panel, Grayson looked at that star shining brilliantly on stage. The excitement coursing through him was indescribable.

At that moment, all he wanted was to have a giant barrier that could cover the stage. That way, nobody would have a chance to witness how brilliantly this star was shining!

After the song ended, the audience did not react for a moment. After a few seconds, thunderous applause filled the venue. Emma was sitting below the stage, and her original disdain-filled gaze was now filled with amazement.

“She can even sing so well live. Looks like she has real singing skills!” Emma thought. The host went up the stage and briefly introduced the song before inviting the judges to comment on Catherine’s team.

The maximum points that a group could obtain was ten points. The first judge gave eight points, indicating his acknowledgment of the team’s ability. This judge was a famous producer in the music industry.

The host asked, “Mr. Stewart, can you tell us why you gave this group a rather high mark?”

Gregory Stewart replied, “I gave them this score after comprehensively evaluating their team. The judging criteria also mention that the judges must score the team based on their overall performance. Although this group sings well, their stage performance is just so-so. They didn’t even dance. Thus, I only gave them eight points!”

This was the truth. His scoring was relatively reasonable, so everyone could accept his explanation.

The second judge was an exceptionally outstanding performer who rated Catherine’s group with a nine. That was because she felt that Catherine had great singing skills, which made up for the lack of stage performance.

Finally, it was time for Grayson to comment. The host turned her gaze to him excitedly. Whenever it was Grayson’s turn to comment, the host would enthusiastically ask him many more questions.

She had no choice but to do that as Grayson was the program’s biggest selling point and could get the show onto trending topics.

The host asked, “Mr. Clifford, I saw earlier that you didn’t really look at them throughout the entire performance. Is that because you’re dissatisfied with this group?”

This host was indeed one who was famous for her sharp tongue. She gave Grayson such a tough question. It was obvious that she was trying to stir things up!

Everyone held their breaths in anticipation of Grayson’s answer.

Chapter 340 She Is My Mentor

The audience at the venue and those watching the livestream online were looking at Grayson intently. They were eagerly waiting to hear Grayson’s comment on this group.

Many people were hoping that Grayson would criticize Catherine’s group severely. After all, he did not even watch their performance, so he must be very dissatisfied. Or perhaps, because of the scandal, Grayson wanted to avoid having too much interaction with Catherine.

No matter the reason, it would still be a trending topic. All eyes were on him. Grayson picked up the microphone. Faced with the host’s direct question, Grayson did not immediately speak but turned his scoreboard around so everyone could see.

On that A4 size whiteboard, he had written ten points. When they saw this number, everyone screamed. Eight groups had performed thus far, but this was the first group Grayson had given full marks.

Amid everyone’s surprise, Grayson slowly spoke, and his low and mesmerizing voice filled the air. “It’s not that I don’t want to see their performance, but I don’t dare to.”

Everyone was dumbfounded when they heard that. Grayson said that he did not dare to see their performance. What did that mean?

Following that, Grayson gave his explanation. His long fingers wrapped tightly around the black microphone. At that moment, his deep-set eyes were fixed on Catherine, staring intently. There was a hint of greed and obsession in his eyes.

“I am a singer. Although the program told me that the judging criteria are to judge the group’s performance as a whole, as a singer, my priority would be to consider the vocals. Catherine’s singing skills are, without a doubt, impressive. The audience’s reaction is the best indication that the score I’ve given is a well-deserved one!

“In my opinion, this group’s outstanding singing skills have made up for their lack of performance. Hence, I gave them full marks.

Likewise, I hope that in their following performances, they’ll be able to have a breakthrough and show us even better performances.”

After saying that, Grayson set down the microphone. He gave a very standard answer to reply to the host’s question. The host was a little surprised.

Originally, she thought she could get a big scoop or this would become a trending topic. Unexpectedly, Grayson answered the question so simply.

The host was unwilling to give up, so she continued asking Grayson other questions. She said, “Thank you for your comment, Mr. Clifford.

“Although you explained why you gave this group full marks, you didn’t explain why you didn’t dare to watch their performance. I think that everyone is very curious about it, too. Are you willing to share with us the reason, Mr. Clifford?”

At this point, a wave of comments flooded the screen.

[Wow, this host is superb! She’s so direct, I like it!]

[I’m also very curious. Why doesn’t he dare to watch their performance?]

[Could it be that there is really something between them?]

[Will Peerless Grayson answer the host’s question?]

The production team notified the host about the attention this question was receiving and told her to continue pressing Grayson for an answer.

Even though this was a nationwide competition between the elite schools, the program needed many sponsors to ensure the show was successful.

If the competition received much attention from the public, the sponsors would also be pleased.

After receiving the news from the director team, the host became even more unreserved in asking Grayson questions. She looked like she would not rest unless she got an answer from him.

Initially, Grayson did not want to say too much. Otherwise, the production team would use what he had said to its advantage to hype up the show.

It was not because he worried that those rumors would affect him. Instead, he was well aware that Catherine did not like to be on television.

He was worried that Catherine would be troubled by all the attention she was receiving. However, the host kept pressing him for an answer, so Grayson had no choice but to reply.

Grayson said, “You said something wrong. In front of this group, you shouldn’t address me as Mr. Clifford.”

“And why is that so?” the host asked. Grayson’s Adam’s apple bobbed a little. If one observed him carefully, one would notice that the usual aloof and supercilious Peerless Grayson was nervous. He behaved like a newly debuted lad.

“Everyone knows that Sugar used to be my composer. Actually, she is much more than that. The reason I could get to where I am today is because of Sugar’s mentoring. Strictly speaking, Catherine could be considered my mentor. As a student, I don’t have the right to call myself a judge in front of her.

“When I saw Catherine’s amazing performance, I suddenly felt a little ashamed. I didn’t put full effort into making music, so I didn’t make any progress. I’m too ashamed to face my benefactor and mentor, Catherine!”

After finishing his speech, the scene was in an uproar. Nobody expected that Grayson would behave so humbly.

Grayson was well known for his professionalism in the industry. He strived for perfection in his performance. Everyone knew him to be a hard worker.

However, he could say something so humble in front of the audience. Once again, the screen was flooded with comments!

[Goodness! Peerless Grayson will criticize himself like so in front of a nobody? Am I dreaming?]

[Peerless Grayson, you’re no doubt my idol. Unlike him, nobody else will criticize their shortcomings in the entertainment industry.]

[What is Catherine’s background? How could she possibly be Peerless Grayson’s debut mentor?]

[Catherine is not bad at singing, but Grayson doesn’t need to brag about her like so. Could it be another way of trying to hype up the show?]

[No, I don’t agree with what you said. Is there even a need for Peerless Grayson to hype up this show, especially for a newcomer?]

[This is such a fantastic show!]

Not only was the audience shocked by Grayson’s words, but even the participants in the waiting area were also astounded.

As one of the program’s judges, Grayson must be very impressed by Catherine to speak so highly of her. A dark look came over Emma’s face when she heard Grayson’s comment about Catherine’s group.

Nobody knew that the complacent Emma was also one of Grayson’s fans. Grayson was one of the reasons that she gave up the cello and chose to enter the entertainment industry.

Emma liked Grayson. She hoped they could be on the same stage and perform together one day! This was a sweet dream of hers!

Emma constantly kept herself updated with Grayson’s news. Naturally, she knew about the rumors regarding Catherine and Grayson.

In her opinion, that was all Catherine’s doing. Peerless Grayson was such an aloof and cold person. How could he possibly be involved in a scandal with Catherine?

Hence, when Liana made use of her earlier, Emma stepped out unhesitatingly. That was because they had the same goal, which was to teach Catherine a lesson! However, she never expected that Grayson would speak of Catherine so highly.

Based on what?

Why was someone like Catherine able to get Grayson’s appreciation?

On the stage, the host was also dumbfounded by Grayson’s words. She was in a daze for a few minutes before donning a customary smile. “Thank you for giving us an answer, Mr. Clifford. Seems like you have a really high rating of Catherine’s team!”

Holding the microphone in front of Catherine, the host added. “So, do you guys have anything to say? Or perhaps, hearing that Mr. Clifford has spoken so highly of your team, you might want to give a response?”

Catherine was carrying a guitar and standing on stage in a relaxed manner. She had a devilish and unrestrained aura emitting from her. Upon hearing the host’s question, Catherine looked up lazily.

“There’s still hope for you yet,” she said reluctantly.