Ch. 351..360
Chapter 351 Presidential Suite
The school booked the hotel rooms for them. It was a new hotel near the competition venue so that it would be convenient for the students.
It was not a luxury hotel but was newly opened, so it was clean and decent. Everyone took their driver’s license to check in at the reception, and Ronin offered to help Catherine.
But when it was Ronin’s turn, the receptionist only handed him one key card. Ronin found it strange and asked, ” What’s wrong? Why did you only give me one key card? I have two driver’s licenses with me. Did you make a mistake?”
The receptionist looked at Ronin politely and was respectful to him.
“Sir, don’t worry. Miss Swann’s room is quite special. I have asked our manager to come and check in for her. Here’s your key card. You can have a rest in your room first.”
Ronin was confused, wondering why the receptionist said so. Ronin looked back at Catherine and saw her leaning against the back of the sofa. She looked relaxed.
Sensing Ronin’s gaze, Catherine raised her head slightly and glanced at him, saying casually, “You can go to your room.”
“No,” Ronin refused Catherine and sat by her, waiting together with her. Fortunately, the manager came fast. He arrived the moment Ronin sat down.
The manager was in a neat suit. He walked to Catherine with respect.” Excuse me. Are you Miss Catherine Swann?”
Catherine nodded, and the manager handed a key card to her even without checking her driver’s license.
“Miss Swann, your room is on the eighth floor. This is your room card. May I send your luggage to your room?”
When the manager’s words fell, Ronin took Catherine’s suitcase and said, “No need. I will do it.”
Ronin hated that people always offered to help Catherine no matter where they were. Ronin was worried that Catherine might not need him anymore if he did not act actively.
After getting the key card, Catherine stood straight and went upstairs to her room. However, it was a small world. They met Liana on the elevator, who took it from the lower ground level. Ronin scowled at Liana and walked into the elevator.
“Catherine, give me your key card.” Ronin reached out his hand at Catherine. They needed the card to press the floor button their rooms were at. They tapped the card on the device, and the floor button would light up immediately.
Catherine gave the key card to Ronin, and the latter tapped it on the device.
“Eighth floor,” the machine voice broadcasted.
“Catherine, my room is on the sixth floor. Why is yours on the eighth floor? “Ronin complained unhappily. No one noticed that Liana, standing behind them, had her expression changed dramatically.
After she checked in and went to her room, she found out that her room was too small and was not facilitated enough. She planned to pay and upgrade her room herself.
But the hotel told her that the only presidential suite on the eighth floor was reserved for the top VIP guest.
Since that was the case, there was nothing Liana could do. She could only blame the school for being too stingy and booked an average hotel for them, which had only one presidential suite.
Liana did not dwell on it at first. Anyway, they would only stay there for one day. After knowing that Catherine was the top VIP guest of the hotel, Liana could not stand it anymore. Why on earth did the jinx deserve the best presidential suite?
Catherine was a bumpkin from the countryside. It was outrageous that Catherine had a better room than she did.
The elevator doors opened, and Ronin noticed Liana standing still like a fool. He rolled his eyes and reminded Liana, “What are you waiting for? Are you going out or not? Or is your room on the eighth floor, too?”
His words interrupted Liana’s thoughts. She glared at Ronin and suppressed the anger in her heart. Liana thought, “Catherine just wants to show off her presidential suite while I could only stay in a regular room.
“Who cares other than the bumpkin from the countryside that hasn’t seen the world?”
Liana snorted coldly and strode out of the elevator. Heavy stamps sounded. As the elevator doors closed, Ronin’s face darkened. He mimicked Liana’s snort and said, Humph!”
“Catherine, why do you think that the chick is always arrogant? We never provoked her, did we? Why does she always act like we owe her money?”
Ronin had always been dissatisfied with Liana. If it were not that Liana was Catherine’s sister, Ronin would have already given Liana trouble.
Ronin disliked anyone who had it in for Catherine.
As they talked, they had arrived at the eighth floor.
When the elevator doors opened, Ronin finally understood why Catherine’s room was on the eighth floor. His room on the sixth floor was a regular single room. There was nothing special, but it was clean. The entire eighth floor belonged to the presidential suite Catherine stayed in. It was beyond luxury.
Looking around the spacious room, Ronin could not help but exclaim, ” Catherine, how could you not tell us that you upgraded your room? No wonder the manager has received you personally, and Liana looked at you in hatred. Your room is much better than hers.”
Catherine had no idea about the presidential suite.
But she did not guess to know who did that for her.
“I’m sleepy.” Catherine threw her tired body to the sofa aside. Ronin put the travel mug on the chair beside Catherine. “Catherine, here’s the rose liqueur I prepared for you. I should go. Call me anytime.”
“Alright,” Catherine replied muffledly in tiredness.
Ronin took his suitcase and left.
As long as he left, Catherine’s phone rang. It was Branden’s video call, and Catherine answered it. The next second, Catherine saw Branden’s charming face on the screen.
“Are you in the hotel room?” Branden’s voice was pleasant to hear, as always. Catherine was too exhausted and did not bother responding to him.
Branden did not mind. He asked several questions and cut off the call, knowing that Catherine wanted to sleep. Catherine closed her eyes immediately after the call ended. Ten minutes later, Catherine, lying on the sofa, opened her eyes abruptly.
There was coldness in her eyes. She sat up straight and changed into all black before she left the hotel room.
When she reached the hotel lobby, the phone in her pocket rang. A crisp voice sounded in her ear through the receiver, “Chief, it’s me, Rodge.”
Catherine looked at the time and replied, “I will see you in your lab in ten minutes.”
“Chief, do you mean it? It seems our captain is not lying. I’m going to meet you in person!” Rodge Milton’s voice was full of excitement. He seemed thrilled at Catherine’s arrival. Catherine did not speak and heard the delighted voice expressionlessly.
A few seconds later, Rodge realized he was too happy and apologized awkwardly, “I’m sorry. I got carried away at the thought of meeting you. “We are all in the lab, waiting for you!”
Chapter 352 The Arbotte Laboratory
The usually quiet and meticulous Arbotte Laboratory suddenly became a hub of activity. It was a world-renowned research facility.
While it was just a laboratory, its research projects garnered global attention. Many countries coveted the opportunity to collaborate with this facility. Despite its small size, consisting of only a dozen members, each was a globally recognized genius in their field.
The laboratory primarily focused on cutting-edge technology, excelling in physics and chemistry research. Every research achievement from the laboratory had the potential to change the world. However, this laboratory was shrouded in mystery; little was known about its members or location.
The only means to obtain information about the laboratory was through two channels. The first was to monitor the sporadic updates on the Arbotte Laboratory’s website, which sometimes went without new details for the entire year.
The second option was to obtain information through the black market, but Arbotte Laboratory’s information was notoriously expensive and required significant sacrifices. As everyone knows, anything can become a currency if it holds value in the black market!
No one expected this world-renowned and enigmatic laboratory to be hidden within the bustling neighborhood of Oceanvile.
Amidst the dilapidated old city, with its labyrinthine alleys, an unremarkable residential building from the 1990s stood. At first glance, it appeared ordinary, a common sight in this aging city. Two slender teenagers were standing and whispering to each other outside the building,
“Rodge Milton, do you think the chief will come?” Scott Theo asked innocently, looking at Rodge with anticipation.
Rodge was on the verge of being driven crazy by the constant chatter. While he was also excited about the chief’s arrival, he couldn’t stand the continuous talking.
He gave Scott a cold glance and said, ” Brat, shut your mouth. Be careful; she might cut off your tongue when the chief arrives. The chief doesn’t like talkative people!”
Scott was frightened and immediately fell silent. In his eyes, the chief was his idol, and he was a simple person. He admired whoever was more potent than him.
As for the chief, he did not doubt that she was far more powerful than anyone he had ever met. She was his ultimate role model.
Therefore, the chief had to be his only idol. Rodge checked the time as their meeting with the chief was approaching. His heart raced with excitement. He had been a laboratory member for three years, and this would be his first encounter with the chief.
He couldn’t help but feel thrilled. After all, the chief was a genius and a visionary leader. As he eagerly anticipated her arrival, his heart soared.
Just as he had finished admonishing Scott, he saw a slender figure dressed in black approaching from a short distance away.
Rodge was momentarily stunned. She had to be the chief just by judging her overwhelming aura. How could an ordinary person possess such a powerful presence?
Scott, who was next to him, widened his eyes and couldn’t find words to speak. He could only grasp Rodge’s hand and shake it eagerly.
Rodge was nearly infuriated by this annoying kid. He was the youngest science champion in Halleywick, yet he lacked this much composure. Catherine walked up to the two of them. They were still pushing and shoving each other, but they stopped when she cleared her throat.
Rodge immediately stood up straight, his demeanor much more respectful. He cautiously spoke, “Excuse me, are you the chief?”
Catherine replied in a soft voice, ” Hello, Rodge.”
It was a charming feminine voice, and she sounded pretty young. Rodge was stunned. When the chief contacted them, she always used a voice modulator. So, apart from their team leader, nobody knew if the chief was male or female, old or young.
Rodge had considered that the chief might be an older man with a full beard or a middle-aged man with extraordinary charisma After all reaching the height of leadership required a lot of time and experience.
However, he never would have imagined that the chief was a woman. Moreover, she was a very young woman based on her voice. Rodge hadn’t had a chance to look at Catherine yet, as her face was mostly hidden under a cap, and he dared not to stare at her closely.
On the other hand, Scott, who was even younger than Rodge, was excited to the point of losing his composure. If it weren’t for Rodge instinctively holding him back, he would have thrown himself into Catherine’s arms.
“Chief, I’m Scott. Do you remember me?” said Scott. Catherine glanced at the young boy, who looked even younger than Rodge. Scott had an adorable cherubic face.
His eyes would crinkle when he smiled, giving him an endearing and friendly appearance. She recognized him, a young physics genius who joined the lab over a year ago.
He was still relatively young but had made significant contributions to physics research. She nodded slightly, “I read your paper last month, and your arguments were well done.”
“Really?” Scott was overjoyed. He beamed at Catherine. “Chief, you’re so kind, praising me like this!”
Rodge, on the other hand, was worried that Scott’s thoughtlessness might offend Catherine. He tried to guide the conversation and said, “Chief, shall we go inside the lab first?”
Catherine gave a slight nod, and Rodge led the way. They entered the core of the laboratory, a room that appeared quite ordinary and furnished.
But when Rodge glanced at the decorations near the entrance, the originally whitewashed walls suddenly began to move aside.
A hidden high-tech laboratory tunnel slowly revealed itself. The decorations had iris recognition devices, allowing only lab members to open the mysterious door and access the laboratory’s interior.
However, this door was just the first obstacle. There were many more mechanisms inside to ensure the lab’s security.
For outsiders, entering the lab was practically as difficult as reaching the heavens. Rodge escorted Catherine to the innermost part of the laboratory, the core area.
“Chief, please have a seat. I’ll retrieve the data for you,” said Rodge. Catherine showed no courtesy as she walked over to a nearby sofa and plopped down, adopting a casual and unreserved posture, exuding the air of a big shot.
On the other hand, Scott looked like an enamored fan. He rested his chin on his hand and gazed in fascination in Catherine’s direction.
No matter how he looked at his idol, he felt that she was incredibly beautiful. Their chief had come in person, and Rodge couldn’t afford to be lax. He promptly prepared the data and handed it over to Catherine.
“Chief, here are the results of our current research phase. The initial findings are already available. Please review and let us know if you’d like to proceed with the second phase of experiments,” said Rodge.
As he handed the documents to Catherine, Rodge inadvertently looked up.
He was frozen in shock and his mouth agape, as if he had encountered something immensely startling.
Chapter 353 Revealing the Chief ‘s Beauty
Hearing the strange sound from Rodge Milton, Scott Theo, who was next to him, approached curiously.
“Rodge, what’s wrong?” Scott asked. Rodge couldn’t speak and kept his head down. Suddenly, a cold voice came from above his head.
“Why? Is my appearance frightening?” asked Catherine. Catherine squinted her eyes as she assessed Rodge. She knew that Rodge was surprised because he had seen her face just now.
She had come to the lab today and had no intention of hiding her face. If someone saw her, so be it. It was not a big deal. However, Rodge’s reaction seemed a bit exaggerated.
Rodge scratched his head in embarrassment and said, “No, no, Chief, your appearance isn’t frightening at all! I didn’t expect…”
Scott, who was standing on the side, was getting anxious. “Come on, Rodge, what didn’t you expect? Can you please finish your sentence at once? You’re making me nervous!” said Scott.
“I didn’t expect you to be so beautiful!” Rodge finally managed to say. “Some more, I’ve heard rumors that anyone who sees your face won’t live to see the next day. So, I was scared!”
Catherine silently rolled her eyes at the ceiling. How could her lab have such adorable people?
It was nothing more than a baseless superstition as for the rumor that anyone who saw her face would die before the next day.
“Do lessen your fanciful notion in the future!” she spoke with clear disdain. Rodge knew he was being looked down upon, but he didn’t mind or feel embarrassed.
Although it might be a novelty, there was some truth to it. After all, no one had seen the chief’s face, and nobody knew what she looked like.
Thus, in a way, the rumors had some foundation. People who had seen the true face of the chief were silenced, which was why nobody had seen her. So, Rodge’s misunderstanding was somewhat understandable.
Arbotte Laboratory originally had only three members, with the most important one being the current chief, Catherine. The other two were geniuses in the fields of physics and biology. Later, these two became the leaders of their respective teams within the lab, guiding a group of talented individuals to continue their research and expand the laboratory’s influence.
Rodge and Scott were newcomers. They had only seen their respective team leaders but not Catherine.
Scott was very curious and constantly trying to get a better look at Catherine’s face. Rodge already knew what the chief looked like, but he was curious as well.
Driven by curiosity, Scott finally mustered the courage to speak up.” Chief, would you mind taking off your hat? The lighting in here isn’t good for you to read the reports.”
Catherine didn’t hesitate and removed her hat. Her long and jet-black hair cascaded gracefully, revealing her stunning face to the two of them.
Scott was left in awe. He finally understood why Rodge had been so surprised.
“Boss, you’re so beautiful!” Scott swallowed hard and couldn’t take his admiring eyes off her. Then he said, somewhat dumbfounded, “Boss, you must be no ordinary person, right? You’re as beautiful as a fairy and as powerful as a deity. You must be a goddess!”
That was the only explanation he could come up with. Rodge, on the other hand, couldn’t help but comment sarcastically, “Brat, are you really the youngest science champion in Halleywick Province?
You’re not pulling our legs, are you?”
Halleywick was known for its highly competitive SAT scores, and the top science champion was a highly sought- after candidate by major universities. They were the cream of the crop among geniuses.
Scott confidently responded as he faced with Rodge’s question, “Absolutely not!
Seeing that Scott didn’t catch his sarcasm, Rodge didn’t bother arguing further. Meanwhile, Catherine had already watched all the demonstration videos of the experiments and provided her analysis.
“Rodge, suspend the second phase of the experiment. There’s a problem with this phase,” said Catherine. Rodge widened his eyes and found it hard to believe her response. “Chief, are you sure?” asked Rodge.
As soon as he questioned her, Rodge realized his mistake and quickly apologized, “Chief, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have questioned you.”
The chief was indeed highly capable. Their previous experiments had been successful and had shocked the world. However, Rodge still couldn’t understand what the problem was with their current experiment.
Their experiment this time involved the latest stealth fighter jet, which was not only compact but also had a massive payload capacity. Although it was still in the first testing phase, once it was introduced, it would become the latest and most formidable weapon. It would even be capable of evading radar and satellite monitoring and thereby shaking the world.
In the first phase of the experiment, their team had conducted numerous trials, and they hadn’t identified any issues.
They had reported their progress to the team leader and intended to proceed with the second phase of the experiment. Unexpectedly, the chief had ordered them to halt it.
Catherine knew their concerns. She got up, walked over to the lab bench, and reenacted the experiment using 3D reconstruction technology.
“You see these values here. Although the errors seem negligible, they could lead to fatal consequences if they accumulate,” said Catherine.
Her casual remark was like a frag exploding in the hearts of Rodge and Scott. Their prideful experiment had a potentially deadly flaw, and they were fortunate that their chief had spotted it in time.
Otherwise, the consequences could have been disastrous. Scott quickly grasped the issue and applauded. “You truly deserve to be our chief! You’re amazing. We’ve been researching for so long and didn’t notice such a critical mistake!”
Rodge’s admiration for Catherine went from astonishment to deep respect. This physics prodigy, who was highly regarded in the scientific community, now held her in the highest regard.
“Thank you for your guidance, Chief. I’ll gather the team to make the necessary corrections.”
They weren’t afraid of making mistakes. What they feared was not having the ability to detect those mistakes. Catherine had that ability, and her one glance had revealed the problem.
“Chief, the last batch of experimental weapons is ready to be deployed. Several countries have approached us for negotiations, with Alton offering the highest price.”
Alton was known as a leading power weapon, and entrusting the equipment to them might lead to the best outcome. Catherine didn’t give a straightforward answer, and instead, she casually asked, “What about Zerwick?”
Rodge replied, “Zerwick has also negotiated with us, but their offer is slightly lower than Alton’s.”
“Give it to Zerwick,” replied Catherine.
Catherine’s casual remark changed the landscape of cutting-edge weaponry. With business matters concluded, Rodge shifted his focus to Catherine’s arrangements and asked, “Chief, you’ll be staying in Oceanvile for a few more days. Do you need us to arrange accommodations for you?”
Catherine replied, “I’ll be here for a few more days. If there are any issues with the experiments, contact me immediately.”
Rodge, usually composed and impassive, was now as happy as a lark. He hadn’t expected such a great opportunity and was determined to make the most of these few days to learn from the chief.
Scott, on the other hand, was more interested in the possibility of meeting Catherine. “Chief, can I come visit you when you have free time?” asked Scott.
Being younger and exceptionally intelligent, he had followed a different path from others, and his thoughts were refreshingly innocent and straightforward.
Catherine nodded slightly and left the room gracefully.
Chapter 354 Chief’s Identity Revealed
Looking at Catherine’s graceful departure, Scott couldn’t help but ask with curiosity, “Rodge, how can the chief walk out of the laboratory? Aren’t there 108 layers of security measures here?”
It was extremely challenging to enter and leave the Arbotte Laboratory. The laboratory had numerous intricate security measures in place.
Scott was utterly astonished to see Catherine leaving as if it were nothing. Rodge rolled his eyes silently and could not understand why the team leader had paired him with such a chatterbox. He was on the verge of being annoyed.
Amid Scott’s ongoing questions, Rodge finally lost his temper and shouted, ” Don’t you know that the chief herself designed these security measures? She can walk out because she created these mechanisms!”
Scott was stunned when those words left Rodge’s mouth. It took him a while to process the information. He only knew that the chief was a genius in weapon design, but he had never imagined she was also a genius in creating security mechanisms.
Rumor had it that the reason the Arbotte Laboratory was so impregnable was due to its master builder, who was the only disciple of the renowned master of mechanism design.
His inherited knowledge of mechanisms had been continually evolved and improved with time. Any mechanism built by them was impervious to decryption.
Scott slowly realized that Rodge had said the chief was the one who created these security measures. This meant that the chief was the sole apprentice of the legendary master of mechanisms.
He was surprised that he had stumbled upon something incredible once again. The chief of the Arbotte Laboratory was a genius in weapon design and the sole inheritor of the legendary master!
“How could their chief be this powerful and versatile?” thought Scott. Scott felt like nothing more than a speck of dust in front of Catherine, even though he was the pride of Halleywick!
The Duncans’ mansion.
As the owners of Zerwick’s most potent intelligence network, the Duncans received critical information from around the world daily. Their elite team categorized and selected the most important news to present to the Duncans’ head for decision-making.
Paxton delivered the latest intelligence report to the study, where their boss, Branden, was.
“Mr. Duncan, we have received news. The last batch of advanced equipment from the Arbotte Laboratory has been decided to be sold to Zerwick at a price ten points lower than what Alton offered,” said Paxton.
However, this news didn’t surprise Branden.
The Arbotte Laboratory’s mysterious chief seems to have a particular fondness for Zerwick. They noticed that looking through all their products, they prioritize Zerwick whenever it involves Zerwick’s essential interests, even if it means lowering prices and reducing income.
Paxton also had some critical information. He said, “Mr. Duncan, we intercepted a message. The Arbotte Laboratory seems to have developed the latest generation of stealth fighter jets, and the first testing phase has already been completed!”
No more than three intelligence organizations had intercepted this message at the moment. It was bound to cause a considerable stir once this news came out.
Regardless of which faction or power can obtain this stealth fighter, it will undoubtedly become a national treasure with far-reaching consequences!
Branden ordered coldly, “Arrange for our people to monitor Arbotte’s activities closely. Notify me as soon as there is any news. We cannot let this weapon fall into the hands of another country!”
“Mr. Duncan, you can rest assured!” Paxton assured him with a serious expression since his matter was important that none dared to take lightly.
After handling official matters, Branden instructed Paxton to arrange his personal affairs, “Arrange a flight to Oceanvile for me tomorrow.”
“Oceanvile?” Paxton looked somewhat surprised, “Mr. Duncan, are you going to see Miss Swann?”
Branden nodded slightly. Tomorrow would be the competition day, and his girl should be resting at this hour. He didn’t want to disturb or affect her performance due to lack of sleep. Paxton quietly noted the matter in his heart after getting Branden’s answer.
He felt that Branden seemed to be growing increasingly fond of Catherine. This explained why Branden, who never worked overtime, was up late last night to complete his work in advance and rushed to Oceanvile tomorrow to see Catherine.
He felt Branden was showing affection to singles in the middle of the night. These days were becoming more and more challenging. The next day, Ronin arrived on the eighth floor early in the morning and knocked on Catherine’s door.
“Catherine, I’ve prepared breakfast for you. Please pick and eat!” said Ronin. They would be going to the venue soon, so Ronin didn’t prepare too much, just a few dishes that Catherine liked.
Catherine was still half-asleep and silently chewed the food he handed her, mumbling unclearly, “Is everything ready?”
“Don’t worry, Catherine. I guarantee that everything will go smoothly today, and we’ll dazzle everyone’s eyes for sure!” replied Ronin.
After a simple breakfast, Ronin picked up Catherine’s backpack and joined the rest of the team. Catherine leaned back as usual in her seat and rested with her eyes closed at the venue.
She had returned late last night and received materials from Rodge, requiring her to review experimental data. She ended up working until midnight.
Catherine needed some rest to ensure she was well-prepared. Bryan and Ronin acted like her bodyguards and guarded her on both sides to ensure she could rest without disturbance.
They were sitting in the waiting area and surrounded by other contestants. Many people knew about Catherine’s team, especially since they had received such high praise from the legendary, Grayson Clifford.
There were even rumors that Grayson himself carried Catherine’s team! The treatment of Catherine’s team was the envy of many.
Emma Hazel sat with her teammates in the waiting area, and her teammates were aware of the rivalry between Emma and Catherine. They weren’t fond of Catherine either.
Emma’s teammates couldn’t help but be sarcastic as she saw Catherine sleeping at a time like this, “It’s great to have connections. Let’s take us as an example; we trained tirelessly all night, and she came here to sleep. When it’s time to perform, she can easily get a high score from the mentors with a simple routine. Are they even worried about not getting votes with Peerless Grayson’s support?”
Since Grayson had a massive fan base, his fans would naturally support the team he liked. Today’s finals would involve judges scoring the performance and allowing all viewers watching the live broadcast to vote. The combination of these two would determine the ultimate champion.
Therefore, the final results wouldn’t be available until after today’s competition.
This scoring method was quite common. Since large-scale competitions required substantial funding, this voting method helped generate revenue to support the event.
However, it was also more challenging for the contestants as they needed positive feedback from judges and fan support through voting. For some highly popular contestants, this scoring method was particularly advantageous!
This format was particularly advantageous for highly popular contestants like Catherine and Emma. Emma’s gaze towards Catherine gradually turned fierce.
She was convinced that she could compete with Catherine and win the championship!
Chapter 355 Stunning Everyone
Unlike before, this time, Catherine Swann’s group drew a placement in the second-to-last group. Ronin Oconnor informed Catherine of the drawing results, saying, ” Catherine, we’re in the second-to-last group, so we have to wait quite a while!
He thought Catherine might be unhappy about it since he knew her temperament very well. They didn’t care about their competition placement at all. After all, they were doing their best, and finishing the competition early would allow them to leave sooner.
However, to his surprise, Catherine didn’t seem upset at all. In fact, her mood was quite lightened up.
“Just right. We’ll be in the back, so I’ll take a nap,” said Catherine.
“Catherine, feel free to sleep. I’ll wake you up when it’s time,” Ronin said considerately and then shared the drawing results in their WhatsApp group.
The others, like Yesenia Duncan, couldn’t come in person due to classes. However, they were all waiting eagerly on their phones and ready to watch the competition.
Sometimes, old rivals couldn’t help but reunite. As for Emma’s group, they were just ahead of Catherine’s group in the lineup.
However, Liana Swann’s group remained unusually quiet with no signs of activity, which left Ronin feeling rather puzzled.
“These were people who usually loved to cause trouble, so why were they suddenly so silent? It was truly baffling, “thought Ronin.
Emma had always looked down on Catherine, considering her as nothing more than a clown who couldn’t hold her own.
Many people began to compare Catherine with Emma because of their previous encounter. Now, it was Emma’s turn to take the stage. As she walked towards the stage, she glanced sideways at Catherine. When she saw Catherine, who was still fast asleep, she felt rather disdainful.
“Sleeping like this, and she dares to compete with me?
“I don’t even need to make a move; I can defeat Catherine with my skills alone. The championship is rightfully mine,” Emma thought to herself.
Emma approached the stage to draw her performance style, and the result surprised many.
It was a dance performance!
Emma’s forte was music, not dance.
However, she showed no signs of panic or distress. When the music started playing, she immediately entered a state of focus.
To everyone’s amazement, Emma, who was known for her musical talents, performed remarkably well in the modern dance segment. Her flawless performance left the audience in awe.
Many believed that this year’s championship would undoubtedly belong to Emma, given her exceptional performance in a field where she wasn’t even specialized.
Ronin and the others in Catherine’s group weren’t particularly interested in Emma’s performance. They had no desire to watch and were eagerly waiting for Catherine’s group to perform next. Like all the other groups, Catherine’s group had to draw their performance style.
Classical music!
Classical music was their draw, and Catherine handed the card to Ronin. Ronin whispered, “At least it’s better than dance!”
Dance was the weakest point In their group.
Many people were looking forward to Catherine’s group’s performance, especially since they had several public performances that featured modern music and instruments like guitars.
Now, no one knew how they would conduct the performance using classical music. After some preparations, their performance officially began.
Dry ice billowed and created a hazy mist that enveloped the entire stage, turning it into a dreamlike setting. Just as the audience was wondering what they were about to perform, the soothing sound of a mandolin began to fill the air.
Accompanied by the ethereal mist and the sound of flowing water created on the stage, it instantly transported the audience into a dreamy realm.
The mandolin was played melodiously and beautifully. As the first climax passed, the sound of a flute joined in, taking the music to even greater heights. The mist gradually dissipated, revealing the performers within.
A white-clad girl played the mandolin with her exquisite face displaying an arrogant and dominant expression. As her agile fingers gracefully strummed the strings, the music became increasingly melodious, captivating the audience.
Two handsome young men were standing behind her. Their flute playing complemented the mandolin’s melody, pushing the music to its climax.
By the end of the performance, the entire audience was spellbound. Until the music ended, it seemed like the audience hadn’t snapped back to reality from the mesmerizing performance.
Grayson Clifford was sitting in the audience, watching Catherine’s astonishing performance with admiration clearly visible on his face.
The only person who seemed completely composed throughout the performance was Catherine herself. After her performance, she gracefully put away the instruments and walked off the stage.
Catherine ran into Grayson at the backstage. He had been waiting for Catherine, and when she walked in, he was already there.
“Waiting for me?” Catherine asked. Grayson’s handsome face broke into a faint smile, and he looked at Catherine with gentle eyes. “Yes.”
He didn’t deny that he had come specifically to wait for Catherine since there was nothing to hide.
“Catherine, your performance this time was a huge success. It’s been so long since I heard you play the mandolin, and I never expected such an opportunity,” Grayson praised.
Not everything paid off with effort because some people were naturally gifted. Grayson knew that no matter how hard he worked, he would never reach Catherine’s level.
Catherine wasn’t just naturally talented. She was the kind of person who was heavenly blessed.
That’s why Grayson admired and respected her. Seeing Catherine about to pack up the mandolin, Grayson took the initiative to help. “Let me take care of this, Catherine!”
When he was with Catherine in the past, these tasks were his responsibility. Ronin was absorbed in his computer, and these traditional musical instruments were not suitable for him.
As Grayson carefully packed up the instrument, Catherine sat leisurely by the side and allowed him to handle it.
After Grayson had neatly put the mandolin away, he spoke to Catherine. “Catherine, let’s have dinner together tonight. It’s been a while since we met.”
“Let’s talk about it when the time comes. I have something to attend to,” Catherine replied. She was in Oceanvile not just for the competition but also because of the matter involving Arbotte Laboratory.
She anticipated that Rodge might come looking for her in the evening so that she couldn’t agree to dinner with Grayson right away. As he heard Catherine’s response, Grayson didn’t want to disturb her further.
“Alright, I’ll let you know later. If you’re free, we can have dinner together!”
“Okay,” Catherine responded with a grunt before slowly getting up. She put her hands in her pockets and prepared to leave.
“Take care of the instrument. I’m leaving first,” said Catherine.
Catherine left as she finished the sentence. After Catherine left, Grayson continued to gaze in the direction she had gone and was lost in thought.
Unbeknownst to anyone, not far away, someone was observing their every move closely. After exiting the backstage area, Catherine found Ronin and Bryan waiting for her.
Ronin noticed that Catherine was no longer holding her instrument case and found it a bit strange. He asked, ” Catherine, where’s your mandolin?”
Catherine casually replied, “I gave it to Grayson.”
Ronin felt reassured after hearing that it was given to Grayson. However, neither of them made an effort to speak discreetly, and many of the surrounding contestants overheard their conversation. Their expressions towards Catherine changed.
But Catherine paid no attention to the reactions around her. With everything packed up, she was ready to leave.
She had no time to linger here. Ronin and Bryan naturally followed her. They were returning to Casier the next day, so Ronin suggested, “How about we have a good time in Oceanvile tonight?”
Bryan was about to agree when he suddenly saw a figure ahead and bumped into Ronin’s shoulder. He said, “Look ahead before you speak!”
Chapter 356 A Person with Extraordinary Skills
Ronin Oconnor was taken aback momentarily as he looked up and only realized when he saw Branden Duncan ahead.
“Why is this guy following us everywhere? Isn’t it annoying?” Ronin muttered. Bryan gave him a disdainful glance, his face full of disdain. “Kid, are you feeling too safe? Speaking ill of my uncle like that?”
“I’m not afraid of him!” Ronin protested.
“Hmph!” Bryan coldly snorted, his tone dripping with disdain. “Sure, you’re not afraid.”
Ronin felt a bit embarrassed. He had wanted to argue back but realized that he was indeed no match for Branden, so he kept silent. However, he was still somewhat unwilling. He approached Catherine and tried to be ingratiating.”
Catherine, we rarely come to Oceanvile, and we won the competition. Can’t we celebrate together tonight? It’s been a while since I had a meal with you.”
Catherine had been staying in her apartment lately and enjoying the meals Branden had personally cooked for her. Thus, it had indeed been a while since she had eaten out.
“Wait!”
Catherine tossed out these words to Ronin before walking over to Branden. She wasn’t surprised at the sudden appearance of the man in Oceanvile.
She raised her gaze, and her initially cold eyes softened as they landed on the man. “Is the work taken care of?” asked Catherine.
The man looked at Catherine tenderly, raising an eyebrow slightly, a hint of a smile in the corners of his eyes, and nodded.
“What’s next?” asked Branden. The man handed over the decision to Catherine, letting her make arrangements.
“The competition is over. Ronin and the others want to have a meal together,” Catherine replied casually. Branden reached out and gently stroked her hair as his face filled with indulgence. “Alright, I’ll arrange it,” said Branden.
“Okay,” Catherine replied, feeling at ease leaving everything to him. Since the man said he would arrange it, it would surely be well organized, and she didn’t need to think about it any further.
After getting into the car with Branden, Paxton, who was in the driver’s seat, immediately reported the situation.
“Mr. Duncan, the private room is ready. It’s at Meadow Restaurant, and I’ve sent the location to you,” said Paxton. Bryan and Ronin rode together in one car, and he would take Ronin there.
Half an hour later, Branden’s car stopped in front of Meadow Restaurant, the most famous private kitchen restaurant in Oceanvile.
The restaurant was renowned, and seat reservations were already booked until next year. However, the owner had prepared a special private room not open to regular guests, only used for important occasions when distinguished guests were present.
It was last used when a neighboring country’s dignitary visited Oceanvile. Local officials had arranged for it to give the dignitary a taste of Oceanvile’s specialty dishes.
After getting out of the car, Catherine, Bryan, and Ronin followed Branden. Ronin was in high spirits. Although he hadn’t arranged the location, he was pleased as long as he could celebrate with Catherine.
The private rooms were different from the regular dining area. They were on the third floor and required a separate elevator to access.
The owner of Meadow Restaurant had been waiting at the entrance and rushed forward to greet them when he saw Branden bringing Catherine.
“Mr. Duncan, it’s been a long time. Welcome to Meadow Restaurant.”
“Mr. Duncan, Mr. Lambert, and Mr. Lane have also come to Oceanvile. They are waiting for you in the private room!
Branden nodded indifferently without showing any particular reactions. Catherin guessed that Mr. Lambert and Mr. Lane, mentioned by the owner, were probably Triston Lambert and Aidan Lane. Besides these two, no one else could know Branden’s whereabouts.
As expected, even before entering the private room, they heard the arguing between Triston and Aidan.
These two were natural enemies, constantly arguing when they met as if they were uncomfortable if they didn’t exchange a few words.
The owner of Meadow Restaurant personally led them to the private room’s entrance before respectfully leaving. “Mr. Duncan, please. A service bell in the room connects directly to my office. If you need anything, please feel free to request it!”
Inside the private room, there were service bells provided for different clients. For those regular customers, they could only summon waitstaff. However, prominent figures like Branden had service bells connected directly to the owner’s office.
Branden led Catherine into the private room. After everyone had entered, the owner of Meadow Restaurant personally closed the door before leaving.
The head manager on the side looked puzzled and quietly asked, “Boss, who are these important guests? Why did you personally serve them?”
He thought, “Even when the neighboring country’s dignitary visited last time, his boss only had a brief meeting and didn’t personally serve.”
The owner of the Meadow Restaurant gave his subordinate a mysterious and enigmatic look and said in a tone filled with mystery, “These are all extraordinary individuals with exceptional insight. Remember to serve them well. Offending any of them would end our business in Oceanvile.”
The manager nodded nervously. He understood that if the boss said something like this, these guests were not to be taken lightly.
As a small player, he couldn’t afford to offend them and could only serve them well. Inside the private room, Triston clapped his hands when he saw Catherine and the others enter.
“Catherine, your performance today was truly amazing! Aidan and I were mesmerized when we watched it on the plane!”
But the next moment, Triston let out a miserable cry. He clutched his foot and glared at Aidan. “What the hell, why did you step on me!”
As Aidan saw this guy, he didn’t react at all. He decided not to rescue him and just rolled his eyes, letting him fend for himself.
Just as Triston finished speaking, he felt a chilling presence approaching from behind. He turned his head and met Branden’s icy eyes. In the deep, intense gaze, his eyes were like two sharp swords piercing straight at Triston.
Terrified, he shivered all over and finally realized what was happening. He quickly explained. “It’s a misunderstanding, Mr. Duncan, We absolutely had no intention of coveting Catherine. We just thought her performance today was too stunning, and we…”
Aidan quickly intervened as he worried that Triston would dig himself into a deeper hole with more explanations.
He picked up a plate of pre-dinner fruits from the table and stuffed it into Triston’s mouth, saying, “Eat more, and thus, you can’t talk anymore!”
Triston gave Aidan a fierce glare but complied, understanding that Aidan was coming to his rescue. Therefore, he didn’t argue with Aidan.
Catherine picked up her phone, which was placed on the table, to answer the call as it vibrated.
Scott had been trying to get Catherine’s number for a long time and finally managed to get it after much effort. Last night, he had felt that Catherine looked familiar, and today, after watching the intercollegiate competition, he finally realized why she seemed so familiar.
He had come across a video with over a billion views on a random website featuring a performance by Catherine.
He had been captivated by that brief glimpse of her. Now that he knew Catherine had finished the competition, he couldn’t resist contacting her to arrange a meeting. He had never expected the chief to be outstanding and multi-talented.
“Chief, can we invite you for dinner?”
Scott cautiously expressed his thoughts as he was afraid that Catherine might refuse. He even pleaded. “Chief, please give us a chance!”
Chapter 357 Someone is Targeting Catherine
Catherine Swann didn’t pay much attention to it and told Scott Theo she was having dinner with friends.
“You can come if you want!”
Scott was not shy at all. He had one thought in his mind: to meet Catherine! He was even willing to eat while standing if that’s what it took.
As he was excited to receive Catherine’s response, he immediately replied, ” Great, thank you, Chief! Please give me the address. Rodge and I will come over right away!”
The cheeky imp even took advantage of the situation to bring Rodge along. Catherine thought he was quite the character.
Knowing that they had been waiting in Oceanvile for a while, she assumed they would be familiar with Meadow Restaurant and mentioned the name to Scott. After hanging up the phone, she mentioned to Branden.
She said, “I have two friends coming to Oceanvile.”
“Alright,” Branden Duncan responded gently. Paxton, standing nearby, understood and left to pick them up. Catherine remembered Grayson as she thought about friends.
“Ronin, contact Grayson and ask if he’s coming,” said Catherine immediately. Ronin grinned at Catherine, ” Catherine, Grayson called me ten minutes ago. I told him we were at Meadow Restaurant, and he said he was waiting for a ride to pick him up. Then he’ll come over!”
Grayson was his best friend, so there was no way he could forget him! As for Catherine’s friends in Oceanvile, Ronin had no idea who they were.
He knew that Catherine had a remarkable laboratory in Oceanvile. However, it was her project, and he had little involvement in it. Consequently, he didn’t know the members of her lab. Just as the food arrived, the private room’s door was knocked on again.
Ronin opened the door, and Paxton led several people inside. The first to enter was Grayson, a well- known idol star recognized by everyone. The other two were unfamiliar to everyone except Catherine.
Rodge, wearing a black shirt, was tall and handsome. Standing beside him was Scott, who looked even younger than Ronin. He wore a hoodie and a baseball cap, giving him a youthful appearance.
As soon as Scott entered and saw Catherine, his eyes lit up like light bulbs.
“Chief, I’m here!” He shouted and was about to rush over. Fortunately, Rodge was quick to react. He grabbed Scott and held him tightly by the collar to prevent him from approaching Catherine.
Scott, who was being held back, was a bit disgruntled. He turned to glare at Rodge and questioned him with his eyes.
Rodge gave him a cold glance and said, “Did you forget what I told you before we left?”
Scott instantly realized his mistake and became obedient again. When he greeted Catherine again, he was much quieter.
“Catherine, I’m here!” repeated Scott.
“Please have a seat,” replied Catherine as she gestured to the empty seats beside her. The others didn’t react much, although they found it odd when Scott addressed Catherine as “chief.” However, they didn’t dwell on it.
On the other hand, Ronin’s face turned a bit unpleasant from the moment Scott appeared. He couldn’t help but mutter to himself in his mind, “What the hell! Another guy has come to compete for Catherine’s favor. This is getting unbearable!”
Once Scott seated himself, he noticed that Grayson was beside him. Despite his young age, Scott was quite knowledgeable about the entertainment industry. Upon seeing Grayson, his eyes lit up like light bulbs.
“Oh my gosh, I’m sitting at the same table as Peerless Grayson now! Is this for real? I’m so honored! I’m so happy! ” said Scott. People like Grayson, who were Catherine’s friends, were always treated generously.
“Hello, I’m Grayson. It’s a pleasure to have the opportunity to have a meal with you,” Grayson said amiably.
Though Scott was naive, he wasn’t foolish. He knew that Grayson, a famous idol, wouldn’t be here at the dinner table without some connection to Catherine.
His admiration for Catherine reached new heights, and he couldn’t help but show starry-eyed affection.
“Catherine, your friends are all amazing!”
Catherine smiled at him. Thus, she felt teens like Scott were hard not to like.
He was highly endearing, sweet, and had an innocent charm.
On the other hand, Rodge rolled his eyes silently, deeply regretting bringing this guy to meet Catherine. He made a subtle gesture, urging Scott to behave.
Upon receiving the hint, Scott closed his mouth and obediently continued eating.
Meadow Restaurant truly lived up to its reputation as the top private kitchen in Oceanvile. Each dish was not only artistically presented but also delicious.
The freshly served abalone was particularly exquisite and looked very fresh. Catherine glanced at it with a slight frown and didn’t pick up her cutlery.
The next moment, a perfectly peeled abalone was placed before her. Accompanied by the magnetic yet gentle tone of the man, “Give it a try. If you like it, I’ll peel some more for you.”
The abalone’s flesh was semi- transparent and exceptionally fresh. The man’s peeling skills left the meat intact, carefully extracting every corner from the shell. Catherine raised her fork and placed the peeled abalone into her mouth.
On the side, Ronin noticed that Catherine had started eating and silently stuffed half-peeled shrimp meat into his mouth.
Since Catherine didn’t need him, he would take care of himself. Scott, with nothing else to do aside from enjoying the delicious food, was quietly playing with his phone since Rodge didn’t allow him to talk. While scrolling through his phone, he suddenly screamed, “Ah…”
Everyone immediately stopped using their forks and looked at him. Rodge couldn’t help but rub his temples and muttered, “Why are you acting so dramatic? Can’t you calm down?”
Scott anxiously grabbed Rodge’s hand, shaking it, and turned his gaze toward Catherine. “Chief, someone’s trashing you on the internet!”
Seeing how anxious he was, he had even forgotten to use the appropriate title. The next moment, everyone took out their phones and opened Twitter.
Catherine, the person at the center of attention, didn’t seem in a hurry at all. She didn’t even touch her phone. Since someone would inform her about it, she felt no way to be anxious.
Branden was on the same page. He slowly removed the shell from the abalone, placing the fresh abalone meat into Catherine’s bowl and meticulously cleaning his hands before picking up his phone.
Triston, sitting on the side, seemed more anxious than anyone else, showing an impatient demeanor. He was the bystander who was more concerned than the person concerned.
“Mr. Duncan, someone is really trashing Catherine. Take a look!” said Triston.
Branden took the phone and glanced at the Twitter posts. His deep eyes darkened, and his aura instantly became more intense.
Chapter 358 Anxious Bystander
Audrey Swann was filming enthusiastically on the set. During a break, Kim Morris rushed in, looking extremely anxious. Audrey felt a bit flustered seeing his worried expression.
“Kim, what’s the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?” Audrey asked.
“Audrey, did you gather your fans to vote for Catherine Swann?” Kim asked seriously. Audrey hesitated momentarily and nodded, “Yes, Kathy has recently been participating in a university event. Thus, I asked my fans, Ava, to support and cheer for her.”
Ava was a senior member of Audrey’s fan club who regularly communicated with Audrey and helped promote various publicity matters.
This time, Audrey wanted to show her support for Kathy’s competition and even made announcements on Twitter. Ava had also helped with the promotion.
Kim frowned and looked at Audrey with a great deal of resentment. “I told you to consult with me before making decisions. Why don’t you listen? Can you gather votes so casually?”
Audrey didn’t understand and looked puzzled.
“What’s going on?” asked Audrey.
Kim Morris handed her the phone. ” Take a look for yourself!”
Audrey was puzzled and looked at the Twitter app on Kim’s phone. There were several popular posts about Catherine.
They accused her of seducing her mentor to cheat and claimed she took advantage of her sister’s celebrity status and fans for votes.
The accusations against Catherine were severe, and Audrey was furious. She clenched her phone and exclaimed, ” This is absurd! How can these people slander Kathy like this?”
“No way, I need to clarify this on Twitter immediately. My sister would never do such a thing!” said Audrey.
Kim snatched the phone away from her as she saw she was about to log in to Twitter. “That’s enough, Audrey. Do you even realize your current situation? Just because of this vote-pulling thing, you’re already losing fans.”
“I was negotiating a national endorsement deal this morning. They just called and said they want to wait a bit longer. I had a sure thing within reach, and now it’s slipping away!” said Kim.
Audrey was starting to grasp the impact this situation had on her. In the age of social media influence, it was truly a “make or break” case by the fans.
However, after thinking for a moment, she made a decision. “Kim, you don’t need to worry about this anymore. Catherine is my sister, and I’ll definitely help her. Even if I lose that endorsement deal, I don’t care.” said Audrey.
Realizing the potential consequences, Kim regretted bringing up the matter with Audrey. He changed his approach to persuade her,
“I understand your concern for your sister, but why don’t you contact Catherine first to understand the situation before taking action?” said Kim.
Audrey was now calmer and found merit in Kim’s suggestion.
“You’re right. I should call Kathy now!” said Audrey.
Meadow Restaurant.
The group was still in the private room and had all seen what happened on Twitter.
The most popular post was made by a user named “Righteous Dude” on a forum called True Journal. She claimed to be a staff member of the event organizer and alleged that Catherine had colluded with Grayson.
She asserted that Catherine had prior knowledge of the event’s theme, which gave her an advantage and even suggested a romantic connection between her and Grayson.
Furthermore, the post accused Catherine of being the pre-determined champion due to her alleged relationship with Grayson.
It also claimed that Catherine had forced her sister, Audrey, to use her fans to vote for her and effectively took advantage of her sister’s followers.
They were mocking Audrey for exploiting her fans and alleging that the two sisters joined forces to take advantage of their fans’ support. The detailed post included several backstage photos confirming the author’s claims.
The photos were clearly taken without permission and showed Grayson assisting Catherine with a mandolin. The angle they found was quite tricky, as it looked like the two of them really had something going on!
Apart from the newcomers, Rodge and Scott, who did not know about Catherine’s relationship with Branden, this post was openly trying to humiliate him.
Could he tolerate this?
Triston and Aidan, eager to join in the gossip, were hesitant due to Branden’s intimidating presence. They dared not make a fuss and sat obediently, waiting for Branden to take action. Grayson read the entire post with a serious expression.
“Catherine, I’m going to explain right now. I’ll let the management company handle the public relations. I won’t allow these people to defame you!” said Grayson.
The entertainment industry was a big cauldron, and Grayson had been in the entertainment industry for many years.
He had seen all sorts of disgusting situations.
He had even encountered all kinds of dirty tricks. He didn’t care about most things. However, he would never agree if someone tried to use him to harm Catherine. All eyes were now on Catherine and waiting for her decision.
Ronin was itching for action and preparing to take drastic measures. Whoever dared to defame Catherine was looking for trouble!
Catherine calmly finished eating the shrimp that Branden had peeled for her. She was about to say something when her phone started ringing.
She glanced at it and saw it was Audrey calling.
She answered the call. Audrey’s voice sounded anxious through the receiver. “Kathy, it’s me. Where are you now? Are you okay? Have you seen the messages on your phone?”
A string of questions followed, leaving Catherine almost no chance to speak. She waited quietly until Audrey paused before slowly responding, “I’m in Oceanvile. I already know about the situation. You focus on your filming and leave the rest to me.”
Then, a sycophantic voice from Kim came through the phone, “Catherine, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to take care of your sister and won’t cause any trouble for you.”
“I’ll contact you later!” After saying this, Catherine hung up the phone. She had already seen the comments Audrey had posted under the announcement of her competition on Twitter. She knew this situation would have some impact on Audrey and didn’t want her to get involved.
After hanging up the phone, Catherine picked up her fork and continued eating. Her calm attitude left the others dumbfounded. Ronin couldn’t contain his impatience and said, “Catherine, why aren’t you doing anything? People online are cursing you!”
Catherine glanced at him, and Ronin immediately fell silent.
“Grayson, will the online situation affect the competition’s results?” Catherine asked Grayson.
Grayson understood what Catherine was asking and looked at her with certainty as he responded.
“Catherine, don’t worry. The results of this competition will be absolutely fair. Dirty tactics like this won’t affect it in any way.”
The competition would lose meaning if every little disturbance could tarnish a contestant’s performance. Grayson, as a mentor and with some authority, could ensure the competition’s absolute fairness.
With the assurance she wanted, Catherine remained calm and called out to everyone, “Come on, let’s continue eating!”
Chapter 359 All Hidden Influential Figures
No one knew what Catherine meant. The online buzz was growing and even filled with criticism against her. Grayson’s fans attacked Catherine as if they had gone mad, accusing her of being a seductress who used men for her gain.
However, Catherine remained calm. She refused to address the situation herself and discouraged others from getting involved. It all seemed quite mysterious. Ronin was unhappy about this but didn’t dare speak up due to Catherine’s authority.
Scott didn’t quite understand the situation and cautiously asked, ” Shouldn’t we do something about these clowns who are insulting us?”
Catherine replied expressionlessly,” Let them be. They will eventually reveal themselves after some time.”
It was evident that the post was deliberately released, and Catherine had no faith in the claims about behind -the-scenes staff.
No one expected that a simple university competition would attract so much attention. The staff arranged by the sponsors was simply insufficient.
The scene was bustling. The staff were working tirelessly backstage, and there was no spare time for them to take these photos, let alone post them with such a sarcastic tone.
It was easy to deduce that it was probably from another group participating in the same program, most likely motivated by jealousy and fear of her winning the competition. She had no interest in immediately exposing these people.
Instead, she preferred to raise someone high and then watch them fall dramatically. That would be more entertaining. Branden sat silently on the side. After understanding Catherine’s intentions, he slightly nodded to Paxton standing nearby.
Paxton promptly instructed his subordinates to halt all actions. Ronin felt anxious earlier as he thought Catherine wasn’t taking any action. However, now that he realized she had her approach. Thus, he was ready to support her fully.
Nevertheless, Ronin continued to be infuriated by those people. He gritted his teeth and stared at his phone, saying, “Catherine, I’m going to create some online accounts right now. I want to engage in a fierce battle with these little keyboard warriors and show them who the real online warriors are!”
Scott enthusiastically nodded and said, “Take me with you. I also want to curse those brats who insult our chief!”
Catherine was waiting for the situation to escalate further. She paid no attention to Ronin and the others wanting to vent their anger by arguing with internet users.
Rodge anxiously glanced at Catherine as he received a message on his computer indicating another problem with the experiment.
Catherine immediately understood that the current experiment was more important. As for the online issues, she would deal with them when she had the time. Catherine turned her head to look at Branden and said, “I have something to do and need to go out.”
“Do you want me to accompany you?” asked Branden. He didn’t ask what Catherine would do, nor did he get angry that she was leaving midway. He knew that Catherine had other matters to attend to in Oceanvile besides the competition.
“No need,” Catherine shook her head. She turned back to him and said, “If it gets late, you can come and pick me up. A gentle smile appeared on the man’s handsome face as he nodded in agreement. “Alright.”
Triston was shocked to hear him speak in such a tone since he had known Branden for over a decade.
“My goodness, was this the Branden who I knew?
“The one who was cold-blooded and ruthless?” wondered Triston. Rodge and Scott followed Catherine immediately once she left.
Bryan noticed Ronin, who was usually attached to Catherine, showed no particular interest in their departure. He asked, “Who are those two, and why are they following Catherine? Aren’t you going with them?”
Ronin was busy operating his phone and didn’t lift his head as he responded, “Stop being a nosy parker. It’s not your business.”
Ronin knew they were from the laboratory since they called Catherine the “chief.”
He knew it must be related to their work as Catherine was leaving in a hurry and bringing these two people along.
Catherine didn’t like to be disturbed when she was working. Besides, he still had a bunch of keyboard warriors to deal with. Who had the time for that?
“You…” Bryan was infuriated by Ronin and decided not to bother with him.
“If he didn’t want to talk, then so be it. Who cared?” thought Bryan. He didn’t want to stay in this miserable place with Catherine not around. The rest of the group dispersed, with Catherine gone.
Meadow Restaurant on the floor above was the most famous hotel in Oceanvile. Triston and the others’ rooms were also on that floor. Branden went upstairs with them to make it easier for him to pick up Catherine later.
As they walked halfway, Aidan suddenly shouted.
Triston bumped into him and asked, ” What’s up? Are you imitating Scott, shouting for no reason to mess with people?”
Aidan turned and glared at him. “What do you know? I’m just amazed at Catherine’s powerful connections.
Everyone she knows seems to have an even bigger background!”
Triston didn’t understand what Aidan meant and asked, “What are you trying to say?”
Aidan handed Triston his phone, and a news report was on the screen.
The news content was about the announcement of the Physics Gold Ball Award winner, the most prestigious physics award at the world’s most famous academic institution, five years ago. The recipient was a very young man.
Triston was initially about to tease Aidan for making a big deal out of it. However, when he took a closer look at the recipient, he snatched Aidan’s phone and widened his eyes in surprise, “Hey, isn’t this the same guy we just saw, Rodge?”
Aidan rolled his eyes at Triston and replied, “You’re just realizing that!”
Aidan also graduated from the same university and attended the awards ceremony five years ago. However, after five years, people changed, and he couldn’t recognize Rodge.
It was only when he felt a sense of familiarity that he eventually remembered the Physics Gold Ball Award, looked it up, and was surprised to find out it was indeed him!
Triston continued investigating Rodge’s educational background and exclaimed, “I didn’t expect this guy, who seems so quiet, to be so amazing. He’s even hailed as the hope of 21st- century physics.”
What was even more interesting was the way Rodge treated Catherine. He might have been acting under her orders. Aidan agreed and nodded, saying, ” Open another window and check the background of the young kid, Scott!”
Triston followed his instructions and opened another website. After checking, he exclaimed again, ” Unbelievable! Halleywick’s youngest science prodigy, this young kid is incredibly talented!”
In contrast to Triston’s amusement and amazement, Aidan was more concerned about another matter. He looked at Branden seriously and said, “Mr. Duncan, seriously, are you sure you don’t want to investigate Catherine’s background and origins?”
Catherine, who had been considered an ill omen due to her unfortunate birth and was abandoned in the countryside for years, had been brought back to the Swanns.
She inherited a billion-dollar fortune as soon as she returned, and the people around her were all influential figures.
This was highly suspicious, and Aidan was curious about Catherine’s identity.
Chapter 360 Attack Using Other’s Strength
Faced with Aidan Lane’s reminder, Branden Duncan remained calm. He had never asked about Catherine’s past or arranged for anyone to investigate her life in the countryside.
He knew that Catherine had secrets, but he had never mentioned it. As long as Catherine didn’t tell him, he wouldn’t inquire.
“No need!” said Branden.
Branden straightforwardly rejected Aidan’s suggestion. Seeing this, Aidan could only put away his thoughts. He was extremely curious about Catherine’s identity and background, believing she was more than just a member of the Swanns.
However, since Branden had made it clear, he didn’t dare to investigate more toward Catherine, fearing that Branden would trip him up.
Anyway, he didn’t have the courage!
Aidan and Triston Lambert exchanged glances and could only give up on their suggestions.
Shermann Hotel, Room 603.
Liana didn’t join her friends from Oceanvile in celebrating. She had no time for friends. In front of an exquisite notebook, the flickering screen displayed a continuous stream of malicious comments, steadily increasing.
The smile on her lips grew more apparent as she watched. She closely monitored the online developments, and the scandal involving Catherine’s seduction continued to escalate.
Many posts, a mix of truth and fiction, had joined in. At this point, Catherine’s reputation online had become quite negative.
According to the posts, Catherine was portrayed as an academically lazy troublemaker who skipped classes, slept during lectures, and got into fights daily.
She supposedly used her looks to manipulate male classmates into doing her bidding. Not only that, but also attempting to seduce Grayson to secure her victory in the competition.
As she watched more posts cropping up, Liana’s mood grew increasingly joyful. She carefully observed the situation and noted no signs of posts being deleted.
Even if some individuals occasionally tried to defend Catherine, the angry fans would quickly shut them down. Catherine had become notorious, a pariah in the eyes of the public.
Liana believed that no one would come forward to defend her, as no one wanted to get involved and risk a tarnished reputation for the sake of one woman.
As for Catherine, Liana thought she might be agitated right now, so how could she have the time to delete posts?
With a satisfied smile, Liana continued to gaze at the heated posts on her screen. If Catherine liked fame so much, Liana was determined to ensure she got her fill of it.
After hesitation, Liana felt that the current situation was not enough. She needed Catherine to be despised by the world and unable to turn things around. Liana picked up her phone and made a call.
Ten minutes later, she arrived on time at the coffee shop downstairs at the hotel. The person she had arranged to meet was already waiting at their table. Liana gracefully approached and took her seat. “Emma, I’m sorry for being a little late.”
Emma Hazel glanced at Liana, noticing her meticulous appearance, and couldn’t help but roll her eyes inwardly. She didn’t say much in response.
Liana was indeed a master of pretense. The hotel was just upstairs, and only the two were meeting. Yet, she still needed to dress up carefully before coming downstairs.
People like her were exhausting to deal with. However, Emma had seen it all before. In their social circle, many people lived for appearances and prioritized looks above all else.
Some individuals never revealed their makeup-free faces in their entire lives. Emma and Liana were not close enough to share a sisterly bond, so they didn’t feel the need to be completely open. After Liana ordered her drink, Emma finally said, “So, what brings you here to talk to me?”
Liana put on a faint smile and pretended to be shy as she said, ” Emma, have you seen the posts online, by any chance?”
Emma raised an eyebrow. “You mean about Catherine?”
Emma immediately understood the purpose of their meeting after seeing Liana nod. She didn’t say anything initially, and Liana decided to take the initiative.
She looked at Emma with a seemingly aggrieved expression and said, “Emma, your performance today was amazing, truly stunning. I can’t believe that Catherine is so capable. Judging by how well-prepared she was, she must have known the exam questions in advance. She seems determined to win the championship!”
Emma maintained her composure on the surface and didn’t even blink. However, her hand resting by her side betrayed her true emotions.
At this point, she knew precisely what Liana wanted from her. She wanted to attack Catherine using the strength of her.
Emma would not have given them this opportunity if it were any other person. Liana was not qualified in her eyes, but the situation was too sensitive right now.
Emma wasn’t sure if Catherine had cheated through Grayson or not, but the timing of this scandal was highly precarious. However, those photos had infuriated Emma.
“How dare Catherine behave like this?” thought Emma. She even dared to let Grayson pack her bags for her. Did she deserve any of this?
Emma struggled to control her anger and reluctantly suppressed her urge to lash out. She forced herself to speak calmly, “Is there anything else you need? If not, I’ll be on my way.”
Liana watched Emma’s composed exit and smiled with an air of gentleness. She shook her head and said, “Since you’re busy, I won’t disturb you.”
Liana couldn’t help but admire Emma’s self-control as she sipped her coffee. She hadn’t expected Emma to remain so composed even in this situation.
However, she knew that Emma would never let Catherine off the hook. As she left, the bulging veins in Emma’s neck told her as much.
Liana had her reasons for involving Emma in this matter. Emma came from an artistic family with several relatives in the entertainment industry who were influential figures.
If Emma were willing to help suppress Catherine, a little family pressure would be all it took to ensure Catherine could never recover. Liana didn’t need to do anything herself. She could sit back and watch Catherine’s downfall.
Arbotte Laboratory.
The demonstration resumed, and every action had a ripple effect in science. Changing even a single piece of data meant overturning everything done previously.
Scientific rigor allowed no room for error.
Rodge Milton and Scott Theo weren’t afraid to start over. Catherine’s previous input had been crucial, and without her guidance, they would have been in real trouble. The sooner they discovered the problem and resolved it, the better.
It had been two hours since they left the Meadow Restaurant and arrived at the laboratory. Catherine had been locked inside the lab, continuously working through the problem.
Meanwhile, Rodge and Scott Theo were left waiting outside and increasingly bored. Scott glanced at Rodge and winked. ” Hey, bro, are you as bored as I am?”
Rodge let out a sigh of resignation with helplessness. “I’m not just bored. I’m frustrated. I can’t help with anything!” said Rodge.
He had lived a life of constant success and had always excelled. His outstanding achievements earned him recognition from everyone around him.
He used to think he was strong. However, when he encountered Catherine, he realized there were always greater heights to reach. True talents were in a league of their own, and he didn’t even have a chance to lend a hand.