Ch. 571..580
Chapter 571 Invitation
They arrived at the esports club. Unlike the other clubs where people had to be repeatedly asked to attend, many came in advance, though the agreed time was 8 o’clock.
When Catherine and her group arrived, almost all of the people arrived.
Knowing Catherine was not much of a talker, Amelia took on the role of spokesperson for the trio as soon as they entered. She found a senior student in charge of recruitment and introduced Ronin.
“This is Catherine’s brother. He also likes playing games. He wants to join the esports club.”
Upon hearing that he was Catherine’s brother and was also a fan of gaming, the senior student immediately perked up. She reached out her hand to Ronin. “Welcome to the esports club!”
Ronin politely thanked her, “Thank you!”
Amelia, who was standing on the side, was astonished. The reputation of ” 11 Super Catherine” really worked wonders.
Catherine felt a gaze fixed on her and instinctively looked towards the corner of the room, where she saw a young man sitting quietly. His head was slightly raised, his eyes staring in her direction.
His large cap obscured his face, making it impossible for Catherine to see him clearly, but she was sure he was staring at her.
Catherine glanced at him and then shifted her focus away. She found a seat and sat down, followed by Amelia and Ronin.
Ronin also noticed the gaze. He asked Catherine quietly, “Catherine, who’s that guy? Why’s he been staring at you?
His voice was not loud, but Amelia overheard.
Out of curiosity, she turned her head to stare in the direction pointed by Ronin. The moment she saw the guy, she was taken aback. She seemed unsure, and after a few more seconds of observation, she suddenly raised her voice in surprise.
“Wow…”
Her strange behavior startled Ronin, and even Catherine silently furrowed her brow.
Ronin patted his chest, looking at Amelia disdainfully. “Are you crazy? What’s with the sudden outburst?”
Amelia pointed to the corner, her voice trembling with excitement. “It’s Hero! It’s Hero!”
The veteran members of the esports club were obviously aware that the guy sitting in the corner was Hero. Compared to the excitement of a starstruck girl, they remained much calmer. In fact, they were used to such behavior from Amelia. Quite a few girls in the school were fans of Hero, and their reactions to seeing him were far more exaggerated than Amelia’s.
Perhaps because his identity had been revealed, Hero no longer maintained his air of mystery. He got up and walked in their direction.
Amelia watched her idol step towards her. Her breath instantly caught. Her heart raced, and an inexplicable burning sensation spread throughout her body. She rehearsed the first lines she would say to her idol repeatedly in her mind. Just as she was about to speak, her idol spoke first.
“Hello, Catherine! I am Hero, and you can also call me by my Eskanan name, Drake Spencer.”
Amelia almost choked on her saliva. Her idol wasn’t here for her but for Catherine.
After realizing the truth, Amelia immediately made room for her idol to have a close exchange with Catherine.
The people around were shocked after witnessing this historic moment! It was the first time they had seen Hero initiate a conversation with someone. If they hadn’t witnessed Catherine’s gaming skills, they might have thought Hero was only interested in her beauty. After all, her stunning face was enough to captivate anyone. But they all knew how amazing her gaming skills were.
Indeed, talents were always treated specially. Being good at games was also an advantage. Catherine nodded politely and continued playing with her phone.
Standing beside her, Hero, hailed as the strongest game player in Eskana and the idol of countless girls, was being treated as if he were invisible by Catherine. This attitude shocked everyone.
Although Catherine was also a great player, her behavior towards Hero seemed too arrogant. But Hero didn’t feel the slightest bit slighted. To him, Catherine was like a puzzle, attracting him and making him want to delve deeper to understand her.
Before meeting Catherine, he had imagined countless scenarios but never imagined that she would be so beautiful. She was truly stunning, like an angel from Heaven, so beautiful that people were even afraid to look directly at her.
Having heard of the reputation of Hero, Ronin had been observing him for a while. Every game player knew about this big shot.
Ronin was somewhat interested in learning about Hero. But after seeing Hero’s attitude towards Catherine, Ronin was only worried that there would be one more person competing with him. Therefore, he was now full of dissatisfaction with Hero.
Ronin called out in a bad mood, “Drake, have you seen enough? Has no one taught you basic manners? How dare you to stare at a girl like that?”
Hero’s thoughts were interrupted by Ronin, and he also realized it was inappropriate, quickly looking away and gesturing an apology. After some hesitation, he decided to speak up. ” Can I ask you a question?”
Seeing the other party persist, Catherine raised her eyes with a cold look. “You can ask, but I may not answer.”
Hero smiled faintly, not getting angry at Catherine’s arrogant attitude. “Okay! “His voice was gentle and pleasant. “Is your ID ‘Sugar’?”
Ronin was stunned. It turned out that Hero was here to look for Catherine. He stood quietly on the side without saying anything, not knowing what Catherine was thinking.
Catherine responded with a cold attitude. “Guess for yourself.”
Although Catherine didn’t admit it, Hero already knew the answer. If Catherine was not the person he was looking for, her first reaction should have been to ask him what this ID was rather than letting him guess.
Knowing the answer, Hero was pleased. The puzzle that had plagued him for a week was finally solved. He excitedly said to Catherine, “Catherine, you are qualified to join the League Team. Are you interested in joining our Golden Star League Team?”
Catherine was already a bit impatient. ” This guy called Hero sure talks a lot,” she thought. She directly refused. “Not interested. Go away!”
Upon hearing Catherine’s response, everyone present was shocked. This was Hero, the best player. The team he led was also the best in the Eskana Gaming League and the most likely to win the World Gaming League championship trophy.
However, Catherine refused him like this. She was so arrogant! People speculated that Hero must be angry.
However, Hero’s attitude remained the same. He looked at Catherine with an appreciative look in his eyes. “Please consider it again. I sincerely hope that you can join our team!”
MumChapter 572 Losers
No matter how hard Hero tried to persuade Catherine, her attitude remained the same. She was not going.
To others, it seemed like an extraordinary opportunity, but to Catherine, it was nothing.
Only Ronin knew how amazing Catherine was. Catherine could easily defeat those so-called invincible teams from Euphosean and effortlessly bring back the trophy of the World Gaming League.
After all, the mastermind behind Storm Technology was none other than Catherine. No one was more familiar with the games derived from game scripts developed by Storm Technology than its founder, Catherine.
If Catherine participated, it would be unfair to those players. It would be a one-sided game! Naturally, she wouldn’t participate in such an event.
Seeing that Hero was still not giving up, Ronin, with a cold face, mocked. ” Just give up. Haven’t you heard what Catherine said? She’s not interested. Or do you not understand Eskanese? Do you need me to translate for you?”
Hero persisted. “Catherine, I think you should consider it.”
Catherine was annoyed by his persistence. She stood up directly, facing him, her eyes exuding unusual dominance. “You want me to join your team?”
Hero thought Catherine had changed her mind, so he nodded happily, making a promise. “I can guarantee you the best treatment.”
No one knew that the sponsor of the Golden Star League Team was surnamed Spencer. The main source of funds was from the Spencers, one of the noble families in Loxton. It was because of the strong support from the Spencers that the Golden Star League Team could be provided with the best training facilities.
Hearing the conditions set by Hero, Catherine smiled coldly, her charming smile carrying captivating eeriness. “If I were to join, I only have one condition.
“You name it, I agree to it!” Hero eagerly replied. He was too excited and didn’t notice the smile in Catherine’s eyes. The smile seemed to be mocking Hero’s overestimation of himself.
The next moment, Catherine stated her condition. “It’s simple. Defeat me! I don’t team up with losers!”
This statement was both sarcastic and domineering. Hero hadn’t expected that, being praised as a genius since his first match, he would one day be rejected by others for his gaming skills. He was not even worthy of being her teammate!
Upon hearing Catherine’s words, the people around were stunned. Catherine’s statement was not only arrogant but also hurtful.
Hero fell silent for a moment. He had played against Catherine once before and had witnessed her battle with Stanley. He was certain that if he were in Stanley’s position then, he wouldn’t have been a match for Catherine. Her strength was just too overwhelming. If one victory were a fluke, the next two would certainly be a testament to her amazing gaming skills. Hero understood that he truly wasn’t a match for Catherine at the moment.
“Alright, I accept your condition. Give me a month. If I still can’t defeat you after a month, I promise I won’t bother you again!” Hero said. After he finished speaking, Catherine nodded faintly, agreeing to his request.
The people around were in an uproar. The player who had been hailed as the best in Eskana’s history was now being so humble in front of an unknown player. They were all fans of Hero and couldn’t bear such an insult. Hero didn’t get angry, but they did.
“What’s with your arrogant attitude, Catherine?”
“Hero, why are you being so humble in front of her?”
“She’s a good shot but nothing more. How arrogant she is…”
“Yeah, exactly…”
If anyone else had heard these words, they could have taken it, but when Ronin heard them, he exploded with rage. “How dare they insult Catherine like this?” he bellowed inwardly. “They are asking for trouble!”
Ronin immediately retorted, “You bunch of fools, are you blind? Didn’t you hear what your idol said? If he can beat Catherine, must he practice for a month? Catherine has extraordinary gaming skills. Why should she be humble? Are you guys not satisfied? Fine, defeat Catherine in a one-on-one!
Ronin scolded everyone who complained earlier, and they were no match for him. They couldn’t even get a word in edgewise.
One thing Ronin said was right-Hero had admitted he wasn’t as good as Catherine. If he were better than her, they could settle it in a live match. There was no need to wait for a month.
After Ronin’s retort, no one could say anything. Catherine’s interest was fading. She was tired and had to show the experimental report to Rodge.
Seeing Catherine stand up and leave, no one dared to stop her. It was mainly because of Catherine’s overwhelming presence, which made people feel like stopping her would be seeking death.
Ronin, hands in his pockets, followed behind Catherine, playing the role of a dutiful second-in-command.
Amelia watched as the two of them left and then followed suit to depart. However, she didn’t have the courage of the two big shots. She bid farewell to the president of the club obediently before stepping out of the club.
After the three of them left, the remaining people couldn’t help but start whispering, “Oh my, Catherine looks so cool, doesn’t she? Do you know where she comes from?”
Another student immediately approached and whispered, “I inquired about her yesterday. I heard she’s the top student from Casier, and Professor Hartley personally recruited her.”
“Really? The top student from Casier? Isn’t she a genius?”
“She’s good-looking, smart, and even excels in gaming. How can she be good at everything?”
That made sense. To become the top student in such a competitive city showed just how outstanding she was.
“Sigh, comparison is the thief of joy!”
At the Facers’.
After Jada got humiliated in the cafeteria, she immediately went to investigate Catherine’s background. She felt like she had missed something last time, so this time, she directly arranged for someone to go to Casier to thoroughly investigate her.
At ten o’clock in the evening, the person sent to investigate Catherine finally brought back news for her.
“Miss Facer, I found it. Here are the documents. Please take a look.”
While Jada was scanning the documents, the investigating personnel took the initiative to explain on the side, “Currently, the head of the Swanns has changed from Korbin Swann to Catherine Swann. It’s said that Catherine has confined Korbin.”
To be able to change the ownership of the Swanns in just half a year, it seemed that Catherine was indeed powerful.
Jada didn’t understand before why Branden would care so much about this girl. It turned out that behind this girl was the Swanns.
The Duncans wanted to expand their business in Loxton and also wanted to retain their foundation in Casier. Marrying the daughter of the Swanns, one of the Four Noble Families of Casier, was the best way.
Jada thought she had now found the key to the problem. As long as she destroyed the Swanns, Catherine would be nothing.
After Jada thought of a solution, a sinister smile appeared on her face. She vowed to witness the downfall of the Swanns with her own eyes. She wanted to see Catherine kneel before her, begging for forgiveness.
Chapter 573 See What You Got
The Duncan Manor stood tall and imposing.
Paxton, holding the latest intelligence, approached the door of the study. Once granted permission, he cautiously pushed open the door. “Boss, there’s some information regarding the Swanns. Would you like to take a look?”
In the past, Paxton would have handled such matters himself without reporting to anyone. But things were different now; she was the head of the Swanns, and she would be Branden’s wife. That was to say, the Swanns were now considered part of the Duncans’ interests, so it was natural to report such matters to Branden.
Branden glanced over, frowning slightly. “Grelin Group?”
Paxton bowed and responded, “Boss, the Grelin Group is backed by the Coopers from Loxton, who are the in- laws of Mr. Facer.”
Noble families loved powerful alliances, and Jada’s mother also came from a prestigious background, with her family’s influence matching that of the Facers. Otherwise, Jada wouldn’t have gained Conor’s favor and affection.
Branden’s deep eyes narrowed slightly as he coldly stated, “Keep an eye on Grelin Group and find out what they’re up to.”
If Jada was not too foolish, she should know precisely what the consequences would be.
“Do we need to inform Miss Swann about this?” Paxton asked.
“No need. Kathy just started school recently and is busy with her studies,” Branden replied. His initially cold voice softened noticeably when he mentioned Catherine.
Paxton complained inwardly, “Come on. To her, going to university was just a way of experiencing a different life. How could she be busy with her studies? That’s definitely not going to happen!”
Branden handed the signed documents to Paxton. “Get me a ticket for the morning flight to Loxton,” he ordered.
Paxton was taken aback. “Isn’t it supposed to be in the evening?”
There was an important meeting in the afternoon, and negotiations for a project were scheduled for the evening. In order to return to Loxton as quickly as possible, they had already been squeezing their schedule with no extra time. And now, Branden was asking to leave even earlier. Perhaps this was what ‘going to extreme lengths for the sake of love’ meant.
Branden fixed Paxton with a cold gaze. Paxton was so frightened that he immediately knelt.
“Sorry, Boss. I will prepare it for you right away!”
When Catherine woke up in the morning, she received a call from Linda. During her time at school, she had specifically assigned personnel to watch over the Swann Corporation. Besides the professional manager, there was also Linda, the secretary left behind by her grandfather.
“Miss Swann, there’s a significant potential investment opportunity in a recent large-scale collaboration, but it involves a substantial amount. It may need your advice,” Linda said.
Having worked for the Swann Corporation for so many years, Linda wouldn’t contact Catherine unless she met something she wasn’t sure about.
Catherine responded, “Send the documents to my email,” and then hung up the phone.
“Catherine, we need to pick up the pace. Otherwise, we’ll be late for Professor Hartley’s class today!”
Amelia stood at the door, raising her voice to get Catherine’s attention.
Catherine strode over to her. “Let’s go!”
Ever since Hero publicly invited Catherine to join his team and was rejected, Catherine’s status in Amelia’s eyes had risen several notches. Now, she regarded Catherine as her idol, better than anyone else.
The two hurried to the classroom, and just as they entered, the bell for class rang. Amelia once again gave Catherine a thumbs-up. “Catherine, you’re amazing! You’ve calculated the journey down to the last second!”
Along the way, Amelia had been fretting about being late, whispering to Catherine to hurry up. Catherine, however, calmly assured her that with their walking speed, they would make it to the classroom before the bell, so there was no need to worry.
Amelia now finally understood why Catherine was always so composed. It wasn’t just confidence; it was also meticulous planning. If she could calculate every detail-distances, speed, frequencies-so accurately, she might also have that same composure. But these were things that an ordinary person could never achieve, which set Catherine apart as a “super” individual.
As they found their seats and saw Jada enter with the teaching materials, Amelia couldn’t help but roll her eyes silently. Her impression of Jada was deteriorating, and she found Jada more and more annoying.
“Her again?” Amelia complained, but Catherine remained silent. She didn’t care who was teaching her. After all, she wasn’t interested in any of the content.
Seeing Catherine’s silence, Amelia quietly warned her, “Catherine, that woman is giving you strange looks. You should be careful.”
Catherine glanced at Jada. At that moment, Jada also looked back. Their eyes met, and the hatred in Jada’s eyes was unmistakable. She clenched her hands on the desk, forcefully breaking the chalk in her grip.
Catherine, however, remained composed, with a demeanor that made it clear to any discerning person that she didn’t care about Jada.
Jada could sense the disdain, and her hatred grew even stronger. She almost ground her teeth to pieces with the intensity of her anger, but she knew it wasn’t the right time. She would make Catherine understand her power soon enough. She vowed that even if Catherine begged for forgiveness, she wouldn’t forgive this despicable person.
Jada did her best to suppress her anger. “Everyone, Professor Hartley will join us in the second half of the class. For now, I’ll explain the basic concepts of this course. Please open your textbooks.
The sound of pages turning filled the room, and the class officially began. Soon after, Jada suddenly wrote a problem on the board and then looked at the entire class. “This is a basic arithmetic problem. Who can come up and solve it?”
The room fell silent as soon as she finished speaking, and no one wanted to step forward.
Jada chuckled. “Since no one’s coming up, I’ll choose someone myself.”
While observing Jada’s smile, Amelia was about to comment to Catherine about how eerie it was when Jada pointed in Catherine’s direction and loudly said, “Let’s have Catherine come up. I’ve heard Professor Hartley personally selected you. Let’s see what you got.”
The comment was filled with an unmistakable air of hostility.
Chapter 574 I’m Your Mother
Catherine, with her wireless earphones hidden in her hair, didn’t hear a word of what was being said on the stage. Suddenly, Amelia violently nudged her, prompting her to press the power button on her earphones.
Seeing that Catherine noticed her, Amelia quickly explained the situation to her in a hushed voice. “Jada wants you to come up and solve the problem!”
Catherine looked up blankly and happened to lock eyes with Jada’s complacent gaze. She coldly replied, “I can’t solve it.”
Then, Catherine continued to ignore Jada.
This decisive and straightforward response was completely unexpected by Jada. She had been confident that Catherine would come up, considering that the problem wasn’t too complex for someone of her level but posed a certain difficulty level for a freshman.
If Catherine couldn’t answer, she could mock her. If Catherine solved it, she could demonstrate an alternative solution, showcasing her strength. She had thought through all these scenarios but hadn’t anticipated Catherine’s direct and resolute refusal.
Jada looked at Catherine with a cold sneer. Since Catherine had willingly stepped into the firing line, she would be very willing to teach her a lesson.
“Catherine, aren’t you the student personally recruited by Professor Hartley? How come you can’t even handle a problem like this?” The thick tension in the air drew everyone’s attention to the interaction between the two.
It was clear to everyone that Jada and Catherine were at odds, especially considering the incident that had already spread throughout the campus. Many classmates were aware of the animosity between the two women. A showdown between them was imminent, and everyone was already preparing to watch the drama unfold.
Catherine had initially wanted to rest, but the woman on the stage was incessantly chattering. She looked up again, and her cold gaze swept over Jada, filled with disdain and mockery.
“Stop showing off with such a childish problem. Instead of wasting time on that, why don’t you think about how to develop your dull mind?”
Amelia burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. “Catherine really has a sharp tongue!” she thought.
Jada hadn’t expected Catherine to show her such disrespect, daring to insult her in front of the entire class.
Bang!
She slammed her hand on the desk, glaring in Catherine’s direction, her neck veins popping with rage.
“Catherine, you’ve gone too far. Have you no respect for anyone? I asked you to solve the problem, and if you didn’t want to, that’s fine. But why did you say the problem was childish and even insulted me? Who do you think you are? “she scolded.
“I’m your mother. How about that?” Catherine responded unapologetically, her attitude extremely arrogant. She wouldn’t show Jada any respect.
No one had expected Catherine to be so harsh, not sparing any mercy in her rebuke of Jada. The classroom was instantly filled with tension, and the other students subconsciously held their breath, watching quietly.
Suddenly, the arrival of someone broke the silence inside the room. It was unclear who first noticed the door, but someone shouted, “Professor Hartley is here!”
Everyone immediately turned their attention to the door and saw Marshall rushing in with his teaching materials.
Jada, upon seeing Marshall, felt a surge of joy. She had been worried about not having the chance to show him the true colors of Catherine, and now the timing was perfect.
She quickly complained to Marshall, ” Professor Hartley, you’ve come at just the right time. This student named Catherine disrupted the classroom discipline and is affecting the rest of the class.”
Marshall looked at Catherine and askedsoftly, “Oh, is that so? Have you disrupted the classroom discipline?”
Catherine lowered her eyes with a hint of a domineering air between her brows. Though not loud, her cold voice was heard clearly by everyone in the classroom. “Believe whatever she says.”
Seeing Catherine’s nonchalant and arrogant attitude in front of Marshall, Jada secretly felt elated. Catherine was too arrogant; she had no idea who Marshall was. As a top expert in his field, he despised people who were full of themselves.
“She will be in big trouble,” Jada thought.
Jada couldn’t wait to tell Marshall. about Catherine’s behavior.
“Professor Hartley, I wrote a question on the blackboard to test the students in the class. I didn’t expect Catherine not only to disobey the instructions but also to insult me!” she explained.
Marshall glanced at the chatty Jada, who immediately fell silent.
After Jada stopped talking, Marshall began to examine the question on the blackboard. Seeing his expression darken, Jada knew that Catherine was in trouble.
Finally, Marshall spoke. However, what he said shocked everyone.
After checking the question on the blackboard, Marshall calmly said, ” She’s right.”
Jada was stunned, her eyes wide with disbelief as she looked at Marshall.
“Professor Hartley, you…” she began, unable to comprehend.
Thinking Jada didn’t understand what was going on, Marshall pointed at Catherine and repeated, “I said, what she said is indeed correct. With her intelligence and abilities, this kind of question is indeed somewhat childish to her.”
After getting a definite answer, Jada was dumbfounded. “How could Professor Hartley say such words?” she wondered.
Marshall then walked over to Catherine and stopped in front of her.
“Catherine, we meet again. Have you considered my invitation from last time? Would you like to join my lab and work on the project with me?” he asked.
After hearing the professor’s words, everyone around was left in shock, their mouths hanging open.
Marshall, the renowned professor of Styre University, actually invited a freshman to his lab! This was an opportunity that many doctoral students would beg for but never get. ” Did Professor Hartley really extend an invitation to a freshman?” they all asked inwardly, wondering if there was something wrong with their hearing.
Then, Marshall said something even more shocking. “I hope you won’t refuse me this time,” he said sincerely to Catherine. “Our lab is about to embark on a new project. Here’s the information. I think you’ll be interested.”
He handed Catherine a document from his arms. It was then revealed to everyone that Marshall had previously invited Catherine, only to be rejected by her. “Who is Catherine exactly?”.they couldn’t help but ask inwardly. “How could she make Professor Hartley repeatedly ask her to join the lab?”
Jada couldn’t snap out of her shock. Marshall’s words felt like a slap in the face to her. The thing she had longed for was disdainfully refused by Catherine. How could she bear it?
Everyone was waiting for Catherine’s response, wondering if she would reject Marshall for the second time. One rejection was unbelievable enough. If it happened again, the entire Styre University would erupt into a commotion. How could someone be so disrespectful to Professor Hartley?
Chapter 575 Joining the Lab
Catherine skimmed through the materials Marshall handed her and found that the experimental project was very similar to what Rodge was currently working on.
Rodge hadn’t yet overcome the entire experiment; he hadn’t even passed the first phase. She had been helping Rodge adjust the data but wasn’t physically present in the lab. All the data was based on Rodge’s feedback, which inadvertently added difficulty and slowed down the progress of the experiment. If she joined the project at Styre University, she could directly observe the entire experimental process, which would better help Rodge complete the experiment.
“I’m in!”
With these three simple but decisive words, Catherine agreed to Marshall’s request to join the lab.
Marshall was extremely excited; he could tell that Catherine was an absolute genius in this field. If he could bring such talent into their experiment, it would definitely help his lab make remarkable progress.
For the past two years, his lab had been at a standstill, unable to implement experimental projects, and had reached a bottleneck. He had been unable to make a breakthrough.
That day, in the botanical garden, Catherine pointed out his computational error straight to the point. At that moment, he felt like he saw hope. Perhaps Catherine could be the hope to lead the lab to a breakthrough.
In addition to agreeing, Catherine also made a request. “I’ll join, but only for this one project.”
Amelia looked at Catherine’s expressionless face and secretly admired her, thinking, “Catherine truly lives up to her reputation as a top- notch expert, daring to set conditions in front of Professor Hartley. Catherine will definitely become the leading figure at Styre University!”
Marshall smiled knowingly, looking at Catherine with a sense of mutual understanding. He hadn’t even mentioned other projects to Catherine. The project he had just presented was intentionally used to test her, and everything went just as he had expected. She was the genius he had been looking for. Only such talent could understand how great his current project was.
“Okay, no problem!” Marshall readily agreed to Catherine’s conditions. ”
After class, I’ll take you to the lab for a tour,” he added.
Returning to the front of the classroom, Marshall was greeted by Jada. “Professor Hartley, are you ready to start the class?” she inquired.
Marshall nodded indifferently. “Let’s begin!” His demeanor shifted back to that of a stern instructor, a far cry from the amiable attitude he had just shown Catherine.
Feeling like a clown, Jada retreated to the side, enduring the scrutiny of the entire class, feeling extremely embarrassed. She couldn’t understand what was so special about Catherine that even Marshall treated her differently. Not only had he invited Catherine to the lab, but after being rejected, he had also dangled the most valuable project in the entire lab to entice Catherine.
If this project succeeded, their lab would lead globally, and they, as researchers, would gain recognition among the world’s scientific community. It was the ultimate honor, and Marshall had given this opportunity to Catherine, a freshman who hadn’t even opened her textbooks once. Why?
Anger and resentment almost consumed Jada. Perhaps earlier, she could have endured it and waited for the implementation of the next plan. But now, she couldn’t wait any longer. She had to destroy Catherine and reclaim everything that belonged to her.
When no one was paying attention, Jada discreetly slipped out of the classroom, clutching her phone. She was determined to change her plans and make Catherine pay the price for her pride.
As the bell rang, Marshall promptly announced the end of the class. He didn’t like to drag on, nor did he want to take up the students’ break time. However, being a renowned professor at Styre University, leaving after class wasn’t so simple.
The latter half of the class had been so captivating that many students were still engrossed in it and had questions to ask after class. They had no choice but to stop Marshall and seek his explanations.
Seeing Catherine stand up, Marshall, afraid she might leave, quickly called out in her direction, “Catherine, wait a moment. I’ll take you to the lab later.”
The surrounding students glanced in Catherine’s direction, their eyes filled with envy. “To be favored by Professor Hartley, Catherine is truly fortunate,” they thought.
Catherine heard Marshall’s call and paused with her book in hand before sitting back down in her seat. Seeing her sit down, Amelia followed suit.
Catherine turned her head to look at her, raising her eyes and asking softly, ” Aren’t you leaving?”
Amelia chuckled mischievously. ”
Catherine, can I go with you to visit the lab? Even though I’m not qualified to go to the lab, I want to take this opportunity to have a look. You know, Professor Hartley’s lab is the ultimate dream for students in this field nationwide!”
Amelia’s expectant expression amused Catherine. “Okay,” Catherine agreed simply.
Hearing this, Amelia was taken aback. She had expected to persuade Catherine for a while and then have Catherine ask Marshall for permission.
She didn’t anticipate Catherine’s immediate agreement. She stared at Catherine in astonishment. “Really?”
Shrugging, Catherine’s face was filled with nonchalance. “Do you want to go or not?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Amelia nodded vigorously.
“Then let’s go!” Her voice, though soft, carried a very compelling tone.
Amelia firmly believed that Catherine would follow through on her promise.
Ten minutes later, Marshall finally managed to escape the questioning students. He packed his teaching materials and approached Catherine. ” Catherine, let’s go!”
Catherine stood up, and Amelia stood up as well. She was about to explain the situation to Marshall, but Catherine stopped her. She didn’t know what Catherine meant, but since Catherine didn’t want her to speak, she remained silent.
The two followed Marshall to the most mysterious laboratory in Styre University, the top university in Eskana.
At Styre University, Marshall had a laboratory building all to himself, a promise personally given to him by the university president when he first started teaching at the university.
They had to go through multiple processes and various password verifications to enter the laboratory. Each time they passed a checkpoint, Marshall would introduce to Catherine the passwords and how to access them.
Amelia, unable to contain her curiosity, quietly asked Marshall, “Professor Hartley, when you talk about these confidential passwords, should I step aside to avoid them?”
Marshall looked at her curiously. “Why would you need to avoid them? If you don’t know the passwords, how are you supposed to enter in the future?”
Amelia was taken aback. “In the future? Professor Hartley, are you saying I can enter the laboratory?”
“Aren’t you Catherine’s assistant? Won’t you enter the laboratory with her?” Marshall looked at her with some confusion.
Amelia looked at Marshall, then turned her head to glance at Catherine, still not understanding when she became Catherine’s assistant. The sudden surprise of being able to enter the most famous laboratory in the country left her feeling dazed.
Catherine smiled lightly, raised her eyebrows at Amelia, and whispered, ” Pay attention to what the professor said. We’ll talk about the rest later.”
Amelia nodded silently, feeling touched, and followed behind Catherine. She knew that Catherine must have fought for this opportunity, and she absolutely couldn’t be careless. She had to study hard and not let Catherine down.
Chapter 576 Proactive Care
After nearly an hour, Marshall finally managed to give Catherine and her group a tour of the laboratory.
Marshall stopped and looked at Catherine with great interest, asking, How do you like it?”
Upon hearing Marshall questioning her, Catherine responded earnestly with a word as her evaluation. “Great!”
Marshall asked again, “Have you noticed anything that needs improvement or areas that could be further enhanced?”
Besides them, there were a few remaining students in the lab. They were all staff members of this laboratory and also Marshall’s students.
They had been following Marshall for many years but had never seen Marshall be so polite and amiable toward anyone.
“Wow, this cute girl is really something!” they thought.
Catherine looked around and pointed at the machine being operated in front, saying, “I feel like these devices are a bit outdated. Maybe we can get a new batch of more advanced machines if we’re going to work on a new project.”
When Catherine spoke up, the guy operating the machine immediately showed his displeasure and even straight up rejected what she said.
“Hey, young lady, if you don’t know, please don’t talk nonsense. This is currently the most advanced equipment domestically, with an accuracy of up to 20 nanometers. Do you understand these numbers?”
His tone sounded a bit stiff, and he didn’t seem particularly friendly.
Marshall was just standing there, watching the fire start to spread. He didn’t seem to want to get involved at all.
As the laboratory leader, he recognized Catherine’s abilities and recruited her.
Whether everyone in the laboratory could accept Catherine depended on whether she had the ability or not.
Faced with such tough questioning, Catherine remained calm and composed.
“20 nanometers is very advanced, but the project that we are going to research next is an issue that has not been successfully researched yet. In order to be ahead of others and be at the forefront of the world, our equipment must also keep up. Alton’s equipment accuracy has already reached 7 nanometers. How can we compete with them using 20- nanometer equipment?”
Her gentle voice resonated powerfully, enveloping the entire laboratory space like a heavy hammer pounding on everyone’s heart.
Hearing Catherine’s response, the guy who was talking earlier was left dumbfounded.
Since nobody said anything, Catherine continued, “The equipment in Alton is 7 nanometers. That’s public data. I’ve seen 5-nanometer equipment at Arbotte Laboratory, and I believe that if Arbotte Laboratory can do it, then Alton can do it, too.”
Hearing this news, everyone in the room, including Marshall, was absolutely shocked.
He stared at Catherine with an astonished look and excitedly asked, ” You actually went to Arbotte Laboratory?”
Catherine nodded and calmly said, Yeah!”
Amelia discovered that after Catherine said she had been to that laboratory, the people present all looked at her with glistening eyes.
“What kind of laboratory is this? It’s actually so powerful?” she thought.
Catherine’s confident response made Marshall’s heart race.
“5 nanometers. We are four times theirs. You’re right. Relying on current machines, we’ve already lost in terms of hardware if we want to be ahead of the world.
“Catherine, the information you provided is very important. I’ll report it to my superior and see if there’s any way to improve the hardware conditions.”
Once the lab tour ended, Catherine proactively told Marshall that she wanted to leave.
Marshall didn’t stop her but just reminded her to come to the lab after class every day and get familiar with the lab’s operation with everyone before letting her go.
After leaving the lab, Amelia was planning to take Catherine to eat something.
But Catherine didn’t feel like going. She wanted to head back to the dorm and rest.
Branden would be back in the evening, and Catherine wanted to keep some room in her stomach to enjoy the meal he cooked, which was much better than the cafeteria food.
So, the two of them hurried back to the dormitory.
Just as they reached the dormitory building, Amelia excitedly grabbed Catherine’s hand, urgently pointing in the direction ahead.
When Catherine raised her eyes, she caught sight of that highly anticipated figure.
“Wasn’t he supposed to be back in the evening? How did he arrive in the afternoon?” she wondered.
Seeing Catherine had noticed it, Amelia let go of her hand automatically.
Catherine approached the figure, unaware of how long the man had been standing there.
Upstairs and downstairs, countless gazes had already fallen on him and his surroundings. As Catherine approached, it was like a psychic connection. Branden immediately sensed her presence.
Catherine walked toward him, and he approached Catherine as well, both moving toward each other.
The moment they got closer, Branden couldn’t wait to hold Catherine’s hand.
Catherine was just like a regular girl, taking the initiative to strike up a conversation with Branden.
“Wasn’t it said that you would only be back at night?”
Branden’s eyes were full of smiles as he looked at her, and he asked leisurely, ” Is this considered proactive care?”
Catherine raised an eyebrow and showed a hint of challenge in her delicate eyes, saying, “If you think it is, then it is!”
Her words brought a delightful feeling to Branden, and all the exhaustion along the way vanished in an instant.
“I finished things early, so I came back early,” he replied.
If Paxton were to hear this from
Branden, he would probably be so infuriated that he would drop dead on the spot.
They were so busy that they didn’t even have time to use the bathroom in order to make it back early.
They wished they could put a diaper on them and make the most of every minute. Returning to the apartment near Styre University, Catherine, as usual, lay on the couch to rest.
It was still early before mealtime. Branden quickly prepared some fruits and accompanied Catherine to rest.
Catherine was playing on her phone while Branden was holding his computer to do his work.
From time to time, the two of them would have some verbal exchanges, just like an ordinary couple coming home from work, feeling comfortable and at ease.
After finishing a game, Catherine put down her phone, grabbed Branden’s arm, and sat up.
“I went to visit Professor Hartley’s lab today.”
Once he heard her speak, Branden immediately put down the work in his hands and patiently listened to what she had to say.
“Did you get into Marshall’s lab?”
“Uh-huh!” Catherine nodded slightly. ” Their project just happens to be similar to the project being done at Arbotte Laboratory, but it’s not convenient for me to go to Arbotte Laboratory. So, I decided to conduct research here at Styre University, which is faster.”
“Sure!” Branden nodded in agreement. As long as Catherine made the decision, he would support it.
Speaking of Arbotte Laboratory, Branden thought of something else.
The Duncans had an extremely powerful network of information, enabling them to be privy to many undisclosed pieces of information.
Branden received a message that had some connection with Catherine yesterday.
“Have you been in touch with Zobber lately?”
“No, what happened to her?” Catherine looked at Branden with confusion.
She knew there was no way Branden would bring up that name for no reason.
“I am not really sure. Perhaps she might have encountered some trouble recently!” Branden had only received the news. Without Catherine’s indication, he would not investigate her people.
Hearing the news, Catherine immediately stood up. “I’m gonna make a phone call!”
She knew Zobber must be in trouble because she knew how reliable the Duncans’ information was.
Chapter 577 Help
Zobber was a bit confused when she received a call from Catherine.
“Catherine, are you a mind-reader or something? How did you know we were in trouble?”
Catherine rolled her eyes inwardly upon hearing the excited voice of Zobber on the phone.
“Get to the point!”
Zobber quickly controlled her excitement and obediently explained the situation to Catherine, “Catherine, we’ve indeed got a bit of a problem. We got ambushed by some enemies. Me and Withal are currently on the run from them!
“I don’t know what’s happening, but it feels like someone got the information before us and came to ambush us!”
After she listened to Zobber’s report, Catherine’s gaze gradually sank, and her voice became much colder.
“Got it. I’ll arrange for someone to pick you up!”
Only the members of the Hacker Alliance knew about this opportunity.
Zobber and Withal were two of her most reliable aides. They were very careful and would never let such an oversight happen.
The only possibility was that she had left for too long. Some people were starting to get restless, itching to cause trouble.
It was not difficult to have people help Zobber and Withal out of their predicament. The tricky part was deciding where to send this group of people.
The current situation would be unclear if they were to look for someone from the Hacker Alliance.
They were out in the open while the enemy lurked in the shadows. If they were not careful, they might end up alerting the enemies.
After careful consideration, Catherine thought of Branden.
She took back her phone and went back to the living room.
Branden was still sitting on the sofa in the living room, keeping his posture of working on the computer.
Hearing the sound, he looked up and gently gazed at her.
“Is everything sorted out?”
Catherine shook her head and said her intention directly, “I need to borrow two people.”
“Is Francis and Carlo alright?” Branden replied quite straightforwardly.
He knew that if he didn’t help, Catherine would definitely go herself.
With her abilities, there was naturally no problem.
But the problem was that he didn’t want Catherine to leave. Catherine had trained both of them on Scorpion Island. So, she had some knowledge about them.
Catherine naturally had no objections to Branden arranging for the two to assist Zobber and Withal.
If it weren’t for the fact that she just promised Marshall to do the experiment together, she would have gone herself to bring them back.
“I sent you the coordinates on your phone. Just bring them back!” said Catherine.
Branden sent the coordinates to Francis and ordered him to go with Carlo to bring the people back safely.
With the matter resolved, Catherine gestured to Branden. Branden immediately understood and adjusted his posture to make Catherine comfortable as she lay down.
After Catherine lay down, she adjusted her posture and found a comfortable position to lie in.
Branden gently stroked her cheek and whispered, “There’s a banquet this weekend. Would you like to go together?
With a slight raise of her eyes, Catherine took a long, leisurely look at Branden before finally agreeing. “Okay!
Having known each other for so long, Branden had never taken the initiative to request her presence at any banquet.
Paxton once came to her to complain, saying that Branden was now always coming to her whenever he had time and refused all social engagements, causing the company’s vice president to attend various events and banquets every day like a call girl and complain incessantly.
“There must be a reason why he suddenly wants me to come together,” thought Catherine.
She didn’t think too much about it and just agreed to it.
Seeing that she agreed, Branden revealed a slight smile. “Take a break. I’ll go get you something to eat.”
Catherine nodded slightly, took out her phone, leaned back comfortably on the recliner, and started playing games.
At the University of Penny, Liana had become the most outstanding freshman in the field of finance this year, while Bryan was on par with her.
The university forum elected both of them as the most photogenic couple.
When Bryan learned about this, the forum rankings were over, and his expression was even darker than if he had eaten a fly.
It was a rare occasion when the whole department was doing an activity together today. Bryan’s roommate was absolutely amazed when he saw Liana and couldn’t help but gossip about it with Bryan.
“Bryan, I heard you and Liana went to the same school and were even in the same class. So, does that mean you could be considered childhood sweethearts? Is there a possibility for a romantic relationship in the future?”
“Hmph!” Bryan snorted with disdain. ” Thanks, but don’t ever put me together with this kind of person. It’s okay if you scold me, but I won’t accept being humiliated like this!”
Everyone looked at the usually quiet and reserved Bryan and was stunned when he said these words.
“What do you mean by that, Bryan?”
Bryan glanced in Liana’s direction and coldly said, “What do I mean? You’ll understand it later.
“And also, don’t be a person of narrow view. Go out and explore the world, There are so many better ones than this.
“Is there anyone more outstanding than Liana?” Bryan’s roommate looked at him with a face full of surprise, as if he couldn’t believe Bryan.
After all, Liana was really impressive and able to enter the prestigious University of Penny, which was essentially a symbol of excellence.
There were hundreds of thousands of people taking the exam every year, but only a few elite ones could make it to the University of Penny.
“The thing was, Liana not only studies well, but she is also good-looking. I heard that she comes from a prestigious family background as a daughter of a wealthy family, and she is skilled at playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
“This kind of talent is like the cream of the crop,” Bryan’s roommate thought.
Bryan looked at his roommate with an air of superiority and raised his eyebrows. “Of course. Let me tell you about my boss, Catherine. Three Liana wouldn’t be enough for her to defeat single-handedly.
“She is a science genius. She got the highest grades and was specially admitted to Styre University.”
Upon hearing such lavish praise from Bryan, everyone was filled with excitement and anticipation.
“Is she really that outstanding?” they asked.
“Come on. Why would I fool you? There’s no benefit in lying to you. Anyone with half a brain can easily distinguish the difference between Catherine and Liana. There is a world of difference between them. One is in the sky, while the other is on the ground. There is no comparison!”
Bryan didn’t even notice that Liana happened to walk by when he said that.
Liana was just standing beside him and listened attentively to every word he said.
His roommate quietly tugged on Bryan’s sleeve. Noticing something was wrong, Bryan turned around to take a look.
Upon seeing the darkened face of Liana, he instantly understood everything in his heart.
He shrugged nonchalantly, taking full responsibility for his own words.
He had been pissed off with Liana for a long time. “This chick thought she could mess with Catherine just because they were related by blood. And now she won’t even let him say a few words? “he thought.
“Hmph!” Bryan stared coldly and laughed at Liana with a cocky look. ” What, am I not allowed to speak the truth now?”
Liana was staring at him with a fierce look as if she wanted to stab Bryan.
She thought going to a different university from Catherine would ease her troubles, but she still couldn’t get rid of Catherine.
She totally hated Catherine!
She hated that Catherine kept lingering around, hated that Catherine appeared. “Catherine is a real disaster,” she thought.
Chapter 578 My Fiancée
Liana was staring daggers at Bryan, and everyone around, sensing the tense atmosphere, fell silent.
Liana took a deep breath and ultimately let it all go.
Bryan was the legitimate heir of the Duncan Corporation. However, at present, Liana was nothing. Bryan was someone she could not afford to offend.
She could not do anything right now.
As Liana stormed off angrily, all sorts of gossip started flying around.
“I saw Liana chatted happily with a classmate about Bryan previously, and I thought they were tight. But now it seems like Liana was putting on a show!
“Who would’ve thought that Liana was just putting on an act? Just look at Bryan’s attitude. You can tell how disdainful he is!”
Watching Liana leave with a gloomy expression, Zain, who had been chasing after her, caught up with her.
Like Liana, he was also a freshman in the finance department at the University of Penny.
After chasing Liana for a while, Zain finally caught up with her.
“Liana, stop running away. I know you’re feeling crappy, but hey, am I not still here for you?”
Liana stopped in her tracks. “Zain, am I that useless? I haven’t done anything wrong, but do I have to endure being looked down upon just because my grades are a little lower?” she looked at Zain in sorrow and whispered.
These words instantly made Zain’s mind go astray. He thought that Bryan had looked down on Liana just because he had good grades.
“Liana, don’t think like that. You’re excellent. Bryan is just relying on his family background. You don’t need to care about what he says.”
Zain racked his brain for a long time before finally coming up with a way to cheer her up after seeing that she remained sad and bothered.
“Liana, there’s a finance conference this weekend. Your favorite finance guru, Professor Edward Anderson, will be there. Shall we go together?”
Liana suddenly brightened up, looking at him with excitement. “Professor Edward Anderson’s finance conference? Isn’t that event open to a small group of people? How can we go?”
Zain confidently patted his chest and promised, “Don’t worry. I have a way. Count on me!”
“Zain, you’re awesome!”
Liana smiled at him, the sweetness in her smile increasing with each passing moment.
Zain came from a well-known family, the Facers, in Loxton. Liana checked that out.
Even though Zain was not the legitimate son of the Facers, it was said that the legitimate son of the Facer family indulged in games all year round, neglecting his duties, and had long been abandoned by the family as the heir to the family’s wealth.
Zain could be said to be favored over this person.
This finance conference was a rare opportunity, and Liana had been itching to join for ages.
However, without the support of the Swanns, she was left without assistance, making it difficult for her to participate in such gatherings.
She was still figuring out how to approach Zain for this, but Zain came knocking on her door himself.
She would find a way to see Edward when she’s at the finance conference.
Although Edward was just a finance professor, behind him lay a vast financial conglomerate with such formidable resources that outsiders couldn’t even estimate.
“If I could win Edward’s favor, that jinx, Catherine, would have to step aside willingly whenever she sees me in the future.” As she thought about this, the anger in Liana’s heart finally dissipated a little.
In the blink of an eye, the weekend was here.
Catherine slept in until noon while Amelia was already dressed up.
“Super Catherine, you awake? Perfect timing! Do you want to join us for some shopping? It’s just me and Bella!”
Catherine was still sleepy and said, ” You guys go ahead. I have something to do!”
“Alright then!” Amelia replied.
Amelia pulled Isabella out of the dorm.
The dorm suddenly quieted down. Catherine slowly got up, tidied up, grabbed the baseball cap nearby, and left the dorm neatly.
When she reached the campus gate, she realized Branden was already waiting there.
As Catherine got into the car, she took a glance at the exhaust pipe and knew that they had been there for some time.
“Why didn’t you tell me when you arrived?”
Branden tucked the cushion in for Catherine, allowing her to sit comfortably. Only then did he respond to her question.
“You can sleep in a little. I can work in the car all the same!”
Paxton, who was in the driver’s seat, kept quiet but couldn’t help thinking, ” He came here at 7 in the morning and has been working for a solid five hours. Can this be the same?”
After Catherine finally settled into her seat, the car slowly started moving.
The black Bentley was soon parked in front of the largest private styling studio in Loxton.
After Paxton opened the passenger door for Branden, he stood there quietly, waiting on the side.
After Branden got off, he went around to the other side of the car and slowly opened the door for Catherine, leading her out.
Catherine looked up and saw the words written on the sign above. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly. “Are you taking me to get a style makeover?”
Branden couldn’t help but chuckle. His deep eyes sparkled like stars in the sky at that moment, captivating anyone who looked at them.
He held Catherine’s hand, gently rubbing it as he explained softly, “Let’s go in and check it out. If you find something you like, just put on it. If not, we will leave!”
Catherine didn’t think much of it. Since she was already here, she decided to go in and have a look. Upon they entered the store, there was complete silence with no sound whatsoever.
Only the shop owner, with the manager, came out to serve them. The rest were all taken care of by Paxton.
The shop owner knew Branden, the renowned big shot in charge of a famous global company.
“The young, handsome, and wealthy Branden, not to mention talented. If I didn’t know who is he, how would I be able to make it in this industry?
“But why does the person the big shot brought today seem a bit strange?” the shop owner thought.
A massive peaked cap covered Catherine’s entire face, and he could not see her face clearly at all.
The loose T-shirts and oversized sweatpants she was wearing hid her figure, making her look like a young, naive student. It left the owner bewildered.
With no choice, the shop owner approached Brandan, standing respectfully beside him. “Mr. Duncan, is the lady beside you today here for a styling appointment?” he inquired in a subdued tone.
Branden gave a slight nod, indicating at the same time the identity of Catherine. “My fiancée, Catherine Swann.”
The shop owner was stunned for a moment. He didn’t expect to hear such surprising news when the big shot spoke.
In an instant, the shop owner looked at Catherine differently, and his attitude became increasingly respectful.
“Miss Swann. Right up ahead is our dress section. Do you want to pick your own, or do you want us to provide suggestions?”
Catherine bypassed the shop owner and went straight to the dress section. After a glance, her eyes finally landed on a black dress tucked away in a corner.
She casually pointed her finger and said, “Let me give that a try!”
The shop owner was stunned for a moment. He had thought of all possibilities but never expected Catherine to choose this item.
“Oh, man! This is going to be trouble!” he thought.
Chapter 579 Perfect Black Swan
Catherine sensed his hesitation and glanced at him sideways.
Paxton immediately stepped forward and asked, “What’s the issue?”
The shop owner wore a gloomy expression, trying hard not to let his emotions show. He shook his head slightly.
“No problem. This dress is from a top- notch designer. It is the final masterpiece showcased in this year’s fashion week and was meticulously created by dozens of skilled craftsmen. Let me take it off for you now, and let’s see if you’re satisfied with how it looks when you try it on!”
Catherine didn’t care about the extravagant praise the shop owner was spouting. She thought this dress looked simple.
Among these various formal dresses, it looked special and also the most comfortable piece to wear.
After the staff hung up the formal dress, she politely invited Catherine to try it on in the fitting room.
Catherine casually took off the peaked cap on her head, and her hair, shining like seaweed, naturally poured down.
When the shop owner laid eyes on Catherine’s face, he was stunned.
“This girl is too pretty!
“There’s a saying that ‘Beauty is in the bones, not in the skin.’
“It means that good-looking people have perfect bone structure, not just surface-level perfection,” he thought.
He had been around the fashion scene forever, and at a glance, he could tell that Catherine wasn’t just drop-dead gorgeous on the outside. Even her bone structure was flawless to the max.
“This kind of look was top-notch in this world,” he thought.
After Catherine took off her cap, she casually tossed the peaked cap to the side, looking cool as she threw it to Branden.
Branden reached out and gently took it in his hand.
This scene scared the heck out of the shop owner. His heart almost jumped into his throat.
His store was the most famous luxury clothing store in Loxton.
There was no telling how many VIPs came here every year, and he had seen countless high-ranking nobles bring their female companions along.
The more prestigious they were, the more respectful and polite their female companions around them were. The ladies had to ask for opinions on every little thing, fearing their choice would displease their man in any way.
“However, isn’t Mr. Duncan’s fiancée a bit too bold? I mean, she threw things at Mr. Duncan. Isn’t she afraid he’ll get unhappy?” thought the shop owner.
The shop owner glanced nervously behind him. He saw Branden playing with the cap and looked quite pleased.
He got it. Some people had great courage, which only came from being favored by others.
“Judging by this gentleman’s behavior, it seems the girl has been quite indulged,” he thought.
Not long after, Catherine changed into the dress and came out.
She didn’t expect this dress to fit her so well. It was like it was tailor-made for her.
The moment she stepped out, every gaze turned toward her was filled with astonishment.
Even though she was not wearing makeup or had her hair styled, once she changed her outfit, the whole vibe was different.
She was just like a noble and glamorous black swan.
The shop owner couldn’t help but exclaim, “Oh my God. It’s amazing. Miss Swann, you are the only person who can wear this dress.
“You know what? I was nervous before you came out. The person who created this dress is the most famous fashion designer in the world. When he designed this dress, he tailored it to the world’s ideal body proportions to make it fit perfectly.
“Many guests took a liking to this dress, but it doesn’t fit them. Only you are the true owner of this dress.”
This was also why the shop owner seemed reluctant when he saw Catherine choose this dress.
It was not that he didn’t want to do business with Catherine, but this dress was demanding.
He was worried that if Catherine couldn’t fit in the dress, she might get mad and cause trouble for the shop.
But he didn’t expect Catherine to not only look beautiful but also have a perfect figure.
This dress was made for Catherine.
The shop owner came forward and said, “Miss Swann, we have the most famous stylist in all of Loxton here. Let her style you up!”
Catherine didn’t like other people putting chemical products on her face.
“There’s no need for that. Take me to a place where I can do my makeup. I’ll do it myself!”
“After you!” The shop owner respectfully ushered Catherine out.
After Catherine walked forward, Branden, who had been silent all this time, finally snapped out of his daze.
It was not that he didn’t comment just now. He just forgot to react.
He always knew Catherine was pretty, but he never imagined she would be drop-dead gorgeous, making him lose his mind instantly.
Branden quickly caught up and walked by Catherine’s side, casually reaching for her hand.
The shop owner brought Catherine to the dressing room, where the entire wall was filled with cosmetics. Catherine frowned at what she saw.
The stylist on the side received the message and politely stepped forward to pick out a set of makeup products suitable for Catherine.
Catherine finally relaxed the tension on her eyebrows. Even so, she didn’t use many of the products the stylist picked out.
She applied some powder on her face to even out her skin tone. Then she put on some lipstick to brighten up her complexion. And that was how she finished her whole makeup look.
Unlike the layers upon layers of makeup on others, Catherine’s makeup was clean and lively.
She had a sense of youthful innocence that lacked a little maturity but added a touch of sparkling brightness. She was so beautiful that it took one’s breath away.
Branden had been by her side and had never taken his eyes off her from beginning to end.
“Alright!” Catherine muttered softly before putting down the makeup in her hands.
The shop owner immediately pushed over a row of shoes and placed them in front of Catherine.
“Miss Swann, which pair do you think looks good?”
Without waiting for Catherine to choose, Branden squatted down.
He checked out the fancy shoes. They were of different heights, each pair shining brilliantly.
Branden didn’t go for those good- looking shoes after all.
Instead, he chose a pair of relatively ordinary silver leather shoes. Although they lacked the brilliance of other shoes, they had a low heel and were made of soft lambskin. They felt soft and light.
Holding the shoes, he swung around and asked Catherine, “How about this pair?”
It was what she was looking for.
The purpose of wearing shoes was to be comfortable while walking. She would not sacrifice comfort for surface-level aesthetics, so she would not choose those good-looking but impractical shoes.
“This one will do!”
As soon as Catherine answered, the staff beside her immediately crouched down, ready to help her put on her shoes.
Unexpectedly, she was blocked by Branden.
“I got this!” he said in a low and gentle tone.
The staff was frozen in place. Branden had crouched down to lift Catherine’s feet gently and helped her put on her shoes.
Everyone inside the shop was shocked to see him do that, and their mouths dropped wide enough to swallow eggs.
Only Paxton remained unfazed as he had long grown accustomed to it. He stood calmly throughout the entire process.
Such gentleness from his boss was meant for Catherine only.
Chapter 580 Look Alike
When Catherine arrived at the banquet venue, she finally realized the nature of the banquet.
The globally renowned business and finance banquet happened to be held in Loxton this year.
After Branden got out of the car, he took Catherine’s hand and helped her out.
Catherine leaned in slightly and looked at him.
“Grelin Group?”
Branden had a small smile and didn’t answer. He took Catherine’s hand and slowly led her inside.
“My little girl was just so smart. She can guess everything,” he thought.
Recently, Grelin Group approached the Swann Corporation regarding a potential collaboration project. However, Linda expressed concern about the significant amount of funding involved and sought a discussion with Catherine.
Catherine could tell at a glance that there were problems with the project, but she still chose to collaborate with the Grelin Group.
“We can’t just roll over and play dead when the other side is trying to trick us.
“Not fighting back would appear as if the Swann Corporation is too weak and can be easily bullied, wouldn’t it?” she thought.
The best way to deal with Grelin Group was to sign a collaboration agreement and cut off the financial support behind Grelin Group.
Once the financial chain of Grelin Group broke, the company would face bankruptcy immediately.
Catherine had just uncovered the Grelin Group’s source of funds. The Skybow Group, headed by Professor Edward Anderson, was its biggest source.
The financial newspaper reported a few days ago that Edward would be attending this finance banquet. Branden brought her along. As for the reason, Catherine didn’t need to guess to figure it out.
When the two showed up at the entrance, everyone’s eyes were glued to them. No one expected that the always mysterious Branden would show up at the banquet.
It should be noted that this big shot always abstained from attending any events.
In recent years, he barely even joined any private gatherings.
Although there had been rumors that some heavyweight figures would attend the event, they all thought it was the finance tycoons like Professor Edward Anderson. No one expected it would be Branden Duncan, the power holder of the Duncans.
Everyone wanted to go up and say hi to Branden, but because this big shot had such a strong vibe, no one dared to be the first one to take the plunge.
What was even more noteworthy was the stunning girl by Branden’s side.
There had been rumors going around earlier that Branden got engaged. It looked like that news was legit now.
The commotion downstairs caught the attention of those upstairs.
But none of this had anything to do with the man and woman sitting in the corner. Liana was elegantly dressed in a gorgeous gown, sitting upright like a noble princess.
Zain couldn’t take his eyes off Liana all night as his crush looked so beautiful.
With one glance, he knew Liana was one of those proper, elegant young ladies from an esteemed background. She was filled with grace and charm.
It was said that she was the legitimate daughter of the Swanns, one of the Four Noble Families in Casier. Only with such a prestigious background could they nurture a socialite like her.
Zain’s heart was captivated by Liana.
Liana looked around; she was no stranger to this kind of banquet. After all, she grew up in the Swanns, and Rachael always loved dragging her into all sorts of gatherings.
She was not interested in those people at the party. She was looking for Edward.
Her real target was the Skybow Group behind Edward.
“Zain, do you know when he is coming?
Zain was thrilled when Liana finally spoke to him. He quickly responded, “I just inquired about it. My uncle said Edward had some business to attend to and would be here in about half an hour. When he arrives, I’ll let you know!
Liana nodded slightly. “Thanks, Zain!”
“Cut it out. I want to meet Edward, too! “Zain’s cheeks blushed a bit as he shyly scratched his head.
When Zain looked up, he happened to spot a familiar figure. He quickly said to Liana, “Come with me. I’ll introduce you to someone.”
Liana stood up with Zain and walked to a young, handsome guy.
Zain skillfully greeted the man and turned to introduce him, “This is Drake Spencer, my cousin. His nickname is ‘ Hero,’ and he’s skilled at playing games.”
When Liana saw Drake, she initially thought he was the rumored prodigal son of the Facers who didn’t take his responsibilities seriously.
When she heard his last name was Spencer, Liana’s expression suddenly grew a lot darker.
She had no idea what was wrong with Zain. “He wasn’t doing anything productive. Did he want to keep taking me to visit his relatives?
“I ain’t got the time. If he were the legit son from the Facers, maybe I would consider making friends.
“I don’t have time to talk to those useless cousins,” she thought.
Drake noticed the change in Liana’s mood and sneered.
“Only my cousin would fall for such looks!
“Anyway, she is not that good looking. It’s a bit similar to Catherine but still a far cry from her beauty,” he thought.
Liana couldn’t be bothered dealing with Drake, and Drake didn’t want to talk to Liana either.
He turned his head and saw a familiar figure.
Although it was just a glance, Drake was sure he wasn’t mistaken.
After all, this figure had appeared countless times in his dreams.
As that person was about to leave, Drake couldn’t hold back anymore and shouted, disregarding the situation. ” Catherine!”
Branden got called away by a partner because of some business.
Catherine didn’t want to impede his work. Therefore, she decided to find a corner and take a break.
She didn’t expect someone to shout her name out loud.
The calling didn’t just grab Catherine’s attention but also Liana’s.
She thought she misheard it and followed the direction of the sound.
That flashy black silhouette immediately caught Liana’s attention. She couldn’t believe it was Catherine.
What a small world!
Zain glanced up as he noticed both of them paying attention.
At just one glance, he was utterly blown away.
He stared blankly at Catherine as he muttered to Liana, “Liana, this person looks just like you!”
Liana couldn’t help but roll her eyes. 11 Why wouldn’t they since they came out of the same mom’s womb?” she thought.
Catherine also noticed Drake. She glanced at him but continued to sit alone without showing much enthusiasm.
Drake walked up to Catherine and greeted her with exceptional enthusiasm.
“Catherine, what brings you to the banquet?”
When Zain saw Drake’s smile, he was caught off guard. It was his first time seeing his younger cousin treating someone with such enthusiasm.
In general, his little cousin always acted so cold and distant from his family that even his uncle couldn’t do anything about it.
Ever since Catherine showed up, Liana’s mood had gone downhill.
With a straight face, she walked up to Catherine as if she was interrogating her. “Why are you here?”
Catherine lifted her gaze and gave Liana a cold look as if talking to her was a total waste of time.
She had wanted to find a quiet place to rest for a while. Who knew that they would come up one-by-one and ask her why she was there?
“Are these people crazy or what?” she thought.
Seeing Catherine remain silent, Liana flew into a rage right away.
Bryan talked behind her back the last time, and she had been holding it in for a long time. Seeing Catherine again, she couldn’t hold back her anger anymore.
Angry flames burned away the last traces of reason in her mind.
“Catherine, what’s your attitude? I’m talking to you. Can’t you hear me? I don’t know how you managed to get into this banquet. Believe it or not, I’ll report you to the organizers and get you kicked out.”
Liana’s impolite attitude annoyed Drake.
“Why are you talking like that? What’s it to you whether she’s here or not? Is your family the host of the banquet?”
Liana was so pissed off with Drake defending Catherine that her face turned ashen.
She immediately looked at Zain, who was next to her. “Zain, hurry up and talk to your cousin. He’s so rude. Get this person out of here. I don’t want to see them anymore!”
Drake smirked at Liana and said, ”
Hmph! You think you can kick me out?”