Hearing this, Stellar merely let out a soft chuckle. "Whether I have the ability to get into Professor Stone's research institute isn’t for you to decide."She cast a casual glance at Yvonne. "But if you really doubt me, Miss Harlow, why don’t you go ahead and answer Mr. Grayson’s question yourself?"A wave of humiliation and frustration surged through Yvonne. She was absolutely livid.But there was no way she could answer—she didn’t understand a single thing Stellar had just said. And with so many people watching, she couldn’t throw a tantrum either. She could only stand there, her face turning an embarrassing shade of red.Stellar didn’t spare her another glance. Instead, she refocused her unwavering gaze on Zachary."Mr. Grayson, just give me a chance. In one month, I’ll bring you the upgraded material."Zachary didn’t answer right away. Instead, something else caught his attention."You mentioned Professor Stone just now… Are you talking about Victor Stone from the Institute o
Percy snapped out of his thoughts, but his mind kept replaying the image of Stellar standing her ground, confident and unyielding. His eyes narrowed slightly. Was she trying to destroy what she couldn’t have? Or was this just another way to get his attention? Did she really think she was that important? The thought made him scoff. With a smirk, he wrapped an arm around Yvonne’s waist and strode up to Stellar, arrogance radiating from his every step. "Stellar, have you had enough of this little game of playing hard to get? No matter how much you try to fight me for this project or force your presence in front of me, I won’t spare you a second glance. I already have Yvonne. All your efforts are pointless." He deliberately provoked her, waiting to see some sign of hurt, resentment, or even jealousy in her eyes. But Stellar merely cast him an indifferent glance before responding in a tone devoid of emotion. "Is that so? Then I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and a
Raymond was momentarily surprised."Sir, your headaches are back? But you haven’t had a single episode since Miss Rivers made that custom aromatherapy blend for you. How is that possible…?"Percy froze. "Stellar made an aromatherapy blend? What are you talking about?"Raymond hesitated for a moment before answering. "The scent she used to infuse into your clothes every day. “Oh, and there was also some in your car—it was hidden inside the charm that came with the lucky cat figurine she gave you. “Miss Rivers blended the fragrance herself, and none of us knew the exact formula."Percy’s head snapped up.Since Stellar left, the household staff had been handling his clothes. The familiar scent had disappeared, replaced by something different.And his car…His gaze flicked to the dashboard. The spot where the small good luck charm had once sat was now occupied by a tacky golden saint statue—something Yvonne insisted on replacing it with after throwing the original one away.Raymond kept
For years, he hadn’t experienced pain like this. Now, it felt as if something was relentlessly hammering against his skull.The medication was out of the question, and even after Raymond spent a long time massaging his temples, the agony refused to subside.His vision started to blur, splitting into double images.With no other option, Percy reluctantly called Stellar, hoping to get the formula from her."Sorry, the number you have dialed…"His expression darkened.Right. He was blocked.Grinding his teeth, he ended the call and turned to Raymond, holding out his hand."Give me your phone."Feeling the heavy pressure radiating from Percy’s cold demeanor, Raymond didn’t dare ask questions. He quickly handed his phone over.Percy punched in a number he knew by heart and called again.This time, the line rang for a few seconds before being answered."Hello, who is this?"Stellar’s cool, clear voice came through, crisp as a mountain spring, instantly easing some of the tension in his che
That afternoon, as Stellar stepped out of the library, a slender figure suddenly emerged from the bustling crowd, blocking her path. "You’re Stellar Rivers, right?" The woman in front of her had wavy, styled hair and a designer handbag slung over her shoulder. Arms crossed, her expression was haughty and condescending. She looked to be in her early twenties, clearly a student, and somewhat familiar. "And you are?" "I’m Camille Dawson, a graduate student under Professor Stone." Camille sized her up, her gaze dripping with disdain. "I heard you graduated two years ago, yet now you’re back, acting like you belong here, taking the same exam as us to get into Professor Stone’s latest research team. I can’t help but wonder—what kind of strings did you pull? You must be really talented." Her tone was laced with sarcasm. But Stellar remained unfazed, her expression calm as she countered, "Is there a rule that says alumni can’t return for further studies?" Camille let out a
The memories replayed in her mind, each scene striking at her heart like a sharp blade.But now, she was no longer the person she used to be.She had the courage to face this head-on. She would never be the weak, helpless girl who let others trample over her. Giving in would only allow the schemers to win and give them more reason to gloat.She paused briefly, then spoke, her voice calm and unwavering."Do you really think a single photo is enough to spread rumors and condemn me?"Her clear, steady voice carried through the air like a gentle stream, silencing the murmuring crowd.Camille was caught off guard for a moment, but quickly lifted the photograph again, her expression smug."This picture alone is proof that your relationship with him isn’t ordinary. What else is there to argue?""I don’t need to argue. I just need to point out one fact."Stellar raised an eyebrow, then asked coolly,"The day you took this picture, why didn’t you mention that Professor Stone was there too? Th
The day of the exam arrived quickly.Stellar woke up early, dressed in a crisp white button-up and jeans, and tied her hair into a sleek ponytail with a headband. She looked every bit the perfect, diligent student.After twirling in front of the mirror with satisfaction, she headed downstairs.At the dining table, Mary had prepared a special breakfast—a double-yolk egg with ham—her face full of warmth."Miss, good luck! You’re going to ace this exam."The familiar gesture, a tradition she had seen countless times, stirred an unexpected wave of emotion in Stellar.It reminded her of the days when she was still in the Harlow family. Back then, before they knew her true identity, her adoptive mother had cared for her just as sincerely. She had also prepared eggs and ham before important exams, wishing her success.But those days were long gone.Pushing aside the memories, Stellar wrapped Mary in a tight hug."Thank you, Mary. I’ll take all the luck I can get."This feeling—being cared
"Correct answer."A flicker of shock crossed Camille’s eyes.Stellar actually got it right?It must have been a lucky guess.Didn’t Yvonne say she had spent the last two years doing nothing but chasing after men? How could she possibly still be keeping up?The instructor quickly moved on to the second and third questions.And every single time, before anyone else had a chance to fully process the problem, Stellar had already pressed the buzzer, delivering the correct answer without hesitation.Camille’s expression finally shifted.Her fingers curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. There was no way Stellar was guessing all of them right.By the fourth question, Camille straightened in her seat, sharpening her focus."Regarding the structural components of a mechanical system, which principle must be applied…"This one was noticeably harder than the previous ones.Even after carefully analyzing it, ten full seconds passed, and Camille still couldn’t figure out the answer.
He stepped up beside Stellar. Knowing her well, he didn’t try to dissuade her. Instead, his expression was firm. “I’ll support you.”Stellar felt a wave of emotion surge in her chest. She gave a solemn nod.Percy stood frozen in place, utterly stunned. They were all insane!Wasn’t Stephen her boyfriend? How could he just stand there and watch her risk imprisonment? He was supposed to be the one who cared about Stellar the most. Yet, at this critical moment, he had completely lost his voice.In the end, Stephen and Stellar personally headed to the control tower to direct the landing."Stay calm. This is no time to panic," Stellar’s voice came through the cockpit radio.Under her steady reassurance, the captain, who had been on edge, visibly relaxed.She began directing his every move with precision while Stephen worked on the ground, coordinating preparations for the emergency landing.Finally, when the moment was right, Stellar made a swift decision and commanded the forced depl
Joy’s expression flickered for a moment before she finally spoke with composure. "My apologies. I made an error in judgment by assuming it was an engine failure from the start, which nearly led to an incorrect conclusion." She admitted her mistake openly and without hesitation. No one criticized her for it. In fact, their admiration for her only grew. Before long, the investigation report was submitted. But just as the tension had eased, another piece of shocking news arrived— "This is bad! The commercial airline under the research institute has another aircraft, AT1083, with the same issue. It took off not long ago! Unlike the A16, this isn’t a test flight—it’s already in service!"The air traffic control tower just reported that the plane has already flown over a thousand kilometers. “Its landing gear won’t deploy, and other systems are malfunctioning. It’s currently circling above the airport, and if this continues, it could face the same fate—another crash!"The highe
Percy thought Stellar had become arrogant and complacent ever since reclaiming her status as the Rivers family heiress. She was completely out of touch with reality. It was necessary to bring her back down to earth. This wasn’t a place for her to act recklessly. Even Joy felt a little embarrassed by his words. Sensing the growing tension, she stepped in to smooth things over. "Mr. Moore, I don’t think Miss Rivers meant any harm. She’s just a newcomer without much experience. There’s no need to be so harsh." "Ms. Shaw, you’re being too lenient with her. A professional investigation like this is not something an intern should be involved in." Percy genuinely believed he was doing Stellar a favor. If she knew what was best for her, she would step aside. Otherwise, she’d only make a fool of herself in front of seasoned professionals. Stellar almost laughed in disbelief. An outsider was standing here lecturing her about aerospace engineering? It was beyond absurd. S
Joy’s expression remained serious. "Got it. I’ll make the necessary arrangements right away." She then turned to the interns behind her. "From here on, Mr. Smith will guide you through the rest of the base." With that, she was about to leave. "Wait…" Stellar stepped forward urgently. "Ms. Shaw, please let us come along. We might be able to help." An accident during a test flight was a major issue. And as a future member of the engineering team, she had every reason to be involved. Joy furrowed her brows slightly before nodding. "Alright, you and three other interns, follow me." Stellar and the others quickly joined the group. The team went through an extensive investigation—analyzing the black box, running accident simulations, and reviewing flight data. But no clear issue surfaced. Frustration settled over the room. The A16 model was a brand-new aircraft, and no one had expected such a critical failure on its very first test flight. If they couldn’t pinpoint the r
A woman with sharp, cropped short hair strode into the room with long, confident steps. She stood around 5'9", dressed in a fitted gray business suit that accentuated her sleek and commanding presence. She looked effortlessly cool and composed. Two staff members followed closely behind her. "Hello, everyone. I’m Joy Shaw, an engineer and operations commander at SA Aerospace Base. I’ll be leading you through the facility today. Please state your names, verify your identities, and follow me." Joy got straight to the point, skipping unnecessary pleasantries or any hint of arrogance. Her crisp and efficient demeanor made a strong impression, earning instant respect from the group. Snapping out of their daze, everyone took turns introducing themselves. When it was Stellar’s turn, Joy paused for a brief moment, her smile growing a touch more genuine. "So, you’re the prodigy I’ve been hearing about. Stellar Rivers—your reputation precedes you. I’m looking forward to seeing wha
She briefly explained the situation to Stephen, and he immediately offered her a suggestion."What was his idea?"Among the group, only Victor was still in the dark. Stellar filled him in, and after hearing the explanation, Victor burst into laughter."I knew it! When it comes to strategy, no one outsmarts that kid! Let’s have a celebratory dinner later—I’ll invite him to join us."Stellar agreed and dialed Stephen’s number again, only for the call to go unanswered once more.A strange feeling settled in her chest.Was something going on with him?She mentioned it to Victor, who mulled over it for a moment before shrugging. "If he’s busy, let’s not worry about it. Come on, let’s go enjoy our victory dinner."The group headed to a nearby restaurant, indulging in a well-deserved feast.Just as the gathering was winding down, Victor stepped out to take a call.When he returned, his expression was solemn and heavy.The mood instantly shifted.Stellar and the others tensed. "Professor, did
"Mr. Rowan, I didn’t do it! This is all just Stellar’s baseless accusations—""One million dollars."Stellar suddenly threw out a precise number.Harold’s eyes widened.She smirked at him, her voice dripping with mockery. "One million in bribes—quite the investment, Professor Xander. But what I’m really curious about is, as a supposedly dedicated professor, where did you get that kind of money? “Embezzlement? Kickbacks? Were all those research projects you led actually your success? Or did you steal someone else’s work?"Her words were razor-sharp, striking directly at his most vulnerable spot."Shut up!"Harold’s face turned red with fury. Losing all composure, he lunged forward and raised a hand to slap her.But before he could, Victor stepped in, blocking the strike."Harold Xander! You shameless bastard—you think you can lay a hand on my student?" Victor had been in stunned silence moments before, but now his fury erupted. Without hesitation, he shoved Harold away and barked,
Everyone froze for a moment before it clicked.Of course.If Harold’s team couldn’t bribe the judges, then the only way to manipulate the outcome was through the final scoring process. Since the judges worked independently and had no knowledge of each other’s scores, there was plenty of room for tampering.“I’ll handle it.”As the heiress of the Rivers family, Stellar had her own connections. Without hesitation, she stepped out and made a call, instructing someone to investigate.An hour later, the results came in.The information wasn’t enough to outright expose Xander’s team for fraud, but it was enough to shake them up.Returning to the lounge, she shared the findings and the plan with her team.“Let’s do it!”Everyone agreed unanimously.“Won’t know if it works unless we try.”Half an hour laterHarold strode into Richard’s office, flanked by Alex and the rest of his team.Their faces beamed with pride, fully expecting this meeting to be about receiving their Outstanding Research
Half the day passed in a blur. During lunch break, Stellar checked her phone multiple times, but Stephen’s reply never came. "Stellar, any news?" At the cafeteria, Lilian leaned in curiously. "Did Stephen reply? What did he say? Is he going to help investigate?" Stellar set her phone down on the table, screen facing down, and tried to keep her expression calm. "He hasn’t replied." "Huh? How’s that possible? Aren’t you two a couple? I thought you were practically glued to each other all the time." Lilian blurted the words out, half-joking. But Stellar’s expression subtly shifted. "You’re overthinking it. He and I… aren’t in that kind of relationship." Her tone was light and indifferent. Yet, the moment the words left her lips, an inexplicable emptiness settled in her chest. Lilian, realizing she might have touched a nerve, awkwardly rubbed her nose and exchanged glances with Simon and Nathan, silently urging them to say something to ease the tension. "Actually, S