The signing ceremony was complete, but Zachary was still reeling.

He had guessed that Miss Jennings was a member of the self-developed chip project team, but he never imagined she would be the chief engineer.

No wonder the background check on Miss Jennings had only come back half a page thin, with nothing more to be found. Her identity was a complete mystery. ’So the government was protecting her all along.’

He had thought that Miss Jennings might one day become the president’s wife at The Cole Group. He never imagined she would first become their most important client.

And not just any client, either.

Zachary blinked, taking a long moment to come back to his senses.

He glanced at President Cole, who remained perfectly composed.

’As expected of the president.’

In truth, when Nathaniel Cole heard the words, "Please welcome the Chief Engineer of the national self-developed chip project, Leila Jennings," his pupils had constricted in shock as well.

He had vaguely guessed at Leila Jennings’s identity.

The unfindable background information.

Mr. Thorne’s student.

Her refusal to participate in The Cole Group’s bidding process.

The author, Leila Jennings, who had published papers in top-tier journals.

And especially last night, with Professor Warren and Professor Cheney both present, when Chloe—the young woman Professor Cheney had introduced to Elder Shepherd—had called Leila Jennings her senior.

At that moment, he had been certain: Leila Jennings wasn’t some unsuccessful graduate student under Mr. Thorne, and she was definitely not just an ordinary employee.

Leila Jennings held a very senior position in the self-developed chip project.

But he hadn’t expected her to be the one to take the lead after Mr. Thorne.

She was very young—only twenty-eight—and below the average age of the project members.

Now, as Leila Jennings stood before him, she was not a single, coolly fragrant magnolia blossom, but the tall, straight tree that bore them all—far more captivating than any single flower.

Leila Jennings released his hand, and he let go as well.

The two of them faced the media’s cameras once more, posing with the representatives from both sides for a large group photograph.

News of the event, accompanied by photos of the two signing the contract, rising to shake hands, and the final group picture, swept through City A and began to radiate across the entire country.

「The Cole Residence」

Cherry Cole and Ms. Neville sat on the sofa, eating fruit and watching the news.

Mr. Cole stood to the side, his serious expression tinged with a bit of tension.

When Nathaniel Cole appeared on the screen, Mr. Cole let out a soft sigh, a kind, proud smile spreading across his face.

Ms. Neville smiled gently. "Honey, our son is really something."

Mr. Cole reached out and squeezed his wife’s shoulder. Ms. Neville raised a hand to take his, and the two shared a look of deep satisfaction.

Even Cherry Cole, who normally loved to bicker with her older brother, praised him without reservation. "My brother is incredible!"

The words had barely left her mouth when Leila Jennings appeared on the screen.

Cherry Cole thought her eyes were playing tricks on her. She rubbed them and stared harder at the screen.

"Leila!" she exclaimed, shooting up from the sofa and dropping the throw pillow in her lap.

Cherry Cole quickly chewed and swallowed the fruit in her mouth, then turned dazedly to her parents. "Mr. Cole, Ms. Neville... did you, did you see that?"

Ms. Neville stared for a moment, then nodded. "I saw it."

Cherry Cole pointed at herself. "So I’m not seeing things, right?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Ms. Neville wasn’t quite sure herself. She looked up at her husband. "Honey, our daughter and I aren’t seeing things, are we?"

Mr. Cole had hired someone to take a photo of Leila Jennings back when he learned his son had suddenly promoted an administrative assistant to be his personal secretary.

"She’s dressed more formally today, but that is definitely Leila Jennings."

"AH!" Cherry Cole suddenly cried out. "A total powerhouse was right there with me, and I had no idea!"

Startled by her daughter’s shout, Ms. Neville pulled her back down onto the sofa, and they continued to watch.

The family watched as Nathaniel Cole and Leila Jennings faced the cameras. The high-definition lens and the huge screen displayed their faces in perfect clarity for all to see.

Mr. Cole sighed. "The Sinclair family mistook a pearl for a fish eye. It looks like our boy is going to reap the rewards."

But Ms. Neville shook her head. "I wouldn’t be so sure. Whether our son can actually win her over is another matter entirely."

Mr. Cole protested, "Why are you building her up just to tear our own son down?"

Cherry Cole nodded in agreement with her mother. "Given that my brother is either as silent as a stone or has a tongue laced with poison, I’d say his chances are definitely slim."

Ms. Neville also nodded. "I’m already starting to worry for Nathaniel."

"Don’t you worry," Mr. Cole said. "Love makes the silent man eloquent and causes the thorny man to retract his spikes."

Cherry Cole looked at her father, surprised. "Dad, I didn’t know you could be so poetic."

"What do you know," Mr. Cole said, shooting his daughter a glare.

’He’d won his wife over with cheesy lines just like that back in the day.’

...

「The Sinclair Residence」

Mr. Sinclair had been glued to the news since morning, sitting motionless.

The mother and daughter, in contrast, were quite relaxed.

They had put on face masks early that morning, and after lunch, they were already debating where to get their makeup done and what outfits to wear.

If Sean Sinclair won the bid with Stellaxis Technologies, there would be a victory banquet hosted by the Forrester family. It was bound to be a gathering of the city’s elite, so didn’t they need to prepare well in advance?

The time of the announcement drew closer and closer.

Mr. Sinclair glanced at the two of them. "Stop fussing. It’s almost time."

"All right, all right," Mrs. Sinclair said, walking over to the sofa to sit down.

Cecilia Sinclair immediately sat beside her, leaning against her mother’s shoulder and asking impatiently, "How is it? With Sarah there, my brother must have won, right?"

Mrs. Sinclair smiled. "Not only is Sarah there, but her maternal grandfather is a director at the research institute. He’ll put in a good word for your brother. Plus, your brother is so exceptional himself. He’s bound to succeed. Let’s just wait for the invitation to his victory banquet."

"That’s great!" Cecilia Sinclair thought back to the last reception she’d attended. She hadn’t managed to meet a single wealthy heir or heiress—it had just been a bunch of socially awkward tech guys and old folks.

She had managed to meet Brian Shepherd and even exchanged contact info, but for some reason, he had never messaged her after the party. She had tried initiating a few times, but his responses were sporadic, if they came at all.

She eventually gave up. Pestering him any further would just make her look cheap.

Besides, Brian Shepherd wasn’t the heir of some super-rich family; it was just his grandfather who held a high, respected position.

’Honestly, anyone who doesn’t follow national scientific research wouldn’t even know who Elder Shepherd or Mr. Jacobs are.’

But!

A victory banquet hosted by the Forresters for her brother would be completely different!

’At the very least, the Forrester’s eldest daughter and their Crown Prince will be there, right?’

’The Forrester Crown Prince is only one year older than me—we’re practically the same age! And since Chairman Forrester thinks so highly of my brother, I’ll have an inside track. Maybe I could become the young Mrs. Forrester...’

"What are you thinking about?" Mrs. Sinclair’s voice cut through Cecilia Sinclair’s daydream. "You’re smiling so blissfully."

Cecilia Sinclair didn’t get angry, simply saying cheerfully, "Something wonderful, of course."

Mr. Sinclair said, "It’s starting."

The whole family immediately fixed their eyes on the screen as the news report began.

"Today, in the conference hall on the 22nd floor of The Sterling Tower, Block A, the bidding for the national self-developed chip project has concluded. The winning bidder is... The Cole Group."

The moment "The Cole Group" was announced, the expressions on the faces of the Sinclair family changed instantly. They barely registered the rest of the announcement.

"Why The Cole Group? Shouldn’t it have been my brother?" Cecilia Sinclair was the first to snap out of it.

Mrs. Sinclair, anxious and incredulous, chimed in. "Exactly! Shouldn’t it have been Stellaxis Technologies? Why The Cole Group? Weren’t Sarah and her grandfather there? What in the world is going on?"

Mr. Sinclair’s eyes were glued to the screen. He realized that neither Sarah Lynch nor Mr. Jacobs had appeared in the live footage.

Representatives from all the major corporations were there, but Stellaxis Technologies was conspicuously absent.

"And now, please welcome the Chief Engineer of the self-developed chip project, Leila Jennings."

As the announcer spoke those words, Mr. Sinclair watched the Leila Jennings he knew walk slowly onto the stage and take the main seat.

Mr. Sinclair’s eyes flew wide open.

Noticing his stunned expression, the mother and daughter turned their gazes to the screen as well.

Leila Jennings???

The same Leila Jennings they knew?!!