?Chapter 303:


    Ste, however, found the exchange oddly amusing. She genuinely considered revealing that she was, in fact, the designer and founder of Yusip Twasto. Lately, her research responsibilities had left her little time to oversee the brand, which had quietly run almost on autopilot. Only recently had she decided tounch a new collection: she nned to buy an apartment and thought a fresh batch of designs might bring in extra ie.


    What she hadn’t anticipated was how the new collection would explode in poprity—both abroad and locally. That unexpected sess gave people like Reba the perfect opportunity to drop the brand’s name for status.


    Ste met Reba’s gaze calmly and, with a faint smile, said softly, “Alright. Thank you, Ms. Watson.”


    Reba’s confident eptance threw herpletely off bnce. She must have expected Ste to shrink back, to blush or feel embarrassed after being talked down to. But Ste was entirely unbothered and epted the offer with effortless grace. It was the opposite of what Reba had hoped for, and it irritated her. With her workday done, Ste simply gathered her things and headed home.


    Halfway through the drive, her phone rang. She connected the call to her car’s Bluetooth speaker and continued down the road.


    A lively and confident female voice came through the speaker. “Ste, yourtest designs are flying off the shelves! Keep the momentum going—we need more pieces from you while sales are hot. Let’s try to break Yusip Twasto’s all-time record!”


    Ste couldn’t help butugh at her friend’s enthusiasm. “Josie, are you secretly plotting to wear me outpletely?”


    Josie Patel clicked her tongue yfully. “Excuse me? Weren’t you the one whining about needing more cash to buy an apartment? I’m just being a supportive friend. A little hustle won’t hurt you.”


    Ste nced at the disy screen in her car, giving in with a smile. “Alright, alright. I’ll put together a few new sketches soon. Just don’t rush me.”


    “I’ll be waiting then!” Josie said cheerfully before ending the call. Ste sat there for a moment, a soft smile lingering on her lips.


    Latest releases on g@?ησv???s


    The sess of her new designs had taken her by surprise, but in a good way. She knew opportunities like this didn’te often, and she wasn’t going to waste it. Sketching out a few more concepts wouldn’t be hard. It just meant sacrificing a little sleep, and she could live with that.


    Back at the research institute, Ste tucked away her Neb project files neatly. Just as she was leaving the room, she bumped into Lainey in the hallway.


    “Sylvia, perfect timing!” Lainey said. “Since your group won thest round, you’re now representing us in the big inter-institute championship. You’ll be joining the senior researchers in a new round ofpetition. There’s a meeting scheduled—you guys should be there.”


    Ste nodded, already in the loop. “Has the official date been announced yet?” she asked.


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