Athena’s heart swelled with a mixture of happiness and sorrow. She couldn’t shake the memory of Hera’s tragic fate in the story, and the heartbreak of her grandfather’s ultimate sacrifice. Yet, amidst the sadness, Athena held onto hope. She prayed that this newfound change would mark a turning point for Hera, a chance for her to shine in the spotlight she truly deserved. Athena firmly believed that Hera’s radiant smile and innate kindness were meant to be shared with the world.


    Realizing her own limitations in being able to assist her best friend against potential future dangers, Athena chose to follow in her mother’s footsteps and step into the fashion industry’s limelight even before she graduated. She did so with the intention of solidifying her position in the industry, all the while nning ways to support Hera. Inviting Hera to the auction wearing one of her own designs was just one of many gestures she had prepared for her beloved friend.


    Whether she admitted it or not, when she first realized she had transmigrated into the body of a child living in a novel, she didn’t initially see everyone else as real humans. Instead, she focused on enjoying the life and fortune at her disposal, treating wealth as if it were water.


    However, soon she grew weary of this lifestyle and found herself feeling alone and isted in a foreign world. She often questioned whether her life was real or if she was merely another character in the story. These thoughts swirled endlessly in her mind, leaving her with a multitude of unanswered questions about how she ended up there. As a result, she began to iste herself from others.


    She never truly desired to integrate herself into the world she perceived as unreal, even though she was already living in it. She found it difficult to shift her mindset until she encountered Hera. Hera seemed like a living doll, as soft and sweet as cotton candy. Hera was the first person with whom she felt a genuine connection, a real individual with emotions that could shatter with a single touch.


    In a sense, Hera became her redemption and the source of her light. That’s why she was determined to do everything in her power to alter Hera’s life trajectory as much as possible.


    "A penny for your thoughts?" a gentle woman’s voice echoed above Athena’s head.


    "Mom... I was just watching Hera’s livestream," Athena replied, watching her mother set a cup of tea for the two of them. Her mother sat closely beside her, eyes fixed on the tablet’s screen.


    "She really knows how to enjoy herself wherever she goes, huh?!" Her mother chuckled affectionately, taking a sip of tea from her cup.


    "If she can sleep beside a trashcan, what else can’t she do?" Athena teased with a snort, her eyes shining affectionately as she gazed at Hera’s face on the screen.


    The two of them shared a chuckle as they continued watching.


    "Child, you should take a rest. Us old folks can handle all this," the old man said, stretching his limbs as they had be stiff from bending forward almost the whole day.


    "Grandpa, even you do more than I do. Am I such a weakling in your eyes?" Hera yfully responded. Over time, she had grown closer to this initially grumpy old man and began calling him "grandpa." At first, he would snort and mumble every time she called him that, but as time passed, he started to warm up to her, offering better instructions on what to do and how to do it more effectively.


    Before they knew it, they hadpleted their task for the day. Hera stayed and worked alongside everyone until the task was deemedpleted. As a result, she grew closer to the vigers, who appreciated her hard work and dedication. They even extended invitations for her to visit their homes again for a meal, which she politely declined.


    In the countryside, people often express their generosity and warmth by inviting others into their homes for a meal, treating them like family. Hera was well aware of this tradition, and she always appreciated such invitations, happily joining everyone whenever possible. However, to avoid unnecessary drama with the other participants, she found it necessary to politely decline these invitations.


    But of course, she made sure to exin her reasons. Hera had observed that they changed stations every day, a setup designed to give all participants experience and understanding of the vige’s lifestyle. It also served to showcase to the audience how their idols adapted to and worked various jobs.


    So, by doing what she did, she was effectively setting up Alice and the other participants to be on the vigers’ bad side, ensuring they wouldn’t have an enjoyable time while working. Hera recognized the cunningness behind her n, acknowledging its somewhat sinister nature. However, she felt it was necessary for Alice to experience a taste of her own medicine.


    Alice wants all the other participants to turn against her, then she will turn the whole vige against Alice.


    Her grandpa always told her to always give back. <i>’So isn’t this just giving back what she received?</i> (???)’