She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew)

She outshines 86 She outshines 86Chapter 71

As dusk fell. Athena finished her favorite dish-foie gras with gingerbread toast. She quietly rubbed her belly under the table, feeling satisfied. Tm heading back to the labs now. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine." Earlier that morning. Athena had told her family that she would be joining a scientific expedition to collect data in the mountains. She mentioned she would be gone for a week, and since the signal in the mountains was poor, they might not be able to reach her. She advised them to call her supervisor if there was an emergency.

"Make sure you take the pickles and carrot sticks I prepared f I for you and don't forget the medicines. There are a lot of mosquitoes in the mountains, and the weather changes quickly. He careful and don't get sick, Claire said with concern. When she heard about Athena's trip, she immediately rushed on to buy ingredients and spent hours making pickled vegetables for her. "Alright." Athena said obediently as she stood I up. I go pack my clothes now."

Til help you pack Maria also got up and followed Athena to her room.

As Maria folded the clothes, she kept sneaking glances at Athena hesitant to speak

After r the parking was done, Maria still hadn't spoken. Athena had no choice but to ask," "Maria, do you have something on your mind! We're sisters; you can tell me anything

Maria rubbed her nose, saying awkwardly, "Athena, didn't you say you wanted to see my jewelry designs? I've quit my job at the coffee shop and I'm planning to apply for an internship at a design studio. I was hoping you could take a look at work, but you're leaving soon..."

Tm

not leaving until tomorrow morning. There's still plenty of time." Athena smiled warmly. "Quick, show me your designs. I can't wait to see them."

Thank you so much!" Maria exclaimed as she dashed to the room across the hall and returned with a thick stack of design sketches, which she nervously placed in front of Athena. "I didn't study design formally. I taught myself in my spare time, so my skills aren't great. Just be honest with me; no need to sugarcoat anything" "Alright." Athena chuckled and sat down, picking up the drawings one by one, slowly reviewing them. The more she looked, the more surprised she became. From time to time, she set aside a particular piece.

Maria, standing behind her like a jittery student waiting for a test grade, tightly clutched the hem of her shirt, eagerly awaiting Athena's critique of her work.

meeting Maria's gaze. "I think your designs are very original and have

by such praise. Her expression was a mix of joy and disbelief as she blinked rapidly,

was thinking. Picking up one of the pieces she had set aside, she said. "Your designs are simple and may seem ordinary at first glance, but the attention to detail shows a lot

winter leaves, but distinctly spring. While the idea of maple leaves isn't novel, you've added a dewdrop to it, and it's that drop of dew that brings the leaf to life. "And this cherry hairpin, which looks common at first, but then you've included a small worm on it-a real cherry worm, not just something randomly drawn. That little worm makes the cherry look vibrant. It's no longer just an inanimate object." After a thoughtful pause,

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weren't good enough to be called designs." Athena raised an eyebrow. "Well, they don't have good taste. Sl then pulled out her phone and turned on the video recording feature. Holding up a few of the drawings, she said, "Take these to your interview. If they don't hire you, it means they lack vision, and you can just apply somewhere

the pieces selected by Athena as if they

If you ever need an opinion on your designs, feel free to come to me." She grabbed the handle of her suitcase and smiled. "I have to go now." Maria

Athena

was already waiting

let me drive you

need. The lab's quite far away, and it's rush hour now. It'd take too long to go back and forth. I'll drive myself. Arthur scratched his head in disappointment. "Alright then, just drive carefully and take

you head out tomorrow

"Remember to

gende

concern.