When Ethan saw the message, he was momentarily stunned, even questioning if it was a hallucination. He shook his head and looked closely— Two words, unmistakably. At that moment, he was in the studio. It’s currently winter break, so students like Eduardo and Montague, as well as teachers like Professor Tavares, are all on holiday, not needing to worry about school stuff. Yet, because of this project, they are all busy in the studio. Seeing him stand there motionless for a long time, Professor Tavares walked over, asking suspiciously, "Mr. Scott, did the instructor agree?" "Professor Tavares, can the remaining blueprints be completed within a week?" Without a clear idea, Ethan actively sought Professor Tavares’ opinion. Having majored in Mechanical Engineering at university and researched Mechanical Techniques with Aaron Scott, Ethan considered it absolutely impossible to complete such a blueprint within one week. Moreover, the difficulty of this blueprint was beyond imagination from the start. Having interacted with only a few people who specialized in Mechanical Techniques, Ethan wasn’t sure about the efficiency of true experts... so his mind was a bit in chaos. "How could it be possible?" Professor Tavares immediately questioned, "This project’s difficulty is greater than we imagined. Completing it according to the plan before the year ends is completely impossible. Did someone promise you this?" Ethan, feeling helpless, showed the chat history with "Z" to Professor Tavares. "This..." Upon seeing the firm words, Professor Tavares unexpectedly recalled the words ’hold on’ from last night and was momentarily stunned, hesitantly saying, "Maybe it’s possible?" If not for the confirmation of "hold on" and "fifteen minutes," even if someone justified it convincingly and with certainty to Professor Tavares that they could complete this blueprint within a week, he would have thought the person was a Martial World fraud. However, at this moment, he was utterly impressed by the "teacher" recommended by Dean Carter, words that seemed obnoxiously impossible to him now appeared somewhat credible. "Could it really be possible?" Ethan was taken aback, finding it hard to believe reality. Just yesterday, he felt that the plan to complete the blueprint before the year’s end was definitely impossible to achieve. He was even prepared with a backup plan, intending to prepare an alternative birthday gift for Aaron Scott in case he had nothing to present during Aaron Scott’s birthday. But today, unexpectedly, hope appeared once again. Professor Tavares said, "Since things are , this teacher may have remarkable abilities. Mr. Scott, just treat a dead horse as if it were alive and hope for the best." Ethan nodded, accepting Professor Tavares’ suggestion. Soon, he replied to the "teacher"—— [Ethan]: Instructor, if you truly can complete it within a week, I’m willing to offer you a seven-figure fee to join our project. [Ethan]: Can you make some time before the year’s end? While Ethan was making a decision with great excitement, Nora Scott was chatting in Antonio Easton’s room. "Are you sure Evelyn Easton isn’t adopted?" Nora questioned once again. Antonio Easton was too lazy to respond, merely glaring at her. "I saw her design blueprints at Ernesto Woods’. Don’t tell me she has your skill. I wouldn’t believe she learned from you." Nora went straight to the point. She always spoke so directly. Antonio Easton, helpless, just said, "She doesn’t have this talent." Nora asked, "Did you teach her?" Antonio Easton hummed, "Teaching her is pointless." Studying this field requires not just effort but talent. To be precise, excelling in any field requires some talent; otherwise, no matter how hard one tries, they will remain mediocre. After a pause, Nora suddenly said, "Speak about her." "You don’t like hearing about her, do you?" Her eyes lifted, and with an indifferent expression, Nora replied nonchalantly, "She’s gone." Now that she’s gone, she wouldn’t hold grudges against someone deceased. Antonio Easton glanced at the water cup on the bedside table. Nora understood, helped him sit up, and then picked up the cup, feeding him some water a bit at a time. After moistening his throat, Antonio Easton spoke, "She’s different from you. She likes Mechanical Techniques, but without talent, she won’t learn much." Evelyn Easton was stubborn, like Nora, and like Antonio Easton; her life’s passion fixated on this. For someone talented, doing this is a joy. However, for someone like Evelyn Easton, who had to hit countless walls to get through the door, every step was difficult, further and further into the quagmire. Antonio Easton had long realized she wouldn’t produce anything significant, advised her to switch fields, not to toil on this path. She felt Easton wasn’t willing to teach her, was undermining her enthusiasm, and gradually, a rift developed between them. The explosion happened in the year of her college entrance exams— Before the exams, Evelyn Easton was still researching Mechanical Techniques. Facing difficulties, she sought help from Antonio Easton. After looking at the blueprints, Antonio Easton tore them up, asking her to prepare well for the exams. Evelyn Easton couldn’t accept this, of course. Naturally, they had a fierce argument. Once she was in college, she studied on her own and never asked Antonio Easton questions even when facing challenges. Antonio Easton knew, she had always been competing against him, trying to prove herself. However, without talent, no matter how thoroughly she memorized and learned, she couldn’t utilize the knowledge flexibly or create something of her own. She spent her whole life failing to truly prove herself to Antonio Easton. Nora listened quietly, suddenly connecting the dots, and asked, "Did she collaborate with Aaron Scott?" Evelyn Easton had wild ideas without practical application; Aaron Scott might lack imagination, but he had some knowledge reserves... Is it possible they collaborated on custom design and renovation work? But Aaron Scott, being quite shameless, kicked her to the curb after using her, taking all the credit for himself. —Based on his reputation outside, this was entirely possible. Hearing Nora mention Aaron Scott, Antonio Easton paused slightly, then contemplated her question for a moment before finally saying, "It’s possible, I’m not sure." Since that massive argument, Evelyn Easton rarely communicated with him, let alone about anything related to Mechanical Techniques. Evelyn Easton was the type who, even when severely wronged outside, would tough it out, refusing to reveal the slightest bit to him. In this regard, Nora was cut from the same mold as her. Nora looked down and softly said, "During a conversation with Sir Quinn, he said you used to be an engineering designer." After talking with her for a while, Antonio Easton appeared tired, eyes half-closed, lifting them upon hearing the words, asking, "Why?" Trying to perk up, but all effort was in vain. Lips pursed, Nora paused briefly and said, "Nothing, just asking. You should rest well." The next day, in the afternoon. On the third floor of a mall, inside a beverage shop. The drink contained ice cubes, with fine water droplets condensing on the cup’s exterior. Nora took a sip through a straw, instantly wincing at the chill. She placed the drink on the table. Michael Quinn, sitting beside her, handed her a tissue and said, "Does your head hurt from the cold? I told you not to add ice." Not responding to his words, Nora took the tissue, wiping the cup’s exterior, but once through and the tissue was soaked. "Do you still eat ice cream in winter?" Michael Quinn suddenly asked worriedly, recalling her bad habit, "Ever since you were hospitalized last spring, your physical condition hasn’t been as good, right?" "That’s called winter swimming fitness." Nora leisurely emphasized. "Who winters swims themselves to the hospital?" Michael Quinn stared at her wordlessly, disdainfully adding, "That lie might fool an idiot, but not me." Brows raised, Nora teased, "Isn’t it perfect to fool you?" "...You’re just taking advantage because I can’t beat you." Nora candidly admitted. Michael Quinn choked. Nora slowly added, "Most people can’t beat me." Michael Quinn: "..." Is that why you feel free to pick on people every day? After a while, Michael Quinn wisely changed the topic, "Quit the ice-eating habit; health is more important." Leaning back, Nora rested against the chair, laughing, "You’re talking to me about health?" Realizing the insult, Michael Quinn’s eyes widened, "What do you mean?" Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢·𝗇𝗲𝘵 Nora raised her index finger, waving it in front of him, "One finger." One finger, still enough to knock you down. Does he not need face?! Outraged and embarrassed, Michael Quinn intended to argue back, but just then— With a "bang," a bag was thrown onto the table. Then, a voice wrapped in anger came crashing down from above: "Is she the reason you said we should break up?"