Chapter 1602


    In fact, Stanley could be the one overreacting when Joyce returned to his life in full force.


    These were beyond Natalie''s control; she could only wait and see.


    She rubbed her temples exhaustedly and left the room.


    Later that night, she called Shane and updated him on her phone conversation with Joyce.


    His reaction to the news was mild.


    Since Stanley was aware of his feelings for Joyce, it seemed pretty unlikely for him to hurt her as he did


    in the past.


    Otherwise, he would have shown more aversion to the fact that he loved Joyce.


    Stanley''s calmness was a promising sign in Natalie''s eyes.


    The next day, Natalie and Lina headed to thepetition hall.


    Thepetition winners were awarded the highly coveted rights to design the costumes for the


    opening ceremony of the World Games. Everyone would ce one hundred and ten percent of their


    effort in thepetition.


    The tension in the air was stifling. Natalie sensed it the minute she set foot in thepetition hall.


    Lina t-out shivered and rubbed her elbows anxiously. “This is freaking me out. Did you see their


    gazes, Nat? They''re treating thepetition like their enemies.”


    “That''s not wrong, is it?” Natalie chuckled and continued, “The only person here who''s not my enemy is


    you. After all, we''re allpeting for the chance to design for the World Games.”


    “Fair enough, but don''t you think they''re overreacting? If looks could kill, I''d be dead on the floor right


    now. They''re behaving as if a fierce re could eliminate theirpetitors. It''s giving me the chills.


    Look at my goosebumps!” Lina rubbed her arms, her expression a mask of disgust.


    Theirpetitive streak bordered on hysteria.


    Natalie picked up on Lina''s anxiety and chucked a can of coffee at her. “That''s enough. Stop fretting


    over these. Don''t even stare at them. I don''t want your performanceter to waver because of their


    res.”


    “Okay.” Lina nodded and cracked open the can of coffee. She took a gulp and added, “You know what,


    I think they''re doing it on purpose to affect the other contestants.”


    Natalie sat down and uttered, “Since you know it''s a psychological tactic, just ignore them.”


    Lina ran her fingers through her hair before sitting down. She mumbled, “I wonder what''s the


    competition theme. Ourpetition format is way lessplicated than those of our juniors. The


    competition ends in three rounds. Can you imagine how high the elimination rate is?”


    She made a valid point. Twelve participating groups would undergo threepetition rounds.


    The first round eliminated nine groups, while the second eliminated one, leaving two groups for the


    third and final rounds.


    No wonder the atmosphere in thepetition hall was fraught with tension.


    Anyone would be mortified and even resentful if they were eliminated in the first round.


    It was difficult to imagine someone who could gracefully ept an early elimination. Everyone wanted


    to make it through the rounds and battle for the crown.


    From N?velDrama.Org.


    Natalie opened a can of coffee and took a sip. Her expression had lost some of its earlier airiness,


    giving way to solemnity. “You''re right. The elimination rate is extremely high. I''ve joined almost a


    hundredpetitions, and this is the most nerve-wracking atmosphere I''ve encountered. Frankly, I''m


    starting to get nervous too.”


    The admission filled Lina with panic. She yelped, “No, you can''t be nervous! No one here can really


    match up to you, so how could you be nervous? It''s perfectly fine if I''m the nervous one. The


    competition stress is only a part of it; there''s also pressure from Ashlyn. So you have to calm down,


    Nat. Your anxiety will only fuel mine, and then we''ll be doomed. Don''t forget; we''re a unit now.”


    “You''re right.” Natalie forced a smile and dered, “Okay, I''m going to collect myself and calm down


    now.”