Chapter 709 Team-Building Excursion


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    Catherine nced expressionlessly at Marshall. “Professor Hartley, just tell me what you need.”


    Marshall turned and handed a document to Catherine. “The Bide Cup, held every four years in Alton, is


    about to begin. As the highest institution in Eskana, Styre University naturally needs to participate. Due


    to thest project leak, our reputation was damaged. Thispetition is important for the school, and


    the higher-ups also attach great importance to it. Mr. Farrell is under a lot of pressure.”


    Originally, Marshall wasn’t one to care aboutpetition rankings. He valued experimental research


    projects. However, thispetition held considerable weight in the industry. If the ranking in the


    competition is too low, it could affect Styre University’s global standing.


    Ultan approached him toe up with a solution. As a teacher at Styre University, he didn’t want the


    school to lose face. And it was a fact that their team’s leak incident had brought a lot of negative


    publicity to Styre University.


    Catherine understood Marshall’s meaning. She was not fond of participating in suchpetitions. For


    her,petitions were just a group of people ying a boring game.


    However, since Marshall rarely made such requests, Catherine chose to agree. Joining apetition


    wasn’t too difficult; it would just take some effort.


    Catherine stood up expressionlessly. Let me know when it’s time to depart.”


    Sensing Catherine’s agreement, Marshall smiled. As Catherine was about to leave, he quickly stopped


    her. ” Wait!”


    Catherine continued walking without turning her head. “Is there anything else?”


    “I have thepetition details here. Take a look. If you have time, I’ll go through the key points and


    analyze them with you,” said Marshall.


    “No need,” Catherine said assertively, disappearing from Marshall’s office.


    Looking at the empty office door, Marshall chuckled silently.


    This student of his indeed had personality and talent, and for some reason, he was particrly fond of


    her temper. She was so likable.


    Branden noticed that Catherine had a consistently displeased expression after getting into the car.


    Sitting in the driver’s seat, Paxton also sensed the oppressive atmosphere and silently raised the


    partition between the front and back seats.


    Branden held her hand and gently rubbed it in his palm. “What’s wrong? Who made you upset?”


    “Not upset,” Catherine said indifferently.


    Branden believed she wasn’t upset, but the lingering hostility in her demeanor indicated some


    impatience. “Then what’s bothering you?” he asked.


    “The professor wants me to participate in the Bide Cup in Alton,” said Catherine.


    In the past, Catherine never used to share her unhappiness with anyone, even if something bothered


    her deep inside. Anything that made her upset, she preferred to ruin it.


    But ever since she returned to the Swanns, she noticed herself bing more considerate in her


    actions. Now, she even started sharing her inner thoughts and emotions with Branden.


    Catherine dropped a hint, and Branden quickly pieced together the whole story. Thest leak incident


    not only became known within Eskana’s internal researchmunity but also spread worldwide,


    reaching several major research institutions and schools.


    For a while, all the research studios began self-inspections, scrutinizing the backgrounds of their


    research personnel from parents’ generation to grandparents’ generation. It was almost as if they were


    about to trace their ancestors.


    Although Branden wasn’t in the research circle, he knew about the prestigious Bide Cup.


    Styre University’s previous loss in thepetition was due to the leak incident, and this time, the


    higher-ups wouldn’t let the opportunity pass. To secure a solid victory in thepetition, they were


    bound to exert pressure on Styre University.


    Marshall’s research team was at the forefront of research projects throughout Styre University. Though


    Marshall’s team waspetitive, there was no certainty of winning without Catherine. For them,


    Catherine was undoubtedly the ultimate cheat code. To ensure a stable victory, Catherine had to


    participate.


    “Don’t want to go? Then reject it.”


    Branden was indifferent. As long as Catherine disliked something, he advised rejecting it all. No one


    could make Catherine do something she disliked, and no one could force her.


    “No need. I just don’t feel like making a trip to Alton. It’s boring over there,” said Catherine.


    Understanding the source of Catherine’s irritation, Branden gently pinched her cheek. “Consider it a


    vacation, okay? How about I apany you? After thepetition, there should be a two-day break.


    Despite Alton’s notorious reputation, some ces there have decent scenery. I’ll take you for a two-day


    visit!”


    Catherine knew that Branden attended college in Alton, andter on, he even pursued his Ph.D. there.


    He spent five years in Alton and was very familiar with the environment.


    Branden’s suggestion made her hesitate. She had been struggling to find a breakthrough in her


    experimental projects. Although her experiments were progressing at an almost unimaginable pace,


    everything still seemed too slow for Catherine.


    She wanted to quickly break through the experimental bottleneck and move on to the next stage.


    However, her impatience made her more prone to failure.


    When Audrey mentioned going on a vacation to rx this morning, a fleeting thought crossed


    Catherine’s mind. It seemed like a long time since she had taken a break.


    Seeing her silence, Branden gently reached out and pulled her into his embrace. “Don’t think about


    those things. Consider it a vacation, okay?”


    He wasn’t worried about Catherine’spetition results. He believed she had the strength, Besides,


    even if she didn’t win, so what? No one had the right to dictate what she did.


    “Okay.” Catherine’s slightly furrowed brows finally rxed. The next day, the news of Catherine going


    to Alton for the Bide Cup spread like wildfire in their group chat.


    Ronin heard it from Amelia and was the first to start the conversation. [ Catherine, are you going to


    Alton for the Bide Cup?]


    Catherine was about to respond to Ronin when a flood of messages erupted.


    Zobber asked, [What? Catherine, are you going to Alton?]


    Withal sent, [Catherine is participating in the Bide Cup, huh?)


    Connie replied, [Catherine is nning to make Alton’s cuties cry again. I want to go, too.] She also


    added a crying emoji.


    [Wanna go, too!] Zobber sent.


    [Me too!] Withal added.


    [I don’t care. Anyway, I’m Catherine’s people. I’m definitely going!] Ronin sent.


    Looking at the screen full of messages and various pleas, Catherine deleted the two words she had


    just typed, closed WhatsApp, and ignored their chat.


    Little did she expect that what she initially thought would be a solitary trip to Alton for thepetition


    would turn into arge team-building excursion.


    Some took leave, some skipped work, and a few even abandoned their families. Anyway, in the end,


    they all boarded Branden’s private ne.


    Upon arriving at the airport and seeing the diverse group of people with various dress styles, Catherine


    furrowed her brow.