Vincent Grant drew closer. "What will it take for you to continue the rideshare project and give the lead position to Joanna?"

’So, all this kindness he’s been faking today was just to set the stage for this!’

Sophia Shaw had been slightly grateful earlier that he hadn’t flaunted his relationship with Joanna Sherman, which would have upset her uncle and grandmother. Now, that gratitude was gone without a trace.

He hadn’t provoked her uncle and grandmother simply because he wanted to push this agenda, not out of any respect for them.

"This would be good for you, too, wouldn’t it? No matter how much Levin Sawyer props you up, on a technical level, you’re still no match for Joanna."

"It’s better for Joanna to be the project lead. It’s about being responsible to the project, and to yourself."

Sophia Shaw found it hard to understand.

Even if Vincent Grant thought she was an idiot, why did he think Levin Sawyer was an idiot, too? That he would give her the lead position without being completely confident in her abilities?

"I’m sorry, but no terms will make me change my mind!"

Vincent Grant habitually furrowed his brow.

It was a sign that he had lost his patience.

Sophia Shaw tensed up by reflex, letting out a soft, "Don’t!"

When she came to her senses, she realized she had fallen back into old memories.

Vincent Grant had loathed her to the extreme. When they met, he wouldn’t say more than three sentences; on the phone, not more than five seconds.

She was terrified of that expression on his face.

Terrified of the feeling of being despised.

"What?"

Vincent Grant asked, his eyes locked on her frail, pale face.

Sophia Shaw composed herself. "My position is crystal clear. It won’t matter who you send!"

"But, Sophia," Vincent Grant said, having pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket at some point. He took one out and placed it between his lips.

"The government has a hand in this project. By backing out now, you’re slapping them in the face."

"Have you thought about how much trouble you’ll cause for Lead Aerospace and Levin Sawyer by getting on their bad side?"

"It’s about making things easier for everyone, including yourself, isn’t it?"

"This is a matter for Lead Aerospace. You don’t need to worry about it," Sophia Shaw said coolly.

Vincent Grant gave her a meaningful look. "Sophia, I hope you won’t regret this."

Although Sophia Shaw had responded decisively to Vincent Grant, she still contacted Levin Sawyer. "The original goal of this project was to help Cathan’s satellite launch capabilities catch up with other countries. Leaving it in limbo like this is just a waste of time."

"What are you thinking?" Levin Sawyer asked.

He had always respected Sophia Shaw’s opinion.

"I’m planning to reveal my identity."

She wasn’t doing this out of spite, but because she didn’t want Joanna Sherman to keep fighting for the position and affecting the entire plan.

"Okay."

Levin Sawyer had been hoping Sophia Shaw would reveal her identity for a while now. It would be a good chance to put Joanna Sherman in her place and cure Vincent Grant of his blindness.

"I’ll have the marketing department handle it."

"You focus on your work. I’ll handle this myself."

A problem had come up with the project in the desert, and Levin Sawyer had rushed over to deal with it.

’He must be incredibly busy.’

Sophia Shaw didn’t want to distract him with such minor things.

She was only calling to discuss it with him.

"All right."

The two then chatted for a bit about the problems with the desert project, and Sophia Shaw offered her own suggestions.

The signal on his end was terrible, cutting in and out.

Just as they finished discussing the main points, the signal dropped completely.

Sophia Shaw hung up.

"Faye," Jacobs said, walking over with the office phone. "It’s a call from the government."

The call was originally for Levin Sawyer.

Since Levin Sawyer was in the desert, Sophia Shaw was in full charge of matters at Lead Aerospace.

"Hello, Representative Jacobs," Sophia Shaw greeted him politely.

"Hello, Miss Shaw," Representative Jacobs said from the other end. "It’s like this: Lead Aerospace’s rocket rideshare project has drawn the attention of the higher-ups, and they hope it can be restarted as soon as possible."

"Miss Shaw, even if we’re upset, we shouldn’t take it out on the higher-ups, you know what I mean?"

Representative Jacobs’ words also served as a warning to Sophia Shaw.

Sophia Shaw said, "Don’t worry, Representative Jacobs. Lead Aerospace has already agreed to restart the project."

"That’s good to hear." Representative Jacobs hesitated for a moment. "Also, regarding the position of project lead, the higher-ups would like it to be filled through a competitive selection process. The competition will be between you and Miss Sherman. What do you think?"

"I agree."

She did indeed need an opportunity to reveal her identity publicly.

"Excellent." Representative Jacobs had thought Sophia Shaw would refuse the competition and had wracked his brain coming up with a long speech to persuade her.

But in the end, he didn’t need to use a single word of it.

’If I had known she’d be this reasonable, I wouldn’t have stayed up all night thinking of what to say.’

Representative Jacobs scratched his head, where the hair was nearly all gone.

’They’re all such difficult people to handle. This job of mine is too hard.’

Representative Jacobs quickly offered a few more compliments before finally saying, "I’ll notify Miss Sherman right away."

Sophia Shaw hung up.

As soon as it struck six o’clock, Jacobs appeared promptly in front of her desk.

Sophia Shaw had decided to go home and take care of Bun, so she didn’t take her laptop.

Just as she reached her front door, she saw Ms. Archer come out holding Bun.

"Are you two going out for a walk?" Sophia Shaw asked, surprised.

Ms. Archer smiled. "Not at all. The little one heard your footsteps and insisted on coming out to greet you."

"She can recognize my footsteps?" Sophia Shaw couldn’t believe a five-month-old could be that clever.

Ms. Archer nodded proudly. "Of course she can!"

"Aya, ayayayaya," Bun babbled, pacifier in her mouth, mimicking Ms. Archer by nodding her little head.

’That’s right, that’s right.’

’She can totally recognize Mommy’s footsteps.’

"Aya, ayayayayaya."

’Mommy, hurry up and hold me. Bun missed Mommy so much.’

Sophia Shaw took her into her arms, and Bun happily clapped her chubby little hands.

’Mommy smells nice.’

’Mommy is so soft.’

’I love Mommy’s hugs.’

She habitually snuggled her little face against Sophia Shaw’s chest.

Ms. Archer quickly brought over the prepared meal and handed the freshly made bottle to Bun.

Bun lay obediently in her stroller, mimicking how Sophia Shaw and Ms. Archer were eating by smacking her lips around her pacifier with great seriousness.

After dinner, she wriggled her little body, stretching halfway out of the stroller.

Sophia Shaw somehow understood her. "You want to go out?"

"Aaah, yaya," Bun babbled, swinging her bottle with one hand and making it clatter loudly.

’Uh-huh, uh-huh.’

’I want to go out.’

’I want to take Mommy shopping.’

Her chubby little hand hooked onto the small white purse that was near Sophia Shaw.

She patted it insistently.

’For Mommy.’

’Mommy, carry it.’

The little white purse was the one Ms. Archer carried when she went out.

So, Bun naturally assumed that you had to carry the white purse to go out.

Seeing how clever Bun was, Ms. Archer beamed, her smile so wide her eyes nearly disappeared.

She helped translate Bun’s intentions for Sophia Shaw.

"Bun wants you to take her shopping."

Bun’s soft, cute, and adorable actions made Sophia Shaw’s heart melt completely. She kissed the little one’s squishy-soft cheek. "Okay, Mommy will take you shopping."

"Goo! Goo!"

Bun happily slapped her chubby hands on her plump little legs, kicking them nonstop.

Sophia Shaw had just gotten the little one into the car when Lillian Forrest called.

"Faye, is this a good time?"

"It is," Sophia Shaw replied, putting Bun in the driver’s seat. "Is something wrong, Lil?"

"Yeah," Lillian replied. "There are two problems I don’t get, and I wanted to ask you about them."

"Go ahead."

The two problems Lillian asked about weren’t very difficult. Sophia Shaw only had to give her a small hint, and she understood.

Bun waited for a long time, but Sophia Shaw didn’t start the car. Unhappy, she started patting and slapping things with her little hands.

She hit the horn, which let out a loud HONK.

"Faye, are you driving? Am I bothering you?"

You could hear the nervousness in Lillian’s voice.

"No," Sophia Shaw said, telling her truthfully that she was about to go shopping.

"Shopping?" Lillian’s voice brightened. "C-Can I go with you?"

She wanted to go, but she was afraid Sophia Shaw would find her a burden.

"Don’t worry, I won’t cause you any trouble. I can have Ma Lane come with me."

Sophia Shaw could sense her desire to go out and see a wider world. "Of course," she said. "But you have to tell your brother before you leave, okay?"

"Okay!"

Lillian was overjoyed that Sophia Shaw had agreed to go shopping with her.

After hanging up with Sophia Shaw, she immediately called Jenson Forrest’s cell phone.