In the distance, several professional-grade cameras were already set up, ready to broadcast the launch live.

Sophia Shaw’s face was immediately captured by the cameras, appearing on screens for all the nation’s major media outlets.

A reporter rushed to interview her at the last moment. "Chief Engineer Shaw, the rocket is about to launch. Is there anything you’d like to say to the audience across the country?"

Sophia Shaw glanced at Old Master Sloan, who gave her a slight nod.

Sophia then looked down at the engineers standing ramrod straight below the command platform and softly uttered three words: "Honor our passion."

The overly brief statement made the reporter pause. He waited a moment before realizing Sophia Shaw only intended to say those three words.

The reporter felt a flash of awkwardness.

’That’s a little too short, isn’t it?’

He wanted to ask a few more questions, but as he opened his mouth, he saw Sophia Shaw quietly gazing at the rocket on the launch tower opposite them. A profound affection suddenly filled her calm eyes, as if she were looking at her own child.

The reporter suddenly understood why Sophia Shaw had only said those three words.

Those three words were enough to express everything about her career in this industry!

Honor our passion.

All for the passion!

Suddenly unwilling to disturb her any further, the reporter silently retreated.

Joanna Sherman also appeared on the live broadcast.

Lead Aerospace and Zenith launching rockets on the same day had become the hottest news in recent days, with the topic trending nonstop.

The television station in charge of the broadcast simply split the screen in two.

Compared to Sophia Shaw’s gentle composure, Joanna Sherman was far more high-profile.

Beneath her hard hat, her long hair flew in the wind. Her eyes were imposing and majestic, like a general inspecting her territory, looking down on the engineers below as if they were mere mortals.

The reporter asked her the same question.

Joanna Sherman stared straight into the camera, as if trying to see someone through the lens.

The murderous glint in her eyes intensified. "I’m going to put an end to certain unrealistic legends! My mentor, Holt, is the best teacher in the world, and I, Joanna Sherman, am the world’s most outstanding rocket engineer!"

Whoa!

What an ego!

The audience, who had gotten up early to watch the launch, had already been brainwashed by all sorts of media narratives over the past few days. Now, seeing Joanna Sherman’s aggressive demeanor and Sophia Shaw’s quiet one, they immediately judged a book by its cover.

"That Chief Engineer Shaw has no bite to her at all. You can tell she’s not that capable. Her team probably does all the work and she just takes the credit."

"Chief Engineer Sherman is the one who looks like she gets things done. Just look at her. You know she’s a real go-getter, successful at everything she does."

"Joanna Sherman studied under Holt. Sophia Shaw doesn’t even dare to reveal her teacher’s name. She probably doesn’t even have one."

"Anyway, I’m betting Joanna Sherman will win and Sophia Shaw will lose for sure!"

"Sending five satellites into orbit at once? That’s the kind of pipe dream you can have in your sleep, but it’s completely impossible in reality! How can she still not have woken up to that fact? She’s just courting disaster."

"..."

Yancy Shaw’s family was also gathered nervously in front of the television. They were screen-casting from a phone, so the live comments were scrolling across the screen as well.

Seeing these comments, Lily Shaw was so angry she wanted to jump into the TV and fight someone.

’What is this garbage?’

’You can’t just launch satellites willy-nilly. Who would dare to be so reckless without confidence? Do these people even have brains?’

Lily Shaw had a bellyful of complaints but didn’t dare utter a single one because their grandmother was there.

She couldn’t help but feel relieved. ’Thank goodness Grandma’s eyesight is poor and she can’t see this tiny text. Otherwise, she’d be furious enough to have a heart attack.’

Yancy Shaw still quietly turned off the scrolling comments, but an uncomfortable feeling lingered in his heart.

It was heartbreaking to see the child they had raised like a precious treasure be judged so thoughtlessly by others.

And that went without saying for June Evans.

Ever since Sophia Shaw had been brought to the Shaw family at fifteen, she had personally witnessed her excellence.

She took half a year of sick leave, only attended one semester of her senior year of high school, and still got into the best university.

Not long after starting university, she was selected by NASA to do research.

’What other child could be as brilliant as her?’

But this brilliant child wasn’t one to brag or boast, which was why those malicious people out there could stir up trouble and spout nonsense all day.

’But if you spend all your time showing off, when do you have time to do any real work?’

June Evans thought it over and concluded that people who just run their mouths are unreliable. Sophia’s way was just fine.

"Why is Vincent standing over there?" Grandma asked, pointing at the man next to Joanna Sherman.

Vincent Grant was also wearing work clothes and a hard hat, but his innate aristocratic air was not at all concealed by the nondescript outfit. He looked gallant and exceptionally dashing.

That was why Grandma had recognized him at a glance.

"Mom, Vincent is the boss of Zenith. Of course he has to stand there," Yancy Shaw explained softly.

"Not good, not good. A husband should be with his wife, with his wife for a lifetime."

Grandma and Grandpa had been a deeply loving couple their entire lives, and she believed this to her very core.

Yancy Shaw remembered that Sophia had asked him to start gently breaking the news of their divorce to the old woman, so he said, "It was our Faye who didn’t want him anymore. Our Faye is so outstanding, Vincent Grant isn’t good enough for her now."

"Oh, Faye doesn’t want him anymore." There was a hint of regret in Grandma’s voice, but her reaction wasn’t as strong.

Even though Vincent Grant and Sophia Shaw were already divorced, Leah Evans still found him to be an eyesore and cursed, "Scumbag."

「At the remote launch site.」

"Prepare to begin the countdown."

A precise, mechanical announcement sounded from both sides simultaneously.

But just then, someone from Lead Aerospace’s side came rushing onto the launch platform, clutching a cell phone.

"Chief Engineer Shaw, someone is asking for... for you by name."

The man’s face was grim.

At a time like this, no one would interrupt unless it was a matter of life and death.

Sophia Shaw froze for a second, reaching for the phone.

Old Master Sloan intercepted it. "I’ll take it!"

He put the phone to his ear and stepped aside. "Hello?"

The wind howled in the distance. Even though Old Master Sloan had moved some ways away, Sophia Shaw could still hear a scream.

At the same time, Old Master Sloan’s body lurched violently.

"Teacher!"

Sophia Shaw ran out of the camera’s view to support Old Master Sloan.

"What happened?"

Old Master Sloan tried his best to suppress his emotions and waved his hand dismissively.

As she got closer, Sophia Shaw heard the person on the other end of the line say, "Listen up! Tell the owner of this phone to come get her. If the ransom isn’t at the designated location within an hour, this woman is dead!"

Another woman’s scream came from the other end.

It was a scream of utter terror and absolute despair.

’You can tell just from the sound that she’s being subjected to inhuman treatment!’

Sophia Shaw recognized it—it was Seraphina Vaughn’s voice!

Seraphina Vaughn had been kidnapped!

Sophia Shaw looked at the man who had brought the phone. He nodded, confirming that the situation was real.

"I’m the owner of the phone. I’m on my way," Old Master Sloan said into the phone.

The person on the other end didn’t seem to suspect anything and commanded, "Don’t try any tricks!"

Old Master Sloan grunted in acknowledgment and hung up the phone.

"Teacher."

With this sudden turn of events, Sophia Shaw’s heart pounded erratically. She was deeply worried for Seraphina Vaughn’s safety.

But she couldn’t just let her teacher go face the kidnappers alone.

"Listen to me. Even if it’s raining knives today, you are not to take a single step away from here until those satellites have successfully launched!" Old Master Sloan said sternly.

Sophia Shaw knew Old Master Sloan’s temper. More importantly, she knew a satellite launch was no small matter; not even the slightest mistake could be made.

Even though she was worried, she could only force herself to rein in her emotions and nod. "Roger that!"

Old Master Sloan pushed her aside. As he went down the stairs, his steps were slightly unsteady.

Sophia Shaw knew the kidnappers must have said something else. Old Master Sloan hadn’t mentioned a word of it, afraid of worrying her.

Shutting her eyes tightly, Sophia Shaw said softly to the man who brought the phone, "Please help my teacher down the stairs."

"Okay."

The man had just replied when they heard a CLACK.

They both looked down at the same time, only to see Old Master Sloan miss a step and tumble headfirst.

With a sickening THUD at the corner of the landing, he plunged straight down to the ground more than ten meters below!