Chapter 39: Chapter 39: The Beautiful and Capable Chief Engineer Must Be Kept Under Wraps

"So you waited all this time to join, just so you could solve the thruster problem?"

Sophia nodded.

"It’s a problem that couldn’t be ignored. I would have had to solve it whether I joined the company or not."

"Everyone here is already inside the box, so it’s natural for their thinking to be constrained. Since I was still on the outside, I could look for a solution from a different perspective."

As it turned out, Sophia’s approach was exactly right.

"Besides, I was also laying the groundwork for my future here," Sophia said, her expression serious. "I knew you would help me, and I knew the detection system I developed was enough to win everyone over. But that’s an accomplishment from years ago. If a Chief Engineer can only rest on her laurels, she’ll never be able to lead a good team."

"And of course, I also wanted to see what I’m capable of now."

"That’s the Sophia I know, always letting her abilities speak for themselves." Levin Sawyer praised her with genuine admiration.

The assistant, Kiki, walked in with two cups of coffee.

"Here you are, Chief Engineer Shaw."

Her eyes sparkled as she looked at Sophia, filled with utter adoration.

Her hands trembled as she handed over the coffee.

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest.

’She never imagined their Chief Engineer would be so young and so beautiful.’

"Thank you." Sophia politely accepted the coffee and took a small sip.

Levin Sawyer stopped her. "Go tell everyone to keep their mouths shut. Not a single word about Chief Engineer Shaw’s identity gets out!"

Kiki was taken aback.

’Keep such a beautiful and capable Chief Engineer under wraps?’

’What a terrible waste.’

Sophia shot Levin a grateful look and explained to Kiki, "I’ve led a few military projects in the past. It could cause trouble if people knew."

"Oh, I see." Kiki nodded.

’A person like Sophia... so many people must be watching her like a hawk. It really is better not to draw too much attention to her.’

Once Kiki had left, Levin Sawyer said apologetically, "Faye, this must be tough on you."

’She’s made such a massive contribution, yet even her own son and husband are clueless.’

Levin felt terrible for her.

’If Vincent and her son had known about Sophia’s true identity and capabilities, they never would have treated her that way.’

Sophia could tell what Levin was thinking and gave a relaxed smile. "It’s nothing, really."

’She wanted Vincent and Cedric’s genuine, unconditional love—love for her simply as their wife and mother, not for how amazing she was.’

"In fact, I should be grateful the company concealed my identity. It allowed me to see a lot of things clearly."

On her first day, Sophia didn’t overload herself with work. Instead, she pulled the files on her current team members and reviewed them one by one.

She took mental notes of their strengths and weaknesses.

While Sophia was busy at work, a shadow of gloom had fallen over the Sherman family.

"You’re saying that Levin Sawyer rejected you because of Sophia?"

"How is that possible?"

Yvonne Sherman looked at her own stunningly beautiful daughter, utterly refusing to believe she could lose to Sophia.

Joanna stood with her arms crossed, head bowed in thought, her usually bright and vivacious face now clouded with frustration.

"I’m not sure, but when Levin Sawyer said it was time for discussion, he took only Sophia with him."

"Besides, I have no enemies at Lead Aerospace. It was obvious they were impressed with me. And my proposal was the best one for them!"

The more Joanna thought about it, the more she was convinced the problem could only be Sophia.

Yvonne still refused to believe it. "That Sophia is completely useless. On what grounds would Levin Sawyer listen to her?"

"Joanna, think hard. Is it possible you unintentionally offended Levin Sawyer at some point?"

If it had been anyone else, she might have suspected they’d used their looks to win Levin Sawyer over.

But Levin Sawyer was well-known in their circles as a driven young man who never gave the many beautiful women flocking around him a second glance.

Sophia is fat and stupid. Levin Sawyer wouldn’t be interested in her even if he were blind.

"I told you, I didn’t!"

Joanna growled in frustration.

Yvonne sighed, walking over to pat Joanna’s shoulder comfortingly. "I’ll have someone look into it."

Yvonne made a flurry of calls but failed to dig up any useful information.

"If it really doesn’t work out, just give Lead Aerospace the cold shoulder for a while. My daughter is so outstanding, there are plenty of other companies that would be thrilled to work with you!"

"If Lead Aerospace doesn’t want you, it’s their loss!"

"Mom, you don’t understand!"

Joanna sank onto the sofa and fell silent, her usually cool and aloof expression filled with dejection.

’The rocket consultant suddenly quit. Without his help, there’s no way her next project can move forward!’

’This trip to Lead Aerospace wasn’t just about collaboration; it was about getting their rocket testing system!’

’With that system, she could at least identify any problems with the rocket before launch!’

Yvonne walked over and gently hugged her daughter’s shoulders. "Joanna, don’t lose heart. No matter what happens, as long as you have the Grant men on your side, nothing can go too wrong."

"Do you know what I mean?"

After Joanna left, Yvonne’s dazzlingly beautiful face slowly darkened.

"That Sophia... she’s a ghost that just won’t go away!"

As Sophia was leaving work, she got a call from the driver, Abbott.

"Ma’am, the young master asked me to inform you that his school is having a picnic tomorrow."

"Is that so?"

’So, Cedric wanted her to prepare food for him.’

Sophia suddenly recalled the school picnic from a year ago. When she heard about it, she had happily prepared an enormous spread of food.

Later, Cedric told her that parents weren’t allowed to come.

At the time, Vincent hadn’t been home or contacted her in several weeks, and she missed him terribly.

She had hoped to use Cedric’s picnic as an excuse to have a family meal with him.

She was indescribably disappointed when she heard the news.

But that very afternoon, when she worked up the courage to go looking for Vincent, she was told he had gone to Cedric’s event.

When she went to find him, she saw not only Vincent, but Joanna Sherman as well.

The three of them sat around a table like a real family, enjoying the food she had spent a day and a night preparing.

And there she was, standing under the scorching sun like a clown, her hands raw and peeling from shelling shrimp all day.

Later, a teacher sent her a tactful message asking why she hadn’t attended. It was only then that she realized all the parents had been there...

She wouldn’t make the same foolish mistake again.

Sophia said coolly, "I don’t have time to prepare food. Tell him to have someone order it."

Uncle Abbott was taken aback for a moment. "But he’s used to your cooking. You know he has a sensitive stomach."

Sophia sneered.

’Cedric hasn’t had a sensitive stomach for a long time.’

’The person with the sensitive stomach is Joanna Sherman.’

’He disregarded his own mother for Joanna’s sake, so why should she bother with her own son?’

"I can’t cater to his sensitive stomach forever. That’s final."

Uncle Abbott was speechless.

He looked at the disconnected call, then back at Cedric, who was watching him with eager anticipation. Abbott cleared his throat awkwardly.

"What did my mom say? Did she say she’ll send it over right away?"

Cedric asked, full of confidence.

"See? I told you. Give her the silent treatment for a bit, and she’ll come around."

’Auntie Joanna and a little sister will be there this time, so things can’t be sloppy.’

’Cedric knew that when it came to food, Sophia was more meticulous than anyone.’

"Well..."

Abbott shook his head.

"Ma’am said... you should figure out how to order food yourself."