Chapter 324
Athena was not one to hesitate often.
But this time, she paused for three seconds before finally admitting, “Noah Anderson.”
Her mentor was a closely guarded secret, known only to her and no one else.
She could have lied, but that would mean she couldn’t handle the game.
A genius’s pride wouldn’t let her back down, even in something as trivial as this.
It seemed all the other bright minds in the room felt the same way.
As her words lingered, the others exchanged glances, silently questioning why they had never heard of such an impressive person before.
The game pressed on.
In the eighth round, the Messenger spun the pointer and the wheel once more, landing on Athena again.
By now, it was clear to everyone that the Messenger was specifically targeting her.
The question from the wheel was, “What does your mentor do?”
Athena replied coolly, “No comment.”
The wheel shot back, “Game over. Please accept your punishment.
“You need to take off three pieces of clothing and stand outside for ten minutes.”
Athena’s jaw dropped.
It wasn’t just the thought of standing outside in the freezing winter air for ten minutes; it was the idea of stripping off three layers.
・
She wasn’t wearing much to begin with—if she took off her black robe, warm jacket, and thermal top, she’d be left in nothing but her underwear. How embarrassing!
Just then, Matthew chimed in, “According to the rules, someone else can take her punishment, right?”
The wheel confirmed, “Yes.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Matthew said, “I’ll take her punishment.”
He stood up, calmly and confidently peeling off his black robe, then his suit jacket, and finally his white shirt.
Everyone watched, entranced.
Even though he wore a mask, his grace as he undressed was captivating, far more stylish than even the best male models strutting down a runway.
As his shirt came off, he revealed a chiseled chest and an impressive eight–pack, causing gasps and murmurs of astonishment to ripple through the crowd. Many watched with a mix of envy, admiration, and desire, some even swallowing audibly.
One voice broke through the murmurs, “I’d love to unbuckle his belt…”
<
10:01 Sat, Nov 2
Chapter 324
Matthew ignored the hungry looks and asked the Messenger, “So how does my turn work now?”
9
93%
The Messenger replied, “You’re volunteering to take someone else’s punishment. If you don’t make it back in time, your turn will be skipped.”
Matthew shrugged. “Let’s start the timer now, okay?”
Then the Messenger nodded. “Sure.”
With that, Matthew stepped outside.
Now it was Athena’s turn.
Once again, the Messenger was chosen.
It was clear to all the participants that these two competed in sorts, seemingly targeting one another.
The wheel asked the familiar question, “Who is the smartest person you’ve ever met?”
The Messenger paused for a moment before answering, “My teacher.”
Everyone’s eyes flitted between him and Athena, intrigued by the coincidence.
They wondered, ‘Do they not know each other? Isn’t that a way of communication between them?‘
Athena met the Messenger’s gaze, a playful spark in her eyes.
The game continued.
After the round wrapped up, five minutes had flown by, and Matthew returned.
In front of the captivated crowd, he casually put his shirt back on, followed by his suit jacket, and finally draped his black robe over his shoulders. Everyone, including Athena, couldn’t help but stare, completely enthralled.
She thought, ‘Is this the kind of springtime show I could enjoy for free?‘ She felt incredibly fortunate.
It was obvious to everyone that Matthew, with his IQ of 185, was a wealthy young man, and the way he dressed and undressed showcased a sophistication that few could pull off, no matter how much money they had.
Once fully dressed, he settled back into his seat and casually asked, “So, is it my turn now?”
As the Messenger opened their mouth to midnight.
speak, the room was suddenly filled with a loud “dong” as the clock struck
“It’s midnight,” the Messenger announced, disappointment flickering in their eyes.
“Tonight’s game is officially over. Please take this time to rest; I’ll be calculating the rankings for this round. Each participant will earn a gold card for completing a game, and the one with the most gold cards will win the grand prize for the evening.”
With that, the Messenger rose and left the room, prompting the crowd to break apart.
Some people went in search of food and drinks, while others looked for someone to chat with.
A cluster of attendees squeezed their way over to Athena and Matthew, eager to exchange contact information.
This time, Athena and Matthew didn’t say no.
Athena smiled, saying, “I’ve noted your phone number, and I’ll add you once I get my phone back.”
2/4
10:01 Sat, Nov 2
Chapter 324
3
93%
Matthew chimed in, “Her IQ is higher than mine, and her memory is better too. Just tell her, and she can pass the info along
to me later.”
Everyone hurriedly shared their phone numbers, iMessages, and email addresses with Athena.
She nodded politely, keeping quiet about whether she’d remember all of them.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: She Outshines Them All (Athena and Matthew)