From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent (Anthea )

Mr. A followed his assistant's cues as he navigated the game.

His moves were noticeably different from the last round, a fact that didn't escape Anthea's sharp gaze. She detected the shift in strategy, but she was in no mood for a drawn-out battle. This time, she was all about a swift and decisive victory. Otherwise, she would have taken great pleasure in leading Mr. A on a merry chase.

Within a mere ten moves, Anthea had effectively blocked all of Mr. A’s escape routes.

"Checkmate, Mr. A."

Mr. A turned ashen. He had been following the guide to the letter. How could he have lost?

His assistant was equally dumbstruck. He never imagined that anyone could outsmart the smartphone strategies!

‘Griffin is so cool and awesome!’ Original content from NôvelDrama.Org.

‘I'm a fan now! Love it!’

‘Holy cow! She's incredible.’

‘Don't be a sore loser this time, alright?’

‘Haha! What a smackdown! I'm cringing for Mr. A.’

Mr. A’s fans quieted down in an instant.

Their pride was smacked with a resounding slap.

Anthea didn't waste any more time and cut off the live connection right away.

Her match with Mr. A instantly topped the trending charts on the streaming platform.

The video's view count soared past a hundred thousand in just ten minutes!

Anthea, however, was oblivious to all this fame as she logged off and dove into her video games.

When Carole came home later that evening, Anthea mentioned Nanson's breakup.

Carole paused, clearly unaware of his romantic endeavors, "It's for the best that it ended. Imagine the drama if they had gotten married. The real trouble would have started then."

A wise wife made for a peaceful life. But Ileana didn't sound like a keeper.

Anthea nodded, "That's what I think too."

After a beat, she added, "Mom, how was business at the shop today?"

"It was booming. We had a two-hour queue in the evening," Carole replied.

Anthea pondered for a moment before replying, "Maybe we should rent the two shops next door."

Carole, considering the recent sales figures, suggested, "I heard the rent might be cheaper with a longer lease. Maybe we should wait a bit?"

"That works," Anthea agreed with a nod.

The following morning, after her jog, Anthea returned to find Nanson already at the breakfast table.

Anthea and Nanson exchanged a knowing smile, an unspoken understanding between them.

At the sight of Nanson in good spirits, Anthea felt relieved.

After breakfast, she headed out for school.

Just as she stepped out, she spotted Tanya waving from a distance.

"Ann!"

"Tanya," Anthea jogged over.

Tanya, out of breath and covered in a sheen of sweat, greeted her.

"Why the rush?" Anthea chuckled.

"I was afraid you'd already left," Tanya explained. Her strict household didn't allow her much phone time, so she couldn't coordinate with Anthea in advance.

Anthea reassured her, "I promised to wait for you, and I always keep my word."

Tanya then pulled out a breakfast treat, saying, "My mom made these egg wraps. Try one, Ann."

Anthea, never one to turn down food, took a bite. "Wow, this is delicious! Your mom's got skills!"

Tanya blushed, "Maybe it's because we're all foodies at home."

After finishing the wrap, Anthea asked, "Have you ever thought about dieting, Tanya?" Being overweight could lead to health issues like fatty liver disease.

Tanya hesitated for a moment.

"You know, you're so pretty and you'd look even better if you slimmed down!" Anthea encouraged.

"Really?" Tanya asked shyly.

"Absolutely," Anthea nodded. "Every chubby person is a potential stunner."

"But I feel like I can't lose weight," Tanya admitted. "I've tried dieting before, and I just ended up fainting from hunger without losing any weight."

Every girl wanted to feel beautiful, and Tanya was no exception. She had tried various diets without success.

"Losing weight doesn't always mean you have to starve yourself. I know a little secret that might help. As long as you can stick with it, you won't have to starve and you'll see results."

Tanya perked up, "Really? Without starving?"

"But you have to combine it with exercise," Anthea added. "I get up at 5:30 every morning to run. If you're serious about losing weight, you can join me."

5:30 in the morning?

It wasn't too bad in the summer. But in the winter, that was before dawn.

Tanya wavered.

At the sight of her hesitation, Anthea decided to push a little harder, "Tanya, we're in our senior year. We'll be starting college soon. Don't you want a fresh start in college life?"

With that, Tanya turned into determination. For a new life, she was willing to go the extra mile.