From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent

Chapter 501
"Let's go."
Dr. Varn could barely contain his excitement-he was about to meet his idol in
person! He had a dozen questions about technology he was dying to discuss with Phoenix YC.
Eugene hurried to catch up with Dr. Varn, and together they made their way to the car. Mason had just stepped out as well.
"Where's the boss?"
"Where's the legend?"
Their voices overlapped in anxious anticipation-Eugene's and Dr. Varn's mingling in the cool morning air.
Mason licked his lips, trying to suppress a smile. "Dr. Varn, Eugene, she's right in the car. But just so you know... be prepared.
The boss is very young."
With that, he opened the back door. "We're here, boss."
Anthea Yeager stepped gracefully from the car.
Mason quickly made the introductions. "Boss, let me introduce my colleague- Eugene, but you can just call him Oakley Bingham.
And this is Dr. Varn, a pillar of our field. Eugene, Dr. Varn, this is Phoenix YC."
The words seemed to hang in the air.

Eugene and Dr. Varn both stared, utterly speechless.
The young woman before them looked no older than nineteen. She was strikingly beautiful, but looks meant nothing in their
world. This wasn't show business-it was the world of science and technology, where faces didn't matter and every trailblazer had
at least a Ph.D.
This girl barely looked old enough to be a college freshman.
The disbelief in Dr. Varn and Eugene's faces mirrored exactly how Mason had felt when he met Anthea at the airport.

It was Eugene who finally found his voice. "Come on, Mason. You can't be serious."
She was just too young! There was no way this girl could be Phoenix YC. Mason had to be playing a prank.
But Mason's expression was earnest. "I'm not joking," he said quietly. "She really is Phoenix YC."
The group fell into an uneasy silence.
Could it really be her?
Eugene shot Mason a look, silently urging him to drop the act, but Mason just shook his head, his face deadly serious.
Eugene froze. Mason loved to joke around, but never about something this serious.
Could it really be true? Was this girl-the legendary Phoenix YC-actually so young?
Anthea turned to Dr. Varn, her gaze calm and clear. "Dr. Varn, do you remember our discussion online about the W Project?"
Dr. Varn blinked, taken aback, then nodded. "Yes, I remember."
Anthea pulled a folder from her bag. "Here's my proposal. I promised I'd hand it to you in person."

Dr. Varn took the folder with both hands, flipping through the first few pages. As he read, astonishment lit up his face. The
proposal was brilliant-unprecedented, peerless.
If this landed in the tech world, it would send shockwaves through the entire field.
It was unmistakably the work of Phoenix YC.
It was her.
It really was her!
Dr. Varn's hands shook as he held the file, overwhelmed with excitement.
It took him a long moment to find his composure. Then he reached out to Anthea,
his voice full of respect. "It's an honor, ma'am. I'm Varn."

She was young, yes, but her ability was anything but. There was a quiet strength about her that couldn't be imitated. She truly
deserved the title of mentor-Dr. Varn felt it from the bottom of his heart.
Anthea shook his hand firmly. "Phoenix YC."
She'd been addressed as "mentor" countless times in her previous life; Dr. Varn's respect felt natural to her.
Mason grinned. "Doc, boss, this isn't really the place for a deep talk. Why don't we head inside to the hotel?"
"Yes, of course. Please-after you, ma'am." Dr. Varn made a polite gesture, ushering Anthea ahead.
Anthea and Dr. Varn walked side by side, with Eugene and Mason a few steps behind.
Eugene leaned in, voice low. "She's really the boss?"
Mason nodded. "Why else do you think the doctor's so respectful?"
Eugene stared at Anthea's
silhouette, swallowing hard. Just yesterday, he and Mason had been sure the legendary Phoenix YC was some white-haired old
man.
They couldn't have been more wrong.