Chapter 153
Aiden’s face shifted between pale and flushed. The planning for the Grand Prize had been completed with the help of Josie, who also handled technical support. Additionally, the innovative project led by her team won the First Prize.
In comparison, they received only one Third Prize. All of this occurred after Josie left the team. From the time she joined the team until a few years before she left, their competitions had never failed to win First Prize.
Therefore, he wondered how this should be characterized. Her value within the team seemed to be significant. It was impossible. It had to be a coincidence—merely a coincidence.
Moreover, the innovative project idea this time had not been conceived by them; it had merely been proposed by Natalie. In reality, it was Natalie who had lost to Josie, not the rest of the team.
Feeling a bit constrained, Aiden adjusted his collar. “It seems we approached this innovation project too casually. We shouldn’t have followed Natalie’s advice, as it led us to overlook the strengths of the other participating teams.”
When Aiden spoke, everyone was reminded that it was Natalie who had originally proposed the innovative idea. Since they were used to winning awards in the past, they hadn’t really paid attention to the idea itself.
In previous competitions, Josie frequently suggested ideas to the team. After receiving their approval, her proposals were put into action, consistently resulting in awards and without any mistakes.
One could only say that habit could be fatal; having spent too long in their lofty position, they had forgotten that countless others were eyeing them with predatory intent, ready to pull them down at any moment. It seemed that they would no longer be able to maintain such confidence in the future.
Gavin stood up. “I’m going to congratulate Josie.”
“Me too.” Vincent also stood up.
Jaden stopped the two of them. “Why are you congratulating her? She had time to help other teams write proposals, yet she never once thought of offering us a single idea. There’s nothing worth congratulating about someone so ungrateful.”
“I’m sorry, my idea just wasn’t good enough!” Natalie had already been repeatedly undermined by Josie today and was reaching the limits of her patience. Yet, at that moment, she still had no choice but to endure, as Josie was the one drawing all the attention.
“If I remember correctly, when the competition was announced, Josie was still on the team. If she had good ideas, she should have shared them with you so you wouldn’t have been dragged down by me.” Natalie lowered her head, as if to remind everyone that she had not yet been a member of the team at that time.
Her tears fell, and she continued, “I joined the team later and don’t know everyone as well as Josie does. I’m also a grade below her and haven’t mastered professional knowledge as thoroughly as she has. That’s why I fall short compared to her. I’m sorry.”
“Enough!” Aiden had kept his feelings bottled up, fully aware that no one else could be blamed for the situation. “This does not concern you. It is only because we had been winning for too long and acted with excessive confidence that we now face this outcome. In a way, it is a good thing, as it will help everyone exercise restraint and recognize their limitations.”
“Jaden, helping with the proposal was Josie’s decision; we have no right to demand anything from her. Besides, she was already thinking about leaving the team at that time, so, understandably, she didn’t put the team’s interests first.”
Aiden felt a wave of sadness, especially when he noticed Josie’s gentle smile. Only then did he realize that, throughout their time on the team, he had never truly paid attention to her.
The person he once considered a burden—the most insignificant and useless member of the team—repeatedly overturned his perceptions after leaving the team. Only then did he realize that he had misjudged in the past.
Jaden, unwilling to accept the situation, turned and rushed out. “Could he be going to cause trouble for Josie? I’ll go see what he’s up to!” said Gavin, who, followed by Vincent, chased after him.