Rule reminder
Emphatic words can modify verbs and whole clauses, not just nouns. Persino/anche before a verb-phrase: 'è persino riuscito a...' Proprio before negated verbs: 'non capisco proprio.' Addirittura before unexpected actions: 'ha addirittura deciso di...' Pur + gerund: concession. Neanche + infinitive: 'non riesce neanche a...'
Despite being exhausted, she kept smiling. Which literary structure is correct?