[Music Recommendation: "Interweave" by Chewie Melodies (Genshin Impact OST) - available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

Ashley created small talk which wasn't very important. I wanted to get out but I somehow felt the timing wasn't right. They were conversing normally and I'd hate to just interrupt that. Well, that was until I heard my name.

"So, Ms. Rae, what do you think of Senara?" Ashley asked in an almost suggestive manner. "Do you think she really wrote that book? Armageddon—Dawn of the New Generation? I mean, she's just 16. There's no way someone as young as that can plot out a story that effectively, right? Maybe she just bought the story from a ghostwriter? What do you think? It's easy for her since she's the girlfriend of that hot young man, Kaiden, right?"

'What the—What's wrong with this woman? Me? Buying a story from a ghost writer? What the heck! I just wrote it for fun since Kaiden suggested it, and it was a trial to see what things I'm passionate about so I could apply for that course in college. I didn't even plan on submitting it to the film company! Why would I—Ugh. But of course, she wouldn't know that. Talk about making dramas out of nowhere. My goodness!'

To my surprise, Rae spoke up for me.

"A-Ashley, that's not very nice," Rae disagreed, though speaking in a nervous tone.

"I'm just telling you the possibilities. I could be right, you know."

Then, Rae grunted and answered her back, but this time, in a more serious tone.

"Just as age doesn't matter in love, it also doesn't matter in passion. Just because someone is young, doesn't mean she can't do great things. And at the same time, just because someone is old, doesn't mean it's already too late for her to dream."

Hearing those amazing words, the forming anger in my heart was washed away in an instant… I was in awe of her wisdom—spoken like a real writer. Despite her shy and reserved appearance, she was rather firm on her beliefs and that in itself, was praiseworthy.

"W-well, I'm just saying the possibilities.," Ashley's voice trembled. She probably realized she was screwed. "A-anyway, we'll know later during the Q&A. If she really wrote it, she shouldn't have a problem answering our questions, right?"

Rae sighed so deeply I could hear it.

"Suit yourself. I'm going."

Then, I heard her footsteps slowly fade away. Ashley on the other hand walked inside one of the cubicles. It was my chance to get out so I did. I washed my hands quickly and headed back to the boardroom. It was one straight path so I didn't get lost despite being alone.

On my way back, I deliberated if I should tell Kaiden about it or not. But then I might sound so petty. Nah, it's fine. I could handle it on my own. Besides, the best way to combat such prejudice would be to prove her wrong.

Once everyone was back, we continued with our session. Ms. Qian Yu had to take an important call so she stepped out for a moment. Rae and Ashley threw me the questions they had about the story, the characters, how I wanted the scene to appear, the lines to be delivered. Rae in particular wanted me to expound on the emotions. Ashley, on the other hand, questioned me in a way that she seemed to be probing my knowledge of my own story. Of course she would do that.

"In chapter twelve, who is the person behind the cloak?" Ashley asked yet another ridiculous question as if I didn't know it.

Summoning the last bit of my patience, I asked her in return, "Did you read chapter eleven?"

"Yes, I did," she nodded, and smiled as confidently as ever.

"If that's the case… Why are you asking?" I snapped. "If you read chapter eleven, you would know who it is."

Ashley and Rae were taken aback. They probably didn't expect such an attitude to come from a sweet-looking, obedient girl that I was.

"I—uhm," Ashley struggled to find the right words to defend herself. She only knew how to talk big behind people's back but it seemed she didn't have the guts that needed to go with that.

"You what? You thought I hired a ghostwriter or bought the story from someone?"

Ugh. My patience ran out. I wasn't able to stop myself from saying what I badly wanted to say earlier.

Ashley's face pale up. She definitely didn't expect me to say something like that. Huh! Why? Because I was just sixteen? Too young to create my own story?

"Rae has been asking me wonderful questions and all you're asking me are useless ones. Are we even gonna use those for the script?"

"Y-Yes, we will."

"Where? Which part?"

"I'll have to check later."

Rae sighed. "We're not going to use those. Ask proper questions. You're wasting time."

"Exactly!" I agreed with Rae. "If all you'll do is ask trash questions, you'll only end up writing trash afterwards."

"T-that's… that's so mean coming from you!" Ashley cried crocodile tears.

It was obvious she couldn't think of any excuse for her actions so she resorted to crying instead. How great. And Ms. Qian Yu would be back any moment now. She would think I'm bullying someone older than me. Ugh. How my eyes rolled seeing her like that. Such a drama queen. She should be an actress instead of a screenwriter.

Just as I predicted, the door to the boardroom opened and Ms. Qian Yu was back… along with Kaiden! My eyes lit up when I saw him. Finally, I could—

"Wahu-hu-hu-hu!" Ms. Drama Queen Ashley quickly ran towards Ms. Qian Yu and Kaiden.

"Oh my! What's wrong, Ashley?" Ms. Qian Yu asked in surprise.

"I'm so sorry, Ms. Qian Yu. It's my fault. I'm not talented enough in asking questions so I irritated Senara."

Rae and I ended up looking at each other, and shook our heads. Damn. I wanted to laugh so hard but I stopped myself. Then, I stood up and went near them to sort it out. Kaiden wouldn't fall for those crocodile tears but as for Ms. Qian Yu, I didn't want her to think badly of me.

As I walked towards them, Ms. Drama Queen continued crying. I noticed that as she did, little by little, she was inching closer to Kaiden.

"Kaiden, I'm really sorry for… sniff… sniff," Ashley acted once more, pulling out her most innocent and fragile look much to my disgust.

After that, she suddenly reached out her hand to Kaiden as if… she was going to hug him! My eyes widened and my feet sprinted fast towards her. Before I knew it, I already yanked her shoulders and pulled her away to Kaiden, making her fall to the floor.

It was then that I realized… just as Kaiden didn't want anyone touching him… I also didn't want others to touch him.