Chapter 1140 Cousin, I Missed You
Kevin returned to his cousin Audrey's house, where she had already prepared lunch and asked him to wash his hands before eating.
After Kevin washed his hands, Audrey had already served the dishes and asked curiously, “Why didn’t Albert come today?”
“He said he wasn't feeling well, so he didn't come," Kevin replied, shaking his head absentmindedly as he picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks and chewed on it. He couldn't help but think that there was something off about Albert today. Could it be something between him and Lucy? But Laura hadn't mentioned anything about it.
“Oh,” Audrey responded, placing some greens into her bowl. After a moment of thought, she asked, “By the way, has Quentin given you any more trouble?”
“Not really,” Kevin said, taking a sip of the tomato egg soup. He quickly put the bowl back down and blew on it vigorously; it was too hot.
“That’s good. Regardless, he’s your homeroom teacher now. Try not to clash with him directly,” Audrey said, handing him a porcelain soup spoon. Her tone was gentle. “If he really becomes unbearable, I’ll talk to Mr. Carter about it. If that doesn’t work, I’ll go to the principal. I doubt he’ll push it that far.”
“Him?” Kevin sneered dismissively. “At most, he’s just trying to annoy me. Don’t worry, sis, I won’t stoop to his level. I treat it like a dog barking.”
“Yes, that’s the right attitude. I worry that you might not be able to control your temper. You’re a year older now in sophomore year; you need to mature and think things through before acting,” Audrey smiled gently. This year was crucial for Kevin, and she hoped he wouldn’t get into any unnecessary altercations with Quentin.
“Sis, your cooking is amazing, even better than my mom’s,” Kevin said with a grin. “I wish I could eat your meals forever.”
“You wish! Do you want me to be your free maid?” Audrey laughed. “I’m a legitimate high school teacher, you know. I already help you with your studies for free, and now you want more. You’re insatiable.”
“Well, you can’t put it that way. I help out with household chores, and I also give you free massages. It’s mutual support,” Kevin chuckled. “Shall I massage your legs and feet later?”
“Thanks, but no need,” Audrey smiled as she stood up. “I went to the spa for a massage yesterday. After lunch, just wash the dishes. I’ll go to my room first.”
Audrey entered her bedroom, turned on her computer, and logged into her social media account. Several avatars were flashing, and there were over a dozen friend requests. Most were fans of her novel. Since she began serializing her novel on the WebLibrary forum, she received dozens of friend requests daily, all wanting to discuss its plot. Some just wanted to meet the beautiful author, especially since WebLibrary had featured her heavily and even had editor Dan interview her live online.
Currently, Audrey’s novel had the highest readership on the forum. Dan mentioned that they had preliminary discussions with two well-known provincial publishers who were interested in publishing her work. However, Dan, being experienced, advised Audrey not to rush into meetings with publishers. He suggested focusing on writing a compelling novel first. The more influential her book became, the better her negotiating power would be for more favorable terms.
Audrey devoted much of her time to writing. Every evening, after a simple dinner, she wrote until around midnight, producing about five thousand words each night. The forum had enabled a reader reward function, and she received a few dozen dollars in tips daily from enthusiastic readers. Though it wasn’t much, it was a great encouragement to her, as it showed her work was appreciated.
Audrey clicked on several avatars and read through the messages. Editor Dan had left her some suggestions for her latest chapter, with a few thousand words of feedback. Dan had effectively become her dedicated editor, given the survival of the WebLibrary forum now hinged on her novel. If her book was successfully published, the benefits for Audrey, WebLibrary, and Dan would be substantial.
Several messages from fans were urging her to update the story or asking about the ending, eager to know if the protagonists would end up together. Some even threatened to confront her if she wrote a tragic ending, which made Audrey laugh. She hadn’t expected her characters to affect readers so profoundly.
In truth, Audrey hadn’t decided on the ending yet. Teacher-student relationships were still frowned upon in her country. A happy ending might lack positive social value, but a separation could be too harsh. Dan had suggested an open-ended conclusion to avoid the issue and leave room for a sequel if the book became popular.
Suddenly, an avatar flashed with a new message: "Are you the author of 'A Campus Love Affair,' the enigmatic The Stay Alluring in the Human World?"
"Yes, that's me," Audrey typed back casually.
"Oh, I’m Lee, an editor at Sea of Knowledge. I came across your work and found it excellent. We’d like to invite you to write for our website."
"Sorry, I’ve already signed with WebLibrary."
"We can offer you a generous deal, including a monthly attendance bonus of three thousand dollars, and a share of the reading profits. There are also opportunities for cross-platform exposure and film adaptation. Sea of Knowledge is quite prestigious in the industry. WebLibrary is declining. You should join us."
"Thanks for the offer, but no," Audrey typed, slightly exasperated. Several website editors had contacted her recently, offering attractive conditions to leave WebLibrary.
For Audrey, writing was just a hobby, not a career. She had a deep emotional connection to WebLibrary, having been with them for years. Editor Dan had also been incredibly dedicated and supportive. It would feel wrong to betray them; she believed in loyalty as a basic moral principle.
“Sis, what are you writing?” Kevin’s voice startled Audrey as she concentrated on her work.
She quickly closed the WPS document and turned to him. “You scared me! Why don’t you knock before entering? Did you finish the dishes?”
“All done,” Kevin replied, peeking curiously. “What were you looking at? Not some adult novel, right? Do you enjoy reading that kind of stuff? Let me see which one you were reading.”
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