"Since you're awake, I'll head back now."

The lights were dim, but I still noticed Yao Star Yan was blushing slightly.

What just happened had hit her pretty hard.

Yet even while embarrassed, Yao Star Yan forced herself to act tough.

Suddenly, she shifted her knees—my head slammed into the chair with a dull thud.

"Ouch!"

Realizing she'd gone too far, Yao Star Yan's expression flickered for a millisecond before snapping back to normal.

"Well then, goodbye!"

"Wait!"

I called out to Yao Star Yan as she grabbed her paper bag.

"Th-that... I'm really sorry about earlier."

"Of course you should be!"

Uh... shouldn't she say "It's fine! Unavoidable stuff happens"? Does this girl even know basic manners?

"Uh... a-anyway, thanks for coming on this date today."

"Don't thank me. I owed you a favor. And even for you, I can't just watch you self-harm daily... It's nothing."

I’d need to talk to Willow Ran about this "self-harm" joke later.

"E-even so, I still want to thank you."

"I said it’s nothing... A-and besides, on the subway, you also..."

Yao Star Yan turned her head away slightly, cheeks flushed crimson:

"...So let’s call it even."

Call it even? That’s too easy—I was the one who benefited.

Yao Star Yan didn’t seem like the forgiving type.

"Even so... please take this!"

I pulled a gift from my pocket.

Bought earlier at an accessory shop while Yao Star Yan was paying.

Its design was simple and understated—perfect for her usual vibe.

"This? For me?"

I expected refusal, but she took it readily. Seriously, I’ll never understand Yao Star Yan.

"...Consider it thanks... I’d feel uneasy doing nothing."

"Eh~"

Her tone dripped with meaning.

She said nothing weird, just slipped the bracelet onto her wrist.

"Your taste is decent. I’ll accept it as compensation."

I finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"...But don’t think I’ll forget what you did today."

What was that smug look for?

Frustration pricked my heart like needles. I looked up—the new moon hung overhead without me noticing.

Still—

Today wasn’t a total loss.

I felt words bubbling up. A rough idea for my new story formed.

...

Since tomorrow was weekend too, I booted my computer the moment I got home. Pulling an all-nighter to email my new book proposal to Elder Sister Liu Xin before school.

Three months had passed since my last proposal got axed. I’d only submitted once after finishing *Under the Starry Sky*.

For the editors, this might be a fresh discovery. In three years, I’d finished two books and a series. To Elder Sister Liu Xin, maxed-out typing speed was probably my signature trait.

This time, I’d nail it in one shot!

Even if approved now, publishing would take six months to a year. Dragging this out was dangerous.

I almost felt my writing career ending here.

Reality might not be that harsh, but while my book stalled, others’ didn’t. Publishing slots were limited. If this continued, someone else might take my place.

By then, even dozens of new books might not win back my spot.

My space would shrink until publishers and fans forgot me.

Worse, this new work had a mission: revenge on Yao Star Yan for drawing H-doujin of my novels.

My first dry spell since debut.

Now, I wrote the story bursting in my chest—thrilled by fresh inspiration, haunted by past rejections.

Truly the first time writing like this.

Caught between hope and despair, I drafted the proposal.

Excitement and terror kept me typing nonstop.

I lost track of time. Only when I hit the final spacebar did I see darkness outside.

Not a blink—twenty-four hours gone. School started tomorrow.

Staring at the screen packed with text, my mood finally calmed.

—The heroine, a flower-season girl untouched by first love, meets a stunningly handsome boy. But she’s terrible with guys, always acting cold. She dreams of manga-style confessions. After their encounter, a confession scene mysteriously appears—yet the inexperienced heroine panics, rejects him, and snaps cruelly. The boy is the author of her favorite manga. And his reason for confessing is...

Right—the heroine and boy were based on Yao Star Yan and me.

I’d added her social awkwardness to avoid suspicion. If Yao Star Yan drew this—

Wait! This would just become our doujin!

I’d been so focused on plot I missed it. It’d look like I’d schemed to see us in a doujin.

But I was confident Elder Sister Liu Xin would approve this draft. Major changes now? I wasn’t sure.

Inspiration fades fast.

"Waaah—"

Such a hassle!

I clutched my head.

Whatever. I wasn’t losing out. My "daughters" had been "cared for" by her for ages, and I’d suffered enough in reality. Why not take a little advantage?

Even banks charge interest. Besides—it wasn’t drawn by me!

Thinking this, my mood lifted. The new book problem was solved. Now, Elder Sister Liu Xin’s decision would decide.

Relaxing, exhaustion from a day-night marathon crashed over me.

I drifted into deep sleep.