Xia Mo felt a little nervous.

That morning, after Editor Green Leaf mentioned Zhou Shuren would visit Penguin Building, she happily added a sausage to her instant noodle breakfast. She even changed into a new coat before leaving—and bonus—she’d washed her hair just two days ago!

Finally, she’d meet that white lotus!

She was determined to tear off that aloof girl’s mask and humiliate her thoroughly.

Xia Mo pinned Luo Xiaolu against the wall and gently lifted her chin.

“Aren’t you the cold-and-distant type? The artsy intellectual? The untouchable goddess?”

Smirking wickedly, Xia Mo pinched Luo Xiaolu’s delicate cheek.

Luo Xiaolu wore an extremely sheer nightgown—barely concealing anything. Her golden round-frame glasses lay knocked to the floor. Her once-neat hair clung damply to her face, tears mixing with strands, expression utterly shattered.

“N-no… please stop!” Luo Xiaolu groaned.

“You white lotus! Oscar-winning actress! Love playing innocent? You’re just a green tea bitch!” Xia Mo sneered.

“Stop! I’m begging you!”

Hair tangled, tears streaming, Luo Xiaolu knelt, clutching Xia Mo’s leg, pleading desperately…

The fantasy thrilled Xia Mo. She couldn’t wait to see Luo Xiaolu break.

But now, sitting across from Zhou Shuren, Xia Mo admitted—she was genuinely nervous.

No dress? No signature round glasses? Just a T-shirt and jeans? She looked like any damn normie outside!

Unforgivable. This was disrespect.

If only she’d reminded Editor Green Leaf earlier—she’d have faked that perfect “artsy maiden” act… Ugh.

Yet Zhou Shuren’s grace, her velvety voice… reignited Xia Mo’s resolve.

*I’ll still break her.*

“I asked you here to discuss your novel, *July Is Your Lie*. I have questions.” Xia Mo stirred her coffee.

“Senior Xia Mo is too kind. I should be learning from you,” Luo Xiaolu replied with a gentle smile.

Xia Mo slid her tablet toward Luo Xiaolu.

“Here—Gong Sheng gets caught photographing Lavender. It’s a risqué scene, yet you drown it in poetic fluff. His inner monologue? Mistaken for a creep, still praising her beauty? Vulgar! Forced romance over trash! Seems elegant at first glance, but upon closer reading—the characters feel pathetic. The writing’s pretentious!” Her voice rose. She fixed Luo Xiaolu with a stern glare.

“I don’t think so,” Luo Xiaolu said earnestly.

“Huh?”

“Senior Xia Mo… have you ever felt love at first sight?”

“N-no… why ask that?”

“Then… been in love?”

“Are you insane?!”

“Love at first sight is magical! The perfect time, place, person—that moment becomes a forever-beautiful memory. That flutter in your chest, that switch flipping inside… everything feels wonderful. No matter what happens after.”

Luo Xiaolu gazed upward, voice swelling with warmth. Her eyes shimmered like starlight, smiling with tender longing.

Xia Mo froze, spellbound.

“So even if things turn painful or distant later—it doesn’t erase that instant of beauty. Or the heart that never calms again.” Luo Xiaolu turned back, smiling softly.

“Ah!” Xia Mo clutched her chest.

“What’s wrong?!” Luo Xiaolu shot up, rushing over.

“My heart… racing… hurts! Feels like it’ll burst!” Xia Mo groaned.

“Do you have a condition?! What do I do?!” Luo Xiaolu reached for her chest.

“Don’t touch me!” Xia Mo slapped her hand away.

*Damn… this woman’s terrifying. My heart’s pounding harder!*

*I don’t even have heart disease—why does it hurt so much?!*

She shoved past Luo Xiaolu, burst into the restroom, and panted at her reflection. Hair messy. Cheeks flushed crimson.

*Damn you, Zhou Shuren… Just wait.*

After calming down, she returned.

“Are you okay?” Luo Xiaolu hurried over, worry in her eyes.

“I’m fine.” Xia Mo sidestepped her and sat.

She reopened the tablet.

“And this part: *‘You’re the one who wiped the dust away. Do I look pained? How troublesome. Of course it hurts—I sail a sea without a chart. Creation is painful… but fulfilling. Thank you.’*” Xia Mo scowled. “Who talks like that? Cringey! Self-indulgent monologue…”

She looked up.

Luo Xiaolu was smiling sweetly at her.

Xia Mo’s voice died.

“My style isn’t for everyone. Readers say this too—I accept it. But Senior Xia Mo… did you invite me here just to insult my work to my face?” Luo Xiaolu’s eyes crinkled into crescent moons, lashes fluttering.

“I… I didn’t…” Xia Mo stammered.

“That’s really not cool.”

The smile never faded.

A crushing aura flooded the room. Xia Mo trembled like a leaf.

*This smiling woman… terrifying!*

*You don’t radiate this vibe without breaking a thousand people.*

All rebuttals vanished. Mind blank.

“I… really, really hate Senior Xia Mo,” Luo Xiaolu said, gaze steady, words clear and slow.

“Waaah!!!”

Xia Mo burst into tears.