At ScribeSphere, resources allocated to editors were relatively balanced. The best authors and prime resources wouldn’t all be concentrated under one editor. After all, editors need to earn their keep too.Each editor had a limited number of advertising slots, leaderboard spots, and so on. Thus, authors under the same editor could be considered competitors. The strategy was simple: allocate the best resources to the best-performing authors for maximum benefit.This very consideration was why Alex Ye didn’t want both Michelle Xia and Brandon Su under the same editor. Michelle's journey to make her mark amongst the myriad of established and emerging authors at ScribeSphere was challenging enough. There was no need to add a formidable obstacle in the form of Brandon at the end of her path.Of course, while authors under the same editor competed with one another, they also formed supportive groups. Taking this into consideration, Alex decided to assign Michelle to a different editor, not
Apart from Alyssa closely monitoring Michelle Xia's new work, Eleanor Ye and Alex Ye were also paying attention. However, their reasons varied. Eleanor would casually read it to pass the time, while Alex, always busy with important matters, would mostly focus on the superficial stats of Michelle's work.The data irregularities in Michelle's work were noticed not just by Alyssa but also by Eleanor and Alex. And, of course, Michelle herself, as an author, was no rookie. Even though she was publishing in a different world for a different audience, she could still discern whether the growth trend in the data was normal. She recalled that when she first published on a website, the statistics were excellent. At that time, even without being on any recommendation lists, her growth was better than some listed works. But back then, the data grew bit by bit, unlike now where it surged in bulk, in a very organized manner.It was only after Alyssa approached her that Michelle became aware of the
Ever since Michelle Xia debuted her work on ScribeSphere, Eleanor Ye was hooked, checking for updates religiously every single day. Eleanor, a novel enthusiast, couldn't get enough of Michelle's writing. Every chapter ended on such a cliffhanger, making readers eagerly anticipate what would come next. She wished she could delve straight into Michelle's backlog of drafts and quench her insatiable hunger for the story.Alex Ye didn't share Eleanor's luxury of immersing himself in novels daily, but he did keep a watchful eye on Michelle's rising stardom. Unlike Eleanor, who was engrossed in the plot, Alex was quick to notice something amiss with the data surrounding Michelle's work. His memory was sharp, and he recalled data trends of previously popular articles on ScribeSphere. Hence, when he saw Michelle's numbers, he couldn't help but furrow his brows.Using such underhanded tactics was a common practice, but for Michelle? She should be more concerned about her reputation. Alex had al
Confronted by the accusing glares from both Alex Ye and Lizzy Xia, Michelle Xia couldn't help but wonder if the two had conspired together, their reactions were eerily in sync. Michelle sat beside her daughter, the weight of her laptop pressing down on her thighs. The moment Lizzy saw her mom emerge with the laptop, her lips puckered up in unmistakable displeasure. Recalling something Sophie Ye had told her earlier, Lizzy promptly put on an exaggeratedly sad face, eyes moistening and blinking up at Michelle. She patiently waited for Michelle to ask, "What's wrong, Lizzy?" so she could playfully respond. Michelle fell silent, looking at Lizzy's theatrics. She wondered, *What's gotten into her today? Pretending to be upset just to act cute?* There was an amused helplessness in Michelle's thoughts. Yet, as she gazed at the young face before her, so reminiscent of her own, all Michelle could do was sigh internally. In a playful imitation of her daughter's wounded demeanor, Michelle pl
Confronted with Lizzy's question, Sophie's proud expression froze as she pondered. If her mother acted that way with her, what would she do? But, her mother had never acted that way with her! Sophie was momentarily flustered, but seeing Lizzy's big, expectant eyes, she couldn't admit to not knowing. She mustered her thoughts, "Hmm, hold on a sec, Lizzy. Let me think." Lizzy nodded eagerly, having absolute trust in Sophie's wisdom. Sophie tried hard to recall if her mother had ever acted that way with her. When she realized she hadn't, she remembered how her father had acted playfully with her mother. Her young mind made a quick connection: Mother = Adult, Father = Adult. Father acting cute = Adult acting cute = Mother acting cute. So, how did her father act when being playful with her mother? With a mature tone far beyond her years, Sophie advised Lizzy, "There's nothing you can do but to pamper them." Lizzy, confused: "????" Lizzy Xia's small head was full of questions,
When Alex Ye made such a gesture, Michelle Xia couldn't decline any further. She took the cake he offered, murmuring a polite, "Thank you."Hearing her words, Alex lifted his gaze to meet hers, an evident displeasure at her formal courtesy. "Stop always saying 'thank you'," he hinted.Understanding dawned on Michelle. "Alright, next time I'll bring you something tasty in return," she replied. Instead of verbal gratitude, she grasped the idea of expressing appreciation through actions. "I get it," she said, nodding her understanding.Alex merely pressed his lips together, observing her without response. For a moment, he wondered whether Michelle was genuinely naive or just pretending. Maybe his gaze was too intense, a little piercing. Michelle hesitated, asking, "Is something wrong, Mr. Ye?"Alex responded, "...Nothing." Then, he turned away, deciding to get some fresh air on the balcony.Watching his retreating figure, Michelle pondered, *Mr. Ye seems a bit off lately.*Although cons
Perhaps it was the differences in life experiences, past history, and personal character, but Alex Ye's and Michelle Xia's views on raising Lizzy Xia were not exactly aligned.Living under someone else's roof, for the time being, Michelle didn't voice her opinion when she overheard Alex's playful deceptions with Lizzy. To her, it was harmless fun. However, that night after Lizzy went to bed, Alex felt compelled to clarify things with Michelle.Michelle, absorbed in the plot of her novel, wasn't really bothered by the whole situation and only listened half-heartedly, nodding her head in a noncommittal manner.Michelle: "Mhm, mhm, mhm."Alex: "..."Seeing that she wasn't bothered by it, he felt it was best not to press the matter. If she was fine with it, then there was nothing more to say....As autumn gave way to winter, Rivenhold was covered in layer upon layer of snow, creating a uniquely beautiful winter scene, though it was indeed chilling. Before arriving in this world, Michelle
It was likely because Michelle Xia had spent time playing in the snow with the children that she caught a cold, leading to a fever.The next morning, Michelle woke up feeling a fog enveloping her mind, as if someone had whacked her head with a stick. Even breathing felt like a laborious task. Dazedly, she got up from bed and moved to the dining table to have her breakfast. Her mind seemed miles away, and it wasn’t until the child called out to her a couple of times that she snapped back to reality.She gave a gentle smile to the child and ruffled their hair, asking, "What's up, Lizzy?" Her voice was nasal, and her throat sounded scratchy, making speaking appear to be a strenuous task.Hearing her voice, Alex Ye looked up at her, a frown creasing his forehead. He was about to suggest having Dr. Lu come over to check on her when he remembered Dr. Lu was away in Europe for a conference that week. "Do you think you need to visit the hospital?" Alex asked, already aware of her probable res