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

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

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

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

After ending her call with Leonard Chen, Michelle Xia stole a glance at Alex Ye.She wasn't entirely aware of the significance of the 'Star Path' project to NexRealm Studios, but she did know they had poured a hefty sum into its early phases.Alex, not one to eavesdrop on someone's phone conversation, waited patiently for Michelle to finish her call. Once it seemed she was done, he approached her, "What do you fancy for lunch?"Michelle was taken aback by Alex's persistence on the matter, even waiting over ten minutes just to ask her. Wanting to send him away as soon as possible, she replied nonchalantly, "Plain rice porridge and pickled vegetables, I guess."Alex stared at her, a silent acknowledgment of her dismissive tone, but Michelle chose to ignore it.With Alex finally out of the way, she let out a sigh of relief and began drafting her update for the day. However, not long after, her mind started to haze and drowsiness seeped in. Combined with her struggles in typing, her work