Ai was surprised. "Yes, I do."
"Hooo…" Jun tilted his head. "Why do you want to join Sky? Isn't Dream High the most famous company as far as traditional books are concerned? I think it would be any budding writer's choice to go for Dream High."
She kept quiet for a moment as she lowered her gaze. She couldn't be at a place anymore where there would be Yating and Guiying.
She looked up and smiled. "Indeed that should be my obvious choice. But I have heard that Dream High is very particular about the genres that a writer could write in. They follow the tropes that readers want to read the most, which isn't bad, but…it feels restricting to me. They also urge their writers to write fast paced stories, but I don't think my writing style would fit it. I like to take it a little slow."
Jun raised his brow and agreed to her.
Guiying aka CherryBlossom's books were like that. She had good writing skills, he admitted, but he felt the pace with which she explored feelings was faster than required.
Ai softly exhaled. "I understand that point too. Mostly, readers are very impatient. They want the characters to fall in love quickly. But love doesn't work that way. It isn't something instant. It's a gradual process of talking to one another, getting comfortable around each other, sharing their fears and inhibitions, understanding each other and then coming to realize that they cannot live without each other. There are so many emotions to go through. It cannot be done in just a few pages and neither do I want to give that message to the readers."
The fork slipped from his hand and it made a clang sound. Her words struck a chord in his heart. It felt painful and uncomfortable, but he didn't understand why.
Ai widened her eyes. "What's wrong?"
"... Nothing," his voice got a little chillier. He snapped out of that uneasy feeling and asked, "I wonder how MissImperfectlyFine wrote her books? They are tragic which readers certainly don't like, and she doesn't follow tropes either. Why did Dream High allow her to write what she wanted?"
Ai's mouth twitched.
It was because she had a good relationship with Yating until now, so even though her writing didn't fit Dream High's tastes, Yating had considerable power being the Chief Editor. So, he allowed the publication of her books, giving her a leeway.
She cleared her throat. "I wonder that too…"
Jun sneered. "Whatever might be the reason, Dream High is a big idiot."
Ai blinked in confusion. "Huh?"
Jun took a bite of his noodles. "Of course. MissImperfectlyFine won the Best Newcomer Writer award for her book. Keeping aside my personal tastes of not liking bitter endings, she deserved that award. The book was terrific. In all honesty, she could have won the Best Fiction Award too."
Ai widened her eyes.
Best Fiction Award? Nobody has ever said that before to me.
She tried to smile. "...That's impossible. Why do you think that?"
"I don't know," he touched his chin. "It's just a feeling. But the point is that a writer won an award even when she didn't follow any trope. Yet Dream High still focuses on genres that are more popular. Winning an award should have opened their eyes that readers don't only look for something popular but something different too. That's why they are an idiot, and that's why they won't be able to go far if they stubbornly stick to their ideals," he sneered.
Well what do I care? I want to destroy Dream High anyway. Gu Yating made a big mistake by targeting Sky in my past life. This time, I will make him pay with interest.
Jun's gaze fell back on Ai, and he asked with interest. "So how are you planning to pitch in to Sky?"
Ai replied with anticipation. "I am planning to submit a few short stories to Sky. I heard the President Chen Yunru is very strict and particular. He hasn't accepted any traditional author yet."
That's not him. That's me, Jun added in his mind.
A mysterious glint flickered in his eyes. "He is very hard to please."
That's what Xing Bi said too.
Ai nodded.
"Do you think you can win him?" He smiled.
Ai answered with all sincerity. "I will do my best, and I won't give up until he accepts me."
Hooo…It will be interesting to see what kind of stories you would write.
He picked up his phone and dropped his cousin a message.
—
In his room, Yunru had hardly woken up from his good sleep when a ding came from his phone. He drowsily read it.
'Keep an eye on any drafts you will get from a writer named Butterfly. Send me as soon as you get them.'
Huh?
Yunru scratched his head.
Who is Butterfly?
—
As Ai was working on her first story draft, she got a message from Xing Bi.
'Ai. I suggest you visit Sky's office once and meet one of its editors over there. Get a feel of their company and how they work or what they want from their authors. I really wanted to help you to set up this meeting, but Dream High and Sky are rivals, so it won't be possible for me.'
Ai replied. 'Don't worry. I got this. Thank you, Xing Bi. This is a good idea.'
She nodded and quickly got ready to head over to Sky's office. The receptionist there directed her to wait in the lounge area.
A while later, a woman stepped out, dressed in a formal suit and with spectacles on her eyes. She was in her thirties with a stern look on her face.
"Zhou Ai, right? Come inside."
Ai promptly followed her and took a seat in her cabin.
"I am Sun Bai from the editorial team. Pleased to meet you."
"The pleasure is here."
"So, I understand that you want to pitch in a story to Sky?"
"Yes."
"What kind of stories do you like to write?"
"Romance and tragedy. But I would like to try writing a story with a happy ending this time," Ai pursed her lips. "I am lacking in a few areas, and I want to address them with this fresh story that I would write."
She raised her brow. "Interesting. Do you have any-"
Her phone buzzed, and she excused herself. "I am sorry."
Ai shook her head expressing that she didn't mind it.
Sun Bai moved to the back towards the window and picked the incoming call.
"Sun Bai here."
Ai glanced around the cabin's decor when she heard Sun Bai ask, "Who is Sparkles?"
She knitted her brows.
Sparkles?
She remembered she was another writer from Dream High, but she wasn't as famous. Her books were doing mediocre in sales.
"What? No. Sparkles cannot join Sky. Don't you remember what President Chen said? No writer from Dream High is allowed to join Sky at any cost."