DAY 1

I pressed enter and anxiously stared at the screen for a long time until I got the notification that the email was sent. Breath slowly exhaled from my body as I slumped back on the chair, rubbing my neck. I was seriously tired! But my heart felt happier! I couldn't take this grin off of my face.

I had just written my very first manuscript, posted the first four chapters on the app called Webpad, and emailed the link to one of the chief editors! Everyone had said that on Webpad, my life could change. Every author that had been able to publish here became famous overnight. As soon as I imagined such a scene of ecstasy happening for me, a feeling of pleasure bubbled inside my heart.

I stood up from the table and rushed inside the bedroom. Trying to find my husband to tell him the news!

But as soon as I saw him, a painful lump rose in my throat, he was sitting on the bed with his laptop on his lap. His eyebrows frowned as he pressed back his rectangle glasses rimmed with gold color and focused on the screen. His hair fell on his forehead, but he was too busy to deal with it. His fingers fiddled in his laptop again without even looking up at me.

Seeing this, I tiptoed toward him and was just about to shift his hair back for him when he caught my hands. Stunned, I tilted my head and glanced at him.

"What do you want?" His cold tone made me shiver on my spine.

I rolled my eyes. This was how our relationship had been for the past year. I quitted my job and started pursuing my career in writing a year ago, but gained nothing except scoldings and negative feedback from the editors of several companies. I posted 100 websites the whole year, but the replies are all the same: I am sorry, but you have to improve your writing skills, you have to enhance the plot, you need to rewrite the outline. Currently, Webpad was my last straw. But If I was declined again, I would not be surprised at all.

But my husband thinks in a totally different way. For him, having a regular office job is the most important thing in life. And he is pretty much dissatisfied with his current lifestyle. I couldn't help but glare at this guy. How could he be so unreasonable?! We haven't even had sex for an year because this guy decided to give me a cold shoulder!

Where would you find a husband like him?!

I awkwardly took my hand back and said in an excited voice, "I'm going to be famous overnight." The corners of my lips stretched so much that it could reach my ears.

But my husband had other ideas. He didn't even bat an eye and typed a few words on his laptop before pressing the enter button. "You say that every time you end up writing a novel. What's new this time?"

Hearing this sentence, I was even more excited. "This time, it's a website that has been able to give millions of authors a proper job! It's Webpad!"

"Like it matters." He turned off his laptop and coldly glanced at me. "You'd always end up being disappointed as always."

Seeing his expression, I froze. I looked at him slowly only to find his gaze being devoid of any warmth, making my heart sink. This guy was really cold to me these days. I couldn't help but feel depressed at this.

"Why're you doing this to me? I'm just asking for your support to fulfil my dream as an author!"

"Elise, for God's sake! Just stop it. What you're doing isn't logical in any way! If you had earned money this past year, I would have considered your option. But have you?" He squinted his eyes at me. "All you did was wasting away the money from our credit card! Do you even remember how much money we owe to the credit card company? Do you even remember that I am just a clerk here?!"

I flinched at his response and couldn't help but feel disheartened. Pursing my lips, I ducked my head lower and decided to hear whatever he was saying. It was true anyway. I haven't earned a penny the whole year, and he didn’t earn much either.

After saying everything, my husband coldly glanced at me once again before heading over to the bathroom.

I fell back on the bed, thinking deeply about my life, tears dripped from my eye corners and sank into pillows, was I really wrong?

I was Elise, wedded to Lewis Robbie three years ago. We had a pleasant relationship when I was a waitress at a restaurant, and after four months of dating, we both planned to get married. I was happy back then, brimming with love. We both had a stable job in Beijing, China since Lewis was transferred here for some government work. But in the end, the Coronavirus pandemic hit the country so hard that almost everyone lost their jobs.

Not long before both of us were kicked out of our jobs, and we had no other choice, but to stay at home and look for an alternative. Thankfully, Lewis got a permanent job in China later based on his experience, and didn't even have to go out everyday for his work.

But that was when our relationship started to crumble. When I had first told my husband about my decision to become a full-time author, he had just taken it lightly and ordered me seriously to find a better job. But not only I ignored his words, but also wrote a book right under his nose and submitted to many publishers online. And slowly, his dissatisfaction toward me rose so much that he even denied to touch me, always giving the excuse of heavy work.

We did not have sex or even a kiss, for a whole year.

To be honest, I was exhausted, even with his attitude or our relationships.

After taking a bath, he came back and slept on his side of the bed without saying a single word.

Taking my laptop from the study room, I brought it on my bed and kept it on my lap. I glanced at the sleeping figure of my husband only to find him snoring.

I flashed a grin, thinking, 'You just, wait dear husband! I'll show you my dream wasn't for naught!'

I clicked open the email, there was a reply, I felt so happy. Because 1 out of 100 posted emails could get a reply, I opened it, only to see that there was negative feedback about my novel. The editor first scolded me for my poor choice of words and storyline. I couldn't even make 3D characters! The editor seemed so angry and dissatisfied that he even said that I should find someone else for the job!

I stared at the reply as veins popped up on my forehead.

This freaking editor has the nerve to say such things to my face! I couldn't help but be not angry and anxious at this time. I had really thought that this time, I would get famous. Webpad had the system of earning money for four months only if I could post daily. I had thought I could finally please my husband by showing him my bank account brimming with money! But who would have guessed this to happen? I sincerely felt like crying all of a sudden!

Pursing my lips, I closed the email. I had to do something about it. Did I write something objectionable? I didn't know. But I had to find a way to earn more money otherwise my husband would keep getting away from me. I had to heal the crack between our relationship and find a way to fulfil my dream at the same time!

Just then, a certain email caught my attention. It wrote—

'Dear Elise,

How are you doing? I hope you're fine. I read your book, and I wanted to give you an opportunity to be contracted under the company Webpad. You will get royalty income, and four months worth bonus in your account.

Your book has the potential to be accepted under the romance genre, although you would need to do some changes manually. But it's alright! I'll help you with it!

If you aren't really sure about my ability as an editor, please click the link below and find my website.

www.vampireeditor.com

Happy cooperation!

Yours truly,

Vampire.'

I was stunned after seeing this email, and quickly clicked the link. As soon as I saw the websites I was even more shocked. This was a male editor, and his name was Vampire! What kind of weird name was that? I shook my head and clicked the profile picture and stared at him for a long time. His blonde hair was waving with the wind as he stared intently at the camera with his mesmerizing dark blue eyes. He was handsome indeed. Suddenly, a trace of blush formed on my cheeks.

When I realized that I was blushing after seeing this pic, I patted my cheeks.

'Wake up Elise! You're already married!' I spoke to myself in a serious tone.

Just then, a thought entered my head. What if I meet this editor and coax him into helping me with my novel? I wanted to secure my position as a writer under his command to become a famous author on Webpad! What would be better than to find an editor who could help me all the time?! This Vampire person seemed to have more experience. If I could become his friend, I would be able to get him help me more often! As soon as I got this idea, I became excited and emailed the person.

“Dear Vampire, I am so glad to get your reply. But I really want to know more about your valuable advice, Can we find somewhere to meet me at your convenience?’

I clicked sent, my heart was pumping like a little rabbit, would he accept my invitation?

Surprisingly, within 30 seconds, I got his reply,

“Starbarks at Chaoyangmen Bridge, tomorrow morning.”

I couldn't help but feel elated. I closed the laptop with a big grin on my face. I didn't know a man that would resist my appearance and sexy body curve, Now I would show my husband that I could really earn from Webpad! Let us wait and see!

DAY 2

By the time I woke up in the morning, I already had a big smile on my face. This was the first time I woke up so early. Lewis was still snoring beside me with his mouth open. I frowned and tapped his chin to close his mouth, but it opened again.

I rolled my eyes and got up. There was a bubbling feeling in the pit of my stomach that was ready to burst all out. Someone among the editors actually found my work interesting, and decided to reply! And today, I would actually meet that person for the first time!

I couldn’t control myself from letting out a giggle. Just then, a cold voice broke the happy bubble of my heart.

“What the hell made you so happy?” My husband finally woke up, but his glance still carried a touch of sharpness as his mood became grumpy.

Since I was so happy, I blurted out. “Husband, I’ll give you a pleasant surprise soon!” And after saying this, I didn’t wait for his reply and dashed toward the bathroom, closing the door behind me.

After an hour, I found myself standing before the mirror, gently applying makeup on my face. But since I hadn’t really gone out for a long time, the eyeliner was ruined. I groaned and looked for something to wipe it.

“You just keep wasting your time and my money on these things. Except for looking for a job, you just keep doing these things to make me angry.” My husband had just stepped out of the bathroom after taking his bath and was wiping his hair. “Tell me, Elise, are you deliberately angering me like this?”

I ignored him and applied makeup once again, and this time, I was successful. I took another glance at myself in the mirror. I was wearing a yellow crop top and shorts with heels. My hair was curled behind my back. A grin formed on my lips after seeing my appearance, and I dashed outside quickly, ignoring my husband’s grumpy look.

But before leaving the house, I turned back and said, “I have cooked you breakfast. You’re free to buy anything for lunch.” I didn’t bother making lunch today because I was really in a hurry.

Before I could even hear Lewis’s angry words, I shut the door behind me and quickly walked for another five minutes before I arrived at the usual spot where the cabs would usually arrive. I waited for ten more minutes while reading the email from yesterday and I sat inside.

I still felt like yesterday was a dream. Has someone really approached me and liked my book? Even thinking about this made me giggle once again. Just then, the cab suddenly stopped abruptly accompanied by a weird sound from the front. It felt as if the cab had suddenly hit something while making a turn.

I frowned. We were still on the street while the cab was supposed to take a right turn to reach the destination quicker. But on the way, the driver suddenly hit someone.

Was the driver blind?! I couldn’t help but be angry at this. I fished out money from my purse and threw it at the driver’s face. “I’ll get off.”

Just as I got out of the car, my face was hit by heavy wind and rain drops. My eyes widened at this and I rushed toward the nearest shed I could see.

What the hell?! Why did it have to rain so heavily today? I remembered seeing sunlight when I left the house today. That was why I didn’t think about taking the umbrella with me. But now when I saw the raindrops heavily bursting through the clouds, my face darkened.

Today was my important day of my life, and now, the rain was ruining it for me! Thankfully, I was quick enough to find a shed and my makeup wasn’t ruined. I quickly fished out my phone and opened the cab app only to find that all the cabs were booked for an hour.

I gripped the phone tighter. This damned phone! Had I made the rain God angry or something today? Or did my husband curse in my heart that I would only face misfortune today?

Why were these things happening to me?!

I could have stayed inside the shed, but there were already many people here, and after a while, I was already standing with more than half of my body leaning outside the shed. My clothes had already become wet, and I couldn’t help but curse out loud.

“What is this?! Today is my date! Why do you guys keep pushing me like this?”

But no one heard my pleas, and only continued to push me until I was completely soaked wet.

Fine, I would just walk to the nearest shed. But no matter how much I walked, I couldn’t find a space to cover my head. All the sheds nearby were jam packed with many people hiding from rain.

After five minutes, I found myself walking toward the place of meeting Vampire with a messed up appearance. My makeup was ruined so much that you would see a trace of black line rolling down both of my cheeks. Perhaps even tears were mixed with rain as I felt like this once in a lifetime opportunity was missed just because I wasn’t careful enough to bring an umbrella!

After half an hour, the rain slowed down to the point that I even felt like it didn’t rain today. Sun appeared bright in the sky, but it was all too late. With my ruined appearance, it was impossible to meet him.

Just as I was about to turn around and go back home, I saw a clothing store and an idea flashed in my mind. Wouldn't it be better to fix my appearance here and purchase something that could make me look even better?

As soon as I thought of this, I became excited again. I quickly rushed inside and chose a sleeveless one-piece that ended in my mid thighs. I was delighted seeing this! Even though this dress cost a lot more than I expected, it was worth it!

But just as I put my hands in my purse, trying to find the credit card, I frowned. Where was it? I put the dress aside and looked more closely only to realize that I hadn’t brought my credit card with me!

This information acted like a thunder striking to my heart. Tears formed in my eyes. It seemed like my chance was completely ruined. After thanking the shop workers, I went out and walked aimlessly. I didn’t even know where I was going.

It wasn’t until I got a call from an unknown number that I woke up from my daze and looked around. Wasn’t this Starbucks? Why did I appear here with my messed up appearance?!

But before doing anything, I picked up the call.

“Helly, miss Elise?”

“Yes?” I stopped on my tracks after hearing a professional male voice.

“I’m the chief editor of Novice Writer app, and we are sorry to inform you that we cannot accept your book.”

Once I heard this sentence, a bubble of pent up anger burst from my heart. I was already frustrated because my chances of meeting that editor was already ruined. And now, another editor decided to pour salt on my wounds. I gripped the phone tighter and yelled at the other man on the phone as if I was venting out my feelings. “What do you know?! Are you a writer?! My novel genre is unique, and I know what’s good about my book. You don’t have to tell me that I’m not qualified! You people just know how to reject someone without even caring for the other’s work!”

After that, I hung up, and suppressed my desire to throw my phone away, putting it back in my purse.

Just then, someone suddenly put a jeans jacket on my shoulders and presented a handkerchief before my face. “I think you need this.”

An unfamiliar voice spoke in a hoarse voice.

I was stunned and turned around only to see Vampire standing before my eyes. His dark blue eyes stared down at me as his blonde hair fluttered in the wind. He was so tall that I only reached his shoulders. Sunlight enhanced his facial features even more, making him glow like some God. My mouth hung open upon seeing how handsome this guy was in reality!

It took me a long time to come back to myself after suddenly facing such a handsome face standing so close to me. I parted my lips and said in a stuttering voice, “I-I’m Elise.”

The smile on the man’s face widened. “Vampire.” And he shook his hand with mine, not even caring about my messed up appearance.

Even I forgot that I had mascara and eyeliner all over my face. I must have looked quite distorted, but this man didn’t seem to care about it. But at this time, I didn’t want to focus on anything else. I just stood there, staring at him stupidly.

Vampire chuckled seeing my expression and said, “You know, Margot Elise Robbie is my favorite actress, and you’re as charming as her.”

There was a touch of pinkish blush on my cheeks, and I muttered a small thanks.

“Shall we go?” He said, pointing his hand toward Starbucks. I nodded absentmindedly, still staring at him dazedly. He smiled and walked toward the entrance.

My eyes kept following him until he disappeared inside the door, and I suddenly woke up from my daze. My eyes widened when I realized what had just happened. Did I just meet Vampire with my messed up appearance?!

I couldn’t help but groan at that. Originally, I had planned to use my beauty to tempt this editor into working on my book. But it looks like my plans of using my beauty as a bargaining chip was ruined just because of that damned rain! I couldn’t help but curse the clouds out loud in my heart.

I quickly raised my eyebrows and wiped my face furiously, trying to remove all the signs of messed up makeup from my face. I was still feeling cold, but it wasn’t something I couldn’t handle. I rarely got a fever or even fell sick anyway. So I wasn’t worried.

This guy was so charming that he had even tried to flirt with me even after seeing this kind of makeup on my face. I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed. At this time, I had realized that I had fallen for him.

After a while, I finally had the courage to face that guy, and entered the place. I looked around to find him sitting in the corner round table, staring out of the window as sunlight blessed him a golden halo. I instantly forgot my surroundings after seeing his face.

It seemed as if Vampire had perceived my gaze, and glanced at me. His smile widened and gestured to me to walk over.

I instantly walked over, even nearly fell on the ground while rushing toward him.

When he saw my clumsy behavior, he chuckled again and shook his head. A trace of blush crept up my cheeks at that.

After a while, I found myself timidly sitting before him as the waiter poured us tea. Silence engulfed both of us. Vampire kept staring out of the window while sipping the tea every once in a while. His image right now seemed to portray an image of a very handsome man from animes. I blushed again and lowered my head.

But then, he didn’t seem to like the silence between us. He finally opened his mouth and said, “I hate those people who don’t even care to look at the author’s works and simply reject it.”

I was stunned hearing this. “I-I don’t hate editors completely.” I didn’t want him to think that I had a grudge against his profession, and hurriedly tried to explain myself. “I mean you’re also an editor, and you accept my novel.”

He shrugged. “That was because I genuinely liked your work, and actually read your book.” He paused and sighed. “Some editors simply see the comments of your book to decide whether they would like to give you a contract or not. I hate this.”

“Do you think my book is good?” A trace of happiness bubbled inside my heart when I heard his words. It seemed like he really loved reading good books, and he didn’t want to reject novels simply for the sake of money.

He loved his profession.

“Definitely! Your book has good characters. You just need a bit of polishing and guidance, and you’re good to go.” He paused again and looked out of the window. “My superior is also like that. He often rejects many books without even giving it a read. He would go through the comments of your current readers on Wedpad, and decide whether it will bring him money or not. If not, he would reject it outright without even blinking.” His voice turned angry. “He’s an editor, but he doesn’t have a bit of liking toward literature!”

“Exactly! All the editors are like that! So hateful!” I pouted in anger. “They have rejected my book so many times that I even forgot the count. As it turns out, these people don’t even bother reading the manuscript.”

“You don’t know, Elise, you won’t find any genuine editors here unless and until there’s someone who loves literature.” Vampire looked down and shook his head. “In my entire career, I have seen only one such person.”

I smiled at his reaction. This man seemed too perfect for me, and I couldn't help but stare at him a few more times. I didn’t even remember how many times my heart raced whenever our eyes met.

Just like that, we talked a lot about our daily life, and I found out that this guy had been married for two years, and he was three years younger than me. I nodded and said, “I’m married as well.” But I paused. I didn’t know what to say about my husband. He never supported me when it comes to my novels, and now when I wanted to move forward, he even mocked me this morning.

Even thinking about him ruins my mood.

I forced a smile and said, “He’s a clerk.”

“He doesn’t support you, does he?” Vampire spoke seriously.

I was surprised to see that he found this out so easily. I couldn’t help but feel embarrassed at that.

Just then, he glanced at his wrist watch, and his eyes widened. “Look at the time! I have to go to the office.” Then he smiled awkwardly. “We sat here for two hours, and didn’t even discuss anything about your work. I apologise, my bad.”

I waved my hand. “It’s okay.”

“I have read your book.” Vampire said while paying for the tea. “You first have to pay attention to grammar, and work on the plot. I have noticed a few loopholes, but if you’re able to recognize them early on, your work will shine even more.” Then he paused and thought for a while. “You can just try to find more loopholes in your storyline and try to find a solution for them, okay? I’ll see you again, dear, and we will really talk about your novel next time.”

Just like that, we exchanged contact information, and he left. I sat there for a while, still staring at the place where he was sitting in a daze. I couldn’t believe what had happened. A handsome editor just said that my work was good, and even guided me to write better. And most importantly, he even looked so dashing!

I smiled widely, clearly in a good mood.