Chapter 123

"How dare you call my writing trash? Do you even understand literary creation?"

"...I know you mean well, but that fast-food literature isn't the style I want. I can adapt, but at least give me a transition period?"

"...I need time to think. Let's end it here."

Victoria Langley hung up and turned to meet her daughter's concerned gaze. She forced a smile. "Just some disagreements with the publishing house."

"Mom, you look pale."

"It's nothing." Victoria rubbed her temples. "Traditional publishing is struggling. My editor suggested I switch to online novels. But me—a mystery writer—suddenly writing urban romance..."

"Urban romance?" Evelyn Langley's eyes widened.

Victoria nodded bitterly.

A legend in mystery fiction, Victoria had skyrocketed to fame a decade ago with The Weapon. Her follow-up The Deserted School sold over a million copies. That year, the top five spots on bestseller lists all bore her name.

Her current editor had sought her out during that golden era.

With sharp instincts and earnest persistence, the editor made multiple house calls until Victoria—moved by her dedication—signed a ten-year contract.

Little did she know it would become the turning point of her career.

Since then, every idea Victoria proposed got rejected as "not marketable." Outlines that barely got approved always required last-minute revisions. After endless edits, her original creative spark had long faded.

A decade's worth of discarded drafts now filled her study drawers.

She hadn't stopped publishing entirely.

Under strong editorial pressure, Victoria reluctantly wrote a campus romance novel. It coincided with a youth drama boom, and the publisher hoped to cash in on adaptation rights.

But this wasn't her forte.

Two years of planning, one year of polishing—by publication time, trends had shifted. Youth literature became labeled "shallow" and "melodramatic," making Victoria's new work an easy target.

Longtime fans accused her of betraying her roots. Critics slammed her "twisted values." Online trolls even speculated she'd sold her pen name.

Insomnia plagued her during that period.

Without her husband and daughter's support, she might never have recovered. Since then, she avoided the internet entirely, switching to the most basic cellphone model.

"How's the fried breadstick?"

"Just as delicious as always." Evelyn sipped her soy milk hesitantly. "Just...a bit too hot."

"Take your time."

Victoria gazed out the window. Sunlight streamed through the glass onto the table but couldn't penetrate the shadows in her eyes.