28 The Webnovel Writer’s Chatgroup

It had been a day since Ciel left the Belle Estate to visit his mentor. While he was away, Kate and Chloe spent their time studying for Saint Claire Academy's entrance exam under Andrea's tutelage.

Claire didn't need to study because she passed the exam a year ago. She spent her time in the library of the manor reading some of the novels in their collection.

'No good, I'm gonna die at this rate.' Kate frowned. She was looking at the Math textbook in her hand and she felt an approaching headache.

[You're exaggerating. Just look at Chloe.] Stella hinted at the young girl seated beside Kate. [She has difficulty seeing because of her eyes, but she still persists in studying. Why don't you try a little harder?]

'Ugh...'

Kate glanced at Chloe who had a look of concentration on her face. She was trying to solve a math problem that Andrea had given her. Her head was bent low, almost a hand width away from the book. It showed how difficult it was for her to read and write at the same time.

Stella was right. Compared to Chloe, her whining seemed petty in comparison. Kate picked up the Math textbook once again with renewed determination. The numbers and formulas flashed before her eyes making her dizzy.

'God, I hate Math. I give up!'

[Tsk!]

'Stella, you know I'm not a genius. I won't be able to pass the exam at this rate.'

[J-Just try a little harder. Don't you want to spend a happy school life with Ciel and Chloe?]

'I can handle the other subjects, but I'm weak in Math. Looking at these numbers makes me dizzy!'

Kate grumbled to no end leaving Stella no choice but to take over. The two of them switched and Kate decided to take a nap in their shared mindscape, while Stella studied in her place.

"The only things you are good at are eating and sleeping," Stella muttered helplessly. She gazed at the Math problems and started to solve them one by one.

Andrea was paying close attention to Kate. She noticed that the girl was having a hard time solving the Math problems she prepared for her. On the surface she was calm, but deep inside she was very worried. In order to pass the exam, Kate needed to get high marks in all subjects.

If she failed even one of them then she would not be able to enter the Academy. Andrea knew that she was not a qualified teacher. Since Kate was having trouble learning from her, she would just hire a Math Tutor instead.

She was about to leave the room to make a call when she noticed Kate's hand suddenly moved. She was jotting down formulas on her scratch paper and solving the problems on the worksheet.

Stella and Chloe solved their questionnaires in silence. Only the sound of their writing pens resounded in the room. An hour passed and both of them put down their pen at the same time.

Chloe closed her eyes and massaged her temples, while Stella stretched her arms from side to side. Andrea picked up the bell near her desk and shook it. Half a minute later, a maid entered the room.

Andrea asked her to bring the children to the terrace and serve them their afternoon snack. She didn't forget to ask them to pick up Claire from the library so the three girls could take a break together.

After the two children left the room, Andrea started to mark their answer sheets. A quarter of an hour passed as she blankly stared at Kate's answer sheet.

"Eh?" Andrea tilted her head in confusion. "Are you for real?!"

Kate got full marks on her quiz, which made Andrea think that she made a mistake when marking her papers. She double checked and triple checked them to make sure that she didn't made a mistake. A few minutes passed before she finally put the paper down.

She gazed at the ceiling with a complicated expression. "Either she is a math genius, or she has a knack for tests with multiple choices."

When Ciel told her that he was unable to win against Kate in chess, she thought that it was just beginner's luck. However, her son insisted that the two of them played three games in a row and he was unable to win even once.

Looking at Kate's test results, Andrea was starting to believe Ciel's claim.

"It's still too early to come to a conclusion," Andrea said as she massaged her forehead. "These are just simple math problems. Even Chloe got a near perfect score as well. I will have to raise the difficulty for the next set of questions."

If Ciel were to check these "simple Math problems" that his mother prepared for the two girls then he would have a complicated expression on his face.

The test Andrea prepared for Chloe was for "Year 9 Students."

The one she prepared for Kate was for "Year 11 Students."

(A/N: Year 9 is equivalent to the 8th Grade in America, while Year 11 is equivalent to the 10th Grade).

Andrea couldn't be considered a very intelligent person. She just thought that making the girls answer questions way above their "Year Level" would help them handle anything that the examiners threw at them. Still, after seeing the tests results, she deemed it best to hire a professional tutor for the two girls.

-----

"Big Sister, is something wrong?" Chloe asked. "You seemed different compared to your usual self."

"Oh? You're thinking too much, Chloe." Stella replied with a smile. "Make sure you eat a lot. You're still growing so your body needs a lot of nutrients."

"But, If I eat a lot of cake, wouldn't I get fat?"

"Nonsense! There's always room for desserts. Here, have one more slice."

Claire ate unhurriedly beside them. The novel she was reading a while ago was on top of the table. Stella glanced at the title of the book and read it aloud.

"The Webnovel Writer's Chatgroup. Such an interesting title. Is it any good?" Stella asked.

"Well, it's an amusing story," Claire replied with a grin. "It's a story about an amateur writer who started writing for the first time."

"Oh? Is he any good?"

"No. He sucked big time."

"Eh? Then why did you say it was an amusing story?" Stella stopped eating her cake and waited for Claire's answer.

"Because this novel is a true story." Claire giggled. "According to the author, the story is about the everyday lives of authors in an online chatroom."

"Online chat room?"

"Do you know about the internet?"

Stella shook her head. It was the first time she heard the word internet. She was quite curious about what the word meant.

"Do you know about computers?"

"Compu what?"

"Computers," Chloe repeated beside her. "They are like machines where you can play games, type stuff, and talk to people from far away places."

"Is it similar to a telephone?"

"Yes and No," Claire patiently explained. "It is like a telephone because you could communicate with people. However, you communicate through written text."

"Sounds interesting!"

"I believe there's a computer in Grandpa Arthur's study. If we ask him nicely, maybe he'll let us use it."

"Let's ask him when Big Brother comes back."

"Alright, that sounds like a plan."

Claire patted the book gently. "If possible, I want to meet these authors as well and talk with them in the Webnovel Writer's Chatgroup."

-----

Somewhere in a certain writer's chatroom...

"You bastards! How dare you slander the name of this refined, elegant, and charismatic author?" An author using the pen name Ely typed in fury. "Why are you ruining my image?"

"Image? Do you even have one?" An author replied with a ridicule emoji.

"Shut up Fro Fro!" Ely replied in disdain. "Stop procrastinating and write your goddamn story already!"

"Fro Fro! Ely!" An author with the pen name Jhact spammed hug emojis. "Hug please!"

"Refined, elegant, and charismatic author? That's a funny way of spelling the word 'delusional', Ely. xD!" A female author that has the username Nurie joined the conversation.

"SMH! Nunu, who's side are you on?"

(A/N: SMH = Shake my head. )

"Of course, I'm always on my side."

The authors of popular novels were up to their usual antics in the chatroom. Little did they know that they would be meeting a new member soon, and this member would give them the surprise of their lives.