Chapter 21: Change if It Doesn't Work

"Do I?" Hannah's mouth tightened abruptly at the corners.

[Yes, we are on a sadistic task, and you have just been...]

To be honest, Golden Lotus was quite apprehensive of Hannah. When it found out that it would become Hannah's support system, it knew that she was different from other Stellar Anchors.

Most people come to live-stream for money, but she was there because she was banished.

However, it didn't know what crime she had committed. All the files about Hannah were marked top secret and access was prohibited.

But it did know that its new owner was not someone to be messed with.

What just happened in the dorm was partly its fault, too.

As a support system, it was supposed to start a live-stream when the sadistic plot began. But the just-ended scenario in the dorm was part of the background in the original plot, and there was no need for a live stream.

The live-streaming room was turned on because it accidentally triggered it during debugging.

"Never mind, I'll be careful next time." Hannah waved her hand nonchalantly.

The Golden Lotus let out the breath it had been holding.

"I will remember to avoid the camera."

[...]

[So, why are you asking George River for the audition spot? Will he give it to you?]

Hannah flipped through the contract on the desktop nonchalantly. Her gaze stopped at the $200,000 breach-of-contract penalty and a smirked played on her lips. "I don't know, but surely you can't expect me to exchange 2000 dollars for an audition spot?"

The Golden Lotus kept quiet, feeling its master made a lot of sense.

Its master was truly miserable. She didn't earn much from the live-streams, and she had no money in her account. It was a pitiful sight.

Two minutes later, the assistant came back after making the call. His face was still stern, but a slight change of color was noticeable.

Hannah had a hunch about the outcome.

Just as she expected, the first words from the assistant after sitting down were an apology, "Director River also asked me to pass you a message, he said...he said there are no remaining connections between you two, and he hopes you remember what he said to you the other day, otherwise...otherwise..."

The assistant stammered and seemed unwilling to relay the rest of the message.

He began to feel Director River had crossed the line. He could understand messing up and wasting two years of a girl's life only to break up callously. It was completely unjust.

"Or else, he would blacklist me? Ruin me?" Hannah continued effortlessly, indifferent. "Or perhaps he wants me to just disappear from this city?"

Hannah's soft voice was feather-light with a touch of sweetness, but upon closer listening, there was an underlying tone of calmness-- a sort of resignation that came only after reaching the depths of despair.

Being George River's trusted assistant, the man suddenly felt pity for the girl in front of him.

Director River abruptly had someone else he was interested in, and he nonchalantly discarded his ex-girlfriend. Now, he was making such harsh remarks.

It was just...

In the end, Hannah signed the contract and received the $200,000.

After all, even if she didn't sign the contract, George River had all the means to terminate it. Instead of going in circles and making a fuss, she'd rather move forward to the next thing.

Golden Lotus, however, was greatly concerned about how its master could participate in Shining Star Journey 2.

Hannah, as usual, seemed unperturbed. She flipped out a business card that she had tossed to the corner earlier and said, "So what if I lose a sponsor? I can always find another one. It's not a big deal."

*

George River's life had been difficult recently, especially at the company.