Henry Hartwell: 5 million. That’s a bit more than I expected.
Claire: Huh?
Henry Hartwell: When he wires you the money, have him clearly state the reason for the transfer and send you the receipt. It’ll save you from trouble later on.
Claire Sinclair couldn’t help but ask, "What kind of trouble?"
Henry Hartwell: You’re a reporter for the Astoria Daily. All inco that goes into your account needs to be transparent. You need to consider not just yourself, but Young Master Quincy as well.
Oh, my god!
’Thank goodness Teacher Hartwell reminded . I never would have thought of this on my own.’
Claire Sinclair said gratefully, "I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Teacher Hartwell."
Henry Hartwell: He’s asking for your account number himself. Looks like he still has designs on you. This isn’t really his business, so be careful when you talk to him. Try to use professional, formal language.
Claire: What kind of formal language?
Henry Hartwell: "Hello. Apologies for the interruption. I will have to consult my superior before I can give you a reply." Stuff like that. Think you can handle it?
Claire: Got it. I’ll reply to him now.
’So that’s the kind of formal language Teacher Hartwell ant. That’s pretty simple.’
Henry Hartwell: If he causes you any trouble in the future, tell imdiately. Especially if you’re not sure what to do.
Claire: Teacher Hartwell, you’re a total lifesaver...
Henry Hartwell: Whoa, don’t say that. I’m only 28. Go on, reply to him.
Claire: Right!
Only then did Claire Sinclair pull up Ethan Kingsley’s chat window, type in the number she had morized, and hit send.
Ethan Kingsley: Took you long enough to reply. I thought you were busy.
Claire: I am rather busy. Mr. Kingsley, when you wire the money, please clearly state that it is for the contract termination fee. And I’ll need the receipt as well.
Ethan Kingsley: Alright. Rember to co and get the receipt when you have a free mont.
Claire: Thank you. I need to get back to my work now.
Claire Sinclair put her phone down, setting the matter aside.
Half an hour later, Claire Sinclair received a text ssage notification about a deposit to her bank account.
[XX Bank] 5,000,000 has been deposited into your account ending in **** on May 31. Reason: Contract Termination Fee.
Claire Sinclair’s attention wasn’t captured by the long string of zeros, but by the date: May 31.
’June 2nd is almost here. Those people will probably contact again.’
’Whatever. I’ll cross that bridge when I co to it. When it cos to hacking, I’m pretty confident in my skills.’
...
As the end of the month approached, the newspaper office entered its busy season.
Claire Sinclair was still a rookie reporter, so for now, she didn’t have to go out chasing stories. Instead, she helped the veteran reporters proofread articles slated for publication.
Since it was the last issue of the month, the content was much more extensive than usual. Claire Sinclair’s article, "Senluo, Senluo, Please Don’t Say Goodbye to the World!" was featured in this edition and would be published simultaneously on the official website and social dia accounts.
When Claire Sinclair got to proofreading her own article, she couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitent.
This was her first article to be published in the Astoria Daily. It was a lengthy 5,000-character piece. Its title was featured in a large headline on the front page, and the article itself started on page three, taking up a full four pages, complete with a beautiful illustration.
’Publishing a romance-thed article in such a traditional and formal newspaper feels a bit unconventional,’ she thought. ’I wonder if readers will accept it once it’s out. I really hope I don’t get torn to shreds...’
Just as she was lost in thought, Hughes, the layout designer, suddenly walked over. "Claire Sinclair, this article is beautifully written! I really wanted to draw a four-panel comic for it, but unfortunately, we don’t have the page space. Your writing is so good, you should write novels!"
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