"Chasing Stars, Finding You"

Mia woke up the next morning with a mix of excitement and anxiety twisting in her stomach. She reached for her phone, her heart pounding as she refreshed the page where she had posted her first chapter the night before.

The number of views had grown overnight. There were more comments now, small bursts of encouragement from strangers. Some readers praised her writing style, while others eagerly asked when the next chapter would be posted.

She couldn't believe it. People were actually reading her words.

A notification popped up. A message from Lucas.

Lucas: So… have you checked?

Mia grinned, quickly typing a reply.

Mia: Yes! I can't believe it. People are actually reading my story.

Lucas: Told you they would. So, what's next?

Mia hesitated. She had spent so long fearing rejection that she hadn't considered what would happen if people actually liked her work. Was she ready for this? Ready to commit to something bigger?

Before she could reply, her phone buzzed again. This time, it was an email—from Webnovel. Her breath caught in her throat as she opened it.

"Dear Author,

We've noticed your recent submission and would like to invite you to apply for a contract with us…"

Mia's heart skipped a beat. A contract? Already?

She read through the details carefully. It wasn't a guarantee, just an invitation to apply, but it meant someone had noticed her work. Someone believed she had potential.

She needed to think. She needed advice.

Without wasting another second, she threw on a hoodie, grabbed her notebook, and headed to the café where she and Lucas often met. She found him already waiting, sipping his usual black coffee.

The moment he saw her face, he raised an eyebrow. "Something happened."

Mia slid into the seat across from him and pushed her phone toward him. "Read this."

Lucas scanned the email, his expression shifting from curiosity to excitement. "Mia! This is huge!"

"I know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But it's all happening so fast. What if I'm not ready?"

Lucas set the phone down and leaned forward. "You were ready the moment you clicked 'publish.'"

Mia chewed her lip. "A contract means commitment. It means I have to keep writing, keep posting regularly. What if I can't keep up? What if I let people down?"

Lucas smiled, his tone gentle. "What if you don't? What if this is exactly what you've been waiting for?"

Mia stared down at her notebook, tracing the edges of the cover with her fingers. She had spent years dreaming of being an author, but she had never imagined an opportunity would come this soon. It was terrifying. It was exhilarating.

She took a deep breath. "Okay. I'll apply."

Lucas grinned. "That's my girl."

A small smile played on Mia's lips. Maybe, just maybe, she was ready for this step after all.