The venue for the C&K Comic Convention is the largest indoor convention center in Fenton City. The space used for the con can accommodate thousands of people, and the backstage is fully equipped with enough rest areas for each cartoonist, streamer, singer, and other guests to rest. The separated rest areas don’t have doors and aren’t spacious. They have tables and chairs, drinks, but it is more than enough to hold one or two people. "Have a drink first." Leading Nora Scott to a rest area, Laura Collins picked up a bottle of yogurt from the table and handed it to Nora. Nora unscrewed the cap, took a sip of the yogurt, and asked, "What time does the signing event start?" "Ten o’clock. There are quite a few people coming, so it’s likely going to end quite late," Laura also opened a bottle of yogurt and took a sip, checked her watch, and said, "There’s still more than half an hour. I’ll walk around with you first; after that, you can stroll around by yourself without waiting for me." Nora had no objections. The two chatted casually for a few moments and then headed out of the rest area. However, as Nora was stepping out first, she almost collided with someone passing by. Just as Nora dodged, she heard a faint curse. With a frown, Nora peered through her sunglasses and was surprised to find that the person she almost collided with was the same woman who had earlier been with Isabella Hart outside the door— According to Laura’s introduction, this person was named Molly, Isabella’s editor. This editor named Molly had ear-length light brown hair, was a bit short, barely reaching Nora’s nose even in high heels, a bit chubby, with a round face. At the moment, her almost non-existent eyebrows were knitted tightly in a posture full of irritation and displeasure. She lifted her chin and widened her eyes, glaring directly at Nora. But even through the thin lenses of her sunglasses, she could feel two ice-cold gazes falling upon her. Instantly, she felt alarmed, nervous, and the words of complaint she wanted to say got stuck in her throat. "Molly, that was quite careless of you." Laura’s voice floated over, drawing Molly’s attention away. Molly turned her head slightly to see Laura walking out of the rest area. The anger and displeasure in her heart were forcibly suppressed a bit within seconds. With a forced stiff smile, Molly spoke relatively calmly, "She’s your friend?" Molly scrutinized Nora again, seeing her wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap, wrapped up tightly and mysteriously. Recalling the creepy feeling from the earlier glance, Molly felt a bit unsettled and spoke with a sarcastic tone, "This area is for guest resting; unrelated persons should refrain from entering." The words were courteous, but anyone could hear her cold sarcasm. That kind of contemptuous arrogance couldn’t be hidden by any amount of powder on her face, leaking out from the corners of her eyes and her brows. "No need to trouble you," Laura stepped forward half a step, shielding Nora behind her, smiling insincerely at Molly, and spoke curtly, "You better go watch over Isabella Hart, lest she gets harassed by ’stalkers’ and we all get disturbed." There was a reason for saying this— Yesterday at the hotel, Isabella and this editor named Molly insisted that two people were following Isabella suspiciously, suspecting them to be stalkers, and asked the hotel to change rooms. It turned out, after being checked by the hotel manager, those two people didn’t know Isabella at all, they just happened to stay next door to her. Perfectly fine situation turned ludicrous with needless suspicion, making a complete joke of it. Fortunately, the industry peers present were well-mannered enough not to mock them to their faces. Molly was so squeezed by Laura’s words that her complexion changed back and forth, feeling humiliated, but no matter how angry she was, she dared not really quarrel with Laura. Although Laura published comics in CC Comics, it was merely the magazine that signed the contract and cooperated with CC Comics, not under the jurisdiction of CC Comics. Moreover, Laura’s status was quite special; her grandfather was a pioneering figure in the comic circle. Although he had retired, as a relatively new comic editor, it wouldn’t be wise to provoke a cartoonist with such a background. Having no outlet for her frustration, Molly gritted her teeth with a flushed face, let out a cold snort, and left with a dark expression. Before leaving, as she passed by Nora, she didn’t forget to glare at her. Watching this scene, Nora couldn’t help but feel incredulous. The way she strutted around, one would think she was a newly overnight sensation. "Yeah," Laura raised her brow in helplessness, retreating beside Nora and casually placing her elbow on Nora’s shoulder, "So, did you learn something new today?"
