"Hu Lei, you will be the first guest on the show. The producer and the host would like to do a short section with you before the movie cast comes on." The new manager looked at Hu Lei with a nervous look in her eyes.

Hu Lei nodded at the repeated reminder. The new manager, Rong Fe, was much younger than Lan Jie, and it seemed like she feared that she would run off at any moment. She had not left her side since their initial meeting.

"It will be alright, Sister Rong."

From another area of the dressing room, Wang Yue looked at Hu Lei with dissatisfaction in her eyes. She had thought that she had finally been rid of the annoyance. But it had not even been three days and she had already returned.

As a person, she did not dislike Hu Lei. However, she had seen the look in Ben Gong Hai's eyes when the woman had entered. He had lost interest in their conversation. It was as if she had ceased to exist. How could she take such a blow to her pride?

There was a light knock on the door. "We are starting."

Hu Lei took a deep breath and willed her heart to slow down. She knew that she was no longer part of the dark world, but there was a visceral rejection in her to be in the limelight. She had always walked in the shadows, merging with the darkness.

But she was not Jane anymore. She told herself as she stood up and walked out of the door.

'You will always be Jane.' A darker voice spoke to her.

She suppressed the wisp of darkness creeping through the edges of her consciousness. And her eyes focussed on the screen showing the beautiful host of Next Moment making jokes and introducing the theme of the show. Then, the official trailer of The Queen of the Apocalypse played.

"Our first guest is the genius mind behind the TQA book. Give a warm welcome to the lovely, Little Ninja Cat."

Hu Lei took a deep breath and stepped onto the scene amid the applause. She shook the host's hands and waved at the studio audience and the camera just as she had been instructed before sitting down.

"She is cute. Isn't she cute?" There was thundering applause. "Now, tell us, did you decide on the name Little Ninja Cat because of your appearance?"

Hu Lei laughed a little. "Not exactly. I was young and foolish, and I loved ninjas and cats. It was a rushed decision."

"I don't think that you could have chosen better." There was another round of applause. "Today, we are talking about The Queen of the Apocalypse. What inspired you?"

"When I was younger, I travelled a lot with my father who was a medical doctor. I saw a lot of suffering, but I also saw a lot of people who were dedicated to fighting for survival. TQA is not a new story. It is about the fight between good and evil in the world."

"So, who inspired your main character?"

Hu Lei giggled. "I used to picture myself as the tall and majestic heroine. We all have our dreams."

The audience laughed with her, and the producer of the Next Moment was glowing in happiness as he saw 'Cute Ninja Cat on NM' trending. He had felt like it was a bad decision when he was ordered to host a section on the author because people wanted to see real celebrities. Now, he could see he was not the owner of the network. The boss had real vision.

"You are adorable as you are." The host laughed and leaned closer. "What about the doctor? Everyone is dying to know who would make you come up with such a twisted character."

Hu Lei smiled a little, but the shadow at the edge of her consciousness seemed to creep even closer. SHe pushed it away along with the memory of her father.

"I think people will be a bit disappointed because I have not had the misfortune of meeting the good doctor. It is actually an imagination of what a doctor, a teacher or even a mother would be without compassion and care. It's hard to hate him because he has logical reasons for his actions. However, you definitely do not want to meet him in a dark alley." She explained.

"I have to say, he is both my favourite and least favourite character. When I read the book, I felt so guilty for not hating him." The host made an exaggerated sad face.

"Now, what do you think of the movie?"

"Like you, I am really looking forward to seeing it. I really like the life they have given the characters and the story. I think it will be really fun watching it."

The Host turned to the cameras. "When we return, the brilliant cast of TQA will be joined our cute little cat, and I will be asking some real questions. Later, there will be a surprise event which you do not want to miss. Don't go anywhere."

"You were brilliant, Hu Lei." The host smiled at Hu Lei. Like the producer, she had been worried that the author would be awkward on the camera. Or, she would give overly deep and philosophical literary answers that no one wanted to hear.

"Thank you for not asking difficult questions." She smiled.