Mouse tattling—smart mice!
Ollie Blake really didn't have a formal degree. His situation was complicated, but he'd done well on Riverside University's entrance exams both times he took them, and Riverside was a respected school even among humans.
They'd agreed early on that if Ollie's lack of credentials came up again, they'd put his previous entrance exam scores out there first.
At least that would prove the kid wasn't illiterate.
Caleb Ross had already seen Ollie's scores. The written tests weren't the issue—Ollie had mostly passed those. It was the practical exams and the aura application tests that he, as a nonhuman, kept failing; otherwise he'd already have a diploma.
Last year he missed the cutoff by six points. Six points!
Caleb sighed and went to work overtime contacting Starline's PR team to send out the contingency plan they'd prepared ages ago.
No amount of internet fury could touch the show's guests—though their phones picked up signal, the connection was awful. Streaming was basically impossible; even contacting their agents had to be done with text messages that felt prehistoric. Hot topics on Instagram were swapping by the minute, but none of that was getting through.
"Zoey, when is Julian getting here? It's pretty late—won't driving in on those mountain roads be dangerous?" Ollie kept feeling like the whole village took on a creepy edge once night fell. Julian's health wasn't great. He didn't know if the darkness would affect him.
Zoey Park glanced at her phone. "He's already in Easton Village. It's a little dark, but he'll be here in about ten minutes. Don't worry—we'll keep our guests safe."
Mason Yu, who'd wandered over without Ollie noticing, suddenly asked, "So the big reveal tonight really is Julian North?"
Ollie jumped. Why did everyone here have to sound so gloomy?
What's with show business and all these ominous people?
Zoey stopped pretending there was more to tease out. "Yes. It's Julian North. Julian will be joining our show as a regular after this—"
"Zoey, do you have a medical team on standby?" Caleb was already prepping for contract fallout. As the host, Zoey couldn't be oblivious; she'd only been trying to salvage the situation per the production's instructions.
"We do. Director Liu arranged through Citrus TV headquarters for a private medical team to be on site tomorrow. They can handle basic emergencies. We know Julian's situation and have a dedicated doctor ready."
Zoey was just following orders. Ollie had interrupted her, so she let it go.
Mason was clearly curious about Julian, and seeing Ollie and Julian look close, he came over to pry—though Ollie didn't much want to deal with him.
"Did Julian's year off come from an illness? Is it serious? If the show had to bring in a doctor, is he still not fully recovered?"
"Sorry, that's private," Ollie said. "If you want to know, ask him yourself."
This guy was unbearable—so grim.
Why did he keep getting darker? Was it the environment, or had he spent too much time with Shane Keane?
"These are small things. Once he's on camera tomorrow, it'll be public anyway. Why are you so worried about it now?" Zoey replied.
Ollie shut up. Everyone else knew Mason wasn't someone you picked fights with. Only Jade Hayes—instinctively protective as an adult nonhuman toward younger creatures—almost stepped between them but was pulled back by Grace Jiang.
Ollie was with Starline. Starline's talent could't be bullied without consequence. Jade had barely broken through after her recent hit; this wasn't the time to stick her neck out.
"You're in Grant Shaw's Emberfall, right? Evan White was supposed to be my brother's fiancé in the project you took. My brother hasn't let that slide—you're in for trouble." Mason's tone left no doubt: this was a warning.
Ollie remembered Grant telling Caleb yesterday that Evan White was a tough one to sort out. Everyone knew Evan had powerful backing; they just hadn't expected that the unknown backers would surface so quickly.
Humans were such a headache.
"Whatever. If you blacklist me, great—I'll go back to my mountain and farm." Ollie shrugged. What a glorious option.
Jade almost laughed—she'd heard the gossip about Ollie and couldn't hold it in. Mason actually smiled a little; maybe he thought this was clever.
"No one's dared speak to me like that," Mason said. "Not even Julian—he had to cuddle me when we were kids. Just because Starline backs him doesn't mean I can't make trouble for him."
"And what are you going to do?" Mason had barely finished when a clear voice cut through the room. Everyone turned to the doorway.
Julian North stood there in black—black cap, black duffel, black backpack—like someone who'd stepped out of a funeral procession. His skin was startlingly pale; he looked like a ghost come to judge a room.
"Mason," Julian said. Mason took an involuntary step back.
"Say something, Mason. If you've got something to say, say it to me. Don't bully my kid." Julian hooked his cap onto his suitcase handle and fixed Mason with a steady look. "If you mean the time I supposedly coddled you by roughing you up in front of your brother, I don't mind doing it again. Consider this an apology on behalf of the family's clueless kid. How about that?"
Everyone stared at Mason like he'd been unmasked as a petty rich kid who'd been all bluff. He'd been acting high-and-mighty, but without the person he was using to intimidate right there, the act collapsed.
Ollie seized the moment like he'd found his savior. He darted behind Julian and peered up at him with a pitiful face, pointing at Mason and Shane. "Julian—those two are picking on me! QAQ!"
Shane, who'd only been watching, looked completely baffled. Wait—how did the fire get directed at him?
Jade gave Ollie a thumbs-up. Mouse tattling! Smart mouse!
Julian had been asked by Caleb to take care of Ollie on the show. He felt a flush of guilt that his late arrival might have led to Ollie getting picked on.
He ruffled Ollie's little grey head, then turned cold-eyed to Mason and Shane. "Mason, I let that thing go before because I respected your brother. Now it looks like you want me to make it public and kick you out of show business. Is that what you want?"
Mason had threatened to swap roles with Ollie earlier. The table had turned. Julian wasn't about to let that humiliation slide.
"Go Julian! Caleb said the company will back us!" someone cheered.
Mason dared not act up in front of Julian. He shot Ollie a lethal look; Ollie happily shot one back. He now had someone to back him—literally.
Ollie pulled a big silly face at Mason. Mason felt his head spin from anger. He'd had his way his whole life; the only time he'd fallen was because of Julian. Now he had a mouse to deal with too.
"Wait. My brother only let you off out of family face. If anything real happens, do you think he'd stand with me instead of you? You get cocky, Julian—Memory Tour is your first comeback project. I can make it your last!" Mason hissed, then stormed out of the lobby and back to his room. The rest of the guests and crew were left staring at each other.
After a while, Grace looked at Julian with hesitation. "Julian, it's been a while. Are you—are you okay with Mason?"
"No. Don't worry about him." Julian sat on the couch and idly popped a pill from a bottle into his mouth. Seeing Mason had stirred something in him—emotional reactions were inevitable. His physical condition had been treated, but the doctor had warned him to keep his spirits up.
"Don't worry, Grace. Preston Mu isn't stupid—he won't let Mason's temper affect his own company," Ollie said. He didn't know the history between Julian and Mason, but Julian spoke with that quiet confidence people tended to trust. Besides, there was Starline too.
"Okay, just be careful. Mason's grudges run deep. There aren't many people who've done something to him and not been repaid—so watch out." Theo Adams was getting excited and almost blurted out Shane's name; he was a fan of Julian and forgot the principal was standing right there.
"Zoey, tell the director: Julian and I absolutely refuse to be in the same group as Mason. If you can't make that happen, we'll pay the penalty for breach of contract." Ollie was usually not so forceful, but he wasn't about to take this lying down—the production had started the trouble.
Zoey gave a helpless smile. "Ollie, the drawing is random. We don't script that. If anyone fiddled with it, the guests would notice. Mason's side—"
"That's not our problem. You invited Mason after I signed the contract. Why didn't you foresee this? You must have an emergency plan." Having steadied himself with the pill, Julian finally had the energy to press the production. He could finish this episode if Mason behaved, but Mason had already made a move and even bullied Ollie. He wouldn't stand for that.
"Mr. North, we have our own difficulties. Maybe—" Zoey began.
"Have Director Liu come talk to me. I don't want to make things harder for you." Julian's tone left no room for argument. Zoey had been trying to dodge responsibility, but at least Julian didn't want anyone innocent punished.
END