Twelve

Summary

• The protagonist has two commitments to fulfil—a library visit for students and a panel at a literary festival. She is also due for a visit to the CLC memorial in France, but communication from the French Embassy ceased after the smear campaign against her.
• The library visit goes smoothly. The audience is composed of third-grade students who don't show interest or distaste in her or her work.
• The panel discussion at the festival is a disaster. The protagonist arrives late and is greeted with hostility from the other panelists. The panelists do not respond to anything she says or even acknowledge her presence.
• When asked about her inspiration, the protagonist tells the story of the Chinese Labourers (CLC) subjected to harsh conditions in Canada in the early 20th century. The story doesn't elicit any reaction from the audience or the other panelists.
• One of the panelists, Diana Qiu, interrupts the protagonist's story accusing her of plagiarising a dead woman's work. The protagonist tries to defend herself, but is overwhelmed with humiliation as the crowd seems to side with Diana.
• After the panel, the protagonist leaves the venue feeling dejected and hides in her room, where she reads messages of support from her fans, disparaging Diana's art. This motivates her to continue to fight the accusations against her.