June wants to hide but keeps two commitments: a DC library visit with students and a Virginia festival panel on East Asia–inspired stories. A French Embassy contact goes silent, signaling reputational damage, but June decides not to cancel, fearing that would look like an admission of guilt.

The library event is uneventful. The audience turns out to be third graders who ask simple questions about publishing; June delivers platitudes on literacy, takes a group photo, and leaves without incident.

The festival panel goes badly from the start. June arrives late to a cold reception. During introductions, she mispronounces Ailin Zhou’s name and then makes a strained joke, further alienating the room. While answering a question, June shares a CLC head-tax anecdote to justify The Last Front’s themes, but the audience is disengaged.

Artist Diana Qiu abruptly interrupts, challenges June on “unacknowledged Asian labor,” and accuses her of stealing words from a dead woman, prompting gasps and widespread recording by attendees. Moderator Annie Brosch tries to steer the conversation back; Noor Rishi physically signals Diana to stand down. The panel limps to its end, with June silent and humiliated, then she hastily leaves.

Back home, June finds comfort in messages from Marnie and Jen, who mock Diana’s art and motives. June reviews Diana’s website, dismisses her work, and convinces herself the attacks stem from jealousy. She resolves not to let online critics derail her career even as viral clips amplify the damage.