Ned rubs a hand over his eyes, trying to hide (by reflex only, since he knows Daneel will pick up on it) a little spike of irritation at himself for failing to make the concept clear, for his inefficiency with words and his dependence on certain frames of explanation that are useless to Daneel.

"Whether or not it's an act of creation hinges on whether or not you make something, not on the method of making it. It's just- I'm just trying to tell you that originality isn't the only thing."

But even that was probably only muddling the waters, so he lets it go, shifts his attention back to the story itself. Because even if Daneel doesn't realize it - or doesn't want to realize it - Ned knows it is a unique creative product. It is also, furthermore, quite interesting to him. Some of the changes that Daneel has made are ones that they discussed between them. He adds in the father's ignorance to the abusive pattern of behavior between his daughters. He adds in a detail about why the merchant is allowed so many children, a fact that makes him smile, because it reminds him of the fact that this is something he knows about Daneel, now. Some frame of reference that he understands (and that others in the town might not).

When he gets to the part where the Beast should turn into a handsome prince but doesn't, the story cuts off. That is as far as Daneel has gotten, but it's a great place to conclude for the time being, because it has Ned beaming.

"You made it so the Beast didn't have to change," he says, openly delighted by this detail.