Chapter 50: Asking Young Master Xi for an Autograph

“You are the first person, apart from my family, to discover this secret.”
Xianyu Zheng saw a trace of sadness on Xi Junle’s face.
But she was not adept at comforting others, so she merely stood quietly, waiting for him to regain composure.
A stronger autumn breeze swept through, setting the wind chimes ringing, and Xianyu Zheng’s half-tied hair fluttered with the wind, brushing against Xi Junle’s arm and pulling him from his thoughts.
“Sorry,” he said with an apologetic smile, “this spot is right in the path of the wind. Shall we go to the flower hall in the front courtyard instead?”
Xianyu Zheng followed his lead, “Alright.”
Once inside the flower hall, Xi Junle had the servants bring out some pastries.
He thoughtfully offered, “Although the banquet will start soon, in such settings, you probably won’t get to eat much. It’s better to have some pastries now, so you don’t stay hungry for too long.”
Xianyu Zheng wholeheartedly agreed; grand family banquets were mostly for socializing, and few guests would focus solely on eating in the host’s presence.
Xi Junle was indeed considerate, attentive to his guests’ needs.
“Thank you.” She thanked him and began to eat at a leisurely pace.
Unlike the Western-style pastries at the Nangong residence, the Xi family served traditional pastries, some with southern flavors. Xianyu Zheng enjoyed them immensely!
Xi Junle watched her taste one after another, feeling a pang in his heart. Her days at the Nangong residence must be difficult.
He knew, given the prestige of the Nangong family, allowing a distant relative to attend Liyang Academy was already rare, and one could not expect them to show much additional kindness to Xianyu Zheng.
Moreover, he’d heard she came from the countryside, so it was no wonder she faced exclusion from socialites like Nangong Xin.
Unbeknownst to Xianyu Zheng, Xi Junle imagined her life as tragic. She simply liked the southern-style pastries made by the Xi family chef!
As she was enjoying herself, she suddenly heard a servant outside announce, “Young Master Nangong.” Instinctively, Xianyu Zheng stuffed the remaining half of her pastry into her mouth.
The predictable outcome followed: “Cough, cough, cough…” She choked!
Xi Junle hurriedly handed her a cup of tea.
Xianyu Zheng took it, drank a couple of sips, but couldn’t stop coughing.
Xi Junle reached out to help, but as he did, Nangong Ao entered, quickly strode over, unobtrusively brushed Xi Junle’s hand aside, and pressed two fingers firmly on an acupoint on Xianyu Zheng’s back.
Her coughing ceased immediately.

Her cheeks flushed as she looked at Nangong Ao, silently lamenting: Now I’ve embarrassed myself at someone else’s house for the sake of greed. Young Master Ao will surely make me attend etiquette lessons again!
“What happened?” Nangong Ao asked, his face stern.
“I…”
Xianyu Zheng had just begun to speak when Xi Junle interrupted, “I was the one who told her to eat!”
He wanted to shield her from Nangong Ao’s reproach. But to Nangong Ao, the situation took on a different meaning.
Since when did the young master of the Xi family show such attentiveness to girls? Had he sensed something?
The peculiarity of Xianyu Zheng’s genetics was still a secret. Even with the closest ties to the Xi family, the Nangongs could not allow this secret to be exposed.
“When you’re a guest outside, you must know how to be reserved and polite!”
Hearing the admonition, Xianyu Zheng nodded obediently and silently prayed: Please, let me off; don’t go on and on here!
Xi Junle, seeing how meekly she responded, believed she feared Nangong Ao’s punishment, and added, “Brother Ziyu, Zheng was startled because you arrived—that’s why she choked!”
His implication was: Are you usually so cold to her that she’s frightened of you?
Nangong Ao’s brow furrowed, “Startled by me?”
Why? Was it because he hadn’t let her eat supper last time, and she thought he’d scold her again?
Xianyu Zheng didn’t want the conversation to linger on this, so she changed the subject, “Young Master Xi, I have some friends who are your fans. Could I ask you for a few autographs?”
Xi Junle was unlike celebrities in the entertainment industry; he didn’t like giving out autographs easily. He considered himself a simple musician, not a popular idol—what was so special about his signature?
But now, with Xianyu Zheng asking for an autograph, he felt a vague sense of disappointment. Was she asking only for her friends?
Nangong Ao, seeing Xi Junle’s silence, remarked, “It’s just an autograph. What’s there to hesitate about?”
Xi Junle hadn’t actually hesitated, but with Nangong Ao’s words, he felt as though agreeing was somehow forced, which left him feeling uneasy.
“Uh, is it not allowed to give autographs freely?”
Xianyu Zheng guessed perhaps it was the agency’s rule. She didn’t know that Xi Junle’s agency belonged to him.
“It’s fine,” Xi Junle replied, “I just didn’t expect you would want my autograph.”
He deliberately misinterpreted her request.

Xianyu Zheng blushed slightly, “You—you’re a musical genius. Who wouldn’t want your autograph!”
Well, she was not among the most enthusiastic admirers.
Xi Junle’s mood lightened, and he smiled, “Where should I sign?”
Asking for an autograph was impulsive, and Xianyu Zheng hadn’t thought of a place for it. Should she go find a notebook?
Unable to watch her awkwardness any longer, Nangong Ao took out a square handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to Xi Junle, “Sign one at each corner, so her friends can divide them as they wish.”
Xi Junle: “…”
Why did it sound as though his autograph was cheap?
Inspired, Xianyu Zheng took out a silk scarf from her handbag, smiling with squinted eyes as if presenting a treasure, “I have one as well.”
Both Nangong Ao and Xi Junle turned to look at her.
Nangong Ao: This little sister seems a bit foolish! He knew she was only asking for autographs to change the topic—she could have just taken one and been done, but she added another.
Xi Junle, on the other hand, was infected by her smile, and his spirits soared.
He signed his name boldly in the center of her silk scarf and left a small line beneath: “For Zheng, as a keepsake.” This way, the autograph was meant just for Xianyu Zheng herself.
Nangong Ao, seeing Xi Junle’s gesture, grew more suspicious. Did he truly harbor feelings for this sister?
Given the Xi family’s status and Xi Junle’s character, it seemed unlikely he was enamored with Xianyu Zheng.
Perhaps he sensed Xianyu Zheng’s importance to the Nangong family? Should he be more cautious of the Xi family in the future?
In any case, it was necessary to remind Xianyu Zheng not to become too close to Xi Junle!
Once Xi Junle finished signing, the Xi patriarch happened to call for him, and Nangong Ao seized the opportunity to instruct Xianyu Zheng, “From now on, keep your distance from Xi Junle.”
Xianyu Zheng was puzzled, “Why?”
Had she ever been particularly close to the young master of the Xi family?
Nangong Ao paused, then explained, “Because Xi Madam once suppressed your mother…”