Chapter 51 - 50: The Third Retainer, Overwhelming Popularity!
Chapter 51: Chapter 50: The Third Retainer, Overwhelming Popularity!
"..."
Her nonchalant remark silenced the entire room.
Lu Mi’s eyes widened. "Th-this girl in the photo is Yingying?" he stammered.
Song Qingmu zoomed in on the picture as much as possible, staring at it intensely. Barely making out that it was a young woman was his absolute limit. "It’s just a back profile! How on earth did you recognize her? Young Master, you must be the Great Sage Equalling Heaven with your Eyes of Golden Flame! Those paparazzi should all lose their jobs!"
Shaoyuan didn’t say a word. He slightly raised his eyes and looked at Shi Changying leisurely, as if waiting for her response.
"Y-yeah, Yingying, didn’t you not even know who Xie Lin is?" Lu Mi’s curiosity was piqued.
Shi Changying remembered. "I don’t know him. I woke up hungry last night and went out for a midnight snack. I forgot my money, and a kind stranger treated me to some fried skewers."
Upon hearing the complimentary term "kind stranger" once again, Shaoyuan raised a hand to rub his temple, letting out an ambiguous chuckle. "Right. A kind stranger."
"Oh my god, Senior Sister!" Song Qingmu exclaimed in sheer excitement. "He actually treated you to fried skewers? Why didn’t you ask him for an autograph?"
Shi Changying had zero interest in that. Who could possibly have a signature more valuable than hers? She paid no mind to anyone who couldn’t measure up to her.
"His autograph could sell for around a thousand yuan online!" Lu Mi chimed in.
Shi Changying did some quick mental math. "So I could sell it and buy dozens of cups of milk tea?"
Song Qingmu was in absolute awe. "Senior Sister, your unit of measurement is truly unique. How can milk tea possibly compare to Xie Lin’s autograph?"
Shi Changying slowly looked up at him with an expression that asked how he could possibly look down on the sacred and glorious milk tea.
Song Qingmu choked on his words for a second before stammering, "M-milk tea is also very precious!"
Only then did Shaoyuan pick his pen back up. He tapped it against the desk and smiled. "Miss, stop looking at them and look at me."
Shi Changying withdrew her gaze and focused on his tutoring.
Shaoyuan lowered his eyes, glancing at her serious demeanor. He carelessly thought that he should have known better—there was nothing else in her heart besides good food and being number one.
At seven o’clock that evening, in the Meng Family’s old house.
After dinner, Xu Zhao Yu said, "Shuyan, Shuyu, Changying will also be attending your grandmother’s birthday banquet. She doesn’t know anyone there, so make sure you two look after her."
"What?" Meng Shuyan yelled. "Our Meng Family has absolutely nothing to do with them! What right do they have to come?"
"Shuyan, don’t let your emotions dictate your actions. This is the most basic etiquette for sending out invitations," Xu Zhao Yu frowned in displeasure. "Your fourth uncle and your cousin Changying have just returned to the Xu Family. They have to enter the Jianghuai social circles eventually. Do you want them to be ostracized for the rest of their lives?"
"They’re outsiders anyway!" Meng Shuyan was outspoken and blunt. "I won’t say anything when we’re at Grandma and Grandpa’s place, but this is the Meng Family. I don’t want to see them!"
Xu Zhao Yu’s face darkened. "Shuyan, watch your tone!"
Just then, Xu Shuyu suddenly called out, "Sister Miaoyan."
Meng Shuyan instantly shut his mouth. He turned his head and also greeted the newcomer, "Sister Miaoyan."
"Miao Yan, when did you get back?" Xu Zhao Yu asked in surprise. "Sorry you had to see that. Shuyan is always so disobedient."
Meng Miaoyan was the only daughter of the second son of the Meng Family. She was twenty-two this year. Four years ago, she had left Jianghuai to study at the Mingjing Film Academy and usually only had time to visit during the holidays.
Crossing her arms, Meng Miaoyan scoffed. "Aunt Zhao Yu, is Shuyan wrong? If just anyone can attend Grandma’s banquet, wouldn’t our Meng Family be no different from a common street market?"
Xu Zhao Yu sighed. "This is also the wish of Shuyu and Shuyan’s grandparents."
"Aunt Zhao Yu, the Xu Family might play favorites, but the Meng Family doesn’t." Meng Miaoyan stepped forward, a look of sheer disgust on her face. "If they really try to push you out, just stay here at the Meng Family. Let’s see if they dare to utter a single word against you!"
She absolutely loathed people who couldn’t grasp their proper place in society. It was true that Xu Zhao Yu wasn’t a biological daughter of the Xu Family, but all her hard work and sacrifices over the years were undeniable facts.
Xu Zhao Yu smiled. She patted Meng Miaoyan’s head and asked with concern, "How have things been for you lately, Miao Yan?"
"I accepted a role in a TV drama, and since the filming location is in Jianghuai, I came back early," Meng Miaoyan explained. "Although I’m only the third female lead in this show, I have scenes with Ms. Lu Qingyuan, so I’ll get a bit more screen time."
Meng Shuyan was astounded. "Sister Miaoyan, you actually get to act alongside Lu Qingyuan? That’s amazing!"
Who exactly was Lu Qingyuan? She was a top-tier female superstar, an A-lister whose popularity was leagues ahead of anyone else.
"Yeah, I just joined the entertainment industry for fun." Meng Miaoyan curled her lips into a smile. "If you guys want her autographed photos, I’ll ask for a few later. You might even be able to take a picture with her."
Xu Shuyu’s expression didn’t waver in the slightest; she had no interest whatsoever in the entertainment industry.
"That would be awesome!" Meng Shuyan cheered excitedly. "Sister Miaoyan, from now on, I’ll do whatever you say."
"Alright, enough of your glib tongue." Meng Miaoyan nodded at Xu Zhao Yu. "Aunt Zhao Yu, I’m going to see Grandma and Grandpa now."
"Go ahead." Xu Zhao Yu smiled softly. "I’ll take Shuyu back to the Xu Family’s home to pick up some things."
At ten o’clock, on the way home from school, Shi Changying pulled out a map.
This map was another wholehearted contribution from Lu Mi. It highlighted the street food stalls scattered across all the streets of Jianghuai—amounting to hundreds of them.
Shi Changying planned to try the first spot on the list, a roasted mutton skewer stall.
This particular stall was located in an alleyway, accessible just by crossing the main intersection.
While waiting for her mutton skewers, Shi Changying heard a chorus of WOWs erupting around her.
Turning her head toward the commotion, she peered through the alley’s entrance and saw a traditional Chinese-style advertisement playing on a massive outdoor screen.
It featured an exceptionally beautiful face, accompanied by a name that carried a profound, classical elegance.
Staring at the three characters that made up "Lu Qingyuan," Shi Changying spaced out slightly, her mind drifting back to something that happened a very long time ago.
"Remember, the Yuan in your name stands for a hawk soaring fiercely into the heavens. Your true home is the vast sky. No one can ever control your destiny."
"And what about Your Majesty?"
"I am exactly the same."
She hadn’t finished reading all the historical records yet, but it wasn’t just that the Xuan History compiled by the Jiang Dynasty was riddled with errors. Astonishingly, aside from her own, the names and achievements of many others had been completely erased.
Among them was Qingyuan.
What was the ultimate fate of her Qingyuan?
Suddenly, a harsh shout rang out. "Get lost, now! Haven’t you ever seen a robbery before? Look one more time, and I’ll chop your tongue off!"
A group of young men had appeared on the other side of the alley, crowding around a woman.
Shi Changying watched as the terrified skewer stall owner leaped onto his cart, stomped on the pedals, and bolted. He vanished at the end of the street, taking her mutton skewers with him.
Shi Changying’s gaze landed on the menacing young men, and she began to roll up her school uniform sleeves.