Chapter 99: A Late-Night Snack, Courtesy of the Idol

“Then it’s fine if it isn’t serious. It’s just a pity that Xi Junle finally has a performance, and you can’t go watch it.” Nangong Lu let out a theatrical sigh.

Xianyu Qing did not feel it was a pity at all. When she gave the tickets to Mao Wandou, Lu Yansen, and Tian Jia, they had been overjoyed beyond words.

Those three were the real fans. If she had gone herself, she probably would have been nodding off within ten minutes.

“It’s okay. The best parts of Xi Junle’s performance will be broadcast on TV too. You’ll still get to see them then,” Nangong Lu comforted her.

Then he took out an invitation from his chest. “This weekend, the Mo family is holding a banquet. Since you asked for leave and didn’t go to school, Mo Haoyuan asked me to bring this to you.”

“The Mo family’s banquet?” Xianyu Qing found that odd.

She had heard that Mo Haoyuan’s father was a highly influential official in the imperial capital. At a banquet held by the Mo family, ordinary children of wealthy families usually would not even be invited.

Besides, she was not truly a member of the Nangong family. The Mos should not have invited her, should they? Could it be because she was Mo Haoyuan’s junior?

Nangong Lu could not quite figure out why either, but since the invitation had been sent, all he had to do was deliver it.

“Only the elite attend a Mo family banquet. When the time comes, come with me. Don’t go alone.” His words were meant out of kindness.

But Xianyu Qing did not trust him much. “You won’t dump me aside again, will you?”

Nangong Lu hurriedly swore, “Last time was an accident. This time I’ll definitely protect you.”

Xianyu Qing said nothing more. Whether she could go or not would still depend on Nangong Ao’s approval.

That night, Xi Junle’s performance was a great success.

After the show, Mao Wandou, Lu Yansen, and Tian Jia practically floated out of the venue, so excited they seemed to be walking on air.

Good heavens, front-row seats! A privilege they had never had before!

“What a shame Sister Yu’er couldn’t come too!”

Tian Jia was a fresh and obedient-looking girl, with shoulder-length slightly curled hair and two tiny dimples at the corners of her mouth when she smiled.

She did not live in the imperial capital, yet for the sake of seeing her idol perform, she had flown in from the Jiangnan region yesterday. Mao Wandou and Lu Yansen were also fans, but when it came to sheer devotion, they still could not match her.

“Hey, Xianyu gets to meet Master Xi at close range all the time! Unlike us, who are already thrilled just sitting in the audience and watching.”

No sooner had Mao Wandou said that than a voice called from behind them, “Would the three people ahead please stop?”

They all turned around and looked at the man in front of them, completely bewildered.

Sun Ge rarely appeared in front of cameras, so hardly anyone knew he was Xi Junle’s manager. He had been ordered by his own great talent to come out and find these three.

There were at least five or six hundred people at the performance. But they were not hard to find, since all three wore the front-row wristbands and were dressed like ordinary people.

It had to be them.

“I’m here on behalf of my Junle. He’d like to invite you backstage for a while.”

As soon as Sun Ge said this, the three of them looked at one another, then at him, gave him a blank stare, and turned to leave.

Fine. They had taken him for a fraud.

Sun Ge hurriedly called after them again, “You’re friends of Miss Xianyu, aren’t you?”

This time, Mao Wandou stopped again and turned back to warn him, “Who do you think you are? Just because you bring up our idol and his friends, you think you can trick us into some membership scheme and charge us money? Be careful we call the police and have you arrested!”

Still taking him for a money-grubbing scammer!

Sun Ge took out his business card and handed it over, explaining helplessly, “I’m Junle’s manager. My name is Sun Ge. Those three tickets of yours were a gift from Junle to Miss Xianyu.

“He’s still backstage right now and wants to speak with you.”

Lu Yansen took the card from Sun Ge and looked at Mao Wandou in suspicion, lowering his voice. “Is this guy actually reliable?”

Tian Jia also looked doubtful. “Sister Wandou, I saw Junle’s manager in the news once before. He does seem to look a little like him.”

Mao Wandou was the boldest of the three. “Whether he is or not, let’s go see for ourselves. If he dares to lie to us, we’ll call the police right away and let the officers take him away!”

After the three of them whispered and made their decision, they said to Sun Ge, “Then lead the way.”

Sun Ge: “...”

So I’m being treated like a servant, am I?

When Mao Wandou and the others really saw Xi Junle himself backstage, all three of them were stunned.

They had come expecting to be toyed with. Who would have thought that it truly was Xi Junle who wanted to meet them?

Wow, it really was him in person!

Wow, he was even more handsome in person than in photos or videos!

Wow, their idol was meeting them!

Seeing the three of them standing there in dazed, secretly delighted silence, Xi Junle first greeted them politely. “Hello, I’m Xi Junle.”

“Ah, ah, ah...” Tian Jia was so excited that she could only make that one sound.

Lu Yansen was flushed red as well, looking at his idol the way one might look at the person one loved.

Mao Wandou, by comparison, remained a little more composed. She stepped forward and said, “Hello, hello. I’m Xianyu... ah, no, I’m Xianyu Qing’s friend, Mao Wandou. It’s a great honor to meet you!”

That sounded so much like some official diplomatic meeting that it was almost embarrassingly stiff. Mao Wandou mentally roasted herself.

Xi Junle could understand their nerves, so he only smiled gently at them. “I’m sorry for inviting you over so suddenly. If you don’t mind, may I treat you to some late-night supper?”

Late-night supper? Oh my god, our idol is treating us to late-night supper!

The three fangirls were nearly delirious with joy.

But they could not scream. Could not jump around. They might scare their idol away.

They held back their excitement as hard as they could and nodded furiously to show they were willing.

Sun Ge, standing to the side, kept rubbing his forehead.

Master Xi is treating his fans to late-night supper? If this gets photographed and posted, what a storm that will cause!

Fortunately, it was not too late yet, so they could still order takeout. Even if it was only takeout, the three fangirls still ate with immense happiness.

Only, with their idol right before them, his looks and bearing were both beyond flawless. He did not need to eat at all; just looking at him was enough to feel full.

Xi Junle’s invitation to supper was only an excuse. In truth, he simply wanted to gather a little support for himself.

“You’re all good friends of Qingqing, aren’t you?”

Xi Junle smiled faintly, like a spring breeze brushing across the face, and the three fangirls were completely smitten.

Of course, they did not forget to answer. “Yes, yes, yes, we’re all Qingqing’s good friends!”

Qingqing... hearing that affectionate name made their relationship sound very close indeed. No wonder he had been so generous as to give away three front-row tickets!

“At first, I had invited Qingqing to come watch my performance. But lately, she seems to have been avoiding me. I wonder if she dislikes me now...” Xi Junle’s expression turned faintly forlorn.

Tian Jia hurried to comfort her idol. “How could that be? Maybe Sister Yu’er really just couldn’t make it because she had something to do.”

“Yes, yes!” Lu Yansen echoed. “Xianyu would never dislike someone for no reason!”

Mao Wandou was even quicker with her tongue. “She just can’t meet people right now...”

Halfway through, she stopped herself.

Xi Junle looked puzzled. “What happened to Qingqing?”

“Ah, um, she just got a minor injury...” Mao Wandou faltered.

“She was injured? Is it serious?” Xi Junle immediately tensed.

Why had no one told him?

“It’s not that serious. She just fell and made a bit of a mess of her face, so she can’t come out and see people for the time being. She’s already been on leave for several days.”

Mao Wandou had sold Xianyu Qing out completely.