“Xinglan, I really like you so much! When I get home, I’ll calculate the cost and transfer you the money for the merch!”
Jie Tianxin came up and gave Ye Xinglan a big hug, but suddenly she felt a murderous glare fixed on her.
She glanced around, but aside from the author sitting upright nearby, she didn’t see anyone else.
“Alright, watch what you say, or Xiaoxi will hear it,” Ye Xinglan said smugly, glancing at Xiaoxi. “I just realized today, it seems like Sister Xiaoxi gets pretty jealous.”
Jie Tianxin seemed like she wanted to stay and chat a bit longer, but kept checking her phone as if pressed for time.
“It’s about time, Xinglan, I’m heading off now!”
Before leaving, Jie Tianxin leaned close and whispered into Xiaoxi’s ear.
“By the way, Miss Xiaoxiao, you’re really brave, daring to be alone in the middle with Muxingge.”
Xiaoxi blinked at Jie Tianxin’s sudden comment, momentarily stunned.
“What?”
“Oh come on, Miss, don’t pretend. Muxingge’s stage time perfectly overlapped with your signing session, and I just noticed Exhibition Booth 13C has a good view line to the stage. The sight’s pretty good.”
Jie Tianxin pointed to the stage not far ahead, then patted Xiaoxi’s shoulder. “You’re impressive, Miss. You’re the only one I’ve ever seen who dared to confront the original author face to face!”
“And I didn’t expect you’re actually a girl… Ah, sorry, I didn’t mean to say anything bad.”
Jie Tianxin subconsciously felt this little royal-style novel was written so royally… ahem, so meticulously! Usually, something like this isn’t something a girl could write.
With a wave, Jie Tianxin bounced away, leaving Xiaoxi sitting alone, staring blankly toward the stage.
She hadn’t been told about this! No one had mentioned it! And Xiaoxi knew Muxingge’s temper well — if she had deliberately provoked Muxingge like this, wouldn’t that be asking for trouble?
“Xinglan…”
“It’s fine. If Muxingge really gives you trouble, I’ll help you beat her up. That girl’s pretty weak anyway. And she might not even notice this side; it’s still a bit far from the stage here.”
Xiaoxi thought to herself: You’re going to help me beat her up… but even if Muxingge is weak in a straight fight, she’s still an S-Rank Magical Girl, okay? Couldn’t you comfort me in a better way!
Every booth must arrange their own activities, and Xiaoxi knew this was just a misunderstanding……
The problem was, Muxingge definitely wouldn’t believe that explanation. What should she do now? Stop signing? That’s not an option.
Xiaoxi understood how hard it was to get a guest signing slot at this event. Quitting halfway or throwing a tantrum was out of the question.
At this point, all she could do was comfort herself mentally, hoping Muxingge wouldn’t notice her here.
Come to think of it, Muxingge didn’t even know this little royal author was here as a guest.
Maybe she didn’t even know Pineapple Bun was at the convention. The chances of her noticing this side were really low.
But no matter what, Xiaoxi had decided — she was definitely not taking off this headpiece today!
……
Elsewhere, before going onstage, Muxingge was trying to calm herself mentally.
Miss L’s words did make sense. Maybe Magic Girl Sirius just wanted to make some extra money and didn’t mean to target her.
She’d find time later to talk it out and scold her verbally. Too much revenge would be bad for workplace relations.
As the host finished the introduction, Muxingge took a deep breath, pushed the personal stuff aside for now, and stepped onto the stage from behind, flashing a sweet smile and enthusiastically greeting the crowd.
“Let me see your hands, please! Friends on the left, friends in the middle, and friends on the right… Hello!”
With a sharp “crack,” the microphone in Muxingge’s hand let out a strained noise.
Her voice paused for a moment, but her professionalism kept the sweet smile on her face as she continued warming up the crowd.
The view from the stage was much better than Xiaoxi expected. As they say, standing high lets you see far.
Muxingge spotted the Pineapple Bun booth and the signature table immediately.
Although Xiaoxi wore a headpiece, Muxingge recognized Ye Xinglan sitting beside her.
By now, she was very familiar with both their faces.
Muxingge suddenly thought she had been too kind. Before going onstage, she had even been making excuses for Xiaoxi in her head? Was she an idiot!?
Calm down… calm down…
Though flushed with embarrassment, Muxingge knew she couldn’t let her emotions affect her performance.
After all, she’d been in the industry for years and shouldn’t let something small ruin her state… probably.
The guest performance went smoothly, and Muxingge was unquestionably the most popular guest.
The crowd below the stage was packed with cheering fans.
“Listening to an idol sing offline just feels different,” Da Tianxin said with some awe as she chatted with Nv An nearby. “Her singing is so powerful; the studio recordings just don’t have the same feeling… The main vocalist is really giving it her all!”
While Muxingge sang and danced energetically onstage, Xiaoxi kept burying her head in the sand, avoiding looking toward the stage. Meanwhile, Ye Xinglan was quite interested, tapping along to the rhythm.
Xiaoxi’s signing session lasted only an hour.
Muxingge’s performance was at least twenty minutes, and with the time that had passed, if Xiaoxi held on for another ten or so minutes after Muxingge left the stage, she could clock out on time. No problem.
When Muxingge’s performance was ending, Xiaoxi had already signed over twenty copies.
Although it was much quieter than for the well-known guests, Xiaoxi was content.
The signing rule was simply to show the full subscription page of the novel.
Many people came subscribed on the spot, not wanting to miss out, just to get Xiaoxi’s signature. For Xiaoxi, this was a guaranteed win.
If Muxingge didn’t notice, today would be a big profit. Ye Xinglan looked like she was having a good time too… or rather, enjoying watching Xiaoxi’s predicament.
“Xinglan, what are you doing here?”
After the show, a familiar voice startled Xiaoxi, but she quickly realized it wasn’t Muxingge.
Xiao Keke tilted her head, eyes lighting up when she saw Ye Xinglan sitting behind the signing table.
“Keke, you’re here too! I came to get a signature from this author.”
Though Ye Xinglan was trying to keep Xiaoxi’s secret, Xiao Keke knew exactly what her sister was up to.
Narrowing her eyes, she glanced at the book’s title on the signing table, then at Ye Xinglan, and suddenly reached out to grab Xiaoxi’s headpiece.
“Don’t pretend, Sis, I’m not stupid! Even if you wear a headpiece, I can still recognize you!”
“Stop it! You crazy girl, can’t you stop grabbing me out of nowhere?”
Xiaoxi sighed helplessly and held onto her headpiece tightly.
She didn’t dare reveal her real face at all now, afraid Muxingge might be lurking somewhere spying on her.
“Sis, you… sigh, never mind.”
Xiao Keke hesitated, though she thought her sister’s behavior was a bit of a weeb obsession.
Still, she understood that her sister needed to make a living — basically, they were all trying hard to survive.
And since her sister had managed to get a guest spot at the convention, Xiao Keke felt she should be happy for her.
“Sis, before… Muxingge will also be a guest at the convention today. You really are bold.”
Xiao Keke wanted to warn her sister that Magic Girl Sirius hated her guts right now.
From what she’d heard at the karaoke, with Sirius holding her neck and saying those things, it was obvious.
But her sister probably didn’t know, and she didn’t know how to say it.
Though she didn’t want to reveal her magical girl identity to family, if her sister got caught by Muxingge, she’d plead for mercy — after all, that was her sister.
Xiao Keke shook her head and realized she had naturally begun to see Xiaoxi as an older sister.
Maybe because Xiaoxi never really acted like a brother.
“Uh, so, Keke, why are you here anyway?”
“I… I’m just out having fun. Sis, you’re too controlling!”
Xiao Keke was carrying a bunch of Eternal Star merch, clearly having a good time.
Xiaoxi asked the question and immediately understood the answer.
A few days ago, Muxingge had asked in the group if anyone wanted to watch her performance.
Xiaoxi and Shandie had refused, but Xiao Keke had agreed.
“How about it? Want your sister to sign something for you?”
Ye Xinglan blinked at her sister. Xiao Keke scrunched her nose in distaste, shook her head, and left.
“Sis, if you’re out of money, just tell me. I can barely lend you some.”
The closer people were, the fewer filters they had for each other.
Just like Xiaoxi had no idol filter for Muxingge, Xiao Keke had none for her own sister.
Especially since her sister’s handwriting was so ugly. Signing? Forget it.
After Xiao Keke left, Xiaoxi checked the time. Good, the signing session was almost over. When it was time, she’d run like the wind…
“Excuse me, is this where Miss Xiaoxiao signs?”
Xiaoxi’s expression instantly changed under the headpiece. Damn it, why did she have to come right on time!
Muxingge stood before her with hat, sunglasses, and mask fully on, but Xiaoxi wasn’t fooled.
“This is my full subscription screenshot, Miss Xiaoxiao, please look.”
Muxingge had really subscribed to Xiaoxi’s book from start to finish. Xiaoxi tried to calm herself and quickly signed.
No problem, as long as she pretended not to recognize Muxingge and just signed… After all, she’d be out in a flash soon.
“Your novel is really wonderful. I’ve read every chapter carefully several times.”
After signing, Muxingge didn’t leave but stayed to chat with Xiaoxi.
“May I ask, what was the inspiration for the protagonist in your novel?”