The sudden appearance of her bunny mode left me flustered. I could only shoot a questioning glance at Elder Sister Liu Xin, who’d been smiling since earlier.
“My sister Willow Ran is your die-hard fan. When she found out I was handling you, she ran straight to the publisher demanding to meet you.”
“I gathered that much from your earlier conversation. But why…”
I turned my puzzled gaze toward Willow Ran, who’d been peeking at me from behind Elder Sister Liu Xin. The moment she caught my eyes, she darted back into hiding again.
Seriously?! I considered myself pretty handsome—not universally adored, sure, but no reason to be feared either. Honestly, after Yao Star Yan rejected me today, I’d already started doubting my charm. Now Willow Ran’s reaction dealt another massive blow to my confidence.
No way! I needed to regain my confidence!
I sidestepped the Liu sisters and grabbed a young female staffer I didn’t recognize.
“Miss, could I steal a moment of your time?”
“Hm?”
I pinned her against the corridor wall, gazing tenderly into her eyes.
“…I see starlight in your eyes.”
“Eh?!”
Watching her leave with a trail of cherry blossom petals swirling behind her—*See? I’m still handsome!*
Just as I pondered this, a sharp tap hit the back of my head.
“Ow! What was that for, Elder Sister Liu Xin?!”
“What do you think you’re doing, kid?!”
Even her nickname for me had changed. Now that I thought about it, my earlier move *was* rude. I turned to them with a sheepish apology.
“Sorry. I just needed to confirm something important.”
“Oh?” Elder Sister Liu Xin crossed her arms, towering over me with an intimidating glare. “So you ditched two beautiful women right in front of you to hit on a stranger?”
*Huh? That’s the focus?*
“Ah, no, no—I’d just feel shy around *you*, Elder Sister.”
I flushed slightly, scratching the back of my head. My acting was flawless—evident from how she awkwardly looked away.
Of course, I wasn’t telling the truth.
Between a nearly-thirty-year-old woman and a girl in her twenties… which one would any sane guy care more about impressing?
The answer was obvious.
Just then, the chief editor poked half his body out of his office, waving at Elder Sister Liu Xin.
“Alright, Willow Ran, I’ve brought Gale Splendor here for you. If you want an autograph or anything, just ask. I’ve got work to do.”
She yanked Willow Ran out from behind her.
Stripped of her sister’s “protection,” Willow Ran panicked, glancing wildly for hiding spots. Finding none, she clasped her hands together in front of her chest, looking utterly vulnerable.
*What a girl you’d want to protect—*
*—if I hadn’t seen that earlier scene, I’d have thought so too.*
The sheer contrast made me wonder if she had split personalities.
“Well then, Xiao Hua,” Elder Sister Liu Xin said, “I’m leaving my sister in your hands. Hurt her, and I’ll get your series axed!”
“That’s blatant abuse of power!”
Chuckling, she waved and headed toward the chief editor.
Now only Willow Ran and I remained.
Awkwardness thickened the air.
Every time our eyes met, she’d blush and quickly look away. This bizarre dynamic made my skin crawl.
Muttering as if to myself, I grumbled, “This is my first offline meetup with a reader… I have no idea what to do.”
Willow Ran nodded vigorously in agreement. Clearly, this was her first “meetup” too.
Two rookies. Just perfect.
Someone had to break the silence. As the guy, it was my duty—but how to start?
“U-um… Mr. Feng… Feng Hua, let me treat you to coffee!”
“…Ah, sure. Thanks.”
In the end, I failed my duty as a man—and shamelessly let Willow Ran foot the bill.
We sat side by side at the Cross-Strait Café on the first floor, by the window.
One thing had been nagging at me since the start.
“Willow Ran… right?”
“Y-yes! M-Mr. Feng… Feng Hua!”
She was trembling with nerves. Weird. Shouldn’t *I* be the nervous one?
“Relax… Just call me Gale Splendor.”
“Eh? R-really?”
Her hopeful gaze was impossible to refuse—and I’d meant it anyway.
“Of course.”
“Really?! Awesome!”
She clapped excitedly, then quickly clenched her fists when she realized she was disturbing others.
“Say, when did you start reading my work?”
“About four years ago. I saw your story—no, *Gale Splendor’s* story—in *Rou Shui*. Your words and storytelling completely captivated me.”
“It wasn’t just me. Your sister helped a lot back then. Elder Sister Liu Xin’s an amazing editor.”
“Really? I think *she’s* the lucky one to have you as her author.”
Willow Ran clearly saw her sister as “useless”—understandable, given how Elder Sister Liu Xin always seemed flustered around her. Plus, Willow Ran didn’t grasp publishing realities.
“It’s not that simple. I owe my success to Elder Sister Liu Xin. She spent hours with me refining Mei Hua’s character—every gesture, every line of dialogue.”
“Is that so?”
Willow Ran looked skeptical but had relaxed slightly.
“Gale Splendor, is my sister editing your next work too?”
At this, my shoulders slumped.
“Sigh… I just asked her how a girl in love feels, and she ignored me for days. Now she dodges the topic completely.”
“Eh? Of course she wouldn’t know! My sister’s never dated a guy!” Willow Ran blurted out carelessly. “No idea why, but she’s never had a boyfriend.”
“Really? I’d have guessed she had tons of suitors.”
“Surprised? Makes sense to me. She’s a total ‘fujoshi’!”
“!!!”
*Did I just learn something dangerous?*
*If Elder Sister Liu Xin finds out about this café chat, I’ll be strung up from the rafters to dry like a sausage.*
“I’m so relieved! I thought you’d be hard to talk to—I was so nervous!”
Willow Ran beamed, oblivious to my sweat-drenched back.
“But honestly, I’m confused too.”
She smiled at me. “You’re so handsome you don’t even look like a girl—but surely guys chase *you*? Why ask my sister about love?”
Her innocent smile held no deceit—
—*Meaning this girl hadn’t realized I was a guy?*
