Chapter Forty-Five: The Female Fan's Request for an Autograph

A light rain graces the Heavenly Avenue, soft as butter, and from afar the grass appears lush, though up close it vanishes. Couples stroll by, displaying their affection, while diligent students immerse themselves in study. Ren Qian wandered leisurely through the campus, at a loss as to what to do at this hour.

What vexed him most was this: as a traveler from another world, when he tried to get intimate last night, the nurse girl kicked him right out of bed. Only then did he realize that, beneath her gentle and adorable exterior, the nurse girl had been trained in martial arts since elementary school. For twenty-two years, not a single foolish boy dared flirt with her; someone like Ren Qian, eyes blazing, lunging and tearing at her clothes, was lucky to escape unscathed.

Recalling that night now, Ren Qian felt as if he’d been doused with icy water in the dead of winter.

...

“Isn’t that Ren Qian? He actually showed up today—rare, indeed. It’s been ages since he held an outdoor concert.”

“His bandmates betrayed him. How could he possibly hold a concert now?”

“Boy’z, right? Those tragic fellows still haven’t reached a tenth of Ren Qian’s fame. They really missed their chance.”

“They followed the wrong person. Ren Qian’s so talented, and instead of sticking with him, they abandoned the light for darkness. What do they call that? The monkey leaves the mountain, loses the watermelon, and doesn’t even get the sesame seed. Serves them right.”

“Honestly, Ren Qian’s songs are amazing—so refreshing. I’ve downloaded them all.”

“My favorite is ‘Stone Chronicle.’ I spent a month learning it, but no matter how I sing, it never has that transcendent feel. Ren Qian’s flair is impossible to imitate.”

“Haha, don’t hit me, but these days whenever I see Ren Qian, all I picture is King Wan Feng grinning, plus those hilarious captions—I just can’t stop laughing.”

“I’ve saved all those memes, perfect for chats. They always make my stomach hurt from laughter.”

“Everyone says Master Qian started a new trend. Now the internet armies have completely upended Wan Feng. You have no idea how funny those memes are—I laughed so hard one night my bed collapsed.”

...

Ren Qian’s popularity was nothing short of remarkable.

Few students at Jiangnan University were unaware of the stories: Ren Qian challenging the music king, sparking online wars, and winning decisively with his memes—many students had even joined that online fray themselves.

And as for his widely sung compositions, that needed no further mention. Add his striking looks, and naturally, he became a campus star. So whenever he appeared, passersby would glance sideways, sharing their opinions.

“Hey, Ren Qian—have you written any new songs lately? I’m your die-hard fan! Could you sign something for me?”

A girl rushed over with her notebook, a mix of excitement and nervousness in her eyes as she stared at him, afraid he might refuse.

“Of course,” Ren Qian replied with a slight smile, taking up the pen and opening her notebook, intent on signing a handsome autograph that she could treasure forever.

Oh my—oh my—oh my.

Ren Qian’s face flushed crimson; this girl was far too bold and uninhibited... How could she paste such photos in her notebook—ones that would make any man blush and any woman shy?

He glanced quickly, then averted his gaze in haste—utterly mortified. She had pasted one of her own glamour shots on the first page, asking him to sign it.

This was an indirect come-on!

This was an indirect seduction!

Righteous as he was, Ren Qian couldn’t help but sneak another peek.

In the photo, the girl struck a provocative pose—her skin was creamy and fair, her figure flawless. Certain details invited wild imagination.

The crucial point: her beautiful photo covered every inch of the notebook’s blank space, leaving no room for Ren Qian’s autograph.

In other words, she wanted him to sign directly on her revealing photo.

Ahem...

To sign here would be mortifying—not to mention out of character for a gentleman like him.

Ren Qian coughed awkwardly and quickly turned the page.

Oh heavens, this page was even worse—a wet and tempting bathroom shot!

He turned again.

Goodness, now she was lying in the bathtub!

Her pale legs slightly bent, the water shallow, white bubbles teasingly concealing, soft light pouring in, casting a glow fit to make noses bleed.

Ren Qian looked around, sneaking a glance at the girl’s reaction. She appeared calm, though her face grew more alluring by the moment; she was clearly pleased that her idol was blushing at her flirtation.

‘I refuse to believe there’s not a single blank space in this notebook,’ Ren Qian thought, flipping through as each photo quickened his pulse. Oh no, he was actually getting addicted!

He swallowed hard and looked up, conflicted. The girl’s face was smooth and oval, a touch of baby fat making her smile charming. Her figure, tightly wrapped, didn’t seem all that alluring—yet those glamour shots were rife with the impression of youthful sensuality.

In all his years, he’d never witnessed such audacity. Ren Qian was thoroughly vexed. What sort of scheming mind could conjure such a crazy, outrage-provoking idea?

“Miss, I think you’ve brought the wrong item—haha, this isn’t a notebook,” Ren Qian said, gathering the photo collection and handing it back, determined to show his upright, incorruptible side.

“You’re so mean! Just sign it, you’re embarrassing me! I really want you to sign it just like this~”

Uh...

Ren Qian felt he’d fallen right into her trap.

If he refused, he’d be breaking his promise. If he signed, he’d be doing exactly as the fan wished. Truly, nothing’s scarier than a cultured rogue. If he did sign, the whole university would know by tomorrow.

Her girlfriends would probably rush to make their own photo albums and demand his autograph.

Then he’d never be able to clear his name—even if he jumped into the Yellow River.

It was easy to imagine tomorrow’s top trending topic: “Jiangnan University’s notorious fiend signs autographs on glamour shots!”

Ren Qian was at a loss.

“Come on, sign it! You promised, Brother Qian. Don’t back out~ Just pick the most tempting photo and sign it. If you want... I can give you my phone number, too—call anytime~”

The fan pleaded in a coquettish, seductive voice, clearly proud of her clever plan.

‘Got it! Here... here... here... In the end, the path of righteousness always prevails. This way, signing will be foolproof.’

Suddenly inspired, Ren Qian grabbed the notebook, turned it sideways, and signed his name neatly on the edge.

The girl stared in disbelief—could he really do that?

While she was still stunned, Ren Qian placed the signed notebook in her hands, then turned and walked away.

At the corner, only his handsome silhouette remained.