"Miss Zuo Yu, I’m your fan!"
These were the first words Lu Yan said to Ji Xingyao.
Ji Xingyao, looking lost after being released from her performance contract at the mall, didn’t even react as Lu Yan handed her a photo.
Instinctively, Ji Xingyao glanced at the photo, which was a snapshot from one of her performances three years ago.
In the photo, she was wearing a short skirt and tall boots, her beautiful face radiating an infectious smile, exuding youthful confidence, capturing the attention of everyone just by standing on stage.
At that time, she was a famous internet celebrity, even receiving offers from entertainment companies wanting her to enter the industry.
But due to subsequent events and the changes in the online era, she eventually lost her former glory.
In truth, if she was willing to lower her head, she might be able to gather more resources and make a comeback.
Yet, she was unwilling to bow, and now she was just a fading internet celebrity, struggling to even secure such commercial shows.
With her right hand trembling slightly as she held the photo, Ji Xingyao looked at the person in front of her.
He seemed to be around twenty years old, with a handsome face and skin like a baby, dressed simply but exuding a calm and ethereal aura.
Ji Xingyao appeared lost in thought, feeling that the young man seemed familiar, as if she’d seen him somewhere before, yet no matter how hard she recalled, she couldn’t find any traces.
But the gentle smile on the corners of his mouth felt incredibly inviting, naturally lowering Ji Xingyao’s defenses.
"How did you get in here?"
Lu Yan pointed outside the lounge, placing his index finger on his lips and whispered:
"Don’t tell them, I snuck in."
Ji Xingyao couldn’t help but burst into laughter, easing much of her gloom from the cancellation contract.
At the height of her fame, she encountered many enthusiastic fans sneaking into her dressing room during commercial performances, seeking autographs or photos, and she found these incidents quite bothersome at the time.
But as her popularity waned, those fans disappeared completely.
Now, with Lu Yan sneaking in, her curiosity was piqued.
Slightly tilting her head, a few strands of hair fell to her shoulder, prompting Ji Xingyao to shake the photo in her hand curiously.
"Where did this come from?"
"Which concert was this?"
"East Star City Sports Arena."
"Which song do you like?"
"Your original song ’Ask the Immortal’."
But she didn’t know that Lu Yan had swiped the photo from a Ji Xingyao fan below the stage and compensated them with a thousand yuan.
After obtaining the photo, Lu Yan even researched the photo-related information online in case he was caught.
Following a brief exchange, Ji Xingyao confirmed Lu Yan was indeed her fan.
If it were during her peak popularity, she might not have cared.
But now, at the low point of her popularity, she could tell Lu Yan was a devoted fan, and the inexplicable sense of familiarity made her wonder if she’d seen Lu Yan at some concert.
All these factors led to an increase in goodwill toward Lu Yan from Ji Xingyao.
Ji Xingyao extended her right hand toward Lu Yan.
Lu Yan was slightly confused.
"Don’t you want my autograph? Of course it’s a pen!"
Lu Yan’s expression froze, patting his empty pocket, he helplessly said to Ji Xingyao:
"I forgot to bring one."
Ji Xingyao was speechless, about to speak when she saw Lu Yan reach into the hair by her ear.
"Isn’t there one here?"
In the next moment, Lu Yan drew out a black pen from beneath her hair.
Watching Lu Yan with a grin on his face, Ji Xingyao realized he was intentionally performing a little magic trick.
"Hmph! Give it here!"
Rolling her eyes at Lu Yan, Ji Xingyao reached out to take the pen, signing her name on the photo.
Ji Xingyao handed the pen and photo to Lu Yan, but he only took the photo.
"This pen is Miss Zuo Yu’s, just borrowed briefly, now it’s returned."
With a satisfied smile, Lu Yan softly said to Ji Xingyao:
"Looking forward to our next meeting."
As his words fell, Lu Yan turned and left, leaving Ji Xingyao alone in the lounge.
Ji Xingyao furrowed her brows slightly, watching Lu Yan’s departing back, somewhat displeased:
"I thought he was an interesting fan, didn’t expect such frivolous behavior."
Saying this, Ji Xingyao wanted to throw the pen in her hand into the trash.
But as she moved her right hand, Ji Xingyao noticed something was wrong, as the pen in her palm had somehow turned into several strands of hair.
Ji Xingyao widened her eyes in astonishment, unable to suppress the surprise within.
She had just used the pen to sign her name, confirming that it was indeed a genuine pen, yet it had suddenly turned into hair.
Recalling Lu Yan’s actions, Ji Xingyao instinctively touched the side of her ear, feeling the sensation that some strands of hair had been cut off, seemingly matching the hair in her hand.
"Is this really a magic trick?"
Outside the mall, Lu Yan looked at the photo in his hand, finding no signature on it, and stored it in his storage pouch.
Recalling Ji Xingyao’s displeased expression when he left, Lu Yan broke into a smile.
"She should have noticed by now."
Opening his right hand, the low-grade Illusion Technique talisman in his palm had already turned to ashes.
Clearly, the pen was just an illusion created by Lu Yan using a Spirit Talisman.
Yet in this uncompromisingly mundane urban setting, Ji Xingyao would likely have difficulty associating the scene with magic, perceiving it merely as an unusual magic trick.
But this moment was enough to leave a lasting impression on Ji Xingyao of Lu Yan.
Recognizing the opportunity triggered by Ji Xingyao, Lu Yan made plans.
Engaging with Ji Xingyao shouldn’t be rushed, nor should they become friends too quickly.
After all, Zuo Yu Fairy in the Xianxia version is the revered prodigy of Cyan Simurgh Sect, befriending Lu Yan, a mere Qi Cultivation first-tier novice, would be too conspicuous.
Therefore, Lu Yan positioned himself as an interesting fan, an admirer remembered by Zuo Yu Fairy, to build a favorable rapport.
Being a resident of Bamboo Forest Marketplace, inherently under Zuo Yu Fairy’s protection, it’s reasonable to admire Zuo Yu Fairy, and having a bit of luck being remembered by Ji Xingyao wasn’t unusual either.
Although a simple impression from Zuo Yu Fairy might not seem significant, given her status, a single word could decide the future of an entire marketplace, those she remembered could serve as a protective talisman in the Xianxia version.
With this identity, one could truly have free rein in Bamboo Forest Marketplace.
Considering this, Lu Yan couldn’t help but sigh softly.
"Ultimately, my strength is too low, forcing me to rely on such borrowed authority.
If only I had the strength of a Qi Cultivation peak or even Foundation Establishment Stage, befriending Ji Xingyao wouldn’t draw any suspicion."
"This time is just a preliminary attempt; the next Xianxia version will confirm the subsequent situations.
Next, it’s time to prepare for the update of the next world version!"