As Hu Tao teased, suppressed chuckles erupted from the surroundings.
Chongyun was so angry his head felt like it was smoking. He stepped forward, ready to argue, "Hu Tao, stop spouting nonsense! Xingqiu he clearly is..."
However, Xingqiu gently blocked Chongyun with his fan, signaling him to calm down. He took the book from Hu Tao's hand, casually flipped through a couple of pages, and nodded.
"The writing style is indeed good, and the plot is quite dramatic. Mr. Lovia is truly gifted, portraying someone as ordinary as myself in such a legendary manner—I am quite flattered." Xingqiu closed the book and looked up at Hu Tao, "But Director Hu, isn't your promotional tactic a bit... unconventional? Tying the WangSheng Funeral Parlor's business to this kind of common novel, aren't you afraid customers will find it inauspicious?"
"Inauspicious?" Hu Tao waved her hand righteously, "What kind of talk is that! Nothing in life is more important than death; planning ahead is wisdom! Reading novels is spiritual enjoyment. Combining the two perfectly embodies the WangSheng Funeral Parlor's philosophy of caring for our clients' holistic needs—this is called 'Beyond life and death, all is mere amusement'!"
"Besides..." she leaned closer to Xingqiu, lowering her voice, though people nearby could still faintly hear, "Your identity as the 'Second Miss' is hot gossip right now. I'm just capitalizing on the trend, understand? Business acumen!"
Hearing this, Xingqiu finally couldn't help but let out a light laugh, shaking his head: "Xingqiu has always admired Director Hu's business acumen. However, causing such a'scene' right in front of my family's gate—shouldn't you pay some venue fees?"
"Venue fees?" Hu Tao's eyes darted around. She immediately grabbed two more books from the table and forcefully stuffed them into Xingqiu and Chongyun's hands. "Fair enough, fair enough! These two hardcover editions are on me, as a gift to the two people involved—consider it venue fees plus copyright fees! Second Miss Xingqiu, and this... hmm, the 'Restless and Uncontrollable' Little Daoist Priest from the book, you two must read them carefully, especially certain chapters, oh!"
"Hu Tao!!!" Hearing the words 'Restless and Uncontrollable,' Chongyun nearly jumped up. He held the book like a hot potato—unable to drop it or keep holding it—his entire face and neck turned bright red, drawing another round of soft laughter from the crowd.
Xingqiu, however, accepted the book calmly and even offered a thank you: "Then I thank Director Hu for the gift. But, since you've capitalized on the trend and given the books, perhaps Director Hu should consider moving your grand enterprise elsewhere? After all, the entrance to the Commerce Guild needs to remain clear."
His tone was gentle, but his meaning was clear: it was time to pack up.
Hu Tao was also quick-witted and knew when to stop while ahead.
Her objective for the day had been over-fulfilled. Not only had she witnessed Xingqiu and Chongyun's reactions firsthand (which were even more entertaining than she had anticipated), but she had also pushed the popularity of this "secret tales of feiyun" and the "Soulmate Package" to a new peak.
"Alright, alright! Since the 'Second Miss' has spoken, This Hall Master shall withdraw!" Hu Tao cheerfully began clearing the table. "But Xingqiu, if there are any more'secret tales' next time, remember to let me know in advance. Our WangSheng Funeral Parlor packages can be updated and kept current with the trends at any time!"
She swiftly packed everything up. Before leaving, she shouted to the surrounding crowd: "Everyone! The stall in front of the Feiyun Commerce Guild is temporarily closing for today! If you're interested, you can move over to the WangSheng Funeral Parlor to inquire and purchase the package! The manual... oh, I mean, the secret tales are limited, so buy fast!"
"If you want to burn the secret tales for your friends and family, that's an option too!"
With that, she hoisted the small table onto her back and disappeared into the crowd humming a tune like a happy butterfly, leaving behind a chaotic buzz of discussion at the Feiyun Commerce Guild entrance, a speechless Xingqiu'sibling pair,' and a Chongyun on the verge of exploding on the spot.
Xingqiu watched Hu Tao's receding figure, then looked down at the hardcover edition of "secret tales of feiyun" in his hand. He smiled helplessly and said to his worried older brother and the mortified Chongyun beside him, "It seems this play, we are destined to perform to the end."
Chongyun looked at Xingqiu's seemingly unconcerned profile, held it in for a long time, and finally squeezed out a sentence: "Xingqiu! A-aren't you angry at all?!"
Xingqiu turned to look at him, the fan'swish' opening to cover half his face, revealing only eyes filled with amusement. He said softly, "Angry? Why should I be angry? Chongyun, don't you think... this is quite interesting?"
Chongyun looked at Xingqiu's eyes, which held a hint of enjoyment despite the helplessness, and was completely struck dumb.
He suddenly felt that compared to that nonsensical novel and the chaos-loving Hu Tao, Xingqiu, who seemed genuinely preoccupied with how to 'play along with the scheme,' was far more troublesome.
————————————————————————————
Several days later, a teahouse under the Feiyun Commerce Guild launched a new type of pastry called 'Sword Shadow and Book Fragrance.' Its exquisite shape and elegant taste immediately made it a bestseller, with demand far exceeding supply.
The Silk Shop operated by the Guild simultaneously released a series of new fabrics emphasizing comfort and breathability, with an advertisement subtly and cleverly written:'Suitable for both martial practice and quiet reading.'
Even the Antique Shop started holding themed events, such as 'Discovering Antiques Mentioned in secret tales of feiyun.'
Xingqiu himself had completely let go. When guests tentatively asked, "With Young Master Xingqiu's appearance and demeanor, if you were truly a woman, how many young men's hearts would you overturn?"
Xingqiu would gently fan himself and smile, responding frankly: "It's a pity my mother failed in her wish to have a daughter, so I, her unworthy son, must reluctantly take on the duties of both scholarship and swordsmanship. Please forgive my shortcomings."
He cleverly attributed his unique traits to 'misplaced parental expectations' and 'broad personal interests,' diffusing the awkwardness while appearing humorous and magnanimous.
This candid, almost self-deprecating attitude bored many busybodies. The fervor of the rumors gradually shifted from 'Is Xingqiu male or female?' to 'The Feiyun Commerce Guild really knows how to do business' and 'What will happen next in that strange book.'
Of course, not all questions could be resolved so easily.
Regarding overly private speculations, such as 'Is binding one's chest more tiring than practicing the sword?' Xingqiu chose to ignore them entirely, drawing a clear boundary with a cold demeanor.
The Guild also tightened management over internal servants, strictly forbidding further discussion of the master's private affairs. That pervasive sense of being watched finally began to subside.
That evening, Xingqiu and Chongyun were strolling near Chihu Rock. They passed a Storyteller's stall and happened to hear the speaker breathlessly narrating "secret tales of feiyun" to an enraptured audience.
Chongyun looked at Xingqiu's calm profile and couldn't help but ask, "Xingqiu, are you really... not bothered by it at all?"
Xingqiu took a bite of a Candied Haw he had just bought, speaking indistinctly, "Bothered by what? Look, now everyone is more concerned about how the 'Second Miss' will outsmart the Fatui in the next installment, rather than whether I am a woman. Isn't that good?"
He paused, a flicker of genuine interest crossing his eyes: "What I'm more curious about now is, who exactly is this Mr. Lovia? He knows so much about the internal workings of the Commerce Guild, and his narrative style is so seasoned... Perhaps he is an old acquaintance hiding among the common folk."
Under the moonlight, the corner of Xingqiu's mouth curved slightly upward.
This uproar caused by a book was, to him, not a trouble to be resisted, but an interesting business opportunity.
It had even added a layer of puzzle-solving amusement.
"Let's go, Chongyun." Xingqiu tugged his friend's sleeve. "I heard the Sanyu Bookstore is getting a new batch of story collections tomorrow; let's go check it out. And while we're there, see if there's any news about Mr. Lovia's new works."
The storm had not completely subsided, but Xingqiu was already handling it skillfully, even beginning to enjoy everything that the 'Sword Shadow and Book Fragrance' had brought.
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