Chapter 472 - 0288 Release Performance (Two-in-One)_2

But...

Who knows where the ever-busy Senior Zhu is right now?

In the past, when he arrived downstairs, he would naturally receive a voice transmission from Zhu Pingniang telling him the location, but now there’s no movement at all...

This is the real reason Xu Chang’an hasn’t gone upstairs.

He doesn’t want to wander around Flower Moon Building like a headless chicken, especially in such an ambiguous place.

...

Not long after, a tall woman with the demeanor of a steward, wearing a phoenix hairpin, came out from Flower Moon Building.

She was indeed Miss Lu, a Deputy Class Leader under Zhu Pingniang, whom Xu Chang’an had met a few times.

With someone to lead the way, everything becomes simpler.

"Miss Lu..." Xu Chang’an had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard a peculiar news.

"Young Master, Ms. Zhu is going to perform on the painting stage," Miss Lu said, looking a bit helpless, "She said... let you wait for her there."

Xu Chang’an was taken aback by this.

Perform?

Oh, that’s right.

Though Senior Zhu is the head of Flower Moon Building and holds an extremely noble status in the Immortal Sect, she does occasionally take the stage.

Without much thought, Xu Chang’an followed Miss Lu into Flower Moon Building. They took a hidden side staircase to the third floor’s flower platform, and after sitting down in a private suite on a high platform, he furrowed his brow, pondering what he should say when they met.

Noticing Xu Chang’an’s absent mind, Miss Lu responded with a gentle smile. She lit a few premium incense sticks and placed some exquisite pastries and fruit platters beside him, then pressed a certain mechanism on the wall, informing the girl that he was seated.

Miss Lu stepped back three steps and suddenly raised her voice several notches, "Young Master."

"...Hmm?" Xu Chang’an came back to his senses, finally aware of the excellent atmosphere in the suite.

The scent of sandalwood and fruitwood, a reflection like autumn waters, the aroma condensed fragrant.

"Miss Lu?"

"Ms. Zhu wants you to listen to the piece carefully," Miss Lu, abandoning the usual sternness she had in front of her sisters, playfully winked at Xu Chang’an, "It’s rare for elder sister to take the stage, Young Master must watch closely."

"Eh?"

"If you want Ms. Zhu’s help, you certainly can’t make her angry," Miss Lu seemed to know little, but as Zhu Pingniang’s maid, she didn’t mind leaking more of Zhu Pingniang’s thoughts to Xu Chang’an.

Not caring whether Xu Chang’an understood, she continued speaking to herself.

"Even Ms. Zhu is just a girl, Young Master should think carefully about your feelings after listening to the piece. Your compliments would mean a lot to the elder sister."

"Also, Young Master should not appear so tense; remember to taste the pastries and fruit platter in the room... Ideally, behave as if you’re at home; only then will the elder sister be happy."

After saying this, Miss Lu covered her face and left with a smile.

Xu Chang’an: "..."

This is... What does it mean?

He understood that in order to ask for help, he must please her.

But, is this really what Senior Zhu thinks?

Alright.

He’s really here to listen to the piece.

However, he didn’t mind much; Senior Zhu always acts on a whim. Suddenly she wants to take the stage and insists he listens; this can only be... her style.

Could this be the reason why Senior Zhu only allowed him to meet her?

Miss Yun can also listen to the piece, can’t she?

Xu Chang’an couldn’t guess what the senior was thinking, but Miss Lu was right; if he came to the senior for help, he naturally needed to do his best in the details.

He would tackle each move as it came.

He picked up a pastry from the fruit platter, which looked very expensive, took a small bite, and then stood up, gazing down from the viewing platform.

It was said to be a performance, but it was obvious that preparations started after his arrival, so Zhu Pingniang hadn’t taken the stage yet; she was still preparing.

Xu Chang’an took in everything from the highest suite.

Before him was an exceptionally spacious space, the center adorned with peonies was the stage, and in front of the stage, rows upon rows of seats were neatly arranged, with a series of private viewing suites above the pavilion for the best view of the performance on stage.

The left and right of the hall were symmetrical, adorned with gold leaf and paintings, intricately decorated. At the edges, faint traces of a red Spiritual Qi, only visible with the use of Pupil Technique, suggested some kind of sound amplification method.

The building had ample lighting and luxurious furnishings. Unlike the outside, no food platters or snacks were seen on the seats in Flower Moon Building; there was nothing but the seat itself.

This design was meant to keep everyone’s attention firmly on the stage.

From Xu Chang’an’s perspective, the first two rows of seats closest to the stage were entirely empty; people only started sitting from the third row, with girls taking their seats one after another.

Everything was orderly.

Scanning the area, Xu Chang’an noticed that only gaudily dressed women were seated. Once seated, they didn’t engage in any idle conversation, instead appearing very tense, anticipating something.

Xu Chang’an looked around and found no men.

Each long table lined up, the girls sitting kneeling before them. Some seemed to receive messages and began looking in the direction of Xu Chang’an’s suite, whispering and pointing.

Xu Chang’an tilted his ear, catching some whispers through the breeze.

"Why is Ms. Zhu performing on the third floor today?"

"I heard Young Master Chang’an came..."

"That can’t be right, would the Young Master really come to hear a piece?"

"I just saw him at the entrance."

"No wonder, it’s not often Young Master Xu would willingly come to listen to a piece. Even if Ms. Zhu hasn’t wanted to take the stage recently, she must be itching."

"Alright, stop talking. It’s rare for the elder sister to take the stage; can any of you be serious and learn a bit of Zither Skill... Aren’t they more useful than not fully-grown youths?"

"Hmm, why do I smell a hint of jealousy."

"Who doesn’t know she likes Ms. Zhu."

"You... you guys are asking for trouble."

"..."

The chatter and laughter spread among the girls after they sat down.

Xu Chang’an: "..."

He withdrew his gaze and stopped listening, yet his eye couldn’t help but twitch several times.

It must be said, Senior Zhu is truly popular here; though the girls fear her, the respect and admiration from many are even greater.

Also, today wasn’t a public performance but an "internal exchange," and everyone admitted to this floor to listen to Zhu Pingniang’s zither was from Flower Moon Building.

While thinking, Xu Chang’an suddenly felt the atmosphere stall for a moment.

Just like...

The feeling when a class leader enters the class.

He immediately stood up and looked over.

Sure enough, on the important high platform’s side, Zhu Pingniang was instructing the girls beside her. Though standing at the banquet’s peripheral area, her presence was extremely high.

This person’s aura has an inexplicable flavor that makes one, with just a glance, inherently feel a peculiar expectation towards her. This expectation is precisely why Xu Chang’an seeks her help when in trouble.

Xu Chang’an couldn’t help but take another look.

Don’t get it wrong, it’s not because she looks good; it’s just... such an appearance of Senior Zhu is rare for him and even quite incongruous.

What he’s seen mostly in Zhu Pingniang is graceful bearing, navigating between flowers, full of allure and charm.

But things are different now.

Miss Zhu had changed her usual gaudy dress; she wore a black zither dress, appearing like a pearl whose contours were visible even with a black cloth covered over it.

It was then that Zhu Pingniang sensed his gaze from afar, her lips curled up in a smile as she turned and waved towards him.

Xu Chang’an paused, bowed, and then... fell into thought.

The way the senior turned around just now was smiling, as if the covering black cloth lifted, revealing the radiant luster of a pearl.

Though it was only a moment, Xu Chang’an captured something.

Graceful, elegant.

He thought of the "Zhu Tongjun" depicted in Li Zhibai’s painting, a chilly being unlike anyone in the mortal realm.

He suddenly felt a bit uneasy; if her allure was all a guise, if the senior was truly a cold fairy, can he really obtain the appropriate... cultivation technique used between husband and wife from her?

It’s the unseemly Zhu Pingniang that gives him peace of mind.

Hmm.

Even in this deliberately arranged ambiguous setting, his mind was still filled with Miss Yun.