Chapter 106
As the weather turned cooler, Feng Ran submitted her application to the Capital Military Academy after being coaxed and pleaded with by Shen Shiqian. Unlike in her previous life when she was transferred from the combat department to the mechanical department due to her physical disability, this time she directly filled in the mechanical department because she could take two fewer subjects in the exam.
When Afu found out, she just pursed her lips and didn't say anything. She applied to Kempin University's law school, which only required her to have high scores in academic subjects.
The two had agreed to go to the fan art exhibition together, but because Afu was setting up a stall, she went to the venue early to set up. When Fengran found her by following the coordinates she gave him, there was a huge standee of Shen Shiqian's comic book character in front of the simple pushcart stall.
The thought of what this character did in Afu's comic books made Feng Ran feel inexplicably ashamed.
Afu even brought her home nanny robot along. After setting up the operating program, she had the robot watch over her booth while she and Fengran strolled around the exhibition.
Feng Ran couldn't help but question, "Can it really be sold?"
Putting aside how audacious it is to use Shen Shiqian for entertainment, Feng Ran is worried that Afu, a 3S-level marshal and the one who is [redacted], will be besieged by Shen Shiqian's fans.
Afu: "Oh, Ranran, don't worry. People who come to fan conventions aren't so mentally challenged. Rather, everyone comes here for the novelty. There are plenty of people with pica in the Empire."
The more she said that, the more Feng Ran felt he shouldn't have agreed to come with her.
In fact, apart from the somewhat avant-garde clothing and the excited shouts and strings of incomprehensible internet slang that people at the exhibition wore, they were quite enthusiastic and polite.
Afu shopped and chatted with people along the way, filling her bags with small gifts from passersby. Fengran, on the other hand, followed silently like a robot, unable to reciprocate their enthusiasm.
When she returned to her stall after buying her things, the batch of comic books she had printed had sold out, and many people were taking pictures of the standee. When they saw the stall owner return, they all rushed over.
The girl in the lead pointed at the poster on Afu's booth and wailed sadly: "Waaah, Mrs. Puff, I'm late. Is there really no more copies of 'Star and Moon'? You know, I've been waiting for this day ever since you posted the character designs and preview booklets on the fan site. Damn it, the queue for the fan convention is still so long. As soon as I came in, all the books were snatched up. I'm really going to complain about them!"
Afu also played the victim: "Oh dear, there's really nothing I can do about it. You all know how difficult the Marshal's support group is. Last time, even the painting Mrs. Ginger drew was the one that their military enthusiasts love the most, and it was reported and forced to shut down the website. I had to negotiate the sales volume with the organizers, otherwise they would have come after seeing the post."
"Damn, when did tickets for the fan convention become so easy to get?! I'm going to fight them for it!"
"I've always suspected that Mrs. Ginger was reported by Bai Jinyu's toxic fans. They're military enthusiasts themselves, so why would they throw down their bowls and chopsticks and overturn the pot? They have no manners at all!"
"That makes sense, Madam. Did you only dare to pursue the dream girl because you saw that they haven't interacted much this year? And she's even the bottom. Sigh, she's so classy. Only a proud man like the Marshal, whose aura is stronger and whose face is colder, is good enough for you!"
A group of people chatted at the stall, talking about everything from movie stars and male models to marshals and generals. Every Alpha they could think of who was somewhat attractive was discussed.
Some of them, caught up in the conversation, looked at Feng Ran standing to the side and boldly asked, "Sister, which one do you like?"
Afu was startled by her enthusiasm and protectively pulled Feng Ran a little behind her, then said to the others to make amends, "This is a friend of mine from outside the circle, she doesn't know much about these things yet."
Just kidding, she didn't want to hear any answer from Feng Ran other than Shen Shiqian. Drawing fanfiction about the two of them was already exciting enough, but now he was tearing their house apart in front of her. Her little heart couldn't take it.
Upon hearing that it was the wife's friend, everyone became a little more reserved, but they couldn't help but become curious.
"It's one thing for Mrs. Puff herself to be beautiful, but how come her friends are also stunning beauties with such great poise, like celebrities?"
"Hmm, but I don't know if it's just my imagination, but it looks kind of familiar, like I've seen it somewhere before."
"Yes, yes! I feel the same way!"
Afu looked at Feng Ran suspiciously. When did their school beauty become a generic face? It wasn't until a girl pointed to the couple poster on the car that she gave the answer.
"Madam, your friend looks just like the heroine in your novel!"
Afu's expression instantly turned terrified, oh dear!
"Huh? A real-life dream girl?"
"Wait a minute, let me see. When Puff-sensei posted the character design, she seemed to have mentioned that it had real-life attributes."
Several people quickly looked down and opened their terminals to look at Afu's previous posts. She had indeed said that the seme had real-life attributes and that it was forbidden to break up Nimeng, but because the prototype was kept secret, everyone had always treated it as an OC Meng pairing and never expected to see the real person.
"Holy crap, I never thought someone could actually look like that! Just looking at your paintings is so satisfying! Beautiful lady, can we collect stamps... ah, I mean, can we take a group photo?"
"Waaah, I want one too! And I wish you and the Marshal a long and happy life together!"
Like sweet flowers blooming under the purest and kindest water in the world, Feng Ran, though not yet quite used to this kind of occasion, was genuinely happy because of their purity.
Feng Ran: "Okay, thank you."
Even though they couldn't buy the artwork they longed for, everyone was happy to take a picture with the main character, and they even took out their own handmade items to give to Feng Ran.
Feng Ran accepted it solemnly, feeling both expectant and somewhat apprehensive: "Isn't this too valuable?"
Everyone was nonchalant: "Hey, what's the big deal? It's just a piece of paper. 10 Star Coins can print 500 of them."
Feng Ran winked at Afu: "Then Teacher Puff can print a few more copies, right?"
Although Feng Ran's words made the girls happy, they were still very understanding: "Let it go. After all, the organizers have made this request. We can watch the electronic version. I don't want to lose Mrs. Puff after losing Mrs. Ginger."
Afu completely ignored her little fan's pity for her, and excitedly looked at Feng Ran, rubbing her hands together: "If you put it that way, I'll release your engagement video today! You know, the printing factory I work with prints thousands of copies at a time, and I have eight hundred copies piled up at home. I can find distributors and sell them all online in no time!"
Fans were heartbroken upon hearing this: "Madam, you're not being honest! You're hiding something!"
Some people belatedly grasped the key words: "Engagement? What kind of engagement? Who's engaged?"
"Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap, you wouldn't be doing this behind our backs, would you?"
The news of Feng Ran and Shen Shiqian's engagement was not made public, and very few people were invited to the engagement party, leading everyone to believe that the young couple wanted to keep a low profile. Even before this, the ambiguous relationship between Feng Ran and Shen Shiqian was merely gossip among the upper class, unknown to ordinary people.
The marshal wasn't an entertainment idol, and he didn't need to follow the lead of any fan club. They probably knew less about Shen Shiqian's private life than the paparazzi Luo Le kept. Now that a big scandal had suddenly broken out, the group looked at each other, hardly daring to believe it.
Feng Ran's terminal vibrated a few times. She clicked on it, glanced at it, and raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Hmm, it seems like we can't sell them again."
Afu: "Huh?"
Feng Ran said helplessly, "The original owner saw the uncut version you sent me, and he's here now."
Afu was on the verge of tears: "No, why didn't you hide it better! Now we're doomed!"
Feng Ran: "I don't have that experience. I just put it on the shelf in the lab. He probably saw it when he went to feed the fish. But since he came to find it, maybe he likes it too."
Afu couldn't understand their romantic feelings like Xisen did, and could only say with exasperation, "Next time, why don't you just let the robot do this kind of thing!"
Feng Ran said calmly, "The robot was shut down by the fish."
Those listening nearby couldn't help but sigh inwardly: No wonder he's a marshal, even the fish he keeps at home are so fierce!
Feng Ran continued to reassure her, "It's okay. There are so many people at the exhibition. He wouldn't be so petty as to make things difficult for you. People have to save face when they're out in public."
Afu: "But it seems you didn't give him any face. You've already revealed all his secrets, haven't you?"
The girl who first struck up a conversation with Feng Ran was probably the boldest in the group. She timidly interjected, "Um, I wanted to ask, does that mean the Marshal is on his way to the fan convention right now?"
Afu angrily repeated what everyone had said at the beginning: "Doesn't he have a ticket so he can just come whenever he wants? It takes an hour to get in!"
"Teacher Puff, let's run away."
Being caught drawing an exquisite imperial map by the person in question is the most despairing thing imaginable. In fact, the marshal is a right-ranking general. Now, they don't even need their fan clubs to tear them apart; the marshal himself has come.
Afu grabbed Feng Ran and hid behind her: "No, Ranran, you have to protect me! You're my boss! The content of this script is completely custom-made by you! I'm just a pitiful working girl who can't even play freely after this!"
Remarkably, Shen Shiqian stopped at the outer entrance of the exhibition venue, not knowing whether he suddenly came to his senses just before the door opened or was actually stuck at the entrance because he didn't have a ticket.
Feng Ran felt that Shen Shiqian wouldn't chase after her and Afu when they went out to play; there must be some special circumstances.
She calmly comforted Afu: "It's okay, Afu. If you want to sell, then sell. If he dares to cause you trouble, I'll cause him trouble. But it seems he's stuck at the door right now. I'll go check on him. Let's make an appointment another time."
Afu was satisfied and nodded happily.
"Go ahead, go ahead, I'll draw you something else after the exam."
Even the female fans beside her watched her with eyes full of adoration, their gazes fixed on her while simultaneously urging her to finish her work.
"Madam, could you draw it now? I want to see it."
"Add one."
Afu coldly retorted, "I can't add it. You want me to die."
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