Chapter 36: No Face Given

Hearing Chen Xufeng’s words, Chen Siran’s heart trembled faintly. She had invited Jiang Feng to her birthday banquet out of genuine kindness, never expecting things to escalate like this. Had she known, she would have simply invited him to a private dinner instead.  

Qin Junlin, however, chuckled lightly and patted Chen Xufeng’s shoulder. “Jiang Feng has quite the personality. It’s rare to see someone so distinctive in our circle after such a long period of dullness.”  

“Personality? More like shameless arrogance!” Chen Xufeng snorted coldly.  

Qin Junlin smiled faintly. “It’s just a small matter—no need to dwell on it. Since Jiang Feng came to Siran’s birthday party tonight, he’s a friend. And among friends, what’s the point of distinguishing status? If he doesn’t want to come over, let it be. No need to force him.” He turned to Chen Siran. “Siran, I haven’t even wished you a happy birthday yet. Let me toast to you.”  

Chen Siran picked up her glass and clinked it lightly with his, smiling. “Thank you, Young Master Qin.”  

Qin Junlin grinned, then produced a small box. “I wasn’t sure what birthday gift to get you. Open it and see if you like it.”  

Hesitating for a moment, Chen Siran took the box and opened it. Inside was a round, pigeon-egg-sized pearl. The gem shimmered with a milky radiance, refracting light like flowing mist, instantly drawing everyone’s gaze.  

Chen Xufeng gasped. “Young Master Qin, this gift is far too extravagant. Siran can’t accept it.”  

Qin Junlin waved a hand dismissively. “Birthday gifts shouldn’t be measured by monetary value—how vulgar.”  

Yet Chen Xufeng’s eyes remained fixed on the pearl, his expression flickering with uncertainty. After a pause, he finally said, “Then… thank you, Young Master Qin. We’ll accept this gift. When your wedding day comes, we’ll be sure to return the favor with an equally grand present.”  

Qin Junlin glanced at Ye Qingxuan, admiration flashing in his eyes. “No need for grand gestures. Just your presence will be enough to make the occasion lively.”  

Bai Pojun cut in with a smirk. “If Young Master Qin is getting married, it’ll be the talk of the city. How could we show up empty-handed? Not all of us have the audacity to give just anything.”  

Qin Junlin raised an eyebrow, amused. “What do you mean?”  

Bai Pojun sneered. “Exactly what it sounds like. Young Master Jiang gave Siran a scrap of paper like it was some priceless treasure. It’s downright laughable—I don’t know where he gets the nerve.”  

“A scrap of paper?” Qin Junlin smiled faintly. “Siran, is that true?”  

Chen Siran hadn’t expected Bai Pojun to expose Jiang Feng’s gift so bluntly. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she explained, “It wasn’t scrap paper. It was a sheet of musical notation.”  

“Then why not ask Young Master Jiang to play it for us?” Bai Pojun goaded. Having been humiliated by Jiang Feng earlier, he couldn’t retaliate directly—but that didn’t mean he’d let it slide.  

Chen Siran hesitated. “Let’s not. Maybe another time—I’ll play it for you myself.”  

Qin Junlin interjected smoothly, “No need for that. If Jiang Feng gave you such a gift, he must have had his reasons. Perhaps having him perform it live would add to the festivities.” He turned to Ye Qingxuan and Chen Siran. “Qingxuan, Siran, why don’t the two of you accompany me to toast Jiang Feng? We can ask him to play us a tune while we’re at it.”  

Ye Qingxuan and Chen Siran exchanged glances. Internally, Ye Qingxuan sighed. She knew all too well that beneath Qin Junlin’s refined demeanor lay an unyielding arrogance.  

Jiang Feng had refused to come toast, and while Qin Junlin pretended not to care, he was undoubtedly the most offended of all. Claiming he wanted to hear Jiang Feng play was just a ploy to humiliate him.  

She also understood that Qin Junlin had only noticed Jiang Feng because of Xu Minmin’s loose tongue. She had no connection to Jiang Feng, nor any reason to speak to him—this was entirely Xu Minmin’s doing. Thinking this, she shot Xu Minmin a discreet glare.  

Chen Siran’s heart was in turmoil. To her, it didn’t matter what gift Jiang Feng gave—or if he gave one at all. His presence alone had made her happy.  

But now, Qin Junlin wanted Jiang Feng to perform. She had no idea how to handle this. She’d never heard of Jiang Feng having any musical talent, and playing the seven-string zither required profound mastery of classical music—even she was just a beginner. 

Asking Jiang Feng to play would only set him up for failure.  

Moreover, she faintly suspected that it might not be a hand-copied musical score at all. Though she didn’t mind, if Jiang Feng couldn’t play it later, he’d become a laughingstock.  

Qin Junlin, however, strode over with a wineglass in hand. Stopping before Jiang Feng, he smiled. “Jiang Feng, long time no see. Let me toast you.”  

Jiang Feng glanced up, brows slightly furrowed, and replied indifferently, “Not interested.”  

Qin Junlin’s smile faded. “Jiang Feng, do it for Siran’s sake. I doubt you’d want to upset her.”  

Ignoring him, Jiang Feng turned to Chen Siran instead. “Siran, are you happy I came tonight?”  

Chen Siran blinked in surprise, then nodded quickly. “Very happy.”  

By bypassing Qin Junlin’s remark to ask Siran directly, Jiang Feng left the crowd stunned. No one had expected him to snub Qin Junlin so blatantly.  

Qin Junlin lowered his gaze, smiling faintly. “Young Master Jiang certainly has… character.”  

Jiang Feng scoffed. “Qin Junlin, doesn’t it exhaust you—putting on this act, hiding every emotion behind a mask?”  

Qin Junlin’s face finally darkened.  

Chen Xufeng couldn’t contain his anger. “Jiang Feng, how dare you spout such nonsense! If not for my sister’s sake, I’d have you thrown out right now!”  

Jiang Feng smirked. “No need. I’ll leave on my own. But tell me, Qin Junlin—where does your superiority come from? That pearl you gifted makes you nobler than my ‘scrap of paper’? Or do you assume your treasure automatically renders mine trash? And why should I play for you? If the top young master of Yanjing has such shallow judgment, the title’s clearly unearned.”  

A mere pearl meant nothing to him. The Immortal Soul Melody was a score he and Immortal Tantai had composed together—a piece imbued with profound significance. She had perished for his sake, leaving this as her only legacy.  

Had Chen Siran not borne a striking resemblance to Tantai, he’d never have gifted it. This offering carried his grief; he could tolerate others’ ignorance, but not their scorn.  

Even stripped of sentiment, The Immortal Soul Melody was priceless. Countless saints and princesses had once schemed desperately for it. To call it “scrap paper” was absurd.  

With that, Jiang Feng stood and strode out.  

He’d wanted to leave earlier—only Siran’s insistence had kept him. Political games bored him; if Qin Junlin enjoyed them, he could play alone. That pearl might be a treasure to others, but to Jiang Feng? Just a pretty stone.  

The room erupted in murmurs as he left. Chen Xufeng fumed, pointing at his retreating figure. “Young Master Qin, did you hear that? He claimed your pearl is no better than his trash! The ingratitude!”  

Qin Junlin’s calm facade hid turbulent thoughts. He had gifted Siran a pearl—an eastern pearl, to be precise.  

Most knew pearls, but few understood their tiers. Eastern pearls (or northern pearls) were exceptionally rare. One this size? Practically irreplaceable.  

To his knowledge, even Yanjing’s elite families might not own such a pearl—the Jiangs included. Logically, Jiang Feng shouldn’t recognize it. Yet he’d identified it at a glance. Had he seen one before?  

Ignoring Chen Xufeng, Qin Junlin stared after Jiang Feng. 

If not a blind guess, then this man… was far more intriguing than the rumors suggested.  

*****

The birthday party ended hastily after the cake-cutting. 

As Qin Junlin departed, guests dispersed.  

Chen Siran handed a slice of cake to Ye Qingxuan but barely touched her own. She’d wanted to chase after Jiang Feng earlier, yet propriety forced her to stay. Worse, she’d failed to say any of the words she’d planned. Today’s invitation had inadvertently turned him into a target—a thought that filled her with guilt.  

Ye Qingxuan took a small bite before leaving with Xu Minmin. Once in the car, she sighed. “Minmin, how could you say those things? You know what Qin Junlin’s like. Were you trying to get Jiang Feng killed?”  

Xu Minmin stuck out her tongue. “Qingxuan, you said you only see Qin Junlin as a brother! I was helping—Jiang Feng’s been pestering you forever. I just implied you had something to say to him, not that you liked him. If Qin Junlin took it out on Jiang Feng, that’s his pettiness.”  

Ye Qingxuan sighed. 

Minmin oversimplified things. Having grown up with Qin Junlin, she knew him better than anyone.  

A man like him never showed his displeasure—yet Jiang Feng had provoked him repeatedly without eliciting a single crack in his composure. That was what terrified her.  

Jiang Feng had been right earlier: Qin Junlin was always acting. He never slipped, never revealed true emotion. But emotions were human. To suppress them so flawlessly? That wasn’t normal.  

“Maybe that’s why I feel nothing for him,” Ye Qingxuan mused. Aloud, she added, “Minmin, I appreciate your intent, but don’t interfere again. I’ll handle my own affairs.”  

Xu Minmin gaped. “Why defend Jiang Feng? He’s not a good guy!”  

Ye Qingxuan smiled wryly but said no more. Some truths were beyond Minmin’s blunt grasp.