Chapter 26: Yi Yunxue's Youngest Fans

On the day of the Spring Festival, things were surprisingly quiet. With his parents out visiting relatives, Chen Jiang stayed home to work on his writing.

By the second day of the Lunar New Year, the whole family set out early in the morning. According to tradition, they were to visit his maternal grandparents. They lived in the neighboring city, over a hundred kilometers away. Chen Jiang drove his parents onto the highway, which, perhaps because everyone had already returned home for the holidays, was not as congested as expected.

They arrived at his eldest uncle’s house before noon. His second and third uncles were already there waiting. Chen Jiang greeted his elders one by one: "Grandpa, Grandma, Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year! Ah Jiang is another year older," his grandfather said with a smile, pulling a red envelope from his pocket. "Even though you’re already earning your own money, you still have to take this—it’s for good luck."

"I have one here, too," his grandmother added. His uncles also produced their own red envelopes. Chen Jiang ended up with quite a few. Although he was an adult, he still received plenty of envelopes every year; while the amounts were modest, the sentiment was what mattered.

"Eldest Uncle," Chen Jiang asked, "where is Xiao Yu?" Xiao Yu was the only daughter of his eldest cousin, making her his young niece.

"I don't know what she's hiding in her room for. I called her just now, but she didn't respond," his uncle replied.

Curious, Chen Jiang quietly walked to her room and knocked. There was no answer, only the faint sound of her arguing with someone. Confused, he pushed the door open to find her wearing headphones, holding her phone, and bickering: "I’m telling you, my Xuexue is the best! She’s a rising superstar. Your idol is just a total nobody, how dare you try to latch onto my Xuexue’s fame?!" She sent a voice message with a huff.

Chen Jiang twitched his mouth. He walked over and saw that her phone was playing a song he knew all too well: "Meet."

*Xuexue? Is this girl a fan of Yun Xue?* Chen Jiang was left between laughter and tears. *I never expected Yun Xue to have such young, elementary-school-aged fans.* It was quite something to be chasing celebrities at such a tender age.

"Xiao Yu, you're listening to this kind of song at your age? Do you even understand what it’s expressing?" he couldn't help but ask, seeing the melancholic look on her face.

"Huh? Uncle?" She turned around, only then noticing he had entered. "Uncle, of course I understand! When you get to my age, you’ll understand too!" she said with feigned maturity.

"Is this what kids are like these days?" Chen Jiang was stunned.

"Hey, Uncle, is your name Chen Jiang too?" she suddenly hesitated. "The songwriter of my favorite song is also named Chen Jiang! If only you had half his talent..." She sighed.

Chen Jiang’s smile froze. "Is it possible that I am that very person?"

"Impossible. It’s just the same name. Uncle, you’re too narcissistic!"

Chen Jiang silently tucked the thick red envelope he had halfway pulled out back into his pocket. *Fine,* he thought, *I was going to give you a gift, but don't blame your uncle for being heartless now.*

He left the room and bumped into his cousin’s wife. "Sister-in-law, how are Xiao Yu’s final exam results?"

She sighed heavily. "Aside from Chinese, she failed both Math and English."

"That won't do. Math and English are crucial. She's in the third grade now, right?"

"Yes, third grade."

"Third grade is the most critical year in primary school, perhaps the most important year of one's life. We can't let her studies slide. If I hadn't failed to build a solid foundation in the third grade, I could have gotten into Tsinghua or Peking University," Chen Jiang said righteously. "As her uncle, I feel I must help. I’m planning to pay for two private tutors for her."

"Oh, no, you can't do that! You work hard for your money!" she protested.

"She’s my niece; it’s the least I can do," Chen Jiang insisted. "Just find a local one-on-one tutor, and I’ll cover the tuition. Let's start with a semester. Families nowadays take education so seriously; if she’s not careful, she’ll be left in the dust."

"Then I’ll thank you on her behalf! Xiao Yu is so lucky to have an uncle who cares so much about her studies," she said gratefully.

"Oh, and here is her red envelope. It’s the New Year, after all," Chen Jiang said, pulling it out.

"No, you’re already paying for tutors, I can’t take this. Plus, you aren't even married yet..."

"I give one to every younger relative. The envelope is one thing, the tutoring is another," Chen Jiang said firmly, pressing it into her hand.

Back in the living room, he distributed the rest of his red envelopes to his other nieces and nephews.

By evening, despite their insistence that he stay the night, Chen Jiang drove his parents home. While they were polite, tradition dictated that one did not spend the night at their maternal family home during the New Year.

Once home, Chen Jiang received the price list from his cousin’s wife. He generously selected the two most expensive teachers, added them on social media, and sent over the deposit.

He chuckled to himself. From now on, Xiao Yu would be spending her weekends in tutoring sessions. He wondered how she would react when she found out.

*I never imagined Yun Xue would have fans like that.* In his past life, a powerful female singer he knew had gained many young fans, which had actually hurt her public image because of their immature behavior. For pop stars, such fans were a boon, but for a true artist, they could be a liability.

*That little girl really needs some guidance,* he muttered.

After his shower, just as he was about to start a game, he received a call from Yun Xue.

"Chen Jiang, when are you coming back to Shenzhen?" her soft voice drifted through the phone.

"The day after tomorrow, I think," he replied.

"Sister Li found a real talent at a pub—a resident singer. We’ve already made initial contact. I went to hear her sing; her voice is quite unique," Yun Xue said.

"Unique?" Chen Jiang’s interest was piqued. "You want me to help you decide? I’ll come by and listen to her when I return."

"Great!" Yun Xue agreed. They chatted for a while, and Chen Jiang laughed. "I have to tell you, my niece is actually your fan. I visited her today and found her arguing with another kid online..."

Hearing his story, Yun Xue burst into laughter. "That’s so miserable! She didn't even believe it was you."