My Wife is a Big Star

Chapter 1 - Going to the Leader’s House for a Meal

“Chen Ran, my daughter is coming back tonight. You should come as well; we’ll have a meal together as a family.”

Director Zhang said this, and Chen Ran didn’t even react at first, clearly stunned for a moment.

“Uncle Zhang, it’s a gathering for your family. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to go...”

Director Zhang said, “How is it inappropriate? I’ve always looked upon you as a nephew, so that makes you family. What’s wrong with you coming to a family gathering? Unless you were just paying lip service and don’t really think of me as an uncle.”

Chen Ran hurriedly said, “How could you say that, Uncle Zhang? It’s mainly that I haven't visited your home before, so wouldn't going just like this be a bit abrupt?”

“It’s not abrupt, not abrupt at all. Your Auntie Yun has wanted you to come over for a long time, but our work has been so busy lately that it kept being pushed back until now. It just so happens that my daughter is back, so everyone can have a reunion meal together.”

Director Zhang left Chen Ran no way out.

Since things had reached this point, Chen Ran couldn't say anything else and could only agree.

Director Zhang instructed, “We’ve been busy for so many days, so I’ll give you half a day off. Go get your hair done and buy some clothes. Dress a bit sharper later.”

Originally, Chen Ran hadn’t minded much. After all, when going to a leader’s house for a meal, everyone usually rushes over right after work, so a slightly poor appearance is unavoidable.

But since the Director was giving him time off, he would naturally dress up as much as he could. For a first visit, he wanted to leave a good impression.

Director Zhang’s name was Zhang Chongning, and he was the Director of the Program Department for the Zhaonan Provincial TV Station’s Public Channel.

Chen Ran had just transitioned from an intern to a regular employee. Logically, he shouldn’t have had any intersection with Zhang Chongning.

About two months ago, Chen Ran had just transmigrated. The memories and emotions of two worlds were merging, leaving him in a daze.

The wind was strong that day, and a pane of glass fell from upstairs. Chen Ran saw someone below and subconsciously pushed them out of the way. The glass smashed directly onto his hand, sending him to the hospital.

The person Chen Ran pushed away was Zhang Chongning.

Chen Ran’s hand only suffered minor injuries and was mostly recovered after a few days in the hospital, but Zhang Chongning insisted on staying with him there for several days.

Back and forth like this, the two became close enough to address each other as uncle and nephew.

During that time, Zhang Chongning had wanted Chen Ran to come to his home several times, but the TV station had new programs. Whether it was Chen Ran or Zhang Chongning, both were busy working overtime, so there was no time.

Zhang Chongning quite liked Chen Ran. He would call him over for lunch and didn’t hide it in front of colleagues; when introducing him to others, he would say he was his nephew.

As time went on, many people in the TV station knew that the Program Department Director was Chen Ran’s uncle. Although it was inevitable that some people whispered behind his back about him using the “back door,” most people were kind and didn’t subject him to unfair treatment just because he was a newcomer.

Zhang Chongning was a very serious person, so naturally, he wouldn’t show extreme bias toward Chen Ran, such as giving him an exceptional promotion.

Acting this way initially was to use his status to provide Chen Ran with some convenience so he could smoothly transition to a regular employee.

As they spent more time together later, he realized he had been overthinking it. Although Chen Ran was just a young man who had recently graduated, he was very outstanding in certain aspects. With this level of ability alone, he could easily pass the internship period.

It was precisely because of this that he appreciated Chen Ran more and more.

In the afternoon, Chen Ran took his time off and went to dress himself up as told.

He specifically went to get a haircut and bought a set of clothes that looked relatively sharp.

He was quite handsome—not earth-shattering, but the type that was easy on the eyes. After dressing up, he gave himself a score of ninety.

Transmigrating was an accident, and there were many things he didn't know how to explain, but the only thing he was satisfied with was this physical shell; his level of handsomeness was on par with his previous life.

As for gifts, he went and bought many health supplements.

He didn’t know what else would be good to give. Zhang Chongning liked to smoke a bit, but he was strictly controlled; before getting off work, he had to brush his teeth and chew gum to avoid the smell of smoke.

Cigarettes definitely couldn’t be given. Thinking about how working at a TV station often required overtime, buying health supplements was a safe, versatile choice.

Spending money here and there added up to quite a bit, and Chen Ran felt a slight "toothache." During these three months of internship, his salary wasn't much. He had a younger sister at home who had just started university, and he sent most of his money home. He would have to live a bit more frugally for a while.

It was also lucky he didn’t have a girlfriend. During university, there was someone he had a mutual attraction with, but later she became famous, and the matter fizzled out.

As long as one didn’t have any peculiar hobbies, a single dog really couldn’t spend much money.

“All this preparation... someone who didn't know better would think I was going on a blind date.”

Chen Ran even amused himself. On his first day of work, he had dressed quite decently, but afterward, he became more casual. During this period, he had been busy with the program crew and hadn't paid much attention to his image; now, his dressing could be described as "grand."

On the subway, people came and went.

Chen Ran let out a yawn; he hadn't rested well these past two days and was indeed a bit tired.

Compared to others, his transmigration was rather disheartening—he had no system, no "golden finger" cheat, and no "old grandpa" accompanying him. Aside from some changes, the world was mostly the same; in a single phrase, it was "if you know, you know."

In his previous life, he was a good-looking ordinary person, and from the looks of things, he would likely live the same way in this life.

It wasn't that Chen Ran was complaining; on the contrary, he was somewhat grateful. If not for the transmigration, he would have already died the moment he was hit by that speeding heavy truck. Being able to live once more was already a mercy from the Heavens.

Arriving at the residential compound, Chen Ran checked the address, spoke with the security guard, and entered on his own. He didn't call Director Zhang; if he had, the man would have come down to pick him up, and it wasn't good to trouble others.

A car drove past him and honked its horn once. Chen Ran looked up and moved to the side. The driver was a woman wearing a black mask; her features couldn't be seen clearly, but it was evident that her skin was very fair and her temperament was quite good.

This was an old-style residential compound that had been around for many years. When it was originally built, no underground garage was included, so everyone parked inside the compound; it wasn't surprising to see cars entering and exiting.

Chen Ran found Building No. 4. Just as he was about to enter the elevator, he heard the sound of a horn again.

Chen Ran turned his head to look; it was that same car from before. In the parking space ahead of her, a sedan was parked horizontally in the middle, occupying two spots. She honked the horn a few times, but still, no one paid her any attention.

The car slowly reversed, seemingly looking for another parking spot.

Just as Chen Ran was about to turn around, the roar of a car engine suddenly rang out. That black sedan abruptly accelerated, and before Chen Ran’s dumbfounded eyes, with a *bang*, it crashed right into the other car!

That horizontal sedan was smashed out of shape and pushed against the wall, a wretched sight to behold.

“Sss...”

Chen Ran already had a psychological shadow regarding cars, and seeing such a collision made his body tremble. That woman’s temperament had seemed cool and aloof; he hadn't expected her temper to be so explosive.

Someone had taken the parking spot, yet she didn't even think of calling to have them move the car and instead just crashed right into it—that was a bit too much!

What kind of man could endure marrying a woman like this? Wouldn't he be a victim of domestic violence every single day!

Now that the car had been hit, there was finally noise coming from upstairs, with an endless clamor breaking out. Seeing this situation, Chen Ran estimated it would be quite a ruckus; fearing that the elevator might be tied up later, he went upstairs first.

“12th floor, Unit 3...”

Finding the address, Chen Ran pressed the doorbell.

The person who opened the door was Director Zhang’s wife, Yang Yun.

They had met before at the hospital, so she was no stranger to Chen Ran. Seeing him carrying several bags, she complained:

“I said you should just come as you are; it’s not like you’re going anywhere special, yet you still brought these. If your Uncle Zhang sees this, he’ll have words for you again.”

“It’s just some health supplements. Uncle Zhang works a lot of overtime, so these are to help him recover,” Chen Ran said with a smile.

Yang Yun welcomed Chen Ran inside and then said, “Given our relationship, we don’t do things like this. If you bring things again next time, your uncle will definitely be unhappy. Come, sit down first. I’ll go call your uncle.”

Just as Chen Ran stepped inside, he spotted Director Zhang walking out in a great rush.

“Chen Ran, you’ve arrived. You sit first; I have something I need to go out and deal with...” Director Zhang’s expression was hurried.

Yang Yun pulled him back and asked in a low voice, “What are you doing? Chen Ran is right here.”

“A crash! I have to go down!” Director Zhang kept his voice very low, for fear that Chen Ran would hear.

Yang Yun let out an “ah.”

“Another crash?”