My Wife is a Big Star

Chapter 3 - I Want to Be Your Dad

“I really didn’t expect Zhang Xiyun to be Uncle Zhang’s daughter; it’s truly a great fortune.”

Chen Ran truly hadn't considered it before. Although they shared the surname Zhang, there was no connection, and no one would have linked the two together.

Director Zhang, however, let out a sigh.

“What fortune? We hardly even see her once. In university, at least she was home for the holidays, but now that she’s a star, she’s running around outside all year round. Every time she comes home, it’s in a great rush. I’d rather she wasn’t a star at all.”

“It’s not really a matter of being a star or not. Look at me, Uncle Zhang; my home is in Jia City, and when things get busy, I also find it hard to go back once in two months.”

From the time he transmigrated until now, Chen Ran had only gone home once, and that was when he rushed back for a rest after being discharged from the hospital. Later, once the new column started and things got busy, there was no more time.

Director Zhang shook his head and didn't speak. This wasn't a work issue; a son and a daughter were different. When a son is outside, he will always return to his parents' side; this is his home.

But a daughter is different. A succulent head of cabbage like this would certainly be eyed by others while out there. Currently, she comes back rarely, but she still comes back in the end; this is her home. But if she were hooked away by someone and had a home elsewhere, she would come back even less.

Furthermore, what Director Zhang worried about was the issue of his daughter’s marriage. He didn't see her for days on end, and without them keeping watch, he simply couldn't feel at ease.

If their daughter could live happily, the parents would feel comforted even if they were internally uneasy. However, the entertainment industry nowadays really wasn't great; celebrity couples spent more time apart than together, and problems easily arose.

The two of them had discussed it and were determined not to let their daughter marry a celebrity, even if she resented them for it.

While Chen Ran and Director Zhang were chatting, conversation was also happening in the kitchen.

“Zhang Fanzhi, do you have a problem with me and your father?” Yang Yun asked with a stiff face.

Zhang Fanzhi tilted her head. “No.”

Yang Yun said, “You haven't been home for over a month, and you come back with a stiff face—you call that ‘no’? Have your father and I mistreated you? Have we been bad to you?”

“No.”

“Say something else!” Yang Yun rebuked.

“I'm in a bad mood.”

Yang Yun let out a light huff.

“Bad mood? So you come home to take it out on me and your father? You’ve certainly grown capable, haven't you?!”

“......”

Zhang Fanzhi didn’t say anything, silently taking the dishes out of the steamer.

Yang Yun knew her temper and said in a low voice:

“I’m telling you, when we go out there in a moment, if you’re still like this, don’t blame me and your father for not giving you face.”

Zhang Fanzhi turned her head to peek outside. Chen Ran and Director Zhang were chatting happily, and she couldn't help but purse her lips.

Mother and daughter prepared the food and brought it out together.

Yang Yun’s skills were excellent; the dishes were very rich and the aroma was nose-catching.

The Zhang couple sat down next to each other, with Zhang Fanzhi sitting at Chen Ran’s side.

A faint, ethereal fragrance drifted over, making Chen Ran feel slightly uncomfortable, and he subconsciously shifted a bit to the side.

Director Zhang put food into Chen Ran’s bowl.

“Come, try your Auntie Yun’s cooking. It's not your uncle bragging, but this is even better than what you get in those restaurants!”

Yang Yun bumped her husband and smiled, “Don't listen to your uncle's nonsense; it’s just a simple meal. Chen Ran, just make do with it.”

Chen Ran took a bite; the flavor was excellent.

“Uncle Zhang’s assessment is very apt. Auntie Yun’s cooking is truly good, much better than what’s outside.”

Director Zhang laughed. “See? Even Chen Ran says so. Stop being so modest.”

The corner of Zhang Fanzhi’s mouth twitched; she felt a bit redundant.

Yang Yun placed a piece of fatty, succulent braised pork into Chen Ran’s bowl.

“If you like it, eat more. You’ve all been working overtime lately; you need to eat more to hold out.”

Zhang Fanzhi silently looked at her mother, then at her father who had been talking to Chen Ran the whole time. Just who is your biological child...

……

By the end of the meal, Zhang Fanzhi hadn't spoken a word.

Chen Ran’s mouth hadn't been idle, as the Zhang couple kept putting food into his bowl.

It wasn't good to refuse, yet he couldn't finish it all if he didn't.

Finally, he let out a burp, and only then did the couple stop their hands.

Chen Ran was a bit stuffed. He helped clear the dishes and then sat on the sofa, not wanting to move.

Yang Yun was washing the dishes while Chen Ran and the Zhang father and daughter sat in the living room.

Director Zhang said, “You two are of the same age; exchange contact information and stay in touch more often from now on.”

Chen Ran glanced at Zhang Fanzhi. Exchanging contact information with a big star—this was certainly a novel experience.

Zhang Fanzhi remained unmoved until Director Zhang reached out and nudged her. Only then did she reluctantly take out her phone and add Chen Ran as a friend.

‘A Lone Branch Standing Out…’

Chen Ran saw this WeChat nickname and the corner of his mouth twitched.

His own nickname was simple: just the single character ‘Ran.’

The contact information had been added, but Chen Ran felt it was impossible for him and Zhang Fanzhi to ever actually chat. Aside from Director Zhang, the two of them had absolutely no intersection. Given Zhang Fanzhi’s personality, it would be a miracle if they could have a conversation.

Zhang Fanzhi took a phone call and went into her room, leaving only Chen Ran and Director Zhang.

“Chen Ran, what is your impression of Zhizhi?” Director Zhang asked in a low voice.

“Ah?” Chen Ran didn’t know why Director Zhang was suddenly asking this, nor did he know what to say.

Director Zhang said, “Your Auntie Yun and I think you’re a good person—you have a good temper, a good heart, and your abilities are quite good as well. Zhizhi isn’t getting any younger, and when we thought about finding her a partner, you were the first person who came to mind.”

“Asking you to come today was so that you two could meet and see if there’s a possibility of becoming family.”

Chen Ran said awkwardly, “Uncle Zhang, we’re already like family now.”

Director Zhang shook his head and said, “It’s not the same. Right now you call me ‘Uncle,’ but I want to be your ‘Dad.’”

Chen Ran was frozen in awkwardness.

He called Director Zhang “Uncle,” but in his heart, he viewed him more as a friend. Now that Director Zhang actually wanted him to be his son-in-law, his mind couldn’t quite process it for a moment.

“What? Did you not take a liking to Zhizhi?” Director Zhang frowned.

Chen Ran hurriedly said, “I didn’t mean that. Miss Zhang is great in every aspect—she’s beautiful and a big star; who would dare say she’s not good?”

Director Zhang said, “Then is it because of her temper? Let me tell you, this girl Zhizhi is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. Once you two get familiar, you’ll know her temper is actually very good.”

“......”

If Chen Ran hadn’t witnessed the car crash downstairs earlier, he might have actually believed Director Zhang’s words.

Of course, it wasn’t really a matter of temper; mainly, this was just too sudden! It was agreed that he was just coming over for a meal; how did it turn into a blind date?

No wonder Director Zhang gave him half a day off to dress up and talked about having a “reunion meal”—so this was what he meant.

“Uncle Zhang, your daughter and I have only met for the first time; we don’t know each other at all. It’s too early to talk about these things,” Chen Ran said, bracing himself.

Who doesn't like a beautiful woman? Chen Ran was no exception. Zhang Fanzhi was indeed very beautiful; anyone would be willing to have a girlfriend like her. But being a wife is a lifelong matter; one couldn’t just shamelessly chase someone just because they were pretty.

First, their personalities had to be compatible. Deciding a lifetime based on a single meeting—that was just being swayed by lust, craving someone’s body.

Director Zhang pinched two fingers together, just about to take out a cigarette when he remembered he was at home and resentfully pulled his hand back.

“I suppose I am a bit anxious. It’s mainly because I think you’re a good person and a good match for Zhizhi. Anyway, Zhizhi has to get married eventually; we can’t let some outsider benefit!”

“Think about it. If Zhizhi marries someone else, who knows what that person’s intentions might be? They might not even let her come home once all year. You’re different; you’re a filial person. When we’re old, you definitely won’t ignore us.”

“Uncle Zhang has been good enough to you, right? You can’t just watch Uncle Zhang and Auntie Yun grow old and die in loneliness, right?”

Chen Ran’s mouth twitched.

Uncle Zhang, you’re being way too dramatic.

Besides, I’m just an ordinary guy; no matter how you look at it, Zhang Fanzhi and I aren’t a match. How on earth did you see us as being well-suited?