Chapter 15 : Being a Singer is Such a Waste!
Chapter 15 - Being a Singer is Such a Waste!
Chen Ran never imagined that Zhang Fanzhi would come to the TV station to find him.
He clicked off his phone, stuffed it into his pocket, and hurriedly took the elevator down.
Zhang Fanzhi stood there, slim and graceful.
Zhang Fanzhi's mask covered her face tightly, revealing only a pair of bright eyes.
“How come you’re here?” Chen Ran asked.
People at a TV station had loose lips; wasn't she just looking for trouble by coming here?
If she were recognized, gossip and scandals would surely spread.
Zhang Fanzhi said, “I didn’t want to come either.”
Chen Ran was completely baffled; if you didn't want to come, then why are you here?
Zhang Fanzhi added, “My mom heard your cold still hasn't gotten better, so she simmered some soup and asked me to bring it over.”
As she spoke, she reached out.
Only then did Chen Ran notice a bag in her hand containing a thermos lunch box; his heart instantly warmed.
That morning, Uncle Zhang said he'd have Auntie Yun make him soup, but he refused on the grounds that Auntie Yun didn't have time because of work. He hadn't expected Auntie Yun to make the soup anyway after work and have Zhang Fanzhi deliver it.
“Take it,” Zhang Fanzhi said, handing it over.
Chen Ran took the bag and said, “Auntie Yun went to a lot of trouble. Thank her for me.”
Under her mask, Zhang Fanzhi secretly curled her lip.
“Thanks for bringing the soup. Be careful on your way back; I have to go work overtime now.” After Chen Ran finished speaking, he nodded to Zhang Fanzhi and turned to leave.
His work wasn't finished; he had to continue.
“You’re just leaving like that?” Zhang Fanzhi suddenly asked.
Chen Ran stopped and looked at Zhang Fanzhi. “Did you want to come inside for a bit? It’s overtime hours right now; the TV station doesn't just let people in!”
Zhang Fanzhi snapped back—who wanted to go inside the TV station?
She just felt that even though it was a fake relationship, Chen Ran was far too indifferent!
“If you don’t have anything else, I’m going up!” This time, Chen Ran didn't stay.
Zhang Fanzhi watched Chen Ran turn and walk straight into the elevator. For some reason, her heart felt a bit uncomfortable. She returned to her car but didn't drive off immediately; instead, she spaced out for a while.
Her phone rang.
Seeing the caller, she frowned, hesitated for a moment, but still answered.
“I heard from Xiao Qin that your parents arranged a blind date for you?” On the other end was a rather serious middle-aged woman's voice.
“Your news travels quite fast,” Zhang Fanzhi said.
“Xiyun, I'm not trying to nag you, but right now is the starting stage of your career; you should prioritize your work. Given the current situation, your parents might not understand, but don't you? Losing for a moment isn't scary. If you lose your spirit and just surrender like this, then you're truly finished,” the woman said earnestly.
“You started very high; few people have a starting point like yours. The more this is true, the more you need to cherish it. Handle the affairs at home well; whatever you do, do not let headlines like ‘Zhang Xiyun goes on a blind date’ appear in the news. I don’t want to see that.”
“As for Lin Hanyun, she stole your song this time, but the response to the song hasn't been good. It seems like she got a bargain, but she actually helped us dodge a bullet.”
Lin Hanyun's new song was released the day before yesterday. It had been two days now, and on the China Music Charts, its sales were only ranked ninth among new songs.
And this was even with the company providing ample resources for heavy promotion.
For the former "Top Sister" of Stars, having such results for a new single was indeed somewhat poor.
As Zhang Fanzhi's manager, Tao Lin was naturally happy to see this.
The reason she called this time, besides asking about the blind date, was to report the good news.
However, Zhang Fanzhi couldn't bring herself to be happy.
No matter whether the song was good or not, it was supposed to have been her song.
Even if the results were poor after Lin Hanyun snatched it away, it was still snatched from her hands.
Zhang Fanzhi very much disliked this feeling. Aside from her sister, she was not in the habit of letting others take her things.
She said indifferently, "Is there anything else? If not, I’m going to drive."
Tao Lin said, "Once you’ve rested enough, come back early. I’ve pushed off a few activities for you on my end, but there’s a singing variety show that I couldn’t push off. I think it’s quite interesting and plan for you to participate."
"We'll see." After Zhang Fanzhi finished speaking, she hung up the phone directly without waiting for Tao Lin to say anything.
It was said to be a half-month break, but several days had already passed. Because of the blind dates arranged by her parents, not only had she not rested, but she was instead somewhat exhausted.
She looked at the TV station, illuminated by colored lights, her eyes holding flickering stars that shifted between light and dark.
Zhang Fanzhi withdrew her gaze, started the car, and left.
Upstairs.
Chen Ran took two sips of the chicken soup; the flavor was extremely fresh and delicious.
Auntie Yun’s culinary skills were definitely worthy of praise.
He had been feeling a bit weary just now, but now he felt vigorous and full of energy.
Whether it was Uncle Zhang or Auntie Yun, they treated him better and better because of his relationship with Zhang Fanzhi.
The more it was like this, the more uncomfortable he felt.
He was suffering through the torment.
Thinking that this soup was delivered by Zhang Fanzhi made his heart feel a bit awkward.
Though honestly, if one really had a girlfriend who came over to show concern while working overtime, it would be quite heartwarming.
Of course, someone like Zhang Fanzhi... forget it.
That represented trouble, and being someone he couldn't afford to mess with...
Thinking of Zhang Fanzhi, Chen Ran unconsciously stood up and looked down, finding a car leaving.
It was Zhang Fanzhi’s car.
"She left only after such a long time?"
Chen Ran pondered; she probably wanted to create the scene of a couple in love who couldn't bear to part, which is why she stayed for a while before leaving?
Was she really that much of a stickler for details?
To be honest, with Zhang Fanzhi’s acting skills, going into singing was truly a waste.
……
Amidst constant overtime, several days passed.
The promotional strategy for Zhaonan Focus came out, following Chen Ran’s plan.
The TV station handled things very efficiently, quickly spreading the advertisements everywhere.
First, there were previews on television.
"The Public Channel’s news column has been completely upgraded and revamped, focusing on the difficulties, disputes, and injustices around the common people..."
Not only were ads playing on the Public Channel itself, but other local channels also started repeat broadcasts.
Next was the radio.
The current radio era isn't like the past when people listened with portable radios.
On squares, under streetlights, in taxis—these are the places where radio now has the strongest presence.
Short, few-sentence ads played continuously on the radio; the hosts used dialect for the ads, once before the show and once after.
"Got difficulties? Got disputes? Call the livelihood hotline quickly to solve your worries and difficulties. Expose the news around you, and there are cash rewards of five hundred to two thousand yuan waiting for you!"
Besides this, ads were published in many places with billboards.
Some were pasted on the riverbank railings and both sides of streetlights.
Advertising like this was practically forcing you to listen and watch.
Even without trying to remember, one would still have some impression of the livelihood hotline and Zhaonan Focus.
With advertising done like this, the effect couldn't possibly be bad.
In just these few days, a lot of news material was actually collected, and the quality was very high.
"If Director Liu hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known this promotional strategy was proposed by you." Director Zhang praised,
"You did very well; I didn't expect you to have an idea like this."