My Wife is a Big Star

Chapter 38 - Your Girlfriend?

Inside the kitchen.

Director Zhang stood by the door, his ear pressed firmly against it.

Auntie Yun said grumpily, “What on earth are you doing?”

Director Zhang replied, “Listening to what they’re saying.”

“And? What did you hear?”

Director Zhang said dejectedly, “They’re speaking too quietly; I can’t hear a thing.”

Auntie Yun rolled her eyes at him. “Since you can’t hear anything, why don’t you hurry over and help me?”

Director Zhang said, “I’ll help wash the vegetables, then. I don’t know how to do anything else.”

“I wasn’t counting on you to actually cook anyway,” Auntie Yun huffed.

Director Zhang sat down and asked again, “By the way, why did Zhizhi come back this time?”

Auntie Yun was holding a vegetable basket and washing a pot as she spoke slowly:

“Work isn’t going her way. From what I gathered, it seems like her new song can’t be released or something; she didn't go into detail.”

Director Zhang frowned. “Didn't the same thing happen last time? Why is her new song blocked again?”

“Our daughter is spending more time at home, aren’t you happy?”

“Of course I’m happy she’s home more, but she shouldn't return only when things aren't going well outside. It’s better if she comes home happy,” Director Zhang said as a matter of course.

As parents, they both wanted to see their children living happily.

Auntie Yun said, “Her job has nothing to do with us. Even if she runs into problems, she’s the only one who can solve them.”

Director Zhang sighed. “That’s true, but as her father, it’s frustrating that I can’t help her.”

Auntie Yun, on the other hand, was quite pragmatic. She said nonchalantly:

“Worrying is useless. If she stops singing from now on, that would be even better. She could stay back and develop her relationship with Chen Ran, get married early, and have two children. That would be perfect.”

Director Zhang glanced at his wife and squeezed out four words: “A woman’s narrow view.”

Thud.

Auntie Yun dropped the pot directly into the sink and said with glaring eyes, “What did you just say?”

Director Zhang coughed and gave a thumbs up. “I said, ‘My lady’s brilliant view!’”

“Typical!”

Auntie Yun knew her husband’s temperament; she gave a light huff and turned back to start cooking.

Director Zhang curled his lip and muttered softly behind her, “I won’t stoop to your level.”

……

After a short while, the couple finished the meal and brought it out.

Chen Ran and Zhang Fanzhi helped carry the dishes and serve the rice. Auntie Yun looked at the two of them, feeling inwardly that this was exactly what a family meal should look like.

She hadn't just been talking earlier; in her heart, she truly wished Chen Ran and Zhang Fanzhi could get married soon.

At her age, she was starting to want to hold a grandchild.

Since she didn't have a son, a paternal grandson was impossible, but a maternal grandson was still a grandson.

After dinner, Director Zhang used the excuse that Chen Ran had to work tomorrow and asked Zhang Fanzhi to drive him home, shooing them out early.

Zhang Fanzhi felt slightly embarrassed. Though she knew her father was anxious for her to get married, this was far too obvious.

Other families couldn't bear to let their daughters leave, but these two elders were the opposite—they were pushing her out the door.

Seeing Zhang Fanzhi prepare to drive, Chen Ran felt a bit uneasy. He opened his mouth to speak but didn't say anything.

When Zhang Fanzhi saw his expression, her face immediately turned stiff.

Chen Ran inexplicably felt the surrounding atmosphere turn several degrees colder.

On the way, Zhang Fanzhi remained stony-faced without saying a word. Chen Ran found it somewhat baffling—When did I offend her?

Weren't things fine just now? Why did she suddenly get angry!

Once they arrived, Chen Ran asked, “Thanks. Do you want to come up for a bit?”

Zhang Fanzhi said, “I’m heading back.”

Chen Ran wasn't surprised; he had just mentioned it in passing. “Be careful on the road.”

Zhang Fanzhi was in a foul mood. After Chen Ran turned around, she pouted, let out a long breath, and then drove away.

Chen Ran watched her leave, feeling somewhat helpless. He knew she was in a bad mood, but he truly didn't know how to coax her. He simply didn't have a romantic bone in his body.

……

The next night, Chen Ran was working overtime when his phone rang.

Seeing it was Zhang Fanzhi, Chen Ran first walked to the window and saw a familiar figure standing there. He answered the call and slowly started walking downstairs.

It was the same line again: "Come out."

Seeing Chen Ran come down, Zhang Fanzhi, who was wearing a mask, stood there without moving. In her deep, dark eyes, it seemed as if liquid were shimmering; she stared at Chen Ran without even blinking.

"My mom told me to give this to you." Zhang Fanzhi handed the soup over.

"This is too much trouble for you. Why don't you tell Auntie Yun not to go to the trouble next time?" Chen Ran took the soup, feeling a bit embarrassed.

Zhang Fanzhi sniffled and said, "If you want to say something, tell her yourself. She doesn't listen to me."

Hearing that she sounded a bit nasal, Chen Ran asked, "Do you have a cold?"

Zhang Fanzhi turned her head and gave an "mm," not saying much.

Just then, Lin Fan, who was coming out of the TV station, saw Chen Ran. He was slightly startled and asked, "Is this your girlfriend?"

He clearly hadn't expected that Chen Ran, who worked so hard and spent almost all his time at the station, would actually have a girlfriend.

Chen Ran hesitated slightly, looked at Zhang Fanzhi, and then nodded, saying, "Yeah, she is. She came to drop off some soup."

Hearing Chen Ran admit it, Zhang Fanzhi shot him a glance.

Lin Fan took a look at Zhang Fanzhi. Although she was wearing a mask, a person isn't judged by their face alone; with this figure and this aura, he didn't know how Chen Ran had found her.

Was it... based on looks?

Lin Fan felt a bit sour.

"I'm leaving!" Lin Fan decided to leave quickly before his heart couldn't take it anymore.

Once Lin Fan was gone, Chen Ran looked at Zhang Fanzhi and said, "I'm almost finished. Why don't you come up and wait for me? I'll hitch a ride with you later."

Zhang Fanzhi originally wanted to say, "What does it matter to me when you get off work?" but looking at Chen Ran, she didn't say it. She gave an "mm" and followed him into the TV station.

After going upstairs, Chen Ran poured the soup. The soup was still boiling hot; he didn't drink it himself but handed it to Zhang Fanzhi, saying:

"You drink it first. It'll feel better to warm up since you have a cold."

Once she was upstairs, Zhang Fanzhi had already removed her mask, revealing her fair face and a slightly red nose. Seeing the bowl Chen Ran handed over, she was momentarily stunned and refused,

"This is for you."

"Auntie Yun brewed this; it's not like you can't drink it," Chen Ran said.

Zhang Fanzhi pursed her lips, turned her head away, and said, "Drink it yourself."

Seeing how determined she was, Chen Ran didn't try to persuade her further. He took a sip while it was hot; as the boiling soup entered his body, it dispelled the chill, and he felt much more refreshed.

Seeing his actions, Zhang Fanzhi wrinkled her nose and turned her head away so she wouldn't look at him.

As she turned her head, she saw Chen Ran start working—sometimes thinking seriously, sometimes tapping on the keyboard.

Most of the lights in the TV station were off; only the light at Chen Ran's station was still on. The glow from the monitor shone on Chen Ran's side profile, making his features look very defined.

Zhang Fanzhi's throat moved slightly, and she turned her gaze away, muttering in her heart that this guy was quite focused on his work.

Recently, she had often heard her father mention how outstanding Chen Ran was and how hard he worked, but at first, she hadn't taken it seriously.

However, lately, she had heard that the program Chen Ran produced had become a hit, and then he was transferred to the Entertainment Channel. There really weren't many people with such achievements at his age.

Her father also seemed to have said that the Entertainment Channel was something of a preparatory camp for Satellite TV; if Chen Ran did well, it was highly likely he would go to Satellite TV.

Thinking of this, Zhang Fanzhi felt a bit strange. A while ago, she had intentionally teased him, saying that he’d only be impressive once he made it to Satellite TV; now he truly had such an opportunity.

This made Zhang Fanzhi think of herself. Chen Ran’s career was climbing step by step, while she was facing quite a few problems on her end.

Her mood, which had relaxed a bit, worsened by a few more degrees.