My Wife is a Big Star

Chapter 51 - Can't You Have a Bit More Ambition?

After Zhang Fanzhi returned from dropping off Chen Ran, Director Zhang and his wife sat on the sofa watching her.

"Didn't you two go to sleep?" Zhang Fanzhi asked.

Chen Ran had said he wanted to say goodbye to them before leaving, but they weren't in the living room. Thinking they had retired for the night, he simply left.

Auntie Yun gave her husband a tug, signaling for him to speak.

Director Zhang looked at his wife, coughed once, and said, "Why did you drive Chen Ran back?"

Zhang Fanzhi replied, "It's late, and he has to work tomorrow."

"You should have had him stay. He could have gone to the station with your father tomorrow morning," Auntie Yun said.

Zhang Fanzhi’s willow-leaf brows furrowed slightly as she looked at her parents with suspicion.

"What do you two mean by this?"

She suspected her parents were thinking of something improper.

Director Zhang said, "What could we possibly mean? You’ve been in a bad mood lately, so having Chen Ran here would mean he could keep you company more."

Auntie Yun followed with a nod.

"I'm in a very good mood now; I don't need him to keep me company." Zhang Fanzhi had a slight grasp of her parents' intentions.

"I'm going to sleep. You two should rest early."

She decisively entered her room, leaving Director Zhang and his wife staring at each other.

"This child." Auntie Yun glanced at Zhang Fanzhi's door and asked her husband,

"How far along do you think they've gotten?"

Director Zhang was dazed. "What 'stage'?"

Auntie Yun shot him a glance and said to herself:

"You know Zhizhi's temperament. She took the initiative to let Chen Ran into her room; I feel like this matter is about to be settled."

Director Zhang said uncertainly, "It's only been a short time. It wouldn't be that fast, would it?"

Auntie Yun said, "How about you sound out Chen Ran another day? If things are okay, maybe we should set a time to meet with his parents?"

"You're too impatient. We still don't know what's going on with Zhizhi's work situation. Let's wait until she's stabilized," Director Zhang didn't agree.

Auntie Yun thought it over and felt her husband made sense.

……

Inside her room, Zhang Fanzhi received a message from Chen Ran asking if she had made it home.

"Just arrived. You're not asleep yet?"

"Just waiting for you to reply. I'm going to sleep now."

Looking at the message, the corners of Zhang Fanzhi's mouth curled up.

After telling Chen Ran goodnight, she didn't go to sleep immediately. Instead, she picked up the sheet music on the piano and began humming along softly. She originally wanted to play the piano, but it was indeed a bit late.

Zhang Fanzhi pulled out her phone and dialed Tao Lin.

"Xiyun, is something wrong?" Tao Lin let out a yawn, sounding extremely sleepy.

"Sister Lin, there's no need to look for songs anymore!" Zhang Fanzhi said.

The other side paused, then hurriedly said, "Xiyun, don't give up so early. We've only just started. Rest easy at home, and I'll find a way over here!"

She was a bit anxious, fearing Zhang Fanzhi was giving up on herself.

"That's not what I meant, and I won't give up," Zhang Fanzhi said.

Tao Lin didn't understand. "Then what do you mean?"

Zhang Fanzhi said, "I've found a song here. A very good song!"

"???" Tao Lin asked, "Aren't you resting at home?"

"I am resting at home," Zhang Fanzhi said. "You know Chen Ran, right?"

Tao Lin was silent for a moment, then asked blankly, "Who is Chen Ran? Which musician?"

Zhang Fanzhi gave a light snort. "Sister Lin, stop pretending. Xiao Qin already told you everything."

Tao Lin said, "I was only showing concern for you."

Zhang Fanzhi didn't dwell on it. She said, "Chen Ran wrote a song, and it's a very good one. I've decided to use it as my new song, but I need you to find someone to help with the arrangement..."

"Wait." Tao Lin interrupted Zhang Fanzhi and asked, "This Chen Ran you're talking about... is he the one your parents introduced to you, the one who works at the TV station? He knows how to write songs?"

“It’s him!” Zhang Fanzhi nodded.

Tao Lin said, “You’re not joking, are you?”

“Do you think I would joke?”

“No, it’s just—you said you weren’t giving up on yourself, yet you’re not looking for all these professional musicians and instead using an outsider’s song? Don’t let your feelings cloud your judgment!” Tao Lin advised.

“I said the song is good, so it is good. The song isn't finished yet; it might take a few more days. When the time comes, help me prepare a contract and bring it over,” Zhang Fanzhi emphasized.

“Are you serious about this?”

“You’ll know when the time comes!” Zhang Fanzhi said and then hung up the phone.

On the other end, Tao Lin pulled at her hair, wondering what on earth was going on.

She couldn’t get away for the next couple of days and could only go in a few days.

As for Zhang Fanzhi’s request to prepare a contract, Tao Lin didn’t take it to heart much. What kind of song could that blind date of hers actually write?

Tao Lin was more worried about Zhang Fanzhi’s attitude—was she really wanting to fall in love?

She could tell Zhang Fanzhi was in a good mood.

But for her, this was the worst possible news.

……

In the blink of an eye, it was Friday. Chen Ran breathed a sigh of relief.

During these past two days, he had gone to the Zhang house every evening.

The looks from Uncle Zhang and Auntie Yun were a bit hard for him to handle. Sometimes Auntie Yun would make indirect inquiries, asking if his parents were free and if they could come out for a stroll when they had time.

Chen Ran understood exactly what this meant.

Facing the couple, he felt quite a bit of pressure.

Fortunately, the song was now finished, and he didn't need to go every day.

Today was Friday. During the meeting, everyone was excited, expectant, and also a little apprehensive.

Regardless of who thought well of the program or how wonderful they felt it was, none of that counted; it needed to be tested by the audience.

And the most direct result was the ratings.

Although Chen Ran wasn’t very worried—at the very least, the program wouldn’t be too bad—he was also looking forward to it, wanting to see how far the program could go!

At this time, in the Zhang household.

Auntie Yun asked her daughter with some disappointment, “You guys were really just writing songs?”

“Otherwise, what else?” Zhang Fanzhi asked back.

Auntie Yun glanced at her and said with a bit of anger, “Writing songs and singing, writing songs and singing. Can’t you have a bit more ambition!”

“Huh?” Zhang Fanzhi wanted to ask how she was lacking ambition. Although her work was currently sluggish and problems had arisen, she was still a celebrity of some sort—what did that have to do with lacking ambition?

But seeing the disdainful look in her mother’s eyes, she tactfully chose to remain silent and prepared to go into her room.

The song was finished. She had to wait for Tao Lin to come over, give the contract to Chen Ran, and then bicker with the company. Once things were settled, she would find someone to do the arrangement.

Of course, since the song was in her hands anyway, no matter how much she bickered with the company, it wouldn’t hinder her from releasing the song.

But just as she stood up, she was called back by Auntie Yun:

“Where are you going?”

“Back to my room,” Zhang Fanzhi said.

“Today is Friday. The premiere of the program from Chen Ran’s channel is on. Aren't you going to watch it?” Auntie Yun said.

Zhang Fanzhi was taken aback. “It’s already Friday?”

Over these past two days, her mind had been entirely focused on the song, and she hadn't noticed what day of the week it was at all.

She hadn't expected that so many days had passed since she returned, and the new program Chen Ran and the others made was premiering.

Zhang Fanzhi also sat down and joined them in watching the TV.

I wonder what the program Chen Ran made is like, Zhang Fanzhi thought to herself.

Chen Ran rarely spoke to her about work matters, and she knew absolutely nothing about this program except that it premiered on Friday night.

Zhang Fanzhi checked the time, feeling a bit of anticipation in her heart as well.

After all, the Chief Planner of this program was Chen Ran.