Chapter 59 : She Has Her Own Ideas
Chapter 59 - She Has Her Own Ideas
Chen Ran didn't expect her to suddenly thank him and was a bit unaccustomed to it.
He smiled and said, "Why are you being so polite? I've hitched a ride with you so many times; there should be some return, right? Besides, you paid for the song anyway."
Zhang Fanzhi didn't speak, but just looked at him with bright eyes.
Chen Ran was a bit afraid of being looked at like this, so he hurriedly said:
"You aren't even wearing a mask and there are many people here. You should head back first lest you be recognized. Besides, you have to get to the airport early; by the time you go back and park the car, the timing will be just about right."
After saying that, he paused and added, "If you really want to thank me, wait until you come back and treat me to a meal!"
Zhang Fanzhi thought for a moment and then said, "Okay."
Chen Ran didn't expect her to agree so quickly and was slightly stunned.
Zhang Fanzhi suddenly smiled, stretched out her fair palm, and waved at Chen Ran.
Watching Zhang Fanzhi's car depart, Chen Ran exhaled, feeling a bit empty.
"Was that Zhizhi's car just now?"
The voice that suddenly appeared behind him gave Chen Ran a start.
Turning around, he happened to see Director Zhang standing behind him with a furrowed brow.
Chen Ran hurriedly said, "Uncle, why did you come down?"
Director Zhang ignored him and said with a dark face:
"It really was her. With such an early flight, she's still lingering here with you. That aside, she came to the TV station and didn't even visit me, her father. This really is..."
If it hadn't been for him coming down for something, he really wouldn't have known Zhang Fanzhi had been to the TV station if he hadn't run into them.
"Uncle, I left something at Zhizhi's place, and she brought it over to me. Now she has to rush to the airport, otherwise she won't make it in time." Chen Ran hurriedly explained.
Director Zhang's expression softened slightly.
"I knew my Zhizhi couldn't possibly be so lacking in filial piety!"
Chen Ran's face looked awkward; you were actually right the first time.
Director Zhang said, "You aren't working overtime later, are you?"
Chen Ran nodded. "Not today. I have to prepare for the program recording tomorrow and the day after."
"Mhm, then let's go back together later. Zhizhi just left, so go spend some time with your Auntie Yun." Director Zhang said.
"Sure thing," Chen Ran said quickly.
……
Airport.
Tao Lin was looking around anxiously, and it was only when she was getting quite worried that she saw Zhang Fanzhi arrive.
"Where did you go? What took you so long!" Tao Lin complained somewhat.
Zhang Fanzhi said calmly, "My dad left some materials at home, so I dropped them off at the TV station for him."
Tao Lin looked at her suspiciously. "Really?"
Zhang Fanzhi knit her brows. "Is there any need for me to lie to you?"
Tao Lin thought about it and agreed; with Zhang Fanzhi's personality, she rarely lied.
"Alright, let's head in first!" Tao Lin pulled Zhang Fanzhi along, talking as they walked.
"I've contacted a producer who's free right now. Once we get back and finish talking with the company, we'll go look for him to collaborate."
"You didn't tell the company in advance?" Zhang Fanzhi asked.
Tao Lin shook her head.
"No, we'll discuss it once we're back. Let's secure the copyright first."
The truth was that before she came, she hadn't held much hope at all, so why would she have mentioned it to the company?
Tao Lin added with some excitement, "Your song is so much better than Lin Hanyun's. After we go back, let's strive to go online at the same time as her. I imagine her expression then will be quite the sight!"
Zhang Fanzhi asked again, "What if the company doesn't agree to the release?"
Tao Lin said confidently, "Don't worry about that. I paid attention when I signed the contract; the company won't refuse."
Zhang Fanzhi nodded.
The plane took off smoothly. Looking down at the shrinking Lin City, she felt a sense of melancholy and loss.
She had probably felt this way when she left home for university; afterwards, being busy with work, it happened rarely. She didn't know what was going on now.
"What are you thinking about?" Tao Lin asked.
Zhang Fanzhi came back to her senses and shook her head.
Tao Lin weighed her words for a moment before speaking:
“Xiyun, you have to know I’m doing this for your own good. I actually don’t want to interfere in your love life, but you’re currently in a rising stage, a golden period. Breaking news of a relationship at this time would be a massive blow to your career.”
“If you really want to date, wait two years. Once your popularity has stabilized, I won’t say anything more.”
In the music world, Zhang Fanzhi was still considered a newcomer. She had too few representative works, and the majority of her fans were “visual fans.”
Given the company's current attitude toward her, if news of a relationship broke, it was highly likely she would never recover.
“I’m not asking you to wait until thirty to date or marry, but at least slow down for these two years, alright?” Tao Lin looked at Zhang Fanzhi.
Tao Lin used to be a decisive and vigorous person, but now she felt she was becoming a nag.
But there was no helping it; she used to feel that Zhang Fanzhi shared her mindset, thinking only of her career.
Now, she could only patiently persuade her with earnest words, lest she go astray.
“I know, Sister Lin,” Zhang Fanzhi nodded.
Tao Lin felt slightly more at ease. After all, Zhang Fanzhi was a very independent-minded person; she had her own internal measures, and once she decided on something, it was very hard to change her mind.
……
Chen Ran had a very fulfilling couple of days.
Because the program continued recording, Chen Ran spent another busy day following along.
Once today's recording was finished, he relaxed quite a bit.
After work, Chen Ran didn't idle around either. Instead, he collected some music theory materials from the internet.
As for how great he could become with practice, Chen Ran felt he had no hope and didn't have that much time to practice anyway; regardless, he wasn't going to follow that path.
He just wanted to practice his pitch. When he was writing the song with Zhang Fanzhi last time, it was so off-key that even he felt a bit embarrassed.
At least if there were a next time, it wouldn't be so difficult.
He also picked up the guitar to continue practicing, to avoid a repeat of the previous embarrassment.
Speaking of the guitar, Chen Ran remembered his younger sister, Chen Yao. He called her, and it took a long time before she picked up. There was quite loud music in the background, and Chen Yao's voice sounded very tense.
“Brother, is... is something wrong?”
Chen Ran asked curiously: “Are you at a KTV with classmates?”
“Mhm, yeah, I'm at a KTV.”
“What are you so nervous about at a KTV? I'm not Mom or Dad!” Chen Ran added:
“Of course, stay away from bars as much as possible, you hear?”
“Can't go to bars, right?” Chen Yao finished and quickly added:
“I don't go to bars. I never go to them!”
“I’m just asking—do you still play the guitar? I’m about to get paid, and I'll send you a guitar then!” Chen Ran said.
“No need, Brother, I've already bought one myself.” Chen Yao refused. She added: “Brother, my friend is here, I'll call you another day!”
Chen Ran said: “Alright, have fun then.”
Chen Ran hung up the phone, still a bit puzzled. Chen Yao wasn't this introverted; what was there to be nervous about going to a KTV?
Thinking about it carefully, it seemed Mom and Dad were a bit too strict with her.
Back in junior high, Chen Yao went to a KTV for a classmate's birthday. As it turned out, someone got into a fight inside, and it seemed to have caused quite a stir, even making the news. Afterwards, her parents resolutely forbade her from going to such places.
So many years had passed and she still hadn't forgotten; now that she was in university, she was still apprehensive. It seemed it had left quite an impact on her.
Because of that incident, not just her, but Chen Ran as well was kept under a tight leash.
The result was that classmates who went out to play stopped inviting him, and they gradually drifted apart. His close friends became fewer and fewer.