Frivolous - Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Chen Ran had a night of restless dreams.

She dreamed that everything from the previous night was just a dream.

She woke up with a face full of tears, her chest still vibrating slightly from the phantom sobs. It was only after she sat up that she realized: none of it was a dream.

She had finally become Yu Lanzhou’s person. She had finally gotten her wish. From now on, she would never say the world had treated her unfairly.

Her new assistant, Xin Xin, arrived early. When Chen Ran came downstairs, she was already waiting, dressed in a crisp light-blue shirt and formal trousers. She didn’t look much older than Chen Ran, but she had a steady, calm demeanor that followed the same mold as Xu Wan.

Back at Fengjin, Chen Ran had an assistant for a while. Later, when she fell into debt, she let the assistant go to save costs.

Chen Ran waved and greeted her new assistant, “Hello!”

“Hello!”

The housekeeper was laying out breakfast, introducing the exquisite dishes to Chen Ran in detail. Chen Ran felt a bit awkward. She was used to a rougher lifestyle; she didn’t feel like someone who needed this kind of service. She was borrowing so much of Yu Lanzhou’s prestige—acting like the fox who borrows the tiger’s majesty.

“No need, Auntie. I have to go for a physical exam, so I won’t be eating breakfast. Thank you for your hard work.”

She turned to Xin Xin: “Have you eaten? Please try Auntie’s cooking for me.”

“I’ve eaten, thank you. You’re too kind.”

Chen Ran’s slender eyebrows knit together briefly, but she smiled and said, “Alright, let’s go,” and walked out with her bag.

Xin Xin reached out. “Let me take your bag for you.”

“It’s fine.” She wasn’t that fragile.

It was 3:00 PM by the time she finished all the tests. The doctor told her that her previous injuries had recovered well, but her health indicators weren’t quite up to par—she was too thin.

Chen Ran looked at her own arms. I should be able to pick up Yu Lanzhou, right? She wanted to hold her.

She checked her fans’ activity for the first time in a while and found they were still guarding her “Super Topic” in droves. On social media, Chen Ran updated a “nine-grid” photo set in one go. Her smile was bright. Her fans finally felt at ease.

After returning to the villa in the evening, the colors and flavors of the meal the housekeeper served felt intimately familiar. Seeing Chen Ran’s surprised expression, the housekeeper explained, “Teacher Yu knew you liked the food from this restaurant, so she hired the chef.”

Fireworks erupted in Chen Ran’s mind again. She was being treated with Yu Lanzhou’s personal favoritism. Is being Yu Lanzhou’s person really this wonderful?

The image of Yu Lanzhou’s beautiful face surfaced in her mind, and her heart felt inexplicably sweet.

On the third day of Yu Lanzhou’s absence, Chen Ran missed her terribly. She had dreamed of her for several nights in a row. The room was empty and silent. She pulled up the recordings of the band’s rehearsals and critiqued them bit by bit, but after the noise of the music stopped, the silence was even more profound.

Yu Lanzhou had actually “raised” her like a bird, providing for her but not locking her in. Yet, she was locked in—tethered by her own love for her.

Leaving the study, Chen Ran wandered around the villa. The level of wealth left her speechless. She casually pushed open a door on the second floor; inside was a home theater with a “starry sky” ceiling. There was a wide screen and an L-shaped sofa that matched the color palette of the rest of the house.

Chen Ran tinkered with the equipment for a while and then closed the door. She pulled up the fan-made “face-cam” edits of Yu Lanzhou she had saved and projected them onto the screen. Seeing Yu Lanzhou walking toward her on the giant screen, her heart began to thud again.

Her heart had been working overtime lately. With Yu Lanzhou’s face projected at such a scale, her presence was overwhelming; even the smallest expressions became clear. Every frown, every smile, and every lift of her brow was like a cold wind, yet that crimson mole in her eye hid a secret passion.

In the darkened room, Chen Ran didn’t dare think too deeply about what she was doing. Aside from the background audio of the video, she could only hear the sound of her own breathing, gradually magnifying in her ears. She felt like crying again, out of a sense of happiness.

She went to the bathroom to wash her damp hands, then took her phone and messaged Xu Wan: May I ask where Teacher Yu is?

Xu: She has returned to Hanglin.

Chen: Understood, thank you!

Afterward, Chen Ran checked on her medical report; she was told she could pick it up tomorrow.

Yu Lanzhou was called to the living room by Yu Jijie. The woman, always dressed in opulence, had never liked the red mole in Lanzhou’s eye and asked when she would have surgery to remove it.

Yu Lanzhou, however, felt it was just a mark in her eye and saw no necessity. She asked, “Is this mole really that much of an eyesore?”

“Yes,” Yu Jijie nodded. “It’s an eyesore.”

Some found it an eyesore, yet others preferred to stare at it.

Yu Lanzhou’s tone was less than pleasant: “We don’t see each other that often anyway. Next time I see you, I’ll just keep my left eye closed, okay?”

Yu Jijie looked at her coldly. “Go to the hospital for another check-up to see if it’s harmful to your health, and get your wrist checked while you’re at it. Also, go meet the person introduced by Elder Ji.”

Yu Lanzhou agreed to the former, but for the latter, she let out a faint, cynical laugh. “You still haven’t given up?”

“Not unless you stop being my daughter.”

Yu Lanzhou lowered her eyes, looking at her with a detached expression. The phone on the table lit up. She unlocked it and saw the messages from Chen Ran:

Can I come find you? I miss you so much. I’ll be good.

Even Yu Lanzhou didn’t realize that her expression softened for a brief moment. Seeing this, Yu Jijie asked, “Zhou Jingting?”

Yu Lanzhou replied to the message as she answered, “No.”

Yu: Is your work finished?

Chen: I only have two days off. I just… want to see you again.

Yu Jijie’s gaze was cold and stern. “I don’t care who it is. You can play around, but don’t think about bringing them into this family.”

Yu Lanzhou turned off her phone. Her voice was low. “Do you really not want to see me happy that much?”

“Happy? How do you think your ‘happiness’ was obtained?”

“Then I’ll give it all back to you, okay? My life, my blood, all of it,” Yu Lanzhou looked at her with a half-smile, calling her “Mom” in a mockingly obedient tone. “Would that be good, Mother?”

She reached up to take off the sandalwood necklace—the Buddhist item Yu Jijie had specifically asked a master to bless, saying it would protect her from bloodshed. If she didn’t want her life or her blood, why keep the necklace?

“Yu Lanzhou!” Yu Jijie slammed the table. But the next moment, a breath caught in her chest; she looked as if she were about to faint.

Yu Lanzhou lowered her hand and stood up to support her, patting her back to help her catch her breath. “Don’t be angry. I misspoke.”

In the last two years, Yu Jijie’s health had been a mystery. Sometimes she looked like she could live to be a hundred, yet the next moment she could lose her breath just like that.

Yu Lanzhou compromised again. “I’ll go meet them.”

Just as she walked back to her room, another message from Chen Ran arrived: Is it okay?

Yu Lanzhou closed her eyes and replied: Come. I’ll have Xu Wan arrange it.

At 10:00 PM the following night, when Yu Lanzhou went to the guest bedroom of the Jiayuan villa, Chen Ran was asleep.

Looking at Chen Ran sleeping peacefully on her stomach, Yu Lanzhou felt a strange sensation. it was subtle, like raising a kitten that would always cling to her. Her movements were light, and she didn’t turn on the light. By the moonlight from the window, she saw that Chen Ran’s face and neck were damp with sweat. Her face showed some red streaks, likely from a mild sunburn. The tip of her nose was pert, making Yu Lanzhou want to reach out and touch it.

She reached out, but felt a scorching temperature. Is she having a fever?

Yu Lanzhou reached out again. In the darkness, Chen Ran opened her eyes, her exquisite face immediately breaking into a smile. “You’re here.”

Yu Lanzhou brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Why are you sweating so much? Do you feel unwell?”

Chen Ran shook her head under the covers. “I’m fine.”

Yu Lanzhou turned on the light and found an ear thermometer. The reading confirmed she didn’t have a fever. Only then did she notice that even though it was warm in the room, the air conditioning wasn’t on.

“…Are you just hot?”

Chen Ran touched her own forehead and laughed bashfully. “Probably.”

“Why didn’t you turn on the AC?”

“I forgot.”

The airport in Beijing was far, and after her rehearsal, Chen Ran had rushed to make the trip. She had been exhausted and only took a shower upon arriving at her new residence, then went to sleep as per her usual habit—without AC.

Yu Lanzhou pressed the button on the panel to turn on the central air conditioning. She unbuttoned a single button of her shirt near her collarbone and sat on the edge of the bed. “Why did you suddenly want to see me?”

Chen Ran stared at her. The way she casually unbuttoned her shirt was lethally charming. She wanted to use her gaze to pull Yu Lanzhou’s clothes up inch by inch so she wouldn’t expose her collarbone. But if she couldn’t do that, she wanted to make sure she was the only one who could see this sight.

“I missed you.” Chen Ran knelt up and reached out for Yu Lanzhou.

Her hand was brushed away.

“I brought the medical report. You don’t have to worry.” Chen Ran scrambled out of bed, found the report in her suitcase, and placed it in Yu Lanzhou’s hand. “You can look.” I’m not dirty.

“Chen Ran, that’s not what I meant.” She was only worried if her previous injuries had fully healed.

“I know, I know,” Chen Ran interrupted her, moving forward to hug her.

Yu Lanzhou patted her back. “Tomorrow, come with me to meet someone.”

A long-dormant rebellious streak rose in her; she wanted to take Chen Ran to meet that “CEO.” She didn’t mind seeing Yu Jijie’s face turn ashen the next time she went home.

“Okay,” Chen Ran said, already sliding down to kiss her.

Yu Lanzhou grabbed her arms and pulled her up. “Why don’t you ask who we’re meeting?”

“Anyone is fine.” Chen Ran pressed her entire body against her, rubbing her leg against Yu Lanzhou’s. “I missed you so much, Teacher Yu. Can I?”

She was very close to Yu Lanzhou, and getting closer. So close she could feel the faint oppressive aura from the other woman again. This time, she would throw herself into the eye of the storm.

So that’s what she meant by ‘missing’ me.

Yu Lanzhou couldn’t quite understand why Chen Ran was so enthusiastic, but she still didn’t reject her. Chen Ran played a song from her playlist and reached her hand inside Yu Lanzhou’s white top. Their hands touched through the expensive fabric.

As Chen Ran’s fingertips grazed her skin, Yu Lanzhou’s body trembled uncontrollably. Her eyes were no longer filled with her usual indifference or guardedness; instead, they were clouded with a fine mist.

“Lanzhou.”

Yu Lanzhou didn’t say anything.

“Lanzhou, talk to me.”

“What is it?”

“Your hair smells so good.”

“Shut up.”

“Lanzhou, you’re so beautiful.”

When Yu Lanzhou opened her eyes amidst the chaos, she saw Chen Ran staring intently at her expression. She instinctively used her hand to block Chen Ran’s eyes, only to be caught off guard by a light kiss on her palm. She hurriedly withdrew her hand, her breath trembling. “You’re crazy.”

“Yes, I’m crazy,” Chen Ran admitted. “And you’re the cure.”

You are my medicine.

Yu Lanzhou discovered the first big drawback of cohabiting with Chen Ran: she couldn’t openly play Chen Ran’s music as a sleep aid. Fortunately, before Chen Ran left the room, she started the music playing again.

Chen Ran did this because she remembered Xu Wan’s mention: Sometimes at night, she listens to “23.”

“23?” Chen Ran had confirmed at the time if it was her own song.

Xu Wan had nodded. “It helps her sleep better. But if you’re there, she definitely won’t play it openly.”

I understand.

Yu Lanzhou was her listener. The fact that her songs and her voice accompanied the other woman made Chen Ran’s heart glow. Just before closing the door, she suddenly ran back, knelt by the bed, and kissed Yu Lanzhou’s lips.

“Lanzhou, goodnight.”

“I love you.”

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