Frivolous - Chapter 33

Chapter 33

The bodyguard grabbed Zhuang Wang by the hair, splashed the remaining red wine onto his face, and patted his cheek. “Wake up.”

Zhuang Wang didn’t say a word. His entertainment company was built on land owned by the Yu family; compared to Yu Lan, his Xingyao Entertainment was nothing more than a small workshop.

With another crisp slap, Zhuang Wang’s head was jerked back. As the wine seeped into his eyes, he was forced to blink repeatedly.

Xu Wan asked, “Are you awake now?”

Zhuang Wang nodded frantically. “I’m awake, I’m awake. I’m sorry, Conductor Yu. I didn’t know.”

He truly didn’t know Chen Ran belonged to Yu Lanzhou; otherwise, even with eight hundred times the courage, he wouldn’t have dared to pour wine on her. He apologized to Yu Lanzhou, but she ignored him completely.

The bodyguard released his hair. Zhuang Wang remained kneeling in a dazed posture. Xu Wan crouched before him and said, “A lawyer will contact you, Mr. Zhuang, to discuss a settlement.”

At this moment, Chen Ran finally understood why Yu Lanzhou always kept bodyguards nearby. Yet, a faint worry stirred within her—fear that Yu Lanzhou might get into trouble because of this incident. Her gaze toward Yu Lanzhou was complex.

Yu Lanzhou looked back at her. She wasn’t certain if Chen Ran wanted to keep their current relationship locked away, hidden from the world. She needed to ask.

She glanced at Xiao Jiahe, who immediately began clearing the room. Once only the two of them remained in the lounge, Yu Lanzhou spoke. “Was that joy in your eyes just now, or some other emotion?”

Chen Ran replied, “Joy. Excitement.” Thinking about Yu Lanzhou defending her made the neurons in her brain gallop like ten thousand horses. “But I’m also worried. I’m afraid he’ll retaliate against you.”

“Unnecessary worry.”

“Okay.” Chen Ran nodded, suddenly feeling a surge of confidence and security. She stopped clutching her chest and took a few steps toward Yu Lanzhou. “Was it because of the emergency today? Have you still not decided if we should continue?”

“Teacher Yu, we don’t have to continue the contract.”

Yu Lanzhou’s brow furrowed at those words. It’s only been a week, and Chen Ran is already thinking of retreating? Besides, only she had the right to terminate the contract; it wasn’t Chen Ran’s place to suggest it.

But Chen Ran suddenly took her hand and continued, “The contract won’t continue, but I will still stay by your side. I can still do anything for you.”

Yu Lanzhou squeezed Chen Ran’s hand and then let go. “Change your clothes and let’s head out first.” This wasn’t the place for such a topic.

“Okay.” Chen Ran understood and nodded. As she lowered her head, a hint of pink curls peeked out from beneath her long black wig. Yu Lanzhou reached out to tidy it for her, and Chen Ran looked at her with a sweet gaze.

As they exited, one behind the other, one sat in the very center of the first row while the other sat at the far edge of the seventh row. The chasm in their status was apparent once more. Chen Ran stared at the Diva singer sitting one seat away from Yu Lanzhou, biting her lip and thinking: When can I become her?

By the time they returned to the car after the ceremony, Xu Wan had sent a message: [Miss Chen, return to the villa. Teacher Yu has social obligations; it will be late. Don’t forget to eat.] Chen Ran: [Okay! Thank you!] followed by a puppy-spinning emoji.

She had known during the exit that Yu Lanzhou would be tied up with social networking for a while. The late-night snack prepared by the housekeeper was grand, but Chen Ran had little appetite, only having some porridge. After showering and finishing her skincare routine, she carefully tidied herself in front of the vanity, then sat on the living room sofa watching the night view, waiting for Yu Lanzhou to return.

Her heart remained restless. Perhaps loving someone was naturally full of such ups and downs sensing through the fluctuations whether fate was a gift or a deprivation. She prayed that today was a gift.

It was 3:00 AM when Yu Lanzhou returned. Seeing Chen Ran waiting at the door, she asked, “Why aren’t you sleeping?”

“Because you were coming back.” Chen Ran bent down to help her change out of her high heels. As her hand cupped Yu Lanzhou’s pale ankle, she felt a sensation like a gentle breeze brushing against her heart.

“I’m going to take a shower. Go to sleep; we’ll talk about anything else tomorrow.”

“It’s okay, I’m not sleepy.” Chen Ran shook her head.

Yu Lanzhou knew that without an answer, Chen Ran wouldn’t be able to sleep no matter what. She nodded. “I understand. Go to the bedroom first.”

“Okay.” Chen Ran prepared everything for her bath and watched her enter the bathroom with a lingering gaze. When Yu Lanzhou came out, Chen Ran was holding a hairdryer.

“I’ll do it myself.” Yu Lanzhou took the dryer and walked into a different bedroom. Her tone seemed a bit cold.

Chen Ran hesitated, not daring to move. she stood in the hallway, looking completely at a loss.

“Come over in half an hour.”

“Oh! Okay!”

Half an hour later, there was a knock on Yu Lanzhou’s bedroom door. “Come in.”

The door opened. Chen Ran leaned slightly against the doorframe, looking delicate as she called out, “Teacher Yu.”

Yu Lanzhou beckoned her over. Chen Ran trotted over and sat on the sofa. “Do you have anything else to say to me?”

Chen Ran leaned forward. “Teacher Yu, let’s not part ways.”

“I saw everything. You didn’t watch any of the performances today. But when I was on stage, you were watching me, watching my performance, weren’t you?”

Chen Ran knew how to use her beauty to her advantage. She knew how to crouch down, pressing her face near Yu Lanzhou’s fingers, offering herself for a gentle pinch. Yu Lanzhou stared at her pale, exquisite face, which reddened slightly under her touch. How does it feel like I’m the one being manipulated?

But looking at this face, she really was a bit reluctant to let go. Reluctant to treat her merely as a junior.

Chen Ran added, “When my ear monitor failed earlier, I was so panicked. But then I saw you. I saw you looking at me, encouraging me with that gentle look and a nod, and then I wasn’t scared anymore.”

“I have to tell you, I had a dream last night that you didn’t want me anymore. I was crying, chasing after your car, but you just watched me and ignored me. Please don’t ignore me, okay?”

In her dream, Chen Ran had gone back to Linxi, dreaming of two-meter-high waves submerging her. But she didn’t mention that.

Yu Lanzhou didn’t comfort her by saying “none of that will happen.” Thus, Chen Ran knew it all could happen. But she still prayed it would come later, even later. Just to give her a little more time to cherish Yu Lanzhou’s tenderness.

Chen Ran squeezed her palms with her fingertips, reached for Yu Lanzhou’s hand, and said in a very aggrieved voice, “I missed you so much these past few days.”

It is hard to go from luxury to frugality. She had experienced such blissful sensations that living without Yu Lanzhou had been unbearable. When Chen Ran’s warm, dry hand took hers, Yu Lanzhou didn’t pull away, allowing the fingers to slide into her palm.

Even at this moment, Yu Lanzhou was hesitating. Chen Ran was right; she hadn’t looked at anyone else earlier. She had watched the person standing on stage amidst the crowd—the high bridge of her nose, the exposed ear with the monitor, the pale complexion, the ink-like hair. But under the influence of external factors, she had looked a bit lost. For some reason, it made Yu Lanzhou feel a bit sad.

Chen Ran shouldn’t be lost. She should be the one winning thunderous applause with her voice. She shouldn’t be “overlooked,” and she shouldn’t be harassed with vulgar language.

Yu Lanzhou looked at Chen Ran’s hand in her palm, feeling the bones and muscles—the warmth belonging to another person. Isn’t this quite nice? Not lonely, and even a bit fervent.

Yu Lanzhou knew she didn’t truly love Chen Ran yet. She smiled to herself: What, are you really thinking about the long term? If she didn’t seek the long term, could she just play around for a bit? She asked herself: Why not? Let’s just get through this year. Try not to spend a year in such loneliness. Why not?

Yu Lanzhou withdrew her hand, fixed her with a deep gaze, and asked, “I’ll ask one last time: Do you love me?”

“I do.” Chen Ran answered without hesitation, her eyes firm. Then, as if remembering something, she said, “Wait for me a moment.”

She ran to the next room, crouched by her suitcase, and searched for something. She pulled out a triangular bag and took out two small iron rods. Holding one in each hand, she ran back and sat before Yu Lanzhou, her eyes sparkling. “These are called dowsing rods. They test for the truth.”

“Childish.”

“Just listen to them.” Chen Ran looked at her coquettishly, then started asking herself, “Do I like Yu Lanzhou? If yes, they open; if no, they cross.”

Five seconds later, the rods in Chen Ran’s hands had swung open as wide as possible, forming an angle greater than 180°. Chen Ran gave her a submissive look, readjusted her grip, and said, “Do I love Yu Lanzhou? If it’s deep love, they open; if not, they cross.” Again, they swung wide.

The corners of Yu Lanzhou’s lips curled up slightly—a barely noticeable arc.

“Can you trust me a bit?” Chen Ran said. “I know I might not seem trustworthy. You don’t have to give me anything, not even your heart. I truly love you.”

So, Yu Lanzhou ignored Chen Ran’s previous silence and delayed answer. She ran her hand through the hair at the back of Chen Ran’s head, then called out: “Ran Ran.”

It was the first time Yu Lanzhou had called her so intimately. Chen Ran was entranced. Her name sounded so smooth coming from her mouth, as if it had been reborn. After a few seconds, Chen Ran realized this was a signal to continue.

“Thank you.” Aside from “thank you,” she couldn’t think of anything else to say.

Yu Lanzhou smiled—the same smile she had given the girl group leader at the banquet. “What are you thanking me for?”

“I just… want to thank you.” For letting me stay by your side. Chen Ran raised her moist eyes and asked, “Can I hug you?”

Yu Lanzhou gave a small nod. Chen Ran threw herself into her arms. Her palms sank into the warmth of Yu Lanzhou’s back, pressing gently and releasing, over and over. She wanted to kiss her.

But Yu Lanzhou just held her. No other movement. Chen Ran’s breathing was ragged; Yu Lanzhou heard her heartbeat thump, thump, thump vibrating against her chest. Then Chen Ran struggled slightly, pressing her lips against the side of Yu Lanzhou’s neck. Desire seemed to return.

Yu Lanzhou sighed softly. “Just holding each other… isn’t that good?” Her tone was incredibly soft. She just wanted to feel the sensation of holding another human being.

“Yes.” It’s wonderful. It’s pure happiness.

Chen Ran gave up on moving further, settling into the embrace with a sense of security and extreme bliss. It was such a warm hug. The tactile sensation felt unreal, and the fragrance in her nose felt surreal.

There were still unresolved issues between them. But in this moment, the warmth of the embrace was real.

“I’ve written many more songs. I’ll send them to you later; can you listen to them first?” Super SSSVIP advanced preview, a sweet song tailored just for you.

Two nods landed on her shoulder.

That night, Yu Lanzhou didn’t kiss her. After embracing for two minutes, she pulled back and said, “Go back to your room. Get some rest.”

“Mhm!” came the obedient reply.

At the same time, in Yu Lanzhou’s super-topic, someone posted a photo with the caption: In case anyone hasn’t seen a gentle Conductor Yu.

In the photo, Yu Lanzhou was looking toward the stage, her gaze steady and soft, as if offering an encouraging and comforting nod.

Is this from today? What was the context? Who was she looking at? It’s truly the first time I’ve seen her with that expression. (I can’t say much, but Conductor Yu was seriously cool backstage today.) (What happened? Can I get some tea on this?) (It’s been locked down.) Does she have someone by her side? (It feels like it…) (It’s not ‘feels like,’ it’s a ‘yes’…) (Begging Conductor Yu to spoil me.) (God, who is it? What did they do to deserve this? Truly saved the universe in a past life.)

The “person who saved the universe” slept very sweetly that night.

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