Frivolous - Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Chen Ran’s performance at the awards ceremony received an incredible response, creating yet another iconic moment in her career. During this time, she wrote several more “sweet” songs, and the production of her new album progressed steadily.

Xiao Jiahe sent her a message mentioning that, due to the upcoming promotion for the new album, she might need to change her hair color and suggested she discuss it with Teacher Yu. After careful consideration, Chen Ran sent a message to Yu Lanzhou:

Teacher Yu, can I change my hair color? The promotion for the new songs might require it.

Yu Lanzhou was in a meeting when her phone screen lit up. After the meeting, she opened her phone and found, as expected, it was Chen Ran. She could hardly believe how much she had pressured Chen Ran if the girl felt she needed to ask permission even for her hair color.

She replied: You don’t need to ask me about these things. Decide for yourself.

Shortly after, Chen Ran sent a picture, asking if it could be used as the main cover. Yu Lanzhou downloaded and saved the original image to her album, then examined it closely. The photo had a greenish tint. Chen Ran, with jet-black hair and wearing a simple white T-shirt, was lying on a brown leather sofa. She looked directly into the lens; she wasn’t speaking, yet her eyes seemed to be saying everything.

No. Change it.

This one is too beautiful.

Chen Ran replied: Okay! and immediately sent five more. As Yu Lanzhou looked through them, she realized they were all stunning each one more beautiful than the last. Rubbing her temples, she typed: You decide.

Chen: Okay, Teacher Yu.

Following this, Chen Ran posted a small audio snippet of the album on Weibo, being very active in her promotion. It was clear to everyone that Chen Ran was “blooming.”

Fan comments flooded in:

• “Rock singer transforms into a sweet-song specialist!”

• “Baby, don’t date anyone! You’re in your career peak, ugh!”

• (“So what? She’s not an idol singer.”)

A user named “When will 23 sing at the Bird’s Nest” posted: I just hope she doesn’t date someone beneath her.

Chen Ran, using her secret account “SuperLove3.1415926,” scrolled through the super-topic. She brushed her nose with her thumb and thought: Not beneath me at all. The best person in the world. A deity among mortals.

She stared at the user’s name. Sing where? The Bird’s Nest? Me? Am I worthy?

A few days later, Chen Ran messaged: Teacher Yu, I got an invite to record a voice navigation pack for Shitu Maps! They said it’ll be online in two weeks. The message was subtle, accompanied by a starry-eyed emoji, as if to say: You’ll use it when it’s out, won’t you?

Yu Lanzhou’s finger paused on the screen. A faint smile touched her lips. She replied: Good.

Chen Ran’s performance of Mocking Lyric that night had been beautiful. Her voice was low and resonant, striking the heart. Yu Lanzhou wanted to hear that voice while driving, so she made it happen.

Surprised by the quick reply, Chen Ran hopped with joy. She carefully adjusted her vocal tone, practicing twice in her private file transfer chat before sending a voice message: “Teacher Yu, I don’t have any work after the 20th. I’ll come over then, okay?”

The moment she released the “send” button, it felt like her heart had been lightly grazed. She received another “Good.” Chen Ran’s heart felt soft. Perhaps it was her own bias, but she thought Yu Lanzhou was being so “obedient.” So cute.

“One more thing,” Chen Ran added. “Yu Zhou asked me for Qu Bai’s autograph. I got one through someone else and want to give it to her before her school starts. Is that okay?”

Too cautious, Yu Lanzhou thought with a helpless sigh. She chuckled and sent a voice message back: “Chen Ran, just have normal interactions with people. I won’t be like that again.”

I won’t be so possessive anymore. It’s just for fun, after all.

Chen Ran felt she couldn’t read Yu Lanzhou’s mind again. It was as if something had been untied or let go—a mist that was hard to see through. Before she could overthink it, Yu Lanzhou sent another message: “Come directly to the Yu residence. Have dinner with her before she goes abroad.”

Yu Lanzhou’s voice was steady, occasionally husky. When she spoke long sentences, there was a lingering quality to her tone that contrasted sharply with her cold exterior.

“Of course, Teacher Yu.” Followed by a heart emoji. This real-time interaction actually made Chen Ran afraid to say “I love you”—it made her face turn bright red. She only dared to say it when Yu Lanzhou was ignoring her.

On the night of August 21st, Chen Ran flew to Hanglin. Upon seeing her, Yu Zhou (now Chen Lie) looked genuinely happy, shouting, “Sis!”

“Hey,” Chen Ran replied, handing over the carefully wrapped collector’s edition DVD with Qu Bai’s personalized signature.

Chen Lie took it, staring at the name. “Sis, I changed my name.”

“Changed it?”

“Yeah, back to my original name, Chen Lie.” Her tone rose excitedly. “But receiving this gift still makes me very happy.”

“Okay, Chen Lie.” Chen Ran patted her head. “But this isn’t much of a gift.”

“It is a gift. I love it.”

At the dinner table, Chen Lie suddenly suggested, “Sis, do you have two days free? I want to go to Linxi to see the sea.”

Chen Ran instinctively glanced at Yu Lanzhou. Seeing her blink slowly in approval, Chen Ran nodded. “I have time.”

“Mom, you should come with us,” Chen Lie added.

Yu Lanzhou could distinguish a sincere invitation from a polite tag-along. She declined. “I have to visit your grandmother’s place the day after tomorrow. You and your sister go. Have fun.”

“Oh,” Chen Lie blinked. “Okay then.” She turned back to Chen Ran. “Sis, come with me later to change my hair color. I want it black, just like yours.”

“Sure.”

“I’ll get ready then. Can we go in a bit?”

“Okay,” Chen Ran agreed. Chen Lie patted her arm and headed upstairs. “Wait for me.”

Chen Ran nodded, fiddling with the glitter in her phone case. Yu Lanzhou watched her press, release, press, release. Watching the little things swimming inside, Yu Lanzhou asked, “What is that?”

“A little fish. Her name is Little Fish.”

It was this kind of ambiguous, unspoken communication that made it impossible for Yu Lanzhou to scold her even when she wanted to. She glared at her, and Chen Ran accepted it happily.

When Chen Lie came downstairs, she happily walked out, clutching Chen Ran’s left arm. Before they left, Yu Lanzhou wanted to give some advice, but Chen Ran gave her a wink—I know, we won’t get caught.

They returned earlier than last time. While Chen Lie was showering, Chen Ran made shrimp and tofu soup and carefully carried it upstairs. In Yu Lanzhou’s study, a live version of one of Chen Ran’s songs was playing.

Chen Ran knocked. After being granted permission, she entered. “Teacher Yu, I made some shrimp and tofu soup. Would you like to try some?”

Yu Lanzhou stared at her. “Does Chen Lie want some?”

It sounded like a question about who the soup was truly for. Chen Ran wasn’t sure, but she firmly declared her allegiance: “It was made for you.”

Only then did Yu Lanzhou push aside her documents. Chen Ran set the porcelain bowl down.

“If there’s nothing else, you can go.”

“I want to stay with you for a bit,” Chen Ran looked up earnestly. “Is that okay?”

Yu Lanzhou used the bowl to hide half her face as she drank, saying neither yes nor no. Chen Ran sat on the sofa, looking at the moonlight and then back at her. When Yu Lanzhou finished the soup, Chen Ran walked over and handed her a napkin.

Noticing Yu Lanzhou’s back was slightly arched, she asked, “Have you been sitting all day? Let me give you a massage, okay? I’ve learned some techniques.”

Before Yu Lanzhou could nod or shake her head, Chen Ran’s hands touched her shoulders. Chen Ran swore she wasn’t thinking of anything inappropriate at first. But Yu Lanzhou was wearing a white, wrap-around silk robe. From her angle behind her, she could see the bra strap—black.

Her movements became gentler. Her eyes darted elsewhere. She knew they were at the Yu residence and Chen Lie was nearby. Yu Lanzhou definitely wouldn’t allow anything, so she tried to suppress her thoughts.

“How is it?” Chen Ran asked. She was actually the one who wasn’t okay and wanted to retreat.

“Mhm.”

“Then I’ll head down first.” Chen Ran withdrew her hand, her face flushing.

Suddenly, a “clack” sounded outside the study door, like a footstep. Chen Ran’s heart tightened. Was that Chen Lie? She instinctively looked at Yu Lanzhou. Damn, the contract says she shouldn’t know.

Chen Ran was afraid to walk out. Yu Lanzhou’s eyes narrowed for a split second. “Go open the door.”

Chen Ran opened the door as told. No one was there. She breathed a sigh of relief. Can’t be careless. “Teacher Yu, I’ll go back now. Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Chen Ran and Chen Lie arrived in Linxi the following afternoon. The villa was right by the beach, so they stayed in that evening to enjoy the “blue hour.” When choosing rooms, Chen Ran picked the one Yu Lanzhou had slept in last time. Her heart felt warm all night.

In the middle of the night, Chen Lie suddenly ran in clutching a pillow. “Sis, can I sleep with you tonight? I can’t sleep alone.”

“Are you scared?” Chen Ran listened to the waves outside; it sounded like a heavy storm was coming.

Chen Lie gave a soft “mhm” and crawled into the blankets. Chen Ran arched her body to stay as far away as possible.

Chen Lie laughed, her head buried in the quilt. “Why are you so far away, Sis? When we were little, you used to hold me to sleep.”

“Well, you’re grown up now.”

“Sis, I really want to go back to the past.”

“The past? When?”

“Before we ever met Yu Lanzhou.”

Because I found that after meeting her, I am in pain.

Chen Ran was silent. She didn’t understand why Chen Lie would say that. Wasn’t meeting Yu Lanzhou the best thing ever?

Chen Lie asked, “Are you going to sleep?”

“Mhm.”

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, go to sleep.”

The next morning, it was still raining—a gloomy, persistent drizzle. “This is boring. Sis, let’s go back.” Linxi was a city that depended heavily on the weather, and the forecast showed rain for the next week.

Chen Ran nodded. “Okay, let’s go back.” There was no point in wasting time if the weather wasn’t cooperating.

They returned to Hanglin. Late that night, Chen Ran brought another bowl of porridge to Yu Lanzhou. Yu Lanzhou set down her pen and watched her. Chen Ran, worried about a misunderstanding especially since Yu Lanzhou had mentioned “Yu Zhou” among the names she suspected before proactively explained:

“Teacher Yu, there’s really nothing between me and her. I can feel it… she doesn’t like me.”

“Better stay that way.” Yu Lanzhou went back to her documents.

“If you didn’t believe me, why did you let me go with her?” Chen Ran complained coquettishly. “If you had given me a look, I would have said I had work and couldn’t go.”

Yu Lanzhou glanced up at her but said nothing. Chen Ran’s throat felt dry.

“Can I kiss you? Right here.” The study was quite far from Chen Lie’s bedroom.

Yu Lanzhou still didn’t respond, which felt like silent permission. Chen Ran turned back and locked the study door. She leaned tentatively across the desk to kiss her.

Yu Lanzhou didn’t move away.

First, it was a light touch, a graze, a nibble. Then she pried her mouth open, sucking, exchanging breath. Chen Ran felt the world spinning; her breathing became heavy, and her face burned.

So much happiness.

But the posture was awkward; Yu Lanzhou had to tilt her head back. Chen Ran used her last bit of reason to pull back from the kiss, lightly kissing Yu Lanzhou’s eyes. Then she walked around the desk, leaning over to trap Yu Lanzhou in the chair. Her right hand rested on the woman’s shoulder as she lowered her head to kiss her again.

Sensing that Yu Lanzhou still had to crane her neck, Chen Ran dropped one knee to the floor, looking up at her instead. Just as her neck felt like it was giving out, Yu Lanzhou lightly pinched her chin, stopping the kiss. Instead, she tilted her head and moved toward Chen Ran’s neck.

The shallow lick sent a shiver through Chen Ran. Yu Lanzhou vented on her, nipping lightly. Chen Ran could feel herself becoming completely soaked. Her body went limp again, and she quickly found Yu Lanzhou’s hand, interlacing their fingers. With a voice on the verge of tears, she whispered, “I’m here.”

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