Chapter 153: A Surprise Visit

Lin Zheng Ran instinctively replied, “I came with her.”

“Came with her? Weren’t you part of the old studio? Sorry, but I can’t let you in—only internal staff are allowed.”

Before the young security guard could finish, a woman in her thirties hurried out from inside the company.

She had short hair that reached her neck, not the typical power executive look, but more like a mature scholar.

She was attractive, dressed in a women’s suit.

Lin Zheng Ran had seen her before—it was during the last meeting with Jiang Jingshi, Wang Jie, and Wang Jie’s young idol in the office, where this woman served tea.

Back then, Jiang Jingshi hadn’t even asked her to pour tea for herself.

She seemed to be Jiang Jingshi’s secretary or assistant.

“Mr. Lin! I’m so sorry I didn’t know you’d arrive this early. I got caught up in some work and delayed meeting you. My apologies,” she said, rushing over.

The title ‘Mr. Lin’ didn’t make anyone think of Lin Zheng Ran, including Lily, who was still focused on the security guard’s earlier words and explained,

“He can’t come in? He definitely can. He’s always come with me before. If not, I’ll call Wang Jie and you can hear it from her.”

The young security guard saw the woman approaching and ignored Lin Zheng Ran and Lily’s words, nodding toward her instead.

“Pan Jie! You’re here!”

The woman, whose full name was Pan Lin, showed great respect to Lin Zheng Ran and explained her delay again, afraid he hadn’t heard:

“I didn’t expect you so early. Boss Jiang told me you’d arrive at nine, but here you are before eight. I’ve been remiss in welcoming you—I’m truly sorry.”

Pan Lin seemed nervous, clearly flustered from being late.

Lin Zheng Ran waved it off: “It’s fine. I showed up early anyway.”

Pan Lin glanced at the puzzled security guard and gestured for him to return to his post—it meant she would handle welcoming Mr. Lin.

The young security guard nodded, not understanding the details but knowing the gesture meant he should leave.

He went back to his spot at the door.

Though confused, he couldn’t help glancing back at Lin Zheng Ran, wondering what made this young man so important.

Pan Jie was Boss Jiang’s secretary, and even Wang Jie treated her with respect in the company. Why was Pan Jie so deferential to this young guy?

Maybe he’s some boss’s son? He looks even younger than me.

But… that doesn’t seem right. What’s this young man’s real deal?

Pan Lin continued, “Mr. Lin, let me take you inside. Wang Lan is still in a meeting with the team. She probably didn’t expect you this early, or she’d have come out.”

Lin Zheng Ran felt her tension made the atmosphere awkward, so he nodded: “Sure, but no need to be so formal. You don’t have to go out of your way to meet me.”

Lily stood by, completely baffled, her mind full of questions.

What was all this ‘Mr.’ this and ‘Boss’ that? And who was this woman? She’d never seen her before and couldn’t make sense of a word.

As the three passed through security and headed into the company, Lily whispered to Lin Zheng Ran, “Zheng Ran, who’s she?”

Pan Lin noticed Lily’s confusion—she recognized her and said:

“I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Pan Lin, Boss Jiang’s secretary. She’s out on business today and won’t be back until noon, so I’m handling things for Mr. Lin here.”

“Oh, I see.” So this woman was Jiang Jingshi’s secretary. Lily quickly greeted her: “I’m Lily. Nice to meet you, sister.”

Pan Lin smiled and nodded: “Nice to meet you. I’ve been following the New Star List lately, and you’re our company’s top singer.”

Lily chuckled, feeling the praise was a bit much: “Not really…” But she pressed on, “Though, who’s this ‘Mr. Lin’ you’re talking about? Is it Zheng Ran?”

Pan Lin was surprised by the question, thinking, Does this girl not know?

“Well, Mr. Lin is Mr. Lin, of course. Who else?”

“Huh? It’s really Zheng Ran?” Lily stared at Lin Zheng Ran: “What’s going on here?”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled at Lily: “It’s a long story. Let’s find a spot later, and I’ll explain everything.”

Lily was even more confused. She’d been with Zheng Ran almost every day—school, home, everywhere—except for those couple of days he took off last week. How could she feel like she’d missed years of his life?

But right now, it seemed like there were huge things she didn’t know about.

They walked a short way into the company’s interior.

The moment Lily stepped through the door and it swung open, her bright eyes widened in awe, leaving her speechless.

The vast lobby featured upscale, trendy decor on the walls.

Flanking the area were elevators and a spiral staircase, along with practice rooms and posters everywhere. Compared to the old studio, this was worlds apart.

It felt like the ultimate music hub.

In the distance of the first-floor lobby, a large group of singers stood in neat lines.

There had to be at least a hundred of them.

They waited quietly.

Wang Lan was up front, talking to the singers.

“You’ve all been here over a week now, so you’re probably familiar with the place. I’ll go over…”

Hearing the door, Wang Lan turned and saw Lin Zheng Ran. She lit up with surprise and a hint of panic.

She had no idea he’d come so early.

After their last encounter, Wang Lan knew exactly how significant Lin Zheng Ran’s position was now, so she dropped the meeting.

She told the singers to wait and hurried over.

“Mr. Lin, what brings you so early? I didn’t know—I apologize.”

Lin Zheng Ran noticed how much Wang Jie’s attitude toward him had shifted since last time. She was always kind before, but now there was clear respect in her words.

Pan Lin saw Wang Lan’s worried expression and felt her own earlier nerves—failing to greet Lin Zheng Ran properly would make Boss Jiang furious, and not just mildly.

Anyone close to Boss Jiang knew Lin Zheng Ran’s relationship with her was special—not just friends or partners.

Boss Jiang even called him her fiancé sometimes, which said it all.

Pan Lin added, “I planned to be ready by eight, but I didn’t think Mr. Lin would arrive even earlier. When I saw him, I rushed to meet him right away.”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled:

“It’s no big deal whether you met me or not. Is Wang Jie in a meeting?”

“Yeah, it’s not the weekend, so we’re having a quick meeting. We knew you and Boss Jiang were coming today, so we made time.”

In their conversation, no one seemed to notice Lily standing next to Lin Zheng Ran. Earlier, when Wang Lan rushed over, Lily had greeted her, but Wang Lan was too focused on him to respond.

From what Lily overheard, it sounded like Wang Jie’s status was even below Zheng Ran’s.

Back at the studio, Wang Jie hadn’t been this deferential to him, had she?

Just as she thought that, Wang Lan turned to Lily: “Lily, you’re here too. Has it been two weeks?”

Lily replied, “Good morning, Wang Jie. I saw the group chat saying the studio was under review last week, so I didn’t come. I had time this week, so here I am.” She glanced at the singers lined up in the distance and whispered, “Should I join the line? I missed the meeting.”

Wang Lan and Pan Lin looked to Lin Zheng Ran.

With him there, Wang Lan knew to follow his lead.

Until Lin Zheng Ran said, “Wang Jie, Lily can skip the meeting. She’s here today for other matters.”

Wang Lan quickly agreed: “Of course, Lily doesn’t need to join.”

Lily blinked, glancing between Wang Lan and Lin Zheng Ran, then at the new acquaintance Pan Lin.

It felt like… they were all taking cues from Zheng Ran.

What on earth was happening?!

Lin Zheng Ran added, “Wang Jie, go ahead and finish your meeting. We’ll talk business once Boss Jiang gets back.”

“Alright, you two head to the office and relax. I’ll find you after I’m done.”

Pan Lin said, “Perfect, I’ll show Mr. Lin to his new office.”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded, and Wang Lan returned to the singers to continue the weekly meeting.

Among the hundred or so singers, many recognized Lin Zheng Ran—they were from Wang Lan’s former studio.

They knew he was Lily’s boyfriend and often came when she recorded.

But now, from the way the three talked, even if they couldn’t hear the details, it was clear he wasn’t just a simple visitor.

Everyone there, except Wang Lan, Pan Lin, and Lin Zheng Ran, was clueless and curious about this young man.

As Lin Zheng Ran, Lily, and Pan Lin headed upstairs, Wang Lan briefly explained to the group:

“You all saw Mr. Lin who just arrived? This afternoon, he’ll be leading a comprehensive training for everyone. It might take a while, so clear your schedules and pay close attention—it’ll be really beneficial.”

When Pan Lin opened Lin Zheng Ran’s office, he acted as if it were normal, but Lily froze upon hearing that from downstairs.

Zheng Ran was going to train everyone? Why?

The information overload left her stunned. What had she missed?

How could she know nothing about this?!

Inside Lin Zheng Ran’s personal office, the setup mirrored Jiang Jingshi’s— a sofa, coffee table, desk, and filing cabinets.

Though simple, it was high-end, with the same style as hers, just adapted for a man.

Pan Lin explained, “This is your office here, right next to Boss Jiang’s. The main company’s office is still being renovated, and she’ll take you to see it when it’s ready. I don’t have the details on that.”

Lily, already in a daze, muttered, “The main company…” What did that even mean?

Pan Lin offered, “Let me get you some tea, Mr. Lin. You two relax here for a bit.”

With that, she left the office and gently closed the door.

Now alone with Lin Zheng Ran, he scanned the office setup, sat at the computer, and booted it up to check the files. Sure enough, all the company’s singer data was there.

Before he could dive in, he felt someone grabbing his arm and shaking it frantically.

It was Lily, babbling nervously, her words tumbling out:

“Z-Z-Z-Zheng Ran! What’s going on? Tell me everything! What happened?”

Lin Zheng Ran was shaken so much his head spun.

His mouse wobbled in his hand as she bombarded him with questions:

“Why do they call you Mr. Lin? Why do you have your own office? What’s the main company? What training are you doing? Why is Wang Jie so respectful? Spill it—what’s all this about?”

Lin Zheng Ran sighed, raised his hand amid the chaos, and flicked her forehead.

Lily winced and pulled back, finally calming down a bit.

She rubbed her forehead: “That hurt! Why’d you do that?”

Lin Zheng Ran turned to her: “Why the panic? You shook me dizzy. Isn’t it obvious? I’m one of the heads here, along with Wang Jie and Boss Jiang. That’s why they call me Mr. Lin.”

“Wait, what?” Lily ignored the sting and exclaimed,

“One of the heads? So this huge company—this fancy place— you have a stake in it?! Are you the boss? Like, the kind who gets shares and dividends?”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded: “You can say that. I’ll get a share of the profits when the company makes money.”

“Is that for real? But how’d you afford to start a company? Doesn’t that take a ton of cash?”

On the money side, Lin Zheng Ran had discussed it seriously with Jiang Jingshi once.

Basically, she was fronting most of the funds, a huge amount, while he was just providing the expertise. But Jiang Jingshi insisted on giving him the majority of shares, so he promised her something in return.

He’d suggested it himself: Within six months, he’d boost the company’s profits by at least sixty percent.

If he didn’t, he hadn’t finished the thought before she covered his mouth, guessing what he meant.

“Zheng Ran, don’t say that. Don’t say anything against yourself. I trust you completely—if it loses, it’s on me. You’re still the boss. If it wins, we win together.”

For Lin Zheng Ran, making money with the right setup was easy. He gave himself six months as a buffer, but it might not even take that long. It was his way of honoring her faith in him.

And her trust surprised him more than he expected.

So, to Lily, he said, “I didn’t put up money; I brought the skills. I promised Boss Jiang I’d increase profits by over fifty percent in six months, so that made me an investor.”

Lily was shocked: “Over fifty percent? So how much does the company make in a year now?”

“Are you asking about the whole group or just this part?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, Zheng Shi Company is the parent, with three subsidiaries: Zheng Shi Sports, Zheng Shi Music, and Zheng Shi Live. We’re in Music now, so…

“Hold on!” Lily’s eyes widened. “Are you saying this is just one subsidiary? There are two more, plus the parent company?”

Lin Zheng Ran couldn’t resist flicking her forehead again. She yelped in pain as he explained, “Keep it down! This is a music company with good soundproofing, or you’d be deafening everyone. Yeah, this is one subsidiary, with two others, making four companies total.”

“So your promise is a big deal!”

“Do you think I can’t do it?” he laughed. “If I promised, I have a plan.”

Lily looked into his eyes. Even if it sounded over-the-top, she believed in him completely—they’d never gone wrong together.

Suddenly, she burst out laughing: “If you pull it off, how much will you make in a year, Zheng Ran?”

“Who knows? It’s based on shares. If I hit the target, we’ll divide the profits that way.”

Lily pieced it together: “I get it. That’s why you’re doing the training—since the company’s partly yours. Does that mean you’re my boss now?”

“Yeah, we can train here from now on. I’ll still do one-on-one with you, but group sessions for the others. You’re the one I’ve trained from the start, so it’s different.”

To make money in music, focus on a few key artists or teams. Spreading resources thin won’t work.

In the future, Lily alone could bring in over half the profits.

She was about to say more when Pan Lin walked in with freshly brewed tea: “Mr. Lin, Lily, here’s your tea.”

Lily straightened up, nervously replying. Now that she knew the score, she felt a thrill.

Did that mean she was like the boss’s lady now? And all her earnings would basically be for their own future—with Zheng Ran making even more!

Lin Zheng Ran got up for his tea, smiling at her as she processed it all.

Lily nervously smiled back and followed him to the sofa.

Pan Lin set the cups down: “Boss Jiang’s driver just called—she’s on her way and will be here in about ten minutes. Please wait a bit longer, Mr. Lin.”

“Got it.”

“I’ll tidy up her office. If you need anything, just call—I’m next door.” She left again.

Once she was gone, Lily relaxed and met Lin Zheng Ran’s eyes.

He looked at her bright eyes curiously: “What’s up? More questions?”

She shook her head, her twin ponytails swaying as she grinned: “Nothing… just that you’ve become so amazing, Zheng Ran—like, really amazing.”

“It’s not sudden; it was coming. Didn’t I say signing you to the studio was just temporary? In the end, you’ll be with me.”

Lily nodded with a smile.

A little later, Wang Jie finished her meeting and went upstairs to discuss things with Lin Zheng Ran as a Rolls Royce pulled up at the company entrance.

The security guard quickly opened the barrier and greeted Jiang Jingshi: “Boss Jiang!”

Jiang Jingshi smiled, and from afar, Pan Lin hurried to meet her.

“Boss Jiang, you’re here?”

She opened the car door for her.

Jiang Jingshi asked, “Is Zheng Ran here? What time did you meet him?”

Pan Lin nervously recounted the morning’s events, knowing she had to be honest or face worse consequences if Jiang Jingshi found out later.

“Boss Jiang… Mr. Lin arrived around eight. I thought he’d be here at nine, so I was handling some things downstairs when…”

After she finished, Jiang Jingshi’s elegant brows furrowed, her expression turning displeased.

“What? Didn’t I tell you to be there early for him? What’s the point of you staying here?”

“I’m sorry, Boss Jiang… I…” She knew Jiang Jingshi would be upset and braced for it. “It won’t happen again.”

“Did he get mad?”

“No, Mr. Lin is very kind… he was polite to me.”

“I figured Zheng Ran wouldn’t fuss over something small. Don’t let it happen again—learn from this.”

Pan Lin nodded carefully: “Understood, Boss Jiang.”

With that, she followed Jiang Jingshi inside, relieved but aware that Lin Zheng Ran’s place in Jiang Jingshi’s heart was truly special.

After all, from what Jiang Jingshi had tasked her to investigate before, they knew each other since childhood—childhood sweethearts held deep weight.

Jiang Jingshi entered the company and headed straight to the second floor, seeing Lin Zheng Ran talking with Wang Lan in the office.

“Zheng Ran, Wang Jie, sorry I’m late.”

As she walked in, Lin Zheng Ran, Lily, and Wang Lan all stood up to greet her.

“Boss Jiang.”

“Boss Jiang.”

“Boss Jiang…” That last one was from Lily.

Jiang Jingshi approached, her eyes landing first on Lin Zheng Ran.

“Please, sit.” Then she turned to Lily: “Lily’s here too? Let’s get straight to business.”