Chapter 137: Whispers of Rising Fame

Studio in trouble?

Jiang Jingshi guessed in her reply: “I think it’ll happen after the New Star List ends. It’s tough to explain over WeChat, so we need to meet up. Little brother Zheng Ran, see when you’re free. I’m always available, sis.”

Lin Zheng Ran thought for a moment: “How about Wednesday afternoon? I have two PE classes then, and I can skip them to rest. That works for meeting Jiang Jie.”

“Great, I’ll wait for your call that Wednesday afternoon, little brother.”

“Okay, Jiang Jie. If there’s nothing else, I’ll sign off. I’ve arrived at school.”

“Mm-hmm.”

After a quick chat with Lin Zheng Ran, Jiang Jingshi smiled at the messages on her phone, then turned to ask the person outside the car: “What’s my schedule for Wednesday?”

The person outside reported: “You have a meeting for the live competition in the second half of the year.”

Without hesitation, Jiang Jingshi said: “I remember that meeting isn’t urgent. If it’s not, push it back a bit. I’ve got something more important on Wednesday.”

“Understood, Boss Jiang. I’ll arrange it now and delay the meeting to next week.”

Jiang Jingshi nodded.

The man hurried off to make arrangements, while Jiang Jingshi sat in the car and picked up her tablet to check the New Star List again.

Every refresh showed Lily’s votes climbing higher.

“This momentum is fierce,” she remarked.

Over the next three days, Lily’s original song “You Are My Star” surged beyond everyone’s expectations.

Rankings have their shelf life, after all.

They don’t maintain the same growth throughout; there are peaks and valleys in plays.

At least, that’s how it went for other songs, but Lily’s track seemed to play by its own rules.

It grew at a steady, relentless pace around the clock.

In just two days, it hit second place, and by Wednesday morning, its votes were charging hard toward first.

In the girls’ dormitory that Wednesday morning.

Lily woke up as usual, brushed her teeth, and slipped into her slippers to head to the washroom. She squeezed toothpaste onto her brush and wet it before popping it in her mouth.

That’s when she overheard a few girls nearby chatting excitedly.

“Have you heard that song yet? You know, ‘You Are My Star’? It’s amazing!”

“I have! I heard it’s battling it out on some charts. It’s blowing up!”

“Yeah, but I don’t recognize the singer. Her stage name is Snow? Must be a newcomer. Still, her voice is so charming and playful—love it!”

“I think that’s her only song so far. Probably just starting out, but what talent!”

As Lily brushed her teeth, she listened to their chatter.

Her face shifted from disbelief to shock. At first, she wondered if they meant someone else’s song.

But the title and stage name matched hers exactly.

And they mentioned charts— that couldn’t be wrong.

Could it be…

Lily stared at her reflection, her eyes sparkling with excitement: “Am I going to make it big?” she murmured to herself.

Some things don’t register until they start, and once they do, Lily noticed the buzz erupting from everywhere at once.

From washing up to eating and heading to class,

she kept catching snippets of people discussing her song as she walked.

She was amazed how everyone seemed to know overnight. It wasn’t even a major competition, after all.

She snuck a peek at the charts on her phone.

Her song now sat in second place.

“You Are My Star” had 650,000 plays and 230,000 votes, holding strong at second.

It trailed first’s 900,000 plays, but votes were closing in fast—first only had 270,000.

And glancing at the top comments on first place,

she saw some cheering for her song.

“The lyrics here are solid, but ‘You Are My Star’ in second feels even better. It’s gaining ground.”

“If that first-place singer wasn’t a vet, they’d be overtaken for sure. This new talent is scary good.”

“I’ve seen ‘You Are My Star’ popping up in short videos everywhere. It’s about to explode.”

“I’ll bet it hits first in two days. ‘You Are My Star’ will take the top spot. If I’m wrong, I’ll eat my words on live stream!”

“You’re bold! I’ll double down—twice as much!”

The more Lily read the supportive comments, the more thrilled she got.

It all felt surreal.

During break, she rushed to share the good news with Lin Zheng Ran.

Lin Zheng Ran was just as invested in the song’s votes.

When Lily pulled him aside during break to talk about it,

he grinned and said: “I saw it ages ago. Your song’s votes are skyrocketing. Keep this up, and first place is yours.”

Of course, one side celebrated while the other worried. Lin Zheng Ran, Lily, and their studio were thrilled,

but Jiang Jingshi’s music team looked deflated. These professionally trained singers were on edge, shocked that a small studio’s competitor was dominating them.

Meetings turned silent as they sat there stunned.

As the team’s leader, Jiang Jingshi sat in her office, staring at the rankings with a wry, helpless smile:

“Looks like I’m losing again… Even an established singer in first can’t hold against Little Brother Zheng Ran’s Lily. What about that live competition in the second half?” She leaned back in her chair. “First time I feel like my investments are sinking.”

The New Star List rankings shifted at 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Lily’s plays finally overtook the former top spot.

She claimed the new number one, with votes still climbing steadily. With over a week left, she could crush the competition.

That afternoon’s second class was Chinese.

Lin Zheng Ran sat by the window in the classroom, gazing out at the campus scenery, lost in thought.

The sun was bright that day, highlighting the veins in the leaves outside. Though his song was surging, he remembered Jiang Jingshi’s message about studio trouble from the start of school.

If that happened, his plans might need to speed up.

The homeroom teacher called out: “Class monitor, answer this question.”

Lin Zheng Ran stood up casually and nailed the answer without glancing at the book.

The female teacher nodded, half-surprised, half-expecting it: “Correct, sit down.”

From the podium, she could see him zoning out, but since he aced every test and knew his stuff, she let it slide.

His elegant-seated deskmate, Jiang Qian, watched him settle back and stare out the window again, her cool eyes showing a hint of surprise.

She wondered if he was so sharp that he absorbed lessons even while daydreaming—and it wasn’t the first time.

After class, Lin Zheng Ran stepped out and found the teacher, saying he felt unwell and needed to skip the next two PE classes to rest in the dormitory.

The homeroom teacher didn’t doubt him; he seemed genuine, and good students got leeway easily.

She agreed without fuss.

With permission, Lin Zheng Ran headed to Lily, Heqing, and Han Wenwen’s classroom during break and waved to the three girls.

The moment he appeared at the door,

they all stepped out to meet him.

Asking what was up,

he explained: “Don’t wait for me at the cafeteria tonight. I’ve got to head out this afternoon.”

Little Heqing asked: “Where to?”

“Just meeting a friend, so no need to wait.”

Before they could probe further, their teacher walked by for a meeting, and the girls had to return to class.

As they went back, Lily and Heqing exchanged curious glances,

thinking that since neither had sneaked off, it was probably nothing serious.

After all, Lin Zheng Ran didn’t meet just anyone alone, even with all the girls around him.

Only Han Wenwen watched him leave, her fox-like eyes narrowing slightly.

“Meeting a friend?” she thought.

It reminded her of that time she smelled another girl’s scent on him, and he’d called that one a friend too.

Was it the same person?

Something felt off.

Soon, PE class started, and deputy class monitor Jiang Qian, who also handled PE duties, noticed Lin Zheng Ran was absent during roll call.

She asked the teacher and learned he’d taken sick leave.

Jiang Qian’s expression shifted: “Sick? What’s wrong?”

The PE teacher replied: “Not sure, your homeroom teacher just said he’s unwell.”

Fang Meng wondered why Lin Zheng Ran was missing and sidled up to Jiang Qian: “Qian Qian, where’s Lin Zheng Ran?”

“Teacher said he took leave for feeling sick,” Jiang Qian answered.

“Sick? He seemed fine last class.”

“I didn’t notice anything off either,” Jiang Qian said, worry creeping in as she glanced toward the boys’ dormitory.

Lin Zheng Ran slipped out of school easily and got a message—it was from Jiang Qian.

“How are you?”

He puzzled over it for a second.

Her next message followed: “I didn’t see you at PE roll call. Teacher said you’re sick and back in the dorm?”

Realizing what happened, he replied: “It’s nothing serious, just stomach pain. Took some medicine and I’m much better.”

“If you’re still hurting, I can get a doctor or have Fang Meng check you out—she knows medical stuff.”

Lin Zheng Ran: “No need, it’s minor. Thanks for worrying.”

“Alright, message me if anything comes up. Consider it my thanks for teaching me piano last time.”

Lin Zheng Ran: “Will do, appreciate it.”

After replying, Lin Zheng Ran spotted the Rolls Royce waiting outside and thought about how Fang Meng had medical skills too—that assistant was versatile.

The driver stepped out and opened the door for him: “Mr. Lin, please get in.”

Lin Zheng Ran found the title a bit over-the-top, but he saw Jiang Jingshi waving from the back seat.

She’d dressed down today, going for a simple, approachable look, and smiled warmly: “Little brother Zheng Ran, it’s been a few days!”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled back: “Jiang Jie, yeah, it’s been a while.”

He climbed in, the door shut, and the car rolled away.