Chapter 152: Studio Moves and Sweet Ties

After breakfast, Lin Zheng Ran and Lily climbed into a car bound for the studio’s new location.

While waiting for the car, Lily scrolled through her phone at the new address and notice Wang Lan had sent to all the studio’s singers.

“Hey, Lin Zheng Ran, did you know? It seems our studio has moved. Wang Jie sent out a group notice the other day saying the old spot is sublet, and we’ve got a new place now.”

“And the studio’s name changed too—it’s now called Zheng Shi Music Company Limited? It sounds a bit more upscale. The name’s nice, I guess, but it feels a little off somehow. I can’t quite put my finger on it.”

Her intuition as a girl picked up on something, but since Lily didn’t connect the words ‘Zheng Shi’ to Lin Zheng Ran and Jiang Jingshi, she couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong.

As the taxi pulled up, Lin Zheng Ran opened the door and said, “I know about the sublet. A couple of weeks ago, Wang Jie’s studio ran into some issues, so now it’s merged with Jiang Jingshi’s studio.”

“Oh, really?!”

Seeing Lin Zheng Ran get in, Lily followed, her eyes wide with surprise. “Wang Jie’s studio merged with Jiang Jingshi’s? Does that mean ours got acquired?”

“Not exactly acquired—Wang Jie doesn’t have full shares, but in this merger, she does have some in the music company. It’s just that her resources are limited right now, so her shares are fewer than Jiang Jingshi’s.”

“So, does that mean Wang Jie is working under Jiang Jingshi from now on?”

The taxi sped off into the distance, vanishing into the city’s depths amid the young girl’s confusion.

At the same time, at the school gate, Han Wenwen and Xiao Heqing stepped out of the school.

The two best friends walked hand in hand across the crosswalk.

They drew glances from the boys around them—pretty girls always turned heads wherever they went.

Xiao Heqing said, “Hey, Wen Wen, have you heard? The kids at school say there’s a new snack shop on this street, and it’s got a ton of varieties.”

Han Wenwen’s fox-like eyes crinkled with a smile. “Of course I have! Why else would we be out for breakfast? We’re heading there to check it out. My treat for you, Xiao Heqing!”

Xiao Heqing checked her phone and replied, “No need— you just treated me last time, and I’ve still got a bit left.”

Han Wenwen peeked at her phone and saw only twenty yuan left, shocked. “Just twenty yuan? How did you spend it so fast? Didn’t your aunt send you money the other day?”

Xiao Heqing smiled knowingly, “It’s not like that. I’ve got little in my wallet, but I can ask Lin Zheng Ran for a bit more—that’ll cover next week’s meals.”

Han Wenwen frowned in confusion. “Ask Lin Zheng Ran for money? Are you two pooling your cash now?”

Xiao Heqing answered casually, her cheeks flushing with that lovesick glow:

“Yeah, Lin Zheng Ran is my boyfriend, so of course he’s holding the money. Every time my mom sends me some, I transfer it all to him. Plus, I gave him my leftover bonus from last time. I just ask him for what I need when I spend.”

With that, Xiao Heqing sent a message to Lin Zheng Ran.

Heqing: “Lin Zheng Ran, I want to buy some snacks. There’s a new shop on the street by the school gate, and I’m short on cash. Could you send me a hundred yuan? I’ll snap a photo after and promise not to waste it.”

Lin Zheng Ran quickly sent her a hundred yuan.

“No need for a photo—I trust you.”

Heqing replied, “Hehe, I’ll send one anyway. A girl should always check in with her boyfriend about stuff like this. Oh, and do you want anything? I can grab a few packs for you?” She added a cute emoji.

Lin Zheng Ran responded, “Nah, you go ahead. I’m not craving snacks lately.”

“Okay then.”

After chatting, Xiao Heqing waved her phone at Han Wenwen with a smile. “See, Wen Wen? Lin Zheng Ran just sent me a hundred yuan. That covers next week’s allowance.”

Han Wenwen blinked her fox-like eyes, full of envy.

But she remembered back in middle school, when she tried to give money to Brother Zheng Ran, he wouldn’t take it. So why was he accepting Xiao Heqing’s now?!

No way—this needed sorting out. She’d have to ask Brother Zheng Ran about it sometime. She didn’t need to hold onto money either; she wanted to give it all to him!

Then ask him for what she needed, just like couples should. What was the point of a girl holding cash and spending recklessly?

It only made sense for the guy to manage it—otherwise, it meant he was wasteful or she didn’t trust him!

“Wen Wen? What are you thinking about? You’ve gone quiet.” Xiao Heqing noticed Han Wenwen zoning out.

Han Wenwen snapped back with a laugh, “Oh, nothing. It’s just that you and Lin Zheng Ran are getting so close—sharing a wallet and all.” She couldn’t hide her envy as she spoke.

Xiao Heqing beamed, “Mainly because I can’t trust myself with money; I’d blow it. But with him holding it, I feel secure.”

Han Wenwen let out a small sigh of annoyance but kept it inside, noting it for later. “Alright, let’s go find that shop!”

“Yeah!”

The two snack-loving girls headed forward until they spotted the shop called ‘Fen Shu Ba’.

Hand in hand, they dashed inside, excited.

Just as Lin Zheng Ran had guessed, these two went wild for snack shops.

Lily was different, though. Earlier that morning, Lin Zheng Ran had mentioned grabbing a pack of chips after breakfast to test the flavors.

But once they stepped out, they completely forgot about it. Their interest in snacks was minimal at best.

Meanwhile, after driving for over thirty minutes, the taxi left the city center behind.

It pulled up to the grand entrance of a two-story music company.

Wang Lan’s old studio had looked like a simple shop from outside, only feeling spacious once inside, thanks to the cheap rents in the small town.

But this place? Even from the outside, it screamed luxury.

It didn’t even look like a typical studio!

Though only two stories, it had vast space front and back, with high ceilings. There were even security guards and a walled courtyard.

It felt utterly professional.

Stepping out of the taxi, Lily stood beside Lin Zheng Ran, gazing up at the impressive music company. The wall by the gate featured the large letters: ‘Zheng Shi Music Media Limited Company’.

Lily marveled, “This new spot is so impressive!”

Lin Zheng Ran had visited a couple of weeks ago, but even now, he was surprised—the place had changed completely since then.

The name, the gate, even the walls had gotten a fresh renovation, making it look even more official.

And this was just a branch office, not the main group center. He couldn’t imagine how much Jiang Jingshi had poured into this over the past two weeks—she was clearly invested in the new company.

Luckily, Lin Zheng Ran had already planned ahead. As long as he personally trained the staff and kept an eye on operations, they could recoup these costs within a year.

The two approached the gate.

The young security guard, probably a college student, asked, “Do you have a pass?”

Lily pulled out her phone. “No, I’m from Wang Jie’s old studio, and it seems we’ve merged now. I’m here to report in.”

The guard glanced at her phone info and nodded. “Yes, you’re good to go. What about this guy?”