Chapter 155: Unexpected Bonds

Lin Zheng Ran looked up and noticed Jiang Jingshi’s expression, slightly different from usual, which surprised him a bit.

Still, he nodded, hoping she would listen.

After the massage, Lin Zheng Ran sat at his computer desk, reviewing the personal files of all the company’s singers and sampling each one’s song quality to prepare for the afternoon meeting.

During this time, Jiang Jingshi sat on the sofa, as Lin Zheng Ran had told her to rest more, leaving her with little else to do.

After the ankle massage, Jiang Jingshi’s cheeks flushed slightly, as if lost in memories, and she occasionally glanced at Lin Zheng Ran’s busy figure, her lips pressed together in silence.

Before lunch, Lin Zheng Ran said goodbye to Jiang Jingshi and went to find Lily.

In the photography studio, he watched her film the music video for ‘You Are My Star’ with the help of the crew.

Lily spotted Lin Zheng Ran watching from the side and froze for a moment, messing up the shot until the director called out, ‘Lily, snap out of it!’

Lily responded quickly and scrambled to sing while performing the required actions.

Her heart raced, so she tried not to look at Lin Zheng Ran to avoid getting more nervous.

Once the morning’s music video shoot wrapped up, Lily walked over with her hands behind her back. ‘How was I, Zheng Ran? Not too bad, right?’

Lin Zheng Ran nodded seriously. ‘Aside from the occasional zoning out, you did great otherwise.’

Lily blushed and looked away. ‘What do you mean by zoning out? I only did that because…’ She thought to herself, It’s all because you showed up—I lost focus knowing you were watching.

‘Because what?’ Lin Zheng Ran asked.

Lily shook her head like a bobble toy. ‘Nothing, nothing at all.’

‘Let’s grab lunch together. I heard Wang Jie personally oversaw the cafeteria menu here, and the food’s supposed to be excellent.’

‘They provide meals here? Wang Jie’s old studio never did.’

As they headed to the cafeteria, Lin Zheng Ran explained, ‘Wang Jie was working with limited funds back then, and the studio barely broke even, so meals weren’t an option. Now with new management and more resources, they’ve added lunch service.’

Hearing this, Lily thought again about Lin Zheng Ran’s role as the boss.

Walking beside him, she still felt amazed that Zheng Ran had become the boss—such a big leap in status that she hadn’t fully processed it all morning.

After they left, neither noticed Jiang Jingshi and Pan Lin standing at the studio entrance.

They were there because lunchtime had arrived, and Jiang Jingshi, seeing Lin Zheng Ran hadn’t returned to the office, decided to come invite him to eat.

But upon arriving, she found him chatting and laughing with Lily as they headed to the cafeteria together.

Secretary Pan Lin saw the whole scene and blinked in surprise, then watched for Jiang Jingshi’s reaction.

Sure enough, Jiang Jingshi’s once happy expression shifted, her usually gentle almond eyes now tinged with disappointment.

She kept staring in the direction where Lin Zheng Ran and Lily had gone.

Pan Lin tried to smooth things over quietly. ‘It’s Lin’s first time here today, maybe he just wanted to try the employee meals and went with Lily.’

Jiang Jingshi glanced at Pan Lin.

Pan Lin swallowed nervously, feeling she’d said too much.

She regretted speaking up.

But Jiang Jingshi simply said, ‘Is that so?’ Without any anger, she smiled. ‘Then let’s head back to the office for lunch.’

Pan Lin nodded blankly. ‘Okay, I’ll go get your food.’

Jiang Jingshi turned and headed back upstairs.

As Pan Lin followed Jiang Jingshi’s figure, she reflected that she’d worked with Jiang Jingshi for years and seen all sorts of emotions from her, but this subtle expression was new—a strange one that seemed normal yet carried an unspoken loneliness.

It gave off an faint air of melancholy that was hard to pin down.

During lunch, Lily and Lin Zheng Ran, along with the other singers, each had a plate with three dishes and a soup—quite the feast.

Lily sat across from Lin Zheng Ran and marveled, ‘The food here is amazing!’ She took a bite. ‘Way better than the school cafeteria! Try some, Zheng Ran!’

Lin Zheng Ran tasted a couple of bites and agreed—it was miles ahead of the school cafeteria, clearly thanks to Jiang Jingshi’s attention to these details.

After lunch, Lily went back to shooting the indoor music video scenes.

Lin Zheng Ran headed to the main hall, where over a hundred singers and Wang Jie were already seated.

He announced that he’d give everyone a unified coaching session that afternoon and then address each person’s individual singing challenges.

His goal was to raise the company’s overall skill level as quickly as possible.

Just then, as Jiang Jingshi thought about going downstairs to observe, she received a call from the Jiang Group summoning her back for an urgent meeting.

She wanted to decline since Lin Zheng Ran only visited for these two days.

But the matter seemed important, so she had no choice but to go.

She found Lin Zheng Ran and said, ‘Zheng Ran, something came up at the Jiang Group—I need to head over. I won’t be able to stay with you this afternoon.’

Lin Zheng Ran replied, ‘Go ahead and handle it, Jiang Jie. Just remember what I said this morning—take it easy and rest.’

Jiang Jingshi smiled warmly. ‘Of course, I’ll keep that in mind.’

After a brief chat, Jiang Jingshi left with Pan Lin, while Lin Zheng Ran started his session with the singers.

Back in the car, Pan Lin recalled how Jiang Jingshi had barely eaten at lunch, pushing away several dishes after just a few bites.

And she’d even prepared the company’s private dining room for her.

Clearly, Jiang Jingshi had planned to cook for Lin Zheng Ran, but he went to watch Lily instead.

Pan Lin, sitting in the passenger seat, asked, ‘Jiang Jingshi, after the meeting, can I get you something to eat? You didn’t seem to eat much at lunch.’

Jiang Jingshi gazed out the window and replied, ‘I’m not really hungry yet. We’ll see after the meeting at the company.’

‘Alright.’

Just as she finished, Jiang Jingshi thought of something. ‘Wait—after the meeting, get me a pack of instant noodles. I’ll eat it in the car.’

Pan Lin nodded quickly. ‘Sure, Jiang Jingshi.’

The Rolls Royce drove toward the Jiang Group, and Pan Lin accompanied Jiang Jingshi upstairs for the meeting.

They returned to the car over an hour later.

Once Jiang Jingshi was back in the car, Pan Lin had already arranged for a pack of instant noodles—the red braised beef flavor.

Jiang Jingshi always preferred that one.

She rarely ate it before, maybe once every few months, but lately it was more frequent—one pack a week.

Pan Lin had once asked curiously, ‘Jiang Jingshi, what’s so great about instant noodles? You seem to crave them now and then.’

Jiang Jingshi’s old response was, ‘They taste alright, and I’ve eaten them since I was little, so it’s a habit—I pick one up occasionally.’

Pan Lin had been puzzled back then, but about a month ago, she finally understood why the head of the Jiang Group enjoyed this simple fast food so much.

Now, Pan Lin sat in the passenger seat while Jiang Jingshi settled into the back of the Rolls Royce, where there was a thermos for hot water. She opened the noodle pack herself.

She added half the seasoning packet, all the veggie bits, and the sauce.

Pouring in hot water, the noodles steamed up instantly, releasing their aroma.

Jiang Jingshi poked holes in the lid with a fork to trap the heat.

She set the steaming cup aside to wait the long five minutes.

In those five minutes, the car was eerily quiet—no one dared speak.

Jiang Jingshi stared at the wisps of steam escaping through the lid, her mind drifting back to her childhood.

Her thoughts slipped into the past.

It was the year she first met him, when she was eight and in second grade.

The Jiang family was expanding rapidly, and the Jiang Group wasn’t official yet. One day, young Jiang Jingshi got sick from bad food during class and had to leave school early.

Her parents were tied up with business, but her aunt, who taught at a nearby kindergarten, came to pick her up.

At the hospital, the doctor checked her and said it was nothing serious, just prescribing some medicine.

‘Feeling better now, little one?’

The young Jiang Jingshi, with her hair in pigtails and those gentle almond eyes already forming, nodded while holding her aunt’s hand. ‘Yeah, after going to the bathroom, it doesn’t hurt as much.’

‘I’ll give you some medicine. Take a couple and see if it stops. If you keep having stomach issues, come back.’

Her aunt agreed and bought the medicine.

Since her aunt had only taken temporary leave, she called the director and then took Jiang Jingshi back to the kindergarten.

She instructed, ‘Jingshi, stay in my office while I’m teaching. Don’t wander off, okay? Your mom will pick you up after my shift.’

Jiang Jingshi nodded. ‘Got it, Aunt.’

As a child, Jiang Jingshi was always well-behaved and never caused trouble.

She followed her aunt back to the kindergarten and into the office.

The other teachers there adored Jiang Jingshi, complimenting her looks and asking about her school and name.

Then, someone handed her aunt a list. ‘Sis, this is for your class. That kid Lin Zheng Ran in your class is so smart! While the others are just playing, he’s already doing math at that age.’

Her aunt thought of the boy in her class, knowing he was always exceptional, standing out from the other kids whether in music or basic math games.

‘Every year, there are a few special ones like that.’

She took the list and reminded Jiang Jingshi, ‘Jingshi, I’m heading to class now. Stay put in the office. If your stomach hurts and you need the bathroom, remember where it is, right?’

Jiang Jingshi nodded obediently. ‘Yes, Aunt, out the door and turn right.’

Her aunt patted her head. ‘Such a good girl. I’ll be back after class.’

Once her aunt left, Jiang Jingshi sat quietly in a corner, not moving an inch.

She was perfectly well-behaved.

Until her stomach suddenly felt uncomfortable again, and she got up holding it, heading to the girls’ bathroom.

Afterward, she sighed with relief inside.

Soon, the kindergarten bell rang for dismissal, and Jiang Jingshi figured it was time to leave the bathroom, or it would get crowded.

Pushing open the stall door, she heard shouts outside.

‘Hey, come quick! This girl peed on her arm! She’s washing it off!’

It was a boy’s voice, full of mischief.

Chaos erupted outside, and curious, Jiang Jingshi stepped out.

She saw a little girl shivering there, eyes red and arm wet, with a crowd gathering to gawk.

Jiang Jingshi stared, feeling sorry for the girl, and hesitated, wanting to comfort her.

But as she took a step, a boy charged in from afar, pushing through the crowd.

He reached the little girl and asked what happened; she stammered a response, and he scolded her.

‘You don’t even know who bullied you?’

Then he turned to the group. ‘Who yelled that? What’s your problem? Step up!’

His shout startled even Jiang Jingshi, who was older, since he was just a five-year-old boy.

Yet, he looked so intimidating.

He asked the crying girl again who had shouted, and once he found the culprit, he confronted him:

‘You the one who picked on Heqing? I called you out earlier—why didn’t you come forward? Let’s go see the teacher, and if that doesn’t work, we’ll settle it outside!’

The boy broke into sobs, apologizing profusely, which made everyone uneasy, including Jiang Jingshi as she watched the fierce boy.

Once the troublemaker apologized, the boy didn’t press further, just warned him and led the girl away.

The other girls whispered, ‘That boy is so scary.’

‘I think he’s kind of cool.’

‘If someone bullied me, I’d want protection like that.’

‘Me too.’

Jiang Jingshi listened to their chatter and glanced at the boy in the distance, just as the little girl looked back.

School let out that afternoon, and Jiang Jingshi’s mom came to pick her up.

Jiang Jingshi went with her mom.

But back then, Jiang Jingshi never imagined she’d meet that boy again.

And it was just a month later.

One day about a month after, probably a Saturday—though she couldn’t remember exactly—

Young Jiang Jingshi went with her mom to visit grandma.

On the way, her mom got an urgent work call.

After chatting, she told Jiang Jingshi, ‘I have to meet a client for business. Stay in the car—I’ll lock the doors, and don’t wander off.’

Jiang Jingshi agreed, used to her parents’ busyness.

Her mom drove to a residential area, locked the car, and left.

Jiang Jingshi waited obediently in the car.

Her mom usually returned within an hour, but that day stretched from morning into afternoon.

Jiang Jingshi grew anxious, peering out the window worriedly.

Wondering why her mom hadn’t come back.

After a long wait, hunger and worry got to her, so the clever Jiang Jingshi opened the door and followed the path her mom had taken.

But halfway, she thought better of it—if she got lost, it would be worse, and maybe her mom was already back.

She turned around, but the identical streets confused her.

She ended up lost, tears welling up as she wandered aimlessly.

In her panic, she spotted a road and rushed toward it, thinking it was the exit.

But it wasn’t where she’d come from.

‘Mom…’

Tears finally fell as she cried softly, her quiet nature making it a whisper.

A boy walked by, initially ignoring the crying girl.

But after a few steps, he sighed and turned back, thinking all these little girls were the same trouble.

Though it wasn’t his problem, something made him return. ‘Lost your mom?’

Jiang Jingshi opened her eyes to see the boy close by and stepped back in fright.

She recognized him as the boy from the kindergarten.

‘You…’ She almost cried again.

Lin Zheng Ran said, ‘Stop crying.’

His sharp tone scared Jiang Jingshi, reminding her of his fierce behavior before, so she sniffled but held back.

Lin Zheng Ran asked, ‘Can’t find your mom?’

Jiang Jingshi nodded, sniffling. ‘Yeah.’ Being older, she explained how she got lost and what her mom was doing.

Lin Zheng Ran felt relieved; at least this girl could articulate things.

Unlike some others who could barely speak.

He pointed. ‘If you didn’t mess up, you should be at the other entrance. That’s where you came from.’

Jiang Jingshi looked but hesitated, not wanting to get lost again.

Lin Zheng Ran, knowing how kids could be, decided to help. ‘I’ll take you there.’

‘Okay,’ she sniffled again.

Lin Zheng Ran added, ‘Why are you still crying?’

Jiang Jingshi wiped her tears. ‘I’m just wiping them… not crying.’

Lin Zheng Ran led her to the entrance.

Seeing her mom’s car, Jiang Jingshi’s face lit up, and she ran over, even though her mom wasn’t there yet.

Finding the car eased her fear.

She turned to Lin Zheng Ran. ‘Thank you. I’m—’

Lin Zheng Ran waved it off. ‘Don’t bother with names. I don’t care. You’re back at your car now, so stay put. Your mom’s probably busy—don’t get out again or you’ll wander off.’

Jiang Jingshi nodded.

‘I should go, or my mom will worry about me.’ He said.

As Lin Zheng Ran started to leave, Jiang Jingshi’s stomach grumbled loudly, and she covered it, embarrassed.

He glanced back, and she felt even more awkward.

Spotting a nearby supermarket, Lin Zheng Ran asked, ‘Does your mom’s car have any money?’

Jiang Jingshi shook her head. ‘I don’t know.’

Lin Zheng Ran opened the door and checked the spots where cash might be. Luckily, he found some coins in the glove compartment.

He bought a pack of red braised beef instant noodles from the supermarket and got hot water from the clerk, handing it to her. ‘Eat up. Tell your mom you got it yourself. Just wait a few minutes.’

‘Okay.’

‘I’m off.’ This time, Lin Zheng Ran left for good, not lingering.

Encounters like this were routine for him, so they barely registered.

But for young Jiang Jingshi, holding the noodles and watching him go, the moment stuck with her.

The hot water on the cup burned her slightly.

She set it aside quickly, and when she looked up, Lin Zheng Ran was gone.

Jiang Jingshi blinked.

She murmured a thank you to herself and then waited to eat the noodles, which tasted especially good.

She murmured a thank you and then ate the noodles, savoring every bite.