Chapter 38: Melodies of Youth

Time flew by in the blink of an eye, and another three weeks had passed.

The annual freshman gala at New City First Middle School was finally about to begin.

Over these three weeks, Lily’s matters took priority, so Lin Zheng Ran spent more time with her.

On weekends, Lin Zheng Ran would visit and lie on Lily’s bed.

He listened as she sat on the edge, strumming her guitar or singing softly.

If something wasn’t quite right, he’d point it out, like tapping the back of her thigh with his hand: “Your breath control is off—lower the pressure on the first line and try again.”

Lily agreed with a soft response, touching the spot on her leg he’d just tapped, her heart fluttering.

Then she’d steal a glance at Lin Zheng Ran, lying on her pillow and staring at the ceiling.

She thought to herself, this big idiot has never even practiced, yet his musical talent is so high—I’ll never catch up.

“This part’s tough to get right; I’ve practiced it alone for ages and still mess it up,” she explained.

“That’s because I wasn’t there before. With me around, it’ll be fine.”

What a self-absorbed big idiot, Lily thought.

Following his advice, she tried again, and it improved dramatically—not just a little. She looked surprised.

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at her approvingly: “Good. If you’re not smooth yet, sing it a few more times. Follow my method and adjust the pitch.”

Lily sang it several more times, each one better than the last, though she felt a bit confused.

She couldn’t help but marvel: “It’s so strange. I’ve noticed this before—at least when you teach me, I learn twice as fast as when I practice alone. It’s not just techniques; even ones I know take forever to master on my own, but with you, I pick them up right away. This is just weird.”

Lily eyed Lin Zheng Ran curiously: “Big idiot, did you get your mouth blessed or something?”

Lin Zheng Ran sat up slowly and, under her puzzled gaze, flicked her forehead with his finger.

Lily yelped in pain, rubbing her head and pouting. “Why’d you hit me?!”

Lin Zheng Ran lay back down: “Stop joking around and keep practicing your breathing. The freshman gala is coming up soon, and whether you get picked depends on your skills. This is the first step toward your dream—take it seriously.”

He yawned, turned away from her, and pulled her blanket over himself as if to sleep.

Lily’s face flushed as she watched him cover himself with her personal blanket. She thought, how am I supposed to use this tonight?

Don’t you know I don’t like wearing pajamas to bed!

She squeezed her eyes shut, embarrassed and annoyed: “Big idiot!”

Lin Zheng Ran, eyes closed, replied: “Besides the fact that you sound like you’re flirting every time you insult someone, when you call me names, could you at least say why? Otherwise, how am I supposed to know what I did?”

His teasing made Lily’s face turn bright red in an instant, her words stumbling: “Flirting?!” She pounded his back with light, rapid punches that felt more like a massage.

“Who’s flirting? I wouldn’t flirt with you! And why should I explain why I’m calling you names? I don’t need a reason! Big idiot, big idiot! I hate you—I hate you the most!”

Lin Zheng Ran ignored her words and just felt the gentle pressure of her fists.

He suggested: “Aim a bit higher.”

“Do you think I’m giving you a massage?” Lily protested, but her hands moved up obediently. After a moment, she asked defiantly, “How’s that?”

Lin Zheng Ran hummed: “The pressure’s okay.”

“Hmph! You’re sick.” She muttered, “I really hate you,” and went back to practicing her song.

There was one thing Lin Zheng Ran never knew: every time he lay on her bed, Lily thought about changing the blanket right away—it’s gotten dirty from that big idiot.

But when she returned to her room alone after saying goodbye, she’d examine the blanket he’d used.

As a teenager in the throes of youth, she’d blush and bite her lip.

She’d sit on the bed slowly, set her guitar aside with a sense of ritual, and hug the blanket close to smell it.

Her face grew even redder as she whispered to herself: “What is this? The blanket’s got his scent all over it… though it does smell pretty good.”

She kicked off her shoes and settled properly against the headboard, pulling more of the blanket around her. “Still, this is the one I just changed yesterday. Switching it again would be such a hassle—might as well sleep with it like this tonight.”

She even convinced herself: “It’s all his fault for messing up my blanket.”

Lying there under the blanket that carried Lin Zheng Ran’s scent, she closed her eyes and drifted off with a blissful smile, as if he were right beside her.

A week before the competition, Lin Zheng Ran and Lily walked along the school path.

Lily trailed her hands behind her as she asked Lin Zheng Ran: “Big idiot, if I get selected, does that mean I’ll have to practice in the training room a lot?”

Lin Zheng Ran replied: “Not necessarily. It depends on the person. Newcomers usually practice in the training room because the studio has professional coaches, but if a singer has their own resources, they can skip it.”

Lily hesitated, looking ahead: “But I don’t really like practicing with other singers. I still want you to teach me how to sing.” Then she lifted her chin proudly:

“Don’t get the wrong idea, though. I just think you’re actually pretty good at singing—no other reason.”

Lin Zheng Ran gave her a skeptical look: “Is that so? Then I should thank Miss Jiang for thinking so highly of me.”

Lily bit her lip and huffed: “What do you mean, thank me? It sounds so sarcastic.”

Lin Zheng Ran had a plan in mind. The Child Star Studio was still operating in a small town with poor results because the owner was a middle-aged woman dedicated to her dreams.

She focused purely on talent, no shortcuts, so Lin Zheng Ran’s idea was for Lily to build popularity early. Once he earned enough money, he’d buy the studio outright, making her his singer and securing her future path.

That way, she’d avoid any messy complications since he’d be the boss.

Lin Zheng Ran said:

“Don’t worry. Joining the studio is just to give you a platform to reach the world. With that support, you can take part in various performances, big and small, to gain experience. It keeps you, a young girl, from getting taken advantage of alone. I can go with you sometimes, but not every time.”

“Why can’t you come every time?” she asked quietly, curious.

Lin Zheng Ran answered honestly: “Because I have to teach Heqing too. She’s got competitions ahead, and I’ll need to be there for her as well.”

“You! How can you be so flighty? Work yourself to death!” She stamped her foot in frustration.

Lin Zheng Ran continued: “As for training, I’ll still handle it. After all, you’re the singer I’m launching, and I’ll expect payment down the line.”

Lily didn’t deny that—without his help, she wouldn’t have her current skills.

As for payment…

She dashed in front of Lin Zheng Ran, not noticing a girl with a ponytail in the distance who spotted him and started to approach, only to stop when she saw them.

Lily leaned forward, fingers extended, more confident after her last initiative:

“Big idiot, even if I get really famous, remember what I said before—I’ll keep my word. Out of pity for your lonely life, I might marry you, but only so you don’t end up alone. Don’t get any ideas!”

Lin Zheng Ran tapped her forehead as he walked past: “Who said that’s the payment I want? And you’re just twelve—do you even know what marriage means?”

Lily shot back, embarrassed: “How old do I have to be? I didn’t know as a kid, but I do now! It’s just marrying you!” She clenched her fists and shouted: “I’m not scared! Besides, it’s just my way of paying you back!”

The two bantered and walked off into the distance.

Heqing stood there in a daze, watching Lin Zheng Ran with admiration, having overheard: “Marriage… Did Lily really say she’d marry him?”

Soon, Han Wenwen came over and saw her best friend frozen in place. “What’s wrong?”

Suddenly, Heqing started crying and hugged Han Wenwen: “What do I do, Wenwen? They seem to be getting closer. Am I going to lose? What should I do?”

Han Wenwen tilted her head and comforted her: She thought, there’s no way—can pride really win?

If Heqing was at a disadvantage, Han Wenwen figured she’d have to step in, help push things along, and strengthen their bond.

“Don’t worry, I’ll help you figure something out.”