Chapter 103 - It's Almost the New Year
Zhang Fanzhi was very busy at the end of the year; she wouldn't be able to go ho until she finished her work on New Year's Eve.
Chen Ran couldn't wait for her; he had to go back to accompany his parents for New Year's Eve and eat the reunion dinner.
The two were chatting on the phone.
Zhang Fanzhi wouldn't be leaving in a hurry when she ca back this ti; she had to wait for the company's notice.
The plan Starry Sky gave her had co down: she didn't need to release a new album directly, but would release singles first. Once enough songs were prepared, they would then be compiled into an album.
Chen Ran was sowhat surprised by this. After all, Starry Sky had put so much pressure on Zhang Fanzhi before; how could they raise it high only to put it down so gently?
He only found out after Zhang Fanzhi explained that a male singer from Starry Sky had been exposed for faking his academic credentials, and then, by following the clues, a whole bunch of his dark history was dug up.
Originally, this male singer had an academic achiever persona. To maintain his image, he would occasionally put on an act on Weibo. Now that his dark history had been dug out, his persona collapsed rapidly.
His singing was not bad, but his reputation was gone, and he was being beaten and scolded by everyone. At this critical juncture, when others listened to his songs, they would feel the flavor was a bit weird.
Perhaps after the storm passed, he could beco popular again relying on his voice, but that was a matter for the future.
Right now, Starry Sky was in quite a difficult spot. A pillar had fallen, and they had to pay compensation for many endorsents. They urgently needed soone to hold down the fort to get through this period.
In the entirety of Starry Sky Music, no one was more suitable than Zhang Fanzhi, so their strategy towards her changed.
"There's actually such a thing?" Chen Ran was slightly stunned.
He had been burying his head in producing programs, only occasionally flipping through news about Zhang Fanzhi, but hadn't paid attention to anything else.
He also rarely went on Weibo, so he hadn't noticed such a big piece of news.
The two chatted for a while. Only upon hearing Tao Lin calling her did Zhang Fanzhi hang up the phone.
Putting the phone away, Chen Ran was a bit happy for Zhang Fanzhi. After all, if her work went smoothly, her mood would also be good.
Yet he also wasn't very happy. With Zhang Fanzhi's work improving, she would be even busier in the future, and their ti to et would probably be even shorter.
But she was a singer; this kind of situation was unavoidable.
It was either like a while ago—being suppressed, being put on ice, having nothing to do—or she had to get busy.
Chen Ran rubbed the space between his eyebrows, not knowing what kind of mindset he should have.
……
By the ti Chen Ran arrived at the small town, the sky had long since turned completely dark.
Along the way, every household had couplets pasted on their doors, the character for "Fortune" pasted on the doors, and large red lanterns hanging on both sides. Even many shops were no exception.
Chen Ran took out his keys and opened the door. He didn't see his mom and dad; only Chen Yao was there playing on her phone.
Just as Chen Ran was about to ask, the kitchen door opened, and his father, Chen Junhai, poked his head out and said:
"You're back? Take a seat first, the food will be ready in a mont."
The joy on his face was obvious. It was almost the New Year, and the family only had these few reunions. Now that all four of them were present, his mood was very good.
Chen Ran took his suitcase into his room to put it away. When he ca back, he saw Chen Yao looking at him.
After Chen Ran walked over, she asked in a low voice, "Brother, when I ca back, Mom and Dad asked if I knew about you dating."
"Why would Mom and Dad ask that?" Chen Ran said in surprise.
"I'm not clear either. They just asked if I knew you were dating, saying sothing about a leader's daughter or the like..." Chen Yao asked curiously again,
"Brother, you not telling Mom and Dad about you and Zhang Xiyun, could it be because you have another girlfriend?"
Although she felt her brother didn't seem like such a scumbag, people always change; no one could say for sure.
"Are you stupid?"
Chen Ran looked at his sister in exasperation.
"I used to work in the public channel, and Uncle Zhang is the director of the public channel; he is my leader."
Chen Yao was dumbfounded; how could she have thought of that.
"Did you tell Mom and Dad?" Chen Ran asked.
"How would I dare!" Chen Yao hurriedly shook her head.
She had been dumbfounded at the ti, thinking Chen Ran had two girlfriends, so naturally, she wouldn't say anything.
Even if Mom and Dad guessed it themselves, it couldn't be said from her mouth. Chen Ran still had her by the pigtails with his leverage over her.
Thus, as soon as Chen Ran ca back, she imdiately explained it first, so that she wouldn't be unable to explain if Mom and Dad asked again.
"Rember not to let it slip," Chen Ran said.
Since things weren't finalized yet, he also didn't want his parents to worry too much.
Over the years, his parents had already worried enough trying to earn money and pay off debts; there was no need to let the two elders worry about his love life.
He wasn't even twenty-four yet, not very old at all. His parents would at most ask about it, but they wouldn't rush him.
As for why his mom and dad would ask, he guessed it was because they had overheard him talking on the phone with Zhang Fanzhi when he ca ho previously.
Chen Junhai and his wife were busy in the kitchen. Before long, they brought out many dishes, completely filling up the table.
Chen Ran was stunned: "Dad, it's just the four of us, why did you make so many dishes? Tomorrow is New Year's Eve!"
Chen Junhai smiled and said, "Everyone is here today, and our family is happy, so naturally we should have a few more dishes."
It wasn't like the past anymore. When Chen Ran was in high school, the family frequently gathered together.
Once Chen Ran went to college, they could only have a family reunion during sumr vacations or the New Year.
At that ti, at least they still had Chen Yao keeping them company. Now, it was usually just the couple at ho.
During the New Year, when both their son and daughter returned, they felt happy in their hearts, so they naturally prepared a bit more.
During the al, Chen Junhai asked, "I heard from Yaoyao that you're going to work at the satellite TV channel?"
Chen Ran nodded and said, "There is such a thing, but it's not certain yet. After the New Year holidays end and work resus, the satellite TV channel has programs to produce, and I'll be competing with others for them."
Chen Junhai didn't really understand all this, and simply asked:
"I rember you used to be in the public channel. After you ca back last ti, you said you went to the entertainnt channel to produce programs. How co you're going to the satellite TV channel when you haven't been doing that for long?"
He indeed had so doubts.
He didn't understand the work at the TV station, but he still knew the difference between a local channel and the satellite TV channel.
His own son had only recently gone to the entertainnt channel. Hearing suddenly that he was going to the satellite TV channel, it would be a lie to say he wasn't happy. After all, telling people that their son worked at Zhaonan Satellite TV would also give the couple a lot of face.
It was just that Chen Ran hadn't been working for long before going to the satellite TV channel; this made him sowhat uncomprehending.
Chen Yao said from the side, "Dad, don't underestimate my brother. During the TV station's annual eting awards this ti, my brother snatched the Best Planner award from the hands of the satellite TV channel people. He is super amazing!"
Not only that, he also knew how to write songs!
This, however, Chen Yao didn't say out loud.
Chen Junhai nodded, looking at Chen Ran with full gratification.
"Work hard, I hope your mom and I can see the programs you produce on the satellite TV channel."
He couldn't think of anything else to say, so he could only encourage Chen Ran a bit.
Chen Ran smiled and said, "I will work hard."
Song Hui said from the side, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. We can talk about it later. Let's eat first. These are all the dishes you two siblings like to eat the most. Eat more so it won't be wasted."
Chen Ran and Chen Yao looked at the table fully packed with dishes, their brows furrowing slightly in distress.
How could we possibly finish eating all this...
In the end, the prepared food still wasn't finished.
The Chen siblings had already tried their best.
After clearing the bowls and chopsticks, they half-lay on the sofa, like two salted fish.
Their parents sat to the side, chattering away continuously, and the siblings just listened.
Outside, the sounds of firecrackers went off one after another, accompanied by the continuous laughter of the neighbor's children.
It was almost the New Year.
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