Lin Zhengran's Plan

In the blink of an eye, another three weeks passed.

New City First High School's annual New Student Evening Gala was finally about to begin.

Over these three weeks, because Jiang Xueli's matter was more urgent, Lin Zhengran spent more time with her.

On weekends, Lin Zhengran would go to see her and lie on Jiang Xueli's bed.

He listened as she sat on the edge of the bed, playing the guitar or singing a cappella.

If there was a problem somewhere, he would give her pointers, like tapping her thigh with the back of his hand. "Your breath isn't quite right. Lower the air pressure on the first line a little. Do it again."

Jiang Xueli answered, touched the spot on her leg that had just been brushed, and felt her heart flutter.

Then she secretly looked at Lin Zhengran, who was lying on her pillow and staring at the ceiling.

She thought that this Big Dummy had clearly never been seen practicing, yet his musical talent was actually this high. She still couldn't catch up to him.

"This part isn't easy to practice. I practiced it by myself for a long time before, and I still made mistakes and lost the form," she explained.

"That's because I wasn't there. If I'm there, it'll be fine."

Big Dummy is so full of himself, Jiang Xueli thought.

She practiced it again according to Lin Zhengran's words, and in the end, it really improved by more than just a little. Surprise showed on her face.

Lin Zhengran looked at her with satisfaction. "Not bad. If you're not familiar with it, sing it a few more times. Use my method. The pitch..."

Jiang Xueli took it in vaguely and sang it a few more times, each time better than the last.

She couldn't help sighing. "This is so strange. Actually, I noticed it a long time ago. Every time you teach me, I learn at least twice as fast as when I practice by myself. It's not just technique either. There are a lot of techniques that I know myself, but even after a long time, I still can't get them right. But as long as you're here, I can learn them. This... this is way too uncanny, isn't it?"

Jiang Xueli looked at Lin Zhengran curiously. "Big Dummy, has your mouth been blessed or something?"

Lin Zhengran sat up unhurriedly, and under Jiang Xueli's puzzled gaze, he curled his finger and rewarded her with a flick to the forehead.

Jiang Xueli cried out in pain, holding her head and pouting as she complained, "Why did you hit me?!"

Lin Zhengran lay back down on the bed. "Stop being cheeky. Keep practicing your breathing. The New Student Evening Gala is right around the corner. Whether you can get chosen then depends on your ability. This is the first step toward fulfilling your dream, so take it seriously."

He yawned, turned over with his back to Jiang Xueli, and pulled her blanket over himself as if he were about to sleep.

Jiang Xueli blushed as she watched her personal blanket being covered over him just like that, thinking, How am I supposed to use it tonight if you do this? Don't you know I don't like wearing pajamas when I sleep?!

She closed her eyes, embarrassed and angry. "Big Dummy!"

Lin Zhengran kept his eyes closed. "Never mind that every time you scold someone, it sounds like you're acting spoiled. When you scold me, can you at least tell me the reason too? Otherwise, how would I know why you're scolding me?"

After Lin Zhengran teased her like that, Jiang Xueli's face rapidly turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye, and her tone became stammering too. "A-acting spoiled?!" Her little fists gave Lin Zhengran's back a lightspeed boxing massage with just the right amount of force. "Who's acting spoiled! How could I act spoiled with you! And why do you care what reason I'm scolding you for! I'll scold you even without a reason! Big Dummy, Big Dummy! I hate you to death! The person I hate most is you!"

Lin Zhengran ignored what she said and only felt the force of her little fists.

He reminded her, "Hammer a little higher."

"Do you think I'm massaging you?!" Jiang Xueli refused to admit defeat with her mouth, but her hands honestly moved upward and knocked a few times. After hammering him, she even asked stubbornly in a small voice, "How is it?"

Lin Zhengran gave an mm. "The force is all right."

"Hmph! You're sick." She added, "So annoying," and continued practicing her song.

There was just one thing Lin Zhengran had never known. Every time Lin Zhengran lay on her bed, Jiang Xueli would think to herself that she had to change the blanket, hurry and change this blanket! It had been dirtied by Big Dummy sleeping in it.

But actually, after she said goodbye to Lin Zhengran and returned to the bedroom alone, she would examine the bedding on the bed that Certain Person had covered himself with.

The adolescent girl would blush and bite her lip.

She would slowly sit on the bed, put down the guitar with a great sense of ceremony, and hug the blanket in her arms to smell it.

Her face grew even redder, and she muttered to herself in complaint, "What the heck, the blanket has that guy's smell on it now... although it does smell pretty good."

She took off her shoes and sat properly on the bed, leaning against the headboard, continuing to hold more of the blanket in her arms as she pursed her lips. "But... this is the blanket I just changed yesterday. Changing it again would be too much trouble. I'll just sleep with it like this tonight."

She even fooled herself. "It's all that guy's fault for dirtying my blanket."

She lay on the bed, covered herself with the blanket that smelled like Lin Zhengran, and fell asleep with her eyes closed and a blissful expression on her face. She slept so sweetly, almost as if he were right beside her.

One week before the competition, Lin Zhengran and Jiang Xueli walked along a road in the school.

With both hands behind her, Jiang Xueli asked Lin Zhengran a question. "Big Dummy, if I'm chosen, will I have to practice in the training room often from now on?"

Lin Zhengran said, "Not necessarily. That depends on the person. Ordinary newcomers definitely have to practice in the training room, because studios all have professional instructors. But if the singer has resources of their own, then there's really no need."

Jiang Xueli hesitated as she looked ahead and said, "B-but I don't really like practicing with other singers. I still want you to teach me singing practice..." After saying that, she lifted her head arrogantly.

"Don't misunderstand. It's just... I just think you're still pretty capable when it comes to singing. There's no other reason."

Lin Zhengran looked at her disdainfully. "Is that so? Then I really have to thank Jiang Guniang for valuing me so highly."

Jiang Xueli bit her lower lip and snorted. "What do you mean, thank me? That sounds so sarcastic."

Lin Zhengran already had a plan. The reason that Child Star Studio was still open in the town despite poor profitability was because Boss was a middle-aged woman who stubbornly clung to her dreams.

She didn't take shortcuts and only looked at ability, so Lin Zhengran's idea was for Jiang Xueli to build up popularity in the early stage after signing up. Once he earned money after some time, he would directly buy this studio. That way, Jiang Xueli would become a singer under him, and her future path would be foolproof.

It would also keep her from being affected by all sorts of messy things. After all, he would be Boss.

Lin Zhengran said:

"Don't worry. I'm only having you join the studio so you can have a platform that lets you look out at the world for now. With the help of a platform, you'll be able to participate in organized performances of all sizes ahead of time and gain experience, so that a young girl like you won't get cheated when you're on your own. After all, I can accompany you every time you perform, but I can't accompany you every single time."

"Why can't you stay with both of us?" she asked softly, curious.

Lin Zhengran told the truth. "Because I still have to teach He Qing. She's going to enter all kinds of competitions in the future too, so don't I have to stay with her as well?"

"You! Why are you such a playboy?! Go wear yourself out!" She stamped her foot in anger.

Lin Zhengran went on, "As for training, I'll still be the one teaching you, of course. After all, you can count as a singer I personally pushed into the spotlight. I'm going to collect payment for that later."

Jiang Xueli couldn't deny that point. Without Lin Zhengran's help, there was absolutely no way she would have the strength she did now on her own.

But payment—she ran up to Lin Zhengran, completely failing to notice that in the distance, a pure-looking girl with a ponytail had just happened to see Lin Zhengran and had wanted to run over, only to stop when she saw the two of them.

Jiang Xueli held both hands behind her, leaned forward, and pointed a finger at him. After taking the initiative last time, she at least wasn't so conflicted at a time like this anymore. "Big Dummy, even if I really become very, very famous in the future, what I said back then still counts. For the sake of you being pitiful and to repay your kindness, I can marry you, but that's only so you won't grow old and die alone, so don't you dare get the wrong idea!"

Lin Zhengran knocked her on the head and walked past her. "Who said the payment I wanted was that? Besides, does a twelve-year-old little girl like you even know what marrying someone means?"

Jiang Xueli flushed with embarrassment and anger. "How old do you think I am?! I didn't know when I was little, but do you think I still don't know now?! Isn't it just getting married to you?" She clenched her little fists and shouted, "I'm not scared! Besides, I'm only paying you back!"

The two of them bickered and messed around as they walked off into the distance.

Little He Qing stood there blankly, watching Lin Zhengran with a dazed, wistful look, having heard what was just said. "Marriage... Jiang Xueli actually told Lin Zhengran she'd marry him in the future?"

Before long, Han Wenwen walked over. Seeing her bestie standing there in a daze, she asked what was wrong.

Then she suddenly saw He Qing start sniffling again, hugging Han Wenwen. "What do I do, Wenwen? The two of them seem to be getting closer and closer. Am I going to lose? What should I do?"

Han Wenwen tilted her head and comforted He Qing, thinking, No way, right? Can a tsundere actually win?

If Little Qing Qing really was at a disadvantage, then she could only put in some effort herself, get involved, and work hard to help deepen the relationship between the two of them.

"Don't worry. I'll help you think of something."

Thanks to the big boss "Wang Shiye" for the tip of 5,000 Qidian Coins.

Thanks to the big boss "I Am Wang Zixiao" for the tip of 2,300 Qidian Coins.

A tiny bonus update of six hundred words as thanks.