Chapter 32 – Just One Last Step

Zhuang Lin’s debut album was about to be released, and it was the critical moment for promotional efforts. Yet, his mind was completely preoccupied with something entirely unrelated.

He knew that the progress bar of his relationship with Guan Lan had reached 90%, and all that was left was the final decisive step. However, as the old saying goes, “The last ten percent of a hundred-mile journey is half the effort.” Thus, this final step had to be steady, precise, and decisive—it had to hit the dragon’s eye directly. Otherwise, with one misstep, the progress bar might just shrink back.

Playing this game of push and pull for a few rounds could be seen as a form of flirtation, but Zhuang Lin was deeply afraid that delays might lead to complications. With millions of potential suitors lurking outside, speed was of the essence—he couldn’t afford to give anyone else a chance.

While promoting his song on the radio, during the ad break, he was still consulting his love strategist.

Li Yanyao: “How’s the strategic plan I proposed for you? Pretty effective, right?”

Zhuang Lin: “Extremely effective. The progress has been rapid.”

In reality, it hadn’t been implemented for more than a few days before Guan Lan dragged him to bed. After that, he completely let go, forgetting all about art, soul, spiritual resonance, and the high mountains and flowing waters.

Zhuang Lin: “I think it’s about time to confess.”

Li Yanyao: “You haven’t confessed yet??!”

Zhuang Lin thought about it—did what they said in bed count?

Well, Guan Lan was a man too. He should understand that words spoken in bed don’t count.

Zhuang Lin: “I think confessing is like proposing. You should only do it when you’re at least 90% sure.”

The romantic advice online all said that a confession should be a victory anthem, not a battle cry.

Li Yanyao: “If you’re already so sure, why are you still asking me?”

Zhuang Lin: “This time, I want to go all out—a grand gesture, a big scene. I want to plan the most damn romantic confession ever.”

Li Yanyao: “…I don’t really understand you artistic types.”

Zhuang Lin was about to reply when the host beside him reminded him that the interview was about to start.

The topics of the radio interview were all very routine, the kind Zhuang Lin could answer with his eyes closed.

Host: “I noticed that the producer of your new album is Teacher Guan Lan. I’ve interviewed many singers produced by Teacher Guan Lan, and I always ask them this question: Did he give you a hard time?”

Zhuang Lin: “Not at all. We collaborated very smoothly.”

Host: “Really? That’s quite rare. When Lu Qing was here last time, she complained for a long time, saying that the pressure in Guan Lan’s recording studio was so intense that she couldn’t sleep the night before recording. She’s been working with Guan Lan for so many years and still gets treated like that. You’ve only just started working with him this year—how do you handle it?”

Zhuang Lin brazenly said: “I think it’s just the chemistry between people. We just click really well.”

In reality, Guan Lan hadn’t gone any easier on him at work just because they’d slept together. On the contrary, perhaps it was his imagination, but it seemed Guan Lan had become even harsher.

But he enjoyed it. He was more than willing to work with Guan Lan in the studio until 3 a.m., then pretend he didn’t have a driver’s license and get Guan Lan to take him home—preferably to Guan Lan’s place.

Of course, Guan Lan knew that the whole “no driver’s license” thing was a lie, but he often ended up willingly playing along.

Host: “Oh? So you and Teacher Guan sparked quite a bit during your collaboration?”

At this point, the host noticed that Zhuang Lin’s face had turned an odd shade of red.

…He reflected for a moment—wasn’t that a pretty normal thing to say?

Zhuang Lin: “The spark between us is unique and unprecedented. I believe Teacher Guan feels the same way. The experience I’ve given him is completely new, something no other singer has ever given him, and something he never expected…”

…What was he saying? This wasn’t part of the script! If he could say something so self-praising without blushing, then what was he blushing about earlier?!

The host quickly steered the conversation back to the new album: “With that said, I’m even more excited for your new album.”

Zhuang Lin finally remembered what he was here for: “Thank you. I hope everyone will pay attention to my new album, ‘Singing Along.'”

After the broadcast, Zhuang Lin continued texting Li Yanyao.

Zhuang Lin: What kind of scene counts as a big scene? How about a concert? Or an awards ceremony?

Li Yanyao: …Don’t do something stupid.

Zhuang Lin: Right, that’s too cliché.

Well, whatever the reason, it was good that he dismissed the idea.

Li Yanyao: Can’t you just do something simple, like a moonlit beach or a candlelit dinner?

Zhuang Lin: Too Western. He’s not into that. And it’s even more cliché.

Zhuang Lin: After thinking about it, a concert is still the best, but I really can’t wait that long. It’ll take at least a year before I can hold a concert.

Li Yanyao: That’s not the point… Coming out live at a concert? Can you get any more dramatic?

Zhuang Lin: Then what should I do?

Li Yanyao: I don’t know. Generally speaking, if I’ve known a girl as long as you’ve known Guan Lan, I would’ve already broken up with her and started chasing the next one.

Zhuang Lin: Alright, I should’ve known asking you was useless. Goodbye.

…No one discards their advisor so quickly after getting what they want.

————————————————————————————————

Guan Lan was completely unaware of Zhuang Lin’s scheming.

His own love life was a mess, yet he still had to listen to others’ relationship problems.

Chen Jin: “Really, what they say is true. Before deciding to get married, you should either travel together or renovate a house together. Ugh, Yang Peiqing is driving me crazy. Now I understand why so many couples end up divorcing after renovating.”

Guan Lan: “Different tastes?”

Chen Jin: “Taste is a minor issue. The problem is that this person has no sense at all—he’s being completely taken advantage of by the construction team we hired!”

Chen Jin: “We agreed that the material costs would be separate from the labor costs, and if we were satisfied, we’d give the foreman and workers a bonus. But when I went to the building materials market the other day, do you know how much he overcharged us for materials?”

Chen Jin slapped a piece of paper on the table: “Just a rough estimate, and it’s already tens of thousands! It’s not like we’re not paying for labor. If he thought the pay was too low, he could’ve just said so—we could’ve negotiated! But cheating us like this? Does he take us for fools?”

Chen Jin: “I wanted to fire them and get our money back. Guess what Yang Peiqing said?”

Guan Lan could probably guess: a few tens of thousands isn’t worth the hassle, just give them a warning, changing teams mid-project is too troublesome.

Chen Jin: “He said, ‘Construction teams are hard to find right now. Just turn a blind eye. Consider the tens of thousands lost. If you’re unhappy, I’ll buy you a gift. Do you want a car or a watch?'”

Guan Lan: “I’d say the same—how much do you earn per episode now? The time you’re spending worrying about this, you could’ve earned ten times that by taking on another project.”

Chen Jin glared at him: “How long have you been out of the working class, and you’re already treating tens of thousands like it’s nothing?”

Guan Lan: “Cough, strictly speaking, I’m still selling my labor for a living. I don’t control the means of production, so I’m still part of the working class.”

Chen Jin: “Don’t try to fool me just because I didn’t go to college. Doesn’t intellectual property count as means of production?”

Guan Lan was a bit confused, not sure why the conversation had shifted to his class identity.

Chen Jin: “Whether it’s tens of thousands or thousands, it’s money I earned myself! Just because I have money, I’m supposed to be a sucker?”

Guan Lan: “I understand where you’re coming from, and I also get his perspective. It’s a matter of time cost. Convert your annual income—how much do you earn per minute? If you spend time and energy arguing over this, even if you get the money back, after deducting the time cost, you’re still at a loss.”

Chen Jin: “Your calculation is exactly the same as his. I think you two are more suited to be together.”

Guan Lan briefly imagined it and couldn’t help but shudder: “Thanks, but I’ll pass. You can keep him.”

Chen Jin folded the paper filled with calculations, then slowly unfolded it, absentmindedly rubbing it with his hand. His tone was a bit downcast: “I just can’t get over it. The thought of throwing away tens of thousands makes my heart ache. See, after all these years, I’m still so petty.”

Guan Lan: “Hey, that’s not being petty. That’s being meticulous, frugal, and virtuous.”

He thought that, regardless of whose spending habits were right or wrong, Yang Peiqing’s brain was probably filled with porridge when it came to emotions.

How hard could it be to change construction teams? Would it kill him to just go along with Chen Jin on this?

Guan Lan then realized that his thinking was completely biased and unfair. Why should Yang Peiqing be the one to give in to Chen Jin? But the heart is naturally biased—there was really no helping it.

Chen Jin: “Let’s break off our friendship for two minutes. Right now, you’re not my friend. From a bystander’s perspective, who’s in the right here?”

Guan Lan: “Not everything has a right or wrong answer—especially when it comes to couples. Each has their own reasoning. I think the most important thing is to communicate. You need to tell him how you feel.”

Chen Jin: “Communicating isn’t that easy. If we could’ve communicated, we wouldn’t have been stuck like this for so many years.”

Guan Lan didn’t say anything, but his face was clearly saying, “That’s because you two have emotional intelligence issues.”

Chen Jin wanted to say, “You’ve never been in a relationship, so you can talk without feeling the pressure,” but then he had a sudden thought and smiled.

Chen Jin: “Alright, you think ‘communicating clearly’ is easy, right? Let’s make a deal: you clarify things with Zhuang Lin, and I’ll clarify things with Yang Peiqing. We’ll do it simultaneously and get it done within a month.”

Guan Lan: “…What?”

Chen Jin: “How long have you been stringing Zhuang Lin along? You’ve already slept together multiple times, right? Think about it—is this fair? Does it align with your moral standards?”

At this, Guan Lan had nothing to say.

He did feel a bit guilty.

Chen Jin: “In the next month, we’ll both resolve our relationship issues. I’ll sit down with Yang Peiqing and have a deep, honest talk about all the problems we’ve had over the years. As for you, either define your relationship with Zhuang Lin or cut it off completely—no more contact outside of work. How does that sound?”

Guan Lan was checkmated by Chen Jin and found himself in a difficult position.

More importantly, deep down, he knew that what Chen Jin proposed was the right thing to do.

He reached out and shook Chen Jin’s hand: “Deal.”