Wu Pengpeng averted her gaze and tilted her head back to look at He Qianshan, seeking his opinion.
He Qianshan reached out and ruffled her hair, then nodded tenderly. "Go ahead!"
He wished he could shelter her under his wing forever, like a little princess protected by him. But he also knew in his heart that she didn't want to be a caged canary.
If one of them had to compromise, he'd rather it be himself.
Wu Pengpeng looked at him with a mixture of guilt and gratitude for a while, then tiptoed to gently kiss him. "I love you."
Her voice faded away like a sigh in that kiss, as if it were just an illusion.
Before He Qianshan could even confirm it, he heard her murmur it again. "Yanshen, I really love you so much."
If her actions couldn't give him enough security, then let her words make up for it.
It wasn't until Wu Pengpeng's figure disappeared from sight that He Qianshan slowly came back to his senses from the overwhelming shock.
Wu Pengpeng loved him. Just thinking about it in his mind made him feel so happy that he was about to faint.
He Qianshan stood with his back to the door for a long time before he managed to suppress the smile on his lips.
He took out his phone and dialed Fu Heng's number. "Have you found out what I asked you to check?"
Fu Heng on the other end of the line must have been eating. Caught off guard by the call, he choked on his food. "There's still a bit of finishing work. I'll send it to you as soon as I'm done organizing it."
He Qianshan was in a good mood today, so he was extra kind to his subordinate. "Take your time. Just send it to me before you leave work."
Fu Heng could tell from the subtle difference in his tone that the boss was in a good mood, so he couldn't help but add one more thing. "Boss, I just heard from General Manager Xu and the others that General Manager Song's son will be out of prison in three months."
Wasn't his sentence supposed to end next year? Why was he getting out early?
He Qianshan frowned, his voice showing no emotion. "So?"
Fu Heng: "..."
Wasn't it you who sent that guy to prison seven years ago?
"Never mind. Do you have any other instructions?"
He Qianshan gave a soft "hmm". "Tell Director Song that Song Corporation will invest in the TV station's advertisements next year. And for this year's New Year's Eve Gala, ask him to invite the boy band from 'Bu Fan Entertainment'."
"Which boy band?"
"Which do you think?"
Fu Heng was startled by his cold tone and suddenly remembered how the boss had once had a private jet fly a boy band back home overnight. A chill ran down his spine.
"Boss, I have to deliver a document. General Manager Xu is in a hurry. I'll hang up first." With that, he hung up the phone without waiting for He Qianshan's reply.
He Qianshan put away his phone. His eyes accidentally fell on the photo on Wu Pengpeng's desk, and he couldn't help but smile again.
Compared to He Qianshan's mood that was as fluctuating as a high - school girl's, Wu Pengpeng was much calmer.
Just moments after she had said all those cheesy words of love to He Qianshan, she took out her phone as soon as she stepped out of the door and sent a message to Jiang He, saying that she might be late and asking him to hold off the big shot and not let him get away.
It wasn't until she got into the car that Wu Pengpeng remembered the purpose of this trip. She put away her phone and asked Shen Qianqian, "What's wrong with Xiao Lu?"
Shen Qianqian drove the car out of the garage, her brows knitted with worry. "He's been practicing too hard lately and got sick from exhaustion."
"Practicing?" Wu Pengpeng was a bit surprised. Then, as if she had thought of something, she quickly said, "It's just the beginning. Don't make the training too intense."
It had been several months since the band was formed. How could it be just the beginning?
Shen Qianqian said sullenly, "It wasn't my arrangement. He did it voluntarily. I couldn't stop him."
Lu Jingran had fainted in the practice room for most of the night because of long - term high - intensity training, lack of sleep, and a bad cold. Finally, Shen Qianqian, who had been looking for him everywhere, sent him to the hospital.
As soon as he woke up this morning, he was already clamoring to go back and practice the new dance.
Since Shen Qianqian couldn't persuade him, she had to go back to the company to get reinforcements.
When Wu Pengpeng arrived at the ward, Lu Jingran was sitting on the hospital bed reading a book.
Hearing the sound of the door opening, he turned his head and saw her. His deer - like eyes lit up slightly, and a smile appeared on his lips. "Sister Pengpeng."
Seeing his pale face, Wu Pengpeng felt a sense of guilt, as if she had been abusing someone else's child behind their parents' backs.
"Xiao Lu, don't put so much pressure on yourself." She put the fruit basket on the bedside table and gently advised, "You're still young. Don't rush. Take your time."
Lu Jingran seemed to be hit by her words. He lowered his eyes, and when his eyes caught sight of the fruit basket, he said in surprise, "Did you buy this for me? How did you know I like apples?"
Well, there were only a few kinds of fruits you usually bought when visiting a patient.
Moreover, this fruit basket was prepared by Shen Qianqian in advance, and she had insisted that Wu Pengpeng give it to him. Wu Pengpeng had just carried it in from the door.
Wu Pengpeng forced a smile. "If you like them, I'll buy more for you later."
Hearing this, Lu Jingran was like a child who had received a reward. He grinned from ear to ear. "Thank you, Sister Pengpeng."
Wu Pengpeng asked the doctor about Lu Jingran's condition. Fortunately, it wasn't serious, and he could be discharged from the hospital after two days of rest.
She gave Lu Jingran a few more instructions. When she thought the time was about right, she got up to leave. "Xiao Lu, you should focus on getting better first. I have something to do today. I'll come to see you another day."
Seeing that she was leaving just after she came, Lu Jingran's eyes dimmed slightly, but he still said understandingly, "I'm fine. You go and do your work first."
As soon as Wu Pengpeng left, he wanted to be discharged from the hospital.
No matter how hard Shen Qianqian tried to persuade him, he wouldn't listen. In a fit of anger, she blurted out, "She's going to see her boyfriend. She's not going to the company. What are you going back for?"
Lu Jingran's body stiffened slightly. Then, in a fit of pique, he pulled out the needle and walked out of the door without even pressing on the puncture wound.
Shen Qianqian stamped her foot in frustration and chased after him.
Lu Jingran's hard work paid off. On the New Year's Eve Gala of Apple TV Station, the stage performance of "The Twelve Zodiacs" set the whole place on fire and swept across the hot search lists.
Especially Lu Jingran, the team leader, who was excellent at both singing and dancing and had a good - looking appearance, became an extremely popular top - tier celebrity overnight.
During this period, Wu Pengpeng had been busy with Jiang He's lousy project. By the time she found out about this, her once - obscure boy band could no longer be kept low - key. Major satellite TV stations were vying to invite "The Twelve Zodiacs" to their shows.
Wu Pengpeng had no choice but to make a compromise. They could participate in the activities, but they wouldn't charge any appearance fees.
"Why?" As the boy band's manager, Shen Qianqian was not satisfied with this decision.
"Are you stupid?" Wu Pengpeng started her persuasion. "Our band has just debuted. We haven't established a solid footing yet, and our level is just average. If we dare to ask for appearance fees now, who will work with us in the future?"
Shen Qianqian muttered, "Didn't you say they were very capable?"
Wu Pengpeng was taken aback. "I'm like a mother looking at her own children. I think they're good in every way. But other people aren't their mothers. They won't spoil them."
Shen Qianqian thought about it and realized that it made sense. After all, when their band was first established, they were all just good - looking faces. Thanks to Lu Jingran's ambition, he had single - handedly turned a useless band into a promising one.
Now they needed some opportunities to practice. Once they got stronger, why would they be afraid of not making money?
In the following few months, "The Twelve Zodiacs" were either performing or training. The whole band grew at an extremely fast pace.
At the Golden Melody Awards, "The Twelve Zodiacs" defeated the highly - favored Class - 3 and became the most popular boy band, firmly securing the first place among the top boy bands in the country.
After the award ceremony, Lu Jingran took the trophy and rushed straight to Wu Pengpeng's office. He put the trophy in front of her.
"This is a gift for you." The young man was a head taller than her. He slightly lowered his eyes, and there was a bit of solemn promise in his eyes as he looked at her. "From now on, I'll help you make money."
Wu Pengpeng: "..."
Thanks, but I don't need it.
Looking into her clear eyes, all the suppressed gratitude, grievances, and love in Lu Jingran's heart welled up like a flood, eager to be announced to the world.
However, before he could say anything, the door was pushed open.
"Sister Peng, I've got some good..." Shen Qianqian's voice trailed off. When she saw him, she was slightly stunned. "Lu Jingran, so you're here."
Lu Jingran composed himself and said calmly, "I've delivered the thing. I'll go back first."
Shen Qianqian watched Lu Jingran's back disappear for a long time before she was willing to look away.
Wu Pengpeng couldn't help but tease her. "You see each other every day. Are you still so reluctant to part?"
Shen Qianqian's cheeks flushed as her secret was exposed. She quickly changed the subject. "You're right. 'The Twelve Zodiacs' are really good - luck charms. They'll help you make a lot of money in the future."
As soon as the topic of money came up, Wu Pengpeng was like a snake that had been hit on its weak point. She immediately looked listless.
Now that "The Twelve Zodiacs" had become a top - tier boy band, they couldn't perform for free anymore. With their current popularity, making money would be as easy as flowing water.
Just thinking about her money stash getting bigger, Wu Pengpeng was desperate. She couldn't keep this band anymore.