After four years of living alone after marrying far away, he went back to his parents' home and

On the second floor of the coffee shop, Lan Yujuan sat in front of her computer, busy at work, as time quietly slipped by.

When she subconsciously reached out to pick up the lemonade and take a sip, she realized that the glass was already empty.

Lan Yujuan stretched and checked the time, realizing that more than an hour had passed.

She immediately picked up the empty glass, preparing to get up to pour herself a glass of water, and then go out onto the balcony to stretch her legs and gaze into the distance to refresh her eyes.

"Thump, thump!"

Just as Lan Yujuan got up, there was a knock on the studio door.

"Please come in!"

She responded to the doorway as she went to pour water.

Hearing the noise, the person outside pushed open the door and came in; it was Lin Feng, whom they had arranged to meet that morning.

Lan Yujuan pointed outside to the open terrace where the set of table and chairs was placed, and smiled:

"Please sit down for a moment and wait for me."

"Coffee or tea?"

Lin Feng waved his hand, then took out a thermos from his bag and walked straight over.

"No need, I brought my own throat-soothing tea, just add some hot water for me."

After saying that, in front of Lan Yujuan, he opened a sealed bottle of water himself, watched it boil, and then poured it into a thermos cup.

Finally, after covering his thermos with the thermos, he picked up his bag again and walked out to the terrace.

"Your studio has a really great location!"

Lin Feng looked around her studio and then around the terrace.

"The view is expansive, and the scenery is beautiful!"

"This kind of auspicious place, quiet amidst the hustle and bustle, is perfect for creative work."

Lan Yujuan chuckled and joked, "Most of the houses along the river have good views, and the prices aren't too expensive."

"If you're interested, I can keep an eye out for something suitable in the neighborhood."

After hearing this, Lin Feng waved his hands repeatedly, "Never mind, never mind."

"I earn a meager living by busking every day, and I'm so poor, how could I afford a house in this area?"

"Besides, I have too much stuff at home, moving would be too much trouble."

"The place I'm renting now is a bit remote, but the soundproofing was done very well when it was renovated. No matter how loud I make it, it won't disturb the neighbors."

"The main problem is that the current economic climate is not good. New songs are hard to sell and hard to promote."

"By the way, Boss Lan, what exactly did you want to talk to me about today?"

Without saying a word, Lan Yujuan immediately took out a business card that she had prepared in advance, placed it on the table, and handed it over.

"I have a director friend who now specializes in making short dramas."

"He needs some songs for his new home, but the band he was planning to collaborate with canceled at the last minute."

"So they specifically asked me if I knew any suitable musicians I could recommend."

Lin Feng raised an eyebrow after hearing this, then immediately picked up the business card and looked it over.

"Shooting short dramas?"

"We're not in the same circle, and I don't know anyone there."

"Boss Lan, is this Director Xia reliable?"

Lan Yujuan smiled and said, "I'm also new to the industry. I've heard of this Director Xia, but I haven't known him for very long."

After listening, Lin Feng hesitated for a moment, then raised his question:

"Since you've only known each other for a short time and weren't particularly familiar with each other before, why did he ask you to recommend musicians?"

"Logically speaking, he should have a more suitable replacement."

Lan Yujuan raised her hand to smooth her stray hairs, and without hiding anything, smiled and said:

"Perhaps it's because the short film he directed was based on a script I wrote!"

"So, he did me a favor and gave me a chance to recommend people I knew first."

Ultimately, whether the cooperation will be successful depends on your own communication and coordination to determine if it's a good fit.

"Lin Feng, think it over! Give me an answer by today."

Lin Feng held the business card and looked at both sides.

Finally, he placed the business card back in the center of the table and tapped the surface lightly and rhythmically with his fingers.

Looking at those long, slender, and nimble hands, Lan Yujuan even had a fleeting illusion:

It was as if Lin Feng could create a melodious tune with just a few taps, no matter what he was tapping.

"Okay, I agree!"

Lan Yujuan looked up in surprise upon hearing the sound.

It turned out that Lin Feng had already made up his mind in the brief moment she was lost in thought.

"Aren't you going to think about it?"

The more readily the other party agreed, the more cautious Lan Yujuan became.

"This is the first time you've encountered a collaboration like this. Why don't you hold off on agreeing and think it over carefully first?"

"Just give me a definite answer before midnight tonight. Whether it works out or not is fine! It definitely won't affect our other existing work."

Unexpectedly, after hearing her words, Lin Feng simply smiled and waved his hand.

"No need to think about it anymore, I trust you!"

"Besides, the investment for a short drama is usually only three to five hundred thousand yuan. If it's a high-quality production, you might add a zero to that at most."

"After being split up layer by layer, how much actually ends up in my hands?"

"Since it's not a big deal, I'm too lazy to bother with it and will just agree."

"Anyway, it's definitely more than what I earn from busking and singing in cafes, right?"

After hearing this, Lan Yujuan scratched her brow sheepishly.

"Yes, that's true."

"My coffee shop is a small business, so naturally it can't compare to the big money of a film crew."

Lin Feng grinned after hearing this: "It's okay, I sing at the coffee shop every day, and the money I earn is enough for me to eat and live on."

"Singing in bars or underpasses at night is unpredictable, depending on the weather. It's not only unstable, but it might not even earn as much as I do now."

Hearing this, Lan Yujuan was a little confused and couldn't help but ask:

"I often see videos on my phone of people singing outdoors and doing live streams; they seem to be making a lot of money."

"Or, next time you busk in the subway station, why don't you also do a live stream?"

"Anyway, you earn your living through your own abilities, so there's nothing shameful about it."

After listening, Lin Feng didn't explain directly, but instead smiled and asked in return:

"Boss Lan, I'd like to ask you a question too."

"Your Banshan Xiaoyin Cafe is doing quite well! Not only is the environment nice and quiet in the middle of the city, but the baristas are professional, the coffee beans are top-notch, and the service is first-class."

"Why didn't your coffee shop ever consider doing live streaming while you were running the business?"

Lan Yujuan chuckled for a moment, "How can they be the same?"

"Customers come and go at the coffee shop every day, and I definitely need to respect their privacy. How can I broadcast live while the shop is open for business?"

"Furthermore, if the baristas in the shop are livestreaming while working, where should they focus their attention?"

"Should we prioritize serving the viewers in the live stream, or focus on providing excellent service to the customers who walk into the store? We can't put the cart before the horse!"

Moreover, what Lan Yujuan didn't say was that she wanted to open a coffee shop because she wanted a place where she could feel at ease, a place where she could relax and rest.

If it were simply for the sake of profit, it would go against her original intention of opening the coffee shop.

Lin Feng listened attentively to her words, as if he could see through her expression and understand her true thoughts.

"Boss Lan, in some ways, we share the same initial aspirations."

"In my current life, my favorite part is not after get off work or when I'm making money."

"I don't think that going to the subway station to sing every night is a difficult thing."

"On the contrary, I feel that this is the only thing in life that makes me feel most free and nourished."

"The inspiration for almost all of my songs comes from the time I was a free-spirited wandering singer."

"I want to make money, but at the same time, I also have my own little pursuits."

Lan Yujuan raised an eyebrow, feeling a slight pang of regret. "Well, as long as you're happy!"

"I just genuinely believe that if you make good use of the internet, becoming famous is only a matter of time."

Lin Feng took a deep breath, then slowly unscrewed his thermos, blew on the steam, took a small sip of the tea to soothe his throat, and smiled frankly:

"No rush, I'm already very content with my life!"

"As for whether the song will become a hit, and how it will become a hit, that's up to fate!"

After Lan Yujuan recommended the person, she stopped paying attention to the matter.

Because of her own life, she began to get busier every day.

After returning from Beijing, she was still occasionally seen in coffee shops for the first few days.

About a week later, she started arriving at the coffee shop almost every day before it opened, going straight up to the second floor to begin her seclusion in the studio.

Sometimes when things get busy, lunch has to be brought upstairs so I can eat it right in the studio.

She was busy until evening, when school was about to let out, before hurriedly packing up to pick up her child from school and go home.

When Lan's mother went back to her parents' home for the weekend, she immediately noticed something was wrong.

After dinner, the mother and daughter chatted privately in the living room. The mother frowned slightly and subtly inquired:

"Why have you lost weight? Have you been eating properly?"

"I heard Chen Mo has been very busy lately?"

"How's your relationship with your husband?"

Lan Yujuan took a rare day off to relax. She lay on her side on the sofa, snacking and watching TV to clear her mind.

"Lost weight? That can't be!"

As he spoke, he gently stroked the rabbit and said with a smile:

"Mom, you must be mistaken. I've obviously gained weight."

"Chen Mo has been quite busy lately. I heard that the new project is in its early stages, and people from Beijing have come to help, so they are still in the adjustment phase."

"But I didn't ask any further questions about the specifics."

"Why don't you ask him yourself when he comes to pick us up this evening?"

"Mom, don't worry, our relationship is very stable, really!"

Mother Lan glared at her, then laughed in exasperation:

"You're pregnant, how could your belly possibly get thinner? I mean, your face looks noticeably thinner, your chin is even more pointed."

"No matter what, as long as the relationship is stable, everything else is trivial."

"By the way, if Chen Mo is busy lately, try to bring the children home for meals more often."

"Come back and eat together. The more people there are, the more lively it will be, and your dad and I will enjoy our meal even more!"

Lan Yujuan smiled and nodded, "Okay, I understand!"

After lunch, Lan Yujuan lay on the sofa and fell asleep without realizing it.

Seeing this, Lan's mother did not wake her up. Instead, she gave her a thin blanket and pillow while she was still asleep and adjusted the temperature of the living room air conditioner.

Afterwards, he took Lan Xiaoman back to the bedroom for a nap.

Qin Shuyi came along too, but nowadays, Qin Shuyi doesn't have the habit of sleeping in bed for her afternoon nap. Instead, she sets an alarm and rests her head on her desk for a while.

Normally, I lie down for fifteen minutes, then wake up when the alarm rings.

In Qin Shuyi's own words, she learned all of this from the top students in the advanced classes.

If you take a nap lying down and sleep too comfortably, it will be a test of willpower to get up.

Sleeping on your stomach prevents you from falling into a deep sleep and helps relieve fatigue, allowing your brain to rest for a while.

More importantly, even if you fall into a deep sleep, your hand will go numb after a while, and you will naturally wake up.

Qin Shuyi has now basically taken over the Lan family's study.

Even Mr. and Mrs. Lan try to read or practice calligraphy at the large table on the living room balcony as much as possible.

I will not disturb her in her study, so as not to disrupt her learning environment.

During her afternoon nap, Lan Yujuan tossed and turned on the sofa, unable to sleep soundly.

In her half-awake state, she seemed to have many dreams.

In the dream, there were scenes from my university days, and then it jumped to when I was pregnant with my daughter.

Later, the scene changed, and she dreamed of the people and things she encountered during those years in Xiahe Village.

She dreamed of many familiar scenes and many familiar people.

Finally, Liu Zhiyuan, with his dark skin, suddenly jumped out of the dream and stood in front of her, saying:

"Yujuan, I'm back!"

"Not only did I pay off my debts, but I also made a lot of money in Africa."

"My daughter can't live without her father, let's remarry!"

Lan Yujuan suddenly woke up in fright, touched her head, and found it covered in cold sweat.

She looked around and saw her familiar home, the place where she grew up.

From the study, Qin Shuyi could be heard murmuring as she read a question aloud.

In the adjacent bedroom, the sounds of Mr. and Mrs. Lan's snoring rose and fell.

These tiny, insignificant noises brought her a sense of peace and tranquility.

"Thank goodness, thank goodness it was just a dream..."

Just then, her phone, which was placed next to her, suddenly vibrated.

The screen displays that a text message has arrived.

Lan Yujuan stretched and reached out to grab the message while yawning.

It was an anonymous text message from an unknown number.

If the number hadn't been so normal, she would have almost thought it was a spam text message.

However, when she clicked on it and saw the contents, she was immediately stunned.

"Yujuan, I'm back. If you have time, let's meet up? It's been so long since I've seen our daughter."

After realizing what had happened, Lan Yujuan got goosebumps all over her arms.

She read the text message over and over again, and finally confirmed it:

After ruling out the possibility of a prank or a wrong message, this text message was most likely sent by Liu Zhiyuan.

"What's going on?" Lan Yujuan gripped her phone tightly and murmured softly.

"Didn't he sign a contract to go to Africa and won't be back for five years?"

"It's only been a few months? Liu Zhiyuan, why is he back so early...?"