Just Basic Operations
“Silly girl, why'd you pinch yourself so hard? It's all red now.” Lin Zimo looked at her, torn between laughter and exasperation.
Shi Luoyin was wearing nothing but a loose mid-length T-shirt, paired with ultra-short shorts underneath.
The shirt hung long enough to reach her thighs, covering the shorts and creating the illusion that she wasn't wearing anything below—a trendy “lower body disappearance” look that was pretty hot.
Her long legs were fair and tender, marred only by the red marks from her own pinching.
Shi Luoyin stuck out her tongue cutely, then scampered over to Lin Zimo in her slippers, dada dada, her eyes brimming with teary emotion.
“Wahhh, Lin Zimo, how are you so amazing? You wrote three songs so fast—did you stay up all night without sleeping?!”
She'd written songs herself and knew how tough composing and arranging could be. For Lin Zimo to whip them up this quickly, he must love her to pieces, pushing himself this hard just to help her out.
Lin Zimo saw how moved she was, the mood perfect, and figured now wasn't the time to admit he'd finished them in under an hour. It'd kill the vibe. So he stayed quiet.
Shi Luoyin hugged him tight, rubbing against him like crazy and planting a kiss, before finally picking up the songs he'd written to read them seriously.
The more she read, the more shocked Shi Luoyin got. The more she read, the more excited she became.
“Oh my god! Lin Zimo, what kind of music genius grandmaster are you～～?! These three songs are way too good!”
“Eh, not bad. As long as you like 'em.” Lin Zimo said humbly.
Inside, though, he was bursting with pride. These were songs that had gone viral across the net in his previous life—of course they were fire.
“Wahhh, Lin Zimo, are you sent from heaven to save me? I'm liking you more and more, muah～.”
Right then, Shi Luoyin's phone rang.
She glanced at it and said puzzled to Lin Zimo, “It's my bodyguard Lin Biao. Wonder what he wants?”
Lin Zimo had a hunch and shrugged nonchalantly. “No biggie. Answer it.”
“Mm.” Shi Luoyin picked up with a cold, distant expression, her tone matching.
Watching this, Lin Zimo finally got why the intel called her aloof. Around others, she really kept her distance.
Moments later, she hung up, her icy face instantly melting into a sweet smile.
“Lin Biao's apparently hurt and in the hospital. He said he might not be able to bodyguard me anymore. He was rude to you last night anyway, and I was thinking of switching him out. So I said yes.”
Lin Zimo nearly burst out laughing, coughing to cover. “Cough, you could hire a badass female bodyguard. That way she can stick close.”
He figured Lin Biao was banking on pity from his injury to get Shi Luoyin to visit. Never expected her to just fire him on the spot. Dude was probably raging in his hospital bed.
Shi Luoyin nodded eagerly at his suggestion. “Good point. I'll have Dad hook me up with a tough female bodyguard right now.”
She whipped out her phone and started texting.
She was still straddling his lap at the moment.
Lin Zimo watched her head down, typing seriously, and helplessly wrapped an arm around her waist.
Wonder if her dad would still get her that bodyguard if he knew she was sitting pretty in another guy's lap?
Soon, Shi Luoyin finished and grinned sweetly. “Done.”
Then she dove back into the lyrics.
Once she'd devoured them, she couldn't wait to sing. Grabbing Lin Zimo's hand, she urged anxiously, “Lin Zimo, come on! Let's hit the music room now. I wanna sing 'em right away.”
“Sure.” Lin Zimo indulged her.
They headed upstairs to the music room quick. Shi Luoyin sat at the piano, playing and practicing several run-throughs.
Lin Zimo's music skills, boosted by the system, gave him pro-level ears.
He could tell she nailed it better each time. Her talent was real—high notes, low notes, all killer.
The next day.
After trial runs till she felt solid, Shi Luoyin beamed excitedly. “Lin Zimo, let's head to the company now! I wanna record these for the album ASAP.”
“Alright, I'll go with you.” Lin Zimo pinched her cheek fondly.
Right then—grrrumble grrrumble grrrumble—a weird rumble cut in.
They eyed each other puzzled, then both looked down at Shi Luoyin's belly.
Grrrumble grrrumble—her stomach protesting after starving all morning.
Boom— Her snowy cheeks flushed crimson. She'd been too hyped and forgotten to eat.
Lin Zimo wanted to crack up, but seeing her mortified, he held it. Her gut kept rumbling, though, and he lost it, bursting into laughter.
“Hahaha, Luoyin, you're such a goof. Didn't even notice you were hungry.”
“Aaaah～ You jerk Zimo, stop laughing! I was just shocked by your songs, okay? No more laughing or I'll tickle you!”
Shi Luoyin was dying of shame. Why did she always embarrass herself around him? Blame his hotness for melting her brain.
“Hahaha, okay okay, no laughing. Let's grab food.” Lin Zimo caught her flailing wrists.
Gazing at her blushing porcelain cheeks, he teased, “Luoyin, you know to run home when it rains, right?”
Shi Luoyin's eyes sparkled at his playful gaze, brain lagging. “Huh?”
Then it clicked—a meme. She pouted cutely fierce. “Oh yeah? Mocking my IQ now, you jerk Zimo? I'll bite you dead!”
Lin Zimo was dying laughing, scooping her up princess-style amid the tussle and heading out.
“Hahaha, enough teasing. Food first, then company to record.”
The sudden princess carry had Shi Luoyin's heart pounding wild. She went still, no more play-fighting.
They lunched at a fancy spot near the company, then rolled up to Times Entertainment building.
…
In the Times Entertainment office, word that Shi Luoyin was recording three songs Lin Zimo wrote in under two days blew everyone up.
“Holy crap, real talk?! Not even 48 hours and he cranked out three solid tracks?”
“Songwriting and arranging ain't easy. If they're trash, slapping 'em on Luoyin's album could get her roasted by keyboard warriors.”
“What songs is Shi Luoyin singing?” Li Yan, fresh from the bathroom, froze hearing the buzz.
As her manager, she knew Lin Zimo promised three quality songs.
But recording today? Total surprise—she'd missed that memo.
Right then.
“Yo, if it ain't Sister Li Yan? Don't even know what your own artist's recording? Some manager you are.”
Zhang Shu, always second to Li Yan, sniped sarcastically.
“Shi Luoyin scraping the barrel for songwriters, just tossing in randos to phone it in?”
“Not impossible. She's been dry on originals for years—maybe she's quitting singing altogether.”
Li Yan shot them a cold look. “Zhang Shu, don't talk too big. Eat crow too hard when you get slapped.”
In the recording booth.
Shi Luoyin, in a JK pleated skirt, sat at the mic, nodding to Lin Zimo and the backing crew. She flashed a lively, sweet OK sign.
First track was upbeat sweet Love You, so she dialed her vibe to match.
Intro kicked in. On the other side of the soundproof glass, headphone listeners' jaws dropped.
Holy—intro alone slaps! Not the half-assed flop they gossiped about.
Just the prelude hooked the skeptics. They perked up serious.
Intro this fire? Dying for her vocals.
Everyone focused hard. Melody, arrangement—masterclass composing.
As the intro flowed, Shi Luoyin smiled sweetly, pink lips parting.
If you suddenly sneeze
That's gotta be me thinking of you
If your phone wakes you at midnight
Ah～ That's 'cause I care
Oh～Baby～ Say more sweet nothings
Think of me? Glance my way～
…
Wanna stay by your side more than a day～
A little more～ Let me～ Willingly～ Love you～
Her sweet voice and melody stunned everyone.
This track? Pure sugar rush!
Lover's bliss sweetness, pulling you in effortless.
Not just control room guys getting fanboyed—even the players were wowed, jamming harder.
If not for no-noise rule, they'd scream.
Infection power off the charts.
Sweetness overlord—drops a track, bewitches boys, youths, grown men alike.
Now, stares at Lin Zimo screamed worship.
Bigshot, on my knees: How's a young gun crafting hits like this!?
By music scene knowledge, Love You drops? Chart-topper guaranteed!
Hype maxed for his other two.
Lin Zimo just smiled faintly, unfazed by shock, awe, thirst in their eyes.
Basic ops. No cap. Chill.
…
Two days later, online.
Shi Luoyin's album delay sparked gossip frenzy.
Lin Zimo's scraps got doxxed—net exploded. Shi Luoyin's fans and stans were glued anyway.
…
Then the album dropped. Folks rushed to stream.
First seven tracks? Meh. Not bad, not great—standard fare.
Many bailed after, unimpressed in this era of endless live covers and karaoke vids. Hard to wow with average.
Till the final three.
Upbeat intro, killer melody, sweet vocals—netizens lost it, @ing HehHehHehHeh nonstop.
Album sales climbed steady, comments flooding from sparse to swamped.
Shi Luoyin's voice spread viral on socials. Netizens gushed over Lin Zimo's magic.
…
…
Boom—spotlight on Lin Zimo.
Stars and divas scrambled to pay top dollar for his pen.
But digs turned up zilch beyond basics—no pics even.
Lin Zimo had the system block it all. Didn't want fame. Ghostwriting? Fine. Spotlight? Nah—ruins the boyfriend leasing gig with constant eyes on him.
Lin Zimo held Shi Luoyin on the villa sofa, watching post-drop charts soar.
Her tracks climbed new song lists—all top 10.
Momentum built; album blew up society-wide.
Critics raved, crowning her new queen.
Unique style, heartfelt words—music that entertained and provoked thought.
Revived industry vibes; producers eyed rookies fresh.
Full listeners marveled in posts.
Shi Luoyin, thrilled, smooched Lin Zimo reward-style.
“Wahhh! I'm blowing up! Lin Zimo, thanks for the songs! Mwah～”
Then yanked him into her bosom.
Overwhelmed, she knew: without his tracks, flop city, career iced.
Lin Zimo struggled for air amid soft, silky bliss and milky scent.
Blue Star music? Traffic kings, producers pandering with earworm slop.
His Earth classics? Chart domination easy mode.
Unfazed by success, Lin Zimo inhaled deep—nearly suffocated.
Pinching her cheek: “These massive pillows trying to smother me?”
Her soft face squished into a duck bill, mumbling “Wahhh I messed up, not on purpose, too excited～...”
They roughhoused on the sofa awhile.
Suddenly Shi Luoyin piped: “Hey, Zimo, you cook too, right? Wanna eat your food.”
Lin Zimo grinned. “Sure. What? I could... noodle ya?”
“Eat it!” she blurted, then blushed realizing. “Jerk Zimo! Big perv!”
He roared laughing. “Haha, kidding. What ya want? I'll make it.”
Shi Luoyin giggled shy. “Nah, let's cook together. Couples do cute kitchen dates, yeah?”
Craved more lovey romance hacks.
Tutorials said kitchen = foreplay step.
In her kitchen, Lin Zimo eyed pristine tools, spotless excess.
Gear gleamed new; cabinets sparkled unused.
“You ever use this kitchen?” Lin Zimo asked puzzled.
“Totally.” Shi Luoyin nodded, opening fridge. “Stocked my faves: juices, sodas, drinks...”
Lin Zimo chuckled helplessly. “Cooking stuff?”
She pulled flour and eggs, sheepish. “Don't cook much. That's it. Fruit sandwiches? Assistant made some, leftovers.”
“Fine. Mix flour first, ferment, knead.” Lin Zimo rolled with it—no sweat.
Shi Luoyin newbie total, assisted: add water, too much? More flour. Per his lead.
Watching him knead, she tried, blushed after flops. “Lin Zimo, can't knead. Teach me hands-on?”
He smiled doting. “Lil klutz, can't even knead. C'mere.”
Behind her now—she shorter, perfect for chin on her head.
Shi Luoyin warmed as his firm abs pressed, enveloped fully.
Their shadows overlapped in bright window—a cozy snapshot.