Chapter One Hundred Thirteen: Unsure of What to Title This

Watching Bai Fan’s jaw-dropping expression of utter disbelief, Chen Zhe couldn’t help but shake his head with a wry smile. He could easily guess the reason behind such a reaction. After all, it was undeniably strange for someone who seemed to be cruising along a successful path as an entertainer to suddenly show up asking to learn culinary arts.

"Actually, the reason I came to you, Lao Bai, to learn cooking is because I want to surprise someone special—I want to prepare a full table of dishes for her with my own hands."

He gave a general explanation for his request, though he was careful to omit the darker chapters of his personal history. He knew that if he revealed those details, Bai Fan would surely promise to keep his secret, only to turn around and spill everything to their childhood friends the moment his back was turned.

"Her? Wait, don’t tell me you little rascal already have a girlfriend! Damn it, you’ve been secretly dating behind our backs? Prepare for judgment!"

Bai Fan, who had been listening with a cheerful expression, caught the key word and immediately frowned, his face turning serious. Before Chen Zhe could react, Bai Fan lunged at him, grabbing his cheeks and pulling them outward with force.

"Let... go... you... jerk! I... have... to... film... tomorrow!"

With his cheeks stretched, Chen Zhe’s words came out garbled. Because he needed a favor, he couldn't bring himself to fight back. Under normal circumstances, he would have long since retaliated by pinching Bai Fan back, never allowing him to get away with such arrogance.

"Fine, I’ll let you off this time. But you’re filming right now—what is it? How do you even have time to learn cooking? And when are you debuting? I’ll bring a crowd to cheer you on!"

Even though Chen Zhe’s words were muffled, Bai Fan managed to grasp the gist. After a moment of thought, he let go and sat back down.

"It’s a youth drama on tvN called *Reply 1997*. I’m playing the lead. It premiered the day before yesterday, so I suppose I’ve officially debuted as an actor."

Chen Zhe rubbed his face, trying to soothe the stinging sensation and hoping to prevent any swelling that might ruin tomorrow’s shoot. His tone was laced with clear annoyance.

"You 'suppose' you’ve debuted? Does that mean you aren't pursuing a pure acting career?"

Bai Fan’s brow furrowed again. In his view, trying to juggle so many paths would be exhausting and potentially counterproductive—a recipe for ending up with nothing. A person’s energy was limited; spreading oneself too thin usually meant failing at everything.

"Well, I’m also preparing to debut as a solo singer next month, performing my own original songs. I’ll be starting promotions on *Music Bank* on the 17th."

Sensing why Bai Fan was concerned, Chen Zhe simply waved it off with a smile, choosing not to elaborate further and instead steering the conversation toward his musical plans.

"Original songs? You can write music and lyrics too! What’s the title? When are the track and the music video dropping? I’ll rally my friends to support you."

Bai Fan’s jaw hit the floor once more. They had been close for years, and he had never heard of Chen Zhe having any talent for composition. He reasoned that Chen Zhe must have picked it up during the four years he had spent studying abroad. Since he only returned home during the Lunar New Year, it was plausible that he had missed this development in Chen Zhe’s life. He silently constructed a logical explanation for himself, feeling that as an older brother, he had to provide full support to ensure his friend’s success.

"Have you really never heard 'Melody,' which is trending like crazy on YouTube? Did you miss the news about the mystery songwriter joining LOEN Entertainment?"

Chen Zhe stared at Bai Fan as if he were an alien. He truly hadn't expected this guy to be completely oblivious to the latest trends.

"I’ve heard of 'Melody'—some of my favorite girl groups have covered it. But what does the creator joining LOEN have to do with me asking for your song title?"

Bai Fan was still picturing the girl groups performing the song and didn't immediately connect the dots.

"Wait, hold on a second. Are you trying to say... that you wrote that song? That you’re the mystery songwriter who joined LOEN?"

As the realization dawned on him, Bai Fan noticed Chen Zhe’s half-amused expression. His mind raced, connecting the dots instantly. He pointed at Chen Zhe, his face full of shock, and found himself stammering.

"Bingo. You got it. I’m the one. I’m now a junior label-mate to the 'Nation’s Little Sister,' IU."

Chen Zhe flashed a bright, confident smile and gave Bai Fan a thumbs up.

"Damn, you’re something else, kid. If you’ve got it all figured out, I guess I don’t need to worry about you. But with a schedule like that, do you really have time to learn cooking from me?"

Learning that Chen Zhe was the mastermind behind the hit "Melody," Bai Fan breathed a sigh of relief. He finally understood why his younger brother was confident enough to take the path of an all-around entertainer. Still, he remained skeptical about the logistics.

"So, does that mean you’re saying yes, Big Brother Bai? As for time, you just have to make it."

"The two leads in my drama are minors, so filming is strictly capped at 10:00 PM. We have to wrap up by then!"

Chen Zhe looked at him with a grin, explaining how he’d managed to carve out the time.

"Fine. Come over in the evenings then. I’ll do my best to teach you!"

Since Chen Zhe had already made up his mind, Bai Fan couldn't find a reasonable excuse to refuse, and so he finally agreed to the request.