'What a scene!'
Lu Chen hadn't anticipated such a crowd in the listening room and he couldn't help but feel a wave of surprise.
He shot Wen Zhiyuan a puzzled look— 'what was going on?'
Wen Zhiyuan wiped the sweat from his brow and explained, "Teacher Lu Chen, let me introduce you. This is…"
He first introduced Song Xun, followed by Wan Xingguo, the manager of the brokerage department, the public relations manager, and so on.
As for Zhang Qiong and Zhang Shuhui, Wen Zhiyuan simply ignored them, pretending they didn't exist.
'Seriously, they've stomped all over my dignity. Do they think I'm made of clay?'
Zhang Qiong's eyebrows shot up in anger, but with so many company executives present, she didn't dare to make a scene.
The others, regardless of their private thoughts, were all polite to Lu Chen.
In the music industry or the entertainment world, a talented songwriter commands immense respect. Their status is on par with celebrity idols, even if their public recognition pales in comparison.
Most people remember the singers when they hear a song, but few pay attention to the songwriter behind it.
However, within the industry, Lu Chen's status as a songwriter was higher than that of a singer. Even Song Xun, Baidi Culture Agency deputy General Manager, stepped forward with a smile to shake Lu Chen's hand.
Of course, this didn't mean they believed the song Lu Chen wrote for Tang Qiaoqiao was worth the hefty price tag of 250,000 yuan.
Lu Chen's reputation was still in its infancy, not yet fully established.
After the pleasantries, Wan Xingguo couldn't wait to ask, "Mr. Lu Chen, I heard you've composed a new song for Baidi Culture Agency?"
Lu Chen was slightly taken aback, unsure why the other party was so eager.
Wan Xingguo was a music consultant from Tian Lai Workshop, an outsider in this setting, yet Wen Zhiyuan held him in high regard.
Lu Chen remained composed and smiled, "Yes, I'm about to do a trial performance. I'd appreciate your guidance, Teacher Wan."
Wan Xingguo didn't stand on ceremony and nodded immediately. "No problem."
For Lu Chen, Wan Xingguo was a seasoned veteran in the industry, truly qualified to offer advice.
Lu Chen turned to Tang Qiaoqiao, who looked bewildered and said, "I'll play the accompaniment. Give it another try."
Earlier in Wen Zhiyuan's office, Lu Chen had gone over the score with Tang Qiaoqiao, explaining the song's style, characteristics, and performance nuances.
Tang Qiaoqiao had a natural musical talent, and since the song wasn't overly complex, she grasped it quickly. They moved to the listening room for a live practice session.
As the first order for the workshop, Lu Chen was willing to invest time and effort to cement his reputation in the industry.
He just hadn't expected such a high-profile audience—all top executives from EMI.
Tang Qiaoqiao was even more intimidated.
Lu Chen's words snapped her back to attention, and she hurried to the microphone, still visibly uneasy.
Lu Chen inserted the prepared USB drive into the playback device and pressed play.
The musical intro began.
The song was already written, and the accompaniment was something Lu Chen had synthesized using software the previous day. It wasn't groundbreaking, but it was sufficient for Tang Qiaoqiao's trial performance.
The actual composing and arranging would be handled by EMI, as it wasn't part of the contract.
Following the rhythm, Tang Qiaoqiao opened her mouth— but no lyrics came out.
Her face immediately flushed red!
As a singer who had emerged from a talent show, Tang Qiaoqiao's performance shouldn't have been this poor. But this song carried too many expectations, and the pressure was overwhelming.
With multiple company executives watching, she became excessively nervous.
Zhang Shuhui, seated on the side, couldn't help but smirk.
She had never considered Tang Qiaoqiao a threat, even though they were in the same group.
The fact that Tang Qiaoqiao had purchased a song from Lu Chen irked her—how could Tang Qiaoqiao afford a song worth 250,000 yuan?
So she had come with her aunt to witness Tang Qiaoqiao's embarrassment. And Tang Qiaoqiao did embarrass herself!
Zhang Qiong snorted with laughter.
Li Zhigao's face wrinkled like a bitter melon, and he desperately signaled Tang Qiaoqiao to stay calm.
Ironically, his actions only added to her pressure.
Song Xun, Wan Xingguo, and the others frowned, thinking Tang Qiaoqiao's nerves were a liability.
Even if she were given a good song, could a newcomer like her really make it big?
Wen Zhiyuan's smile was uglier than a grimace!
If Tang Qiaoqiao messed up now, where would that leave his reputation?
Lu Chen acted swiftly and pressed the stop button.
He said to Tang Qiaoqiao, "Don't be nervous. This song was written specifically for you, and you can definitely sing it well. Relax and sing naturally. It's just practice."
'Written specifically for Tang Qiaoqiao?'
The executives who knew the backstory secretly shook their heads, some even curling their lips in disdain.
What a bold claim! Could Lu Chen really have written a good song tailored to Tang Qiaoqiao in just two days?
Most likely, he had either recycled an old piece or hastily thrown something together.
Lu Chen's statement was just a way to justify Baidi Culture Agency's investment.
Such a petty trick wasn't worth their attention.
Tang Qiaoqiao, however, relaxed.
After all, she wasn't a complete novice; she had performed well in talent shows before. Once she calmed down, she became more natural and reached for the microphone.
Seeing this, Lu Chen restarted the accompaniment.
This time, Tang Qiaoqiao didn't falter and began singing along with the music.
'"All night, my thoughts wander, the night is so beautiful,
It keeps me awake,
Why do you always want to run away?
If lovesickness can't be cured,
It's my fault for not finding the cure.
You've never given me a signal of love,
It's bad, I fell earlier than you,
You love me less,
I'm destined to suffer.
It's not good, all elegance is gone,
The restless heartbeats,
The whole world can hear~"'
Just the opening lines captivated everyone present except Lu Chen!
They were all industry insiders, and even if they weren't musicians, they had a basic appreciation for music.
Simply put, it was about whether the song was catchy and had hit potential.
The new song Lu Chen wrote for Tang Qiaoqiao was unique, with a cool tone and a strong personal touch. It stood out from typical love songs or upbeat tracks, exuding a captivating charm.
At first listen, it felt refreshing!
What was impressive was how Tang Qiaoqiao's vocal characteristics shone through the song—her nasal tone and the proud, girlish vibe gave it an ethereal, elven-like quality.
If there was a flaw, it was that her singing wasn't yet smooth.
But she had just started practicing.
'"...Don't be so proud,
I might leave at any moment,
You haven't even held my hand yet!
The night is too long, the moonlight will surely grow cold,
What should I do?
You owe me a hug,
And yet I keep smiling at you,
Why haven't you seen how good I am~"'
As soon as Tang Qiaoqiao finished the chorus, Wan Xingguo slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Brilliant!"
The chorus elevated the song to a new level, with the climax perfectly executed.
This song was written for Tang Qiaoqiao, but also for millions of girls in their teens and twenties!
Based on Wan Xingguo's experience, while it might not become a massive hit, it could certainly achieve moderate success. With proper promotion, it could launch a new star.
Song Xun's face broke into a smile; he liked the song.
Although Tang Qiaoqiao's singing was still rough and the accompaniment was basic, the melody's beauty had already emerged. It was just a matter of composing and practice.
'Good songs are rare, and this one was worth the investment! '
The managers and supervisors exchanged glances, all speechless.
They had come expecting a joke but instead became witnesses.
Witnesses to the rise of a new star.
As for Wen Zhiyuan and Li Zhigao, it felt like they had been pulled back from the brink of disaster.
Especially Wen Zhiyuan, who felt an immense sense of relief.
His gamble had paid off; the money wasn't wasted, and his position remained secure.
As for Zhang Qiong…
Wen Zhiyuan glanced at her and, unsurprisingly, saw her stunned and ugly expression.
It was like drinking three bottles of ice-cold water under the scorching sun— refreshing from head to toe.
All the frustration he had bottled up inside vanished in an instant!
If it weren't for the presence of so many executives, Wen Zhiyuan would have burst out laughing in triumph.
Meanwhile, Zhang Shuhui, seated next to Zhang Qiong, was in a foul mood.
She clenched her fingers tightly, biting her lip as she stared at Tang Qiaoqiao, who was singing better and better. It felt like countless venomous snakes were gnawing at her heart.
This song was supposed to be hers; she should have been the one standing there!
Instead, it was taken by Tang Qiaoqiao, whom she had never even considered. It was so unfair!
At this moment, Zhang Shuhui even felt a trace of resentment toward Zhang Qiong.
If her aunt hadn't strongly opposed it, how could she have missed this opportunity?
'"...It keeps me awake, why do you always want to run away."'
After finishing the song, Tang Qiaoqiao's face was filled with confidence, her eyes bright and joyful.
Having sung the song all the way through, Tang Qiaoqiao truly understood its brilliance.
She loved the song; it really felt tailor-made for her.
Getting this song was undoubtedly her luck!
'Bang! Bang! Bang!'
Suddenly, applause erupted in the listening room.
Song Xun was smiling broadly as he clapped, standing up to ask, "What's the name of this song?"
Tang Qiaoqiao looked directly at him and mustered her courage to say, "So Proud. Its name is So Proud!"
Then Tang Qiaoqiao's gaze turned to Lu Chen, filled with gratitude.
Because of him, she could be so proud!
——
(End of chapter)
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