"Have you seen the news lately?" Zhou Xun asked.
They were at Zhou Xun's company's recording studio, having just called the sound engineer to work overtime. While waiting for him to arrive, the three of them chatted idly in the recording booth.
Shen Lang countered, "What news?"
Zhou Xun didn't answer directly. Instead, she stood up and said, "I think I saw some magazines about it here. Wait a minute, I'll find them."
After a brief search, she returned with two magazines. Shen Lang took them from her. Gao Yuanyuan leaned in, her large, curious eyes fixed on the covers.
The cover featured Shen Lang and Na Ying, with a headline that screamed: "Shocking! Na Ying, the Queen of Pop, Utterly Defeated by Newcomer Shen Lang!"
Inside, the magazines compared the chart performance of their new songs. Na Ying had been completely outdone.
Mainland China's music scene had been stagnant for too long, overshadowed by Hong Kong and Taiwan. Now that a ripple had finally appeared, the media was in a frenzy, reporting on the story relentlessly.
A newcomer surpassing a reigning queen on their debut was an extremely rare occurrence in the Chinese music scene, resulting in Na Ying being mercilessly dragged through the mud.
Shen Lang frowned deeply. This wasn't good.
Though Shen Lang harbored no particular fondness for Na Ying, this comparison had thrust him into the eye of the storm, leaving him vulnerable to being swept away by the tide.
"Oh, you know how the media is," one of the women said. "They'll write the most outrageous things. Na Ying wouldn't take such news to heart."
"Exactly, Shen Lang," the other added. "You're a male singer, and she's a female singer. Your musical styles are completely different."
Both women worked in the entertainment industry, so they understood the ins and outs of publicity stunts.
Shen Lang's furrowed brow relaxed. It wasn't all bad—at least it had drawn massive attention. He chuckled, "She's a queen of the music scene, standing tall and seeing far. Why would she bother with a newcomer like me?"
Who cares anyway? Even if she does mind, so what?
In the end, the entertainment industry relied on talent.
Besides, he wasn't the only one she had to contend with. Even legendary artists like Andy Lau and Li Wen had been eclipsed.
Zhou Xun's beautiful eyes flickered as she gazed into Shen Lang's deep, dark eyes. "Honestly, the quality of your album is absurdly high. I don't think anyone could compete."
Gao Yuanyuan smiled warmly, her admiration unconcealed. "Your ten songs are worth a hundred of anyone else's. Each one is like fighting ten opponents at once—there's no chance of winning."
"Hey, hey, hey..." Shen Lang tossed the magazine onto the table, raised an eyebrow at the two women, and said, "I see what you're doing—you're trying to kill me with kindness!"
Zhou Xun turned to Gao Yuanyuan. "Yuanyuan, are we?"
Gao Yuanyuan shook her head earnestly. "Of course not."
After half an hour of chatting and laughing, the door to the recording studio swung open, and two middle-aged men entered.
"Brother Qi! Oh, President Liu, what brings you here?" Zhou Xun stood up to greet them.
"Old Qi mentioned you were working overtime to record songs today. I happened to be nearby on business, so I thought I'd drop by," Chen Yaochuan explained, glancing at Shen Lang and Gao Yuanyuan beside her. Both faces looked vaguely familiar.
"These are my friends, Gao Yuanyuan and Shen Lang," Zhou Xun introduced them.
"Nice to meet you."
"Hello, President Liu. Hello, Brother Qi."
The group exchanged greetings.
Old Qi was the first to react. He stared at Shen Lang. "Shen Lang... the 'Prince of Radio Love Songs'?"
When did I get that title? Shen Lang smiled faintly. "I suppose so."
Chen Yaochuan also remembered the ten songs that had truly astonished him: "Ten Years," "South of the Yangtze River," "Romance of the Three Kingdoms," and others.
These timeless classics had all come from the same person—a 22-year-old no less.
Chen Yaochuan's endorsement alone spoke volumes about Shen Lang's undeniable talent.
Chen Yaochuan, a renowned musician from Treasure Island Province Taiwan, was known as the "Pope" of the Chinese music scene.
In 1993, his production of Lui Fong's love ballad "Loving You One More Day" became a massive hit in Treasure Island Province Taiwan, catapulting him to fame among music fans and industry professionals in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Subsequently, Andy Lau's manager contacted Chen, requesting him to produce an album for the superstar. Chen went on to create iconic records like "Water of Oblivion," "Heaven's Will," "True Forever," "Lovesickness Runs Rampant," and "Chinese People," solidifying his status as a top-tier producer in the Chinese pop music world.
"I've long admired your songs and achievements. Meeting you today confirms your exceptional talent."
"You flatter me, Mr. Chen."
Chen Yaochuan scrutinized Shen Lang intently. At 1.85 meters tall with a sunny, handsome face, he was clearly made for the entertainment industry.
Who said the Mainland Chinese music scene had no idols?
"This is it!"
After a brief chat, Zhou Xun entered the recording studio and began recording her song.
"The wind has stopped, the clouds know; love has left, the heart understands..."
"I drift and drift, you sway and sway, rootless wild grass..."
"If we don't hold back, just once, let's burn brightly!"
Four minutes later, Zhou Xun removed her monitor headphones and asked Shen Lang, who was outside the recording booth, with anticipation, "Shen Lang, how did I sing?"
"Overall, it's good, but there are a few minor details to work on," Shen Lang replied. He wasn't a music teacher for so many years for nothing; Zhou Xun's performance had several flaws, but he was being tactful.
Zhou Xun nodded. "Tell me, I'll fix it."
Shen Lang organized his thoughts and slowly explained, "First, your enunciation needs more focus, concentrating on the area between your nose and upper lip. For example, in the line 'You weren't in my plans, disrupting my steady rhythm,' try singing it like this..."
He demonstrated the line.
Zhou Xun stared at him in awe. "How do you sing so beautifully?"
Shen Lang smiled faintly. "You can do it too."
Zhou Xun tried singing the line his way and exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, it really does sound different! I can feel it myself!"
Chen Yaochuan glanced at Shen Lang, his eyes filled with curiosity.
There was something to it.
Even subtle changes in her pronunciation gave Zhou Xun's singing a completely different, and much better, flavor.
Shen Lang continued, "Your voice is naturally rough and husky. We should soften the vocal processing to make the song sound like a soft murmur, as if a lover were whispering in your ear."
When Chen Yaochuan decided to produce a single for Zhou Xun, many in the company were skeptical. They considered her voice "a cracked gong" and doubted anyone would listen.
Yet, in childhood, Zhou Xun had been a member of the school choir, known as the "Little Nightingale."
As she grew older and went through puberty, her voice gradually transformed into its current husky timbre.
If Yang Kun could sing, why couldn't she?
In truth, her cool, clear voice possessed a unique charm, much like the distinctive characters she portrayed.
But she needed to find the right way to sing.
Shen Lang was a professional.
With a few minor adjustments, Zhou Xun's rendition of "Drifting" improved dramatically.
"Xun Jie, that was beautiful!" Gao Yuanyuan exclaimed after another take.
"That's it! Perfect!" Chen Yaochuan said, his voice tinged with excitement.
As the song's composer, he understood it best.
Yet, despite a month of intermittent recording sessions, none of the takes had achieved the effect he envisioned.
He didn't know how to help Zhou Xun.
When he came to Yanjing from Treasure Island Province Taiwan, he had planned to consult friends in the industry, like Zhang Yadong, Guo Liang, and Xiao Ke, for advice.
But before he could put his plan into action, Old Qi told him Zhou Xun was working overtime to record songs, so he decided to check on her first.
To his surprise, Zhou Xun had already hired a top-notch expert who quickly finished the recording in just a few takes.
Zhou Xun was overjoyed, and her gaze toward Shen Lang had changed. Emerging from the recording studio with a beaming smile, she said, "This is all thanks to Shen Lang. Without him, I don't know how much longer it would have taken me to sing this song well."
Shen Lang returned the compliment with a touch of businesslike flattery: "The master can lead you to the door, but your cultivation is your own. Your musical talent is truly..." He gave her a thumbs-up.
He had also confirmed something for himself.
His professional abilities as a music teacher had been significantly enhanced.
After hearing someone sing just once, he could immediately identify the problems and devise the optimal solutions.
Zhou Xun gazed at him playfully, saying, "Thank you, Teacher Shen."
"No need to argue—you're both incredibly talented," Chen Yaochuan said in high spirits. He glanced at Shen Lang thoughtfully. "It's almost lunchtime. I'll treat you all today."
.....
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