Chapter 11 Omnipotent
Although An Ruifeng's proposal was unexpected, it was actually a good idea. Bao Hui was able to convince his agent to approach Ling Xi to sing his song because of three factors: first, his role in the drama was more important; second, he was more popular; and third, he had a reputable company backing him.
But what if there was someone more popular than him?
An Ruifeng had taken the initiative to ask for this song in order to protect Ling Xi's job. Even if Bao Hui was not reconciled, there was nothing he could do. Bao Hui had no reason to put pressure on Ling Xi without the fuse of the ending song. After all, Bao Hui did not represent the company, and his reach was limited.
Ling Xi grasped these key points quickly and recognized An Ruifeng's good intentions.
When An Ruifeng said the same words with the same meaning that sounded only disgusting when spoken by Bao Hui's agent, Ling Xi was moved to tears. He'd poured his heart and soul into creating that song, which was dedicated to all of his emotions. He'd rather give it to someone than be forced to trade it for money.
Furthermore, this was An Ruifeng venting rage for another company's 12th tier artist. It would undoubtedly make Bao Hui and those above him uncomfortable.
"You..." Ling Xi muttered: "Do you regard this as helping me?"
An Ruifeng: "How is that possible? I regard this as helping you help me."
Ling Xi felt compelled to crawl after the phone line and kiss An Ruifeng's hand.
"So do you agree to give me this song?"
"I agree." Although this decision filled Ling Xi's heart with reluctance, he knew it was the only viable option: "But you only have a supporting role in a few episodes of the drama, and are not a professional singer. Will the director allow you to record the closing song?"
“That’s not important.” An Ruifeng was unconcerned: “I am more popular than Bao Hui. Why will the director be dissatisfied?”
The rules of the entertainment industry were just this cruel. If you didn’t play them, they would play you.
Ling Xi thought for a moment before asking: "It's just that I wrote this song for myself at first. I'm afraid you won't be able to sing the transpose and treble in it. What is the highest note you usually sing in?"
"... I don't usually sing." An Ruifeng was not a professional singer. He'd never even taken a vocal class before. It was unusual for him to be bothered by a problem. Finally, they agreed to meet in the recording studio two days later. Ling Xi would record the demo, An Ruifeng would audition, and if any changes were required, they would discuss it on the spot.
…
The phone had gotten hot by the time Ling Xi hung up. The issue that had been bothering him was resolved smoothly, and Ling Xi hung up the phone with a bright and sunny smile on his face. He squatted next to the phone, laughing foolishly, so happy he resembled a sunflower.
Wu Youpeng who was eavesdropping in the corner next to him(in a righteous and honourable manner), asked him bitterly: "Damn, didn't you say that you weren’t going to give this song to anyone? Why did you agree to give it to An Ruifeng the moment he requested it? Instead of owning this huge favor to beat around the bush, why not start with Bao Hui from the beginning..."
"Are they the same thing? With Bao Hui’s agent’s attitude, I’d rather throw my music score into the river, than give it to him."
Wu Youpeng scolded him: "Right, right, An Ruifeng has a good attitude. You agreed to hand over your baby to him with just a word from him."
Ling Xi flushed because he didn't know how to refute.
"Anyway, I’ll say it again," Wu Youpeng said sternly: "According to the contract, if you really like men one day, you must first tell me."
※ ※ ※
Two days later, Wu Youpeng accompanied Ling Xi to Upstart Entertainment’s recording studio. "Jian Jue Tianxia" was a xianxia[1] drama co-invested by many investors. Upstart Entertainment was one of them. Naturally, the director had recommended an Upstart Entertainment composer to arrange the music. The composer and Bao Hui most likely knew each other, allowing Bao Hui to hear the demo ahead of time.
After all, under normal circumstances, actors rarely paid attention to a TV show's closing song and interlude. They only had to be accountable for acting well.
It wasn't the first time Ling Xi had visited Upstart Entertainment's recording studio—Yangtian Media, the management firm where he worked, was a small business. Only two floors were rented by the company office. There was obviously no spare cash to set up a recording studio. When an artist needed to record, he or she would hire a professional recording studio. Small management firms like Yangtian Media were a dime a dozen in Panda Country. Ling Xi used to be envious of others, but his envy had faded over time.
The Upstart Entertainment Corporation building was constructed only three years ago. Its recording studio was as new and expensive as the company itself. Ling Xi's heart beat faster every time he came here. Like a devotee on a pilgrimage, he wished he could kowtow[2] at every step. There were two entrances to the building. To avoid the harassment of paparazzi and fans, the company's artists and staff took a special elevator directly from the underground garage. Artists like Ling Xi could only register at the front desk of the main entrance and then be led to the designated floor by someone.
…
But this time, Ling Xi had hugged An Ruifeng’s thigh. An Ruifeng was currently the dominant force in the second tier of Upstart Entertainment's artist pyramid. Ling Xi and Wu Youpeng followed An Ruifeng's nanny car to the underground parking lot and then to the artists' elevator.
Unlike the capsule lifts outside, the elevator for artists was completely enclosed. A CCTV mounted on one of the walls showed promotional videos for Upstart Entertainment's new artists who had gained popularity in the previous two years. Coincidentally, a video of An Ruifeng posing for a magazine with background music aired on TV.
Ling Xi watched with keen interest. He was reluctant to exit the elevator when it arrived at the level of the recording studio. Seeing his appearance as if he had never been to the market before, Xu Zhiqiang raised his eyebrows in disdain.
"How long ago was that video shot?" Ling Xi didn't notice the wicked mother-in-law’s picky eyes, and whispered to An Ruifeng.
"I think it was three months ago."
"Only three months? You are much thinner than you were then..."
An Ruifeng patted his stomach with a wry smile: "I've recently been working on losing weight in preparation for a new job. Fortunately, I finally reached my weight-loss goal of 20 kilos[3] a few days ago." It was his first foray onto the big screen, and he couldn't afford to make a mistake. Even if it meant gritting his teeth and sticking to it, he had no choice.
Wu Youpeng chimed in: "By the way, I heard that your film is about to begin filming. When are you going to report to the crew?"
Xu Zhiqiang was standing in front of the others. When he heard this, he didn't even bother turning his head before responding curtly: "The day after tomorrow. Actually, we had purchased flight tickets for today and were prepared to fly ahead of time in order to adapt to the environment." Needless to say, his sneers amply demonstrated his displeasure with An Ruifeng's abrupt change of plans.
An Ruifeng had rashly assisted Ling Xi in blocking a shot without consulting him, even sacrificing his time to record... He has been An Ruifeng's agent since he made his debut three years ago. Why didn't he realize An Ruifeng could sing?! Xu Zhiqiang, An Ruifeng's agent (nanny) and friend, couldn't understand him more and more.
"It's all right. If I fly tomorrow morning, it won't be too late. It's only a few hours away from S City." An Ruifeng's words were meant not only to console his enraged agent, but also to console Ling Xi, who was filled with shame.
Ling Xi's worried little expression was reminiscent of a sunflower that had morphed into a mimosa...
They entered the recording studio and began by greeting the sound engineer. A Jun (not a code name, but a stage name) was one of Upstart's best engineers. Ling Xi had previously worked with him and was considered an acquaintance. A Jun was debugging the equipment when they entered the studio. He quickly stood up and greeted them when he saw them walk in.
A Jun asked: "Lao[4] Xu, I haven't heard that you’ve invited a music teacher for An Ruifeng before. I was shocked when I received your call yesterday informing me that he was coming to the studio."
Xu Zhiqiang retorted angrily, "Don't say anything. I'm also shocked." He was glaring at a certain hussy who was a calamity to the government: "In any case, he has to finish singing the song he chose, even if he has to kneel."
As a result, when An Ruifeng entered the recording room and began singing while wearing the headset, he did not kneel. It was the others who knelt down…
Not because An Ruifeng sang well, but because he sang so poorly...
An Ruifeng had barely finished singing the first segment with high notes when A Jun ripped off the monitoring headset and tossed it on the control console, saying, "I thought I had weathered many storms, but I never expected to fall head first in this pit."
Ling Xi, who had just recorded the demo twice, couldn't close his mouth because he was terrified. He had obviously composed the song. In the blink of an eye, how did it become An Ruifeng's composition?
Xu Zhiqiang was like a mother who couldn't believe her son had failed the college entrance exam. He rushed forward and repeatedly asked A Jun: "He should be able to get in tune, right? Surely he can tune in to it? Someone I know sings out of tune. They simply enlisted the help of a sound engineer to modulate the voice and released an album!"
"Don't daydream. That person is simply out of tune. An Ruifeng has no tune at all."
An "no tune" Ruifeng emerged from the recording room and entered the monitoring room. Looking around at everyone's emancipated expressions, he nervously asked everyone how his recording was going.
Ling Xi inquired as tactfully as possible: "Have you ever sung to others before?"
"Yes."
"To whom?"
"My brother."
"What was his comment?"
"He said I sang very well."
Ling Xi painfully looked away: "...Your brother must adore you." Otherwise, how could An Ruifeng say so confidently that he would sing the closing song for Ling Xi? He turned out to have no self-awareness of his singing abilities.
The five people sat down and began to plan their next steps. An Ruifeng's level was significantly lower than that of ordinary people. Nobody in the room had ever heard a more magical voice than his. Ling Xi in particular, who was a professional singer, was traumatized. He felt that the injury he had suffered was like having his ears raped a hundred times.
Wu Youpeng proposed: "Isn't it fashionable these days to include a monologue in a song? Let's follow suit. Ling Xi, you should sing the song and let An Ruifeng record the monologue."
"...Have you ever heard a TV drama's closing song have a monologue?"
"Then it can only be changed to RAP."
"...Or let me think about how I can incorporate a monologue."
After much deliberation, A Jun devised a solution--the song would be sung by Ling Xi, but at the climax, An Ruifeng would hum a few words in harmony.
The harmony would have only one fixed tune. No matter how badly An Ruifeng sang, he could tune it up.
In this way, the song that was intended for An Ruifeng to sing solo or in a duet ended up reducing him to a supporting role with a thin sense of existence...
Following the brainstorming session, they began recording the first version of the song. By the time they were finished, it was after midnight. After tuning, the song would be sent directly to the director's mailbox, and Bao Hui would no longer be able to cause any trouble. When the dust settled, Ling Xi reflected on his recent experiences and felt he had been on a roller coaster.
When they walked out of the Upstart Entertainment building, it was already two o'clock in the morning. In four hours, An Ruifeng would fly to S City. After another two months, when An Ruifeng's filming was completed, he would devote a month of his time to filming "Jian Jue Tianxia." After today's farewell, they wouldn't be able to see each other for another two months.
An Ruifeng apologized to Ling Xi with guilt before leaving. He was initially willing to help him, but he had overestimated his own strength.
Ling Xi suppressed a smile and said seriously: "In fact, you’re more genuine like this. You are good-looking and have a gentle personality. If you are also an outstanding singer, I will be too shy to appear in front of you because of the gap between us… To be honest, I used to believe you were omnipotent."
An Ruifeng's gray eyes had a rare look of embarrassment: "En, I thought so as well."
Footnotes:
[1] Fictional stories featuring magic, demons, ghosts, immortals, and a great deal of Chinese folklore/mythology. Protagonists (usually) attempt to cultivate Immortality, seeking eternal life and the pinnacle of strength. Heavily inspired by Daoism. Read more here.
[2] A traditional greeting, esp. to a superior, involving kneeling and pressing one's forehead to the ground.
[3] 26.5 pounds.
[4] Old. A prefix used before the surname of a person to indicate affection or familiarity.
Chapter 11 Omnipotent
Although An Ruifeng's proposal was unexpected, it was actually a good idea. Bao Hui was able to convince his agent to approach Ling Xi to sing his song because of three factors: first, his role in the drama was more important; second, he was more popular; and third, he had a reputable company backing him.
But what if there was someone more popular than him?
An Ruifeng had taken the initiative to ask for this song in order to protect Ling Xi's job. Even if Bao Hui was not reconciled, there was nothing he could do. Bao Hui had no reason to put pressure on Ling Xi without the fuse of the ending song. After all, Bao Hui did not represent the company, and his reach was limited.
Ling Xi grasped these key points quickly and recognized An Ruifeng's good intentions.
When An Ruifeng said the same words with the same meaning that sounded only disgusting when spoken by Bao Hui's agent, Ling Xi was moved to tears. He'd poured his heart and soul into creating that song, which was dedicated to all of his emotions. He'd rather give it to someone than be forced to trade it for money.
Furthermore, this was An Ruifeng venting rage for another company's 12th tier artist. It would undoubtedly make Bao Hui and those above him uncomfortable.
"You..." Ling Xi muttered: "Do you regard this as helping me?"
An Ruifeng: "How is that possible? I regard this as helping you help me."
Ling Xi felt compelled to crawl after the phone line and kiss An Ruifeng's hand.
"So do you agree to give me this song?"
"I agree." Although this decision filled Ling Xi's heart with reluctance, he knew it was the only viable option: "But you only have a supporting role in a few episodes of the drama, and are not a professional singer. Will the director allow you to record the closing song?"
“That’s not important.” An Ruifeng was unconcerned: “I am more popular than Bao Hui. Why will the director be dissatisfied?”
The rules of the entertainment industry were just this cruel. If you didn’t play them, they would play you.
Ling Xi thought for a moment before asking: "It's just that I wrote this song for myself at first. I'm afraid you won't be able to sing the transpose and treble in it. What is the highest note you usually sing in?"
"... I don't usually sing." An Ruifeng was not a professional singer. He'd never even taken a vocal class before. It was unusual for him to be bothered by a problem. Finally, they agreed to meet in the recording studio two days later. Ling Xi would record the demo, An Ruifeng would audition, and if any changes were required, they would discuss it on the spot.
…
The phone had gotten hot by the time Ling Xi hung up. The issue that had been bothering him was resolved smoothly, and Ling Xi hung up the phone with a bright and sunny smile on his face. He squatted next to the phone, laughing foolishly, so happy he resembled a sunflower.
Wu Youpeng who was eavesdropping in the corner next to him(in a righteous and honourable manner), asked him bitterly: "Damn, didn't you say that you weren’t going to give this song to anyone? Why did you agree to give it to An Ruifeng the moment he requested it? Instead of owning this huge favor to beat around the bush, why not start with Bao Hui from the beginning..."
"Are they the same thing? With Bao Hui’s agent’s attitude, I’d rather throw my music score into the river, than give it to him."
Wu Youpeng scolded him: "Right, right, An Ruifeng has a good attitude. You agreed to hand over your baby to him with just a word from him."
Ling Xi flushed because he didn't know how to refute.
"Anyway, I’ll say it again," Wu Youpeng said sternly: "According to the contract, if you really like men one day, you must first tell me."
※ ※ ※
Two days later, Wu Youpeng accompanied Ling Xi to Upstart Entertainment’s recording studio. "Jian Jue Tianxia" was a xianxia[1] drama co-invested by many investors. Upstart Entertainment was one of them. Naturally, the director had recommended an Upstart Entertainment composer to arrange the music. The composer and Bao Hui most likely knew each other, allowing Bao Hui to hear the demo ahead of time.
After all, under normal circumstances, actors rarely paid attention to a TV show's closing song and interlude. They only had to be accountable for acting well.
It wasn't the first time Ling Xi had visited Upstart Entertainment's recording studio—Yangtian Media, the management firm where he worked, was a small business. Only two floors were rented by the company office. There was obviously no spare cash to set up a recording studio. When an artist needed to record, he or she would hire a professional recording studio. Small management firms like Yangtian Media were a dime a dozen in Panda Country. Ling Xi used to be envious of others, but his envy had faded over time.
The Upstart Entertainment Corporation building was constructed only three years ago. Its recording studio was as new and expensive as the company itself. Ling Xi's heart beat faster every time he came here. Like a devotee on a pilgrimage, he wished he could kowtow[2] at every step. There were two entrances to the building. To avoid the harassment of paparazzi and fans, the company's artists and staff took a special elevator directly from the underground garage. Artists like Ling Xi could only register at the front desk of the main entrance and then be led to the designated floor by someone.
…
But this time, Ling Xi had hugged An Ruifeng’s thigh. An Ruifeng was currently the dominant force in the second tier of Upstart Entertainment's artist pyramid. Ling Xi and Wu Youpeng followed An Ruifeng's nanny car to the underground parking lot and then to the artists' elevator.
Unlike the capsule lifts outside, the elevator for artists was completely enclosed. A CCTV mounted on one of the walls showed promotional videos for Upstart Entertainment's new artists who had gained popularity in the previous two years. Coincidentally, a video of An Ruifeng posing for a magazine with background music aired on TV.
Ling Xi watched with keen interest. He was reluctant to exit the elevator when it arrived at the level of the recording studio. Seeing his appearance as if he had never been to the market before, Xu Zhiqiang raised his eyebrows in disdain.
"How long ago was that video shot?" Ling Xi didn't notice the wicked mother-in-law’s picky eyes, and whispered to An Ruifeng.
"I think it was three months ago."
"Only three months? You are much thinner than you were then..."
An Ruifeng patted his stomach with a wry smile: "I've recently been working on losing weight in preparation for a new job. Fortunately, I finally reached my weight-loss goal of 20 kilos[3] a few days ago." It was his first foray onto the big screen, and he couldn't afford to make a mistake. Even if it meant gritting his teeth and sticking to it, he had no choice.
Wu Youpeng chimed in: "By the way, I heard that your film is about to begin filming. When are you going to report to the crew?"
Xu Zhiqiang was standing in front of the others. When he heard this, he didn't even bother turning his head before responding curtly: "The day after tomorrow. Actually, we had purchased flight tickets for today and were prepared to fly ahead of time in order to adapt to the environment." Needless to say, his sneers amply demonstrated his displeasure with An Ruifeng's abrupt change of plans.
An Ruifeng had rashly assisted Ling Xi in blocking a shot without consulting him, even sacrificing his time to record... He has been An Ruifeng's agent since he made his debut three years ago. Why didn't he realize An Ruifeng could sing?! Xu Zhiqiang, An Ruifeng's agent (nanny) and friend, couldn't understand him more and more.
"It's all right. If I fly tomorrow morning, it won't be too late. It's only a few hours away from S City." An Ruifeng's words were meant not only to console his enraged agent, but also to console Ling Xi, who was filled with shame.
Ling Xi's worried little expression was reminiscent of a sunflower that had morphed into a mimosa...
They entered the recording studio and began by greeting the sound engineer. A Jun (not a code name, but a stage name) was one of Upstart's best engineers. Ling Xi had previously worked with him and was considered an acquaintance. A Jun was debugging the equipment when they entered the studio. He quickly stood up and greeted them when he saw them walk in.
A Jun asked: "Lao[4] Xu, I haven't heard that you’ve invited a music teacher for An Ruifeng before. I was shocked when I received your call yesterday informing me that he was coming to the studio."
Xu Zhiqiang retorted angrily, "Don't say anything. I'm also shocked." He was glaring at a certain hussy who was a calamity to the government: "In any case, he has to finish singing the song he chose, even if he has to kneel."
As a result, when An Ruifeng entered the recording room and began singing while wearing the headset, he did not kneel. It was the others who knelt down…
Not because An Ruifeng sang well, but because he sang so poorly...
An Ruifeng had barely finished singing the first segment with high notes when A Jun ripped off the monitoring headset and tossed it on the control console, saying, "I thought I had weathered many storms, but I never expected to fall head first in this pit."
Ling Xi, who had just recorded the demo twice, couldn't close his mouth because he was terrified. He had obviously composed the song. In the blink of an eye, how did it become An Ruifeng's composition?
Xu Zhiqiang was like a mother who couldn't believe her son had failed the college entrance exam. He rushed forward and repeatedly asked A Jun: "He should be able to get in tune, right? Surely he can tune in to it? Someone I know sings out of tune. They simply enlisted the help of a sound engineer to modulate the voice and released an album!"
"Don't daydream. That person is simply out of tune. An Ruifeng has no tune at all."
An "no tune" Ruifeng emerged from the recording room and entered the monitoring room. Looking around at everyone's emancipated expressions, he nervously asked everyone how his recording was going.
Ling Xi inquired as tactfully as possible: "Have you ever sung to others before?"
"Yes."
"To whom?"
"My brother."
"What was his comment?"
"He said I sang very well."
Ling Xi painfully looked away: "...Your brother must adore you." Otherwise, how could An Ruifeng say so confidently that he would sing the closing song for Ling Xi? He turned out to have no self-awareness of his singing abilities.
The five people sat down and began to plan their next steps. An Ruifeng's level was significantly lower than that of ordinary people. Nobody in the room had ever heard a more magical voice than his. Ling Xi in particular, who was a professional singer, was traumatized. He felt that the injury he had suffered was like having his ears raped a hundred times.
Wu Youpeng proposed: "Isn't it fashionable these days to include a monologue in a song? Let's follow suit. Ling Xi, you should sing the song and let An Ruifeng record the monologue."
"...Have you ever heard a TV drama's closing song have a monologue?"
"Then it can only be changed to RAP."
"...Or let me think about how I can incorporate a monologue."
After much deliberation, A Jun devised a solution--the song would be sung by Ling Xi, but at the climax, An Ruifeng would hum a few words in harmony.
The harmony would have only one fixed tune. No matter how badly An Ruifeng sang, he could tune it up.
In this way, the song that was intended for An Ruifeng to sing solo or in a duet ended up reducing him to a supporting role with a thin sense of existence...
Following the brainstorming session, they began recording the first version of the song. By the time they were finished, it was after midnight. After tuning, the song would be sent directly to the director's mailbox, and Bao Hui would no longer be able to cause any trouble. When the dust settled, Ling Xi reflected on his recent experiences and felt he had been on a roller coaster.
When they walked out of the Upstart Entertainment building, it was already two o'clock in the morning. In four hours, An Ruifeng would fly to S City. After another two months, when An Ruifeng's filming was completed, he would devote a month of his time to filming "Jian Jue Tianxia." After today's farewell, they wouldn't be able to see each other for another two months.
An Ruifeng apologized to Ling Xi with guilt before leaving. He was initially willing to help him, but he had overestimated his own strength.
Ling Xi suppressed a smile and said seriously: "In fact, you’re more genuine like this. You are good-looking and have a gentle personality. If you are also an outstanding singer, I will be too shy to appear in front of you because of the gap between us… To be honest, I used to believe you were omnipotent."
An Ruifeng's gray eyes had a rare look of embarrassment: "En, I thought so as well."
Footnotes:
[1] Fictional stories featuring magic, demons, ghosts, immortals, and a great deal of Chinese folklore/mythology. Protagonists (usually) attempt to cultivate Immortality, seeking eternal life and the pinnacle of strength. Heavily inspired by Daoism. Read more here.
[2] A traditional greeting, esp. to a superior, involving kneeling and pressing one's forehead to the ground.
[3] 26.5 pounds.
[4] Old. A prefix used before the surname of a person to indicate affection or familiarity.
