Respawn Entertainment: Days of Glory

Chapter 960 A Life of Abundant Time, Through the Seasons

Steiger didn't ask any more questions, wanting to wait and see what happened next.

But this wasn't a professional live stream, so the time spent changing band equipment was naturally cut off. Steiger knew this, so he continued communicating with Bianlang using translation software: "How long will it take you to change stages?"

"On average, every ten minutes, there are tracks on the stage, and all the equipment is tested in advance."

Steiger thought for a moment, then asked, "What about your other recording work while Olaf is in charge of this show?"

After a moment's thought, Bian Lang thought to himself, "Aren't you foreigners supposed to be very direct? Why are you starting to beat around the bush?"

However, Bian Lang didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point: "If you want to work for Rolling Stones, you'll at least need to have the same abilities as Olaf. A song like 'Ole ole ole ole' doesn't showcase your skills and talent..."

After hearing this, Steiger pretended to be somewhat annoyed and said, "But do you have any other works that you plan to complete here?"

Bian Lang thought he had grasped Steiger's meaning, but in the end, he was still one step behind. Rolling Stone's scale could be easily handled by three producers, but if they didn't have Olaf's level of skill, why bother looking abroad? Wouldn't it be better to use domestic producers? Communication would be so much easier.

But since it was Olaf who recommended it, Lang was naturally willing to seriously investigate it.

As for which song to use, since Luo Lin sang at the end of the song, "Oh baby don't cry...", let's try Dong Kuai first.

Although time is a bit tight, recording a demo shouldn't be a problem. For a guitarist of Thor's caliber, Bian Lang estimates three to five days should be enough. Even if that's not possible, for just a demo, Bian Lang can simply play the lead and record it.

Just then, a message popped up on Bian Lang's phone, saying that there was a problem with the equipment at the event and they would have to wait a while. Bian Lang checked the time and asked Thor, "Would you like to hear a solo?"

"Let's go, we're just waiting anyway..."

……

Returning our focus to the scene, the situation that Lao Zhao and his team encountered was not complicated, and they resolved it in just a few minutes.

Before the stage lights dimmed, Lao Zhao, as the team leader, said, "Thank you, Bian Lang. You've shown us so much more potential for the future of Chinese rock. A salute to you! I hope everyone here today can be as free as the song title..."

Upon hearing the song title, Liu Yao glanced at Guo Sichu. After Guo Sichu nodded, Liu Yao put his hand to his forehead, making a regretful expression.

The competition for Bian Lang's works has never stopped in the industry. But those in the know also know that once Bian Lang gives you a song with a style that is different from others, then basically that style will be yours from now on, provided that you don't cause any trouble.

It seems that Liu Yao and Mu Ge are on the same page, so...

When the keyboard and heart-pounding drumbeats began to play, Liu Yao didn't feel much. Even after the first verse was sung, she felt that this song was okay for Mu Ge, but it was not even in the same league as "Harbor" that Luo Lin and Face had received before.

But then the chorus comes in: "I want to be as free as a dream, as forgiving as the earth, to light up the light of life on this arduous road of exile..."

Liu Yao couldn't stay calm any longer: "Isn't this kind of grand song a bit too much for Lao Zhao and the others? Don't you think so, Chu Chu?"

Guo Sichu smiled but didn't answer. How could she not know what her best friend was thinking? It was just that there was nothing she could do about it. All she could do was whisper in Bian Lang's ear and try to get some other benefits from her best friend.

As for Bian Lang, who was far away in Europe, when he heard this song again, Bian Lang actually thought that Pi Ku's singing was not as good as Bi Xia's!

Steiger was still caught up in the solo performance of Bian Langxiu's "Dong Kuai" show, so he was a little distracted during this segment. It wasn't until the scores were announced that Steiger suddenly asked, "How many points did they get? Can they win?"

Bian Lang spread his hands and said, "I don't know. They haven't announced the scores yet; they want to keep the suspense until the end!"

Steiger simply said "Oh," and then continued to ask Bian Lang, "How much longer do we have to wait?"

"It'll be quick, around 10 minutes. If I weren't banned from appearing on television in China, I would participate in the competition as the lead singer of the next band."

Everyone knew about this, but they weren't quite sure which band it was. So, since they were all watching the illegal live stream together, Bianlang introduced them to the band.

Upon hearing this, Thor and Steiger's demeanor noticeably changed.

"Wave, so who's the lead singer of the band now?" Seeing the question pop up on Steiger's phone translator app, Bian Lang replied directly in English: "A former pop singer!" Steiger had no problem with this simple English listening comprehension.

After saying that, Bian Lang added, "Steg, if you keep using German, I think it will be difficult for us to have a long-term partnership..."

Steiger had clearly considered this question, so his answer was straightforward: "I'm considering whether to strengthen my English or start learning Chinese directly. It's a difficult decision, and I need some time..."

Hearing that this person had this intention, Bian Lang's opinion of him improved considerably.

Thor's concern was more practical: "Is he alright?"

"I think it'll be fine, let's wait and see..."

Meanwhile, the rock fans who had already accepted Xia Yuxi as the lead singer were starting to worry that he might mess things up this time, otherwise they wouldn't have anything to brag about. As the big screen rose, the crisp, resonant notes of a Strauss electric guitar began to loop throughout the venue, followed by the tinkling sound of a wind chime.

Bian Lang didn't pass on the original line Shi Lu said to Ding Ding because he felt it was inappropriate.

Although after arriving on the Blue Planet, this song "Time, Years, Summer Love" will definitely have various interpretations, but no one will interpret it as the lead singer wanting to say something to the female drummer.

Speaking of this, we can't help but think of Shi Lu again. Recalling that summer, it becomes clear that Zi Jian was a prophet. In Bian Lang's perception, this was clearly a message from the former Zi Jian to the present Hedgehog: time, fleeting years, summer romance…

In the end, Shi Lu and Hedgehog still went their separate ways.

According to official statements, this was a separation that had been secretly planned for at least six months. But why did Shi Lu leave? Was it due to discord within the team? Creative burnout? No one knows.

Outsiders could only see Zijian's post expressing his feelings: "It's all fate. Sometimes you have to believe it even if you don't want to."

Shi Lu immediately responded: "The hedgehog I loved, the rose I pursued. Rock and roll will never die! Long live freedom!"

Thus, the woman who had been with Hedgehog for 18 years has left us forever. The news has saddened countless fans. Looking back to 2019, Hedgehog rose to fame on the stage of "The Big Band."

"The train heads towards the clouds, dreams find peace in the heavens," awakening the rock 'n' roll spirit in countless hearts. Shi Lu is an irreplaceable presence in this song. In many people's hearts, she is China's number one female drummer, without exception. Whenever she steps onto the stage, she is dashing and radiant. Her drumming is simply superb—clean, crisp, and powerful. Looking across the country, it's hard to find another female drummer of the same caliber.

Some say that Shi Lu's departure signifies the end of an era. From now on, the hedgehog will no longer be the hedgehog. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but the echoes of the past are now a thing of the past.

Let's talk about Shi Lu, the future first female drummer of China, who began her career at the Children's Palace. Her mother was a teacher there, and her artistic upbringing was prioritized from a young age. The family only had 7000 yuan at the time, but they spent 6800 yuan on a piano for Shi Lu to practice on. This shows how high her parents' expectations were. They had a clear goal for her development: quiet, well-behaved, and ideally, with some talent as well.

Looking back years later, Shi Lu achieved the latter, but was completely different from the former. Her talent was undeniable. However, she was utterly devoid of any semblance of gentleness.

She was wild and untamed, stubborn and headstrong, making a name for herself in the rock scene, a place teeming with rebellious youths. The script suddenly took a turn for the worse in 03. Following her parents' wishes, she enrolled in a media university, playing the role of a good girl, but secretly she picked up the drums. It was as if a long-dormant spirit had been ignited, and from then on, there was no stopping her.

The band scene at BJ High School wasn't very big, but she quickly heard of a cool name: Zhao Zijian.

His songs, with their rough texture and wild, aggressive notes, were exactly what Shi Lu wanted. So she followed his reputation. Coincidentally, Zi Jian was looking for a drummer at the time. Shi Lu's drumming impressed him greatly; at only 1.5 meters tall, she seemed to lack any presence. But once she touched the drums, she could unleash enormous energy that was disproportionate to her size.

Almost instantly, Zijian knew that she was the only one who could be the drummer. The two hit it off immediately, beginning a bond that would last for more than a decade.

In the early 2000s, rock music was no longer mainstream. They lingered in niche circles, performing on makeshift stages. They didn't earn much, life was tough, but their dreams made it sweet. Those were the purest times. Songs like "Happy Lazy Kid," "Noise Attacks the World," "Daydream Blue," and "Sweetness and Murder" were bursts of creative inspiration. The lyrics were full of Zi Jian's youthful spirit and headstrong nature.

"Youth is a time of naivety, society is a competition of hurt." "Please don't leave, here it's as beautiful as blooming flowers." Every line strikes the soul. And Shi Lu, encouraged by Zi Jian, slowly grows. From drummer, to participating in harmony, and later to songwriting and composing, she takes care of the arrangement.

Until 2022, Shi Lu released her personal trilogy, *Killing*, *Morning or Night*, and *Dog Food*. She said, "Those who accept it will accept it, and those who don't will take their time. Anyway, rock music isn't about immediate results. Maybe ten years from now, people will listen to my stuff, understand it, and feel that Shi Lu deserves the title of 'rock'." An increasingly indifferent attitude. An increasingly uncompromising confidence in not compromising with the market. It can be described as a self-imposed exile. For Shi Lu, playing rock music is a form of self-reflection.

Fourteen years later, the band still hadn't released any new material, and their creative block turned into countless arguments. Once, Shi Lu threw down her drumsticks, pointed at Zi Jian, and yelled, "I'm telling you, Zhao Zi Jian, I'm not playing anymore!" If it weren't for "The Big Band," Shi Lu might never have returned to Hedgehog.

In 2019, the most popular song from "The Big Band" was "The Train Rides Beyond the Clouds, Dreams Find Peace in the Ninth Heaven," which resonated with the world. They sang, "A generation will eventually grow old, but there will always be someone young." They also sang, "Life should never be so aimless forever; it must be more than just dreams and the dark moonlight." Every word touched people's hearts and became a spiritual refuge for countless people.

Music critics summed up the core of Hedgehog in one sentence: "Darkness reigns, yet brilliance shines through."

A massive influx of followers appeared overnight, and the Hedgehog Band's fan base surged from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. But Shi Lu and Zi Jian never imagined that while their work was being lauded, their past entanglements would also be magnified and displayed on screen.

The entanglement with Zijian is actually quite simple. It's just another version of Ma Sichun and Zhang Zhexuan's story. It's just a common tale in the rock scene. At first glance, Zijian wasn't refined, nor was he handsome or dashing; he was unkempt, but he was free-spirited and unrestrained.

Shi Lu thought, "He truly lives up to his song." It was her first time performing out of town, and Shi Lu didn't dare tell her family. Just before she left, her father snatched her phone away. At that moment, a message from Zi Jian arrived: "Youth is for fighting!" He was practically insane.

Later, during a date in Xidan, Zijian secretly took the necklace that Shilu had her eye on and eagerly put it on her. A sudden ripple stirred in Shilu's heart. For the first few years, they lived in a cramped 15-square-meter flat. The walls were moldy, the windows drafty, and there wasn't even room to put a pot for cooking.

Shi Lu works during the day and plays drums at night. The hectic life and financial difficulties leave her breathless. Once, during a commercial performance, Zi Jian sang the line, "For whom is this hurried life?" Shi Lu immediately burst into tears. Zi Jian, however, didn't understand. His self-care ability was almost zero. When Shi Lu asked him to fix a light bulb, he put on airs: "I'm a rock star, not an electrician."

Shi Lu complained: "Men these days can't fix anything, all they do is rest."

During the performance, the two got into an argument for some unknown reason. Zijian threw his guitar on the ground, changed the lyrics, and sang loudly: "Shilu is the richest, Shilu is a feminist."

Shi Lu responded quite politely: "Feminism has nothing to do with me, but you can't bully people like this, right?" "Everyone has a temper!"

She looked at Zijian and suddenly felt a sense of unfamiliarity. Then she realized: "He lives in a vacuum, refusing to grow up, and in the end, all he has left is this bit of boyishness." The high and mighty stars, once they fall to the ground, are nothing more than broken stones.

Of course, no matter how broken this rock is, once a crack appears, it's like the sun rising and illuminating all the stars.

Before I knew it, the tinkling drums and Strauss electric guitar had ignited the atmosphere. In the minute-long intro, Xia Yuxi did what a pure vocal lead singer should do: interact with the fans in the front row.

When he opened his mouth, it still had the same feeling Bian Lang had described: "Xia Yuxi's youthful voice is more suitable for Hedgehog than mine!"

"The fleeting years, the four seasons... Time flows like gold, love and friends..." Although it wasn't sung for the drummer behind him, it still left an indelible mark on this program!
(End of this chapter)