HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 26 [026] A sweet music video that will make you smile like a doting aunt.
Central Academy of Drama.

Qi Yuan's name has become a frequently used word among students these days.

A 19-year-old student's debut album sold out immediately upon release, with genuine copies becoming extremely difficult to obtain.

"Has anyone managed to buy Qi Yuan's DVD? I heard that Qi Yuan and Zhang Tong from Class of '96 filmed a really exciting music video. I really want to see it."

"No, I went to the record store and asked. It's terrifying. All the tapes and discs are sold out. I heard the store owner cursing the leader of Wheatfield with my own ears."

"I bought a cassette tape from a scalper at a higher price, but I couldn't find a disc with music videos."

“I have one, I have one. I have a DVD with music videos. My uncle owns a shop, and I asked him to save one for me.”

A large group of male students from the Central Academy of Drama, carrying a disc, made a noisy rush to the Experimental Theater.

Art schools like the Central Academy of Drama and the Beijing Film Academy naturally have theaters for students to watch films and learn, in order to improve their artistic appreciation and broaden their horizons.

The girls from Class 96 were curious when they saw a group of boys studying together.

"What are they doing? Are they acting out a gangster movie?" Meiting asked, puzzled.

This year, the movie "Young and Dangerous" released an original soundtrack, which included a very popular song called "A Hero in Troubled Times".

Chen Xiaochun, who played Chicken, also included this song in her album "Big Events," which was released on July 13th of this year.

"A Hero in Troubled Times" has already climbed the mainland music charts.

Zeng Li, who came back from the other side, said: "I inquired and found out that they bought a DVD with a music video of Qi Yuan's self-titled name, saying that they wanted to go to the theater to watch Qi Yuan and Lao Zhang's music video."

"Old Zhang didn't actually film a scene unsuitable for children with Qi Yuan, did he? Was it that exciting?" Mei Ting asked in surprise.

There were rumors before that Zhang Tong and Qi Yuan filmed a suggestive music video at the Central Academy of Drama.

Their roommates tried to dig up some juicy gossip, but Qin Hailu and Zhang Tong both vehemently denied it.

They believed it at the time, but now that they think about it, things might not be so simple.

If it's not a very exciting music video, how can it attract so many guys to watch it?
"Come on, Yuanquan, let's go and see if they really filmed a really exciting music video. We'll find out then. It's perfect timing since none of us have heard Qi Yuan's new album yet." Meiting pulled Yuanquan and Zeng Li along to join the fun.

What could be more fun than gossiping about your roommate?

"How about we invite Hu Jing? She really loves Qi Yuan's songs. She bought a cassette tape yesterday, but she couldn't find a radio to borrow from anyone," Zeng Li suggested.

And so, Hu Jing joined their group, and the four of them went to the theater together to watch the excitement.

Upon entering the theater, the four of them were stunned.

Isn't that outrageous? The theater, which can hold hundreds of people, was packed, and many students were even standing to watch the show.

There's no way around it; gossip is the eighth instinct of humankind. One of the prettiest girls in school and the most popular guy from the neighboring campus filmed a very exciting music video. Who wouldn't be curious? Who wouldn't want a piece of fresh gossip?

"Come over here, I've saved you seats." Qin Hao, who was also from the '96 performance class, waved to Hu Jing and the other three.

Hu Jing, Mei Ting, and the other three hurriedly went over and sat down. With seats available, who would want to stand?
"Quiet, it's time to put in the disc."

Someone shouted something, and the theater quickly fell silent.

The student put the disc into the machine, and an image appeared on the big screen.

The first song was "Small Town Girl," the title track from Qi Yuan's self-titled album, which every student from the Central Academy of Drama present was familiar with.

Ten days before the album's official release, "Small Town Girl" and "Starry Sky" were sent to radio stations to promote their songs.

They'd listened to it dozens of times; their ears were practically calloused. But for many of them, the music video was a first-time viewing.

Similarly, many people are seeing what Qi Yuan, a celebrity whose name they've only heard of but never seen, looks like for the first time.

On the big screen, a train was moving from left to right, echoing the train whistle in the music.

The scene shifts, and Qi Yuan himself appears.

"So handsome!" This is the inner opinion of many people who meet Qi Yuan for the first time.

Even the male students at the Central Academy of Drama who considered Qi Yuan their public enemy had to admit that Qi Yuan was indeed a very handsome guy.

Seeing Qi Yuan play a dishwasher in a restaurant kitchen in the music video, many boys in the theater felt relieved.

You deserve what you get for it! You should wash dishes for the rest of your life.

The next second, these boys started to feel numb again.

Wait a minute, this guy washes two dishes, then holds hands with a pretty girl in the kitchen and shows off their affection.

This girl's looks are in no way inferior to the six beauties of the Central Academy of Drama.

This kid is really... enviable!
However, to everyone's surprise, this was just the beginning.

Next, music videos such as "Starry Sky", "Everyday", "Simple Love", and "Love Corner" were released one after another.

With each new music video, Qi Yuan's female lead changes.

One by one, beauties from Beijing Film Academy, including Zuo Xiaoqing, Sun Li, Yan Danchen, and Yang Xue, took the stage.

In the music video, Qi Yuan holds hands, hugs, and rides bicycles with these beauties...

The boys in the theater were so envious they were grinding their teeth.

Why does Qi Yuan eat so well?
"Qi Yuan is really lucky with the ladies. So many beautiful girls are filming music videos with him. Now I finally understand why Lao Zhang was willing to risk being criticized by Chang Ma to help Qi Yuan film music videos. Qi Yuan is indeed very handsome, and he is really, really talented." Mei Ting said with some emotion.

Who wouldn't be attracted to such an outstanding man?
She carefully observed the beginning of each music video, and found that Qi Yuan was the lyricist and composer, truly deserving of the nickname "talented creator."

Finally, after watching for half an hour, everyone finally got to see "The First Time," a film shot by Zhang Tong and Qi Yuan.

The first scene of the music video features Qi Yuan and Zhang Tong together, accompanied by a voiceover.

This is the first time I've told her I like her.

The story officially begins, but there are no outrageous plot twists in the music video.

On the contrary, this is a very sweet music video, in which Qi Yuan and Zhang Tong perform many romantic scenes, such as their first time holding hands, their first hug, and their first kiss.

In this era where being a backup option is no longer considered a backup option but rather a sign of deep affection, people will only feel that this music video conveys the purity and beauty of love, sweet from beginning to end.

When the scene of Zhang Tong kissing Qi Yuan appeared on the big screen, many male students from the Central Academy of Drama in the theater clenched their fists.

That's outrageous! Making the girl take the initiative in kissing scenes? What kind of man is that? Let me do it then!
The girls in the theater laughed like doting aunts; their reactions were completely different. They wanted to watch the sweet music video "The First Time" again.

A musical prodigy from Beijing Film Academy, and one of the most beautiful actresses from the Central Academy of Drama—they're a perfect match, aren't they? This is much better than those long and tedious romance dramas. I have to watch it several times.

“Old Zhang has struck it rich this time. He kissed the person she likes, and the person she likes’ album is selling like hotcakes. Do you think Old Zhang will become famous because his music video is so outstanding?” Mei Ting suddenly had this guess.

(End of this chapter)