Huayu96: My Thirty Years of a Prodigal Son

After being rejected by Yuan Quan, Qin Sheng was somewhat worried.

He genuinely felt that it was unsafe for the two girls to live in that kind of environment.

But since the other party was unwilling, he couldn't say anything more.

So they stopped talking and headed back.

Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the entrance of the village where the two lived.

I glanced around but didn't see anyone.

Zeng Li breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this.

"Looks like they were busy today and didn't come to intercept us."

Qin Sheng also breathed a sigh of relief.

He told the two to go back and get some rest, and to meet at Baihua Hutong at 9:30 the next morning, and then he went back home.

The next morning at 9:30.

Entrance of Baihua Hutong.

After Qin Sheng met up with Yuan Quan, they walked together toward Liu Huan's recording studio.

After going in, I glanced around.

This recording studio looks ordinary from the outside, but it's fully equipped inside.

The soundproof walls, mixing console, and monitor speakers are all imported equipment.

When Qin Sheng led Zeng Li and Yuan Quan in, Liu Huan was in front of the mixing console discussing technical parameters with the recording engineer.

Mao Amin sat on the sofa flipping through a lyric book.

Na Ying, meanwhile, was leaning against a corner with her legs crossed, peeling an orange in her hand.

When Liu Huan saw Qin Sheng arrive, followed by two pretty girls, he was taken aback at first, then laughed.

"Hey, Sheng, your girlfriend's pretty!"

Liu Huan knew, of course, that the two girls were not Qin Sheng's girlfriends.

He had seen one of them at the bar yesterday; he was one of the bar's resident singers.

It must be the old acquaintance Qin Sheng was referring to.

But that doesn't stop him from giving a compliment.

In the music industry, especially these days, it's common practice for people to support each other when they're trying to pick up girls.

Upon hearing this, Qin Sheng first smiled shyly, then quickly waved his hand.

"Brother Huan, don't misunderstand, we're just good friends, not girlfriends."

Liu Huan walked over and continued to tease, "I think you two are quite a good match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman."

He glanced at the two women again, only to see that Yuan Quan remained calm and unmoved.

Zeng Li's face flushed slightly, clearly showing some shyness.

Qin Sheng, without realizing it, had already glanced at Zeng Li several times.

Liu Huan chuckled, having already grasped the situation.

It seems that Qin Sheng and Zeng Li want to become a couple.

That's great. Young people should be in the prime of their youth; why not date?

Wasting time?

Qin Sheng stepped forward, first greeting Mao Amin and Na Ying, and then introducing Zeng Li and Yuan Quan to them.

When the conversation turned to their Peking Opera skills and Zeng Li's background as a leading female role performer, Mao Amin clearly became interested.

"The Hubei Provincial Peking Opera Troupe? I saw their performance when I went to Hubei Province for a performance two years ago, and their level was quite good."

It was the first time I'd been so close to three music industry giants that I was so nervous I didn't know what to do with my hands.

Yuan Quan, on the other hand, appeared more composed. After politely greeting the three of them, she pulled Zeng Li aside quietly.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Qin Sheng got down to business.

First, I discussed the details of singing "Heroes' Song" with Liu Huan.

Qin Sheng also offered many suggestions on the arrangement of "Heroes' Song" based on his memory.

After working on it for an hour, Liu Huan finally found a satisfactory version and started practicing.

Then there's Mao Amin's "Longing".

Following the same old approach, Qin Sheng began explaining his understanding of the song to Mao Amin, based on the version he remembered.

Soon, Mao Amin also found her rhythm and started practicing singing on the side.

Na Ying, watching from the side, felt even more envious.

If yesterday's conversation was just a brief chat, then Qin Sheng's true skill wouldn't have been apparent.

Today's in-depth conversation clearly demonstrated Qin Sheng's capabilities.

This shows genuine understanding and the ability to find the most suitable version to sing his songs.

Na Ying began to regret it again.

How did I manage to offend such a creative genius?

I wish I could ask him to write a song for me!

No, I didn't offend him that badly!

At worst, I can just swallow my pride and apologize to him later. He's a grown man, how could he really hold a grudge against me?

But that won't work now, because there are too many people and too many eyes now.

You need to find a quiet place with few people before you give in.

Having made up her mind, Na Ying finally felt a little relieved.

Meanwhile, Yuan Quan and Zeng Li, who had been waiting silently, were finally completely convinced of Qin Sheng's abilities after watching Qin Sheng, Liu Huan, and Mao Amin's professional exchange all morning.

This younger brother is far more capable and talented than the two of them imagined.

His influence in front of the two bigwigs, Liu Huan and Mao Amin, was far greater than they had imagined.

It seems that his claim that he could help Zeng Li enter the industry and become a singer was not just empty talk.

It was almost noon when Liu Huan and Mao Amin left the karaoke room with satisfied expressions.

They have all roughly found the general direction for a suitable version of the song.

The next step is to gradually refine the details.

Seeing that the two big shots were in a good mood, Qin Sheng stepped forward and brought up Zeng Li's matter.

"Brother Huan, Sister Amin, my friend Zeng Li also wants to develop in the music industry."

She has a solid foundation in Peking Opera and a good voice. I wonder if you two could give her a chance to try?

Liu Huan and Mao Amin exchanged a glance.

There are plenty of people in the industry who want to sing, but not everyone is qualified to be introduced.

However, since Qin Sheng had brought it up, they naturally had to give him face.

But while giving face is one thing, whether the other party is truly capable or not ultimately depends on their abilities.

"Okay, let's try singing one then."

Zeng Li was given a push by Qin Sheng, and coughed twice nervously, preparing to sing a cappella.

After hesitating for a moment, she chose Teresa Teng's "Tian Mi Mi".

The performance begins.

The pitch was okay, and the breath control was relatively steady.

But overall, it can be summed up in two words: bland.

Her voice is indeed good, but it lacks distinctiveness.

Such comprehensive strength was common in the music scene of 1996.

After the song ended, the venue was silent for two seconds.

Liu Huan stroked his chin but didn't say anything.

Mao Amin nodded encouragingly. "You have a good foundation, but..."

The rest of the sentence was left unsaid.

Na Ying, ever quick-witted, retorted directly, "With this level of skill, you want to be a singer? Do you really think the music industry is child's play?"

Zeng Li blushed and lowered her head in embarrassment.

Yuan Quan clenched her fist beside him.

She wanted to stand up and say that her sister sang just as well.

She wanted to stand up and ask me to sing a song too.

But I gritted my teeth and held back.

She has no right to speak in this situation.

Qin Sheng wasn't in a hurry. After pouring a glass of water and handing it to Zeng Li, he turned to Liu Huan with a smile.

"Brother Huan, you're a bit lacking when it comes to singing pop songs."

But her foundation wasn't in popular music, it was in traditional opera singing.

Liu Huan frowned.

"Opera-style singing? You mean you want her to sing opera?"

"It's not pure traditional opera; it's a fusion of traditional opera singing and popular music."

Liu Huan's brows furrowed even more.

"Ah Sheng, I'm not trying to discourage you, but traditional opera and pop music are two different worlds."

If you stuff operatic singing into pop songs, the result will only be a hodgepodge, and the audience won't buy it.

Mao Amin also shook her head slightly.

"Indeed, in the Chinese music scene, I haven't seen the kind of fusion between traditional opera and pop music that you mentioned yet."

Qin Sheng didn't rush to argue, but took out a folded piece of paper from his pocket.

Those were the new lyrics and music he wrote for Zeng Li last night after he went back home.

Qin Sheng handed it to Liu Huan and said with a smile:

"Brother Huan, I wrote a song before that's a fusion of traditional Chinese opera singing and pop music. Would you like to give it a listen?"