A song from Chengdu revived a closed-down pub.

Looking at the constantly scrolling messages, Su Fan smiled.

He waved at the camera again.

Then, the live stream screen slowly went dark.

In the center of the screen, only the last line of text displayed by the production team remained.

May our journey continue, and may we meet again next year.

After returning to Kyoto, Su Fan casually suggested, "Take some time these next few days to record a proper version of all the songs we sang along the way, and then upload them to NetEase Cloud Music."

Currently, the versions circulating online are all from the actual event.

While these versions are very popular, they cannot be considered official audio sources.

The advantage of live performances is that the emotions are expressed directly.

The sound of the wind blowing through the poplar forest, the cheers around the bonfire on the grassland, and the interaction between the singer and the audience are all things that the recording studio cannot fully reproduce.

However, there are also many unavoidable problems in the live broadcast.

Environmental noise, equipment distance, sound field interference between instruments, and even sound quality compression caused by network transmission can all affect the final result.

Even the singer's occasional breaths and the subtle imbalance of the instruments will be preserved intact.

The studio version is different.

Vocals and each instrument can be recorded separately.

Volume, layering, and spatial feel can also be readjusted.

Harmonious and instrumental details that are not easily heard live are fully presented in the official version.

Simply put, the live version records the atmosphere at the time.

The studio recording is what preserves the most complete version of the song.

So everyone nodded in agreement.

The next day, Su Fan went to the Spring Festival Gala production team.

In the corridor, staff members carried materials back and forth, while music and the director's calls to stop could be heard from the rehearsal room not far away.

As soon as Su Fan gave his name, someone led him to Deng Zongqi's office.

Su Fan raised his hand and knocked on the door, saying with a smile, "Director Deng, I've arrived."

Deng Zongqi looked up, and after recognizing the person, he put the pen on the table: "Oh, what a rare guest! If it weren't for the fact that this place isn't convenient for hanging a banner, I would have had someone write a warm welcome message and invite you in."

"What are you saying? Didn't I promise to come back, and I did?"

"If I hadn't made that call, would you still be eating apples in New Brunswick right now?"

"Not necessarily, they might be eating baked buns."

"Stop being so poor, let's get down to business."

As he spoke, Deng Zongqi pulled a document from a stack of documents on the table and pushed it in front of Su Fan.

The inscription reads "The Sound of the River Enters the Old Year".

Su Fan flipped through two pages, which listed the duration, stage design, and matters that needed to be confirmed with the singer.

It's clear that the production team put a lot of thought into this song.

Deng Zongqi said, "We've listened to the demo you sent over and over again. The music team listened, the stage design team listened, and even the people in charge of the camera listened."

"What's wrong with what you heard?"

"Putting the problems aside for now, the reason I urgently called you back is that what works in the recording still needs to be tested on stage. If the live accompaniment is too thick, the details of the vocals may be covered up. If the camera cuts too short, the audience will be interrupted just as they are getting into the mood."

Su Fan looked at the plan in his hand and asked, "What are the plans for the stage?"

Deng Zongqi rubbed his temples: "Initially, someone suggested adding rivers, lights, and people returning home to the scene to make it more elaborate, but I didn't agree."

Why?

"There's too much stuff. The lyrics already tell the story, and then the background plays it out line by line. Is the audience listening to you sing or watching a story being told on screen? What happens next after you sing? If you understand it all, there's less to savor."

Su Fan laughed: "We're on the same page on this point. It's better to leave some room for the audience to think for themselves than to draw everything for them."

Deng Zongqi nodded: "The current plan is to hold back the first half as much as possible, let the lighting and visuals change slowly, and let your voice come through first. The second half can then unfold with the music. But how much to unfold depends on you and the music and stage design teams trying it out together."

"Okay, let's rehearse it once first, and then decide after hearing the live performance."

Seeing that he agreed readily this time, Deng Zongqi finally relaxed a little.

Su Fan then asked with a smile, "However, since you've given this song such high praise, can I take that as long as there aren't any major problems, the show is in good shape?"

Deng Zongqi said, "Stop making excuses for being lazy. A good song only provides a good foundation. Whether it can resonate with the audience that night depends on what you do next."

"Understood, I'll follow the director's instructions."

Deng Zongqi glanced at him and suddenly said with some emotion, "I've watched a few of your live streams, from 'Kashgar Poplars' to 'Apple Fragrance.' You're quite good at finding the right fit for your songs."

Su Fan smiled and corrected, "That's because the place gave me the story first."

Deng Zongqi paused for a moment, then nodded: "That's right. So this time, you should think carefully about how to make 'The Sound of the River Enters the Old Year' stay in everyone's New Year memories."

After saying that, he stood up and picked up the documents on the table.

Su Fan also stood up: "Shall we go to rehearsal now?"

"What else? Should I arrange a two-day trip to Kyoto for you first?"

"I was just asking casually."

"Let's go, the music team is already waiting."

……

Next, Su Fan followed Deng Zongqi to the rehearsal site.

After a brief discussion, the music team first accompanied him through a complete rendition of "The Sound of the River Enters the Old Year".

Su Fan's performance was very stable, and he handled the transitions in his aura and emotions perfectly.

The staff, who were initially worried that he had just finished a trip and hadn't adjusted to his condition, breathed a sigh of relief after hearing the news.

Deng Zongqi took off his headphones and nodded towards the stage: "The singing is fine, let's do it again, this time with the lights and cameras moving together."

Subsequent rehearsals focused on coordination between different parts of the process.

When Su Fan enters, where the camera stops when the intro starts, and how the lighting is set up in the second half of the song all need to be repeatedly confirmed.

In the middle, Su Fan also discussed with the music team to adjust several parts of the accompaniment, creating a more comfortable space between the vocals and instruments.

After the final take, Deng Zongqi stared at the monitor for a moment, and finally smiled: "Yes, that's the feeling. Let's write down this version today, and then fine-tune it later."

Su Fan handed the microphone to a staff member and asked with a smile, "So, do I pass today?"

Deng Zongqi closed the notebook in his hand: "That's it for today. Have your assistant send you the rehearsal schedule for the rest of the time, so you don't run off and can't find me again."

Su Fan nodded helplessly: "Don't worry, I'll be here whenever you call, as long as we're in Kyoto this time."