Life countdown begins, ice queen bursts into security room

Outside rehearsal room number three, Li Cheng leaned against the wall holding his phone.

"Li Cheng, let's not beat around the bush." ​​Zhang Lei, head of the exclusive copyright department of Tencent Music, spoke very quickly, "The free data for 'The Lone Warrior' came out last night. In twelve hours, the number of plays on a single platform exceeded 15 million."

"And this is without any featured placements."

Li Cheng shifted his stance: "Mr. Zhang, are you reporting the data to praise Jiang Fan's effective philanthropy?"

"Don't joke around. Don't forget you're still a Tencent employee." Zhang Lei sighed. "The higher-ups held a meeting overnight, and the official media stepped in to set the tone. The social value of this song is immeasurable."

"You have a good relationship with Jiang Fan, could you talk to him about exclusively licensing all your subsequent works to Tencent Music?"

Zhang Lei paused for two seconds before revealing his trump card: "The terms will be as Jiang Fan proposed before. A 70/30 split, with the platform taking 30% and all the copyrights going to him. This is an S-level contract that only top-tier artists get."

Just a few days ago, Zhang Lei was acting like a senior executive at a big company, throwing out a ten million yuan buyout fee to bully newcomers.

Today, I'm practically kneeling down and handing over a king-level contract with both hands.

"Send the contract to my email, I'll review it before making a decision." Li Cheng didn't rush to agree and hung up the phone directly.

Push open the door to the rehearsal room.

There were seven people standing in front of Jiang Fan, the same crew from the previous "Blue and White Porcelain" production.

"Old Li, what do you mean?" Jiang Fan asked without looking up.

"Tencent Music has backed down." Li Cheng walked over and lowered his voice. "It's a 70/30 split, and the copyright belongs to you. Zhang Lei was so anxious his voice was hoarse, afraid you'd license it to another platform."

Jiang Fan picked up several sheet music pieces from the music stand.

"We'll sign after the finals. The terms will need to be revised again after tonight."

Li Cheng's eyelids twitched twice.

A 70/30 split is already the industry ceiling.

Another revision? Is this kid trying to overturn Tencent Music's table?

Before Li Cheng could reply, Jiang Fan had already handed the score to the musician in front of him.

Lin Wei took the sheet music and looked at the instrument markings.

"A cello?" Lin Wei looked up and sized up Jiang Fan.

"The principal cellist of the National Centre for the Performing Arts can't play the cello well?" Jiang Fan asked rhetorically.

Lin Wei didn't reply, and looked down at the score.

My gaze swept over the first line of musical notation.

Lin Wei tapped her fingers on her leg to keep a rhythm, the tapping becoming more and more intense.

This is the prelude.

The guitar begins with arpeggios, followed closely by the cello, which draws out a descending scale with a strong sense of pressure.

Classical piano is interspersed throughout, but the rhythm takes on a distinct hip-hop vibe.

Classical and street.

Two completely unrelated styles are forcibly kneaded together on this A4 sheet of paper.

"Who did the arrangement?" Lin Wei stood up.

"Me." Jiang Fan picked up the bottled water from the side and turned it on.

Lin Wei stared at him for half a minute, then turned and walked towards the cello case in the corner.

Unlock the latch, take out the violin, and sit back in your original position. Hold the bow with your right hand and press the strings with your left.

The bow pressed down on the strings. A deep, rich tone filled the rehearsal room.

Following the fingering on the score, Lin Wei played the prelude melody.

Melancholy, magnificent, and extremely catchy.

After just four bars, the musicians who were chatting nearby all stopped playing.

The drumsticks in the drummer's hand were suspended in mid-air, and he forgot to bring them down.

"This melody..." The guitarist stared at the sheet music, "It's too eerie. Once you hear it, it's imprinted in your brain and you can't get it out of your head."

Lin Wei put down her bow.

Having previously collaborated on "Blue and White Porcelain," she admired Jiang Fan's use of the pentatonic scale.

This sheet music shattered her understanding of the boundaries of pop music.

"I'll play the piano myself." Jiang Fan walked to the Yamaha grand piano, sat down, and opened the lid. "Drummer, pay attention: the bass drum tone should be a bit muffled, not too bright."

Jiang Fan placed his hands on the black and white piano keys, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

"The bass plays low frequencies, leaving room for the cello."

The rehearsal officially began. Jiang Fan pressed the button.

The clear, crisp sound of the piano flowed out, carrying a classical and poignant quality.

Immediately following, Lin Wei's cello performance came in.

The moment the music started, Li Cheng stood by the door, his back straight.

There are no heart-wrenching high notes, and no deliberately sentimental lyrics.

Jiang Fan sat in front of the piano, playing and chanting in an almost indifferent tone.

He speaks extremely fast, yet every word is clear.

"A swarm of bloodthirsty ants are attracted to carrion."

"I gaze at the lonely landscape with a blank expression."

"Love and hate become clear after losing you."

"What else is there to care about after losing you?"

The unique phrasing, combined with the heavy drumbeats, pounded on everyone's eardrums.

The chorus begins.

The cello's mournful cry intertwines with the piano's crisp sound.

"I will play Chopin's Nocturne for you, in memory of my dead love."

"The sound is like the night wind; it's beautiful to hear a heart break."

"My hands tap the keyboard very lightly, and my longing for you is expressed very carefully."

"The place where you are buried is called the Underworld."

Li Cheng leaned against the wall and took out a cigarette from his pocket.

Once this song is played on the final stage, the other contestants can pack their bags and go home.

The song ended.

Lin Wei's fingers, which were gripping the bow, turned red as she stared at Jiang Fan.

Jiang Fan closed the piano lid: "One more time."

"Guitar, tone down the strumming a bit. This isn't rock, it's dark gothic," Jiang Fan said, pointing at the guitarist.

"For the drumbeats, don't rush the beat; keep up with the rhythm and create that dragging feeling."

For the next two hours, the melody of "Nocturne" played repeatedly in the rehearsal room.

Jiang Fan was extremely demanding of every single note.

Sweat beaded on Lin Wei's forehead.

Even rehearsals at the National Centre for the Performing Arts don't have this kind of pressure.

Jiang Fan nodded after the fifth repetition.

"That's enough. Keep it like this." He stood up and closed the piano lid.

Lin Wei put down her cello and rubbed her sore wrists.

The door to the rehearsal room was pushed open.

The scent of rose perfume wafted in.

Su Yuyan stood at the door, followed by two assistants.

She tilted her head, her gaze sweeping over the musicians, piano, and cello in the rehearsal room before finally settling on Jiang Fan.

Su Yuyan crossed her arms and leaned against the door frame.

"Piano and cello? That's quite impressive."

Jiang Fan picked up the bottled water and took a sip.

Did Soda (a popular Taiwanese actress) come to visit the set?

He turned around and his gaze fell on Su Yuyan.

The system panel floated silently, and the SS-level compatibility indicator shimmered with a faint halo.

[Host's charismatic aura has been automatically activated. Target: Su Yuyan]

Su Yuyan's prepared sarcastic lines got stuck in her throat.

She looked into Jiang Fan's eyes, her breathing becoming erratic.

The young man before me exuded a highly aggressive attraction.

It's not just about his handsome appearance, but a blend of confidence and an unfathomable aura.

In all her years in the industry, she has met countless male celebrities, but none of them could elicit such a physical reaction from her with just a glance.

"Does Teacher Su have any advice?" Jiang Fan put down the water bottle.

Su Yuyan turned her head away, avoiding Jiang Fan's gaze.

She took two steps closer, the sound of her high heels particularly clear in the quiet rehearsal room.

"I wouldn't call it giving pointers." Su Yuyan stared at Jiang Fan's face, her voice unconsciously dropping. "I'm just here to see what kind of weapon the biggest variable tonight is going to use to cause trouble."

"It's not a weapon," Jiang Fan said calmly. "It's just an ordinary song."

Su Yuyan chuckled softly and moved a little closer.

The scent of rose perfume hit Jiang Fan's nostrils.

"Jiang Fan, online voting is all about connections and capital. Times Media has prepared a 30 million vote pool for Zhao Tianyu, plus my silver tongue," Su Yuyan said in a low voice, so only the two of them could hear, "What do you have to offer to win?"

"I'll play music you can't understand." Jiang Fan looked at her.

Su Yuyan did not respond.

She saw no unease or panic in Jiang Fan's eyes.

The system's charismatic aura continues to radiate.

Su Yuyan felt her cheeks burning, and she subconsciously took a half step back to create some distance.

"Okay." Su Yuyan smoothed her hair. "Then I'll be on the judging panel tonight and listen to your music."

She turned and walked out, stopping at the door and glancing back at Jiang Fan.

Don't let me down.

The rehearsal room door closed.

The perfume scent gradually faded.