Don't call me a singing god, I just want to go back to doing scientific research.

When he left the stage, he deliberately took a long detour, staying far away from the students in the front row who were giving him unfriendly looks, and crouched down as he slipped back to the vocal music department area.

He plopped down and immediately moved closer to Ling Luo, his face beaming. He lowered his voice and boasted, "Ling Luo, how about that? Pretty amazing, right? Did you hear that scream from the audience? Hahaha, it really annoyed them!"

The surrounding classmates also leaned over, praising him through gritted teeth.

Ling Luo turned her head and looked at Gu Yang's smug and slightly provocative face, feeling both amused and helpless.

"Amazing, so amazing that as soon as the show ends, we'll have to hitch a ride with Teacher Jiang."

Otherwise, I'm really afraid you'll get cornered in the auditorium by those overly enthusiastic juniors and seniors trying to "exchange feelings."

"Hehe, isn't this a surprise?" Gu Yang was a little embarrassed by what was said, stuck out his tongue, but his eyes were still shining.

Ling Luo looked at his feigned nervousness and suddenly laughed.

He reached out and flicked Gu Yang's forehead lightly: "You should at least be more discreet when you're out in public."

"When Valentine's Day comes, I'll give you a few breakup songs so you can sing them to your heart's content in the recording studio."

Gu Yang's eyes widened instantly, not in shock, but in ecstasy: "Really? Like that kind of song... that can make couples break up on the spot?"

"Really." Ling Luo patted his shoulder, her tone certain, "Singing in the recording studio won't threaten your personal safety at all."

Gu Yang instantly grinned like a 300-pound child, nodding vigorously, "Hehe, it's a deal! Ling Luo, I've discovered you're even more cunning than me, truly ruthless! Impressive!"

Ling Luo shook his head speechlessly. This kid always has such a peculiar focus.

Just then, a boy wearing a volunteer vest carefully bent down and approached Ling Luo, his voice trembling with nervousness.

"Ling... Ling, Teacher Jiang would like to ask you to come backstage."

Ling Luo nodded, then turned to Gu Yang, who was still grinning foolishly, and instructed him, "I'm going backstage first. You stay put and don't wander around, or I won't be able to find you later."

"Okay, okay, go on!" Gu Yang waved his hand, as if shooing away flies.

Ling Luo then stood up, straightened his suit, buttoned up the top button, and walked towards the backstage area.

Backstage was bustling with activity. Teacher Jiang was giving the orchestra members a final pep talk in a large dressing room before their performance. When Ling Luo knocked and entered, his eyes lit up, and he quickly grabbed Ling Luo's arm, pulling him in front of everyone.

"Come, come, look over here! This is the composer and lyricist of 'The Elephant King's March,' which you are about to perform. Curtain falls!"

"Lingluo, these are the elite members of our school's orchestra." Teacher Jiang said, pointing to the young man next to her who looked nervous yet curious, and introduced him in a low voice, "These two are the only students in our school to study the Dharma name; they are the only two in the entire major."

With only two students in each major, they are truly national treasures, the only ones selected.

There were too many people, so Ling Luo didn't shake hands with everyone. She simply nodded gently to everyone, said hello, and then sat down to the side, quietly watching Teacher Jiang give his final pre-battle pep talk.

After the mobilization session ended, Teacher Jiang led Ling Luo into a private rest room.

As soon as the door closed, Ling Luo smiled and said, "Teacher Jiang, this grand event isn't just for the welcome party, is it?"

"You little rascal, nothing gets hidden from you." Teacher Jiang sighed, poured Ling Luo a glass of water, and her smile faded, replaced by a more serious expression. "Indeed, there's an even more important task at this year's welcome party."

He gestured for Ling Luo to sit down before slowly speaking.

"Over there in South Korea, they are preparing to apply for more than 300 intangible cultural heritage items this year, and almost all of these 300 items are things passed down from our ancestors."

Ling Luo's fingers tightened slightly as she held the water glass, and her brows furrowed. "I checked the data recently. Didn't they already apply for over a hundred jobs the year before last? Are they planning to steal over three hundred more this year?"

  

"Yes!" Teacher Jiang slammed her fist on the table, her voice filled with resentment. "We discarded it like trash, but they stole it like a treasure! Who's to blame? They're robbers, they're thieves, but we can't even protect our own things, isn't that also a sign of our incompetence?"

The atmosphere in the lounge instantly turned heavy.

"Fortunately, many people are now aware of the problem. So the national government wants to take this opportunity to vigorously promote our own traditional cultural heritage. One reason is to block the Koreans, and the other is to build momentum for our own application for World Heritage status."

"Our music academy is tasked with music, including ancient scores, ancient instruments, ancient sounds and music... and the reason I chose your piece, 'Ivory Journey,' is because of this task."

This performance at the New Year's Eve gala was a trial run, to gauge the reaction. If it goes well, CCTV is preparing to organize a special program to promote traditional culture, and your piece will be officially included.

Ling Luo nodded knowingly.

To put it bluntly, CCTV is still observing. If the performance by the Beijing Conservatory of Music receives a warm response, proving that the public has a high acceptance of this format, then related programs can be put on the agenda immediately.

He put down his water glass and looked at Teacher Jiang: "So, Teacher Jiang, you specifically asked me to come here because there's something else?"

"Ahem..." A hint of awkwardness flashed across Teacher Jiang's face, as if she found it difficult to speak. It was all because that old man Miao Cheng'an had forced her into this.

They insisted that he shamelessly act as the persuader.

Ling Luo quickly understood, and tentatively asked, "Did Teacher Jiang come for your friend who is an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage?"

"I knew I couldn't hide it from you!" Teacher Jiang slapped her thigh, deciding to drop the pretense. "That song 'Puppet Show' that Gu Yang sang on 'Sing, Young Man,' wasn't it written by you?"

At first, he really didn't know what "Luo Mu" meant on Ling Luo's contract. He thought it was just an ordinary stage name. It wasn't until he watched the show that he realized that "Luo Mu" had recently stirred up the music scene, and even the four major entertainment companies were trying to poach Gu Yang, who was on good terms with "Luo Mu".

As a result, when the program aired last night, he got excited and chatted a few more words with his old friend Miao Chengan. Then the old guy pestered him all day, insisting that he act as a go-between and buy the rights to use the song.

"Miao Cheng'an is an inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage of puppetry. He watched Gu Yang's performance last night and was so excited that he couldn't sleep all night. He wanted to buy this song. Every year in early December, various local opera troupes hold a joint performance. They want to use this song to give puppetry a proper promotion."

"Sure," Ling Luo answered readily. "Teacher Jiang can just have Mr. Miao contact me."

"Ahem..." Teacher Jiang coughed twice, looking embarrassed. "Well, to be honest with you, Lao Miao and his team... are short on funds, so... regarding the price, it might be..."

As Teacher Jiang spoke, she held up her finger to indicate the height, her expression quite embarrassed: "It's rather low."

Ling Luo raised an eyebrow. How low must it be for Teacher Jiang to show such an expression?

He smiled. As long as the song was useful, not paying was fine. He calmly asked, "How much?"