Chapter 64

After eating slowly, Yang Jingxing took Qi Qinnuo and Yu Xinting to room 402. Hong Tian was already waiting there, leaning against the door, applying makeup. She was surprised, "You all came."

Yang Jingxing said, "I forgot to introduce you. Yu Xinting and Qi Qinnuo are both deputy leaders of 402."

Qi Qinnuo was enthusiastic, "Welcome, didn't keep you waiting, did we?"

After entering the classroom, Yang Jingxing opened the double keyboard and said to Hong Tian, "She's more proficient than me, let her introduce it to you." He then turned on his computer, sat to the side to write sheet music, and let Qi Qinnuo explain to Hong Tian.

Yu Xinting had nothing to do, so she followed Hong Tian to listen and learn. Qi Qinnuo first asked what equipment Hong Tian used and then compared it. Clearly, Yang Jingxing's was much more advanced, with many more sound colors and various fine-tuning and editing options, and many more keying methods. Hong Tian had never even used a foot keyboard.

"Try it out," Qi Qinnuo was much more generous than Yang Jingxing.

Hong Tian carefully examined it and then tried to play, using a classical guitar sound. Qi Qinnuo and Yang Jingxing exchanged glances; Hong Tian's skills were quite average, not like a music college student, especially not one majoring in electronic keyboard.

After Hong Tian tried for a few minutes, Qi Qinnuo demonstrated, playing "Sun in the Rain," which was not inferior to Yang Jingxing. Then they discovered that Hong Tian couldn't even accurately hear the melody, and they wondered how she got into music college. Here, not being able to hear chords accurately by the end of the first year was considered a waste.

Hong Tian, not understanding much, went to Yang Jingxing, "What are you writing? A new piece?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Nothing much. How do you like it?"

Hong Tian said, "Very good. Are you free this weekend? I want someone to take me to Puhai."

Yang Jingxing was regretful, "I'm fully booked, sorry. And I'm not from Puhai."

Hong Tian said, "That's what makes it interesting. Let's go explore together, okay?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I really don't have time... How's your band doing?"

Hong Tian asked, "When are you free? I heard you don't have a girlfriend, right?"

Qi Qinnuo laughed, "Your information is outdated."

Hong Tian's eyes twinkled with curiosity, "Is it you? Or you?"

Yu Xinting shook her head, and Qi Qinnuo laughed, "You guess."

Hong Tian, not understanding, looked at Yang Jingxing, "So you don't have one, right?"

Yang Jingxing felt belittled, "I've had one for a long time, don't deny it."

Hong Tian bravely looked at Yang Jingxing, "Don't you understand what I mean?"

Yu Xinting didn't look over, but Qi Qinnuo opened her eyes wide. Yang Jingxing was a bit flustered, "What?"

"I like you," Hong Tian said in a scholarly manner.

Yang Jingxing laughed, "You must be mistaken, but you can keep thinking it for a while."

Hong Tian looked at Yang Jingxing, "Why are mainland guys so weird?"

Yang Jingxing disagreed, "You can't generalize, you know what that means?"

Hong Tian was impatient, "Anyway, if you're interested, find me. I'll take my leave... here's my number." She wrote it down on the manuscript paper next to Yang Jingxing's computer.

Yang Jingxing said, "Bye."

After Hong Tian left, Qi Qinnuo was a bit angry, "Ignoring my beauty! And you too!"

Yu Xinting smiled, still feeling awkward.

Yang Jingxing was happy, "At least Hong Kong girls have good taste... you've known me for so long and never said a good word about me!"

Qi Qinnuo threatened, "I'll tell on you!"

Yu Xinting said carefully, "It's not that bad, she came on her own... a bit strange."

Yang Jingxing, thick-skinned, "It's not too late to say something nice now."

Qi Qinnuo analyzed, "I think she's going to be a problem."

Yang Jingxing planned ahead, "I'll treat you to hotpot tonight." He threw the manuscript paper with Hong Tian's number into the trash.

Qi Qinnuo said, "That's why you're not my type, too much trouble!"

Yang Jingxing didn't believe it, "With your beauty, she can't make you nervous." Hong Tian wasn't that pretty, just well-dressed.

Yu Xinting giggled.

Yang Jingxing said seriously, "Listen to this, how does this melody sound?"

On Friday noon, Yu Xinting and Yang Jingxing had lunch together. Hong Tian came over again, sat next to Yu Xinting without asking, and said, "I'm so hungry after PE class."

Yu Xinting ignored her, and Yang Jingxing asked, "Did you take PE together?"

Hong Tian nodded and asked, "You must be good at sports, right? Want to play ball sometime?"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "I told you, your taste is off."

Hong Tian said, "It's good to be sure."

Yu Xinting couldn't hold back, "He has a girlfriend, studying at Fudan University, very pretty and rich."

Hong Tian said, "That's between us, right?"

Yu Xinting was stunned, looking pitifully at Yang Jingxing.

Yang Jingxing quickly ate a few bites, "Save room for dinner."

Yu Xinting put down her chopsticks, "I'm full."

"Let's go... you can eat slowly," Yang Jingxing was still polite.

Hong Tian was strong, "Bye."

The two left the cafeteria, and Yu Xinting looked back carefully, worried, "Is this not too harsh on her?"

Yang Jingxing wasn't afraid, "She's joking, we can joke too."

Yu Xinting doubted, "Maybe she's not joking."

Yang Jingxing didn't believe it, "What else could it be?"

Yu Xinting reassured herself, "I don't like her anyway."

Yang Jingxing chuckled, "Then you need to help me stay calm."

Yu Xinting laughed, "I know you won't fall for it."

In the afternoon, Yang Jingxing treated Yu Xinting and An Xin to hotpot, and Qi Qinnuo and He Peiyuan also joined. Room 306 was gathering the next day to further refine the arrangement of "Sun in the Rain" and start practicing.

Yang Jingxing was busy, needing to meet Tao Meng the next day. He Peiyuan was curious, "Who's richer, you or her family?"

Yang Jingxing smiled bitterly, "No comparison, I'm well-off, she's a tycoon."

He Peiyuan encouraged, "Good luck! In the future, we won't eat hotpot, we'll have fancy dinners."

Qi Qinnuo was loyal, "If you get bullied, come to us!"

He Peiyuan asked, "Are you a backup?"

Qi Qinnuo said, "I hate the rich, I want to see the fun!"

He Peiyuan analyzed, "I think it'll be fine, otherwise he wouldn't hang out with so many beautiful girls!"

Yang Jingxing said, "I'm not afraid of her having ideas if I don't have beautiful girls around."

Qi Qinnuo said, "So I'm not afraid either, just call me if there's anything good."

He Peiyuan envied, "That's fine, I'll pull in a few more handsome guys... what if Tao Meng gets mad?"

Qi Qinnuo said, "You'll be the first to suffer."

He Peiyuan wasn't afraid, "You'll be before me, Yu Xinting is the most dangerous, ha ha."

Yu Xinting was startled, "Not me!"

Yang Jingxing was annoyed, "Is this hotpot so hard to eat? Can't shut up!"

On Saturday morning, Yang Jingxing first picked up Yu Xinting for tutoring, then went to pick up Tao Meng. Tao Meng wore the clothes she bought last week, looking quite good, and she asked Yang Jingxing, "Did you pick them randomly or specifically?"

Yang Jingxing was sad, "Of course, I carefully chose them."

Tao Meng praised, "They look good, it's because my pants match well."

Today was a busy day, so they didn't waste time and went straight back to the music college. Tao Meng didn't want to give the lyrics first, insisting on waiting until they got there. On the way up, Yang Jingxing pointed out Room 306 to Tao Meng, where they could hear the chaotic sounds of playing and singing.

Tao Meng asked, "Should I go say hello?"

Yang Jingxing said it was fine not to.

After entering the classroom, Tao Meng was curious, "Where's Yu Xinting? She's downstairs."

"Going for tutoring, I'll pick her up later, we'll have lunch together."

Tao Meng refused, "Forget it, I want to go to Junyue."

Yang Jingxing was puzzled, "Why can't we go together?"

Tao Meng was straightforward, "I don't want to!"

Yang Jingxing was relieved, "Good thing I didn't mention it earlier."

Tao Meng still looked unhappy, opened her bag, and took out the lyrics.

Yang Jingxing received them like a treasure, carefully opened and read them. The lyrics were written in black fountain pen, with elegant and not overly small handwriting, which was rare to see nowadays.

The title was "Phoenix Dance in the Glow," and the content was like a prose poem, not particularly neat but paying attention to rhyme. There were two verses, and the first verse described the inner and outer beauty of women, while the second verse described the strengths and minor weaknesses of women, with the central idea being that women are ordinary yet remarkable.

Although Tao Meng was good at writing essays, this was a different matter, and it was her hurried first attempt. The writing wasn't particularly smooth, feeling overly ornate and not very natural, especially some words that seemed forced for the sake of rhyme. However, it was clear that this was a heartfelt effort, and as Yang Jingxing read each word, Tao Meng watched his eyes.

After reading, Yang Jingxing asked, "Do you believe in intuition?"

Tao Meng didn't understand, "What do you mean?"

Yang Jingxing said, "My intuition at the time was to think of you, so I asked you to write it."

Tao Meng smiled, "Is it okay? If not, I can revise it."

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll revise it, I don't want to give it to anyone else to sing."

Tao Meng giggled, "Actually, I'm quite satisfied, it wasn't as hard as I imagined... if they don't use it, I'll sing it myself."

Yang Jingxing nodded, "We'll see if Xu Cheng has the eye for it."

Tao Meng commented, "I think she's good, very ambitious, and very pretty."

Since that was the case, Yang Jingxing first played the melody he had created for Tao Meng. Of course, it would still need to be adjusted to fit the lyrics, so they could listen and adjust as they went.

Yang Jingxing played the guitar on the double keyboard, a pure single-line melody, with nothing else. It sounded simple and clear, making it easier for the layperson, Tao Meng.

Tao Meng listened carefully to her lyrics, her lips moving as if she wanted to sing but didn't. After the melody ended, she thought for a moment and said, "It's slower and lighter than I imagined."

Writing songs was also Yang Jingxing's first time; he hadn't studied vocal works much before and wasn't very familiar with the production process of a pop song.

Yang Jingxing said, "The lyrics are fine, the rest is up to me. Where do we go first?"

Tao Meng said, "You keep working, time is short, we won't go shopping today."

Yang Jingxing was worried, "Won't you be bored?"

Tao Meng shook her head, "I want to watch you work."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "I'll try to focus."

Tao Meng was serious, "I won't talk, just pretend I'm not here."

So Yang Jingxing started working, and Tao Meng sat about three to four meters away to avoid affecting him with her strong presence. The style was already decided, a light rock style, as suggested by Gan Kaicheng. Now, he needed to adjust the harmony to fit the lyrics.

Tao Meng was quite focused, and the emotional direction of the two verses was similar and symmetrical, which greatly facilitated Yang Jingxing. However, Tao Meng's lyrics were tight, so the song's rhythm needed adjustment.

Yang Jingxing's computer was next to the double keyboard, and he worked on both, playing the keyboard and typing on the computer. To save time and inspiration, he worked on the melody and arrangement simultaneously. The instruments used were a few: guitar, piano, jazz drum, cello, timpani, and a guzheng with a synthesizer