Chapter 65

Tao Meng said she would eat in the cafeteria, and Yang Jingxing of course had no objections. A group from Room 306 was having a meal together, and those who had seen Tao Meng pointed her out to those who hadn't.

Tao Meng led Yang Jingxing over to greet them: "Hello, nice to see you again."

A few people nodded or gave a nod of acknowledgment. Qi Qingnuo said to her companions, "I told you she's a beauty, seeing is believing!" Then she asked Tao Meng, "Are you eating here?"

Tao Meng nodded, "Yes, you all have a good appetite."

Qi Qingnuo was enthusiastic, "Come visit Room 306 when you have time."

Tao Meng smiled, "Sure... We were upstairs earlier, he was writing a song."

Qi Qingnuo chuckled, "I heard, but I didn't dare to disturb you."

Tao Meng was also enthusiastic, "You can come up and play."

Yang Jingxing advised, "Don't be so formal, let's eat."

Following Tao Meng's taste, Yang Jingxing ordered a few light stir-fries, and they ate slowly. When Qi Qingnuo left, she came over to say goodbye to Tao Meng.

While eating and chatting, Tao Meng asked Yang Jingxing if he always had lunch with Yu Xinting. Yang Jingxing said not every day, but there were also An Xin and Qi Qingnuo. A few people, each with a small dish, it was quite cost-effective.

Tao Meng lowered her head and took a bite, saying, "I feel like a lot of people are looking at me."

Yang Jingxing quickly said, "That's not my doing, blame yourself."

Tao Meng asked again, "Does Room 306 often come to your place?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "No, they have a 'no boys allowed' policy, how could I go there!"

Tao Meng became interested, "Really, no boys allowed... Have you ever been there?"

Yang Jingxing told the truth, "Once or twice, but I had to go as a sister, it was pitiful."

Tao Meng laughed, "Lack of ambition... Do you usually work alone?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Sometimes they come over to play and discuss."

Tao Meng asked, "I want to learn composing as a hobby."

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "Discussing is like arguing, and I can't argue with you. Can you leave me some authority?"

Tao Meng smiled smugly, her chopsticks holding a piece of cabbage and swinging it around.

After finishing the meal, they returned to Room 402. On the third floor, Tao Meng stopped and listened to the chaotic sounds of talking and playing coming from Room 306, then walked over.

The door to Room 306 was closed, with a "No Boys Allowed" sign on it. Tao Meng seemed proud of her kind and looked at Yang Jingxing with a smile.

Yang Jingxing whispered, "Let's go, in case they say something bad about you..."

Tao Meng glared, "What could they say? It's you, right?"

Still, they went upstairs, business was important. Tao Meng continued to watch, feeling smug when she saw Yang Jingxing occasionally spacing out, but she was also happy when he stopped.

It took about two hours for Yang Jingxing to modify the tracks and complete the sheet music on the computer. He showed it to Tao Meng and asked, "Can you sing it?"

Playing the piano and sight-reading are two different things. Tao Meng fumbled for a while, and the first two lines weren't quite right. There was no choice but to teach her.

Yang Jingxing taught her using the keyboard, and Tao Meng sat next to him to look at the sheet music. One sentence twice, Yang Jingxing played softly and sang softly, and Tao Meng learned even more softly. After finally finishing the first verse, Tao Meng felt a bit embarrassed, "It feels so strange... Are the lyrics a bit... disgusting?"

Yang Jingxing said, "We're singing too softly, the feeling isn't coming out."

Tao Meng was enthusiastic, "Then sing it loudly, I'll listen."

Yang Jingxing said, "Let's modify this line, pause for half a beat."

Then, Yang Jingxing played the accompaniment and sang it loudly, and the chorus basically came out. Tao Meng watched Yang Jingxing sing and was surprised, "Is this it? It feels so easy and sounds good."

Yang Jingxing said, "You can just say the lyrics are good."

Tao Meng was serious, "It really does sound good... But I feel it's more suitable for a guy to sing."

Yang Jingxing said, "I think you sing well, practice a few more times, this is also your work!"

Next, Tao Meng followed Yang Jingxing to learn the song for half an hour and decided to change the title to "Morning Glow." After learning, Tao Meng asked Yang Jingxing to accompany her on the piano while she sang.

The structure and melody of the song were simple but sounded good, and the harmonies and arrangements were quite impressive. Tao Meng definitely felt that all the credit should go to her lyrics and singing, so she was very happy after finishing. She looked at the sheet music on the computer and sighed, "It really feels a bit unbelievable, do you think it sounds good?"

Yang Jingxing said, "The melody is qualified, the arrangement is good."

Tao Meng was curious, "Is all this based on inspiration?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Inspiration is just one percent, the rest is continuous learning and accumulation."

Tao Meng pouted slightly, "How much have you accumulated... 'Morning Glow,' is this name good?"

Yang Jingxing said, "It's great. By the way, what stage name do you want to use?"

Tao Meng was surprised, thought for a moment, "Do I really have to give it to someone... They might not even want it."

Yang Jingxing was confident, "They will definitely want it."

Tao Meng was puzzled, "A stage name... What do you use?"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Room 402."

Tao Meng rejected, "No way! Can't I just use my real name?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Sure, but I don't want my name to appear elsewhere."

Tao Meng said, "That's true, but it can't be 'Room 402,' or 'Old Building Skin Broken,' they sound terrible."

Yang Jingxing said, "Think of your own first, you can sell the right to use your name, but I doubt anyone will want it."

Tao Meng said, "I won't sell, I'll just use my real name."

Yang Jingxing said, "Okay, I'll meet the producer tomorrow, wait for good news."

Feeling like they had accomplished something great, Tao Meng was happy and wanted to celebrate. She played a small tune for Yang Jingxing on the electric piano, "Slam Dunk." Her skills were probably good enough for an eighth-level certificate, average. But Yang Jingxing still enjoyed it and clapped.

Then Tao Meng asked Yang Jingxing to return the favor. Yang Jingxing played the guitar, blew the trumpet, and played "That Song" and "Morning Glow" on the double keyboard. They played for two hours.

During the break, Tao Meng went to the bathroom, and Yang Jingxing had to wait outside.

It was almost four o'clock, and Tao Meng had to go back to Songjiang today, so Yang Jingxing took her home. On the way down, they heard Room 306 practicing "Rainy Day Sunshine." The few girls' instruments couldn't create the effect of a full band, and Qi Qingnuo didn't want to follow Yang Jingxing's old path, so it sounded a bit lacking in momentum, not as stirring as it should be, or rather, it sounded shallow and superficial.

Tao Meng analyzed, "Actually, music is like any other profession, there are experts in every field, but it's like a different world, those who don't understand think it's amazing, but you don't feel that way, right?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I don't understand, I think I'm amazing."

Tao Meng laughed, "You just started, don't be arrogant!"

Yang Jingxing asked, "What about you? Your looks? Personality? Family... Oh, you have no feeling for yourself, right?"

"Annoying!"

In the car, Tao Meng mentioned that she had to attend a coming-of-age banquet next weekend, "It's just for people our age to meet, with parents, it will definitely be boring."

Yang Jingxing was envious, "I've never been to Shangri-La."

Tao Meng said, "You can sign up."

Yang Jingxing was proud, "You're invited, I have to sign up, no way!"

Tao Meng comforted, "What's so great, you're not worse than others... Really, do you want to go?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "I already have enough friends."

Tao Meng looked at Yang Jingxing with doubt, her voice softer, "It's my dad who wants me to go, I actually don't want to, you don't blame me, right?"

Yang Jingxing laughed, "I didn't mean you shouldn't go. To have more friends, I completely surpass you, you should catch up quickly."

Tao Meng affirmed, "It's not that easy to become friends... Actually, I can come over on Sunday."

Yang Jingxing said, "We'll see, if the song is used, I might not have time."

Tao Meng laughed, "I'm a lyricist too."

Today, Tao Meng didn't have to drive herself, a Lexus was waiting for her, and Yang Jingxing went back to school first. He called Gan Kaicheng and then told Qi Qingnuo. Gan Kaicheng didn't choose to meet at a bar because the demo couldn't be heard by others, so he asked Yang Jingxing to come to the company.

Qi Qingnuo asked Yang Jingxing to go online and send the sheet music and MIDI to her. Yang Jingxing wasn't worried about leaks and quickly did so. Qi Qingnuo seemed less interested in the song and joked, "You two are always doing art?"

Yang Jingxing was puzzled, "What else can we do?"

Qi Qingnuo said, "Hahahaha... I admire you!"

Yang Jingxing said, "You guys did art all day too!"

Qi Qingnuo said, "We'll continue, I'll listen first."

After a while, Qi Qingnuo said, "I didn't expect her to be able to write lyrics?"

Yang Jingxing said, "It's fine, she didn't expect you to be able to write music either."

Qi Qingnuo asked, "Which side are you on?"

Yang Jingxing urged, "Quickly listen to the song!"

About ten minutes later, Qi Qingnuo came back, "Good song... Personally, I think the arrangement is a bit complex, overshadowing the main part."

Yang Jingxing wasn't worried, "They probably won't use my arrangement, consider it practice."

Qi Qingnuo praised, "This attitude is correct. Want to continue tomorrow?"

Yang Jingxing agreed, "I'll pick you up, then go see Gan Kaicheng."

Qi Qingnuo was bold, "Then I can only watch you two. After a while, she asked, "Can't you take a joke?"

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll call him, we won't meet tomorrow, I'll do it with you first."

Qi Qingnuo teased, "I'm not interested in you."

Yang Jingxing was angry, "No need to emphasize that!"

Qi Qingnuo said, "I just think it's a pity. Some things, if you're just a little talented, you can consider it. Or just a little handsome, it's fine. Or just a little rich, you can play... It's a pity."

Yang Jingxing countered, "I also think so, if you're just pretty, I can muster the courage. If you're just talented, I can be shameless. If you're just loyal to your friends, I can imagine. Too bad, it's simply despicable."

Qi Qingnuo said, "Haha, do we dislike each other so much?"

Yang Jingxing asked, "Has it risen to this level?"

Qi Qingnuo suggested, "Forget it, let's just turn a blind eye."

On Sunday morning, Yang Jingxing, following Tao Meng's instructions, tidied himself up and went to meet Qi Qingnuo. It wasn't really a pickup, but a meeting. Qi Qingnuo came out from home, waited for Yang Jingxing at the subway entrance, and then went to see Gan Kaicheng together.

Yang Jingxing really turned a blind eye, "Oh, much better to look at."

Qi Qingnuo said, "You can't block my shine even if you close your eyes... Drive carefully."

Then they started talking about the song. Qi Qingnuo asked, "Is it a pity to give it to Xu Cheng? I'll ask Old Gan later." Old Gan was Gan Kaicheng's nickname.

Yang Jingxing said, "It's not certain if she'll even want to sing it."

Qi Qingnuo said, "You don't need to prove yourself this way... Now I feel a bit regretful, it seems to lower the value."

Yang Jingxing was angry, "Again?"

Qi Qingnuo laughed, "Don't be so sensitive."

Gan Kaicheng, a heavyweight in the domestic music industry, had been the head of the editing department at Hongxing Records for over a decade. Hongxing Records, which only had a history of a few decades, was once a major player in the entertainment industry at the end of the last century, with a roster of red-hot singers.

Unfortunately, the record industry has been in decline since the new millennium, with sales dropping year by year. Who buys records nowadays? Hongxing failed to keep up with the times and expand its business, so it hasn't developed well in recent years. Many of its singers have signed with other companies, and the remaining old singers can't create much value, while new singers haven't taken off.

Now, Hongxing has to do outsourcing. Xu Cheng isn't a Hongxing artist; she's from the Fashang Film and Television Company, which focuses on movies and TV. Fashang doesn't have the capability to produce records, and Xu Cheng wants to be a versatile artist who can act and sing, so she found the reputable Hongxing, with Gan Kaicheng as the producer.

Xu Cheng hasn't released an album, but she has sung a few theme songs for TV and movies, which weren't terrible, but