Chapter 55

"Without a doubt, Mr. Deng's technique is impeccable. I've heard many of Mr. Deng's songs before, and they were all excellent," Masayoshi Konji said earnestly to Teresa Deng. "However, it's clear that Mr. Deng's image has become somewhat fixed, at least in... Chinese songs, there is this trend, while he has tried many different styles in Japanese songs."

He spoke rather tactfully, but his meaning was clear: although the standard Deng-style singing was flawless in technique, it was a bit too sweet for the songs.

"Yes, Mr. Masayoshi, please give me more guidance," Teresa Deng replied sincerely without arguing.

"There's no need for that. Mr. Kudou... Mr. Kudou has already instructed me repeatedly, and I will do my best," Masayoshi Konji smiled. "Besides, Mr. Deng's singing style and technique are among the best among female singers. With a bit of practice, you will definitely capture the essence of these two songs."

"I also appreciate Mr. Masayoshi's compositions," Teresa Deng flattered. "I really like them."

"Oh, no, no," Masayoshi Konji shook his head, with a modest expression. "I only made some modifications based on the original work. This is all thanks to Mr. Kudou."

"Ah?" Teresa Deng was somewhat surprised. "Ku... Didn't you compose these songs?"

"Didn't Mr. Kudou tell you?" Masayoshi Konji was also surprised, then became a bit awkward. But since he had already let slip a bit, he continued, "About a week ago, Mr. Kudou approached me through Sony, hoping I could produce two songs for Mr. Deng. Then... he sang two songs in front of me."

"Sang two songs in front of you?" Teresa Deng looked at him in confusion.

"Yes, those... are the two songs now," Masayoshi Konji first recalled, then smiled bitterly, with an expression of disbelief. "Mr. Kudou said he heard them somewhere but couldn't remember where, and he was sure no one had released them, so..."

"...The lyrics too?" Teresa Deng looked as if she was listening to a fairy tale.

"Probably... yes," Masayoshi Konji continued to smile bitterly.

"Then... the original composer..."

"Mr. Kudou said I should use them first, and if the original composer comes forward, he would be happy to pay."

The recording studio fell silent. Teresa Deng was in a daze, and Masayoshi Konji didn't say anything more.

Then, the door opened, and Li Xu poked his head in. "We need to go back first. There's something at home. The arrangement work will be left to Mr. Masayoshi, Theresa."

After leaving the studio and getting in the car, Teresa Deng took a deep breath, came back to her senses, and asked cautiously, "E... Edward, I heard... these two Cantonese songs... you sang them to Mr. Masayoshi?"

"He already told you?" Li Xu wasn't too surprised. "Yes, I thought those two songs were very good, but it seemed no one had released them, so I decided to use them."

"Isn't that... not right?" Teresa Deng frowned.

"What's not right? I only heard them once, and I couldn't find the singer or composer after searching for a long time," Li Xu shrugged indifferently. "You know, even with my background, it's very strange that I couldn't find the creator, so I decided to lure him out."

He lied with a straight face: "Don't worry, it won't affect you at all."

"That's not what I meant..." Teresa Deng hurried to explain.

"Then it's fine. Just listen to me." Li Xu pinched her cheek, and Teresa Deng had to close her mouth.

There was no way he could say that Masayoshi Konji was the composer of "A Thousand and One Songs," but that would be a few years later.

As for saying they were his, that was even less reliable. Li Xu wasn't a singer or songwriter, even though he played the piano well and had a decent voice. He could write down the sheet music, but it would take a lot of time. Why not just hire a professional to listen and transcribe the music, and then supervise the process?

In the entertainment industry, anything that can be solved with money isn't a problem! If there is, then add more money!

Indeed, the habits of a rich Nth generation had been cultivated.

In short, such precious time should not be wasted on writing sheet music or scripts. That would be crazy.

Would writing his name on it make it his work? Others might not know, but he knew in his heart.

Oh, we can take it as the core and make some optimizing modifications. Do you know how much effort and hard work that requires? Why not be proud?

Okay, if you think you took something already carved by someone else, polished it a bit, and then claimed it as your own... whatever.

Li Xu showed off the original creator's work because it was fun, not for fame or glory. He had no interest in using this method to embellish himself.

Wait, speaking of which, "A Thousand and One Songs" is Masayoshi Konji's composition, but "Where in Life Do We Not Meet Again" is not his; it's by Lo Ta-yu. Well, when there's time, he can have Lo Ta-yu listen to a Japanese song and write his name as the composer.

"Don't overthink it. Focus on recording these two songs in Japan. I've already instructed Masayoshi Konji, and he will put in his best effort and use the top-notch equipment to produce these two songs for you," Li Xu said.

"Oh..." Teresa Deng obediently responded, then added, "But in Hong Kong..."

"What's the highest price for a song in Hong Kong now?" Li Xu, seemingly understanding her thoughts, interrupted.

"About... a few ten thousand Hong Kong dollars," Teresa Deng thought for a moment.

Li Xu didn't mind the vague answer and continued, "Have Guan Weihua ask PolyGram for the highest price and transfer it to my account. I'll cover the production costs here."

"Okay," Teresa Deng responded softly, though she occasionally glanced at Li Xu from the corner of her eye.

"Anyway, put aside all your burdens and focus on performing these two songs," Li Xu, pretending not to notice, crossed his arms and looked straight ahead. "Your sweet song image should change. With 'How Can You Say' as a precedent, I don't think you can't do it."

In fact, Teresa Deng's voice and singing skills were among the best of female singers in this era. She had dabbled in folk, country, jazz, dance, and rock, but in the 1970s and 1980s, sweet songs or slow ballads were the most popular in East and Southeast Asia. Her most classic songs were in this category, which deeply ingrained her sweet song image.

When she returned to Taiwan this year, Go-Lin released a greatest hits album with one new song, which still sold very well.

So, if the record company wanted to make money, it would be hard to let her try new music styles.

Even so, her sweet songs were unmatched. Although the songs were simple and often covered later, no one could match the flavor she brought to them.

For example, the new song "How Can You Say" in the greatest hits album, despite its theme of complaint and sadness, Teresa Deng sang it with a grand and elegant tone, not like a nagging woman but with a calm narration and a gentle rebuke.

"Speaking of which, when you sang 'How Can You Say,' were you thinking of me?" Li Xu suddenly asked.

"Ah?" Teresa Deng was taken aback, seemingly unable to react to the sudden change in topic.

"I've collected many reports about your new song. Music critics praised it highly, and some even said... that after a year of washing away the makeup, Teresa Deng's handling of music has become more effortless," Li Xu chuckled.

Indeed, she had received detailed guidance from a famous professor, and her singing skills were already excellent.

However, the reason he said this was because he had listened to it and compared it with his memory. There was a slight difference.

It was hard to pinpoint where the difference was, but it wasn't an illusion. There were many music reviews to back it up, proving that her performance had a subtle difference from his memory, and it was directed at him.

The reason he collected those music reviews was that he hadn't seen them in his previous life. Even though the internet made research easy and there were netizens to help, the 1970s and 1980s were too long ago, and much information was incomplete, making it hard to get a full picture of the era, let alone with some information being deliberately hidden.

For example, a certain actress, after marrying into a wealthy family, spent a lot of money to erase much information, such as her family background, making it hard to speculate, truly a lonely life.

So, it was a rare opportunity to see the various review styles of this era, and he couldn't miss it.

Because of this, Li Xu had more ideas and further compared the two versions in his mind, discovering a subtle difference.

"Wh... What are you talking about!" Teresa Deng suddenly straightened her body as if stung by a scorpion, turning her head to the window. "Don't... don't be so presumptuous!"

"Hey, you're actually calling me presumptuous?" Li Xu raised an eyebrow, and one hand immediately wrapped around her waist from behind. "Are you planning to rebel?"

"N... No!" Teresa Deng first dodged, then pouted, and her eyes widened, her body tensing up.

She turned her head back, her bright eyes looking at Li Xu with a shy and pleading expression. Unfortunately, Li Xu didn't look at her, his gaze always straight ahead, looking calm and composed.

Teresa Deng slightly wriggled her body, but in the end, she could only bite her lip to keep herself calm. Soon, her breathing became rapid, her throat occasionally moving, and she let out a few faint moans.

Her eyes became increasingly hazy, as if covered by a layer of mist, and her tightly closed lips began to part slightly. She slowly softened in Li Xu's arms.

Finally, just as she was about to cry out, the car stopped, and they had returned to the villa in Qing Shui Yuan.