Chapter 27

"Let's go and meet up with the singers!" Liao Liao's face was full of excitement, as if she had just come up with a great idea. She said excitedly, "Didn't the boss tell me to come up with my own ideas? So I'll go and visit them one by one! Just these people, I don't believe I can't persuade any of them. There are... six, seven, eight... a total of eight people. I don't need much, just half of them to agree, and then I just need four more decent songs, and this album will be complete!"

Huang Wenjuan pursed her lips, "This... isn't very realistic, is it?"

Liao Liao looked at her in surprise, "Why isn't it realistic?"

Huang Wenjuan pointed to the small notebook and said, "I don't know about the others, but for this 'Niu Wulang,' you told me that he writes excellent songs, but the problem is, you said he lives in Kunming, right? And this one, 'Cao Zhan,' he seems to live in Jinan? Are you planning to... travel across the country?"

Liao Liao nodded seriously, "What's wrong with traveling across the country? As long as I can get good songs, I'd go to Zimbabwe if I had to! By the way, Sister Zhao definitely has their detailed information. You go and find the addresses and contact details of these eight people, organize them, and then I'll plan the route and have you book the tickets for me. I'm going to visit them one by one!"

Huang Wenjuan looked like she was about to cry, "If you go to their doors... will they agree to give you songs?"

Liao Liao glanced at her disdainfully and said with enthusiasm, "If they don't, I'll grab their legs and won't let go! If they still don't, I'll cry! If they still don't, I'll say they're scoundrels!"

This time, Huang Wenjuan was really about to cry, "Sister, we can't do that, can we?"

Liao Liao glanced at her, "What do you know! By the way, have I ever told you about Zhou Mo's story?"

"Uh..." Huang Wenjuan was taken aback, remembering the gossip about Zhou Mo in the industry. She hesitated for a moment but still frowned and asked, "Is this really going to work?"

Speaking of Zhou Mo, not only was she one of the best singers in the music industry, but she was also a subject of much gossip. One of her early scandals was something that newcomers would inevitably hear from their seniors when they entered the industry.

It was said that when Zhou Mo first started, she was actually on a pure and innocent path, mainly singing songs for young girls. Later, she even released an album of traditional opera selections, but the sales were always average. Then, whether it was someone else's idea or her own determination, she was said to be a great admirer of a master producer in the industry and wanted him to help produce her album. But he was a master, a big shot, and she was just a small singer. How could he have the time to pay attention to her?

So, she went to his address and wouldn't leave no matter what. Despite being a young girl, she was determined. When she was hungry, she would go out to buy bread and water to get by. When she was tired, she would sleep outside his door. Whenever she saw the master leaving or returning home, she would seize the opportunity to sing for him, making him extremely uncomfortable... Even if you called the police, it wouldn't help. The police couldn't stand guard 24/7, and besides, she was a young, beautiful, and pitiful girl, so even the police felt sympathetic and couldn't bring themselves to do anything.

In the end, after about half a month to twenty days, the master couldn't take it anymore and finally agreed to produce an album for her. If he didn't, his wife was about to divorce him!

Then... Zhou Mo became famous.

Of course, Zhou Mo was an exception. Although she wasn't famous at the time, her talent and unique voice were undeniable. The master didn't just agree because he couldn't bear her persistence; ultimately, he saw her potential!

But the problem is, gossip is just gossip. Even though we talk about it, not many people truly believe it!

Not to mention, according to the record company's data, at least two of the three albums Zhou Mo released before meeting the master producer had reached gold record status. Although they weren't top-tier, she was already a minor celebrity, not as desperate as the gossip suggested.

Therefore, Huang Wenjuan thought it was seriously unreliable for Liao Liao to use this as an example.

So she asked, "Shouldn't we inform Sister Zhao first?"

Liao Liao waved her hands, "Of course not, I don't want anyone to know about this trip!"

Huang Wenjuan blinked, looking helpless.

Although she thought it was seriously unreliable, she was just a small assistant. Strictly speaking, she wasn't even a part of Changsheng Records; she was just an assistant hired for Liao Liao, and her salary came from Liao Liao. If Liao Liao was determined, what could she do?

So, the little girl's eyes darted around, and then she suddenly said, "If you're going, I must go with you!"

"What for?" Liao Liao was puzzled.

I'm going to stop you, at least to prevent you from calling them scoundrels! Do we still have any dignity?

Huang Wenjuan grumbled in her heart but smiled on her face, "Well, you know, Sister, I've never traveled across the country. Can you take me along?"

Liao Liao thought for a moment and said, "Alright, I'll consider it. For now, go find Sister Zhao and get the addresses for me!"

"Okay!"

The little girl answered crisply, picked up her notebook and pen, and went out to do the work.

Liao Liao thought for a moment, took out her phone, and dialed a familiar number.

"Hey, baby, it's me."

"I know it's you. What's up? I have to go to class in three minutes, so make it quick."

"I'm planning to go on a trip to meet up with some singers, and one of the stops is Jinan. Get ready and prepare to receive me!"

"...You're coming to Jinan?"

"Yeah, I'm coming!"

"Great, I've really missed you! We haven't seen each other for over a year, right? Don't worry, I'll take care of everything! I'll provide food, accommodation, and company! By the way, when are you arriving, by plane or train?"

"It's still early, the itinerary isn't set yet. I'm planning to go to Northeast China first, where there's a big shot. I'll go there and visit my family on the way. Probably... Wednesday or Thursday next week, around that time."

"Alright, once you set the time and book the tickets, let me know when you'll arrive, and I'll come to pick you up!"

"Okay!"

...

After hanging up, Qi Jie felt much happier.

The class bell rang just then, and she picked up her textbook and walked out of the office with the other teachers.

In the afternoon, she only had two classes. The first was with Class 6, and the second was with Class 5.

The whole school was already in the final review phase, and the final exams were just over two weeks away. Honestly, there wasn't much more the teachers could teach in class. So now, the classes often involved the teacher summarizing the key points for about ten minutes and then leaving the rest of the time for students to review on their own.

After summarizing the key points, Qi Jie walked around the classroom. If any student had a question, she would stop to explain. When no one asked, she couldn't help but turn to look at Li Qian.

At first, it was fine; she looked, and he studied. Once, by chance, she looked over, and Li Qian happened to look up. Their eyes met, and Qi Jie felt a bit flustered. She managed to force a smile and nod at him, then quickly turned away.

"For three days in a row, he hasn't repeated a single song. The song about the little bird, do I really have to ask him to sing it again? But the problem is, if I want to say it, I have to reveal that I've been secretly listening to him sing!" Qi Jie thought, feeling conflicted.

In fact, for someone who loves music, what would they do if they found a song they like?

At least eight or nine out of ten people would say: repeat it!

But now, Qi Jie also loved music, and she had found a song she liked, but she couldn't repeat it!

The song about the little bird aside, after learning that Li Qian could write his own songs, Qi Jie recalled that the songs he had sung before were also very good. To be honest, at least half of the songs she had heard, she wanted to repeat, or at least listen to a few more times!

But Li Qian seemed to have a vast library of songs, and he seemed to have an endless supply of new songs!

So, he sang two to four songs each day, and the next day, he never repeated them!

Therefore, Qi Jie felt a bit frustrated.

Of course, amidst the frustration, when she couldn't sleep at night or had no classes and could only sit in the office chatting with other teachers, guessing what Li Qian would sing next added a bit of fun and anticipation to her otherwise mundane life.

"If only the songs he sings had tapes or CDs!" she couldn't help but sigh in her heart.

So, when this thought kept circling in her mind, suddenly, a bright idea popped into her head: Right, if I want to listen to them repeatedly, why don't I buy a good recorder and record them?

This thought made her almost shiver with excitement.

She looked at her watch; there were still seven minutes left before the class ended.

And she had no classes in the third period in the afternoon.

Since she could drive there and back, it was completely doable!

...

After school, Li Qian naturally didn't rush to leave.

When most people had left, he carried his guitar case to the rooftop.

To be honest, with the current weather and being in Jinan, even at 5 or 6 PM, the rooftop was not a good place to practice singing.

But there was no choice. Li Qian couldn't disturb the neighbors with his practice, let alone his parents. He had no money to rent a suitable place to practice.

So, no matter how hot or uncomfortable it was, he had to come here.

On the rooftop, he put down his guitar case, took out his guitar, and drank some water to moisten his throat. Then he opened his notebook with the sheet music and started practicing.

His current habit was to practice for an hour. The first half was for songs from this world, preparing for the summer auditions for bar gigs. The second half was for songs from his previous life, to keep his memory of those songs fresh and to trigger the recall of other songs, so he wouldn't forget them over time.

Today, as usual, he practiced the two "new" songs he had arranged the day before for about half an hour. Then he took a break, drank some water, and started singing songs from his previous life.

Of course, he couldn't know that someone had already figured out his singing habits over the past few days and had even spent over 200 yuan to buy a high-end recorder used by journalists.

Now, he was on the rooftop, playing the guitar and singing.

She was just behind that door, that wall, carefully pressing the record button.