Chapter 32

At this moment, Huang Wenjuan suddenly spoke up.

She timidly asked, "Sister, are all the songs in these tapes usable?"

Liao Liao, who was still in a daze from Qi Jie’s words, just glanced back at her, thought for a moment, and then replied, "They can be used, of course they can! Yes, the three songs I mentioned just now, as long as I get them, I plan to put them in my album!"

Huang Wenjuan was taken aback by this, thinking to herself: This is too strange, isn't it?

There are so many famous songwriters and so many works, and after much selection, only five out of seventy or eighty songs were chosen. Now, seven songs, and three are directly chosen! This ratio...

But then, she suddenly asked, "Sister, aren't these songs already recorded in the tapes? If the other party hasn't registered the copyright with the music association, we don't... need to buy them, right?"

As soon as these words came out, Liao Liao and Qi Jie, who were either in a daze or worried, turned to look at her, which immediately frightened the small assistant. She quickly explained, "Sister, and Sister Qi, don't misunderstand, I didn't mean anything by it. I just thought that if the person doesn't even know that their songs have been recorded, then we would be like picking them up for free, right?"

"Is that possible?"

Qi Jie was somewhat surprised by this and couldn't help but turn to look at Liao Liao.

At the same time, she suddenly felt a bit flustered. If Liao Liao really took these songs directly, perhaps... perhaps Li Qian wouldn't think it had anything to do with her. After all, he usually meets many people, and he might have sung to others, like Wang Jinglu. Moreover, during the days he sang these songs, she didn't go up to the rooftop; she just secretly recorded them in the hallway downstairs. But... wouldn't that be too unfair to him?

Regardless of whether Liao Liao would feel morally guilty or uneasy, at least from her emotional perspective, she would feel that she couldn't get over this mental hurdle.

Thinking this, her gaze towards Liao Liao carried some expectation.

At this moment, after a brief pause, Liao Liao decisively shook her head.

Then, she said, "Juanzi's idea isn't completely unfeasible, but aside from the fact that it's immoral, even from a practical standpoint, it shouldn't be done!"

Seeing that Huang Wenjuan and Qi Jie were both looking at her, she continued, "These are seven songs. Of course, I could use them without spending a penny and even claim them as my own, but... aside from the fact that I can't do such a thing, even if I could be shameless and do it, would I be relying on these seven songs for the rest of my life? Is this person's value limited to just these seven songs?"

Hearing this, Huang Wenjuan's thoughts quickly shifted!

That's right, if these songs are really someone's original works, then after these songs receive such high praise from Liao Liao, a picky person, and after learning that the author is only in high school... anyone with a bit of common sense would realize: the person himself is more important than his works!

Back when she was a student, she didn't understand anything, but after following Liao Liao for a year, she had experienced some ups and downs and had a pretty good understanding of the industry.

Especially in the past six months, as she followed Qi Jie to collect, select, and commission songs... the more she experienced, the stronger her feelings became!

What is the most important thing in the music industry?

Undoubtedly, it's resources!

Because resources are always limited.

Good lyricists are resources, but there are very few, only about twenty. Good composers are also resources, but they are also few. Good producers are, of course, resources, and... even fewer!

Of course, the support of the boss, better recording studio conditions, good arrangements, good guitarists, good recording engineers, etc., are also resources and are very important.

But all these things combined are not as important as a good lyricist and composer!

Because all these subsequent things, including the boss's support, production, arrangement, accompaniment, singing, recording, etc., their source is songwriting! Only after a good song is created, and the songwriter creates a good song, do all these resources have room to shine!

Otherwise, no matter how well you play the guitar, if you put it in a bad song, it's all for nothing!

For listeners, they can only first pay attention to a good song, and then they might notice that the arrangement of the song is quite catchy, or that the guitar accompaniment is great! They wouldn't like and pay attention to a song just because it has a flashy guitar solo!

In short, the former determines the latter!

Applied to Liao Liao, the logic is: even if she could recognize and befriend just one or two top lyricists and composers in the industry, the preparation and song collection for her new album wouldn't be so difficult!

Therefore, it's better to offend the boss of a record company than to offend a top lyricist and composer!

This is a consensus in the industry.

After understanding this, Huang Wenjuan nodded, deeply realizing how terrible her suggestion was, and then she decisively showed a look of enlightenment, indicating that her thoughts had successfully changed.

Qi Jie looked at her, then at Liao Liao.

She hadn't been in the music industry, so although she roughly understood Liao Liao's meaning, she still couldn't quite grasp the nuances.

At this moment, Liao Liao smiled and said, "Actually, when I was listening to the songs just now, I wasn't completely without ulterior motives, but I quickly realized that if these songs are really your student's original works, and he is only seventeen, then it's obvious that this kid is a genius! So, I wouldn't be foolish enough to offend a genius just to save a few songs! In short, as long as I get along well with him, I can get countless good songs in the future! Oh, he's even younger than me, his creative period could last for several decades! That's how many songs!"

Hearing this, Qi Jie finally understood and immediately felt relieved.

But then, Liao Liao thought for a moment and suddenly said, "Although I know it sounds a bit harsh, because I know I should thank you for recording these, but, darling, I still have to remind you, don't record anymore in the future."

If she had heard this before the discussion about buying the songs, even if Liao Liao had said it once, Qi Jie would still have been confused, but now, she immediately understood Liao Liao's meaning.

Then, she nodded solemnly.

But then, she timidly asked, "That... does seem a bit inappropriate! By the way, do you think he would be angry if he knew I secretly recorded him?"

Liao Liao shook her head and said, "I don't know if he would be angry now, but I know that if these tapes hadn't fallen into my hands, these songs would most likely have become someone else's original works!"

As she spoke, she shook the tape in her hand and said, "And... if he finds out it leaked from you, you can imagine the consequences yourself!"

Qi Jie nodded, then thought for a moment and said, "So, even if it hasn't leaked yet, we absolutely can't tell him, right? If... if you decide to meet him and buy his songs, then... how about this, when the weather clears up, he will definitely go to the rooftop of the teaching building to practice singing. I can say that you came to Jinan to visit, and you heard about him from me, so you are very curious and want to hear him sing in person?"

Liao Liao thought for a moment and nodded, "Okay, let's do it that way!"

After saying this, she turned to look out the window and saw that the rain was still slowly falling, so she immediately picked up the tape recorder and said, "You do what you need to do, I'll listen to it again!"

Thinking for a moment, she said to Huang Wenjuan, "Juanzi, go buy me a guitar, don't pick a good one, just get any one!" After saying this, she put the headphones back on.

Huang Wenjuan was taken aback for a moment, then quickly nodded and agreed to go out.

But at this moment, Qi Jie reached out and took off her headphones, extended her wrist, and tapped her watch, "It's almost twelve o'clock, Miss, you didn't have breakfast, aren't you hungry?"

Liao Liao was taken aback, about to say she wasn't hungry, but it seemed that her body was suddenly awakened by Qi Jie, and her stomach growled.

Qi Jie couldn't help but laugh.

...

As fate would have it, when the three of them finished lunch and came out of the restaurant, the rain had stopped.

Seeing the red sun in the sky after the rain, Liao Liao almost jumped with excitement, and she didn't even mention buying a guitar, just kept saying, "Let's go to your school now?"

Qi Jie couldn't resist her and had to drive them there.

But it was obvious that the rain had just stopped, and the roads were still full of puddles. Even if Li Qian wanted to come, it wouldn't be that quick.

So, after the three of them wandered around the rooftop of the teaching building of No. 13 Middle School for a while, they had to chat and wait for Li Qian to arrive.

After about half an hour, Huang Wenjuan suddenly called out to the two who were chatting, pointing to the school gate, "Sister Qi, Sister Qi, look at that, isn't that the Li Qian you mentioned?"

Qi Jie turned her head and saw him immediately.

A bicycle, a guitar case, there was no doubt about it.

"It's him!" she said.

As soon as she said this, Liao Liao straightened up.

And Qi Jie suddenly became nervous.

She had just realized how remarkable her student's works were.

She had just realized that what she did a few days ago almost caused a big problem.

Suddenly, she hesitated.

Before coming here, she had decided to keep this matter a secret, even if she burned the tapes tonight, she didn't want Li Qian to know about her secretly recording.

But now, seeing the person on the bicycle, she suddenly felt that if she had already made a mistake, and if she didn't even dare to admit it, then perhaps for the rest of her life, every time she saw him, she would feel guilty and ashamed?

Unconsciously, her heart began to beat faster and faster.

Then, in the tense silence of the three, footsteps echoed, and soon, a young man came to the rooftop.

Seeing that there were actually people on the rooftop, he was taken aback.

At this moment, Qi Jie, who was already waiting near the entrance to the rooftop, took a deep breath, walked over first, and smiled, "Li Qian, I'm sorry, I'm here to apologize to you!"

As she spoke, she didn't wait for Li Qian to respond, but took out three tapes from her bag, her voice slightly trembling, "I really like listening to you sing, so I used to secretly listen in the hallway. Later, I thought the songs were so good, and just listening to you sing a few times wasn't enough, so I took the initiative to secretly record a few tapes. I thought that although it wasn't good, it wasn't a big problem. But now, my friend told me that what I did could lead to your hard work being leaked, or even plagiarized, so... I was wrong, I'm sorry!"

As she spoke, she bowed deeply to Li Qian.