Chapter 43

It was also the afternoon of July 13th.

In the capital city, at the Changsheng Records headquarters.

Liao Liao pushed open the door of the recording studio and came out, asking anxiously, "How is it?"

The sound engineer handed her a pair of headphones and said, "Not bad, I think it's even better than the previous recordings."

Before Liao Liao could put on the monitoring headphones, Zhao Meifeng had already taken hers off. Her brows were slightly furrowed, and she looked up and asked, "Liao Liao, do you really have that much confidence in this song? This kind of light rock style isn't new, and no one has achieved any significant success with it yet!"

Liao Liao nodded and said seriously, "I like this song, and I believe many people will like it too."

Zhao Meifeng could hear the determination in her tone. Although she had heard this determined tone from Liao Liao more than once, she couldn't help but ask again. Of course, the result was always the same.

She sighed helplessly and shook her head slightly.

After the release of Liao Liao's first single, which she composed and arranged herself, although the sales were not particularly high, it received high praise from music critics and the entire music industry. Especially her voice and singing skills—her low notes were rich and natural, her mid-range was clear and bright, and her high notes had a slight rasp, making them very textured. As one music critic put it, such a naturally good voice is a gift from the ancestors!

With that single, many people in the music industry were eagerly awaiting her first official studio album. This is why President Zheng generously allocated 800,000 yuan for production, hoping to launch Liao Liao and boost the female artists of the entire record company. Therefore, she became the top priority of her work and the company's, and even President Zheng personally helped her secure and compete for songs.

However, these were not the issues. The problem was that from the first single, Liao Liao had appeared as a singer-songwriter. Before signing to produce her first album, she repeatedly requested that, although she would not serve as the producer, all the songs must be approved by her before being included in the album—meaning she was essentially one of the producers.

And now, this unrestricted song selection privilege in Liao Liao's hands had put Zhao Meifeng, President Zheng, and the entire Changsheng Records in a difficult position.

If they proceed, Liao Liao's stubbornness makes it hard to have high hopes for the album's sales. If they retreat, the contract is there, and the money has already been spent...

"Ah!"

Zhao Meifeng sighed inwardly, thinking, "If I had known, I shouldn't have given her so much authority. Now, if this album doesn't sell well..."

She put the headphones back on and listened to the slightly raspy voice inside, unable to help but frown again, thinking, "Will anyone really like this style?"

After a minute, Liao Liao took off the headphones and turned to look at her, "Sister Zhao, what do you think... how is it?"

How is it?

If we ignore the music market's lack of recognition for this light rock style, this song is indeed very good!

The lyrics are not complicated, and the melody is not particularly outstanding, but there is a genuine and touching emotion in the ordinariness. After being interpreted by Liao Liao's unique and excellent voice, even Zhao Meifeng, who is known for her strict standards, had to admit that the overall effect of the song was really quite good.

It has flavor, aftertaste, and resonance!

In fact, this song had already been recorded for three or four days, and each take was quite good. Even with Zhao Meifeng's strict standards, the takes from the second day were already excellent.

However, Liao Liao always felt that it hadn't reached the best state, so the producer could only accompany her in recording it over and over again.

At this moment, Zhao Meifeng thought for a moment and said, "I think it's already good. Actually, I think the take from the afternoon of the day before yesterday was even better."

Liao Liao nodded, without a trace of a smile on her face.

After more than a year of working together, Zhao Meifeng knew that Liao Liao was like this: when not writing songs, not singing, or not discussing the album, she was just a big kid, always laughing and joking with everyone. But as soon as it involved music or the production of this album, she became incredibly serious and rarely joked around.

After a moment's thought, Liao Liao said to the sound engineer, "Brother Wu, can you play it again for me? I want to listen carefully."

The sound engineer agreed and, seeing Liao Liao put on the headphones, pressed the play button.

Not long after Liao Liao received the arrangement, the accompaniment was completed. The recording sessions over the past few days had always been done with the accompaniment. This means that as long as Liao Liao was satisfied, this version could be used to produce the CD at any time.

From start to finish, three minutes and forty-six seconds, Liao Liao listened carefully.

When the accompaniment ended, she took off the headphones, her face full of distress.

Unconsciously, she recalled the scene of Li Qian singing on the balcony with his guitar—his performance was so captivating that Liao Liao was utterly enchanted!

In fact, after recording it multiple times, she had always been trying to capture that flavor with her voice. But even just now, she still felt something was missing!

"How is it? Should we use the version from the afternoon of the day before yesterday?" Zhao Meifeng asked.

Liao Liao shook her head, "No... none of them are good enough! I always feel that it's... still missing something!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Meifeng's face turned grim.

Recording a song dozens of times is not uncommon in this industry, and sometimes a song can take over ten days to record. However, the problem was that in her view, the effect was already very good, and there was no need to continue recording!

Liao Liao thought for a moment, put down the headphones, and turned to Zhao Meifeng, "Sister Zhao, what do you think about this? I know you think there's no need to continue recording... so, let's stop here for today. I'll take a break this afternoon and come back tomorrow morning to try a few more times. If I still can't find that feeling, we'll use the version from the afternoon of the day before yesterday, okay?"

Zhao Meifeng hesitated for a moment and had to nod, but at the same time, she couldn't help but sigh.

After Liao Liao tidied up her things and thanked the sound engineer, she walked out with Zhao Meifeng. Zhao Meifeng patted her arm and said, "Don't be too anxious. The current effect is already very good, and no one can find fault with it!"

Liao Liao smiled and nodded, "Thank you, Sister Zhao."

Zhao Meifeng shook her head slightly, a bitter smile on her face, and hesitated to speak.

Liao Liao shrugged and said lightly, "Sister, you don't need to say it. I understand what you want to say. You're thinking that if this album doesn't sell well, I won't be able to stay at Changsheng, right?"

Zhao Meifeng looked up in surprise. Although she knew that Liao Liao, being smart, must have thought about these things long ago, she didn't expect her to be so calm when talking about it.

"Liao Liao, I didn't mean to..."

Liao Liao raised her hand to interrupt her and said with a smile, "So, Sister Zhao, I'm treating this as my last album... believe me, okay?"

Zhao Meifeng could only nod with a bitter smile.

"Then... no, we, we should both try our best!"

Liao Liao smiled, "Thank you."

...

The two of them, Huang Wenjuan, left the company and took a taxi home.

"Today, Lele was talking about you behind your back again. This person is really something. If it weren't for Sister Zhao using the excuse of giving you the song to block the song for Mianmian, would it have been her turn? But she's saying nothing good about you behind your back!"

In the company, it wasn't appropriate to say much, as no one knew if there were ears on the other side of the wall. But once in the taxi, Huang Wenjuan couldn't hold back, looking indignant.

Liao Liao just smiled, "She's someone Sister Zhao favors. Sister Zhao has been good to me, and for her sake, I won't hold it against her. In the future, if she says anything, just pretend you didn't hear it!"

Huang Wenjuan couldn't help but say, "But it's not about whether you hold it against her; she's causing trouble in the company behind your back! It's all aimed at you! Sister, if I were to say..."

"Enough!" Liao Liao interrupted her. "She's causing trouble? She's just a newly signed artist. What trouble can she cause? Can she really stir things up?"

"I don't know if she can cause trouble, but the strange talk in the company has been increasing these days. You don't know how nasty Lele is behind your back! And, and..."

"And what?"

"And it seems that everyone is following her lead. You know, Sister Zhao is preparing to promote her, and the people in the company..."

Liao Liao sighed and smiled, her face showing obvious fatigue. But she still turned to look at Huang Wenjuan seriously and said, "Wenjuan, you need to understand that my future is not determined by a few words behind my back! My future is in my album! So, don't pay attention to these things, got it?"

Although still indignant, Huang Wenjuan nodded.

Liao Liao took out her phone to make a call but first saw the time and couldn't help but laugh, "I thought it was early, and I told Sister Zhao we'd stop for the afternoon, but it's already past five!"

As she spoke, she shook her head and dialed a number.

"Hello, Sister Liao."

"Um, what are you doing?"

"Nothing! I told you before, I'm going to do live performances during the summer. I'm currently looking for jobs!"

"Um, that's not a bad thing! When I first came to the capital, I sang in bars for over half a year! The bigger the stage, the more it helps you grow. You gain experience that you can't get without it!"

"Um! So... do you have something to ask?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to ask you... forget it, nothing!"

"Ask me if you have something to say."

"I was thinking... would you like to come and help me as a producer? I'm recording, and I always feel the flavor is a bit off, like something is missing! The producer says it's already good, and no one else can tell the difference!"

"... 'Persistence' or... 'Wildflower'?"

"Hehe... you're like Zhuge Liang!... It's 'Wildflower'!"

"Um... the pressure must be huge, right? I mean, so far, no light rock song has become popular in the market!"

"That's why I'm offering you such a high price! Otherwise, do you think the company would agree to take such a big risk? To be honest, you're getting a great deal!"

"Hehe... but to be honest, this kind of high-pressure approach is really risky. Your producer and your boss are really bold! If it were another boss, they would have suppressed you and given up on the money!"

"Hehe... President Zheng... yes, he's always been very bold! As for Sister Zhao... hehe, she just can't do anything about me! Hey... are you really only seventeen? You have too many tricks up your sleeve! You shouldn't be saying things like that at your age..."

"Are you not used to it yet?"

"Okay... let's pretend I didn't say that. You... can you sing it for me again?"

"Hehe... Sister Liao, relax. You don't lack anything else. Your understanding and grasp of those songs are already better than mine. What you lack is just a bit of relaxation. If you're too tense, how can you sing well?"

"Relax a bit?"

"Relax a bit."

"..."

"You should believe in my work and in your own abilities. We will become popular! Our songs will become popular!"

Liao Liao took a deep breath and straightened her back.

"Um, I firmly believe that!"

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