Chapter 47

In the recording studio, Bian Xuedao held his guitar and played "Reunion" in front of Li Yu, Convenience Head, and Long Hair. Convenience Head was a bit better; he didn't play much rock. The seasoned rock fan, Long Hair, couldn't sit still. He excitedly jumped in front of Bian Xuedao, grabbed his guitar, and asked, "Did you write this song?"

"Uh-huh." Bian Xuedao had already checked online; this song hadn't appeared yet.

Long Hair said, "Play it again, I'll find the drum beats."

Sitting at the drum kit, Long Hair recalled the rhythm of Bian Xuedao's performance and tried tapping for a while. He then said to Bian Xuedao, "I'll play with you, let's do it again."

Bian Xuedao sang "Reunion" again. With the drums and guitar, the infectious power of the rock song began to show. Both Convenience Head and Long Hair had played in bands and had worked in the studio for a few years. They hadn't produced any hit songs, but they had a good eye. On the first listen, they were amazed; on the second listen, they were certain it would become a classic.

Both of them had been present when the contract was signed earlier. At first, they had laughed to themselves: two college students, what good songs could they come up with, and it was worth signing a proper copyright contract? Now, Convenience Head and Long Hair thought these two college students were really clever; they must have sensed that this song was extraordinary.

Bian Xuedao and Li Yu's car was parked outside the studio, and from their height to their demeanor, they didn't look like easy targets. The copyright was no longer an issue; both of them started thinking about how to benefit from this song. They both knew that such a song was rare, and even a mention would be valuable.

Convenience Head asked Li Yu, "Who wrote this song?"

Li Yu didn't speak, looking at Bian Xuedao.

Bian Xuedao said, "I wrote the lyrics, and we both composed the music."

Upon hearing this, the two of them knew it was a done deal. But Long Hair had a flexible mind: "Do you want to make it an MP3 or an MV?"

Bian Xuedao hadn't thought about an MV, so he said, "MP3."

"Can we do this?" Long Hair leaned in, "I and Xiao Tao," pointing to Convenience Head, whose real name was Tang Tao, "we'll help you make the MV for free. You just need to give us a mention, like arranger, producer, or even drummer and guitarist. What do you say, buddy?"

Tang Tao, seeing that Long Hair hadn't left him out, looked at Long Hair gratefully and quickly added, "Yeah, just a mention, you two don't need to worry about anything else. The song will still be yours."

Bian Xuedao had impulsively decided to make this song. Seeing that someone was willing to help and even pay, he thought about it and agreed, but he had one condition, pointing to Li Yu, "We'll be credited as 'Brothers,' but we won't show our faces."

Long Hair thought this was even better. The MV could be done in animation, which would save money and could be done by his friends.

Long Hair and Tang Tao spent three days in the studio working on the arrangement. They called Bian Xuedao twice to listen to the semi-finished product. On the fifth day, Bian Xuedao and Li Yu spent a day recording, but they didn't succeed.

Bian Xuedao could have sung it perfectly alone, but when he gave a part to Li Yu, Li Yu had trouble grasping the rock feel. They took a day off to help Li Yu find his groove, and the second recording was successful. They left the post-production to Long Hair and Tang Tao, and Bian Xuedao and Li Yu returned to school to wait for news.

At Bian Xuedao's home in the Red Mansion, Li Yu asked, "Did you really write that song?"

"Uh-huh."

"Really?"

"Have you heard anyone else sing it?"

"How did you come up with it?"

"I don't know, I thought of it sitting outside 11A."

"You're amazing!"

Li Yu returned to the dorm, taking the new guitar Bian Xuedao had bought with him.

On Friday evening, the last class of "Nutrition and Culinary Arts," Bian Xuedao went to class. He came because two weeks earlier, Liao Liao had told him that the last class of "Nutrition and Culinary Arts" was on Friday, and the teacher had announced that there would be a roll call.

If the teacher had announced it and he didn't go, would that be right?

If a beautiful girl had personally reminded him and he didn't go, would that be right?

Bian Xuedao habitually sat in the farthest corner of the classroom. Except for answering "Here" once, he was like a transparent person. Liao Liao, sitting a few rows behind him, glanced at him from time to time, finding him motionless. She glanced again and found him still motionless. For the entire class, Liao Liao didn't know how many times she had looked at Bian Xuedao. He sat there in one posture, like a monk in deep meditation.

After class, Liao Liao packed her things, chatted with a classmate, and when she looked up again, Bian Xuedao was already gone.

One afternoon, Bian Xuedao was writing a paper in his room when the old landlady knocked and came in to talk to him.

From the landlady's expression, Bian Xuedao thought she was going to raise the rent, but she said she and her husband were planning to sell the house. The listing was already with a local real estate agent. She came to inform Bian Xuedao so he could prepare. If the house sold soon, Professor Shen would refund the remaining rent. As for whether the new owner would rent, she suggested Bian Xuedao discuss it with the new owner.

Bian Xuedao asked a few simple questions. The landlady said they were selling the house to move to Beijing to take care of their pregnant daughter. They planned to buy a smaller house in Beijing and settle there.

Bian Xuedao casually asked, "How much are you planning to sell it for?"

The landlady didn't think much of it and said, "275,000 yuan."

Bian Xuedao asked, "How big is it?"

The landlady said, "120 square meters."

Bian Xuedao didn't return to the dorm that night, lying in his room thinking about the house.

Since his rebirth, Bian Xuedao had always planned to start by buying houses. He had already done some preliminary research on some properties in Songjiang City with great potential for appreciation. Bian Xuedao had some money, which might be considered a lot by ordinary standards, but it was far from enough for his plans. Professor Shen's house was in a good location and would appreciate in the future, but it wouldn't be as profitable as some other properties he had in mind.

However, buying this house had its advantages. It was in the school compound, making it convenient for classes and maintaining the website, and it would be his first completely independent space.

Bian Xuedao thought about it for a long time, but he still couldn't make up his mind, especially since he had no one to consult. He couldn't talk to his closest parents, his dorm mates, his friends, or Dong Xue. If Xu Shangxiu weren't in her current situation, he would have talked to her, but now she was still someone else's girlfriend.

Bian Xuedao suddenly felt very lonely.

He realized that he had rushed so far, surrounded by a bustling crowd, yet he was alone.

If Xu Shangxiu didn't accept him in the near future, should he find a girlfriend? He couldn't watch Xu Shangxiu be affectionate with someone else and remain single until 2009.

The next morning, Bian Xuedao made a decision.

He found Professor Shen and said he wanted to buy the house. The old couple repeatedly confirmed that Bian Xuedao wasn't joking. Professor Shen suddenly asked, "Are your parents officials?"

Bian Xuedao said, "No, they are self-employed, doing some small business."

Professor Shen didn't ask any more questions.

No matter how much the old couple suspected that Bian Xuedao was joking, when he placed 275,000 yuan in front of them, all doubts vanished. Since it was a full payment, the transfer was quick, and the real estate center told Bian Xuedao to come back in two weeks to pick up the new property deed.

In December 2002, Bian Xuedao had his first house.

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