Chapter 23

Piao Dacheng was speechless, thinking to himself, "Is it still not enough to test him with another song?" From Ma Xiaodong’s tone, it seemed that he was determined to make Lin Zaishan fail today!

Piao Dacheng, on the contrary, felt a bit sympathetic towards Lin Zaishan.

He wanted to see if Lin Zaishan truly had the solid skills to make Ma Xiaodong admit his talent.

The others, seeing Ma Xiaodong and Lin Zaishan at odds, also developed a sense of anticipation, eager to see how this would play out.

Only Sun Yuzhen was silently cursing Ma Xiaodong in her heart.

She really wanted to wrap this fat director in a bun and eat him!

How could anyone be so bullying?

It was clear that Ma Xiaodong was going to continue to make things difficult for Lin Zaishan!

Why did he refuse to recognize Lin Zaishan’s talent?

Was this the famous literary jealousy?

"Knock, knock."

The door to the meeting room opened, and Liao Bo returned.

Seeing the strange atmosphere in the room, Liao Bo didn’t dare to say much, and he even hesitated to greet Lin Zaishan.

He sat back down at his spot in the music group.

After asking his colleagues about the situation inside, he learned that Ma Xiaodong and Lin Zaishan were at odds!

Sure enough, they were at odds!

Liao Bo was very worried about Lin Zaishan.

Liao Bo knew very well that their Director Ma was a fat man with a narrow heart. If Lin Zaishan crossed him, even if he had a chance to appear on the show in the future, he would definitely be treated unfairly.

Liao Bo was sweating for Lin Zaishan.

"Today is a sunny day, Teacher Lin. Why don’t you create a simple musical piece with the theme of ‘sunny day’? Feel free to improvise and extend it as you like."

With a gentle smile, Piao Dacheng gave Lin Zaishan a topic, his eyes filled with a hint of anticipation.

As the main producer and first responsible person for the show, Piao Dacheng was eagerly seeking out talented singer-songwriters.

He had a vague feeling that this forgotten rock star, who had been overlooked by the entertainment industry, might be the kind of genius he had been dreaming of.

Seeing Piao Dacheng give the topic, everyone looked at Lin Zaishan with anticipation, eager to see if this silver-haired uncle, who had just made a bold statement to Ma Xiaodong, would rise to the challenge.

Lin Zaishan did not disappoint. After Piao Dacheng gave him the topic of "sunny day," he immediately started playing the guitar!

With a few simple chords—C, G, and E—he played a few loops and managed to create a refreshingly beautiful prelude!

Music is a magical art. A few notes combined can create a spell that unlocks the memory banks of the mind.

Moved by Lin Zaishan’s clear and refreshing prelude, many in the meeting room were reminded of their past memories.

Listening to this familiar prelude, Lin Zaishan himself was flooded with even more memories.

When Piao Dacheng gave the topic of "sunny day," the first thing that came to Lin Zaishan’s mind was Jay Chou’s "Sunny Day," a song that had accompanied countless young and mature youths through their growth, leaving many with bittersweet memories.

The melody of the prelude was so familiar that sometimes, when Lin Zaishan was tuning a new guitar, he would play the prelude of "Sunny Day" to check the tuning.

After the topic of "sunny day" came to mind, he almost subconsciously strummed the strings, bringing this song, which had left countless people with memories of their youth, to life in this world.

Without using the沧桑 (weathered) vocal range he used for "Coke," Lin Zaishan tightened his vocal cords, sounding much younger, and with a smile of reminiscence, he began to sing "Sunny Day" in a mid-to-high pitch, mimicking Jay Chou—

...

The little yellow flowers of the story~

Have been floating since the year of my birth~

The swings of childhood~

Have been swinging in my memory until now~

...

Everyone was taken aback by Lin Zaishan’s change in singing style.

Even Sun Yuzhen and Liao Bo were stunned.

They couldn’t understand why Lin Zaishan, with his excellent magnetic voice, would sing in such a fine and delicate way. Was he just trying out the song?

Next, Lin Zaishan’s lyrics were even more surprising. He actually sang the musical notes—

...

Rui-sou-sou-xi-dou-xi-la~

Sou-la-xi-xi-xi-xi-la-xi-la-sou~

...

In another life, Jay Chou singing the musical notes in the song had earned him a lot of praise: "Impressive!"

But now, when Lin Zaishan sang the notes, Piao Dacheng and the others thought he was creating the song on the spot, or singing an unfinished piece from the past.

Regardless of what others thought, Lin Zaishan let his youth memories flow, continuing to perform Jay Chou’s classic—

...

Blowing the prelude and looking at the sky~

I remember the petals trying to fall~

The day I skipped class for you~

The day the flowers fell~

In that classroom~

I can’t see you~

The rainy day that disappeared~

I want to feel it again~

I didn’t expect to still have the courage I lost~

I want to ask again~

Will you wait or leave~

...

Listening to this part, even the less sensitive ears wouldn’t be moved by Lin Zaishan’s voice, as there was no arrangement or accompaniment.

But Ma Xiaodong was quite surprised.

Ma Xiaodong’s trained ears picked up many more details than others.

To Ma Xiaodong, Lin Zaishan’s vague singing style was definitely intentional. He blended the Chinese pronunciation of the lyrics with the melody, greatly enhancing the song’s listenability.

This singing style made every word full of melody, and the words seemed to melt into the tune, creating a novel and extremely impressive effect, which greatly broadened Ma Xiaodong’s horizons!

Most musicians would only sing this way when humming a demo or a melody in their mind. In the actual song, they would never sing like this, as it would seem too casual.

But Lin Zaishan sang so casually, with precise rhythm and timing, making his impromptu creation refreshingly sophisticated, without any sense of randomness. It was like a gentle breeze, pulling people into his nostalgic school memories.

In terms of creativity, Ma Xiaodong felt that this song by Lin Zaishan was much stronger than the previous one.

The previous song "Coke" was only clever in its lyrics; this one was clever in its melody and innovative in its form, which was a very challenging task. Without a solid foundation in composition, no one could pull off such a feat.

This guy really has some talent!

Not playing rock anymore, he can handle other music styles so well, he’s quite capable!

Feeling the vibrant and diverse musical charm Lin Zaishan exuded, Ma Xiaodong became a bit interested in his music.

If Ma Xiaodong was already interested in the song when Lin Zaishan sang the earlier parts, the others were thoroughly captivated when he softly sang the following, gentle and nostalgic climax—

...

On a windy day, I tried holding your hand~

But the rain gradually grew so heavy I couldn’t see you~

How much longer will it take for me to be by your side~

Maybe I’ll feel a bit better when the sky clears~

...

Once upon a time, there was someone who loved you for a long time~

But the wind gradually blew the distance so far~

It was hard to love you for one more day~

But at the end of the story, you seemed to say goodbye~

...

"But the rain gradually~"

"But the wind gradually~"

These two lines warmed the hearts of the women in the room.

Especially Liu Mengmeng, who looked a lot like a little fox, had been following Ma Xiaodong for a long time and had excellent musical sense.

Listening to Lin Zaishan’s song, Liu Mengmeng felt like she was back in her curly-haired, buck-toothed, love-struck teenage years.

Many innocent and beautiful memories welled up in her heart.

Lin Zaishan’s song was like planting a little yellow flower in people’s hearts, blooming under the sunny sky, creating a scene that was refreshingly beautiful!

It was almost purifying their adult hearts, which had lost their innocence and even become somewhat corrupted!

Was this impromptu piece created by this uncle?

From his earlier singing of the notes, it seemed there was a significant impromptu element.

To be able to create such a novel and impressive work on the spot, this uncle’s talent was truly remarkable!

He was called a genius rock youth for a reason.

He indeed had something unique about him.

No wonder he could outshine their Director Ma in popularity and heat back then.

Liu Mengmeng sneaked a glance at Ma Xiaodong, curious about his reaction. In her ears, this song was absolutely brilliant!

Ma Xiaodong’s fat face remained expressionless, but his small eyes behind the black-rimmed glasses were twinkling with interest.

Lin Zaishan sang the song from beginning to end.

He skipped the final rap part, as it would sound awkward without harmonies and arrangements.

The version of "Sunny Day" he presented was slightly incomplete but was enough to captivate the ears of those in the meeting room and touch their hearts with nostalgia.

Especially their hearts filled with memories of first love.

What is the taste of first love?

Sour? Sweet? Bitter? Spicy? Five-spice? Wasabi?

Everyone’s taste is different.

Even if it’s a chocolate, leek, mint, and garlic flavor, this "Sunny Day" might still stir a ripple of memory.

At least in Lin Zaishan’s heart, every time he heard this song, it was filled with memories.

Lin Zaishan finished his song.

"Clap, clap, clap, clap—good!"

Piao Dacheng led the applause for Lin Zaishan.

He didn’t care much about the connection between the song and the topic of "sunny day." At least to him, the song was refreshingly clear and left a lasting impression.

Seeing the boss clap, Sun Yuzhen clapped even harder, giving Lin Zaishan a big thumbs up in her heart!

This uncle’s musical image in her mind was becoming more and more invincible!

The colleagues in the music group, seeing Ma Xiaodong’s indifferent expression, didn’t dare to clap for Lin Zaishan.

Liao Bo clapped for Lin Zaishan in his heart.

He was a bit disappointed that he missed Lin Zaishan’s performance of "Coke."

But hearing this song, Liao Bo was deeply moved, as if he was back in his college days, reliving the excitement of first meeting Sun Yuzhen.

While listening to Lin Zaishan’s song, Liao Bo sneaked several glances at Sun Yuzhen.

He could see the admiration in her eyes, filled with a deep appreciation for Lin Zaishan’s musical talent.

This look reminded him of how Sun Yuzhen used to watch his performances in college. She looked so pure and adorable, so heartwarming.

Looking back, his musical dreams had shifted from the stage to behind the scenes.

He no longer had the chance to perform on stage.

Sun Yuzhen hadn’t shown such admiration for him in a long time.

This made Liao Bo feel a bit bitter and nostalgic.

However, seeing Sun Yuzhen’s admiration for Lin Zaishan, Liao Bo felt a sense of warmth, thinking that this girl was still as pure as ever.

He didn’t realize that Sun Yuzhen’s admiration for Lin Zaishan had a romantic undertone.

In Liao Bo’s view, Lin Zaishan was a whole generation older than Sun Yuzhen, in a difficult situation, and had a daughter. There was no way Sun Yuzhen would like him romantically. So he never thought in that direction.

He believed Sun Yuzhen was simply admiring Lin Zaishan’s music.

After interacting with Lin Zaishan a few times, Liao Bo also admired his music.

This uncle’s musical talent was truly extraordinary!

If he hadn’t made so many mistakes in his youth and had remained in the music industry, Liao Bo couldn’t imagine how high he would have risen.

Even with his current situation, if Lin Zaishan could seize the opportunity, he still had the potential to make a comeback, and it might be unstoppable.

Liao Bo befriended Lin Zaishan because of his musical charm and potential for a comeback.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have associated with such a controversial figure, to avoid getting into trouble.

"Director Ma, what do you think?" Piao Dacheng asked Ma Xiaodong with a smile.

"What’s there to comment on? This isn’t a recording session, and I’m not a judge."

Ma Xiaodong didn’t want to give Lin Zaishan such a face, let alone comment on his song. What a dream!

But in his heart, Ma Xiaodong had the urge to dissect the song like a master chef.

Piao Dacheng smiled and mediated, "I’m not a music expert, but from an ordinary viewer’s perspective, I think Teacher Lin’s impromptu song is very good. Was this impromptu?" He asked because Lin Zaishan had sung the notes.

"I said, I won’t answer whether it was impromptu or not. Just assume it was impromptu."

"Amazing."

Piao Dacheng was very impressed by Lin Zaishan’s musical talent.

He glanced at Kui Yu, who also had an admiring expression, and winked, signaling him to take over.

Kui Yu understood and said to Lin Zaishan, "Teacher Lin, you just created a very moving piece with the theme of ‘sunny day,’ which was quite impressive. Can you create another song with the opposite theme, ‘rainy day’? I believe Director Ma would be very interested in seeing your different impromptu talents."

Piao Dacheng nodded in satisfaction and looked at Lin Zaishan.

Piao Dacheng knew Ma Xiaodong wouldn’t let Lin Zaishan off easily. Instead of letting Ma Xiaodong make things difficult for Lin Zaishan and ruin the atmosphere, he preferred to have his subordinate "challenge" Lin Zaishan, giving him more room to perform.

Otherwise, if Ma Xiaodong gave another topic, who knows what bizarre theme he would come up with.

Their "Strongest Singer-Songwriter" story group had a creative idea for the semi-finals, where singer-songwriters would draw different themes from the same range to compete.

For example, with the theme of weather, they would include "sunny day," "rainy day," "snowy day," "windy day," etc., for the singer-songwriters to interpret.

Piao Dacheng had already given the topic of "sunny day," and Lin Zaishan’s performance was nearly perfect. Now, with Kui Yu giving the topic of "rainy day," Piao Dacheng wanted to see how Lin Zaishan’s impromptu creation skills were.

Kui Yu and others were also very interested in Lin Zaishan’s performance.

Even Niu Li, the other senior female group leader who didn’t recommend Lin Zaishan for the show, was impressed by his impromptu talent.

Niu Li, a former music journalist, knew many songwriters in the industry. Several of the singer-songwriters participating in their show were recommended by her.

But she had never seen anyone like Lin Zaishan, who could create music impromptu in seconds!

When he said he was suitable for their show, it wasn’t just talk!

If he could solve all the topics at this speed, he would be one of the strongest contenders for this season of "Strongest Singer-Songwriter."

Having such a talented and controversial figure on their show would indeed boost their ratings and popularity, Niu Li admitted.

Even if Lin Zaishan had negative news, as long as he could win people over with his music, it wouldn’t matter.

Moreover, his personality was now more refined and mature, full of charm.

If he really appeared on their show, he would definitely attract a lot of fans!

Niu Li was now eagerly looking forward to Lin Zaishan’s performance.

Ma Xiaodong didn’t comment on Kui Yu’s topic, crossing his arms and tilting his head slightly, curious to see if Lin Zaishan had a song with the theme of "rainy day" in his repertoire.

Everyone’s attention was on Lin Zaishan.

Sun Yuzhen’s clear, innocent eyes never left Lin Zaishan after he picked up his guitar.

Lin Zaishan smiled and glanced at Kui Yu, who had given him the topic.

This short-haired senior beauty sitting next to Sun Yuzhen looked a bit like Ma Yili.

Even sitting next to the innocent Sun Yuzhen, she was quite attractive and pleasant to look at.

The topic of "rainy day" was very easy for Lin Zaishan.

In the previous life, Li Zongsheng’s "Rainy Day" for Karen Mok was a classic!

The humorous rap version of "Rainy Day" by Tang Bohu was also very popular online.

For such a song, Lin Zaishan didn’t need to recall much in his mind. Even if he was drunk, he could sing it perfectly.

After the whispers in the meeting room died down, Lin Zaishan once again quickly started playing, using new chords to bombard everyone’s ears.

Unlike the fresh and moving prelude for "sunny day," the chords for "rainy day" were gloomy and cold.

The meeting room was still bright, but with the cold melody, Lin Zaishan instantly turned the sky outside into a gloomy, thought-provoking day.