Chapter 7

It was ten o'clock at night.

At the recording studio of Dongyi University.

Zhang Pengfei, as fat as an elephant, was supervising the recording of the Believers Band.

The five members of the Believers Band were all students of the Visual Arts Department at Dongyi University. However, the band they formed did not follow the avant-garde visual style but leaned more towards traditional heavy metal rock.

The band's lead singer, Zhang Hao, was a sworn brother of Zhang Pengfei.

Inside the recording studio, Zhang Hao was leading the band members with great enthusiasm, singing their new song "The Truth" —

...

If time were all in our hands~

Turning a corner, we'd meet different scenes~

It doesn't matter if we don't become billionaires~

It's just a few zeros in the bank~

What truly matters is making those we love happy~

With a pure heart, chasing dreams, we will surely win~

Courage is the best proof of a life well-lived~

With the rhythm of our hearts, we fight with all our might~

This is our truth~!

...

Zhang Hao's high notes were very strong, with a heart-rending warmth in the high range. Listening to such music, Zhang Pengfei felt very excited.

However, the band had not been around for long, and their coordination was lacking. The song they wrote had a strong presence, but there were many flaws in the details and transitions.

As a top graduate from the Music Department of Dongyi University, Zhang Pengfei found the Believers Band to be quite immature, but he admired their passion for music.

In today's era, there are few students who are truly dedicated to their bands. Most play music as a hobby, and few are determined to pursue it as a career.

Zhang Hao and his friends were not specifically studying music, but they were extremely passionate about it and had the intention of turning their amateur band into a professional rock band. Zhang Pengfei was very supportive of this, so he was willing to help these juniors as much as he could.

"Knock, knock."

The door to the recording studio was knocked on.

Zhang Pengfei turned his head and saw a pretty girl's face through the round soundproof glass.

It was Sun Yuzhen.

Zhang Pengfei smiled and waved his fat hand at Sun Yuzhen, gesturing for her to come in.

Sun Yuzhen gently pushed the door open and entered.

She saw a few young people dressed in trendy clothes recording in the studio, and the fat Zhang Pengfei was wearing headphones, supervising the recording. Sun Yuzhen didn't speak to Zhang Pengfei and quietly walked to his side.

Zhang Pengfei handed Sun Yuzhen a pair of monitoring headphones and gestured for her to sit down and listen.

Sun Yuzhen put on the headphones and sat down to enjoy the band's performance.

As soon as the music entered her ears, Sun Yuzhen felt particularly restless. The drum beats in the headphones were very dense, but the guitar seemed to be lagging behind, and the rhythm of the accompaniment was clearly off.

The lead singer's voice was good, high and powerful, with a lot of energy. However, the guitar, which was a beat behind, dragged the performance down, making it quite poor.

Frustrated by the sudden deterioration of the music, Zhang Pengfei stopped the recording and spoke into the microphone: "Damn it! Song Peng (lead guitarist), have you never seen a beautiful girl before! Seeing a beautiful girl makes you unable to play your guitar, is that it!"

Zhang Hao and the other members were also angry and wanted to kick the grinning Song Peng. They were playing well, but this guy got distracted by the beauty and couldn't shake off his bad habit.

"Sorry, sorry, I'm a fool! I'll kowtow to everyone, let's do it again?"

Song Peng, knowing he was at fault, knelt down and pretended to kowtow to everyone, but he was still grinning and couldn't stop sneaking glances at Sun Yuzhen outside the studio.

"Let's take a break first!"

They had been recording for a long time without achieving good results, and Zhang Pengfei was getting frustrated.

Leaning back in his chair and taking off the headphones, Zhang Pengfei greeted Sun Yuzhen: "Sister-in-law, it's been a while."

"You're asking for a beating! Stop calling me that!"

Sun Yuzhen gave Zhang Pengfei a playful glare. This fat guy with a festive bowl haircut used to tease her a lot in school.

They were in the same year but different departments.

Back then, Zhang Pengfei and his friends from the Music Department formed a rock band called "Initial Flight," which was quite famous in the student music scene at Donghai University. They often performed at nearby bars.

Like other young people who loved music, Sun Yuzhen was a fan of Initial Flight when she was in school, and she had a good relationship with the band members.

The band's leader was a senior from the Music Department, two years ahead of them, named Liao Bo.

Liao Bo had always liked Sun Yuzhen, a beautiful junior, and pursued her.

Zhang Pengfei and his friends helped Liao Bo pursue Sun Yuzhen and often jokingly called her "sister-in-law."

Sun Yuzhen also liked Liao Bo, or rather, admired him.

However, unfortunately, Liao Bo was quite fickle. While pursuing Sun Yuzhen, he was also involved with other girls. When Sun Yuzhen found out, she couldn't accept his feelings.

Fortunately, they had never officially dated, so their relationship didn't become awkward and eventually turned into a good senior-junior friendship.

Liao Bo joined Oriental TV two years before Sun Yuzhen.

Sun Yuzhen was able to join Oriental TV after graduation thanks to Liao Bo's help.

At 27, Liao Bo was a promising music producer in the music department of Oriental TV.

For the major new show "The Strongest Singer-Songwriter," the best musicians from the station were gathered to support the program.

Liao Bo was one of the key members of this music team.

Liao Bo took good care of Sun Yuzhen at the company, and they had a good relationship.

Zhang Pengfei and Sun Yuzhen also had a good relationship; they were from the same hometown.

Both Zhang Pengfei and Sun Yuzhen had come from the capital of Liaozhou in Northeast China to the southern entertainment capital to study and work.

After graduating from Dongyi University two years ago, Zhang Pengfei joined an entertainment company to work on his beloved music production.

He was an excellent DJ and often accompanied the company's singers on tours.

This fat guy knew that Liao Bo still liked Sun Yuzhen, so he still jokingly called her "sister-in-law" and tried to bring the talented couple together.

"You'll have to work hard tonight, fatty, helping my friend record."

"What hard work? It's just a small favor. But you'll have to wait a bit; I need to finish recording with these juniors first."

Leaning closer to Sun Yuzhen, Zhang Pengfei gave a mischievous smile and whispered, "They paid me, so I have to help them first."

"Understood."

Sun Yuzhen smiled and whispered, "Don't mention money with me."

"Of course not, I wouldn't dare ask for money to help your friend. If I did, Liao Bo would beat me to death!"

"Don't say such nonsense. Liao Bo and I are just senior-junior friends; we're not like you think."

"Hehe, you two will be like I think in the future."

Out of concern for his fellow townsman, Zhang Pengfei added, "Yuzhen, between us, Liao Bo has been single for you. You should seize the opportunity. Liao Bo has a great background, he's talented, and he's from Donghai. If you marry him, you won't have to worry about your future. This opportunity might not come again, so you should really think about it."

"What do I have to think about? Liao Bo and I are impossible!"

Although she admired Liao Bo's talent, his character was questionable.

This guy still hadn't changed his fickle ways, so Sun Yuzhen couldn't consider a relationship with him.

"Brother Fei, who is this beautiful sister? Can you introduce us?"

Song Peng came out of the recording studio, grinning and wanting to meet Sun Yuzhen.

"Get lost, you! Go buy coffee!" Zhang Pengfei kicked Song Peng angrily.

After Song Peng left to buy coffee, Zhang Pengfei introduced Zhang Hao and the others to Sun Yuzhen.

Hearing that Sun Yuzhen was a senior from Dongyi University and currently a music program producer at Oriental TV, and that she was close to their idol Liao Bo, the juniors showed great respect.

Following Zhang Pengfei's example, they called Sun Yuzhen "sister-in-law," much to her annoyance.

"Don't flatter me. Our station is planning a new music show called 'The Strongest Singer-Songwriter,' looking for talented singer-songwriters. Are your band's songs all original? Are you interested in trying out?"

Before Zhang Hao and the others could answer, Zhang Pengfei said, "They have no chance, don't let them embarrass themselves."

"Brother Fei, you're underestimating us!" Zhang Hao was a bit upset.

"It's not that I'm underestimating you, but you really have no chance! Liao Bo told me about this show. He even suggested I try out, but when I heard the lineup, damn, it's all senior veterans, super talented! I didn't want to embarrass myself by joining in."

Zhang Pengfei asked Zhang Hao and the others, "Do you think you're as good as me?"

The band's bassist, Li He, flattered, "How can we compare to Brother Fei?"

"You know your place! I wouldn't have a chance, so do you think you do?"

Zhang Hao was speechless but still wanted to try, as the saying goes, "A young bull is not afraid of tigers."

Sun Yuzhen said to Zhang Pengfei, "You're just afraid to try. If you listen to Liao Bo's advice and try out, you might get selected."

"What's the point of getting selected? There's no prize money or appearance fee. I'd have to make time for the show, which would interfere with my work. Liao Bo told me that only the top 20 contestants get prize money."

"Why are you so focused on money? If you become famous from this show, won't every company want to hire you for performances?"

"Me, famous? Ha!"

Zhang Pengfei laughed, "Sister-in-law, is Liao Bo making you persuade me? I really can't go, I don't have the time or the talent."

"You're really underestimating yourself. I'm here to bring a friend to record. He wants to participate in our show. Help him record well; I need to submit this demo to Liao Bo."

"Anyone you recommend, Liao Bo will definitely let them on!"

"Liao Bo can't decide everything. The selection process for this show is very strict, no backdoor deals. No matter who recommends someone, the entire music team has to evaluate them, and the final decision is made by the station's music director, Ma Xiaodong. Unless you know Ma Xiaodong, you can only speak with your work."

Zhang Hao asked Sun Yuzhen, "Sister-in-law, is your friend coming to record later? We can learn from him and see what level is required for the show."

Zhang Pengfei discouraged Zhang Hao, "No matter what level, you have no chance! Don't think too much, just focus on finishing this underground album. Solidify your basics, that's more important."

Zhang Pengfei then looked at Sun Yuzhen, "By the way, who are you bringing to record? Do I know them?"

"It's a new friend I met, a senior in the rock scene—Lin Zaishan, you know, the one who sang 'The Wheat Field.'"

"Didn't the guy who sang 'The Wheat Field' go to jail?" Zhang Pengfei was surprised.

"He's been released."

"Released? He's still making music? Wasn't he long gone?"

"Don't jump to conclusions. This guy was indeed in a slump for a while, but he's not gone. He's very talented."

Hearing Sun Yuzhen's tone, Zhang Pengfei was suddenly worried—Sun Yuzhen's social circle was very narrow, and her friends were all very proper. How could a girl like her be associated with a rock veteran like Lin Zaishan, who had been in jail?

"How did you meet Lin Zaishan?" Zhang Pengfei asked.

"It's a long story, but he's my friend. Help him record well later. I think he has a good chance of getting on our show."

Zhang Hao couldn't help but say, "No way, Sister-in-law, if that guy can get on your show, we can too!"

"Hmm?"

Sun Yuzhen was taken aback, sensing a hidden meaning in Zhang Hao's words.

"About half a year ago, I heard that guy sing at the Waterdrop Bar. What a mess! He was just shouting and making noise. He didn't even finish a song before the crowd booed him off."

Li He nodded in agreement; he was there that night. The guy's singing was truly terrible.

"Are you sure you didn't mistake him? I'm talking about the guy who sang 'The Wheat Field.'"

"I'm talking about the guy who sang 'The Wheat Field.' I couldn't have mistaken him. The DJ introduced him, and it was Lin Zaishan. The crowd was booing him, and it was very embarrassing. He's long past his prime, and he can't even rely on his seniority. What talent does he have?"

Thinking back to that embarrassing performance, Zhang Hao couldn't see anything redeeming about the guy. He couldn't understand why Sun Yuzhen was so supportive of Lin Zaishan.

"Maybe he wasn't in the right state when you saw him. He was in a slump for a while. But don't underestimate him; he's very talented."

"Knock, knock."

Before Sun Yuzhen could finish, the door to the recording studio was knocked on.

Through the round glass window, Lin Zaishan's weathered and haggard face appeared, along with the small head of a white dove peering in.