The next day, Shen Xingsui was contacted by his agent.
Because of the popularity of “Bright Stars”, his popularity also increased alongside it. During the recording, he showed off his musical talent and excellent performance, which attracted the attention of many music producers. As a result, he had received many invitations to TV dramas and movies. Shen Xingsui was asked to make opening and ending songs for them, and the price offered was not low.
Wang Meican selected one for him, “Teacher Hu Kaiyue wants to meet you, and hopes to cooperate with you to produce an album.”
Hu Kaiyue.
Shen Xingsui was stunned when he heard this name, because he was a household name, and everyone knew him. If there were two big figures in the music world back then, then Fu Jinxiao was one, and Hu Kaiyue was the other. His songs could be heard in the streets and alleys. He was even dubbed as the “Little Prince of Music” back then.
Shen Xingsui excitedly said, “It’s really Mr. Hu?”
Wang Meican smiled. “It’s really him.”
Shen Xingsui felt like he was hit by a pie falling from the sky. Not long ago, he was able to cooperate with Fu Jinxiao to release a song, and now he was fortunate enough to be able to produce an album with Hu Kaiyue. This progress of the event was too good, and not something he even dared to dream about!
Wang Meican appropriately poured cold water on him, “But you have to participate in the audition first and pass his assessment.”
“There are two songs in this album that are the theme songs for big movies,” Wang Meican continued, “As for the rest, Mr. Hu planned to release the songs as a single first. So there are quite a few musicians in the industry that wish to participate.”
Shen Xingsui was much calmer now. Thinking about it rationally, of course there wouldn’t be such a good thing that came without an asterisk.
Wang Meican encouraged him again. “But you are already very good if you can be invited. In this circle, you are considered a newcomer. It is very rare for a newcomer to get an invitation from Mr. Hu. In a sense, it is a good thing for you.”
Shen Xingsui smiled and nodded in response. “Don’t worry, as long as I can meet Mr. Hu, even if I can’t cooperate, I can learn something from him. This kind of opportunity is extremely precious to me. So in this assessment, even if the chance of success is small and the competition is high, I will not give up.”
Wang Meican was proud of his attitude. “It’s good that you have such awareness.”
A few days later, Shen Xingsui came to the assessment place.
To his surprise, he actually met an acquaintance here, and it was the acquaintance he didn’t want to see the most——Anran and Zhang Chi.
Anran was also taken aback when he saw him, but he still greeted him, “Suisui, what a coincidence.”
Shen Xingsui nodded and said nothing.
For him, Anran was an existence he always went out of his way to avoid unless strictly necessary. He had a protagonist halo, so it’s better for a cannon fodder like him to not go against him head-on.
Anran leaned over and said, “Suisui, I didn’t expect to meet you here, are you also here to participate in the assessment? I heard that Mr. Hu is quite strict. I feel so nervous. Are you not nervous? “
Shen Xingsui found that Anran’s clothes were different today than usual.
He wore plain clothes. It was neatly pressed and very tidy, basically without a spot. It seemed he had spent a lot of effort on this assessment.
Shen Xingsui perfunctorily replied, “I’ll just do my best.”
Anran saw his attitude, so he stopped talking.
Zhang Chi next to him said instead, “Suisui, it is fate to meet you here.”
“Indeed,” Shen Xingsui was really curious, why Zhang Chi was everywhere. “Are you also going to participate in the audition?”
Zhang Chi nodded. “I attended a musical conservatory abroad, and this time I return to China because I also want to study music. This assessment is an opportunity for me.”
After all, the producer Hu Kaiyue is his uncle1HKY is ZC’s 表叔 “biǎoshū”, literally cousin-uncle. Specifically, it’s the male cousin of your mother., so he got this chance. This back-door opportunity was something he couldn’t miss.
Shen Xingsui didn’t know the twists and turns behind that, so he just said, “Let’s work hard together.”
Next to him, Anran turned his charm to the max and said, “Of course, it would be even better if we can be selected together, everyone. Aren’t we all classmates back then? We can finally work together.”
In fact, Anran has a chance to win this assessment. In his previous life, he missed the chance to participate in this album. Thanks to his foreknowledge, he understood Hu Kaiyue’s hobbies and habits. This producer loves “cleanliness” in a person – not only the physical sense of cleanliness, but also the attitude of it, and even in music.
This kind of “clean”-sounding song was not easy to purposefully compose. For that, he has especially hired a ghost-writter to make a song for him at a high price. All he needed was to pretend to be a clean boy, and his success was guaranteed.
A staff member called their name from the front, Anran smiled at Shen Xingsui and went in.
There were also quite a few people around who came to the selection test this time. Everyone was very silent. Although they didn’t say anything, Shen Xingsui could see that they were all very nervous. After all, this opportunity was really important.
About half an hour later, Anran came out.
He still had a faint smile on his face, it seemed that the result of his assessment was good. He gave a meaningful look at Shen Xingsui and left.
The staff shouted, “Next, Shen Xingsui.”
Shen Xingsui stood up and went in. This music room – Hu Kaiyue’s private studio – surprised him. If he had to describe it, he would say that this was the cleanest studio he ever set his foot on. Even the row of musical instruments lined up was spotlessly flawless and neat.
Hu Kaiyue sat at the front of the table, playing a game of chess with himself.
Shen Xingsui went over and bowed, “Hello, teacher, I am Shen Xingsui.”
Hu Kaiyue raised his eyes to look at him, “I saw you on that reality show. I know that your two lyrics and music arrangements are good and clean, and you wrote them yourself, right?”
Shen Xingsui replied, “Yes.”
Hu Kaiyue held the chess pieces in his hand, looked at the chessboard as if hesitating where to put it, and said, “I will only give you one assessment. Within ten minutes, go perform a ‘clean, pure’ music for me.”
Clean?
This seemed to be the second time he heard this word.
And this word was too vague as a music descriptor. It’s hard to imagine at all…
Hu Kaiyue looked up at him and said, “Is this okay?”
Shen Xingsui regained his senses and nodded, “I can try.”
The producer pointed to the musical instruments not far away, and said, “Choose whatever you want.”
Shen Xingsui turned around, seemingly in a daze, but actually mulling over the word “clean”.
‘Express it cleanly? How can I create a complete repertoire?’
The best instrument to express the concept of “cleanliness” he understood was the piano.
For other choices, both guzheng and guqin also had this “clean” sound in his opinion.
But he was faced with rows and rows of musical instruments, and the number of choices paralyzed him. Furthermore, he didn’t know if his concept of “clean” was the same as Hu Kaiyue’s. But still, he thought that it’s best to use his own concept for this performance.
About ten minutes later — Hu Kaiyue obviously didn’t have a clock in his hand — he put down his chess pieces. He looked at Shen Xingsui and said, “It’s time, have you decided on the song?”
Shen Xingsui said. “I’ve made up my mind.”
Hu Kaiyue raised his eyebrows, clearly intrigued. “Let’s start.”
According to what Hu Kaiyue had predicted, Shen Xingsui would choose the piano or something. But to his surprise, Shen Xingsui actually picked up the simplest accordion he had. He walked up to Hu Kaiyue and sat down, met the older man’s gaze and said, “Then, I will start.”
On a spring afternoon, a boy in a white shirt sat on the floor, near the curtain beside the bed. With the breeze as its companion, the sound of the accordion was crisp and sweet. The children’s song he played might have a simple tune, but it was also the one that comforted him the most.
Shen Xingsui’s side face was serious yet delicate. The childish tone that danced from his hand felt alive, all pure of joy and cheer. It’s as if it had a vitality of its own – its simplicity and nostalgic tune was infectious in making people happy.
Hu Kaiyue put down the chess piece in his hand and looked at him seriously.
After Shen Xingsui finished playing, he stood up and said, “I’m done. In my opinion, the ‘cleanest’-sounding song is something like this.”
Despite his borderline obsession in cleanliness, Hu Kaiyue was actually a playboy in his off-hours. He liked clean and clever young men. The first time he heard of Shen Xingsui, he thought that the newcomer was a bit spiritual. Now that he met him face-to-face, he thought that he was clearly his type.
He was happy in his heart, but it didn’t show on his face.
Hu Kaiyue put on a serious face on purpose, “You are slick. Despite that, you look quite honest in front of the camera.”
Shen Xingsui was a little scared, and scratched his head in embarrassment, “I really don’t want to be defeated. Don’t blame me for this desperate move.”
“While I won’t deny that, your idea isn’t bad,” Hu Kaiyue said as he played around with the chess piece, “You go back and wait for the notice, and then contact me later.”
Shen Xingsui didn’t know what this meant, but he still bowed and agreed.
When passing by the chessboard, he saw the chessboard that Hu Kaiyue had been struggling with, and finally couldn’t help but say, “If you put that piece on B2, the stalemate will break, I think.”
Hu Kaiyue thought about it, and Shen Xingsui was indeed right. His position – the black – would have a hope to turn things around with this move.
This piqued his curiosity. He asked, “Have you inquired about my hobbies?”
Shen Xingsui honestly replied, “No. I know a bit about chess because a friend2yes, the “friend” he mentions is Fu Jinxiao. In one scene, FJX plays chess with Papa Shen, iirc of mine likes it. But I’m definitely just a newbie in this.”
Hu Kaiyue was stunned.
How could there be such a person who, instead of speaking to please himself, actually said the truth. “Did someone tell you that you are really not good at complimenting people.”
Shen Xingsui knew that he might have said something wrong again, so he hesitated for a moment, nodding in resignation, “Yes…”
Hu Kaiyue was taken aback again, and then he couldn’t help laughing out loud.
This was the first time since Shen Xingsui came in, this person laughed, and he laughed so happily that even the chessboard trembled a little. Shen Xingsui was afraid that he made another mistake.
After Hu Kaiyue finished laughing, he said, “Are you really a student of those two old foxes, Wang Meican and Fu Jinxiao?”
‘Why are you so silly in comparison?’
Shen Xingsui was a little embarrassed and didn’t know how to answer.
Just as Shen Xingsui walked out of the assessment room under such teasing eyes, he felt ashamed and failed at the same time. He felt that he had screwed up, and he should not succeed in the trial.
But in the afternoon, he received a call from Wang Meican.
Wang Meican’s voice sounded like she was surprised, “Suisui, about Mr. Hu’s assessment for the album, you…”
Shen Xingsui didn’t have to wait to be scolded, and directly admitted his mistake, “I’m sorry, Wang-jie, I…”
“You are really amazing, you are selected,” Wang Meican praised him, “That award-winning musician Hu Kaiyue actually choose you. Suisui, you really are a good seed!”
“??”
Shen Xingsui couldn’t believe it, “Really, he chose me?”
Wang Meican: “Of course it’s true. He called me in person and said he hoped you would sign the contract as soon as possible.”
Shen Xingsui felt that everything was a joke. If he wasn’t sure that the other party was really Hu Kaiyue, he would think all this was just an elaborate prank.
“I heard that Zhang Chi was also selected. He seems to be Teacher Hu’s little nephew3specifically 外甥 “wàishēng”, a maternal nephew.,” Wang Meican said, “But the impact is not big. He told you to familiarize yourself with the environment two days from now. The production location is Phoenix Mountain in B City, because Hu Kaiyue has a habit of making music, he has high requirements for the environment and location. He said that only in that way will he be inspired, but… he said that he hopes you can pack your luggage and go there together.”
Shen Xingsui absolutely had no idea he would be requested to go there. He asked, “I’m going too?”
Wang Meican nodded. “Yes.”
At this time, Shen Xingsui didn’t think about this much. He just thought that such a music producer to have this eccentricity was normal.
Shen Xingsui replied obediently, “If it is necessary for work, I can.”
Wang Meican also knew that this kind of “special habit” was a norm among artsy people. Hu Kaiyue als never had any bad scandal, so she didn’t think too much. She just told him to pack up and leave in two days.
On the other side, Anran, who also got the news, couldn’t accept it.
He even paid a high price to hire someone to write lyrics and compose music, but he lost to Shen Xingsui’s impromptu children’s song? And people like Zhang Chi who went through the back door were also worthy of the quota?
How can the world be completely changed after he was reborn!
Anran threw his phone on the sofa angrily, “Shen Xingsui must have used the power of his family to go through the back door.”
In the living room, Jian Zhi who was going downstairs happened to see his angry appearance. After the incident, he no longer had any contact with Anran, and the relationship between the two brothers fell to the bottom. When he heard Shen Xingsui’s name, he came over and asked, “What’s wrong with Shen Xingsui?”
Seeing that his second brother actually took the initiative to talk to Anran, he was very happy, “Erge, Shen Xingsui is now more and more able to use the Shen family’s privilege to go through the back door.” Anran added his own speculation to what happened, “Including that Zhang Chi – he’s Hu Kaiyue’s little nephew, by the way — must have said good things for Shen Xingsui, and that’s why I was dismissed.”
After listening to the cause and effect, Jian Zhi was silent for a while.
Seeing that he didn’t speak, Anran continued to complain, “Shen Xingsui is really crazy, hooking up with men everywhere! Why on earth Teacher Fu likes him!”
These words actually reached Jian Zhi’s heart.
Because of that incident, the business of the Jian family was suppressed by the Shen family, which was one thing. In the entertainment industry, he was also suppressed by Fu Jinxiao. He couldn’t go against Fu Jinxiao’s strong connections and abilities, so he had no resources at all now. Everywhere he go, he was met with troubles and stumbling blocks. He was even reduced to a laughing stock outside.
Jian Zhi whispered, “So, you like Fu Jinxiao, but hate Shen Xingsui, right?”
Anran hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
Jian Zhi smiled and said, “Then isn’t this a good opportunity? You can match Shen Xingsui and Zhang Chi together.”
Anran subconsciously retorted, “How is it possible, he won’t agree. He likes Fu Jinxiao, how could he be with Zhang Chi…”
“So it’s up to you,” Jian Zhi already knew that Anran was actually rotten on the inside. Since Shen Xingsui used this younger brother of his to deal with him, then why couldn’t he return the favor?
“Special period, special means,” Jian Zhi said meaningfully, “You see… when two young people are isolated while doing their passion, they easily confuse their feelings. If something was about to happen, then it would easily spiral out of control, right?”
Anran was taken aback, and slowly understood what Jian Zhi meant.
Jian Zhi smiled and successfully argued, “If Shen Xingsui is no longer your stumbling block, then you and Teacher Fu may have a chance.”
Anran thought it was impossible at first, but when he thought of Zhang Chi, that idiot was really so easy to deceive. He suddenly felt that this matter was very simple. Moreover, the world has started to change because of Shen Xingsui. If there was no Shen Xingsui, maybe it could return to normal.
‘Maybe I really have a chance?’
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