Chapter 6 Chapter 6 I, the producer, understand?
By mid-September, after two weeks of intensive training, Quan Xingai was finally completely familiar with her limbs, and had finally mastered the skills she had trained day and night in her memory. The one who touched her the most was definitely her roommate Yin Yanzhen.
"Xing'ai, I feel like you've really gone back to three years ago! No, you're much better now than you were then! It's as if you've suddenly had an epiphany and reached a new level!" Yin Yanzhen is also a creator, and she knows best how busy Quan Xing'ai's daily schedule is.
"Really? I feel like I've gotten to know my past and present selves again this month. Do you feel that I've changed in any way?" Quan Xingai felt that her soul and body had truly achieved unity during this month's training. This feeling was a bit strange. She was still herself, but she had become a new her.
Although it sounds a bit mysterious, it feels good. In short, Quan Xingai likes this new state of herself. Those past memories are no longer outsiders separated by clouds, but are truly empathetic. Quan Xingai and Sarah merge into a new self.
"You've changed so much. You've become more cheerful and love to laugh. Your aura seems to have become more powerful. You're totally a leader. But you haven't changed that much. Xing Ai You just finally jumped out of the quagmire of emotions. I'm so happy about your changes." Yin Yanzhen said.
"Hehe, actually, I should thank the lows of the past few years. I have a new concept for the new single. When I finish producing it tonight, I plan to have Eun-joo, Mike, and Hyun-ho audition it together. I want to be the producer of the comeback single!"
"!" Yin Yanzhen's eyes widened. "How could Star Love You be adapted so quickly? To be honest, I've been so curious for the past half month. Every time we discussed it, I only heard fragments, and the theme of the lyrics you asked me to write before..."
"Hehe, yes, that's the theme. I think Nirvana's return to life and death battle should just go for it and go big. Don't worry about the market. Let's just be ourselves and RIOT DOLLS."
"I'm really excited right now, you know?! We arrange and compose together every night, and we revise the lyrics together. I can't sleep right now just thinking about going to see Eun-joo with the song tomorrow morning!"
The two chatted excitedly for a long time, and they were still talking non-stop in the practice room. When they heard that Quan Xingai and Yin Yanzhen were planning to have a meeting with the president tomorrow, the other two also became excited. No one would not believe Xingai after seeing her creative process. They are now 100% confident that this song will be a hit.
Their training efficiency was very high throughout the day. After dinner, they all rushed into Mike's studio. Mike, who was used to it, had already ordered a McDonald's hamburger. It was obvious that he was going to work all night today.
In the morning, Wen Enzhu received a call from Wu Xianhao and came to the company with a curious expression. As soon as she entered the office, she saw four girls with dark circles under their eyes but very excited, chattering with each other. Even Mike was yawning and looked happy.
"What's the important news? You're so excited that you came to see me so early in the morning." Wen Enzhu asked with a smile.
"Congratulations, boss." Mike grinned happily.
"Congratulations for what?" Moon Eun-joo looked at Oh Hyun-ho, and even Oh Hyun-ho had an expression of surprise on his face.
"Congratulations on having a true genius in your company." Mike's words made Wen Enzhu realize the purpose of calling her here.
"So, it was Xing Ai's creation?" As the boss, how could she not know what everyone was busy with this month? After Xing Ai returned to her normal state, she became more cheerful and proactive. Wen Enzhu saw that she cared about the company's producers and songwriting. She didn't say anything and let the child go on her own. She didn't expect that there would be results so soon?
"Yes, Sister Eun-joo, we worked together last night to completely deconstruct and re-arrange our comeback single. Do you want to go to the conference room and I'll tell you about our whole new concept?" Jeon Seong-ae's eyes were very bright, sparkling with confidence.
This confidence alone is enough to make it worthwhile for Moon Eun-joo to take a good look at their creative work.
The meeting held in the conference room a month ago was just an 'ultimatum', but now they have come up with their new creations. Moon Eun-joo thinks that maybe she can give the girls a few more chances. While she is still hesitating and thinking, a catchy prelude comes from the speakers in the conference room.
Then the quick whisper of the All Star Love intro is accompanied by the unique and layered prelude of trip music, and the ghostly female singing has a sense of atmosphere and rhythm, which is instantly catchy. The subsequent combination of electronic music and hip-hop makes the song playful in its weirdness, and the ethereal high-pitched chorus makes trip music become as close as an ASMR whisper.
"A thousand smiling faces in the mirror, a thousand lies, every sharp sword spoken is a contaminated virus... Love me? Hate me? Follow me all, spread like a virus. Even if you kill me, I will be reborn..."
Then comes the trip beat that reaches its climax
"Be addicted to me. Even if I'm torn apart, I will multiply infinitely. Let me torture you forever."
The tune of this comeback single has been heard many times before, but after being deconstructed and rearranged, it suddenly has a completely different temperament, like... like a spreading virus.
It's really interesting.
Wen Enzhu couldn't help but applaud, "Mike, is this the creation you led?"
"No, in fact this was entirely Sarah's idea. I just helped her with the creation. The lyrics were written by four of us together." Mike's exaggerated expression made Wu Xianhao laugh.
Moon Eun-joo rested her chin on her hand and looked at Jeon Star-ai.
"Xing Ai, tell me about your ideas and concepts. If the single is to be changed to this one, then the dance moves and music video will also need to be changed accordingly. Have you taken these into consideration?"
Xing Ai stood up and connected her phone to the big screen, mentally complaining about how awkward it was to have to present a PowerPoint presentation to let Party A know of her abilities. Although she was self-deprecating, she kept it to herself. During this time of songwriting, she wasn't just writing lyrics and arranging songs; she was already considering a whole set of visual effects and concepts.
When Wen Enzhu saw Xingai's creative ideas and her concept interpretation on the projector, Wu Xianhao's eyes widened, and the other three girls seemed completely used to it. This thing was born from the sleepless chats between the four of them in the dormitory every night.
"...Actually, the song's title and concept are pretty straightforward: 'VIXEN VIRUS (Evil Girl Virus)'. This time, I'm going to face public opinion head-on and let those negative news stories become a way for RD to be exposed. Every malicious interpretation only spreads our 'Evil Girl Virus,' just like the lyrics say, 'Get addicted to me, I multiply endlessly.'"
After saying this, Xing Ai lowered her head, turned her eyes into three white spots, and then showed an arrogant and evil smile, as if to say "If you wantonly interpret me as a villain, then be infected with my villain virus."
After presenting their work to the boss, everyone anxiously awaited the final result. After a long 30 seconds, Moon Eun-joo stood up and applauded, followed by Oh Hyun-ho. Before they knew it, the choreographer and stylist had arrived from the back of the room and were also clapping. Everyone looked at Jeon Seong-ae with admiration.
"Xing'ai, well done!" Wen Enzhu stepped forward and put her arm around Quan Xing'ai's shoulders. Xing'ai really gave her a big surprise. She said that the child she had watched grow up would not be defeated so easily. She had undergone considerable changes, but they were positive and uplifting.
"You've done a great job. The song's arrangement is completely mature. From the song to the concept, it's a mature and operational logical chain. The company will support you. You guys go back and rest first, and then come back for a meeting tonight. This time, we'll discuss the entire marketing plan and timing for your comeback single."
Quan Xing Ai Xin smiled contentedly. At least she returned to her familiar position and could still be a producer.
*
In early October, the arrangements for RIOT DOLLS' comeback single were finally finalized, and the dance adaptation also underwent a slight transformation based on the change of concept, from the rebellious style of the past to the yandere style.
Although the team's concept has always been centered around various contrasting elements such as sugar traps and sweet subversion, it has always been a positive girl crush and woman power perspective. This time, the company has identified Sarah as the main producer and boldly used negative deconstruction to define it.
The four members' comeback style is also the core concept of the song - Tomie-style aesthetics.
This time, Moon Eun-joo directly cooperated with the most famous "Beauty Room" in Seoul. She is a personal styling studio founded by Taehyun, the official stylist of Waiji, in 2015. She has cooperated with countless idols and actors in the circle.
"Speaking of which, I actually prefer the styling suggestion that Xing Ai proposed about cell division. You and I are all viruses. Wouldn't it be cool if the four of us were exactly the same?" Park Jinwen pushed open the door of the beauty room while seeking the approval of his teammates.
"I agree. Instead of having all the same hair, some with dark hair and some with light hair, it would be better if everyone was Tomie." Yoon Yeon-jin said as she walked behind.
"Don't even think about it. It's a good start for our Xing'ai to be the producer. At least Xing'ai has the final say on the concepts of the songs and MVs. As for the styling, it's normal for the company not to want to take too much risk." Kim Eun-mi brushed her hair.
Jeon Seong-ae shrugged and followed the three girls into the beauty room. The four of them had made an appointment with Taehyun's stylist team. They were here to do their styling today. They would be officially recording this month and also shooting an MV, so today was the time for the costume trial.
That’s how it is for young people. They have to go to the styling studio to try on the costumes themselves.
When they went up to the artist-only area on the second floor, the space became spacious and luxurious. After waiting for a while, Ji Myung-jin, Oh Hyun-ho, and Taehyun senior arrived together.
The one who has the smallest change in style among the four is actually Quan Xingai. She is the core of the mother body and only needs to trim her long hair and cut it into Tomie's long straight black hair with bangs. However, because it is long straight black hair, she has to come to the beauty room to maintain her hair for this month.
The concept of Iris Park Jinwen is a runaway pathogen, so she will cut her hair short and make it an asymmetrical bob with white highlights and red; and the concept of Lumi Yoon Yeonjin is a runaway pathogen, so she has a black wolf tail hairstyle with fluorescent pink highlights; the lead singer Kim Eunmi is a proliferation host, and she is an angel and devil with Xingai as two sides of the same coin, so she also has long black hair with a middle-parted and somewhat yandere princess cut.
Two hours later, Jeon Xingai, who finished her hair first, had nothing to do. After helping her trim her hair, Taehyun continued to help his teammates with their hair. Jeon Xingai even did a full set of hair care. She also took a nap and when she woke up, she found that she was the fastest.
In order to match her look today, Xing Ai dug out her high school sailor uniform. Now paired with her long black straight hair and makeup, she really looks like Tomie. Even the dark circles on her face from staying up late to write songs recently are very appropriate.
The second floor of the beauty room was quiet. Only the chatter of teammates could be heard in the room where they were getting their hair done. Quan Xingai had just woken up. The busy schedule and high-intensity mental activities of the past month had caused her to bring bad habits from her previous life into this one. She licked her lips and thought, "How about a cigarette? Just one?"
She didn't want her teammates and agent to know, so she asked the staff for a mask and went to the convenience store next door to buy a pack of cigarettes. When she was paying the bill, she saw that the passerby who paid with her had the same taste as her and chose the best-selling menthol cigarette Salon from Japan in the United States.
She strolled slowly back to the makeup room and lit a cigarette, leaning against the wall in the designated smoking area in the courtyard behind the styling studio. The sky was blue, and Quan Xingai gazed at the clear blue sky of late autumn, emptying her mind and not wanting to think about anything. The past two weeks of focused, tiring, yet joyful creative time were in stark contrast to the painful creative years of her previous life.
Her new brain was full of inspiration, totally unlike her previous life... Then a cough coming from deeper in the garden interrupted her memories.
Quan Xingai, with a cigarette in his mouth, walked over and took a casual look.
Oh? That friend with the same great taste I met at the convenience store just now, here we are again, in the smoking area of the beauty salon. Interesting, is he here for a hairstyling session? This friend stood in the shadows, his back to Quan Xingai. He was wearing a casual suit and baseball cap. He was thin but had broad shoulders. He leaned against the wall with his hands in his pockets, casually posing, creating a great atmosphere.
Quan Xingai leaned against the wall with interest, half-squinting her eyes to admire the handsome guy in the distance whose face she couldn't see clearly. From the side and back, she could only vaguely see his sharp jawline. He seemed a little familiar. She hoped that the front view later would not disappoint her.
"Can high school students smoke now?" A familiar voice sounded, and the handsome guy with an atmospheric feel tilted his head slightly. He had long been sensitive to the other party's unscrupulous gaze, and felt a little offended. He spoke in a low and hoarse voice.
"Yes, because I'm a bad kid, a bad girl." Quan Xingai smiled, and her voice was a cute clip tone with a mischievous look, but now she looks like a complete kawaii girl, and speaking like this really seems like she is being cute.
She was not worried that the other party would recognize her as an idol. Wu Xianhao said that the beauty studio would be used by celebrities to do makeup all day and would not be open to the public, so this handsome guy was most likely someone in the circle.
What's more, she has thought about it. It's too difficult to pretend to be someone else for a lifetime. She just takes advantage of the return of the evil girl virus to be herself. She can't just be a good idol and a good idol like other people.
Not far away, Kwon Ji-yong, often mistaken for a "cool guy," frowned. Was this Taehyun's grandmother's customer? There wouldn't be any customers today? So it was a celebrity? A female idol? The other person's gaze didn't falter, and he was even itching to get closer. He simply turned around to see which celebrity was so unrestrained.
Then the two 'old acquaintances' were stunned at the same time.
Wow, a little golden retriever. Quan Xingai raised an eyebrow in her heart. Her old lover's facial features hadn't changed, but his temperament had become so depressed, from a sunny puppy to a melancholy cat.
Ah Xi—I ran into her again, the rookie girl group member I was involved in a scandal with two years ago. But, is she really like this? Unbridled smoking in her high school uniform? The entertainment industry is truly a melting pot... And this brand of cigarettes? That tone, that aura...
The two people looked at each other and recognized each other. In the smoking area in the backyard of the styling studio, in the smoke-filled mint smoke, one frowned and did not have a good impression of the girl who was wearing a school uniform and smoking and looked hypocritical; the other one was very insensitive and did not notice the other's emotions at all. Instead, he raised the corner of his mouth and waved his hand familiarly. It was all an unexpected surprise to meet an old acquaintance.
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