Chapter 40 Chapter 40
"Teacher, let me record these chorus lines again." After listening to the recording playback, Lia pondered for a moment and said to the recording engineer behind the soundproof glass. "Okay—" Unsatisfied. Although I knew it was just a demo recording,
But when she thought about playing it at the hearing, she couldn't help but think twice. Today's recording was the song that Quan Zhilong had adapted. The song has not yet been officially named.
I temporarily kept the original file name he sent to Teddy: "2007_08_18_Lia". Probably for the convenience of memory,
So I simply put together the time I received the song and the name of the original artist. Lia stared at the title, but she couldn't help but feel a little distracted. The recording of the alternative tracks was already halfway through. At the beginning,
Teddy also watched the recording and listened carefully in the studio for two days. But firstly, the recording of the demo did not require such high level of detail, and secondly, Lia herself was very attentive.
Often, even when Teddy thought it was good enough, she would insist on trying a few more times. As time went by, he gradually relaxed and became a hands-off manager. The pressure of album production was already high, so it was good to relax occasionally.
It's human nature. So today, too—halfway through the recording session, Teddy still hadn't shown up at the studio. Kush, however, strolled by and watched for a while.
I even secretly recorded a video and posted it to the [Slave Producers] group. By the time Lia finally finished recording, several hours had passed. Kush was nowhere to be seen. When I put down my headphones and walked out of the studio,
Lia sincerely thanked the recording engineer. Perhaps because he's been working with Teddy for so long, the recording engineer, despite being a native Korean, didn't seem to care much about seniority.
Otherwise, Lia wouldn't have been able to lead the entire demo recording process alone. After carefully confirming with the recording engineer which clips needed to be retained, Lia took out her phone and checked her messages. She had been in the studio for most of the day.
There were already a lot of unread messages on MSN. She first clicked on the top group [Slave Producers]. K-Flow: Our epic child laborers @NeonL (Attachment: Video)
Lia was frowning as she checked the recording. If she hadn't been filmed, she wouldn't have imagined herself looking so serious. Kwon Ji-yong's response followed below the video.
He probably rarely has free time, as the message and Kush's post were posted less than a minute apart. JiYo: Protecting child labor is everyone's responsibility [Come on.jpg]
K-Flow: Boss, you work so hard, please treat us to a meal! @Big-T Big-T: No problem, treat Lia to a meal! K-Flow: ??? What about me? JiYo: ??? What about me?
Big-T: Lia, you've worked hard. What does that have to do with you two? [Goodbye.jpg] Lia laughed. She clicked on the emojis, picked out "Thank you, boss," sent it, and then exited the group chat.
She's well versed in the group's survival strategies—she speaks little when others are talking more, and then joins in when others are less. She's always detailed and concise. Pulling down the list, Teddy even sent her a private message.
"The audition meeting is next week, tentatively scheduled for Wednesday. If you are free, why not join us?" The audition meeting is an important part of album song selection. In addition to the production team, company executives, A&R department, and artists will also participate.
This meeting comprehensively considers the candidate repertoire's artistic quality, marketability, and suitability. Teddy usually prioritizes her studies, leaving any midweek tasks to others.
But this hearing was a crucial learning opportunity for her, so he specifically sought her opinion. Lia didn't hesitate and quickly replied, "Yes, I'll attend."
She could attend classes every day, but if she missed a hearing, it would be hard to wait for it again. Thinking this way, she decided to ask for leave from school next Monday. At the end of the list, there was a message from Xia Qing: "Don't forget tonight at 7 o'clock!"
Oh, and there are also academic counseling sessions. Although the school invites outside experts to provide professional counseling for seniors every year, many future-focused freshmen and sophomores also attend.
After all, the sooner you figure out your future plans, the sooner you can prepare. "Remember, I've finished recording. I'll pack up and leave later," Lia said simply. "Remember to save a seat for me."
After replying to the message, she suddenly felt like going downstairs to get some fresh air. "I'm going to get some water, do you need it?" she asked the sound engineer, who was still sorting through the recording files, before leaving. "No, go ahead," the sound engineer smiled and waved his hand.
As I walked out of the company gate, there was already a slight chill in the air. As the evening light faded, the sky was stained hazily by the orange-gray glow of the sunset.
The ginkgo leaves along the street had turned yellow, fluttering down in the wind, forming a thin layer on the sidewalk. Time flies so fast; in her memory, midsummer seemed only a few days ago.
Lia wrapped her coat tightly around her, hurried to the convenience store to buy some water, and then headed back. A few people gathered downstairs, probably fans waiting for a celebrity. She didn't pay much attention and was about to head inside when a boy suddenly approached her.
Realizing the other person might have something to say, Lia paused. After the show ended, she'd habitually worn a mask whenever she went out. But contrary to her expectations, aside from the occasional glances, most people didn't actually recognize her.
After all, girl group talent shows are only for a certain audience, and once the popularity of the show dies down, everyone's attention will quickly be drawn to other content. So she rarely encounters this kind of situation.
The boy had delicate features and was young. If he had grown his hair long, he could be a girl. He was wearing a T-shirt that was too big for him, and his thin body swayed in it, barely reaching her shoulders.
He stood in front of her and spoke a little stiffly: "...Lia Nuna, hello." Lia smiled and nodded: "Hello."
He took a deep breath and handed her the bag in his hand: "This... is for you. I watched "Project A" and I really liked you."
The bag wasn't big, the kind you'd find in boutiques. It was bulging, as if it contained a lot of small items. The packaging, though simple, was clean, the edges carefully folded, and it was clear he'd put a lot of thought into it. Lia was stunned.
She thought the person was asking her to pass on a gift to a celebrity, but she didn't expect it to be her fan. Although she had seen many messages of support online, this was the first time she had encountered one in real life.
She took the bag, curled her eyes at him, and said thank you gently, "Thank you." Seeing her accept the gift, the boy breathed a sigh of relief.
He saw Lia as soon as she left the office. He prepared himself for a long time before approaching her, fearing he'd be rejected. After a moment's hesitation, he pulled out a small notebook from his trouser pocket and said, "Nuna, can you sign for me?"
"Sure," Lia took the pen, "but I haven't practiced it, do you mind?" This was the truth. She hadn't practiced her signature yet. She was too busy before, and now she no longer needed to.
"Of course I don't mind!" The boy waved his hands repeatedly, "My name is Diyuan, Zheng Diyuan, Nuna." He added carefully. It shouldn't be too much to ask for a To signature. Lia smiled and received his little thought. "To
Diyuan, study hard and make progress every day! --LIA KIM" He tried hard to decipher what she had written. When he finally understood "study hard", his happy face fell involuntarily.
Lia quickly signed her name and happened to see this scene. "Don't elementary school students like studying?" She feigned surprise as she handed the notebook over. "Nuna, I'm in junior high..." The other person's expression cracked.
Lia was really embarrassed. Adolescent boys grow overnight; they might be little boys yesterday and eye level tomorrow. But the guy in front of her didn't seem to have even started growing.
"—Ahahaha, haha..." She couldn't help but laugh dryly. Jung Diwon looked up at her, his expression serious. "I'll grow taller soon, and I'll always support Noona."
His eyes sparkled, and his hair glowed golden brown in the evening sun, looking fluffy and making one want to touch it.
Lia hesitated for a second, but couldn't help but gently touched his round head: "Thank you Diyuan. Then I will work harder."
He obviously hadn't expected her to do something like this. He seemed frozen for a moment, his face frozen between excitement and disbelief, looking a little funny. Lia couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Nuna is the best!"
He finished his words quickly and quietly, bowed deeply, and then skipped back to the crowd. Lia looked down at the bag in her hand, then looked up at the direction he had left. Suddenly, she felt a surge of strength in her heart. "Thank you."
She answered softly. The wind blew, and a few ginkgo leaves fell silently on the tiles at her feet. She turned and pushed open the door to the company building. * By the time Lia sneaked into the school auditorium, the meeting was about to begin.
The auditorium was dimly lit, the seats were nearly full, and the noise was deafening. She stood in the entrance aisle, looking around. Xia Qing had already secured a seat in the front row and was now turning back to wave at her vigorously. "Here!" Xia Qing called out.
But with so many people coming and going, Lia didn't hear anything. Just as she was about to walk inside, she heard Yu Chenghao's voice from behind: "In front."
Lia turned around. He was wearing a baseball cap and a black tracksuit, revealing only the lower half of his delicate face. It was a discreet enough outfit, if only his aura could be a little more understated. Star aura is truly a magical thing.
In the past two years at the entertainment company, she has met countless trainees and artists - star quality is a complex result, which is both innate and tempered by many acquired occasions.
Audience preference, accumulated expertise, and stage performances all contribute to this unique star power. Clothing is secondary. Just like this person before me. Even in a dimly lit auditorium and with ordinary clothing, they still attract attention.
She thought silently that the other party had walked ahead without her knowing, so she had no choice but to follow him obediently.
The hallway wasn't narrow, but there were so many people attending the meeting. Besides those already seated, many were milling about, coming and going, squeezing the already limited space even further.
It took some effort to get to the front row seats. Lia moved slowly through the crowded crowd, struggling to squeeze through, and couldn't help but feel a little regretful.
If she hadn't suddenly decided to re-record the demo, she wouldn't have arrived so late. "Be careful—" She tripped over something, slipped, stumbled, and almost flew out.
The person walking in front seemed to have eyes on the back. He turned around instantly, held her arm with one hand, and protected her head with the other hand, stabilizing her body in time to prevent her from bumping into others.
"Huh..." Lia breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly stood up. "...Thank you, thank you." As expected, one still needs to concentrate on walking. She was still apprehensive that she hadn't fallen flat on her face in public, and she thanked him again and again.
"It's okay." Yu Chenghao replied calmly, retracted his hand, turned around and continued walking forward. This time, his pace was noticeably slower.
The crowd was still noisy, the clatter of footsteps and conversations mingling, but a faint aroma seemed to linger in the air. It was a refreshing scent, like mint shampoo. He thought, his eyes slightly lowered.
When the two finally arrived at their seats, the meeting officially began. The host introduced the guest professors on stage. The lights in the auditorium had been dimmed, leaving only the spotlight in front of the stage shining on the stage.
The seats below the stage were packed, and most of the students were quiet, with only the occasional whispered discussion faintly audible.
Because the school is a top-ranked public high school in Seoul, it has always attached great importance to the admission rate of high school seniors, so the guests invited to this consultation meeting are also heavyweights.
The lecture included a professor of humanities and social sciences from Yonsei University, the director of admissions at Sungkyunkwan University, and a distinguished alumnus currently studying at the College of Engineering at Seoul National University. Whether in terms of the university's reputation, the academic fields, or the guest list, the lecture was meticulously curated and comprehensive.
"Didn't you say you were ready a long time ago? Why are you here just now?" Xia Qing asked Lia in a low voice before the introduction was over.
"I decided to record the demo again at the last minute, so I got delayed. I'm not the only one late," Lia replied softly. "Are you talking about Xiao Yu?" Xia Qing raised an eyebrow, a little surprised.
After studying together in the library a few times, Xia Qing started calling him that, and he himself didn't express displeasure. Lia always respected Xia Qing's talent for handling interpersonal relationships.
"Yeah, didn't we come in together?" Lia glanced to the side. Yu Seung-ho was staring intently at the stage, seemingly oblivious to their whispers.
"He's been here for a while. He just said he was going out for a while, and then he came in right after you." Xia Qing corrected in a low voice.
She guessed that maybe because the lecture was about to start and Lia hadn't arrived yet, he took the initiative to go out to pick her up, but he just wouldn't say it out loud. But she didn't dare to point it out.
After all, although he looked gentle, he was actually someone who didn't like to show his emotions. Although they were now quite familiar with each other, she was still keenly aware of the boundaries of not joking around in such matters.
So she tactfully swallowed the rest of her sentence and didn't voice her speculation. "That's right." Lia nodded. The guest on stage had already begun speaking.
The lights on the stage slowly turned, and Lia and Xia Qing each collected their thoughts and refocused their attention on the lecture. It was now completely dark, and the neon lights of the street cast a faint halo through the tall glass windows of the auditorium.
Occasionally, a few ginkgo leaves were blown up by the wind, brushed across the window glass, and fell silently.
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