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The woman clad in Hanfu was in her twenties, wearing an ivory-white embroidered jacket adorned with floral patterns and a flowing milky-white satin skirt embroidered with lilies. Two smooth, jet-black locks cascaded down to her waist, styled in an elegant double bun.
This was a popular retro outfit. A well-crafted set of women's Hanfu could be quite expensive, and it wasn't easy to truly embody the essence of traditional elegance. It required not only beauty but also the right figure and temperament.
But for this woman, it was no problem at all.
She seemed like a figure who had stepped out of an ancient painting of noblewomen. Her skin was as white as snow, her features delicate and jade-like, her understated eyebrows and eyes sparkling like stars. Her demeanor was serene and cool, evoking admiration from afar but discouraging anyone from approaching.
When she entered the elegant room, it was as if a splash of brightness had been added to the space.
"Oh!"
Seeing this Hanfu-clad woman, Gao Yue exclaimed in surprise, "Qin Qing, what brings you here?"
The woman bowed politely and said, "Hello, Professor Gao. Hello, Professor Chen. Hello, Director Zhang. Hello, Uncle Chen."
She greeted all four guests in one breath, her bright eyes finally resting on Lu Chen.
There was a hint of curiosity and scrutiny in her gaze.
Chen Pu and Zhang Wentian both nodded with smiles, while Chen Jianhao praised, "Qin Qing, you're getting more and more beautiful. If you keep this up, I'm afraid no one will ever be good enough for you!"
Qin Qing pursed her lips and chuckled softly, "Uncle Chen, you always know how to flatter. It's not that exaggerated."
Her voice was pleasant to the ear, like jade beads rolling on a golden plate, soothing to both the ears and the heart.
However, her smile was fleeting, like a blossom that quickly fades, and she soon returned to her usual calm and composed demeanor.
Chen Jianhao turned to Lu Chen and said, "Little Lu, this is Qin Qing. She studies traditional music at the Beijing Conservatory. If you ever go there to attend classes and need help, you can ask her."
Lu Chen stood up and said, "Hello, I'm Lu Chen. 'Lu' as in 'continent,' and 'Chen' as in 'morning.'"
Qin Qing nodded, "Hello."
Her expression was calm, carrying an indescribable aura.
After the greetings, Qin Qing said to Gao Yue, "Professor Gao, I heard you needed a big drum. We only have one taiko drum at the teahouse. I'm not sure if it meets your requirements."
Gao Yue smiled warmly, "That's fine. There's a piece that needs accompaniment, and the taiko drum will work."
The taiko drum is a type of drum that originated in China, was further developed in Japan, and later reintroduced to China. It is mainly divided into large, medium, and small taiko drums, commonly referred to as big drums, medium drums, and small drums.
Two waiters brought in a taiko drum. This type of drum has holes around its sides, red ropes wrapped around it, and a wooden stick perpendicular to the drumhead, making it most suitable for male performers.
Qin Qing's eyes lit up, and she asked, "May I stay and listen?"
Zhang Wentian smiled, "We'd be more than happy to have you. After listening, Little Qin, feel free to share your thoughts."
Qin Qing replied earnestly, "Of course."
She then sat down in a corner of the room where a guqin (Chinese zither with seven strings) was placed.
Zhang Wentian eagerly said to Lu Chen, "Little Lu, let's do it again!"
Lu Chen nodded and picked up the drumsticks.
He had never played a taiko drum before, but he had seen others perform and knew the technique was quite intricate.
Fortunately, he only needed to provide a drumbeat accompaniment, so he didn't require advanced skills. He held the drumsticks with both hands and began the prelude.
Even though it wasn't a Chinese drum, the sound of the real drumhead was incomparable to the chopsticks from earlier. The short prelude alone was enough to stir up a sense of excitement.
As he sang again, Lu Chen no longer deliberately lowered his voice.
"Proudly facing ten thousand waves,
My blood boils like the red sun!
Courage like iron, bones like steel,
A heart as vast as a thousand miles,
Eyes that see ten thousand miles ahead,
I strive to be a strong man!
Be a strong man, strive every day,
A man with boiling blood shines brighter than the sun!
..."
In Lu Chen's dream world, this classic theme song was inseparable from a series of martial arts films, considered a masterpiece. The lyrics sang of the heroic spirit and the passionate heart of a warrior.
It was adapted from the ancient tune "General's Command." Both the melody and the lyrics were powerful, exuding a majestic "rule the world" vibe, with a surging passion that could instantly captivate every listener!
The melody was soul-stirring, and its grandeur wasn't just in the music's momentum but also in the display of the national courage of the descendants of Huaxia and the righteous spirit between heaven and earth. These elements combined to create one of the most inspiring and grand pieces of music in Chinese cinema at the time.
Recalling the scenes from the dream, Lu Chen's momentum surged, and he fully immersed himself in the emotion.
He sang with even more power! "...
Let the sea and sky gather energy for me,
To carve out a new world for my ideals,
See the towering waves,
And the vast sky filled with righteous spirit,
I am A Man Should Stand Strong!
With strong strides and a proud chest, we stand as pillars, as strong men,
With a hundred points of heat, I shine a thousand points of light!
Be a strong man,
With passionate blood and heart,
Shining brighter than the sun! ..."
The originally elegant atmosphere of the teahouse was instantly shattered by Lu Chen's drumming and singing, but no one felt that he was ruining the ambiance. On the contrary, everyone listened with great attention.
Especially Zhang Wentian, who was practically beaming, several times wanting to clap and cheer but holding back.
Qin Qing gently pressed the strings of the guqin, her starry eyes flashing with an unusual light.
She had come out of curiosity, and her first impression of Lu Chen was that he was handsome and polite. But she had seen too many excellent young men before, and Lu Chen didn't stand out in any particular way, so she didn't feel anything special about him. He was just an ordinary passerby.
Until Lu Chen started drumming and singing!
At first, she could tell that Lu Chen didn't know the proper techniques for playing the taiko drum, treating it like an ordinary drum, his movements awkward and stiff.
But the song "A Man Should Stand Strong" instantly changed her impression! Lu Chen's drumming was incredibly powerful, and his singing carried a bold spirit that didn't match his age or appearance. Each word was resonant and ear-piercing, and even she, as a girl, felt her blood stirring.
He was so focused as if everything around him had disappeared, and his entire being was immersed in the song.
It was this earnest attitude that inadvertently touched Qin Qing's heart.
She felt a slight increase in affection.
"...passionate blood and heart, shining brighter than the sun!"
The drumming suddenly stopped, and the singing came to an abrupt halt, but the lingering sound left an unfinished feeling.
"Bravo!"
Zhang Wentian was the first to clap and cheer, his face filled with joy, "This is it!"
Among everyone present, he was the one with the most chivalrous spirit, which was why he chose such a script for his comeback blockbuster. Thus, he was also the most moved by "A Man Should Stand Strong."
In fact, when Lu Chen started singing again, the director had already decided to use this as the theme song.
With this as the foundation, the musical tone of the entire film could be set.
He no longer had any mental barriers and could proceed with full confidence.
Therefore, Zhang Wentian was very grateful to Lu Chen for bringing him such an incredible piece of work.
Gao Yue and Chen Pu also applauded, with the latter saying, "Old Zhang, you've finally got your wish."
"Great song, great tune."
Gao Yue sighed, "We're really getting old."
The song "A Man Should Stand Strong," both in melody and lyrics, was perfect for Zhang Wentian's upcoming film. There was hardly anything to criticize, except perhaps to put more effort into the composing and accompaniment.
Or maybe find someone else to sing it?
Lu Chen was still too young, and even if it was his work, it didn't necessarily mean he was the best singer.
Of course, this didn't affect Gao Yue's appreciation of Lu Chen; it was purely a professional consideration.
Chen Jianhao directly gave Lu Chen a thumbs-up.
He thought he knew Lu Chen well enough, but now he realized his previous understanding was too superficial.
Lu Chen was like an inexhaustible treasure trove, constantly bringing surprises.
The style of "A Man Should Stand Strong" was completely different from his previous works— grand and majestic, with the aura of a master. His talent was truly unfathomable.
Qin Qing was surprised. From their conversation, it seemed this song was Lu Chen's original work. That was truly astonishing!
Lu Chen, holding the drumsticks, bowed with a smile and said, "Thank you."
Faced with praise and honor, Lu Chen never became complacent or arrogant, because he knew the source of his honor.
And it was precisely this humility that made the two professors and Zhang Wentian particularly fond of him.
Zhang Wentian said, "Lu Chen, I want this song. Which company are you signed with?"
There were industry rules. If he wanted to buy the song from Lu Chen, he first had to negotiate with Lu Chen's signing company.
According to artist contracts, the signing company usually had full or preferential rights over the artist's creations.
Unless he was a top star, there were no exceptions.
Lu Chen's answer, however, surprised Zhang Wentian: "Director Zhang, I run my own workshop. If you like this song, I can authorize it to the film's investors for free."
The theme song of a blockbuster with a budget of hundreds of millions had a huge influence. Not only would Lu Chen authorize it for free, he would even pay to have it used, just to have Zhang Wentian owe him a favor.
To earn more money, one must have a long-term vision. Grabbing at small gains was not the mark of a wise person.
Zhang Wentian was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Lu Chen to run his own workshop without relying on any company.
But he quickly recovered and laughed heartily, "Free is not necessary. The due fees must still be paid."
After a pause, he asked, "All the main roles in my film have been cast, but there are still a few minor roles with limited screen time. Would you be interested in trying out?"
Lu Chen was overjoyed, "Thank you, Director Zhang. I'm very interested!"
Missing such an opportunity would be a crime!
(End of Chapter)