Chapter 148: Meeting Liao Chengping Again

Blue Miaochang was also someone who excelled at controlling the atmosphere. Under her guidance, the two of them discussed his departure from Huayi, the confusion during his days as a bar singer, the excitement of joining Galaxy Entertainment, his harmonious interactions with the company's artists, and the excitement of participating in *The Vocalist* along with the stories behind his success.

Lin Qihua recounted the stories and creative inspirations behind several classic songs in a smooth, captivating manner. Listening to the stories behind these tracks, Blue Miaochang was filled with a complex mix of emotions, marveling even more at Lin Qihua's extraordinary talent. A trivial matter in his hands could be crafted into a widely popular song; a fleeting inspiration could be transformed into a moving work of art. What kind of talent was this?

Later on, both of them cast aside the interview outline, chatting freely wherever the conversation led. Lin Qihua was deeply impressed by Blue Miaochang's profound knowledge, while Blue Miaochang was equally astonished that Lin Qihua could answer any question and offer his own unique insights.

"Actually, it's just that when I was a child, my father forced me to read a lot of books, which gradually helped me form the habit of reading. I read everything indiscriminately, gobbling it all up, and thus I ended up knowing a little bit about everything," Lin Qihua explained with a smile. "I used to resent it very much, but now I'm extremely grateful to him for laying such a solid foundation for me."

"That is to say, everyone's success is never accidental; there is always thorough preparation behind it," Blue Miaochang said. "With such a deep foundation, we can go even further."

"I couldn't agree more."

……

The interview with Blue Miaochang was a very pleasant experience. She was a charming person who truly knew how to guide the mood, from which one could easily understand why *Voice of Music* had become the top-ranked electronic magazine in the music industry.

Blue Miaochang mentioned that the e-magazine would take some time before publication, but once published, she would send it to him immediately. The two exchanged smart business cards, bringing this delightful interview to a successful close.

Having accomplished this, Lin Qihua devoted himself wholeheartedly to the preparations for the breakthrough round. Now that his parents had moved over, every time he returned home, he could feel the warmth of a family, which made Lin Qihua feel extremely comfortable. Although his father still had a class or two to teach every week and his mother occasionally had to travel out of town for performances—which were their careers and hobbies—Lin Qihua thought it was quite good.

This leisurely life came to a temporary pause with Liao Chengping's visit.

Lin Qihua met with Liao Chengping at his own home. After all, Zhang Zilin was not an employee of the company, and having her go to Galaxy Entertainment might create a less-than-ideal impression. Naturally, Shen Manni and Ma Xiaoqian were also present to accompany them on behalf of the company.

"Long time no see." Accompanied by Little Daze, Liao Chengping walked into the house and greeted Lin Qihua with a hearty laugh and a warm embrace.

"Long time no see. Your presence truly brings honor to my humble abode," Lin Qihua responded politely. The other party was a major director after all; even though Liao Chengping didn't mind formalities, Lin Qihua could not afford to drop his manners in front of him.

"Tsk tsk," Liao Chengping looked around and lavished praises, "What a wonderful place. In such a short time, you've achieved such great success. Truly remarkable."

"Pure luck," Lin Qihua said modestly. "Compared to Director Liao, I still have a long way to go."

"This is pure ability," Liao Chengping shook his head, disagreeing with his view. "The waves of the Yangtze River push the ones ahead, and each new generation replaces the old. When I was your age, I was still doing odd jobs on movie sets, completely lost about the future. How could I ever be like you, knowing what you want to do and achieving such remarkable success?"

"Alright," Lin Qihua spread his hands, "Should I put my hands on my hips now and laugh towards the sky three times?"

"Haha." The two looked at each other and laughed.

Shen Manni served the freshly brewed tea, and the four of them sat facing one another.

"Brother, Director Liao came here specifically to see you," Little Daze said impatiently.

"Is that so?" Lin Qihua looked at Liao Chengping. "I am deeply honored that Director Liao managed to carve out time from your busy schedule to visit me."

"Actually, I was just passing by," Liao Chengping said nonchalantly. "First, to check Zilin's familiarity with the script. It's very good, and I'm quite satisfied."

"Really?" Lin Qihua looked at Little Daze. "The little girl is still quite hardworking after all."

"Of course! This is my debut work, after all; I have to give it my all," Little Daze wrinkled her nose. "When I look back at this film years later, as long as I feel I've done my best and reached my peak state, I'll have no regrets. Otherwise, I would regret it for the rest of my life."

"A very good mindset." Liao Chengping loved this kind of actor. "Secondly, of course, is to come and see you, have you take a look at our script, and commission a song from you."

"That is truly flattering me."

"Not at all," Liao Chengping said earnestly. "As for the song, it goes without saying. I believe you can write a track that perfectly matches the movie; that shouldn't be difficult for you. As for the script, last time, I felt you gave me a lot of inspiration. I believe you have a talent for this. In the future, you could even try challenging yourself with roles like acting or directing."

"Really?" It would be a lie to say Lin Qihua wasn't tempted. Which artist wouldn't be interested in making movies? Naturally, he had harbored such fantasies as well. The crucial point was: since the nebula in his mind could produce songs and MVs one after another, could it also be possible for things related to movies to appear? Just like when he created *Little Luck*, the general outline of the film *Our Times* had appeared in his mind, familiarizing him with its main plot, which made his interpretation of the song even deeper and more profound. If this possibility truly existed, it would be a pity not to try when endowed with such a talent.

"Of course," Liao Chengping explained earnestly. "Just like music, film uses various factors to convey the inner emotions and attitudes of the director and actors to the audience. It is another form of emotional contagion. Music is the art of sound, while film is known as the seventh art, and sometimes called the eighth art. Compared to other arts, film encompasses literature, music, dance, theater, painting, architecture, sculpture, and many other art forms. It possesses an even more universally applicable infectiousness and serves as a passport to the art world. If you want to go global, music and film are indispensable."

Looking at Liao Chengping's earnest expression, Lin Qihua could perceive his fanaticism and anticipation for cinematic art, and a genuine sense of respect arose in his heart. As an artistic medium, film was the most vivid expression of a nation's culture. Lin Qihua naturally understood a little bit about it, but thinking about it now, his understanding seemed somewhat superficial; there was still so much more contained within it.

"Ah, I lost my composure for a moment there," Liao Chengping said with a slight blush in explanation.

"No," Lin Qihua and the others shook their heads. "We are the ones who have been enlightened. Given the opportunity, I'd love to give it a try myself."

"That would be the best. If there's a chance, we can collaborate," Liao Chengping smiled, took a script from his bag, and handed it over. "This is our latest movie script. I hope you can give some objective feedback and help create a suitable theme song. I suppose this should be your specialty."

"You flatter me. I'll do my best." Lin Qihua smiled, took the script, opened it, and began reading attentively.

The plot went roughly like this: In an aristocratic academy established specifically to cultivate elite talents, it was a gathering place for the children of the upper-class elite. Consequently, there were countless handsome young men and beautiful young women, each with their own unique traits. Among them, two boys and one girl stood out the most. One boy possessed the demeanor of an overbearing corporate CEO with a super-cool vibe, while the other was a warm, melancholic, and handsome youth. The girl was a typical rich, beautiful, and privileged young lady. One day, an ordinary girl from a humble background arrived here, carrying her parents' dream of soaring onto a high branch to become a phoenix. Because she was completely out of place with her surroundings, she was subjected to all sorts of bullying—especially after accidentally offending the overbearing boy, which triggered a series of entanglements of love and hatred. In the end, the resilient and self-respecting girl captured the attention of both boys. With their help, she resolved a series of major crises while simultaneously becoming deeply trapped in the whirlpool of a three-way romance, unable to choose.

Little Daze's role was naturally the female protagonist: an ordinary yet tough and self-respecting girl who was a bit clumsy and made all sorts of fools of herself, but possessed an indomitable spirit. Discovered by the two boys, she gradually transformed from an ordinary girl into a princess drawing the attention of everyone. The acting requirements for this role were quite demanding.

"It truly is a typical Director Liao style," Lin Qihua praised with a thumbs-up after finishing the script.

"Hehe." Liao Chengping did not deny it. Most of his movies were quite similar, yet they were immensely popular. Perhaps it had to do with his own strict standards—simple plots didn't matter as long as they could touch people's hearts. Youth was, after all, an eternal theme.

"I think as long as the casting is good, this movie will definitely succeed. Another version of the Cinderella story is an eternal theme in itself, combined with attractive young men and women and gorgeous scenery, its appeal is beyond doubt."

"I think so too. If the first film, *Our Times*, told the story of a girl in an ordinary school, then this one places the girl in an aristocratic academy. The sharp class contrast creates greater conflict, stronger appeal, and allows more viewers to project themselves into the story. The actors can also adopt more exaggerated performance styles, and the effect will naturally be even better," Liao Chengping explained his creative philosophy.

"However, I feel that treating this as a sequel to *Our Times* might not be quite suitable," Lin Qihua said, pondering. "I have an idea—it might be a bit immature, but I'll voice it. If it's inappropriate, please don't mind."

"I came here precisely to listen to your opinions," Liao Chengping smiled. "I believe you have this talent—not just in music composition, but also in plotting and conceptualization. I am very much looking forward to this."

"Very well. First of all, does Director Liao have any thoughts on making a series of films?"