Chapter 51: Tailor-Made (Part Two)

“Let’s begin, then.” Lin Qihua smiled, placed his hands on the keys, and gently brushed across them. An enchanting melody arose.

Xiao Xiao slowly approached the piano, closed her eyes, and let her body sway gently with the music. Raising the microphone, she began to sing, accompanied by the soft piano.

“I hear raindrops falling on the lush green lawn,
I hear the distant school bell signaling the end of class,
But I never heard your voice,
Calling my name with sincerity.”

“So beautiful,” Tian Yuwei sighed, closing her eyes in delight.

“Yes, it feels different from the original, but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is,” Qin Nianwei remarked.

“If Xiao Xiao were to sing this ‘Little Luck,’ wouldn’t it be even more popular?” Yu Fengqin whispered to Lian Yuling. “It sounds wonderful.”

“Yes, a female vocalist seems to bring out something special. But compared to the original, it’s missing something. The crucial part is the emotional resonance. Lin Qihua’s ‘Little Luck’ broke through one hundred million downloads because listeners found something deeply moving within it, something that reminded them of their first love, of youthful days. Xiao Xiao hasn’t been able to capture that.”

As the song ended, everyone anxiously looked at Lin Qihua.

“Did I not sing well?” Xiao Xiao asked nervously.

“It’s not that you sang poorly. The fault is mine,” Lin Qihua mused. “Let me explain. Your technique is flawless, and the performance was good, but it lacked emotional depth. That’s mainly my responsibility. I forgot—the requirements for you should be different. Asking you to convey my feelings is unreasonable. This song needs a vivid sense of story, as if narrating a film, telling a complete tale. I failed to explain the original inspiration clearly to you. That’s my oversight. Tell me, have you ever been in love?”

Xiao Xiao’s face flushed crimson. She replied softly, “No.”

“Haha, that’s the heart of the issue. Well, have you ever had a crush? In middle school, high school—at some point in your youth, did you ever feel attracted to a handsome boy at school?”

“Yes.” Xiao Xiao’s cheeks grew even redder, as if she were about to burst into flames.

“Take it easy. If you can’t even accept this, then it will be hard to convey the emotion in the song.” Lin Qihua waved his hand. “Listen closely: this is a story, a story about first love and youth. An ordinary girl likes a handsome boy, but unexpectedly crosses paths with a mischievous boy. The mischievous boy likes a beautiful girl. The two strike a deal—the ordinary girl helps the mischievous boy pursue the beautiful girl. But, unknowingly, the ordinary girl falls in love with the mischievous boy, and he falls for her as well. She buys him sesame noodles, insisting the sauce and noodles be kept separate; he buys her albums of her favorite stars, and fiercely protects the cardboard cutouts he bought for her, even in fights.

She helps him resolve his emotional burdens; he helps her with math. She bravely rebels against the school director for him; he endures blows from delinquent students without fighting back, all for her. In the end, she realizes he loves her, and she discovers she loves him too. But he goes off to America. When he returns, he fulfills the promise of their youth, arranging for her idol to hold a concert just for her—a concert that belongs to his first love and to her. Most of the time, we don’t understand what love is. Only when it’s gone do we feel the pain. ‘Little Luck’ truly refers to the special boy a girl meets in her life. Meeting him was lucky, but she didn’t cherish it then. After losing him, she no longer has the right to cry. She hopes he finds his beloved, envies the girl who has him. To have him is all she ever wished for—her little luck.

That is the story behind this song. If you understand it, if you are moved, you can try again—see if you can sing this feeling, this emotion. If you can, it’s yours. I believe in you.”

Having finished, Lin Qihua noticed Xiao Xiao’s eyes were red—she had clearly been crying. The others seemed to have shed tears as well.

“So this is the real story behind the song. It’s like living through a romance, laughing and crying for the girl. I understand now. Could you give me ten minutes? I need to prepare myself emotionally,” Xiao Xiao said, wiping away her tears with a smile.

“Of course, take as long as you need. Honestly, I can’t fully express the emotions in it. After all, I’m a man, not a girl at heart, and a man’s perspective is more about tolerance and letting go. Perhaps a female version will move people even more.” Lin Qihua smiled.

“Wait,” He Li suddenly said, “the story you just told sounds familiar. I think I’ve read a script with a similar plot somewhere.”

“Really?” Lin Qihua was surprised. He remembered the scenes vividly, as if they were from a movie. Was there really something similar out there?

“I’ll have someone bring it down. We’ll see soon enough.” He Li said excitedly. “If so, do you think we could use this song as the movie’s theme?”

“If you’re right, I think there’s a good chance,” Lin Qihua replied with a smile.

Soon, He Li’s assistant hurried back, carrying a script titled ‘Youthful Love Song.’

He Li opened the script and laughed, “We haven’t been formally notified yet, but these scripts are usually sent to major companies by default. So we received it as well. The company’s situation isn’t great, so we need to seize every opportunity—I’ve read this script, and I didn’t expect to hear the same story from your lips. It left an impression.”

She read it carefully and smiled, “Yes, the plot is nearly identical, just some minor differences in the details. But that’s not the crucial point—the question is, do we have a chance?”

“That depends on your skills, Li, and Xiao Xiao’s efforts. First, we need Xiao Xiao to produce a sample of the song, right?” Lin Qihua spoke quietly. “If she delivers a satisfying version, I don’t think the director will be able to resist a song that fits the story so perfectly.”

“Alright, I understand. Let’s see what Xiao Xiao can do.” He Li watched Xiao Xiao, who stood with her eyes closed.

After a while, Xiao Xiao emerged from her thoughts, her gaze carrying an indescribable emotion—perhaps confusion, regret, or blessing.

Lin Qihua nodded and began playing again. This time, Xiao Xiao quickly found her rhythm, and her voice, once clear and bright, now carried a hint of huskiness, filled with emotion. With her singing, vivid scenes unfolded before everyone, the feelings within the song twisting and turning.

“She’s got it,” Lin Qihua thought with joy. Xiao Xiao, with her talent, could perform the song perfectly so long as she grasped the emotional tone. This song, chosen by Lin Qihua for her, could be fully interpreted.

When the song ended, thunderous applause erupted—the audience’s affirmation of Xiao Xiao’s performance and their hopes for the company’s future.

“Congratulations, you’ve passed the test,” Lin Qihua said, clapping. “I look forward to your rendition breaking my record.”

“Thank you.” Xiao Xiao, overcome with emotion, bowed deeply to Lin Qihua.

“We’re all colleagues, no need to be so formal. Your success means the company can overcome its difficulties, and things will be better for me too—a win-win.” Lin Qihua sidestepped the bow and laughed joyfully. “Now, Li, you can begin arrangements.”

“No problem, leave it to me. Xiao Xiao, you’ll have to work hard—I need to schedule your recording as soon as possible. If it succeeds, we have a real chance at landing a movie theme.”

“Anytime,” Xiao Xiao nodded.

“Alright, you look like a crying cat—your makeup is a mess.” He Li wiped her tears. “With your help, the company will surely weather the storm.”

“Mm.” Xiao Xiao nodded firmly.

When it was the turn of the Weiwei group, everyone was filled with anticipation. Their performance was a dynamic dance, showcasing each of the three girls’ unique strengths while cleverly hiding their weaknesses—a smart arrangement.

Lin Qihua had already made up his mind about them. In his mind, he saw an equally talented group with many classics—he believed the songs he had in mind would suit the Weiwei group perfectly.

Of course, now was not the time to bring those works out directly—it would be far too astonishing, and Lin Qihua didn’t think that would be wise.

After promising the Weiwei group, it was the trainees’ turn. Compared to the established artists, the trainees were raw and inexperienced, their flaws obvious but their strengths evident as well—their potential was immense. Among them, a young man and a girl showed exceptional talent and were kept by Lin Qihua. They would begin training according to the artist debut schedule, and Lin Qihua would compose songs for them, giving them a chance to rise to fame overnight.

With everything concluded, the gains were considerable. Yu Fengqin was much happier, having seen hope for resolving the company’s woes. Whether it would work depended on the next steps, but at least the direction was right.

“Now, let us welcome Lei Jing’s brand-new look as she makes her grand entrance,” Lin Qihua announced confidently, unable to hide his amazement as Lei Jing walked through the door.

Lei Jing, transformed, was unrecognizable from before. Her short, neat hair gave her a sharp, refined appearance, and her exquisitely beautiful face exuded an alluring charm. With her androgynous attire, she captivated everyone’s attention.

“So cool!” Tian Yuwei exclaimed, eyes sparkling.

“Indeed,” He Li said with excitement in her eyes. “When you take a style to its extreme, it becomes irresistibly attractive and seductive. The androgynous, bewitching look—it appeals to both men and women.”

“Yes, that’s the unique charm of this style. Girls love her coolness, envy her independence and free spirit. Boys are drawn to her enchantment. And girls, being the main force in fan culture, usually adore handsome male stars. If she can win their attention, it would be a huge boost for reaching the top tier.” Lin Qihua smiled gently, the nebula in his mind spinning, many new visions appearing.