Natural Talent

December 10, morning. Thunder Music Studio.

Huang Ting was sixty-seven that year. His hair had thinned, and he wore thick glasses, but he seemed remarkably energetic.

Huang Ting's son was named Huang Lei. These days, Huang Lei generally ran the studio, and with a senior vice president from Penguin Video paying them a personal visit, he dutifully took on the task of serving tea and water in the reception room.

Dai Ying explained why she had come, and Huang Ting didn't refuse.

Penguin Video and Penguin Music both belonged to Penguin Group. Though the senior vice president of Penguin Video oversaw the film and television business, his connections were influential enough to make a huge impact on the music industry.

Huang Ting was old and no longer ambitious, but his son was still young, and the family studio still needed to stay in business. He couldn't afford to turn down a senior vice president from Penguin Video.

"What's the theme of this TV series, and what's the main storyline?" Huang Ting pushed up his glasses and asked.

Dai Ying took several sheets of paper from her bag and handed them to Huang Ting with a smile. "During the Northern Song Dynasty, there was a minister named Bao Zheng, courtesy name Xiren, from Luzhou. He was famous for his incorruptibility and impartiality, and he passed the imperial examinations during Emperor Renzong's Tiansheng era. He was promoted through the ranks to become an investigating censor, and proposed training troops, selecting generals, and strengthening the frontier defenses."

"He served successively as a judge in the Three Offices' Household Finance Department and as a transport commissioner for the Jingdong, Shaanxi, and Hebei circuits. Because he enforced the law with unwavering impartiality, he was known as 'Bao Qingtian,' 'Bao Heizhi,' and 'Bao Heitan.'"

"As for Young Bao Qingtian, it tells the story of the young Bao Zheng, a brilliant investigator who repeatedly solves major cases, defies the powerful, cares for ordinary people, and upholds justice as he cracks one baffling mystery after another."

Huang Ting studied the materials in his hands carefully for a moment, then looked up. "How much time do I have?"

"About half a month," Dai Ying replied. "Young Bao Qingtian should finish post-production in around two weeks, and then it could go live at any time."

Huang Ting nodded slowly. "Don't worry, President Dai. I'll write both songs within half a month. It's just that I'm getting on in years, and my mind isn't as sharp as it used to be. The songs may not be as good as my earlier work, so I hope you'll bear with me."

"Old Gentleman Huang, you're too modest," Dai Ying said with a smile. "Everyone in the industry knows that almost every song you've written is a rare classic. You've been living quietly these past few years and haven't written much. I shouldn't have bothered you, but Young Bao Qingtian is simply too important to us. I had to put my pride aside and ask for your help."

Huang Ting smiled. "It's an honor that President Dai would think of an old man like me."

Before leaving, Dai Ying remembered what Li Xun had sent her. She hesitated for a moment, then decided to show it to Huang Ting.

She didn't understand music, composition, or lyrics, but for some reason, she felt that the lyrics Li Xun had sent her did seem to have something to them.

"Old Gentleman Huang, the screenwriter for this TV series sent me two sets of lyrics yesterday. I looked into his background, and he has no connection to music, so I didn't take them seriously. Would you mind taking a look?"

As she spoke, Dai Ying took out her phone and opened her WeChat conversation with Li Xun.

Huang Ting took the phone and read for a few moments, then let out a surprised "Oh."

"What do you think, Old Gentleman Huang?" Dai Ying asked.

Huang Ting settled back into his chair, savoring the lyrics line by line. Every so often, he read a line aloud.

"Above my head, a sky of blue; within my heart, a single belief."

"I'm not young and ignorant. I simply don't fear a challenge."

"I seek clarity in all things; it's just my nature, hard to change."

"If I can clear your name, why wouldn't I?"

Huang Lei leaned over his father's shoulder, frowning at the lyrics on the phone just as his father was.

"This is interesting. Quite interesting!" Huang Ting said slowly.

"Old Gentleman Huang, do you think his lyrics are any good? As far as I know, he's never studied music," Dai Ying asked.

Huang Ting smiled. "Never having studied it doesn't mean he lacks talent. Isn't that what people mean when they say, 'Some people are born with a gift'?"

Dai Ying thought for a moment. "If you think his lyrics have potential, could you revise them based on his original version and compose a melody?"

Huang Ting looked at the phone. "Didn't he say in his message that he had a melody in mind? What did you think when you heard it, President Dai?"

Dai Ying said awkwardly, "I haven't listened to the voice message he sent. It's one thing for someone who's never studied music to manage to write lyrics, but composing at least requires being able to read sheet music, doesn't it?"

"President Dai, may I listen to the voice message?" Huang Ting asked.

Dai Ying nodded.

Huang Ting pressed play.

Li Xun's singing had become muffled and distorted after being sent as a WeChat voice message. Still, to Huang Ting's ears, it made him feel sorry that the young man had gone into the wrong line of work.

With proper training, the young man could make a name for himself in the music industry.

Listening to the voice message, Dai Ying was surprised, too.

It actually sounded pretty good. There was something pleasant and comfortable about it.

Could he have borrowed the tune from another song?

Could someone who'd never studied music really just hum out a complete melody like that?

The singing continued.

The voice message was four minutes and twenty-eight seconds long.

Huang Ting nodded along as he listened, sometimes tapping his fingers lightly on the desk. Toward the end, the old man even closed his eyes.

"Every little thing you do, I pay close attention."

"As long as the truth comes to light, I'll have an unburdened heart."

The voice message finally ended, and silence fell over the reception room.

Dai Ying was the first to break it.

"Old Gentleman Huang, what do you think of his singing?"

Huang Ting leaned back and fell into thought. After a moment, he said, "The song is very complete. Some of the notes are a little off, and a few parts need to be adjusted, but overall, it's already very good. What's remarkable is how well it fits the theme of your TV series. With all my experience, I can't hear any trace of it borrowing from another well-known song."

Dai Ying drew a deep breath. What on earth is going on inside Li Xun's head?

Huang Ting had grown interested in Li Xun, too. He asked Dai Ying a few questions about him, then turned his attention to the second set of lyrics.

"As Long As There Is You"

"(Female) Who can tell me

If there's a pen like that

That can draw a pair of eyes that never cry

And hold on to the fleeting moments of this world

So that every beautiful thing will never fade away

(Male) If that were possible

I could comfort myself

On the nights when you're not here

I could draw a ray of light

And hold on to happiness

Then send it all to you

Until the bitter taste turns sweet

..."

The old man nodded repeatedly as he read the lyrics. Sometimes he'd finish a section, close his eyes, and ponder for a while, as if he were thinking something over.

A few minutes later, he finished reading the second song's lyrics and immediately played the second voice message.

"Who can tell me if there's a pen like that..."

All three people in the reception room froze.

The voice in the audio was unmistakably female!

Dai Ying couldn't help thinking, Right, this is a duet. Did he find a woman to sing it with him?

"If that were possible, I could comfort myself. On the nights when you're not here, I could draw a ray of light..."

At that line, the voice finally changed back to Li Xun's own.

Four minutes later, the voice message ended.

Dai Ying was confused. Hadn't there been a male-female duet in the lyrics? Why hadn't it been in the audio?

Huang Ting handed the phone back to Dai Ying with a smile. "This is interesting. The young man is interesting. He really was born with a gift. With a voice like that, if he got professional guidance and proper training, he'd have a limitless future!"

"Especially with that voice of his—you can't tell if it's male or female. That's rare. Extremely rare!"

Dai Ying's eyes widened. "Do you mean the female voice was him, too, Old Gentleman Huang?"