Cheng Che picked up his phone and called Yan Ruanning.
I answered it after it rang twice.
" Ningning," he said, "I've got an idea and I'd like to use your recording studio."
There was a pause on the other end of the phone.
Yan Ruanning was probably thinking, how come this person always calls her " Ningning " so naturally?
Also, you should call him teacher!
"Come on in," she said. "I happen to be in the studio."
After hanging up the phone, Cheng Che went out.
He didn't go directly to Yan Ruanning's studio, but instead went to a nearby shopping mall first.
The first floor is the jewelry and accessories section, brightly lit, with various necklaces, bracelets and pendants displayed in glass cases.
He walked around several counters before finally stopping in front of a less conspicuous brand.
A sales assistant approached, smiling professionally, "Sir, what kind of business would you like to see?"
"A pendant." Cheng Che looked down at the items in the glass case. "It doesn't need to be too big, something delicate."
He wanted to give it to Yan Ruanning.
Yan Ruanning has helped her so many times without expecting anything in return; he feels he must repay her no matter what.
The sales assistant glanced at him, probably assessing his spending power.
Cheng Che was dressed simply today, in a gray sweatshirt and dark casual pants; the brand was hard to discern.
But his demeanor and face made the sales assistant subconsciously focus on the design and craftsmanship of the product description rather than the price.
And buying pendants...
It's probably for his girlfriend, so I'll recommend a matching couple's set.
The sales associate felt that her idea was correct.
Cheng Che, however, neither knew nor understood. After looking at several, he finally chose a small platinum pendant.
The design is a simplified ginkgo leaf, with veins outlined by fine lines and a tiny diamond embedded in the center.
Like a star, unassuming yet captivating.
"This is it."
The sales assistant paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, sir, I'll wrap it up for you. It'll be twelve thousand in total."
After paying, Cheng Che put the bag away, left the mall, and took a taxi to Dongba Star Shadow Cultural and Creative Park.
When he arrived at Yan Ruanning's studio, the people in the first-floor office area already recognized him.
The young woman at the front desk smiled when she saw him, "Mr. Cheng, Sister Ning is waiting for you in the recording studio on the second floor."
Cheng Che nodded and went upstairs.
The recording studio door was ajar. He pushed it open and Yan Ruanning sitting in front of the control panel, holding a cup of tea.
She wore a light gray sweater today, and her hair was tied in a low ponytail, looking very casual.
She looked up when she heard the door open.
"What does inspiration look like?" she asked, tilting her head curiously.
Cheng Che did not answer the question.
"Ta-da!!"
He placed the bag he was carrying on the control panel and pushed it in front of Yan Ruanning.
"What is that?" Yan Ruanning looked down curiously.
"For you."
Yan Ruanning was taken aback.
She picked up the bag, opened it, took out the box inside, and turned it over.
The ginkgo leaf pendant lay on the velvet, the platinum's luster serene.
She stared for several seconds, her face turning slightly red.
Isn't this... a couple's pendant?
"Why... did you suddenly buy this?"
"You've helped me so many times." Cheng Che leaned against the control panel, examining the equipment. "Finding lawyers, giving lessons, borrowing recording studios—you never took money or gifts. I can't live with myself if I don't do something."
Yan Ruanning held the box, opened it, and looked at the description inside: "[Couple's Starry Sky Pendant]". She couldn't help but smile.
Then she looked down at Cheng Che's shoes.
It was the same pair of matching shoes she bought.
Yan Ruanning felt an unprecedented tenderness in her heart, and she said gently:
"Help me put it on."
Cheng Che was taken aback.
You bought it, you wear it.
Yan Ruanning handed over the pendant in a coquettish manner, turning her head to reveal her neck.
Her ponytail was tied low, revealing a clean line at the back of her neck, and her skin was as white as a thin piece of porcelain.
Cheng Che took the pendant and went behind her.
He bent down and looped the chain around her neck, his fingers pausing at the clasp.
"Don't button it crookedly."
Yan Ruanning said her voice was softer than usual.
"Rest assured."
He fastened the chain and took a step back.
Yan Ruanning reached out and touched the pendant around her neck, her fingertips lingering for a moment on the shape of a ginkgo leaf.
Her ears turned red, but she didn't turn around.
"Let's write a song."
Cheng Che clapped his hands, walked to the other side of the control panel, and spread out his laptop.
Yan Ruanning composed herself, turned her head, and her expression returned to normal.
"Okay," she said, "Let me see your inspiration."
Cheng Che silently recited it in his mind.
[ Muse of Inspiration ], used.
The item he had stored in his system space for a long time was activated at this moment.
At the same time, a very soft notification sound rang in my mind.
[ Flash of Inspiration has been triggered.]
Cheng Che closed his eyes.
The vague melodies suddenly became clear.
They were like threads, passing through his mind, intertwining, entwining, and converging.
He saw the structure of the entire song, its beginning, development, climax, and conclusion, and where each note should fall.
He picked up the pen.
Yan Ruanning was waiting on the side, ready to give him some feedback after he finished writing.
But Cheng Che's writing speed stunned her.
He didn't pause.
The pen tip moved quickly across the paper, as if copying an existing song.
First line, second line, third line.
Chorus, bridge, outro.
The lyrics and music were written at the same time, like two parallel rivers, starting from the same source and flowing to the same destination.
Less than a minute.
Cheng Che put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and let out a long sigh.
Yan Ruanning looked at the notebook in front of him, opened her mouth slightly, and then reached out and took the notebook.
She glanced down, and then her expression changed.
"You just thought of that?"
"Um."
She didn't reply, but simply read on, word by word.
The lyrics are clean, without any flowery language, but each line is based on a specific scene.
Sweat, the track, the starting line, the sound of the wind rushing past my ears.
The chorus has a simple melody, but the emotion is very high, like someone running out of the darkness and rushing towards the light.
She watched it three times.
Then she looked up at Cheng Che, her eyes full of admiration.
What's the name of this song?
"I haven't decided yet," Cheng Che said, stroking his chin. "What do you think?"
Yan Ruanning glanced at the lyrics again.
The first line is, "Before dawn, the wind passed by my ear."
She thought about it.
"Let's call it ' Chasing the Wind '."
Cheng Che nodded. "Okay, it fits perfectly."
Yan Ruanning closed her notebook, put it aside, and her tone suddenly became serious:
"This song would be perfect for Wilson's ad today. You could license it to them and include it in the ad."
Cheng Che's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he said:
I think so too.
If they can leverage the momentum to promote his song, their chances of completing the Charisma Trial will be much greater!
So he immediately picked up his phone and called Qin Lie.
I answered it after it rang once.
" Cheng Che? What's up?"
Qin Lie sounded excited, after all, he had also received his share of over 100,000 yuan in income.
" Old Qin, I've written a song."
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then Qin Lie's puzzled voice came through:
You can write songs?
"Am I not learning from Teacher Yan?" Cheng Che said smugly. "Didn't you know that?"
Qin Lie choked for a moment.
"You've only been learning for a few days..."
"I'm a genius."
Qin Lie was speechless, then said, "And then what? Do you want me to promote your music app?"
"No, I just finished writing the song, Teacher Yan said it's perfect for the commercial we're shooting this morning. Could you talk to Wilson for me and see if they can grant us permission?"
Qin Lie's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
What is Yan Ruanning's skill level?
If she wasn't lying to protect Cheng Che's pride, then the quality must have been very high.
Could Cheng Che really be an all-around genius?
You'll understand when you hear it.
Afraid that Qin Lie wouldn't believe him, Cheng Che turned on speakerphone, put the phone away, and then glanced at Yan Ruanning.
Yan Ruanning sat down at the piano and played a melody from her notebook.
The melody flows from the piano, simple yet powerful.
It's like standing alone on the starting line, hearing the wind coming from afar.
Qin Lie remained silent on the other end of the phone.
After finishing playing, Cheng Che picked up his phone.
"How about it?"
"Great! Excellent! Record a short demo and send it to me quickly so I can register you and also send it to Wilson!"
His voice was filled with excitement, because another source of income was about to arrive!
After hanging up the phone, Yan Ruanning closed the piano lid, stood up, and looked at Cheng Che.
"Come on," she said, "Let's record a demo."
Yan Ruanning walked to the microphone and handed him the earpiece.
"Sing it once, and I'll play it for you. Record a simple version for Wilson to hear."
Cheng Che took the earphones and walked to the microphone.
Yan Ruanning sat at the piano, her fingers on the keys, and glanced at him.
Are you ready?
Cheng Che nodded.
Yan Ruanning pressed the first note.
Cheng Che closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Then he spoke.
The Bard Incubus Voice was operating at full power at this moment.