“Everyone, pay attention. The filming crew will be coming here later to shoot some footage. Tidy up your pants and socks,” Chu Qianze returned to the dormitory, picked up a roll of tissue, and tapped the wardrobe a few times.
“Has it already started?” Rong Jinghe asked.
“Yes, they’ve already started organizing the shoot. They’ll be coming from the corridor towards here, in order. There’s still some time,” Chu Qianze said.
“In that case, I need to quickly tidy up my clothes. If I accidentally get caught on camera and it gets uploaded online, my lofty image will be ruined,” Hong hurriedly brought back the clothes hangers hanging on the railing, paying particular attention to his smelly socks.
The four of them began a rare thorough cleaning.
After finishing, a knock on the door sounded.
Chu Qianze opened the door, and the staff entered, installing the cameras in their respective positions.
“We’ll dismantle them again in the evening.”
After expressing gratitude to the staff, Chu Qianze closed the door.
Glancing at the cameras, he saw that Hong’s sitting posture was unusually proper, which amused him. “What are you doing? It’s really awkward to look like this.”
“Haha, I’m just maintaining my image,” Hong slapped his thigh, upholding his stern and cool uncle persona.
Meanwhile, Ye Lunguo also carried himself with restraint.
After several tens of minutes,
Hong raised one leg, casually trimming his nails, while Ye Lunguo leaned against the bed, applying a face mask upside down on his face.
“What about your images? The cameras are still there,” Chu Qianze sat on the bed, observing the actions of the others.
Hong: “I don’t have an image.”
Rong Jinghe took out a guitar, searching for tools in the cabinet.
“Brother Jinghe, I’ve been seeing you practice the guitar a lot lately. Is it for a performance?” Ye Lunguo lay on the edge of the bed, his speech slightly unclear due to the face mask.
“Yes, this time my dancing part is minimal. It’s mostly singing, so I’m preparing to use the guitar,” Rong Jinghe lightly plucked the strings with his fingers, producing a clean and resonant melody that echoed in the room.
“The sound quality is really good, it sounds so soothing,” Ye Lunguo sat up, getting off the bed to wash his face.
“Is it a bit out of tune? I feel like the pitch isn’t quite right,” Chu Qianze, after listening with both ears, inquired.
Rong Jinghe responded, “It’s a bit off, so I’m going to tune it now.”
“Shall I help you?” Chu Qianze pulled aside the bed curtain and stuck his head out, looking down at the person below.
“Should I bring it up for you?” Rong Jinghe raised his head, looking at Chu Qianze sitting on the bed.
“I’m too lazy to climb down. Just bring it up here for me.” Chu Qianze folded his legs, indicating his unwillingness to move.
Rong Jinghe chuckled lightly, lifting the guitar and passing it over. “Be careful, don’t drop it.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll definitely get it right.” Chu Qianze took the guitar, strummed it a couple of times, paused for a moment, and then began tuning.
After fixing things with a few adjustments, he decided to play a segment in his free time.
“Isn’t this the song ‘White Horse’ that Brother Jinghe is going to sing at the performance later?” Ye Lunguo walked out of the bathroom, recognizing the familiar tune.
“That’s the one. Did I play it correctly?” Chu Qianze chuckled.
“You played it right,” Rong Jinghe confirmed.
“I used to love this song so much. I played it on repeat every day, thinking about serenading it to some girl in the future with my guitar. Unfortunately, here I am, about to step into the uncle category, still single since birth,” Hong raised one leg, gazing at the sky at a 45-degree angle, his expression melancholic.
“You actually had such a fresh and innocent phase? Couldn’t tell,” Chu Qianze teased.
“Oh, back then, I was a top-tier fresh meat, with a high turnover rate of head-turns. But unfortunately, I got into this act of being aloof, pretending to be a reserved youth focused on studying every day. Now, I’ve got a beard, lost some hair, and anyone who sees me calls me ‘uncle.'”
“If I had known I’d age so rapidly, I should have abandoned my pride and had a few more love affairs. What’s the use of being reserved? The result of being reserved is that I haven’t even held a girl’s hand, and I spend my days in the company of my left hand,” Hong sighed, reflecting on the challenges of life.
“What’s this? You, the experienced driver, driving anything lately?” Ye Lunguo’s face turned red as he spoke.
“Have I been driving? Cross my heart, I don’t even have a driver’s license.” Hong became even more despondent once he mentioned it.
“Driving without a license? Be careful of flipping the car,” Chu Qianze added.
With a flick of his fingers, the musical notes naturally flowed out. “How about singing a bit? I’ll provide accompaniment for you guys.”
“You can play the guitar too?” Hong was astonished.
“Just a little, it depends on the song,” Chu Qianze replied.
“Now that you say ‘just a little,’ I’m starting to feel a bit anxious,” Rong Jinghe couldn’t help commenting.
The other two couldn’t help but recall Chu Qianze’s previous performance. His “just a little” is not the same as ours.
Chu Qianze said, “Let’s begin.”
As the prelude concluded, Hong began singing a few lines, then waved his hand, saying, “Can’t go on, forgot the lyrics. Brother Jinghe, it’s your turn!”
Rong Jinghe sat in a chair, fingers tapping the beat, and based on Chu Qianze’s current part, he hummed a couple of lines.
Listening to Rong Jinghe sing, Chu Qianze reminded, “Be alert, it’s speeding up now.”
With that, the rhythm accelerated.
Rong Jinghe caught on quickly and kept pace.
Ye Lunguo silently exclaimed. He couldn’t sing this song, but he could provide accompaniment. Looking around, he grabbed a pencil to serve as a makeshift conductor.
“Did you have to add that?” Hong exclaimed in amazement, joining in with harmonies. Although he didn’t remember the lyrics, he could whistle!
As the whistle began, Chu Qianze’s fingers trembled, hitting two wrong notes.
Ye Lunguo almost dropped the pencil.
The three froze, all looking at Hong.
“Ah, off-key,” Hong admitted awkwardly, quickly waving his hand. “That was a mistake, a mistake! Let’s try again, it’ll be fine this time!”
“You can try adding a rap section,” Chu Qianze suggested.
“That’s a good idea! Let me think about it,” Hong propped his chin with his hand, contemplating how to write the lyrics.
“Are we really going to modify the song directly?” Ye Lunguo’s eyes lit up with excitement.
“Three seconds of brewing!” Chu Qianze spoke as his index finger gently plucked the strings, creating a smooth and melodious prelude.
Rong Jinghe tapped his toes lightly, beginning to brew the emotions. For this song, emotions were more crucial than technical skills.
As the chorus concluded, the instrumental interlude began, and Hong seized the opportunity. Covering his mouth with one hand, he embarked on a spontaneous rap.
He stood up, swaying his body with the music.
Ye Lunguo wanted to join in the fun, so he stood up and started a small dance routine.
As the song concluded, Hong picked up his toner, raised it to his lips, and bowed deeply. “Thank you all for coming to my concert. Thank you, everyone, for your hard work.”
“Amazing, how do you have so much drama?” Chu Qianze sat on the bed, laughing uncontrollably. “No, I’m coming down. What song do you want to hear next? Tell me, and who knows, it might be a song I can play.”
“Brother Chu, have you evolved into an automatic jukebox? Well, then I’ll go first. How about the one we skipped earlier, ‘Pretend Gentleman’?” Hong was the first to suggest a song.
“Cool, I can actually play that one.”
“Brother Chu, do you know the song from our group, ‘Desert Oasis’?” Ye Lunguo inquired.
“You sing it every day; it would be hard not to know,” Chu Qianze said.
“Wait a minute, don’t forget my performance song, the really wild one.”
“I got it, let’s go in order, don’t rush.”
Singing, harmonizing, dancing, rapping—one song after another, the group of friends enjoyed themselves immensely. These moments were captured by the cameras and later became one of the classic segments.
It embodied the spirit of the group, known as the “soul of the team.”
On the day of the performance, Chu Qianze sat in the dressing room, watching Rong Jinghe perform the song “White Horse.”
He sat on the white steps, the guitar resting on his lap, bathed in the spotlight, resembling a prince on a white horse.
With his distinctive voice resonating through the speakers, the sound flowed from the ears straight to the heart, evoking an emotional resonance.
[He sang so well! I was in tears!]
When Rong Jinghe returned to the dressing room, Chu Qianze greeted him and gestured for him to sit down.
Rong Jinghe: “Is it Ye Lunguo’s turn now?”
“Yes, we have to watch attentively. If we don’t, when they come back, there might be trouble,” Chu Qianze sighed helplessly.
Rong Jinghe couldn’t help but chuckle.
Last time they went to the hospital, they missed Ye Lunguo and Hong’s performance and were lectured for half a day. Before taking the stage this time, the two emphasized that they must watch their performance, preferably looking for flaws. It’s almost like dealing with children.
“It’s starting,” Rong Jinghe didn’t say much, directing his attention straight to the screen.
Rong Jinghe: “Ye Lunguo’s dance has improved a lot.”
Chu Qianze: “That last move, he didn’t hit the mark, causing problems with the following beats.”
Upon hearing this, Rong Jinghe understood. Indeed, this time, they were meant to scrutinize themselves. While pointing out strengths is fine, correcting flaws is more important.
Rong Jinghe: “As they reached the chorus, the breath control wasn’t quite sufficient.”
Chu Qianze: “I think it was alright.”
Upon hearing this, Rong Jinghe glanced at the person beside him. “Aren’t we supposed to find flaws?”
“Yeah, well, I’m not that good at singing, so I won’t evaluate that. I’ll leave the space for you to find faults,” Chu Qianze said.
“What do you mean by finding faults?”
Rong Jinghe sighed lightly. “Let’s continue; it’s Hong’s turn.”
“Hong’s rap is still so cool, very powerful,” Chu Qianze couldn’t help but applaud.
“The breath is a bit noticeable, and the previous dance move was too forceful,” Rong Jinghe pondered.
“I feel like Hong’s dance style is completely different from the others,” Chu Qianze leaned in and whispered.
“I agree; he gives off a very rugged vibe,” Rong Jinghe added.
“Others are like handsome rogues, and he’s… that kind,” Chu Qianze said, unable to hold back a laugh.
“A bandit entering the village.”
Haha.
Rong Jinghe hadn’t noticed anything at first, but now he looked at Hong’s performance again—black suit, sunglasses, coupled with overly forceful movements. Oh no, he’s trapped.
“Are you poisonous?” Rong Jinghe asked.
Chu Qianze: “A bandit, right?”
You’re making me think of a bandit…
Rong Jinghe rolled his eyes and turned back to observe more carefully. “Yeah, there’s really a bit.”
“Very apt indeed,” Chu Qianze gave himself a thumbs up for his metaphor.
“We’re back!” Ye Lunguo entered the dressing room, seeing the two of them whispering. “What are you talking about? Laughing so happily.”
“We were discussing Brother Hong’s performance,” Chu Qianze said.
“Me too,” Ye Lunguo walked over.
When Hong returned, the group began analyzing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Rong Jinghe deliberately repeated what Chu Qianze had said, emphasizing the metaphor a bit more at the end.
“???” Chu Qianze stared at Rong Jinghe, his face full of complexity. “You’ve changed. You weren’t like this before!”
“Brother Chu , how can you say that about me!” Hong roared in his signature style.
Covering one of his ears, Chu Qianze surrendered decisively. “My bad. I’ll buy you a glass of AD calcium tonight.”
“That’s more like it,” Hong nodded, signaling a deal.
“Just one glass, and you’re selling yourself? If it were me, I’d go for a whole set,” Rong Jinghe chimed in at the right moment, fanning the flames.
Chu Qianze’s lips curled up as he looked at Rong Jinghe. “If it’s for you, of course, I’d be willing. Is a whole set enough, or do you want the entire box?”
Looking at this man, Rong Jinghe was momentarily speechless. He raised his hand, making a zipper motion near his mouth. “I’ll stay quiet.”
“Brother Chu, your heart is too biased,” Hong protested.
“Hearts are naturally biased,” Chu Qianze said confidently.
Feeling Hong’s gaze, Rong Jinghe directly stated, “Admit it.”
“Wuwuwu, Xiao Ye, they’re bullying me together,” Hong’s facial features drooped as he sought comfort from the remaining Ye Lunguo.
“Don’t, you took my chocolate yesterday, and I haven’t settled that score yet.” Ye Lunguo raised his hand to block, emitting an aura that warned Hong to stay away.
Hong looked left and right, finally choosing a small corner to grow mushrooms.
Ye Lunguo sighed, walked over to him, and patted his head.
Hong lifted his head in response to the force, looking moved. “I knew it; you can’t bear to part with me.”
“Don’t stay here, others are watching, it’s too embarrassing.” Ye Lunguo said, unable to hold back his laughter. This guy’s expression was too funny.
“Alright, enough playing. Come on, we’re getting ready to go back,” Chu Qianze waved.
Rong Jinghe had already packed up everything.
Seeing this, Chu Qianze reached out. “Give me the stuff.”
“No need, it’s light; I can handle it,” Rong Jinghe refused, only to find Chu Qianze taking the backpack.
“Let me do it. You’re the mascot of our dorm now, can’t be too careless. Come on, help me take down the water cup.” Chu Qianze carried Rong Jinghe’s bag on his shoulder.
“Oh, Brother Chu, my bag is so heavy! I’m exhausted after the performance; I really can’t lift it!” Hong sprawled on the sofa, wailing.
Can his acting be any more exaggerated?
“You can ask Xiao Ye to help you carry it.”
Hong: Why aren’t we following the script!
Perhaps Hong’s expression was too comical, and Rong Jinghe reached out. “I’ll help you carry it.”
Feeling Chu Qianze’s friendly gaze, Hong quickly waved his hand. “Forget it; I suddenly feel that this bag is very light. I can lift it with one hand. Brother Jinghe, just help me with the water cup.”
With that, he swung his hand, and the backpack arced, landing on his back. “Let’s go, the performance is over, let’s go back and celebrate!”
The next day, after everyone received their rankings, they were taken to the venue for today’s activities.
As Chu Qianze and the others got off the car, they were greeted by an obstacle course.
“Good morning, everyone. I hope you slept well last night. I’m delighted to be the host for today!” The singer held a microphone, speaking in a manner reminiscent of rapping.
“Hello, Teacher Getao!”
“Now, time is tight, and the pressure is increasing. To ease the atmosphere, boost everyone’s enthusiasm, we’ve specially made some reforms and created a challenging obstacle course for you all!”
“Do you see the boards on the platform at the finish line? The activity songs are listed on them. The first to reach can choose a song first. How about it? Isn’t it exciting? I’m already pumped up!”
“To prevent accidents like sports injuries and cramps, we’ll give you all ten minutes for warm-up activities. When the starting signal is given, you can choose your entrance. Get ready, and let’s have some fun!” Getao provided instructions.
Chu Qianze glanced at the six entrances in front and asked his friend, Rong Jinghe, “Which song do you think is better?”
Rong Jinghe, who was stretching his wrists and ankles, didn’t hesitate, “Traveler Against the Current.”
“Because it’s challenging?” Chu Qianze shook his arms.
“That’s one aspect of it. I’ve heard that song, and it’s intense and explosive, especially in a live performance. If you do well, you can really energize the whole audience.” The conversation paused as Rong Jinghe bent down for a stretch.
This guy is serious; it looks like he’s planning to charge ahead on his own.
Chu Qianze didn’t say if he needed help and pressed his arm backward, saying, “See you at the finish line.”
“Of course,” Rong Jinghe chuckled, lifting his arm to stretch his shoulders.
“Is everyone ready? Let’s start now!” At some point, Getao had already stood on a small platform next to them.
“Get ready, everyone! Listen to my whistle!”
A sharp sound pierced through the air, startling nearby sparrows out of the trees.
Upon hearing the sound, trainees rushed forward.
“Make way, make way, boiling water coming through!”
Chu Qianze shouted, taking the lead and choosing the nearest entrance, Number Three.
Upon entering, a rope bridge came into view.
He took a few steps across the rope bridge, reached for the chain, pulled the wooden board over, and, like swinging on a swing, slid across. When he was close to the other side, he leaped lightly and passed the first challenge.
It was easier than he had imagined.
“Don’t push me, big bro!”
“Hey, hey, hey, be careful, we’re about to fall!”
“Who pulled me?”
With a splash, two people fell from the rope bridge.
“People who fall have to go back to the starting point,” the staff reminded.
“Go back? Seriously?” The fallen trainees wailed.
Looking back at the others, Chu Qianze waved, “Come on, everyone!”
The resentment value effect is maxed out.
Bouncing trampolines, large slides, a high-speed flying ship…
Riding on a small car, Chu Qianze turned a corner in the air and climbed onto the platform by grabbing a rope.
“Congratulations to our first member to reach the top!” Just as Getao was about to announce and let Chu Qianze take the song card, he realized that Chu Qianze had already taken it, not needing any reminder.
Sensing Getao’s gaze, Chu Qianze lowered his head to look at the card in his hand, confirming that everything was in order.
“I guess I was too hasty.”
“Yeah, you’re supposed to wait until I finish speaking and then take it,” said with a hint of helplessness.
“Sorry,” Chu Qianze hung the card back, adjusted its angle as if it had not been taken. Then, he returned to the starting point of the climb, indicating that he was ready.
Getao couldn’t help but suppress a smile, looking a bit shaky. “Our first member is here, he’s Chu Qianze! Now, let’s choose the song for the performance!”
“I’ve chosen the song ‘Traveler Against the Current.'” Chu Qianze picked up the card, allowing the camera to zoom in for a close-up, and then hung it around his waist.
“Well done, take a rest on the side.” Getao patted Chu Qianze’s shoulder, continued to stand on the platform, waiting for the arrival of the next member.
With a smile on his face and eager eyes.
After a while, until Getao felt his expression might become stiff, he finally saw the second member running over from a distance.
“Somebody’s here, who could it be? Welcome our second participant, Rong Jinghe!”
Getaon shouted, and Rong Jinghe rushed directly to the side of the board, taking down the card for “Traveler Against the Current.”
Are young people always in such a hurry these days?
He took a few deep breaths, trying to even out his breathing by supporting his knees. Then Rong Jinghe lifted his head, and he saw Getao looking at him with a complex expression on his face.
？
Rong Jinghe felt a bit strange, glanced at Chu Qianze, but saw him smiling especially happy.
“Come on, let’s redo the action of taking down the card,” Getao said.
So that’s what it was.
“I was a bit too impatient,” Rong Jinghe walked back to the board and put the card back.
After repeating the set of movements, he finally walked to Chu Qianze’s side.
“Sure enough, it’s you.”
“Not bad, right?” Chu Qianze casually threw in a tongue pop.
“When I rushed to two-thirds, I saw someone on the high platform, and I thought it must be you.” Rong Jinghe sat on a nearby chair, taking a break.
“You’re not bad either.” Chu Qianze complimented back.
You praise me, I praise you, that’s how we can sustain this development.
When the third person came up, Getao was prepared this time and directly let him choose a song. This left the trainees who were prepared to rest and chat a bit momentarily confused.
Afterwards, more people began to come in groups.
Hong and Ye Lunguo did not join Chu Qianze’s group; instead, they chose another song because they felt that style suited them better.
The last person completed the challenge, concluding the song selection segment.
“These are the songs for your upcoming performances. The songs are given, but the choreography and adaptation of the songs will need to be done by yourselves.”
“What? We have to choreograph and adapt the songs ourselves?”
“I’ve never done anything like that before.”
“Me neither…”
Listening to these responses, Getao maintained the smile of a mentor. “Perhaps some of you have never dealt with these things before. So, consider it a starting point. Actually, it’s not as difficult as it seems. Of course, if you have any questions, feel free to ask the mentors for help. We are more than willing to assist you.”
“Let me make it clear from the beginning, we will only guide you on the feasibility of certain methods. The specific choices are entirely up to you.”
“Alright, now it’s free activity time. Everyone, feel free to enjoy yourselves. It’s a rare opportunity~”
Chu Qianze walked ahead, glancing backward to see Rong Jinghe lost in thought, probably contemplating the song remix.
As they moved forward, Chu Qianze noticed Rong Jinghe still walking absentmindedly. With a hint of helplessness, he stopped and pulled Rong Jinghe before he collided. “Even when daydreaming, be mindful of your surroundings. At least look where you’re going.”
Rong Jinghe snapped back to reality. “Where are we headed now?”
“Stop thinking too much. We’re out to have fun. Let loose; maybe inspiration for the remix will strike while we enjoy ourselves. Any particular activity you have in mind?” Chu Qianze looked around, wondering where Hong and Ye Lunguo had gone.
“Otherwise, how about over there?” said Rong Jinghe, gesturing in a direction.
Looking where Rong Jinghe pointed, Chu Qianze asked, “Are you sure?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?” Rong Jinghe retorted.
Opening the door, they ascended the spiral staircase. Rong Jinghe paused as they reached the upper floor. “How much longer is this going to take?”
Chu Qianze walked ahead, turning to look down at the person lying on the escalator. “We’re only halfway there. Who was the one suggesting we come here? Hurry up, we’re almost there!”
“You… contradicted yourself.” Rong Jinghe panted, hands on hips, and continued climbing. The height was more than expected, and the escalator was narrow, giving the feeling of walking for a long time.
Upon opening the door, it was made of transparent glass, offering a clear view of the lobby below. Chu Qianze took a few steps forward, and the floor creaked beneath him.
“It feels pretty good here.”
Rong Jinghe followed him up, leaning over to look down. Faintly, they could still see their reflections on the glass. It felt as if they were standing in mid-air, creating a strange sensation.
As the two reached the window, the sunlight poured in, casting a colorful and dazzling reflection on the glass.
The only downside was…
“Do you feel it’s a bit hot, especially near this part outside?” Chu Qianze fanned the air with his hand.
“A bit,” Rong Jinghe wiped away a bead of sweat from the tip of his nose.
“Just take a look, and let’s go back down,” Chu Qianze suggested.
Indeed, compared to these seemingly useless gadgets, he still preferred the dormitory bed. At least it was cooler.
“Brother Chu, Brother Jinghe, what are you doing up there?”
Hearing the voice, Chu Qianze looked down and saw Hong and Ye Lunguo lifting their heads, waving towards them.
“Is it fun?”
“It’s really fun! Come up here!” Chu Qianze shouted.
“Brother Chu, you’re definitely teasing me, I don’t believe it!” Hong shouted back.
“Brother Jinghe says it’s fun too!” Chu Qianze shouted.
A subtle smile tugged at the corners of Rong Jinghe’s mouth, meeting Chu Qianze’s gaze.
With a light sigh, he agreed, “That’s right!”
“Then we’ll come up!” Hong pulled Ye Lunguo towards them.
“Come inside a bit.” Chu Qianze led them inside, away from the sunlight, embracing the shade.
Choosing a random pillar, they sat down leaning against it.
“Is this the place? Wow, a glass walkway!” Hong rushed up and started running around on it.
Ye Lunguo was a bit hesitant, taking slow steps forward. He felt something odd, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. He remained a bit uneasy.
After a round of play, Hong was ready to pull everyone to try out all the other facilities.
“You guys go ahead; we’ll stay here. Too lazy to run around,” Chu Qianze said, his legs curled up, and he let out a yawn.
“When the time comes, we’ll go back on our own,” said Rong Jinghe, also not eager to move.
“Alright, Xiao Ye, let’s go!” Hong took the lead, disappearing in an instant, with the cameraman following suit.
“Where did he get all that energy?” Chu Qianze chuckled, leaning against Rong Jinghe. “I’ll take a nap; wake me up when it’s time.”
Rong Jinghe acknowledged with a sound, and in no time, he felt the person beside him breathing more lightly. With nothing else to do, he continued contemplating the issues regarding the song’s adaptation.
This song is a classic. He watched it many times live, so he clearly understood that singing it well could be explosive. The difficulty in adaptation lies in its sheer classic nature. The original version is deeply ingrained in people’s hearts, making it challenging to surpass, resulting in an exceptionally difficult adaptation.
The challenge is how to preserve the core advantages of the original while imbuing it with an entirely new meaning.
Rong Jinghe lowered his head, his fingers gently tracing musical notes on the glass. Beside him, Chu Qianze leaned against a pillar, sound asleep. The two of them were immersed in their own little worlds, undisturbed by each other, creating a system that seemed impenetrable.
The cameraman nearby fixed his camera and then sat down to rest. It must be said that compared to other trainees playing around, these two were truly low-maintenance. They didn’t require much activity, and capturing their moments didn’t require much effort. Both of them looked good on camera, and every frame of them together could be frozen into a photograph.
As he came to his senses, Rong Jinghe looked outside and gestured to the production crew, pointing at his wrist to inquire about the time. Understanding the gestures, he knew it was time to go down. He was about to wake up Chu Qianze when the latter opened his eyes.
“Are we going back?” Chu Qianze stretched his arms lazily, looking quite content.
“Yes.” Rong Jinghe stood up, patted his clothes, and adjusted the hem of his pants.
“Let’s go.”
After finishing the outdoor shoot, everyone entered the intensive closed-door training phase, starting to work hard on the songs they had in hand.
“How should we change this? I’ve grown up listening to the original song, and now, looking at the lyrics, all I can hear is that melody. I can’t change it!”
“Same here. The original version is too addictive!”
Forming a circle with their teammates, they observed their fellow members struggling to come up with ideas. Chu Qianze shifted his gaze to Rong Jinghe.
“I see you’ve been thinking all night. Any progress?”
Rong Jinghe took out the sheet music he had prepared earlier. “I just have a rough idea. We’ll need everyone’s input to work out the details.”
To make it more tangible, he brought over the guitar he had prepared earlier. “I’ll play it, and you guys can share your thoughts.”
After finishing the playthrough and listening to everyone’s thoughts, Rong Jinghe made some improvements.
“We could add a rap section here. Combining singing with rap might create a different reaction,” Chu Qianze suggested.
“That sounds good!”
On the other side, Hong lay on the floor, humming and chanting incoherently.
“I’m crazy for the song, I’m crazy for the dance, my mind is empty, I can’t think of anything~”
Seeing Hong goofing off, Ye Lunguo nudged his arm with a rolled-up piece of paper. “Sit up and keep thinking!”
“Can’t think of anything~” Hong hummed a couple of times, sat up, and looked pained. “So difficult, too difficult.”
“We find it hard, and others find it hard too. As long as we get through this hurdle, we’ll definitely make significant progress!” Ye Lunguo encouraged.
“Are you sure…” Hong gestured towards the adjacent training room.
“Got a muscle twitch in your mouth?”
“I mean, Brother Chu and the others, they surely won’t have any problems. With Brother Jinghe handling the arrangement, choreography becomes easy. With Brother Chu, one can do the work of two, not to mention there are a few more dancers.” Hong stood up. “Decision made!”
Facing the puzzled looks of his teammates, he spoke firmly, “For honor, I must go gather intelligence on the enemy.”
“I’ll go, everyone don’t be sad, I’m going to walk away with style!”
Hong stepped to the beat, arriving at the opposite practice room. Just as he was about to brew some emotions, the door opened from the inside.
Chu Qianze looked at Hong outside the door, glanced at the practice room across the hall, and said, “Wrong way, buddy.”
With that, he was about to close the door.
“Don’t close it, Brother Chu, I didn’t go the wrong way!” Hong quickly extended his foot to prop against the door frame.
“Just now, were you planning to start composing?” he asked as he heard the guitar melodies from inside.
“Of course, didn’t you start with composition?” Chu Qianze opened the door, leaning against the side. “So, are you here to gather intel?”
“How could it be? Am I that kind of person?” Hong grinned, took a few steps back to his practice room door. “I just walked into the wrong room. Good luck with your competition, Brother Chu!”
Chu Qianze chuckled and walked out, returning with a few bottles of water.
After a song ended, Rong Jinghe lightly bit his lip, feeling that it was still lacking.
“How was it?” Chu Qianze sat down beside him, handing over one of the water bottles.
“Progressing slowly.” Rong Jinghe stared at the sheet music, still lacking inspiration.
“It’s okay, take your time.” Chu Qianze took a few sips of water himself. “By the way, do you know who I ran into just now?”
“Is it Hong?”
“You even know that.”
“I heard his voice.” Rong Jinghe shifted his gaze back to Chu Qianze. “Came to gather intel?”
“Probably.”
“Sounds like something he would do.” Rong Jinghe chuckled softly, then suddenly had an idea, his eyes lighting up. “What do you think about adding a whistling part at the beginning?”
“Whistling?”
“Just like this.” Rong Jinghe demonstrated a few whistles with his fingers sliding over the guitar strings. After finishing, he saw Chu Qianze trying to hold back a laugh, a flush appearing on his face. “I know my whistling isn’t that great, just get the idea!”
The whistling sounded like he was running out of breath each time.
“Alright, alright, I get it. I get it,” Chu Qianze said, originally wanting to laugh but suppressing it into a serious cough. “I understand the idea you want to convey. Now, play a section for me.”
Adjusting his wrist against his cheek, Rong Jinghe composed himself and played the modified accompaniment.
The clear whistling echoed in harmony with the guitar, providing a refreshing sensation.
“Does it feel better?” Chu Qianze asked, glancing at his teammates, who unanimously agreed.
Rong Jinghe smirked, having to admit that Chu Qianze whistled a bit better than him.
After two days of rearranging, it was their group’s turn for mentor feedback.
After performing their program roughly, the members lined up, awaiting the mentor’s evaluation.
Getao looked down at the lyrics and said, “I’ve looked at it, and besides rearranging and changing the lyrics, you’ve added a whistling section at the beginning, and in the middle, there’s also rap and chanting. Basically, the entire style of the song has changed.”
Rong Jinghe nodded. Although he felt that his rearrangement was quite successful, art itself is a subjective matter with no set standards. Just as the mentor said, he had changed this song to the point where you could hardly recognize the original.
If the mentor’s evaluation standard was to adhere to the overall framework of the original song, then his version probably wouldn’t pass.
“That’s very good. This is a song I’d be willing to buy tickets to listen to. Looking forward to your live performance.”
He exchanged a glance with Yu Xiaoyang, contemplated for a moment, and then flashed a smile at the trainees standing side by side.
“Our answer is, you’ve passed. You can start choreographing now.”
Rong Jinghe nodded. “Thank you, mentor.”
Upon hearing this, there was a noticeable sigh of relief among the team members.
“I knew it. With such a great arrangement, we’re sure to succeed!” someone exclaimed.
“Now it’s time to choreograph the dance, and then participate in the program!”
“Go for it! Go for it!”
Dance choreograph…
Rong Jinghe looked at Chu Qianze and said, “It’s up to you now.”
“No big deal~” Chu Qianze raised an eyebrow.
With the music arrangement approved, it was time to choreograph the dance, and this was Chu Qianze’s domain.
“According to my idea, it goes like this,” Chu Qianze had everyone stand in formation and began explaining the movements.
“Any issues, anyone?” After speaking, he looked at the group. “If you think the difficulty is too high, don’t be shy, tell me, and I’ll adjust the difficulty. If you think you can challenge a higher level, let me know, and I’ll adjust accordingly. It’s better to communicate in advance for better coordination. Considering overall coherence, everyone needs to bring out their strengths to perform the program perfectly.”
“Let’s familiarize ourselves with the movements today. Before noon tomorrow, provide feedback on your own, and then we’ll make collective adjustments. Is that okay?”
Hearing the response from the group, Chu Qianze nodded. “Let’s start training now.”
“Wrong move.”
“You can put more strength into it.”
After clapping his hands forward, Chu Qianze said, “It’s about time. Everyone take a break.”
……
With her hands supporting her chin, Wu Tiao spoke earnestly: “This dance is very good, completely reaching the level suitable for public performance. The current question is, can you ensure that the performance goes smoothly?”
The coordination is strong, but if someone makes a mistake, the overall effect will be significantly reduced.
“We will do our best,” said Chu Qianze.
Wu Tiao nodded. According to the previous standards, there is no issue with the dance. As for the state during the performance, that is not within the scope of the instructor’s assessment.
After pressing the approval button, a slight curve appeared at the corner of Wu Tiao’s mouth: “Good luck in the finals.”
“Thank you, instructor,” Chu Qianze bowed.
According to the regulations, the trainees boarded a plane and arrived at their destination.
Finals venue, conducting a rehearsal.
Just arrived at the airport, and they were immediately surprised by the scene.
Outside, many people were holding their support banners and light sticks. They came to cheer for the practice rooms.
“Brother Chu, come on!”
“Jinghe, go for it!”
“Good luck in the finals!”
“Hong! Unleash your primal power!”
Because time was tight, they didn’t have a chance to speak with each fan individually. Instead, they greeted everyone and expressed their gratitude.
As they were about to leave, glancing at the fans outside, Chu Qianze pulled down his mask, smiled, and waved in that direction.
In a corner where the CP fans were gathered, a girl covered her cheeks and said, “So handsome, my maternal love is about to transform qwq.”
“Brother JInghe is also so handsome. The fact that they’re walking together… it’s a groundbreaking brotherly bond. I can’t handle it.”
“They are both my sons. I proudly hold the flag for my mom fandom unwaveringly.”
“You guys must do your best qwq.”
Inside the cabin, Chu Qianze held a pillow and eye mask he had prepared earlier, settling into his seat as if ready to take a nap.
“I think the stage lighting could use some adjustments,” unexpectedly, Rong Jinghe spoke up.
Chu Qianze replied, “I’m getting ready to sleep.”
Rong Jinghe said, “I’ll wake you up when we arrive.”
Chu Qianze asked, “Aren’t you going to sleep?”
Rong Jinghe responded, “Not tired yet.”
With a hum, Chu Qianze leaned his head over, resting it on Rong Jinghe’s shoulder. “Well then, I won’t sleep either. What were you saying about the arrangement just now?”
The airplane sailed through the sky, piercing through the clouds, heading towards the distant horizon.
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