25 Huo Kai

In a certain recording studio open to the public...

It's where people usually come to rent a place, record and mix music, sometimes adding various kinds of other sounds, creating and perfecting a song within their minds.

Often, it's also a gathering place for many professions related to music and sound.

Huo Kai was among many groups of people who arrived here today.

Last year, he graduated with a Bachelor's degree in audio engineering, ready to be a qualified sound engineer (also known as an audio engineer or a recording engineer) after he came out.

He didn't have any ambition himself. And he thought he would probably spend the rest of his whole life purposelessly while only working, eating, and sleeping.

Simply put, he had always lived from hand to mouth without pursuing anything extra.

There was neither passion nor dreams in his mind, as his parents once asked.

Parents: "Son, do you have a dream?"

He: "I think... No."

Parents: "That won't work. How can you don't have any dreams? Come on, son, think carefully. Maybe you do have one and just haven't yet realized what your dream is."

"…"

Yet, he still couldn't find anything that could make him feel passionate about so far.

And the reason why he chose this line of musical work was only because he liked to listen to music and songs in his free time, that's all.

As for something like creating, arranging, or mixing music, they were just 'things' he had systematically learned and weren't actually to his liking.

"What are you thinking, Xiao Huo?" There was a voice from the side that called him back to reality.

"Sorry, teacher." Returning to his sense, he immediately apologized for getting lost in his own thought.

The 'teacher' waved his hand, ignoring the matter as he continued to teach.

Speaking of which, this teacher, named Wang Zhengrong, was also one of the country's excellent songwriters in his own right.

Of course, it didn't mean that Wang Zhengrong was outstandingly talented or famous or anything, as his strength was just recognized by many.

But no matter what, his old age meant it was about time for him to retire.

Now, he just spent the rest of his career accepting a few talented students, teaching them his knowledge, and guiding them with his experiences.

Huo Kai was one of them, and there was also another guy whose name was Zhang Long.

Today, Wang Zhengrong mainly brought them to the recording studio to 'ready themselves for a potential working environment.'

He demonstrated to them how to use necessary tools and equipment, such as professional audio mixing consoles, effects units, computers with specialized software, etc.

Introducing them to other professions with which they might have a chance to cooperate later and also explain what each of them does.

While also telling them the purposes of each room and each space inside.

In all honesty, Huo Kai felt that this trip by his teacher felt like a tour rather than a course, a lesson.

But anyway, he wouldn't complain to his teacher because he still recognized Teacher Wang's good intentions.

And so far, his senior hadn't given the teacher his complaints, so why would he?

Plus, he thought he had gained something by coming here anyway.

Of course, without him recognizing anything, Zhang Long hadn't complained so far, only out of his politeness.

In his heart, Zhang Long had already complained no less than a dozen times about how this 'tour' had wasted his time to create another song of his own.

Instead, he would like to return to his teacher's studio as soon as possible to write out the inspiration he had just come up with.

Different from Huo Kai, Zhang Long was a rather ambitious person.

He wanted to quickly produce a high-quality song and release it to the public, gaining both fame and status in the music industry.

And it wasn't until the sky went dark that their teacher, Teacher Wang, finally let them move around freely, and they could do whatever they wanted with only one rule given.

They could only stay in this place and couldn't go out, even if it was just half a step.

So the moment Zhang Long heard it, he didn't think much and immediately pulled out a notebook right then and there.

Then, he started to write down the inspiration he had thought of just now.

On the other hand, Huo Kai just stood there, dazed, unsure of what to do.

Actually, many things could be done here, like increasing his proficiency in using some of the tools and equipment, asking some experts here for advice, or maybe, like his senior brother Zhang, just using this opportunity to create his own music.

He thought of doing something now that the teacher had given him free time to explore, but because he couldn't find anything in particular that could interest him, so for a while, he didn't even know what to do.

Unbeknownst to him and everyone else, at this moment, from a place far, far away, there was a person who began to run wildly, coming closer and closer to this recording studio.

-----

About two hours ago...

Chen Yize had just finished his company's work with everyone, and it was only then that he learned that he had accidentally worked overtime again.

Recalling what he had planned today, he quickly packed his things and hastily left the company.

Originally, he planned on taking a taxi, but as he waited and waited, he found that he couldn't wait any longer or it would be too late, so he started to run and run wildly at that.

Of course, while running, he also had a few moments to glance at the road to see whether a taxi was approaching; unfortunately, all the way, there was none.

So, he could only grit his teeth, running until he reached his destination, the recording studio he had searched about yesterday.

From the internet, he learned that the easiest way to find a professional to complete [Tetris] theme song from the music score he had was to go to a recording studio where many professionals usually gather.

So after searching and searching, he set his sight on this recording studio which was quite close to the company and had some reputation.

Because he knew that this studio only opened on weekdays, in other words, it would be closed tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, he decided to risk running here.

If there is just the slightest chance he could complete the theme song early, he would be willing to take it.

Gasping for breath, tired from running all the way, with an overall disheveled appearance, he walked in.

The moment he walked in, as he had already expected.

Because the studio was about to close, looking around, only a few people remained.

With a purpose in mind, Chen Yize greeted people one by one, wanting to find someone to help him complete the game's theme song.

But gradually, he realized that except for some people who really couldn't help him in any way, those who admitted they could help would reject him for different reasons.

Mostly, the prices they asked for were too high for a relatively poor guy like him, who had just received a salary of 15,000 yuan and some other bonuses from Li Xinyi, to bear after he had deducted all of his monthly expenses.

Of course, some also felt high above others and despised him for being an unknown person, so they refused him directly when they heard his request, probably regarded the music score he handed them as a second-rate one.

Fortunately, this kind of people was just a minority.

After a while, Chen Yize was about to try his luck again by approaching his next target, Wang Zhengrong.

Right now, Wang Zhengrong started to shake his head, watching his students.

One was so focused on writing his song, directly throwing away a chance to learn and practice,

And the other, not knowing what he thought, kept being dazed, wasting his time for so long before he had now started to act.

"Umm, excuse me, uncle. I have something to ask." Chen Yize began another conversation here and directly brought Wang Zhengrong back to reality.

"Oh, what's wrong, young man?" Wang Zhengrong responded.

"It's like this, uncle. I have a complete score for the song's melody here and want to find someone to finish the rest. Can uncle do it for me?" Chen Yize explained it briefly.

If he didn't guess wrong, after having some research, the word "melody" had the same meaning as what he understood, right?

"Really? Let me see." Wang Zhengrong reached out a hand.

Chen Yize hesitated before he handed the score to this uncle, choosing to trust him once.

Wang Zhengrong, being an expert, looked at the score briefly while also imagining what this song would sound like once it was played.

In the end, Wang Zhengrong concluded that this song sounded quite catchy and not at all ordinary.

But he also knew that his old age would only lower the potential of this song because he couldn't fully grasp the younger generation's style shown in this score.

So, he handed the score back to its original owner. "Sorry, young man. But I don't think I can do it well."

It was the first time Chen Yize was rejected for this reason, so he could only smile with some disappointment, but otherwise also had some respect.

Seeing the young man's disappointment, Wang Zhengrong suddenly had an idea before calling Zhang Long over.

"Young man, wait a moment." While calling, he also told Chen Yize on the side. "Maybe, one of my students can help you."

Zhang Long came after hearing his teacher's call and asked, "What's the matter, teacher?"

"It's like this..." Wang Zhenrong explained Chen Yize's matter to him.

"Sorry, teacher. I'm rather busy here. Why don't you ask junior brother Huo about this matter so that he can take this chance to practice his skills." Zhang Long scratched his head, looking slightly 'embarrassed' while 'suggesting' handing over this matter to his junior.

Wang Zhengrong looked at Zhang Long, hating iron for not becoming steel but choosing to remain silent in front of an outsider.

"Alright, you go." Wang Zhengrong looked at Zhang Long's leaving back before calling Huo Kai over.

Huo Kai came, and Wang Zhengrong told him the same way he had told Zhang Long.

"Young man, let me introduce you to my student, Xiao Huo." Wang Zhengrong spoke proudly of his student.

"Huo Kai." Huo Kai reached out his hand with a rather indifferent face but still courteous manner.

"Chen Yize." Chen Yize lightly shook Huo Kai's hand while showing a warm and polite smile.

Afterward, Chen Yize gave him the music score in his hand, and Huo Kai used his eyes to scan it carefully.

Due to his lack of experience, he spent more time than his teacher to scan, but eventually, he finished it.

He then raised his head from the score and looked at Chen Yize before he asked. "Any requirement?"

Chen Yize seriously pondered this question. "First, I want it to be in the form of electronic music. Second, I want it to be a little fast but not too fast, just moderately fast. And third, well..."

"Well?" Huo Kai repeated.

"Just make it sound, umm, FUN to listen to, and kinda enjoyable, you know?" Chen Yize scratched his head embarrassedly as he didn't know how to describe this feeling well in words.

Huo Kai was silent for a while before replying, "Alright, well, I will give it a try."

And with that, Chen Yize said goodbye to the two of them after leaving his contact information, letting Huo Kai wonder by himself how to complete the task.

At this moment, however, Huo Kai thought: The requirement for this song is "fun to listen to", huh? Well, that is not easy.

After all, he had grown up so far, and until now, there was still nothing that could make him feel "fun".

It's like he had nothing to do with the word "fun", just because of the fact that he couldn't find interest in anything.