Filming [Autumn's Concerto] (5) 

"STOP!" Jiang Cheng shouted, halting the recording. "Dahu, you're singing out of tune again!" Hu Ge, frustrated, removed his headset and retorted, "Why did you cut the sound again? I was in my groove!"

Jiang Cheng, without arguing, replayed the recording, focusing on Hu Ge's magnetic voice weaving through the music's highs and lows. Yet, upon close listening, Hu Ge's voice slightly wavered off-key. "Damn, it is a bit out of tune," Hu Ge admitted, a hint of irritation in his voice as he emerged from the booth. He was clearly upset with himself, this being the fifth unsuccessful attempt.

Jin Sha offered some encouragement, "Brother Hu Ge, it's okay. You're just starting to learn singing. It's natural to be unaccustomed. I remember straying off-key when I first began."

"But why didn't I notice this when I sang at KTV with my classmates?" Hu Ge wondered, still feeling slighted.

"That's because you weren't paying close attention," Jiang Cheng chimed in, teasingly. "If everyone could sing like professional singers, what would be the point of us?"

"Damn! Are you saying I can't be a singer?" Hu Ge asked, his tone a mix of anger and challenge.

"No, Brother Hu Ge, Brother Jiang Cheng is mistaken," Jin Sha interjected, trying to diffuse the tension.

Jiang Cheng, with a smile, turned to Jin Sha, "Sister Jin, you're always so formal with 'brother' this, 'brother' that. I'm younger than you; it feels odd. Why not use nicknames? Call me 'Acheng', and Hu Ge 'Dahu'."

Hu Ge agreed, "Yes, Sister Jin, it's more comfortable. Just use our nicknames!"

To their surprise, Jin Sha shook her head, "You are seniors, after all, so 'Brother' is appropriate. But, to avoid awkwardness, I'll call you by your names – Brother Jiang Cheng and Brother Hu Ge."

Jiang Cheng insisted, "I'm younger than you. In the spirit of the rivers and lakes, why not call me 'Brother Cheng'?"

"Okay, Brother Cheng," Jin Sha agreed, a smile in her voice.

Hu Ge, curious, asked, "Sister Jin, you mentioned earlier that Acheng was wrong. Why?"

Jin Sha explained, "When you first learn to sing, it's different from recording in a studio. In the studio, you have to harmonize with the equipment, and this mismatch often confuses newcomers. It's not that you're off-key, Hu Ge, but that you're not yet attuned to the equipment."

Hu Ge, reflecting on his challenges, said, "I wonder how it's possible to sing five times and still be off-key? Perhaps it's because I'm not yet accustomed to this recording equipment. Alright, I'll learn to work with it. Acheng, as long as my tone is fine, I can still become a singer, right?"

Jiang Cheng shrugged, a hint of realism in his tone, "If you can't learn to control your voice and manage in the studio, you can't make a record, and without a record, becoming a singer remains a distant dream."

Challenging him, Hu Ge retorted, "It might take me a while, but can you do it? Aren't you in the same boat as me?"

"Who says?" Jiang Cheng replied with pride. "I'm not like you; I have a natural talent, unlike most."

"Prove it then!" Hu Ge said defiantly.

"Alright, listen closely," Jiang Cheng said as he adjusted the equipment and entered the recording booth. With Hu Ge signaling the start, Jiang Cheng began to sing along with the beautiful music. His voice was calm, steady, and he controlled the entire song effortlessly.

"I thought you were the end, thought that being gentle wouldn't hurt

But I was wrong

I've said everything and my heart's been withdrawn

My spirit's been drawn out and my dreams have collapsed

If I don't make you understand, then I can't make you happy

Then I would let go/surrender

I give you back your freedom

And take advantage that I still have enough empathy

Who let me be the one who loves you the most

What good does love do ?

You can't be not lonely like this either

And we still lose as such

I'm once again forsaken in your world

And staying has no more promise

It's not as good as us being that happy before...."

…..

It was the song [I Thought] this was the song that Hu Ge had just sang.

Listening to Jiang Cheng's rendition, Hu Ge realized the stark difference between their abilities and sighed, "Acheng is indeed better than me."

Jin Sha, trying to comfort Hu Ge, said, "Don't be discouraged, Brother Hu Ge. Brother Cheng is a genius; of course, he's different."

Hu Ge, feeling a mix of admiration and frustration, thought, "Is this supposed to be encouraging or demoralizing?"

Once the song concluded, Jiang Cheng emerged triumphantly, "How was it? Not bad, right?"

Hu Ge, unable to hide his admiration, conceded, "Yes, it's pretty good. I admit it."

Jiang Cheng then confessed with a sheepish smile, "Actually, I've been familiar with this recording equipment for two days, so naturally, I have an advantage over you."

"Damn, I thought you were a real genius! You trickster!" Hu Ge exclaimed, playfully roughhousing with Jiang Cheng.

"Cut it out! You couldn't even see that, and you always act so smart!" Jiang Cheng laughed, and their friendly scuffle continued.

Jin Sha, observing their interaction, thought to herself, "Brother Jiang Cheng is kind-hearted. He said that to avoid discouraging Hu Ge. How many times has he used these devices more than us? It's not just about talent; he's genuinely skilled with this recording equipment."

With Jiang Cheng's demonstration as a guide, Hu Ge made rapid progress. After a couple more tries, his eighth recording of [I Thought] was a success, with his singing hitting the perfect notes. Jiang Cheng didn't criticize him this time but offered encouragement, which uplifted Hu Ge.

But Hu Ge's complacency was short-lived. Soon, it was Jin Sha's turn to record. She demonstrated what it meant to be a "singing genius." Despite failing her first three attempts, she flawlessly sang "I Love Him," showcasing her strong singing skills.

"You have to keep working hard," Jiang Cheng encouraged, patting Hu Ge on the shoulder. Hu Ge nodded in agreement, inspired by Jin Sha's performance.

Hu Ge doubled his efforts, and the next day, he perfectly performed [All for Love] marking a significant improvement from the previous day. 

Jin Sha, on the other hand, was even more impressive. After acclimating on the first day, she effortlessly performed four songs in a row the next day: "[Family] [Why Are You Lying] [Four-Leaf Clover] and [Loved On]. Her talent was undeniable.

However, Hu Ge was in high spirits. He realized he couldn't surpass Jin Sha or Jiang Cheng anytime soon and decided to seek their advice instead. He observed their singing closely, learning from their techniques. Both Jiang Cheng and Jin Sha generously shared their knowledge, helping Hu Ge to refine his singing.

The duets posed a greater challenge, as they required coordination between the singers. Jiang Cheng saved the three duet songs for the final recording. Fortunately, after two days of collaboration, the trio had developed a certain level of understanding. While they couldn't achieve perfect harmony, they ensured there were no significant issues.

To save time, Jiang Cheng and Jin Sha first sang [Suddenly Want to Love You]. Although both were skilled, it was their first time collaborating, and their lack of synergy led to three failed attempts before they successfully recorded [Suddenly Want to Love You].

When it was Hu Ge and Jin Sha's turn to sing [Have to Love] their performance wasn't as seamless as Jiang Cheng and Jin Sha's. They struggled with timing, either lagging or rushing. After several tries, they finally succeeded.

After three exhausting days in the studio, all three were drained, both physically and mentally. Jiang Cheng, in particular, was weary, having spent several days in the music room. Nevertheless, he meticulously reviewed the ten recorded songs, ensuring their perfection before burning them onto a CD.

Upon settling the remuneration, each song was priced at ¥10,000 totaling ¥80,000 plus a 5% profit share after the OST was released. Jiang Cheng and Hu Ge were satisfied with their compensation. Additionally, as a composer and lyricist, Jiang Cheng would receive an extra 15% profit share from the OST.

Another day, Jiang Cheng, acting as the host, invited Jin Sha and his assistant Liu Qing for a celebratory meal. After their hearty dinner, they parted ways. Jin Sha returned to HuaXiang Entertainment, while Jiang Cheng and Hu Ge returned to the set of [Autumn's Concerto] after a day's rest.

"The soundtrack is over, and now it's back to filming," Jiang Cheng thought, focusing on the next phase of his journey.