Ye Huanqiu replied confidently, "This is your true singing voice. Your natural timbre isn't bad at all. Previously, you struggled to control your breath and balance your tone, causing your voice to sound shrill and disjointed. I've corrected those issues. As long as you believe in yourself, your performance will be impressive."
Turning Yang Chaoyue into a powerhouse vocalist was pure fantasy, but Ye Huanqiu remained confident he could help her cross the threshold to becoming a professional singer.
"This is amazing! I can finally sing properly! Now I can belt out my favorite songs at karaoke without embarrassment!" Yang Chaoyue's jubilant cheer radiated genuine delight, and Ye Huanqiu shared her excitement. Apart from the tongue-twister-like rap, the rest of "Chinese" wasn't particularly challenging vocally. Finding the right rhythm was the key to mastering the song.
"Chinese" replaced traditional rap with a Chinese tongue-twister, blending hip-hop elements with a diverse instrumental arrangement to capture the essence of musical playfulness.
The lyrics of the song were a genuine tribute to China, praising the nation through linguistic artistry, starting with specific details and expanding to broader themes.
In Ye Huanqiu's original world, this song had become a household anthem after being performed on the Spring Festival Gala.
In this new world, due to different platforms, Ye Huanqiu conservatively estimated the song's potential reach as "Renowned Far and Wide." If they could secure a performance at the Spring Festival Gala, it would undoubtedly achieve "World-Renowned" status.
For nearly a decade, Earth Star's Chinese entertainment industry had lacked a truly "World-Renowned" work. With the older generation of composers and lyricists largely retired, even the Platinum-tier writers couldn't produce such a masterpiece.
Once Yang Chaoyue had regained her composure, Ye Huanqiu noticed the late hour. He announced, "Practice ends here for today. Too much of anything can be counterproductive. Tomorrow, we'll practice for about another half-hour before heading to the recording studio to produce the final master tracks."
"Alright," she agreed.
Ye Huanqiu packed up his laptop, ready to leave. Yang Chaoyue was about to call out to him when Sister Zhang, her manager, interrupted, letting him go.
"What was that for? I was going to treat him to dinner!" Yang Chaoyue said indignantly, her cheeks puffed up in frustration.
"Your career is still on the rise. Are you trying to start a scandal?" Sister Zhang, a seasoned manager, sensed Yang Chaoyue's growing fondness for the young man—a dangerous sign.
Yang Chaoyue rolled her eyes skyward. "Seriously? Do I seem like some lovestruck fool? I just wanted to thank him for teaching this musical idiot something. What's wrong with a simple thank-you dinner? You and the company staff can join us. It's just a normal thank-you meal!"
"Ahem... Just trust me on this. With my years of experience in this industry, that man isn't as simple as he seems..."
Sister Zhang firmly put Yang Chaoyue in her place. A female celebrity's career window was fleeting. Unless she landed a breakthrough role or transitioned into producing herself, wasting time on foolish romances would be a grave mistake. Making money should always be the ultimate goal in this industry.
That evening, Yang Chaoyue met Chen Yihan at a café.
"Yihan, you won't believe how amazing A Ye is! He even taught a musical disaster like me to sing properly. I sound incredible now!" Yang Chaoyue said, swinging Chen Yihan's hand back and forth.
"I know, you've already told me three or four times. Is he really that miraculous?" Chen Yihan remained skeptical. As Yang Chaoyue's best friend for years, she knew her singing ability all too well.
A dramatic improvement in just one afternoon? No one would believe that without proof.
Without another word, Yang Chaoyue searched for the nearest karaoke room on her phone, booked a private booth, and led Chen Yihan there with their coffees.
Once inside, Yang Chaoyue selected a song written by Chen Yihan herself. While Chen Yihan dabbled in songwriting, her skills were limited. After spending a fortune on professional polishing, she barely managed to release the song, which achieved a modest level of popularity.
Yang Chaoyue knew the lyrics by heart. Removing the original vocals and leaving only the instrumental track, she grabbed the microphone and sang the song with passionate gusto.
Chen Yihan, who had braced herself for another ear-splitting onslaught of Yang Chaoyue's singing, gradually relaxed the frown on her face. Was Yang Chaoyue's performance any good?
Mediocre.
But even this mediocrity represented a monumental leap forward compared to Yang Chaoyue's previous attempts—practically a meteoric rise to musical competence!
Her breath control was still shaky in places, and her transitions between verses could use work. But these were criticisms from a professional singer's perspective. As an idol, all her flaws could be forgiven.
By the time Yang Chaoyue finished the song, Chen Yihan couldn't help but applaud enthusiastically.
"See? I wasn't exaggerating!" Yang Chaoyue declared proudly, tilting her head with a smug grin, as if she had personally summoned the muse of music.
Chen Yihan pounced, launching a tickle attack while teasing, "Don't get too cocky! Don't think I didn't notice you forgot the lyrics. And you mixed up the first and second halves of the chorus! You swore you knew this song inside and out—you big liar, Yang Chaoyue!"
The two beauties tumbled and laughed in the karaoke room until exhaustion finally brought their play to a halt.
"Seriously, Chaoyue," Chen Yihan said, catching her breath, "I believe this show will completely change everyone's preconceived notions about you. Seize this opportunity and go out there fearlessly!"
"Mmm."
Chen Yihan was genuinely happy for her best friend. Everyone had lost hope in Yang Chaoyue, but the more pressure she faced, the more determined she became to turn it into motivation.
Sometimes, Chen Yihan envied Yang Chaoyue's innate optimism and resilience. Having lived a relatively smooth life, she wondered if she could have withstood such pressure if she were in her friend's shoes. This was precisely why she admired Yang Chaoyue and cherished their friendship—she could learn such valuable qualities from her.
Meanwhile, her curiosity about Ye Huanqiu had reached a new level. Before her debut, Yang Chaoyue had endured months of relentless music lessons without making any progress. Yet, under Ye Huanqiu's guidance, she had undergone a complete transformation in just one afternoon.
This young man was an enigma, a mystery shrouded in obscurity.
Seeing that Yang Chaoyue seemed to have everything under control, Chen Yihan refocused on her own preparations. She couldn't afford to fall behind when the show's performances rolled around.
Yang Chaoyue picked up the microphone again and began singing joyfully. Chen Yihan smiled tenderly, her eyes filled with relief and pride.
In that moment, all the world's good fortune seemed to converge on this silly, brave girl.
Fly high, Chaoyue!