Chapter 63: Dominating the Music Scene, Within Reach

The popularity of "Apple Fragrance" has mostly faded; it's time for Dad to release a new song. Zhang Xian didn't know if this song, "The Commoner's Song," would become a hit, but the lyrics deeply moved him.

The entire song's lyrics are barely over a hundred characters, yet each word is a gem, revealing the true essence of human life and the myriad facets of the world.

Yet the song's theme feels out of place in this era of entertainment-driven oblivion, and with its flat melody and relatively simple arrangement, its reception after release remains uncertain.

"New song already?!"

"I'll go check it out!" This book is originally published on TianTian Kan XiaoShuo — an excellent experience, ttks. tw, offering you error-free, properly ordered chapters.

Hearing his son had a new song, Zhang Dongshan was instantly thrilled. He rushed back to his room and opened the song his son had sent him on his laptop.

As a seasoned singer, when evaluating a song, he always starts with the melody, because music's core is auditory experience — listeners first perceive a song through its melody and rhythm, not its words.

Thus, in the music industry, composers often hold higher status than lyricists — though this excludes those rare geniuses who can elevate lyrics to the pinnacle of artistry!

Such individuals are few and far between across the entire music scene.

Zhang Dongshan was an old-school singer; he still evaluated songs by first examining the melody and arrangement.

After finishing the melody of his son's new song, he unconsciously frowned.

The intro had feeling, but the verses grew flat, and the chorus lacked any strong emotional outburst.

Xiao Xian is still young — you can't expect too much!

Zhang Dongshan silently reassured his son, then began reading the lyrics:

You and I are both common folk, born into this mortal world.

We toil endlessly, never granted a moment's rest.

Since we're not immortals, we can't avoid idle thoughts.

Morality is cast aside; profit sits squarely in the center.

After reading just a few lines, Zhang Dongshan felt his scalp tingle — could a 22-year-old really write these lyrics??

No ornate diction, no elegant embellishments.

In just a few short lines, they summed up the entirety of his own ordinary life.

In youth, he believed himself extraordinary, convinced he'd be a radiant child of heaven — only later realizing he was merely one among countless ordinary souls.

He labored ceaselessly for survival, never granted a moment's peace.

When tired and weary, idle thoughts inevitably arose — yet thankfully, he never strayed off course.

But the friends around him made different choices: they no longer valued morality, placing profit above all else.

Within legal bounds, choices hold no inherent right or wrong.

They simply took different paths at the crossroads.

Zhang Dongshan automatically lit a cigarette and silently read the remaining lyrics:

How many men, in rage, fight for a beauty.

How many birds of the same forest have now split into separate swallows.

Life is so short — why cling so desperately?

When the lover is gone, to whom can you cry injustice?

Ask yourself, when have you ever seen

This world change for people's sake?

When you gain the longed-for face,

Does that mean you've truly possessed spring?

A long stretch of ash fell onto the laptop desk.

This cigarette, Old Zhang smoked half, the wind blew half.

After long silence, he suddenly stood up, grabbed his laptop, and stepped out the door.

"Old Zhao, I'm recording a song — gather the band!"

"I'll send you the address — come to my company..."

As he stepped out of his courtyard, Zhang Dongshan called his old friend Zhao Xiangqian, a music producer who, like Zhang Dongshan's past self, remained unknown.

But the two had been brothers for decades, having walked together through years of obscurity.

The previous song, "Apple Fragrance," had been produced by Zhao Xiangqian — his skill wasn't top-tier in the industry, but his cost-effectiveness was unmatched.

"Old Zhang, what time is it? What's gotten into you?!"

"Let's talk tomorrow — no one's even assembled yet."

Zhao Xiangqian's voice on the phone was sluggish — clearly preparing to sleep.

"I'll double everyone's pay."

"One requirement — be here in one hour!"

Zhang Dongshan now only wanted to record "The Commoner's Song" as quickly as possible — his urge to sing it had reached its peak.

"Fine, I'll call everyone now!"

Zhao Xiangqian knew Zhang Dongshan well — when someone was this desperate to record a song, it meant they'd found something extraordinary.

Half an hour later.

Zhang Dongshan arrived first at Xianyu Music.

To his surprise, the office lights were still on — Chen Huan was still working overtime.

With Chu Yourong and Han Ziwei joining, Xianyu Music's workload would increase, so for the past two days, Chen Huan's main task had been hiring.

For a company with two top-tier artists to operate stably, it needed proper departments — even if each department had only one or two people, someone had to do the work.

So Chen Huan's current job was building Xianyu Music's basic framework: she needed reliable people for the Artist Department, Music Production Department, Marketing and Distribution Department, and Business Operations Department.

Fortunately, Chen Huan had spent over twenty years in the entertainment industry and had wide connections — through personal invitations and friend referrals, she'd nearly finalized department heads.

Right now, she was discussing the promotion of Chu Yourong's new song, "A Kind of Regret Called Us," with Tao Linlin, the incoming head of the Marketing and Distribution Department.

When Zhang Dongshan arrived at the company, Chen Huan was surprised—it was nearly ten o'clock already.

"Big Brother Shan, what brings you here?"

Chen Huan was forty-one this year, exactly one full cycle younger than Zhang Dongshan; after their relationship grew familiar, she changed her address to "Big Brother Shan."

"I came to record a song—written by Xiaoxian. I think it's a great song, so I wanted to record it quickly."

Seeing his beloved this late at night lifted Zhang Dongshan's spirits; his face was full of smiles.

"Xiaoxian has a new song again? He's so prolific!"

Chen Huan sighed, then introduced Tao Linlin and Zhang Dongshan to each other.

"Big Brother Shan, can I see the new song first?"

After the two exchanged pleasantries, Chen Huan spoke again—she was curious about Zhang Xian's new song, especially since Zhang Dongshan had come all the way at night just to record it, which meant the song had earned his approval.

"Of course you can. Director Tao, you should take a look too."

Zhang Dongshan was so eager to record "The Song of the Common Man" because he personally loved it deeply, and also because he had the urge to share something good he'd found with everyone.

Moreover, since this good thing came from his own son, he was even more impatient to release "The Song of the Common Man."

Neither Chen Huan nor Tao Linlin were professional musicians, but both had spent many years in the music industry and could still judge a song's quality fairly well.

Especially since both were experienced people, they could better understand the song's lyrics.

"What a wonderful song—I can't believe it was written by twenty-two-year-old Xiaoxian!"

Chen Huan involuntarily raised her thumb.

"The lyrics are realistic and piercing; in today's market, it's rare to find a song so heartfelt!"

Tao Linlin nodded repeatedly, then sighed, "With Master Xiaoxian holding the fort, our company will dominate the music scene in no time!"