Chapter 217: Polite Refusal

Although there are differences between pop singing and bel canto, they are essentially the same—both use scientific methods to train a singer's technique and then sing the best songs.

Compared to pop singing, bel canto has higher requirements for a singer's talent and technique. Teacher Zhao Ying had already proven her strength by achieving great fame both domestically and internationally.

An industry heavyweight taking the initiative to show favor and even wanting to take her as a student is actually a good thing.

Unfortunately, she had no intention of becoming a bel canto singer, so she could only shake her head and say: "I'm sorry, Professor Zhao. I haven't even figured out the pop music side of things yet, so I won't consider the idea of entering the bel canto world."

Hearing Luo Quan's refusal, Zhao Ying sighed with regret but expressed understanding.

"Actually, I wanted to say that just now, too," Wang Zhujun also suddenly spoke up. "Although I know it's unlikely, I still want to ask: have you ever considered coming to our Composition Department?"

"China doesn't lack singers or pop stars right now; what it lacks are talented composers like you!"

"With your talent, in less than three years, you will definitely be able to produce works that will shock the world, and leaving your name in history will be a matter of course!"

Holding the mindset of "if I can't have it, no one else should," Professor Zhao teased: "But Luo Quan already has works that have shocked the world. I don't think she needs the guidance of you old faces in the Composition Department; she's more than capable of guiding you."

Luo Quan was a bit flattered: "Professor Zhao, you flatter me. My level still has a gap compared to professional composers; how would I dare to speak of guidance?"

"You are just too modest. Sometimes your personality should be like your appearance—a bit more Western. If you possess talent, you should be proud and arrogant; being too modest instead makes people feel you are hypocritical."

"Of course, I am not blaming you; I just feel you are too self-effacing. In China, this is certainly a virtue, but abroad, that might not be the case."

Hearing such remarks from Professor Zhao, Luo Quan guessed that she had likely received a lot of Western education and very possibly had studied abroad.

What Professor Zhao said was actually not wrong; Westerners advocate for individuality and personal heroism. Being flamboyant is never a derogatory term there.

However, Luo Quan had never been an overbearing person. As the saying goes, one should rely on talent to be arrogant, but she knew clearly where her talent came from.

Being able to calmly claim these works as her own was already the limit; she truly couldn't bring herself to act in a way that was carried away by success.

So, facing Professor Zhao's teachings, Luo Quan could only say: "Every country's culture is different. The education I received since childhood was to be gentle, kind, respectful, frugal, and yielding."

"And I have always felt that personality is never the key to whether a person can succeed; only the work is. With the work, whether you are modest or arrogant, you can be honored."

"That is also true." Professor Zhao nodded in agreement with Luo Quan's statement.

"Besides, this time I returned to China, I estimate I will only stay for a year, and I don't have time to learn profound bel canto or composition. Relatively speaking, the pop singing major fits my study plan better."

Once Luo Quan said this, the professors basically lost their desire to poach her, knowing she was determined to stay in the pop singing major.

It was a pity that Professor Shang Deyuan of the pop major wasn't here; otherwise, who knows how happy he would have been.

Dean Zheng keeping Luo Quan behind was actually just for this matter.

Several days ago, Professors Wang and Zhao had been pestering him, asking him to help contact Luo Quan to discuss transferring majors.

Any professor would want to hold onto such a promising talent, the kind that is rarely encountered in decades.

Professor Shang had been unaware of this matter; if he had known, the three of them would probably have started fighting.

The poaching attempt was politely refused by Luo Quan, and the two professors were still a bit disappointed. Seeing this, Luo Quan hurriedly apologized and slipped away.

Walking out of the exam room, Luo Quan saw quite a few examinees still gathered in the corridor; it seemed they hadn't left after coming out.

And when these examinees saw Luo Quan come out, they cheered and surrounded her.

"Luo Quan! We are your fans!"

"I have bought every one of your albums! I bought both the regular and commemorative editions of 'Love'!"

"Luo Quan, I have your fan badge on Bilibili!"

Seeing these enthusiastic fans, Luo Quan smiled: "Thank you for your consistent support."

A girl said weakly: "Um... can we get your autograph? I applied for a purchase quota for that limited edition, but there were too many people, and I feel I probably won't be able to buy it."

"Of course." Luo Quan readily agreed.

A dozen girls screamed with joy, scaring Luo Quan into hurriedly making a "hush" gesture: "After all, we are in school. If it attracts too many students, it will be troublesome. Last time during the art exam, I was scolded by the professors because of this."

The girls hurriedly covered their mouths and then silently took out notebooks and pens from their schoolbags.

Because they didn't know in advance that they could get Luo Quan's autograph, they could only use this slightly crude method, which was the only flaw in an otherwise perfect situation.

Luo Quan quickly signed for the girls, and then the dozen or so people took a group photo together.

Several girls hadn't passed the second round of the art exam, and their moods were originally very sad.

However, after getting Luo Quan's autograph and photo, they felt much better.

After all, if the exam results weren't ideal, there was always next year. As for the next opportunity to take a photo with Luo Quan and get an autograph, who knew when that would be.

After finishing the photos here, Luo Quan put on her sunglasses and found a pavilion to rest; this was also the place where she and Wen Xia had agreed to meet.

Outside the pavilion was a peach blossom forest, and it was the moment when the peach blossoms were in full, pink bloom. Many students came here to sketch and take photos.

After sitting here for a while, Luo Quan saw an acquaintance.

"Come, tell me, what are the three elements of portrait photography?" Lin Zheyuan led a large group of juniors to a tree with lush peach blossoms, looking every bit the senior.

"I know!" A boy raised his hand excitedly. In situations with many girls, it seems some boys always like to show off to attract the attention of the goddesses: "It's characters, plot, and environment!"

"That's the three elements of a novel!" Lin Zheyuan slapped the boy on the head, and the girls immediately laughed.

The boy was very aggrieved: "But the teacher never mentioned any three elements of portrait photography in class."

Lin Zheyuan's eyes widened: "Does this need to be taught? You can figure it out yourself."

Saying this, he walked under the peach tree: "Everyone, is this peach tree beautiful?"

"Beautiful!" everyone said in unison.

"Then am I handsome?" Lin Zheyuan continued to ask with a smile.

"Handsome!" the junior girls answered crisply.

Lin Zheyuan frowned: "Not a single boy spoke up. I've remembered this. When it comes to the comprehensive practice grading, don't expect any of you to pass!"

"Senior is the most handsome!"

"Handsome to the point of falling apart!"

"The campus hunk of Shangyi!"

The boys immediately scrambled to flatter Lin Zheyuan.

Luo Quan, not far away, grinned. She hadn't noticed it before, but she didn't expect Lin Zheyuan to be so vain.

"I accept the former, but let's forget about the 'Shangyi campus hunk.' We are craftsmen; we don't rely on our faces to eat, and we can't compare with those in the acting department." In a few words, Lin Zheyuan again displayed his sarcastic attribute.

"Since such a handsome me is under such a beautiful peach tree, as long as I don't make any strange movements, then no matter the angle or how you shoot, the photos won't look bad." Saying this, Lin Zheyuan gently patted the peach tree. In late spring, the pedicels of the peach blossoms were already loose, and being patted by an external force, they scattered down in a flurry.

Several quick-witted juniors hurriedly raised the cameras hanging around their necks and snapped away.

The girls' reactions were a bit slower; by the time they thought of it, there were no more flowers in the air.

"How about it? Senior didn't pose at all, is the picture still very beautiful and handsome?" Lin Zheyuan asked with a smile.

The juniors stared at the images in their cameras and nodded in deep agreement.

"Then I'll ask again, if an ugly person stood here, do you think the photo taken would still look good?"

The girls immediately showed expressions of disgust:

"It wouldn't look good."

"It spoils the scenery."

"Destroying ornamental flowers, should be fined."

Lin Zheyuan smiled: "So, now do you know what the three elements of portrait photography are?"

The juniors looked at each other, still shaking their heads blankly.

Lin Zheyuan was furious: "So I've said so much, and it was all in vain?" Taking a deep breath, he said loudly: "Listen well, it's the model! The model! The model!"

The students suddenly realized, and it seemed that was indeed the case.

"It's really infuriating." Lin Zheyuan looked around, and then his eyes lit up: "You guys wait, I'll give you a live demonstration right now!"

Afterward, he jogged all the way to the pavilion.

"Classmate, can I invite you to do me a favor?" Lin Zheyuan, who had been full of senior demeanor in front of his juniors, became gentle as jade again at this moment.

"What favor?" Luo Quan asked, holding back her laughter.

Lin Zheyuan explained: "It's like this. I was just teaching my juniors, and the course happened to be portrait photography. I see you are the most beautiful person around here, so I wanted to ask if you could be a model for us. I don't know if that's possible?"

Luo Quan pointed to her nose: "You know I'm beautiful even though I'm wearing sunglasses?"

Lin Zheyuan smiled: "As a professional photographer, I have that sense. Although the sunglasses cover your eyebrows and eyes, I can still tell your beauty from the contour of your jawline and the shape of your nose and lips. You must be very, very beautiful!"

"You flatter me, you flatter me." Luo Quan stood up with a smile. It seemed the sunglasses still had some effect; at least Lin Zheyuan didn't recognize her.

However, beauty is like a pregnant woman in her tenth month; no matter what, it cannot be covered up. Even if she wears sunglasses, professionals can still distinguish her general appearance from other facial details.

Luo Quan was invited over and came under the peach tree. Lin Zheyuan continued to say to his juniors: "Come, to better convey the elements of portrait photography to you, I have specifically invited a beautiful young lady."

"I don't know what grade or major you are in. Can the newcomer tell us your name first?"

As a fourth-year student at Shangyi, and about to take the postgraduate entrance exam, Lin Zheyuan spoke with a bit of an old-fashioned tone.

Luo Quan revealed a smile: "My name? It's Luo Quan."

"Luo Quan..." Lin Zheyuan almost couldn't catch his breath and suddenly turned his head to look at Luo Quan. "You... you wouldn't happen to be..."

"You said you often listen to my songs, yet you can't even recognize my voice?" Luo Quan saying this was considered an admission of her identity.

Afterward, she took off her sunglasses.

Luo Quan, revealing her true face, immediately stunned all the students.

"I have never seen such a beautiful girl in my life."

"Senior is amazing; he found such a beautiful young lady with just one move."

"Amazing what? This is Luo Quan, Luo Quan!"

"You mean the Luo Quan who released an album a while ago?!"

"Senior even knows her; so amazing."

The juniors were surprised by Luo Quan's beauty, while Lin Zheyuan appeared a bit embarrassed: "I just didn't expect you to appear there so coincidentally, so I didn't think in that direction. By the way, what are you doing at school today?"

Luo Quan said righteously: "Today is the second round of the art exam."

Lin Zheyuan was silent for a while and said: "Okay, it's my fault."

"But with you as the model, the effect of this course will be even better."

Afterward, Lin Zheyuan turned his head to look at his juniors: "I don't need to introduce this person to everyone, right? Luo Quan, this year's World's Most Beautiful Face, and in a few months, she will also become a student at our Shangyi."

"I know! I was still listening to Luo Quan's songs yesterday."

"She's even more beautiful in person than in photos!"

"Luo Quan, I'm your die-hard fan! Can you help me get Wen Xia's autograph?"

Everything was fine before, but when that last sentence came out, Luo Quan was suddenly dumbfounded. How could her die-hard fan not want her autograph but instead want Wen Xia's?

She didn't know if they were here to be funny or if they really wanted Wen Xia's autograph. Luo Quan could only nod, while the others laughed.

Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Mentioning Wen Xia here, Wen Xia actually came looking for her on her own.

"What are you doing here?" Wen Xia, wearing sunglasses, walked to Luo Quan's side and asked curiously.

Luo Quan smiled: "That boy who just wanted Wen Xia's autograph, your idol is here. Go find her."

The students let out exclamations again.

If one were to ask who had higher popularity and fame, abroad it would certainly be Luo Quan, but in China, it was undoubtedly Wen Xia!

The fact that several students didn't recognize Luo Quan just now when she took off her glasses proved this point.

And Wen Xia hadn't even taken off her glasses; she just said her name, and all the students reacted.

"Wen Xia, I'm your ten-year fan. Can you give me an autograph?" The boy walked out bravely, holding a marker in his hand.

PS: Thanks to book friends Jian Qiu Qing Li and Xiao Xiao Xiao Yu for the book coin rewards! ===== CHAPTER 218 =====