Chapter 26: New Album

A few days later, at the Shaw Building, morning sunlight streamed through floor-to-ceiling windows into the recording studio. Xiang Qian sat before the piano, his long fingers dancing across the black and white keys. Zhou Huimin stood nearby, holding a lyric book, softly humming along to the melody.

"Make that turn a bit softer," Xiang Qian stopped playing, looked up at her, "just like this—"

He demonstrated once, his voice low and gentle.

Zhou Huimin's eyes lit up: "I get it!"

Just then, the studio door was pushed open. Sun Li strode in quickly in high heels: "Qianzai! Amin! You started so early?"

Xiang Qian closed the piano lid: "Sister Sun, I actually wanted to discuss something with you."

Sun Li raised an eyebrow: "What's so serious?"

"The new album," Xiang Qian took two thick folders from his bag, "the songs for me and Amin are all written."

"What?" Sun Li's eyes widened, "It's only been a few days?"

Zhou Huimin smiled and handed over the folder: "Qianzai has barely slept these past few days; he wrote fourteen songs."

Sun Li opened the folder; the first page read "Rebirth" — Xiang Qian's new album tracklist:

1. "Let Me Be Happy, Let Me Be Sorrowful"

2. "Scoundrel"

3. "Crossing the Ocean to See You"

4. "Huo Yuanjia"

5. "Red Sun"

6. "Forgetful Water"

7. "When the Dream Wakes"

Opening the other one revealed Zhou Huimin's tracklist, but the album title section was blank.

"Amin's album title isn't decided yet?" Sun Li asked.

Xiang Qian nodded: "Let her decide for herself."

Sun Li quickly scanned the sheet music, her eyes widening more and more as she read: "Qianzai, these... were all written by you in these past few days?"

"Mm."

Sun Li shook her head in sigh: "A genius is a genius... Amin, what about your songs? Which one do you like best?"

Zhou Huimin's eyes curved into crescents: "'The One I Love for a Lifetime', the lyrics are especially beautiful."

Sun Li made the decision: "Then what are we waiting for? Let's start recording!"

Xiang Qian walked to the control console: "Today, we'll record 'Let Me Be Happy, Let Me Be Sorrowful' and 'The One I Love for a Lifetime' first."

Zhou Huimin felt a bit nervous: "I... should I go first?"

Xiang Qian handed her a bottle of water: "Don't be nervous, just like when we practiced."

The music started. Zhou Huimin stood before the microphone and closed her eyes:

"From the past until now, it's gone and won't return

The red fallen leaves lie buried deep in the dust..."

Her clear voice flowed like a spring, and Sun Li, in the control room, couldn't help but give a thumbs-up.

When they reached the chorus, Xiang Qian suddenly opened his mouth to harmonize:

"In the sea of bitterness, waves of love rise up

In this world, it's hard to escape fate..."

Their voices blended perfectly. Sun Li, excited, kept slapping the table: "Excellent! That's the feeling!"

After finishing the first take, Zhou Huimin, her small face flushed, ran into the control room: "How was it?"

Sun Li hugged her tightly: "Perfect! Absolutely capable of winning the Golden Melody Award!"

Xiang Qian, however, frowned: "The breath in the second chorus was a bit unstable. Let's do it again."

Zhou Huimin stuck out her tongue: "Alright..."

Sun Li teased: "Qianzai, you're too strict."

"Because she can be better." Xiang Qian looked at the girl in the recording studio with a gentle gaze.

When it was Xiang Qian's turn, the style suddenly changed.

As soon as the intro piano notes ended, his hoarse, deep, and affectionate voice instantly filled the entire space:

"Love reaches its end, spilled water is hard to gather

Love lingers, hate lingers..."

Zhou Huimin, listening in the control room, was captivated. She whispered to Sun Li: "Every time I hear him sing, I get goosebumps."

Sun Li nodded: "With this kind of voice, you can't find a second one in the entire music scene."

At lunchtime, the three of them sat in the restaurant outside the recording studio.

While cutting her steak, Sun Li asked: "Qianzai, why is the album called 'Rebirth'?"

Xiang Qian swirled his red wine glass: "Because this is my rebirth in music."

Zhou Huimin, curious: "Then what should my album be called?"

"Whatever you like," Xiang Qian smiled, "this is your story."

Sun Li joked: "How about 'The Songs Qianzai Wrote for Me'?"

"Sister Sun!" Zhou Huimin's face turned red with embarrassment.

Sun Li became serious: "Seriously, where did the inspiration for these songs come from? Lyrics like 'Crossing the Ocean to See You', you couldn't write them without having experienced it, right?"

Xiang Qian's gaze drifted into the distance: "I've seen it in dreams."

Zhou Huimin explained softly: "Qianzai says he often has the same dream; in the dream, there is a vast sea, and there is parting."

Sun Li, deep in thought: "No wonder the lyrics are so visual..."

"We'll finish recording within two weeks," Xiang Qian set down his napkin. "Releasing at the start of next month."

Sun Li calculated: "Then the promo period lines up perfectly with the Golden Melody Awards entry... By the way, how are you planning to shoot the MV?"

"For 'Huo Yuanjia,' I want to ask Jackie Chan to help out," Xiang Qian had already planned it. "The rest can be simpler—just highlight the music itself."

Zhou Huimin raised her hand: "Can I be the female lead in 'Crossing the Ocean to See You'?"

Xiang Qian raised an eyebrow: "Aren't you already?"

After dinner, Sun Li left first. Xiang Qian and Zhou Huimin walked side by side along the Avenue of Stars.

"Qian-zai," Zhou Huimin suddenly stopped walking, "thank you for writing so many great songs for me."

Xiang Qian ruffled her hair: "Silly, what's there to thank me for?"

"But I still want to know," Zhou Huimin tilted her face up, "that line in 'A Lifetime of Love'—'destined yet unable to approach'—is it..."

Xiang Qian didn't answer, just gently pulled her into his arms. In the distance, the lights of Victoria Harbour reflected on the sea's surface, like scattered stars.

Three days later, cheers erupted from the recording studio.

"Wrap!" Sun Li raised a champagne glass high. "Both albums fully recorded!"

The staff applauded in celebration. Xiang Qian stood in a corner, watching Zhou Huimin surrounded by the crowd, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly.

His 'Rebirth,' her new beginning.

And all of this had only just begun.