Chapter 26: New Album

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

"Make that turn slightly softer," Xiang Qian stopped playing, looked up at her, and said, "Like this—"

He demonstrated once more, his voice low and gentle.

Zhou Huimin's eyes lit up: "I understand!"

Just then, the studio door was pushed open. Sun Li strode in quickly, her high heels clicking: "Qian-zi! Ah Min! You started this early?"

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

Sun Li raised an eyebrow: "What matter is so serious?"

"The new album," Xiang Qian said, pulling two thick folders from his bag. "The songs for me and Ah Min are all written."

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

Zhou Huimin smiled as she handed over the folders: "Qian-zi has barely slept these past few days; he wrote fourteen songs."

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

1. "You Make Me Happy, You Make Me Sad"

2. "Scoundrel"

3. "Crossing the Ocean to See You"

4. "Huo Yuanjia"

5. "Red Sun"

6. "Water of Forgetfulness"

7. "The Moment of Waking from a Dream"

Flipping open the other folder revealed Zhou Huimin's tracklist, but the album title space remained blank.

"Ah Min's album title hasn't been decided yet?" Sun Li asked.

Xiang Qian nodded: "Let her decide herself."

Sun Li scanned the sheet music quickly, her eyes widening further with each page: "Qian-zi, did you... write all of these in just a few days?"

"Mm."

Sun Li shook her head in admiration: "A genius is truly a genius... Ah Min, what about your songs? Which one is your favorite?"

Zhou Huimin's eyes curved into crescents: "'A Love for Life.' The lyrics are exceptionally beautiful."

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

Xiang Qian walked toward the control console: "Today, we'll record 'You Make Me Happy, You Make Me Sad' and 'A Love for Life' first."

Zhou Huimin seemed a bit nervous: "Should I... go first?"

Xiang Qian handed her a bottle of water: "Don't be nervous; just sing like we did during practice."

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

"The past is gone, never to return,

Red leaves lie buried deep in the dust..."

Her clear voice flowed like a spring, prompting Sun Li in the control room to instinctively give a thumbs-up.

As they reached the chorus, Xiang Qian suddenly joined in with harmony vocals:

"The bitter sea churns up waves of love,

In this world, fate is hard to escape..."

Their voices blended perfectly. Sun Li slapped the table in excitement: "Excellent! That's exactly the feeling!"

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

Sun Li hugged her tightly: "Perfect! It could definitely win a Golden Melody Award!"

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

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

Sun Li teased: "Qian-zi, you're being too strict."

"Because she can be better," Xiang Qian said, gazing softly at the girl in the recording booth.

When it was Xiang Qian's turn, the atmosphere shifted dramatically.

As soon as the piano intro faded, his hoarse yet deeply emotional voice instantly filled the entire space:

"Love reaches its end, spilled water cannot be gathered,

Love lingers, resentment lingers..."

Zhou Huimin listened entranced from the control room, whispering to Sun Li: "Every time I hear him sing, I get goosebumps."

Sun Li nodded: "With a voice like that, you won't find a second one in the entire music scene."

At lunchtime, the three sat in the restaurant outside the studio.

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

Xiang Qian swirled his glass of red wine: "Because this marks my musical rebirth."

Zhou Huimin asked curiously: "Then what should my album be called?"

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

Sun Li joked: "How about 'Songs Qian-zi Wrote for Me'?"

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

Turning serious, Sun Li asked: "Honestly, where did the inspiration for these songs come from? Lyrics like those in 'Crossing the Ocean to See You' couldn't be written without experiencing them, right?"

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

Zhou Huimin explained softly: "Qian-zi says he often has the same dream, featuring a vast ocean and partings."

Sun Li pondered: "No wonder the lyrics possess such vivid imagery..."

"Finish recording within two weeks," Xiang Qian said, putting down his napkin. "Release early next month."

Sun Li calculated aloud, "That means the promotion period will coincide exactly with the Golden Melody Awards nominations... By the way, how do you plan to shoot the music videos?"

"For 'Huo Yuanjia,' I want to ask Cheng Long for help," Xiang Qian said, having already made up his mind. "The others should be simpler, highlighting the music itself."

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

Xiang Qian arched 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-zi," Zhou Huimin said, suddenly stopping in her tracks, "thank you for writing so many wonderful songs for me."

Xiang Qian ruffled her hair. "Silly girl, what is there to thank me for?"

"But I still want to know," Zhou Huimin said, lifting her face, "in 'A Love for a Lifetime,' that line 'Though we love each other, we cannot draw near'—does it mean..."

Xiang Qian did not answer; he simply pulled her gently into his embrace. In the distance, the lights of Weiduoliyagang reflected on the sea surface, like scattered stars.

Three days later, cheers erupted from the recording studio.

"That's a wrap!" Sun Li exclaimed, raising a bottle of champagne high. "Both albums are fully recorded!"

The staff clapped in celebration. Standing in a corner, Xiang Qian watched Zhou Huimin surrounded by everyone, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

His rebirth, her new beginning.

And all of this was just getting started.