Chapter 83: Recording a Song

"So you still live on campus?"

Chatting in the recording studio, Xu Youyu was surprised, "Aren't you living alone here? Even if it's far from school, it's still more comfortable than the dorm."

"I've never lived on campus before, so I'm curious." Yan Zhusheng tilted her head and thought, "But..."

"But you still feel more comfortable living alone at home, right?" Xu Youyu grinned, filling in for her.

"Hmm... it's just that I feel others don't like me." Yan Zhusheng frowned. "I probably just don't know how to get along with people."

"Huh? Why don't they like you?" Xu Youyu found this strange. "You don't seem like a bad-tempered person."

"Maybe I was just disliked." Yan Zhusheng thought for a moment. "During the two days of military training at school, two girls in my dorm told me they were on their period and asked if they could take a day off."

"Mm-hmm." Xu Youyu nodded. "And then? You didn't say no, did you?"

"Yes." Yan Zhusheng said. "Li Luo said the class appointed a female sports committee member precisely because some girls might be too shy to speak up, so..."

"So what?"

"So I told them to come with me to the restroom, and I checked them myself. If they really were on their period, I'd approve their leave—but they hadn't even used sanitary pads."

Xu Youyu: "..."

"I think I understand where the problem lies." Xu Youyu chuckled and shook her head. "It's an emotional intelligence issue, but it's not really your fault. Still, only those two? What about the others in the dorm?"

"Those two were more outgoing." Yan Zhusheng recalled. "I don't know why, but after that, the other girls stopped talking to me."

"I see." Xu Youyu narrowed her eyes, then smiled. "That actually reminds me of middle school."

"Middle school?"

"Yes." Xu Youyu smiled. "I lived on campus then too. There was a boy in our class who liked me and kept bothering me, but I usually ignored him."

"But one girl in our dorm was crazy about him—obsessed, really."

"Then one day she came to me and asked if I'd consider his advances just for her sake. I was completely stunned."

"What happened after?" Yan Zhusheng asked curiously.

"After I naturally refused, she started spreading rumors about me behind my back, and together with the other roommates, she isolated me."

"I was young then, and at first I was angry and helpless. But my dad said something to me—I can pass it on to you." Xu Youyu flashed a smile at Yan Zhusheng.

Yan Zhusheng had already sat at the piano, looking at Xu Youyu with curiosity, wondering what her father had said.

"My dad said, the more beautiful and talented a girl is, the more temptations she'll face."

"It's a gift from heaven—and also a curse."

"Once you accept, whether willingly or not, the advantages your appearance brings, you'll inevitably suffer losses in other areas."

"My dad said he could go to the teacher, talk to the boy's parents, even meet the principal of Yucai to make the boy apologize."

"But as long as I remain as beautiful and talented as I am, this kind of thing will keep happening."

"When I was young, my father could protect me like that. But he wanted me to learn how to face these things head-on."

Yan Zhusheng nodded slowly, her fingers lightly tapping the piano keys, a soothing rhythm flowing gently.

"So where do you live now, senior?"

"Now? I live at Li Luo's place." Xu Youyu smiled. "Originally I was renting, but then his family bought that apartment, and Li Luo and Ying Chanxi moved in too—it's right next to Fuyi High School."

"So all three of you live together now?" Yan Zhusheng suddenly looked a little envious.

"Yep."

"Come to think of it," Yan Zhusheng tilted her head and thought for a while, "Li Luo doesn't seem to have so many issues—even though he sometimes sneaks glances at my face."

"Haha~ He sneaks glances at my chest too." Xu Youyu, knowing Li Luo wasn't around, slipped him a dig. "All guys are the same—they think they're hiding it well, but that look is easy to catch."

"But Li Luo is a good person."

"That's true." Xu Youyu nodded. "Getting along with him is actually fun—even when he sneaks glances at me, I don't get mad."

"Who's sneaking glances at you?"

Outside the door, Li Luo pushed it open, curious. "What are you talking about?"

As Li Luo entered, Yan Zhusheng carefully observed his gaze, then turned to look at Xu Youyu's chest, her expression clearing: "You really do look at senior's chest?"

"Hey!" Xu Youyu panicked before Li Luo could even speak. "Don't say stuff like that to his face!"

"What... what even are you two talking about?" Li Luo's face darkened with exasperation.

"Where's Xi Xi?" Xu Youyu coughed twice, awkwardly changing the subject. "Why isn't she up yet?"

"She's using the restroom, so I came up first." Li Luo glanced at her, then walked over to Yan Zhusheng, setting aside the previous topic. "How do we record the song?"

"Just use that microphone." Yan Zhusheng pointed to the mic beside her. "Put on the headphones, follow the music inside, and sing the whole song. Once your voice is recorded, just add it to the pre-made track."

"So it's really not recorded together?" Xu Youyu blinked, leaning closer to examine the mic and headphones. "That means we can only hear Li Luo's a cappella?"

"Mm." Yan Zhusheng nodded. "Only he hears the music in his headphones. We only hear his voice—so any flaws will be obvious, and I can correct his problems directly."

"Uh... if I sing badly, don't laugh at me."

"Don't worry, don't worry." Xu Youyu sat on the stool, grinning. "You've got headphones on—you won't hear our laughter."

"... You're surprisingly good at comforting people."

Li Luo made a few preparations in the recording studio, and Yan Zhusheng personally explained the functions of the microphone and headphones to him.

After Ying Chanxi finished using the restroom and came upstairs, the recording officially began.

"Perhaps~ I shouldn't be in your world~"

"When you receive that love letter~"

"It means I've already walked far away~"

▲￠O

By five-thirty in the evening, Li Luo had already sung this part dozens of times.

After this take finished, Ying Chanxi handed him a cup of water. He took it, drank to moisten his throat, and sighed, "How was that one?"

"Let's stick with the fifth version," Yan Zhusheng said honestly. "I feel that version works best."

"But I've already sung it over ten times," Li Luo squinted at Yan Zhusheng, inexplicably thinking of all the bizarre clients he'd encountered in his past life.

"That's just how recording goes," Yan Zhusheng said. "The singer just needs to immerse themselves in the music, but the sound engineer still gets exhausted, having to pick the best version from all these subtle differences."

"Alright, alright," Li Luo rolled his eyes, stretching out in the recording studio. "Let's call it a day. I'm going downstairs to cook."