Chapter 1

Qin Qingzhuo only went to the rest area for a sip of water, but when he returned, the atmosphere in the studio had changed drastically.

The lead singer, holding a guitar, and the executive director were facing off, their confrontation palpable even from several meters away.

At the back of the stage, the drummer stood up and walked over to support the lead singer, while the bassist put down his instrument and approached to pull the lead singer away, as if to get him off the stage.

Suddenly, the sound system malfunctioned, emitting a sharp, piercing noise that caused Qin Qingzhuo’s eardrums to ache.

Instinctively, Qin Qingzhuo halted, raising a hand to cover his throbbing left ear, but the noise persisted.

Not far ahead, a staff member spotted Qin Qingzhuo and hurried over as if he had found a savior. “Teacher Qin, you’re finally here! Things are about to get ugly on stage. Please come and see…” As he drew closer, he noticed Qin Qingzhuo’s actions and furrowed brow. “Teacher Qin, are you okay…? Teacher Qin?”

Qin Qingzhuo rubbed his left ear with his finger, then lowered his hand to look at the staff member. “I’m fine… What did you say just now? What’s going on?”

“The Urban Collapse band is demanding the removal of the glass shield for the drummer, claiming that the sound feedback from the drums is devoid of emotion. The executive director disagrees, and neither side is compromising. Now, the band is threatening not to go on stage if the glass shield isn’t removed…”

Qin Qingzhuo nodded, understanding the root of the dispute. The glass shields surrounding the drummer, called drum shields, were set up to prevent excessive feedback during live performances. Removing them as the musicians demanded would undoubtedly cause significant problems for post-production mixing. No wonder the executive director was adamant.

Qin Qingzhuo glanced at the executive director standing opposite the musicians. This girl’s name was Chen Jia, and she looked to be barely five feet four inches tall, at most twenty-five or twenty-six years old. Standing alone against several musicians averaging six feet in height, she displayed remarkable courage.

Ascending the stairs to the stage, just from her back, Qin Qingzhuo could sense that this girl was teetering on the edge of collapse. Her tense back resembled a string pulled taut, ready to snap at any moment.

After watching dozens of band rehearsals for several hours in a row, Qin Qingzhuo witnessed firsthand the troubles this girl had been through: first, there was a band insisting on last-minute song changes, which led to all the stage effects prepared by the production team being scrapped. Then there was another band whose lead singer got into a fight after getting drunk the night before, landing him in jail and causing a last-minute absence from the show’s recording. Most absurdly, during rehearsals, two bands got into a physical altercation on stage for some inexplicable grudge from the past…

Anyone facing this series of mishaps would be on the verge of a breakdown. Even Qin Qingzhuo was starting to regret taking on the role of music director. Yet, this girl still confronted the bands with undiminished determination. Qin Qingzhuo felt she had the potential to achieve great things.

Qin Qingzhuo pondered how best to resolve the drum shield issue as he approached the group in confrontation. He spoke up, “What’s going on here?”

The group briefly glanced at him, then returned to their standoff. Chen Jia, with a tense expression and an unyielding tone, replied, “We can’t remove the drum shield. Don’t try to threaten withdrawal from the competition. This is the studio of the production team, not your band’s concert venue.”

Qin Qingzhuo walked up beside Chen Jia and exchanged a reassuring glance with her, indicating that he would handle the situation.

After a moment of silence, Chen Jia reluctantly relented and, trusting Qin Qingzhuo, remained silent, leaving the matter to him.

Qin Qingzhuo didn’t rush to resolve the drum shield issue. Instead, he turned to the lead singer and changed the subject, “I just went for a drink of water and missed your rehearsal. How was it? Are you satisfied with the results this time?”

The lead singer’s expression softened slightly as he spoke to Qin Qingzhuo, “It’s much better than last time. Qingzhuo, your suggestions on arrangement were very effective. I rearranged the entire song according to your advice, and the result is indeed impressive. We’ll treat you to a drink later to thank you properly.”

Qin Qingzhuo smiled, “That’s good to hear.” With the atmosphere slightly eased, he then brought up the drum shield issue again, “What happened just now? I heard you were asking for the removal of the drum shield?”

“Yeah, we can’t sing properly with the drum shield in place. The sound of the drums trapped inside the glass box is unbearable,” the lead singer replied, handing the in-ear monitor to Qin Qingzhuo. “Qingzhuo, listen to this. Our song emphasizes the drums, but with this setup, it sounds terrible. We might as well be howling.” He turned to the other band members and said, “Play the chorus again, let Qingzhuo listen.”

The band members nodded and returned to their positions, replaying a short section of the chorus.

Qin Qingzhuo put on the in-ear monitor and listened to the sound coming through it. Even without hearing it, he could imagine what kind of effect it would have.

Variety shows are different from regular live-house performances. In such a large venue, without the drum shield, there would be excessive sound bleeding between instruments, making the post-production mixing work significantly more challenging.

Of course, removing the drum shield had its advantages. The live performance effect would be better, and it would be easier to engage the audience. However, the show wasn’t just for the few hundred spectators present; it aimed for viral spread on the internet, and ideally, to break into the mainstream. Without proper post-production and sound quality assurance, these goals would be impossible to achieve.

Weighing the pros and cons, Qin Qingzhuo thought for a moment and made a decision. He took off the in-ear monitor and handed it back to the lead singer. “Indeed, the sound with the drum shield does distort a bit.”

Chen Jia, seeing Qin Qingzhuo seeming to lean towards the band’s side, nudged his arm, signaling him to think carefully before making a decision.

Qin Qingzhuo glanced at Chen Jia, pondered for a moment, and then addressed the band members again, “Your pursuit of perfection in performance is commendable, but you need to understand that once the drum shield is removed, the workload for post-production mixing will increase by more than a hundredfold.”

The other side remained silent, expressing their stance through silence.

After a pause, Qin Qingzhuo continued to the lead singer, “Moreover, while removing the drum shield may improve the live performance effect, do you think it’s fair to the other bands? Do you think your band has a chance to win the championship with your skills?”

The lead singer tilted his head slightly, not stating it outright, but his attitude was clear — of course, they did.

“You have a great chance, right? I agree. So, the more so, the more cautious your actions should be. Removing the drum shield, on the positive side, shows your dedication to improving the performance. On the negative side, every advancement of the band relies on live voting. If you remove the drum shield, your performance and the atmosphere will undoubtedly be better than other bands’. If your band eventually wins the championship, will it not leave room for criticism, making victory seem less honorable?”

The lead singer across the stage glanced at the other band members. Although he remained silent, Qin Qingzhuo could sense that his attitude was beginning to waver.

“There’s one more thing.” Qin Qingzhuo leaned slightly toward the lead singer, bringing himself close. His voice lowered significantly, “A band that clashes with the production team as soon as they come on stage. Do you think the production team wishes them well? I have some understanding of your band’s situation, but you still need to handle this situation carefully.”

After finishing speaking, Qin Qingzhuo straightened up, fell silent, and waited for the response.

The lead singer on the other side opened his mouth, hesitated, exchanged glances with the other band members, and finally sighed reluctantly, “Well… let’s not remove it.”

There was no change in Qin Qingzhuo’s expression. He patted the lead singer on the shoulder, “Continue with the rehearsal.”

When he walked off the stage, Chen Jia beside him visibly relaxed, even her steps lightening.

“Thank you so much, Brother Qingzhuo,” Chen Jia stopped in a quiet corner backstage, hurriedly expressing her gratitude to Qin Qingzhuo. “This band is really difficult to handle. If we had agreed to remove the drum shield for them, it might have triggered a chain reaction from other bands, all demanding the same. The workload would have been overwhelming for the post-production sound engineer.”

Qin Qingzhuo glanced at the stage. Now, he was speaking up for those young musicians, “Musicians have their own principles. But the clash between the musicians and the production team is normal. By the way,” Qin Qingzhuo bypassed the drum shield issue, changing the topic, “How’s the band that got into a fight last night? Can they still make it?”

“We had communicated well with the police station beforehand. As long as both sides reconcile, there shouldn’t be a problem. But who knew that after they went, they clashed again, refusing to reconcile…” Chen Jia sighed, “Fortunately, during the preliminary auditions, I contacted a backup band. They’ll be here soon.”

Qin Qingzhuo nodded, “Good that you found a replacement. Go ahead with your work, I’ll keep an eye on things here.”

Chen Jia responded with a “Yes,” thanked Qin Qingzhuo again, and turned to deal with other issues.

With the drum shield issue resolved smoothly, Qin Qingzhuo breathed a sigh of relief.

If he had known that dealing with these new bands would be so mentally draining, Qin Qingzhuo wouldn’t have agreed so easily to take on this job.

A month ago, the chief director of the show, Shi Yao, and the producer Xia Qi, came knocking, wanting to create a variety show about emerging young bands in China called “Restless, Bands.” They invited Qin Qingzhuo to be the mentor, but he refused outright. Later, his fellow martial sister Xia Qi visited twice more, and seeing Qin Qingzhuo was resolute, she persuaded him to become the music director.

At that time, she spoke nicely, saying things like, “Brother, after you go, you only need to be responsible for music matters, and nothing else.” But when it came to the recording scene, Qin Qingzhuo found himself unable to stay aloof from the unexpected situations.

Qin Qingzhuo walked to the window in the corridor, opened it to get some fresh air.

Downstairs, the waiting audience had formed a long queue. Due to the hot weather, everyone’s faces were flushed, and almost every person had a fan, fanning themselves continuously. Perhaps due to the long waiting time, many people’s faces already showed signs of impatience.

—I wonder where the production team dug up so many unwilling audience members from some nearby university.

Qin Qingzhuo recalled four years ago, also in the summer, about four hours before the start of his concert. During the final rehearsal, there were already over ten thousand people waiting outside the studio. The queue extended as far as the eye could see. As soon as Qin Qingzhuo got out of the car, he caused a tremendous commotion.

It seemed even hotter that day than today. The fans waiting to hear the songs were also flushed, but there was no sign of impatience on their faces. Instead, they wore expressions of eager anticipation, loudly chanting Qin Qingzhuo’s name:

“Qin Qingzhuo, Qin Qingzhuo, Qin Qingzhuo…”

“Qingzhuo… Qin Qingzhuo!”

It wasn’t until someone tapped on his shoulder that Qin Qingzhuo snapped back to reality. Xia Qi was standing behind him, asking, “What are you thinking about? You seem so lost.”

Qin Qingzhuo turned around, saw Xia Qi, and smiled, “I was just thinking about how to settle scores with you, and you’ve come looking for me first. Being a music director isn’t as easy as you described, is it?”

Xia Qi, however, wasn’t in a joking mood. She urgently grabbed Qin Qingzhuo and started walking towards the lounge. As they walked, she said, “Let’s not talk about that now. Qingzhuo, there’s trouble. You must help me this time.”

“What’s the matter?” After a hectic morning, Qin Qingzhuo was already suffering from a headache.

“Du Hefeng can’t continue as a mentor.” Pulling Qin Qingzhuo into an empty lounge, Xia Qi closed the door behind them. “He suddenly had a back problem when leaving home. He couldn’t walk or sit properly, so his family had to rush him to the hospital urgently. Now, we’re missing a mentor, Qingzhuo, you’ve seen it; the audience has been waiting downstairs for a long time. The program recording is about to start, and only you can help me…”

“I’ll help you see if there’s anyone suitable who can come and help.” Qin Qingzhuo said, taking out his phone to check the contacts.

“The program recording is less than an hour away. Even if you find someone, it won’t be very effective,” Xia Qi held Qin Qingzhuo’s hand, stopping his movements. “Qingzhuo, you’re the music director, the person most familiar with these bands. No one is more suitable than you.”

Seeing Qin Qingzhuo unmoved, Xia Qi pressed on, “Payment is not a problem. Even if you add a zero to the contract amount, I won’t say anything. Qingzhuo, you have to help me…”

But Qin Qingzhuo shook his head with a smile, rejecting her without any hesitation, just like the previous times, “Xia Qi, I really can’t help you with this favor.”

After saying that, he walked to the coffee table, picked up a clean disposable cup, and poured himself some water.

Following him, Xia Qi walked over too. Unable to sway him with a stern approach, she softened her tone, “Senior Qin, Teacher Qin, Brother Qin… You can’t refuse this favor. Otherwise, I’ll be dismantled by the sponsors. Can you bear to see that?”

Qin Qingzhuo, about to take a sip of water, couldn’t help but laugh at this series of titles, teasing, “Don’t tease me. I’m your relationship brother. What’s going on with Duan Chong?”

Duan Chong was Xia Qi’s boyfriend, but at this moment, Xia Qi was disowning all relationships, “As long as you help me, love whoever he loves!”

At this moment, there was a slight creaking sound from the door of the meeting room, followed by the door opening. Chen Jia, who had just confronted the band on stage, peeked in, “All the other lounges are full. I came to borrow some space.”

Seeing Xia Qi nod, Chen Jia pushed the door open and walked in. Following her was a tall guy carrying a guitar, towering over Chen Jia by more than a head, likely close to six feet three inches tall.

Xia Qi turned her head and glanced, casually asking, “Are you here for the band that got into a fight?”

Chen Jia responded with a nod, leading the guy into the lounge. Since there were no sofas inside, they stood by the window.

Meanwhile, Xia Qi continued to engage with Qin Qingzhuo, showing a determined attitude as if she wouldn’t leave if he didn’t agree.

Perhaps due to listening to too many consecutive rehearsals on-site, with the immersive impact of the dynamic percussion ensemble, Qin Qingzhuo’s left ear began to experience a slight ringing. As a result, Xia Qi’s voice sounded as if it were passing through a wall, muffled and weak.

Qin Qingzhuo wasn’t interested in the conversation between the two people in the lounge. However, his right ear, unaffected by the ringing, continued to pick up the conversation.

“Why is it just you? Where are the other members of the band?”

“The money is settled; they’ll come when it’s done.”

Qin Qingzhuo wasn’t interested in their conversation’s content, but he was sensitive to tones. The young man’s voice had a distinct quality—deep, cold, with a metallic texture. It sounded quite young, with a hint of an unbridled accent.

Qin Qingzhuo glanced towards the side—approximately eighteen or nineteen years old, the youth’s profile against the light created a vivid effect, reminiscent of an old-fashioned overexposed film. With his hands in his pockets, the muscles on his forearms were subtly visible. Lowering his head to look at Chen Jia in front of him, his silhouette, like his voice, carried a somewhat unyielding demeanor. “How much for singing a song? Didn’t you say we would discuss it in person over the phone?”

“Jiang Ji, it’s like this,” Chen Jia cleared her throat. “Let me briefly explain the situation. The first round of the program is the selection stage, and none of the bands get a performance fee. It’s only from the second round onwards that the formal competition begins. If you can make it to the second round, we’ll have someone talk to you specifically about the performance fee…”

The youth interrupted Chen Jia, “So, no money for the first round?”

“You can understand it that way, but if you make it to the second round, the performance fee won’t disappoint you. Moreover, once your band appears on the show, regardless of where you perform later…”

Before Chen Jia could finish, the youth cut her off, turned around crisply, and walked towards the door.

“Well, forget it. I have work tonight.”

His steps towards the door showed no hesitation—open, close, all in one go.

Chen Jia, who had confronted a few musicians on stage without flinching, stood still for a moment, now somewhat at a loss. She looked at Xia Qi, who rarely found herself in such a situation.

Xia Qi finally stopped whispering into Qin Qingzhuo’s ear and quickly whispered to Chen Jia, “Catch up and ask him how much. At most, twenty thousand. If not, forget it.”

Watching Chen Jia rush out of the door, Qin Qingzhuo thought to himself that bargaining with the program team, these kids nowadays are truly punk.

“Which band is that?” Qin Qingzhuo put down the cup in his hand and looked at Xia Qi.

“They’re called Asperatus, a new band with little performance experience,” Xia Qi shook her head. “If it weren’t for the unexpected turn of events, they wouldn’t have been controlled by such a brat.”

“Are you interested in this band?” Xia Qi tried to steer the conversation back to the main topic. “Then come and be the mentor. Guide them hands-on.”

But Qin Qingzhuo just smiled, “Not really.”

Seeing that Qin Qingzhuo’s mind was still unchanged, Xia Qi began another round of relentless persuasion.

Other sounds in the room faded away, and Xia Qi’s voice came through loud and clear into Qin Qingzhuo’s ears.

Now, she had shifted from straightforward requests to playing the emotional card, “Qingzhuo, if you don’t do me a favor, at least do Old Duan a favor. Back then, you skipped class to perform at the music festival. Old Duan went to teach the class for you in the freezing weather of the Ninth Winter. After the class, he came back the same night with a fever of forty degrees, boiling his brain like a slow-cooked stew. It was gurgling and bubbling…”

Unable to hold back his laughter, Qin Qingzhuo said, “Xia Qi, your mouth…”

Qin Qingzhuo is not someone easily swayed by emotions, and Xia Qi had used this emotional strategy before, but this time, it happened to hit him in a vulnerable spot. Qin Qingzhuo had just noticed that Xia Qi looked extremely exhausted. Her under-eye area was tinged with blue, clearly the result of consecutive sleepless nights. Her lips were dry and peeling, presumably from being too busy to take a sip of water all morning.

Such a beautiful girl, and yet this program had managed to age her by several years.

Qin Qingzhuo thought about the frightening passage of time. It had only been seven or eight years since graduation, and his once-inarticulate junior had transformed into someone articulate and sharp-tongued.

In the moment, Qin Qingzhuo softened a bit. Listening to Xia Qi reminiscing about their past and recalling their youth, he couldn’t deny that he was starting to waver.

Moreover, after a month of continuous communication and cooperation with the program team and the musicians, he inevitably developed some empathy for the show. He couldn’t bear to see the efforts of so many staff and musicians go to waste in the end.

“During the graduation period, Duan Chong didn’t have a job yet, and he worked day and night to mix for you. I really doubted if you two were a couple…” Xia Qi’s speech made her throat dry, and she didn’t even care to take a sip of water.

Qin Qingzhuo sighed discreetly, poured a glass of water, and pushed it in front of Xia Qi. “Drink some water, and let me think about it. Give me some time.”

“Sure.” Xia Qi, seeing Qin Qingzhuo showing a rare sign of hesitation, promptly agreed and kept silent.

Qin Qingzhuo got up and left the lounge, walking to the window. He contemplated for a while and then took out his phone.

His fingers tapped the screen a few times, revealing a name—”Ji Chi”—followed by a string of phone numbers.

Ji Chi had been Qin Qingzhuo’s boyfriend for nearly four years. Making such a difficult decision, Qin Qingzhuo needed some support and encouragement, something that only the person closest to him could provide.

The call went through, but there was no answer for a long time.

Hearing the repeated “no one is answering” prompts in the earpiece, Qin Qingzhuo hung up and took a deep breath.

It seemed like he had to make this decision on his own.

After standing there for another while, as if going through a myriad of thoughts, he finally lifted his leg and walked towards the door of the lounge. Pushing it open, he looked at Xia Qi. “Alright, Xia Qi, I agree.”

Initially, Xia Qi, who was sitting on the sofa with a pale face, regained a hint of girlish joy in her eyes the moment Qin Qingzhuo spoke.

Before Xia Qi could say anything, Qin Qingzhuo added, “Let’s be clear—it’s only for one season.”

“Deal!” The elated Xia Qi jumped up from the sofa, shouted towards the door, “Hurry up, take Teacher Qin for makeup and hair!”

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Jiang Ji x Qin Qingzhuo