Volume Two: Shadows of the Past Chapter Twenty-Seven: Earning Respect Through Strength

Wen Ruo-han said helplessly, "It's that song, 'A Maiden's Prayer.' We haven't recorded 'Queen' yet."

"'A Maiden's Prayer'?" Chen Jing thought for a moment and asked, "The arrangement and accompaniment are all done, right?"

Wen Ruo-han frowned. "They're done, but I still feel like something is off. How should I put it?" After a pause, she went on, "It doesn't feel quite perfect. It always seems as though the arrangement could be better, but I can't tell where it should be changed."

Chen Jing nodded to show he understood. "All right. I'll go in and listen to it, see what exactly feels wrong."

With that, the group went into the recording studio. When Wen Ruo-han's music team saw Chen Jing enter, they all rose to their feet and greeted him with smiles.

"Young Master Chen! You're here."

"Hello, Young Master Chen!"

" ..."

When Wen Ruo-han had first asked Chen Jing to take full charge of the arrangement for "Aurora," the members of the team had not thought much of him. They felt he was encroaching on work that should have been theirs, and they had all been rather cold toward him. But now every one of them had changed completely, addressing him respectfully as Young Master Chen. That was because they had all acknowledged his ability. Chen Jing had conquered them with his talent.

Such was reality. If one wanted the respect of others, one had to have real strength.

Chen Jing smiled and nodded at the people around him. He did not think their change of attitude was mere flattery; to him, it was simply human nature.

Wen Ruo-han stood aside, smiling broadly as she watched. She felt her team ought to respect Chen Jing; it was what he deserved.

Chen Jing walked up to the console and said with a smile to the staff member, "Please play me the arrangement for 'A Maiden's Prayer.' Thank you." Then he picked up a pair of headphones and put them on.

The staff member nodded and played the accompaniment.

Everyone around quietly waited for Chen Jing to listen, no one saying a word.

After quite a while, when the accompaniment finally came to an end, Chen Jing lowered the headphones in his hand, still saying nothing, lost in thought.

Seeing that he remained silent, the others naturally did not feel they should speak first, and the room fell into silence.

Looking at Chen Jing, who was deep in thought, Wen Ruo-han asked tentatively, "Why don't I sing it once for you and see how it sounds?"

"Huh? Oh, no need." Chen Jing came back to himself and shook his head. "The arrangement of this song is indeed not quite what I had in mind, but it's not a big problem. I'll rework it."

Without waiting for anyone else's reaction, he immediately began a new arrangement.

What he meant by "not quite what I had in mind" was, of course, that it differed from the arrangement of "A Maiden's Prayer" from his previous life. The version Wen Ruo-han's team had prepared this time was brighter in style than the one he remembered, giving the song a rather upbeat feel. Of course, that did not mean this arrangement was bad. It was only that a different arrangement made the entire song feel completely different. What Chen Jing had been considering just now was whether recording the song in accordance with their arrangement might make it more appealing to a wider audience. But after some thought, he still felt the arrangement from his previous life was better. He believed this song should be more restrained and gentle.

Since the material for the original arrangement had already been prepared, Chen Jing did not need to record everything again. He only needed to re-cut and revise the accompaniment.

Everyone watched as he silently worked with deft, efficient motions. The staff could not get a word in, and could only follow Chen Jing's instructions; whatever he said to do, they did. They were somewhat familiar with this kind of situation already. During the recording of "Aurora," Chen Jing had worked exactly like this. They only needed to keep pace with him; there was no need to worry about anything else.

Some who had never seen this before watched him direct the process with curiosity. Though they said nothing, they were all wondering inwardly: could Chen Jing truly produce an arrangement better than the original?

The only person present who would never doubt him was Wen Ruo-han. Seeing Chen Jing get to work, she happily found a place to sit and wait. She only needed to wait until he finished the arrangement before trying it herself.

There was another person in the room who watched Chen Jing with expectation, and that was Gu Tao, who was seeing him work for the first time.

Gu Tao stared at Chen Jing with burning eyes, her heart full of excitement. People always said that Chen Jing's talent for arrangement was no less impressive than his singing. She had already experienced his singing ability and been utterly convinced by it. This was the first time she had witnessed his skill as an arranger. Was he really as formidable as the rumors claimed? She would see for herself.

Very quickly, under Chen Jing's direction, a new arrangement was edited and finished. Chen Jing put on the headphones and listened for a moment. Yes, not bad. It did carry that feeling from his previous life.

He took off the headphones and saw the people around him all standing there motionless, watching him. He smiled knowingly; of course he understood what they were waiting for.

Turning to the eager Wen Ruo-han, Chen Jing said with a grin, "Sister Ruo-han, it's ready. Go on in and try the song. See how the new arrangement sounds."

"All right. I've been waiting for this. That's the line I've been waiting to hear, hehe." Wen Ruo-han walked into the recording booth with excitement. Whether the accompaniment worked or not, she could tell as soon as she sang through it once.

Once it was time for Wen Ruo-han to sing, her expression grew serious. After adjusting herself, she made an OK gesture toward Chen Jing outside the glass.

Seeing that she was ready, Chen Jing pressed play.

Music rang out through the headphones. The new arrangement differed little from the earlier accompaniment, yet Wen Ruo-han could still feel that the entire song had changed somehow. Had its style become more lyrical?

Suppressing the doubt in her heart, she stepped into the rhythm and began to sing:

"Along the way, with him, love like a secret elopement in a train carriage,
No matter how crowded, I will not let go
Praying that there be no obstacle on the road,
So that the pleasant journey will not turn to sorrow
..."

Wen Ruo-han's voice, carried by the accompaniment, filled the room. Not only she herself, but everyone present, felt the difference.

The song was still the same song. The singer was still the same singer. Even the accompaniment had hardly changed. So why did it feel so different before and after?

At last Wen Ruo-han had found the true soul of the song. Holding back the excitement in her heart, she looked at Chen Jing outside the glass, her eyes shining brightly.

"...
I pray Heaven will spare a pair of lovers,
That what they fear may never happen,
I have never smoothly encountered the arrival of fair weather,
How can I possibly regain my confidence
..."

Gu Tao, standing beside Chen Jing, also looked at him in utter disbelief. At that moment she did not know what expression she should wear when facing him. To think someone could really finish a song's arrangement in just half an hour. It was simply inconceivable.

Was this Chen Jing's strength as an arranger? Gu Tao thought silently.

Listening to the effect of Wen Ruo-han's singing, Chen Jing nodded in satisfaction. This was the true classic feeling. He believed this song would bring an enormous surprise to the listeners of this world.

Inside the recording booth, Wen Ruo-han held one earphone in place and gazed at Chen Jing, singing with deep feeling:

"...
Yet the Father of Heaven does not pity the good,
Until I open my eyes, there is no lamp to guide me
I love the Lord, so why does He let the lover beside me
Leave me behind and step off the train
How could You agree?"

After finishing the arrangement for "A Maiden's Prayer," Chen Jing had little else to do, so he took the opportunity to listen to several other songs already recorded for Wen Ruo-han's album.

The arrangements for the other songs were fine and did not have any major problems. Chen Jing therefore decided not to make any further changes.

That evening, Chen Jing, Lin Xi, and Lin Zi-tan kept their appointment and attended Zhang Qishan's dinner.

Zhang Qishan's banquet did not only include the three of them; several of the lead actors from "Battle at Ancient Mountain Ridge," as well as key members of the directing team, were also present.

By the time Chen Jing and the others arrived, the crew members were already seated neatly around the table.

Just as Chen Jing was about to take his seat, Zhang Qishan stood up with a broad smile, took him by the arm, and introduced him to the others. "Come, let me introduce everyone. This is Chen Jing—the Chen Jing who is now the hottest music talent in the whole music scene. Today's accident on set would surely have caused casualties if Chen Jing had not been there. Heh, everyone, let's give Chen Jing a warm welcome."

The entire table burst into applause.

Most of the crew only then learned that the extraordinary extra from the set that day had actually been the famous music prodigy Chen Jing, and they were all deeply surprised.

Chen Jing hurriedly waved his hands. "Director Zhang flatters me. It's nothing more than a mere reputation, hardly worth mentioning."

"Ah, what do you mean, mere reputation? Your name is famous everywhere. Chen Jing, let me tell you, when you're young, you ought to be a little arrogant. Don't be so modest. Otherwise, when you get to be my age, you won't have the energy for arrogance even if you want it. Right? Hahaha."

Having said that, Zhang Qishan laughed heartily.

Listening to his somewhat inspirational speech, Chen Jing could only nod with a wry smile and say no more.

After that came the time for everyone to drink and exchange toasts. Once the table was a scene of scattered plates and cups and everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Zhang Qishan finally took Chen Jing's hand and said, "Chen Jing, I have an idea, and you must agree to it."

"Hm? Director Zhang, please go ahead."

Looking at Chen Jing earnestly, Zhang Qishan said, "Today, when I saw that shot of you rescuing someone in the explosion, I really didn't want to cut it out. So I was thinking of giving you and Liu Man-qiang a small role in my film. That way, I can use the footage we shot today naturally. In that case, it would count as inviting you to make a cameo. What do you think?"

"Uh..."

Chen Jing hesitated. He had not expected Zhang Qishan to make such a request.

Of course he very much wanted to agree to Zhang Qishan, but he had only just promised Zi-tan and the others that he would not take on these kinds of roles. Although he had said that only to reassure them, not even a day had passed, and he really did not want to go back on his word so soon.

Thinking of this, Chen Jing turned his gaze toward Lin Xi and Lin Zi-tan beside him.