HuaYu97: Starting as a Singer

Chapter 8 [008] Radio Debut
"Good evening, listeners. Welcome to our program, 'Campus Folk Songs.' I'm your old friend, Lü Xiaoxian."

"As is customary, I will continue to recommend some classic songs to you today. Halfway through the program, our program will bring you a fantastic new song that will instantly bring back the feeling of youth. Don't miss it!"

……

In the dormitories of Beijing Film Academy and Central Academy of Drama, many young men and women are paying attention to this issue of "Campus Folk Songs".

Girls tend to be simple-minded; they just want to see how talented Qi Yuan really is, and whether his talent matches his good looks.

It's different for boys. At Beijing Film Academy, quite a few boys have had contact with Qi Yuan and generally admire him.

Not many of the male students at the Central Academy of Drama were convinced.

You're the most pretentious guy on the basketball court; you've lured all the girls in our school away.

Today I'm going to see just how capable you really are.

If the song is terrible and the singing is awful, I'll laugh at you for the rest of my life.

"It's coming, it's coming, it's coming! Turn up the volume!" Qin Hailu eagerly awaited.

"Okay." Zhang Tong stretched out her fair fingers and pinched the knob, and the radio volume turned up considerably with a 'hiss'.

"Ladies and gentlemen who are still listening to our radio station, I would like to invite you to listen to a new song composed by Qi Yuan, a talented student from the Beijing Film Academy."

The name Qi Yuan might be unfamiliar to some.

Speaking of Zhang Xinzhe's "I Want to Love You Too Much", I think everyone will remember it.

This song, "I Want to Love You So Much," was written by Qi Yuan last year.

Now, Qi Yuan is no longer content with being just a behind-the-scenes lyricist and composer. He is fully prepared to step into the spotlight as a singer and meet everyone.

This song, "You'll Be With Me All My Life," is Qi Yuan's first solo single sung by herself.

We're sharing this song with everyone, and we hope you'll enjoy it.

Lu Xiaoxian was quite eloquent, which raised everyone's expectations considerably, yet he didn't come across as long-winded, and he ended things at the crucial moment.

The radio station was silent for a few seconds.

The sound of a piano broke the silence, and its beautiful and simple melody instantly captivated people's ears.

Each note is like a raindrop, gently sprinkling into people's hearts, creating ripples.

In the dormitory where Qin Hailu and Zhang Tong lived, several girls who had been gathered around the radio fell silent as they quietly listened to the slightly melancholic piano music.

After the intro, Qi Yuan's gentle and magnetic voice came from the radio.

"Because I dreamt that you left."

I woke up crying.

Watching the night breeze blow through the windowsill
Can you feel my love?

"Until the day I grow old"

Are you still by my side?

"Look at those vows and lies."

"Let bygones drift away slowly."

The moment the verse began, everyone was amazed.

"Wow! The talented student from Beijing Film Academy truly lives up to his reputation; these lyrics are so beautiful. I heard that Qi is also very handsome; I wonder if it's true." Zhang Tong's eyes sparkled, showing a bit of a fangirl's enthusiasm.

"I heard from the girls in the class of '97 that he's really handsome. What? You have feelings for Qi Cai Zi? Go ahead and pursue him without worry. I won't betray you and tell Aunt Chang." Qin Hailu joked with her roommate.

Chang Ma was their teacher; her full name was Chang Li.

Chang Li was a very famous professor in the Department of Performance at the Central Academy of Drama. Many well-known actors in later generations were her students, so she was known as the "Star Mom".

The Central Academy of Drama has much stricter management of its students than the Beijing Film Academy.

Generally speaking, first- and second-year students at the Central Academy of Drama are not allowed to take on acting roles; they must first build a solid foundation.

This is why people often say that the Beijing Film Academy produces stars, while the Central Academy of Drama produces actors. Teacher Chang Li embodies the teaching philosophy of the Central Academy of Drama to the fullest extent; she is known for her strict teaching style and has extremely high expectations for her students.

Of course, although teacher Chang Li is strict, she really cares about her students.

The students respected her greatly and called her "Aunt Chang" in private.

On the day they enrolled, Chang Li set rules for the students of Class 96: freshmen and sophomores should focus on their studies, and were not allowed to take on acting roles or date.

Chang Li usually takes good care of these girls, and she scolds many boys who try to pursue them with her hands on her hips.

Before they entered their junior year of college, if any of them started dating, Chang Li would definitely interfere.

"Who wouldn't like a talented and handsome man?" Zhang Tong said without any attempt to hide his feelings.

She's not the delicate, pampered girl she is; born in Xinjiang, she's been independent and assertive since childhood.

When she was a child, she didn't like studying. She liked singing and dancing, and watching actors and celebrities on TV.

After graduating from middle school, she secretly signed up to be a member of the performing arts troupe without telling her family, and she passed the audition immediately.

She then applied to the Central Academy of Drama, and with her outstanding beauty and the performance experience she accumulated during her time as a member of the military arts troupe, she was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama with the highest score in the entrance exam.

"Oh my~ It seems our beautiful Zhang is really going to pursue talented Qi, she's even too lazy to pretend anymore." Qin Hailu had a gleeful expression on her face, as if she'd just heard some gossip.

Qin Hailu completely agreed with Zhang Tong's words. He was handsome and talented; what girl wouldn't like him?

Qin Hailu also likes her, but her looks are the worst among the 96th-grade beauties.

Therefore, she is quite self-aware and doesn't think about unrealistic things; she's content to be a happy bystander.

"Alright, you two, stop talking. The final chorus is coming up." Hu Jingxiu frowned slightly.

That day, the Beijing Film Academy team was playing against the Central Academy of Drama team, and she went to the Beijing Film Academy to watch the game.

She wasn't the outgoing, flamboyant type, and didn't cheer for Qi Yuan like other girls from the Central Academy of Drama.

But she kept watching Qi Yuan silently.

For some reason, she felt a little irritated after hearing Zhang Tong and Qin Hailu's conversation, which is why she interrupted them.

Of course, listening to music is also a very important reason.

The final chorus is here.

How many people admired your youthful beauty?

Who can withstand the relentless changes of time?

How many people have come and gone in your life?

"Know that I will always be by your side throughout my life."

"Know that I will always be by your side throughout my life."

After the last line of lyrics was sung, a beautiful piano piece concluded the performance.

The piano begins, the piano ends, it's perfect.

This song is like youth; it passes by in the blink of an eye.

"You guys were chattering away the whole time, and I didn't even hear the middle part clearly. It's all your fault; I didn't even get to finish the song," Meiting complained.

"Is it my fault?" Qin Hailu stuck out her tongue; she was indeed the most talkative.

At this moment, radio host Lü Xiaoxian's voice rang out again: "Are you all satisfied with our exclusive recommendation of 'You'll Be With Me All My Life' tonight? Youth is fleeting and will never return, but you can choose to replay the song after it ends."

Next, we'll move on to the song request segment. Our fans and listeners can call us and tell us which song they'd like to request.

"Quick, write down the number and call. I'm going to blow up Qi Yuan tonight," Zhang Tong urged Qin Hailu, tugging at her.

Students who can study art usually come from well-off families.

It costs 50 yuan to play one song, 100 yuan to play three songs, and the more songs you play, the bigger the discount. Zhang Tong is fully capable of paying for Qi Yuan's entire night.

(End of this chapter)