How to become an ACE of a top boy group

Chapter 183 Concert Preparation (Part 3)

The news of all One Origin members renewing their contracts exploded online. Some congratulated them on the renewal, some told them to hurry up and leave, some cursed MoRitsu for going bankrupt, some told MoRitsu to treat them well, and some urged them to make a comeback... One Origin easily dominated all the trending topics that day.

On the same day, One Origin returned to Korea amidst a crowd of fans after finishing their overseas tour. After participating in a large opening ceremony, they returned to their company.

At this moment, Luo Xi and his group were preparing at the Mo Hai Building. The family concert would be held on the open-air stage outside the Mo Hai Building. Since it was Mo Ri's own venue, Luo Xi and his group stayed there to practice every day.

Besides ILitterer and Fiction (D), the group also includes New Time, Gleam, Know, Bensheng Dance Troupe and AMM Dance Troupe from the main campus, Young (boy group) and Mocha (girl group) from the label Yongguan under Mori, independent singers Lin, Wu Siwei, and Zheng Gong from the label Fulai, as well as cover stages by 30 trainees.

The practice room, men's preparatory practice room, and common practice room of New Time are located upstairs and downstairs from ILitterer's private practice room. Qin Feng, Fu Yang, Liang Bingtai and others often come to visit. Luo Xi and Gu Minxing have even treated them to meals a few times.

It's fair to say that everyone got to know each other very well, and they often went out together at the Mohai Building, practicing in the rehearsal hall.

During a break on the third day of rehearsals, Luo Xi was talking to An Kexin and the others when they suddenly heard a noisy commotion coming from the front.

Four tall, handsome men walked in. They were dressed in simple sports T-shirts and loose sweatpants similar to the younger men present, but they exuded a maturity that came with age and experience. The younger men who recognized them surrounded them first and burst into cheers such as "One origin".

Regardless of external opinions, they are undoubtedly the top male idols of today.

Standing right in front of her in person, Luo Xi was no longer the unknown girl who felt that top idols were out of reach during her talent show days. She just remembered what Yi Jin said, "Not only to become them, but also to surpass them," and measured the distance between them in her heart.

Lin Ka, whom I had met before, greeted the younger generation with a smile. Zake stood coldly next to Lin Ka. Mo Chen was not there. Ying Cheng and Qin He Ran accurately found Gu Minxing in the crowd. Qin He Ran hugged Gu as if he had found his long-lost child. Ying Cheng patted Gu's shoulder affectionately and spoke to him.

You can also tell Mo Rixuan’s preferences from their appearances. Lin Ka and Ying Cheng are both like Gu Minxing, with their exquisite and aggressive features. Qin He Ran reminds Luo Xi of the delicate Qin Feng, and the mole at the corner of his eye is in the same position as Liu Jibai. Zake’s appearance is similar to Luo Xi’s cold bone structure.

One Origin is here to prepare for the family concert.

Holding a family concert after the New Year is an annual tradition of Moji Entertainment, and it is also a routine for this long-established entertainment company to demonstrate its strength. Basically, all of Moji Entertainment's active artists will participate, and senior artists who are not usually with the company will also return intermittently in the past few days to prepare for the concert.

A group of renowned singers in their respective fields, including Zeng Changsheng, Dai Yun, Hua Biyan, Jor, and Sun Han, returned to the company. For this 20th anniversary family concert, April Wind members Lulu, Meina, and Ye Xiaomian, who created the legend of Mo Ri Kaiyuan, were also invited back to the company and took the stage with Bai Ke.

ILetter performed "Fatal Desire" + "Black and Red," which they didn't have the chance to perform at the previous Huayin Awards, as well as their new song "Starting with You."

In addition, they each have their own collaborative stages: Lu Yun, Zhang Shuaizhen, and senior Jor and senior Sun Han's rap stage; Gu Minxing, Bai Ke, and Zeng Changsheng's April Wind inspirational song "Counting Stars on the Roof" stage; and Song Chuchu, Liya, Lin Ka, and the male trainees' "Better Love" stage.

This time, Luo Xi will be performing his self-composed song "Cold Air" with Ying Cheng, the top idol of One Origin in China, as the opening act of the entire concert.

Yingcheng's singing ability is the complete embodiment of Gu Minxing's, and she is extremely demanding of others.

Therefore, Yingcheng viewed her as an ugly child forced in by capitalists. To be honest, all the members of One Origin treated the trainees from the same company as close as brothers next door, especially Gu Minxing, whom they treated like their own son. However, they were more polite and courteous to Luo Xi and the others from other companies.

Yingcheng said to Luo Xi at the beginning, "I don't know why I'm starting with you instead of Gu Minxing. Since it's the company's arrangement, I respect it. You have to show some performance that's good enough for the stage, otherwise I'll still change the person."

The lyrics of "Cold Air" describe the nationwide cooling airflow, but how one's own warmth can withstand all the cold, and how to change one's mindset to live a positive life. It begins with a low and soothing piano accompaniment, and then gradually enters a rock-like climax, with the vocals also rising from extremely low to extremely high, making it very difficult to sing.

Luo Xi's advantage is that as long as she masters the song to its fullest extent, she won't have any problems singing the high notes. However, her disadvantage is that she is limited by her attribute points.

Her current singing level of 66 (+7) is enough to sing this song perfectly, but Yingcheng wants something even better than perfect. He wants "every line of her voice to be in its best condition," "to fully utilize her voice," and "to surprise the audience with her voice through emotion." It's very difficult to do. Yingcheng also looks at her with a disappointed look after every line she sings. Under this pressure, it is even more difficult for Luo Xi, who prefers encouragement-based education, to perform well.

Yingcheng stopped playing the piano, and the only sound in the music room immediately fell silent. He let out a long, disappointed sigh and said, "Take a break... Never mind, that's enough for today. You can leave now."

"I'm sorry, senior brother," Luo Xi apologized sincerely. "I will go down and practice until I can do it."

"Over-practicing will damage your vocal cords. How many days are left? Do you want to ruin the performance?!" Yingcheng's voice was filled with anger. Luo Xi didn't dare to say a word and stood there with his head down.

"If you feel embarrassed, shouldn't you sing even better? But what kind of singing is this? There's no emotion at all. Why don't you just listen to the original song at home? Why hold a concert?"

"I can't do anything, I really can't do anything! I don't want to go on stage with you, let them find someone else to start!" Yingcheng got angrier and angrier as she spoke, and finally slammed the door and left.

Luo Xi wasn't feeling too good either, but she cheered herself up, picked up the lyrics, and continued practicing.

=

After negotiations, the concert planners and director finally agreed to Yingcheng's request to add one more person. Since Gu Minxing was preparing for the very important closing stage with Bai Ke and Zeng Changsheng, Liu Jibai was ultimately chosen to join the opening stage. The high notes that Luo Xi couldn't perform well were all given to Liu Jibai, leaving Luo Xi with only two lines of her own singing.

Regardless of what Luo Xi thought, Ying Cheng found a voice he considered acceptable and became calm; Liu Jibai had a chance to show himself and seemed to be favored by Ying Cheng. The two talked about music and singing techniques during their breaks from practice and had a very pleasant conversation.

Only the world of Luo Xi's injury was achieved. During practice, Luo Xi felt like a wrong note that they "couldn't get rid of and had to keep." Ying Cheng stopped paying attention to Luo Xi and instead had Liu Jibai take charge of Luo Xi's adjustments after each rehearsal.

What's even more infuriating is that Liu Jibai's suppression of her was even more outrageous than Yingcheng's. He kept subtly suggesting that since she had so few lyrics, she should just give up on her own initiative. He said that if she stopped singing, Yingcheng's attitude towards her wouldn't be so bad, and she wouldn't have to worry about embarrassing herself on stage.

Luo Xi couldn't take it anymore. She slammed the lyrics on the table and said to Liu Jibai, "What does this mean? You don't want me to go on stage. You're the only one with Yingcheng at the beginning, so just say so! What's with the sarcastic remarks?!"

Liu Jibai stopped playing and said calmly, "I never said that I wanted to start the show with Yingcheng alone. I hope you don't misunderstand or amplify my opinion. Objectively speaking, it's a fact that you sang poorly. You shouldn't deny this fact and instead push the problem onto me."

"Your sarcastic remarks aren't true? 'Why don't you just give up?' Would a normal person say that? Why don't you go find someone and ask who's causing the problem? Let me tell you, I will absolutely not give up this stage to you! Absolutely not!! If you dare to be sarcastic towards me again, I'll tell my manager!"

"Threatening me?" Liu Jibai rolled his eyes slightly. "Fine, I give up. If you say it's true, then it is. I apologize, okay?"

"What do you mean 'okay'? Does that sound like an apology? Kneel down and apologize!" Seeing Liu Jibai actually stand up and kneel down, Luo Xi quickly said, "Just kidding! I meant to make your apology more sincere. Okay, we're even now. Just be nicer to him in the future."

Liu Jibai sat back down on the piano bench and continued playing, but a few wrong notes popped out, making him increasingly irritable. He struck a string of unintentional notes on the keys and suddenly blurted out, "People who are pampered are different. Even if they're not good at it, they still have so much confidence. Unlike us, who are destined to be abandoned and no one will sympathize with us."

Whether it was the influence of the music or not, Luo Xi sensed that Liu Jibai was not attacking her at this moment, but rather revealing his true sorrow.

Perhaps it was an emotional appeal, but it certainly worked on her. Luo Xi couldn't help but say, "...How could you possibly be abandoned? You're so capable, why don't you believe in yourself? Just be yourself, and you'll definitely succeed."

Liu Jibai chuckled, and the music in his hands switched back to a light and cheerful accompaniment: "Let's sing it together again, I promise I won't say anything to you."