Chapter 110: The Lead Single

As the interlude played, the room erupted in applause, mingled with the exuberant cheers of Shihui.

"Brother Shanzi, I admire you more and more. Not only is your singing incredibly beautiful, but the compositions you create are utterly marvelous!"

"What was the first feeling the song gave you?" Liu Qingshan paused his actions and turned to ask Shihui.

"A tranquil summer, gazing at the beautiful starry sky outdoors with my lover. It reminds me of my first love!" Shihui's expression was filled with sweet memories. She was quite young, just in her early twenties.

In truth, her words were not far off. The creator of this song, the renowned record producer Li Zhengfan, had recently visited Wangmin Middle School in Xihai Valley, Ningxia. The children there had never seen Snoopy or even heard of Coca-Cola; on the Loess Plateau, the only colors were the blue sky, green trees, and yellow earth.

In just three days of interaction, Li Zhengfan composed the song "Ningxia," inspired by the moving experiences of the students there and his unforgettable memories of that serene summer.

Jin Xishan clapped her hands excitedly and stood up, planting a kiss on Liu Qingshan’s cheek, completely forgetting the occasion. "Shanzi, thank you. This song perfectly suits how I feel right now."

Only after speaking did she realize she might have revealed too much, her face flushing crimson.

Both crews could clearly see the subtle exchanges between Liu Qingshan and Jin Xishan, despite their attempts to conceal them. It was obvious they were deeply in love. Jin Xishan’s earlier display was no surprise to anyone; it was considered perfectly normal.

"Listening to this song feels like returning to a beautiful moment in the past, intoxicating and immersive. I’m certain this will become an unparalleled classic," said Kan Weiting. Although not a professional musician, he had nearly a decade of directing experience and was well-versed in scoring.

He Bing, nearby, sighed in admiration. "It’s truly beautiful. Such a melody is a delight to the ears! It’s a pity we already have a theme song; otherwise, we could ask Shanzi to compose one. It might become just as popular!"

In fact, both the theme and insert songs for "The Great Song Judge" were recorded in this very studio. Liu Qingshan had even caught the tail end of a review session with the producers and director Kan, meeting both the composer and the singer and exchanging greetings.

Jin Xishan seemed somewhat indifferent to the series’ soundtrack, her full attention focused on "Ningxia," a song tailor-made by Liu Qingshan for her.

"I’d like you to record a demo so you can quickly get the whole song down," Liu Qingshan said.

She nodded. The studio was equipped with top-tier professional gear and condenser microphones—recording a demo here was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

"I already have some ideas; I might even write another song by tonight," Liu Qingshan added, which stirred excitement among the musicians present. The studio’s sound engineers, all harboring dreams of creating their own works, were humbled by "Ningxia." Now hearing that Liu Qingshan would write yet another song left them quietly red-faced.

Fortunately, no one paid much heed to their feelings, especially Jin Xishan, whose face radiated pure joy, seemingly lost in the moment.

Women who are somewhat innocent and deeply in love tend to be like this—nothing is more thrilling than witnessing the achievements of the man they adore. In that state, she would never doubt his abilities or think he was exaggerating.

Liu Qingshan, indifferent to others’ opinions, turned away to consult the sound engineers about recording the demo.

Since the studio was rented by the investors of "The Great Song Judge," occasional private use was quite normal; as long as one was part of the crew, there was no issue.

The next day, Liu Qingshan presented a new piece titled "Courage." Undoubtedly, it was another classic ballad. The lyrics seemed like a healing love song but closely mirrored their current reality.

The opening lines touched Jin Xishan’s sensitive heart deeply, expressing their true story:

Finally made this decision~
No matter what others say~
As long as you feel the same~
I’m willing to follow you to the ends of the earth~
I know, nothing is easy~
My heart keeps reminding and convincing itself~
Most afraid you’ll suddenly say you want to give up~

Jin Xishan firmly believed the entire song was written for the two of them. Compared to the previous three songs, just the lyrics alone moved her to tears, leaving her sobbing uncontrollably.

In truth, Liu Qingshan had carefully selected this song to convey his message to Jin Xishan: love demands courage, and loving her would require his lifelong bravery.

Their differing nationalities, distinct upbringings, and the possibility of a long-distance relationship would undoubtedly cast great challenges over their cross-border romance.

Any rational person would understand the rarity of such a love and the difficulty of maintaining it.

This hesitation was precisely why Jin Xishan had been so uncertain at the start—no one wants a painful love that ends in sorrow.

Because the song was infused with such profound emotions from both of them, Liu Qingshan did not wait until it was fully completed to enter the studio. Instead, he personally demonstrated the feelings the song should convey during Jin Xishan’s recording.

He guided her through multiple takes, helping her find the vocal tone that best expressed the song’s essence.

The lyrics seamlessly blended Jin Xishan’s courageous personality in matters of the heart, making it sound as if Liu Qingshan’s inspiration had come from her genuine new love.

This was an uplifting love song, conveying the profound message of loving oneself without regard for others’ opinions.

It was now nearly certain it would become a nationwide hit, likely regarded as Jin Xishan’s definitive expression of love and her breakthrough work.

Unlike the previous day, most people quietly observed the demo recording, unwilling to disturb the two who seemed emotionally immersed.

After finishing, Jin Xishan gradually emerged from her full immersion, and Liu Qingshan shared his thoughts.

"I intend for this song to be the lead single of the entire album because I believe it’s the first truly genuine gift I’ve given you, written from the deepest feelings."

Tears welled up in Jin Xishan’s eyes again. "I understand your heart. This song will be the most precious gift of my life."

Liu Qingshan felt moved as well but wisely restrained his emotions, aware that the situation did not allow for too much sentiment.

He quickly masked his feelings. "The next song will have you try a new singing style, like rock. After these two days of polishing, I’ve noticed great improvement in your vocal skills."