He was in college, but his songs were at the Grammys.

Even Lin Peikun was somewhat surprised by these words.

He knew Qiu Xuan well; he knew how arrogant his old friend was.

It would be almost impossible for him to directly admit that another song was "more suitable," especially in this almost confrontational context.

But Qiu Xuan said so.

And he spoke very sincerely.

Since Qiu Xuan had already said that...

This means that he has actually accepted Lin Wei's choice.

"However," Qiu Xuan changed the subject, his eyes sharpening again, "that doesn't mean 'Listen to the Sea' is necessarily better than 'The One Who Loves You.' Suitability and quality are two different things."

Lin Peikun laughed: "So you think the outcome is still uncertain?"

"It's hard to say." Qiu Xuan shook his head. "The advantage of 'Listen to the Sea' lies in its compatibility with Lin Wei, its depth of emotional portrayal, and Lin Wei's precise performance. But 'The One Who Loves You' has issues with the sophistication of the arrangement, the smoothness of the melody, and..."

He turned and glanced at Lin Peikun.

"We also have our own advantages in terms of the tacit understanding that we have developed over many years of cooperation."

That's a very objective statement.

At least that's what Qiu Xuan himself thinks.

Lin Peikun nodded without refuting.

He looked back at the phone screen and swiped his finger across it.

At the bottom of the playback page for "Listen to the Sea", real-time data is being refreshed rapidly.

The number of views, comments, and favorites are all increasing every second.

Lin Wei's fans and long-awaiting music lovers have clearly flocked to the event, and the data is growing rapidly.

Based on this trend, it shouldn't be a problem for "Listen to the Sea" to climb to the top of the new song charts today.

But that's not what Lin Peikun was concerned about.

His gaze fell on the search box, his fingers unconsciously stroking the side of the phone.

After a few seconds, he looked up at Qiu Xuan.

"Then..." Lin Peikun began, a hint of probing in his voice, "Would you like to hear his song 'A Special Person'?"

The two of them both knew perfectly well who "he" referred to.

Qiu Xuan did not answer immediately.

The wind blows across the rooftop.

In the distance, the city breathes quietly under the sunlight.

A few seconds of silence.

Then, Qiu Xuan put down his coffee cup and looked up.

"listen."

One word.

Clean, crisp, and with an undeniable force.

Lin Peikun smiled.

That smile carried the composure of a top-tier singer and industry veteran who had weathered many storms.

He opened the search bar, typed in "Special Person", found Chen Ming's new single, and clicked play.

A brief buffering sound came from the speakers.

Then, the intro begins.

The string section, piano, and clean, rhythmic electronic sounds are complemented by light guitar strumming.

Followed by.

A warm, clear male voice, with a uniquely youthful magnetism, flowed out calmly with the rhythm:

"To love someone, perhaps one must be generous."

"If all I want is to be loved"

"There was no dialogue at the end."

"It must be based on our genuine feelings..."

The moment the sound came out.

Qiu Xuan, who was leaning against the railing, stiffened slightly.

His eyes slowly widened.

Not surprised.

Rather, it was a stunned silence, as if struck by a sudden blow.

That voice was so unique.

In particular, he knew it after hearing only four sentences—

All his previous judgments may have been wrong.

It consists of only four lines of lyrics, along with the instrumental accompaniment to the preceding verses.

Qiu Xuan had already figured it out.

This song has all the elements needed for a good R&B song!

And it wasn't just Qiu Xuan who looked surprised; Lin Peikun also showed a look of astonishment.

His finger hovered over the phone screen, momentarily forgetting what to do.

The singing continued, spreading out through high-quality outdoor speakers in the warm afternoon breeze on the rooftop:

Understanding someone may require patience.

"You only understand love after experiencing an unexpected event."

"Let's get to know each other together in the years to come."

"How many days last forever, how many times does a gentle stream flow on?"

When the last syllable of the phrase "how many times has the gentle flow of water" rose naturally with a subtle intonation, Lin Peikun's eyebrows involuntarily twitched slightly.

That was an unconscious nerve impulse, a genuine physiological reaction of joy.

Just like when you eat the best food, you can't help but smile.

When you hear a truly beautiful melody, your nerves will relax first.

I feel joy and excitement in my heart.

Qiu Xuan's condition is even more subtle.

He was still leaning against the glass railing, his posture seemingly unchanged, but the lines of his back were straighter than before.

His eyes were still open, but his gaze was no longer focused on anything physical in front of him.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the air, tracing a path woven from melody and lyrics that only he could see.

Lin Peikun finally came to his senses. He looked down at his phone screen and confirmed that it was indeed Chen Ming's "Special Person" playing, not the work of some well-known R&B king.

Then he raised his head, looked at Qiu Xuan, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he was speechless for a moment.

It was Qiu Xuan who spoke first.

The voice was very soft, as if talking to oneself, or as if confirming something with someone:

"This rhythm..."

He didn't finish speaking, but Lin Peikun understood.

As a top-tier singer, Lin Peikun actually has a very high aesthetic threshold for music.

He himself is a top-tier singer, and his songs are already very pleasant to listen to; his ears have long been "picked up".

There are very few works in recent years that can give him physiological pleasure and make him want to nod and tap his feet after hearing just the first few lines.

But this song, "Special Person," did just that.

It's not just because of Chen Ming's great voice.

There are many singers in the industry with excellent vocal qualities, but what's remarkable is the natural fusion between their voice, melody, and arrangement.

What's even more terrifying is the song's "breathing sensation".

R&B is all about rhythm and breath control.

Too much filling makes it cloying, too little filling makes it loose.

The song playing on the speakers right now, every rest, every transition, every entry and exit of a chord, seems meticulously calculated, yet it feels as natural as an improvisation.

"How many days last forever, how many times does a gentle stream flow on..."

The transition section before the chorus.

Chen Ming's singing here features an extremely subtle breathy vocal technique. The four words "细水长流" (a phrase meaning "flowing like a gentle stream") brush against the eardrum like a feather, yet carry a heavy weight when they fall.

Lin Peikun suddenly remembered what Qiu Xuan had said earlier.

"The song 'The One Who Loves You' has its own advantages in terms of the sophistication of the arrangement, the smoothness of the melody, and the tacit understanding between the two of us."

That's right.

Qiu Xuan and his partner have worked together for many years and have a seamless understanding.

But that tacit understanding is built on countless rehearsals, discussions, and adjustments; it is a "fit" that is developed through hard work and collaboration.

And this is the song he's hearing right now.

There is a more primal harmony between Chen Ming's voice and this song.

That is an almost instinctive understanding between the creator and the work.

It is the songwriter's innate privilege that knows best how to interpret every note and every lyric they write.

This is a unique advantage for original musicians!

Qiu Xuan was clearly aware of this as well.

He previously said that "Listen to the Sea" and Lin Wei were a good match.

That's what the songwriters tailored for the singer, creating a "suitable" fit.

And "Special Person"... this song is practically something that grew out of Chen Ming's body.

That sense of ease cannot be faked.

His advantage with Lin Peikun is their compatibility after years of working together!

However, they seem to have overlooked one issue because of Chen Ming's status as a newcomer.

That means Chen Mingke writes his own songs.

It seems that his compatibility with himself is even more terrifying!