A band, or a battleground?

After saying these words, Qi Yuan cleared his throat and began to sing:

"Many people walk on, yet remain stuck in the same place."

"How many people live, yet are as if they are dead?"

So many people love each other, yet they seem to be separated.

"Many people are smiling, yet their eyes are filled with tears."

His tone wasn't high at first; from the very first line, it was lower than the original singer he'd heard in his previous life. There was no way around it; Wang Toutiao's voice was too loud, and without proper warm-up, even imitating him would be too difficult for Qi Yuan.

Since this isn't a formal performance, just a demonstration with an a cappella singing, let's lower the difficulty a bit.

But then, the melody had to rise again.

"Who knows where we should go?"

Who understands what life has become?

"Should I find an excuse to continue living a wretched life?"

"Or spread your wings and fly, remaining angry."

How should I exist?

At this point in the song, Qi Yuan took a breath.

He had already lowered the key, but even after lowering it, this part was still considered a high note, especially the four words "continue to live".

Fortunately, he chose "Blue Lotus" instead of this song. If he had tried to replicate this song before mastering proper high-note singing techniques, his voice would have been ruined.

Xu Xi and the three girls' reactions were quite interesting.

After listening to a few lines, Xu Xi looked down at the lyric book, his brows furrowed slightly, his expression quite grave.

Ning Qianyu and Qiu Mengxue were stunned, staring blankly at Qi Yuan.

As for Jiang Yi, she wasn't just staring at Qi Yuan; her eyes were even glistening with tears, and it was impossible to tell what kind of tragic growth journey she was imagining.

After a short break, Qi Yuan continued singing:

"So many times I've experienced glory, yet I still feel humiliated."

"Countless times I've experienced ecstasy, yet also immense pain."

"So many moments of happiness, yet my heart aches with unbearable pain."

"So many times I shone brightly, yet I was utterly dejected."

Qi Yuan stopped singing here because he saw that Jiang Yi had actually shed two tears!

He asked, "Why are you crying when I sing?"

"I'm sorry..." Jiang Yi wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand, but the more she wiped, the more tears fell. The tear stains from the previous moment were wiped away, and new ones were added.

Qi Yuan: "There's nothing to apologize for."

Xu Xi exclaimed, "Yes, it's just that the song is so well-written, it's a bit shocking, isn't it?"

Jiang Yi realized she couldn't wipe away her tears, and feeling embarrassed in front of the camera, she could only cover her face with her hands.

A voice, trembling with tears, escaped from between her fingers: "I just feel that Qi Yuan has really had it so tough!"

The other two girls also looked quite sorrowful.

Qiu Mengxue said in a low voice, "The feeling of Blue Lotus is relatively restrained, but this one is..."

Ning Qianyu murmured, "This is too shocking."

Qi Yuan added, "This song is rock. If I were to sing it on stage, I expect it would go even higher. That would make it even more effective."

Ning Qianyu was taken aback: "You actually considered the stage effect?"

Qiu Mengxue quickly got up and ran to Xu Xi's side. Looking at the sheet music marked on the lyrics, she exclaimed in astonishment, "Highest C#5? Are you serious?"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

102 Mengxue, are you sick?

Xu Xi stared at the lyrics for a long while before finally speaking again:

"I'm very happy to witness the birth of this song, and I'm also happy to see how your band discussed the performance details, but let's not talk about the performance now. I'm really curious about this song. Qi Yuan, is this what you just wrote? Didn't you prepare beforehand?"

The person involved replied, "Of course not, but I often space out and try to capture some melodies. This melody had actually popped into my head before, but it was incomplete. The real thing was when I added lyrics and pieced it together into a song, clearly defining the theme and emotions, just now."

Xu Xi slowly shook his head: "It's amazing..."

Qi Yuan continued, "I believe this song can express some emotions that are hard for me to explain in words. When my father was imprisoned and I had to live alone, watching the little money he left behind dwindle every day, thinking back to the past, my childhood, and considering the future, that's probably how I felt."

Xu Xi sighed, "Jiang Yi just said you've had a tough time, and I agree. I've interviewed so many celebrities, and many of them have played the victim, but if we're talking about who's more miserable, none can compare to you. You've truly experienced that feeling of living hand to mouth, not knowing where tomorrow will bring."

Qi Yuan nodded: "That's right."

Xu Xi suddenly revealed a mischievous smile: "Then can we say that hardship is the source of creative inspiration? Many netizens have commented on your performance since you appeared on the show, saying that you encountered behind-the-scenes manipulation. So, will this behind-the-scenes manipulation inspire you to write more great songs?"

Qi Yuan paused for a moment, then smiled wryly and said, "There's no need for that. It's not only hardship that inspires songs, and it doesn't have to happen to you. I can get a lot of inspiration from seeing other people's misfortunes."

"Hahaha," Xu Xi chuckled, then asked, "Now that we've made it to the semi-finals of Tomorrow's Band, will this song be performed in the semi-finals? Or, uh, sorry, will you save it for the finals?"

Qi Yuan considered it briefly before replying, "I think it will be in the semi-finals. I have other plans for the finals."

Ning Qianyu, standing nearby, immediately protested: "Hey, the semifinals haven't even started yet, and you're already talking about the finals? That's setting a flag!"

Qi Yuan said calmly, "We've come this far, so it's not wrong to dream a little. The semi-finals only require two songs, but the finals require three. If we don't prepare in advance, it will be too late."

At this point, Xu Xi changed the subject again: "Then let's continue talking about you, Qi Yuan. After the change in your thinking, you not only started writing songs, but your grades also improved by leaps and bounds. I specifically contacted your homeroom teacher. Oh, by the way, I should mention that Qi Yuan and Jiang Yi are in the same class, and although Ning Qianyu and Qiu Mengxue are in different classes, they are in the same grade."

Qi Yuan: "That's right...you also contacted our Teacher Zhao?"

Xu Xi laughed: "That teacher said that your grades used to be at the very bottom. Out of more than 400 students in the whole grade, you ranked in the 400s. But just a few months ago, in a midterm exam, you suddenly jumped into the top 100 in the grade. How did you do that? Don't studying and creating conflict with each other?"

Qi Yuan replied, "No, because I don't treat these two as tasks. Work needs entertainment, because work is exhausting, and entertainment is relaxing. But for me, learning and creating are both ways for me to find meaning in my existence."

Xu Xi murmured, "Searching for the meaning of existence?"

“Yes, especially creation. Creation is not a drain on my energy, not work; it's more like entertainment. I used to like causing trouble everywhere for fun. Later, I realized how meaningless and boring that was, so now creating music is a new pleasure. When melodies pop into my head, I can capture them, and that kind of joy is something I've never experienced before…”

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Xu Xi's interview with the Spring Shadow Band ended quite smoothly.

The renowned reporter left with the photographer, and Qi Yuan also called his mentor Zhou Taishan to discuss the matter in person. The song "Existence" needed arrangement, and since it was originally a rock song, who else would be a more suitable candidate?

After telling him about this, Zhou Taishan immediately arranged a meeting and asked Qi Yuan to drink with him.

After Qi Yuan left, the three girls remained seated on the sofa, still unable to recover.

He had just taken a picture of the manuscript of the song "Existence" and posted it in the group chat so they could see it anytime they wanted. Now, they were looking at the photo in the group chat, zooming in to examine it closely.

Especially Qiu Mengxue, whose seemingly simple yet powerful melody kept echoing in her mind, combined with the lyrics, leaving her lost in thought for a long time.

Ning Qianyu suddenly patted Jiang Yi on the shoulder and asked with a smile, "Were you really moved to tears by this song just now?"

Jiang Yi turned her face away from her: "So what? Is it wrong for me to be sensitive to music?"

Ning Qianyu deliberately drew out her words: "But why do I feel that it's not entirely because of the music?"

Jiang Yi turned her face back and glared at her: "What do you mean?"

Ning Qianyu smiled and said, "I think you were moved by Qi Yuan's emotional journey."

Jiang Yi was silent for a few seconds, then asked in return, "Doesn't his emotional journey resonate with you?"

"It touched me a little, but I'm not as sensitive as you..." Ning Qianyu rested her chin on her hand and said meaningfully, "Or is there another reason for your sensitivity?"

Jiang Yi stared intently at Ning Qianyu.

Ning Qianyu opened her mouth, but didn't actually ask the question, "Do you like him?" In the past, when her friends showed obvious affection for a boy, she would definitely cheer them on. But today, Ning Qianyu didn't know why, but the question suddenly felt very heavy.

Perhaps it's because Qi Yuan is a rather serious person?

Just then, Qiu Mengxue finally put down her phone and said in a low voice, "I think it's normal for Yi Yi to cry. This song, although it was just sung a cappella and the pitch was lowered, is still far from the best state that Qi Yuan envisioned, but... it touched me a lot."

Ning Qianyu: "Then why don't you cry for me too?"

Qiu Mengxue shook her head: "I don't want to cry, but I understand the confusion Qi Yuan was talking about. And I think he's not as strong as we used to imagine. His father left him, and his mother left even earlier. Children from single-parent families often have psychological problems, so what about him?"

Ning Qianyu was slightly startled: "You mean, he also has psychological problems?"

Qiu Mengxue sighed: "I don't know. But the scariest thing is that if we can't even see his psychological problems, then that's..."

Jiang Yi agreed, saying, "The deeper you hide it, the more painful it will be."

Ning Qianyu: "Then what should we do?"

Qiu Mengxue looked out the window, her gaze somewhat unfocused, her voice light and airy: "Since what he lacks most is maternal love, then I think we should try to make up for it in that respect..."

Ning Qianyu was so shocked her mouth twisted in disbelief: "Huh?!"

Jiang Yi was also stunned: "Is this a possible approach?"

Ning Qianyu retorted, "You're just talking nonsense. Motherly love? If he called you 'Mom,' would you dare to answer?"

Qiu Mengxue looked down at the floor, a little embarrassed, but still said softly, "Sure, if it can cure him, I'll let him call me Mom..."

Ning Qianyu almost jumped up: "Mengxue, are you crazy?! If you want to take advantage of him, just say so! Don't be so vague!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

103 is definitely a good number.

Ten bands gathered together, facing host He Dong and three mentors.

"Getting this far has already proven the strength of each of your bands and contestants. At the beginning of the competition, some bands were highly anticipated and were said to be the pre-selected champions. Some bands even had their own fans, and they received support as soon as they appeared. But they were all eliminated. You, on the other hand, have proven that only by undergoing challenges of different themes and styles and possessing the most tenacious will can one reach the semi-finals."

Chen Jiashu's expression was quite serious when he said this.

Next, Liang Fei spoke: "No matter what the result of the semi-finals is, there are no losers among you, you are all warriors on the road to pursuing your dreams."

Zhou Taishan said, "Starting from the semi-finals, it will be a live broadcast with online voting, one vote per mobile phone number. You need to use your best music to move as many viewers as possible."

He Dong concluded, "So today, I want to explain the rules of the semi-finals to you. The rules are that there is no draw and no theme restrictions. There are still fourteen days until the semi-finals officially begin, so I hope everyone will prepare well."

Zhou Taishan couldn't help but look at the Spring Shadow Band.

Ten bands stood here, with no pre-assigned positions. But Chunriying stood right in the center, despite being an unknown band at the start of the show. And Qi Yuan, standing in front of the bands, was undoubtedly the most eye-catching of the dozens of contestants.

Musicians would occasionally glance at Qi Yuan, but he didn't look at the other contestants; he only looked at the three mentors and the host in front of him.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"I was going to tell you that you'd better sing rock in the semifinals. After all, this is a band show, and this scene is mainly about rock. There were restrictions in the first few rounds, so they couldn't say anything. But if there are no restrictions and you still don't include some rock, some people might use that as an excuse to attack you..."

In the barbecue restaurant, Zhou Taizhong was eating skewers and drinking alcohol. When he got to this part, he smiled and shook the skewers in his hand.

"And what do you do? Before I even said anything, you've already given me a rock song. Arranging songs like this is my forte. What do you think?"

Qi Yuan, while eating skewers, laughed and said, "I've already handed it over to my teammates to practice."

Zhou Taishan deliberately asked, "No changes are needed this time?"

Qi Yuan put down the blank sign and said, "No need, of course not! I knew I could have made the right choice by asking you to arrange the music. Besides this song, there's another new song I'd like you to take a look at."

Zhou Taishan was stunned: "You don't expect me to compose music for you, do you? Are you going to test me on the show?"

Qi Yuan rubbed his hands together with a smile: "I just wanted to show you my new song. Please don't misunderstand, Teacher Zhou. I just wanted to ask for your guidance, not to trouble you with the arrangement."

Zhou Taishan: "You're a sensible kid after all. Let me see."

So Qi Yuan handed him the score he had written on a piece of paper. The score not only included the lyrics and music, but also the arrangement, which included guitar, bass, and drums.

In terms of composing skills, he knew he was no match for Qiu Mengxue, and Mengxue's skills were only a minor compared to Zhou Laoda's. But that was exactly the effect he wanted.

Zhou Taishan first looked at the lyrics and music of the main storyline, and became more and more engrossed in them, forgetting to even write a song, only taking a sip of wine every now and then.

After reading the lyrics and music, and then the arrangement, his brows gradually furrowed.

After a while, Zhou Taishan stared at the boy in front of him and shouted, "You little brat, are you setting a trap here?"

Qi Yuan pointed to himself: "Me?"

Zhou Taishan waved the sheet music: "Such good lyrics and music, such a good melody, and then the bass and drums you guys arranged are so weak?"

Qi Yuan smiled naturally: "My arrangement skills are limited, and this is only the first draft. I will definitely have to revise it while rehearsing."