A band, or a battleground?

Ning Qianyu looked at Qiu Mengxue and said, "Because we still need to prepare an album. In order to record the album, some songs may need to be rearranged because the original versions are not good, right?"

Qiu Mengxue pursed her lips and didn't say anything.

She could not deny that her best efforts in arranging the music were still no match for Teacher Zhou's work.

Liu Weiting: "Oh right, the first three songs you performed on the show were all composed by yourselves, right? So asking him is indeed a good idea, but would he be willing to do it?"

Ning Qianyu laughed and said, "He should be happy to, since Qi Yuan will drink with him anyway... Oh, Sister Liu, don't glare at me. Qi Yuan's companionship is just sitting there, picking at food, and watching Teacher Zhou drink."

“I’ve never heard that Zhou Taishan has a high alcohol tolerance,” Liu Weiting muttered, then shook her head and got down to business. “Never mind, it’s okay that he’s not here. I just wanted to tell you that since the show is over, it’s not appropriate for you to continue staying here. The company has booked a hotel for you.”

Qiu Mengxue asked, "Are you booking a hotel in the capital? Why can't we just go home?"

Liu Weiting smiled and said, "That's the key point. It's your summer vacation now, and the show has just ended, so it's the peak of your popularity. Even if you don't go on tour, participating in some music festivals and picking out some suitable sponsors for advertising shouldn't be a problem, right?"

Qiu Mengxue: "Making money is definitely not a problem."

Ning Qianyu shook her head: "You think everything's fine just because you're talking about making money? Mengxue, you'll suffer for this in the future."

Qiu Mengxue: "Shut up, you rich kid."

Liu Weiting clapped her hands: "Alright, even if you have problems, you should move to the hotel first, and then discuss it together with Qi Yuan, right? Anyway, I'm here today to help you move. You shouldn't have much stuff to move, right?"

Jiang Yi nodded: "Besides the musical instruments, all we need are some changes of clothes and things to pack in our suitcases. By the way, Qi Yuan isn't here right now, so should we help him pack his things?"

Qiu Mengxue retorted, "Isn't that inappropriate? Are we supposed to clean up his personal clothes too?"

Jiang Yi's eyes flickered, but she lowered her face, concealing that strange expression.

Liu Weiting laughed and said, "So I'll call him and ask when he's coming back. I'll wait here and arrange a truck to move the things."

The door opened as soon as he finished speaking.

Qi Yuan stepped in and, seeing the four people in the living room, asked, "Are you having a meeting?"

Liu Weiting explained, "I'm here to help you move."

Qi Yuan: "Oh, right, the show's over, so we can't just stay here."

Liu Weiting smiled and said, "Now that everyone's here, you can start packing your things. I'll call a car for you."

So the four boys and girls went to their respective rooms—that's how it appeared on the surface.

However, Qi Yuan had just started packing his clothes when there was a knock on the bedroom door.

"Please come in."

The one who came in was Qiu Mengxue.

The girl stood with her hands behind her back, looking serious: "I just remembered some things I need to tell you. When you move, loosen the guitar strings a bit, otherwise they might break. Also, since you're using a padded case, you'll need to protect the neck area."

Qi Yuan naturally asked, "How do you protect it?"

At this moment, Qiu Mengxue revealed what she was holding in her hand: several towels.

"Use this as a pad, that will be fine."

As the girl spoke, she also helped him put the guitar in his bag and protected it with a towel.

Qi Yuan couldn't get involved, so he could only say, "Thank you."

But then, Qiu Mengxue suddenly looked up at him and asked softly, "The band competition is over. When we get back, will you... still come to me for lessons?"

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.

148's first job after becoming famous

Will you... continue to ask me to take lessons?

Just as he asked the question, Qiu Mengxue, who had just finished packing her guitar bag while squatting on the ground, looked up at him.

Qi Yuan remained silent for a few seconds.

Rationally speaking, he also felt it was necessary to continue learning from Qiu Mengxue. There was so much to learn in music theory, and he needed to catch up on a lot. Even if he could get into a music academy next year, it would be best to learn as much as possible first.

Moreover, besides music theory, he also needs to continue improving his guitar skills.

From an emotional perspective, it's really hard to resist when a beautiful girl is staring at you with her bright almond-shaped eyes blinking.

So Qi Yuan said, "Of course I need to. Besides singing skills, there's a lot I need to learn from you, including music theory and guitar."

Qiu Mengxue's lips curled up slightly, revealing a happy smile.

She smiled and said, "Guitar and music theory, right? OK, I'll prepare targeted lessons for you. But besides music, I also have tutoring courses that I can offer you."

Qi Yuan: "What course?"

Qiu Mengxue stood up and pointed to her chest: "Have you forgotten? My grades are also very good. I checked, the Huayin exam is divided into two parts, one is music major courses, and the other is general education courses. Let's not talk about the music major courses for now, the general education courses are just high school textbook knowledge."

Qi Yuan: "Considering the average level of education in the entertainment industry, the passing standard for this academic subject shouldn't be too high, right?"

“Indeed…” Qiu Mengxue thought for a moment and advised, “But just to be on the safe side, we definitely need to prepare. So, when you’re studying high school textbooks, you can study with me, and you can ask me anything you don’t understand.”

Qi Yuan thought to himself that there was really nothing he didn't understand; it was just high school knowledge. At most, he had forgotten it because he hadn't looked at it for a long time and needed to pick it up again. Unless it was at the university level, where he might need to seriously study linear algebra and modern physics.

However, seeing the girl's confident demeanor, he nodded and said, "If I need anything, I'll just ask you."

Qiu Mengxue's smile grew even brighter. Her previous aloofness seemed to have vanished completely.

The two stood facing each other, neither speaking for a moment. However, this silence did not feel awkward; on the contrary, it made Qiu Mengxue reluctant to leave.

Until Qi Yuan's phone beeped with a message notification.

As for Qiu Mengxue, she left her phone in her room and didn't take it with her.

Qi Yuan picked up his phone and glanced at it, saying, "Sister Liu is asking us if we've packed our things yet."

"Oh right, I'm going to pack my luggage!" Qiu Mengxue quickly opened the door and went out.

But after leaving the house, she turned around to look around and make sure no one saw her before quickly walking towards her room.

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.

Liu Weiting brought four teenagers to a high-end chain hotel, with each of them having their own room.

Then, when everyone gathered for a meeting, they still came to Qi Yuan's room.

Liu Weiting said, "The company has received an endorsement offer, which is a collaboration with Cindy Coffee."

"Cindy Coffee!" Ning Qianyu's eyes lit up. "Their coffee tastes great, and they have stores everywhere, they're really widespread!"

Qi Yuan had certainly seen this chain coffee brand before, and it felt somewhat similar to the one that had been exploiting retail investors in the US stock market in his previous life. However, before participating in the competition, his financial situation wasn't sufficient to support such consumption.

Liu Weiting asked with a smile, "You guys have probably tried their coffee before, right?"

Jiang Yi and Ning Qianyu both nodded.

Qiu Mengxue shook her head: "I don't drink coffee, it makes it hard for me to fall asleep."

"That little bit of caffeine shouldn't be that bad, right?" Ning Qianyu then looked at Qi Yuan, "What about you?"

Qi Yuan: "I've never drunk it either. At home and at school, I usually drink water, and I rarely drink cola."

Ning Qianyu asked instinctively, "Why? Don't you like drinking beverages?"

"Because of my family's financial situation. Especially after my dad was arrested, I had to be even more careful with the money I had. I wouldn't rob my classmates to spend money."

Qi Yuan spoke casually, but the girls' expressions were quite complicated as soon as he said it.

Liu Weiting clapped her hands: "Now it's great, you can drink as much as you want. Cindy Coffee is giving you lifetime free membership cards. And, as long as you agree to the endorsement contract, it's four million per quarter!"

Qi Yuan asked, "We split the profits 50/50 with the company, right?"

Liu Weiting nodded: "Yes, the four of you will split two million, and that's after tax. So, do you want to agree? My suggestion is that you can agree. There's not much risk in this kind of short-term contract, and the endorsement of this brand will be a positive help to your status and image."

Qi Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "Two million, so we'll each take five hundred thousand, right?"

Jiang Yi whispered, "Why don't you take a bigger share, Qi Yuan..."

The other two girls nodded subconsciously as well.

Qi Yuan smiled and said, "Since it's the whole team's endorsement, then let's divide it equally."

Qiu Mengxue: "But you need the money more than we do..."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely get endorsement deals from other brands in the future, and I'll earn a lot."

Seeing Qi Yuan's response, the girls had no further objections. After all, everyone knew who the most popular member of the band was.

Liu Weiting clapped her hands: "Then it's settled. Tomorrow, we can go to Cindy's studio to shoot the ad. The ad will be under three minutes long, and if everything goes smoothly, we can finish shooting it in one day. And then, I want to say something very important."

Qi Yuan: "What is it?"

Liu Weiting's expression turned serious: "Our contract is for a 50/50 split, and I'm worried that you might feel the company is taking too much. So I need to make it clear first that negotiating with endorsement partners, supervising endorsement activities, and maintaining online public opinion are all things the company is responsible for. Please don't think we're just leeching off you."

Qi Yuan laughed and said, "Sister Liu, you're too kind. We're not that naive. Now that we've signed with the company, we know that the four of us can't handle everything on our own."

"Okay, then you two get some rest. I won't bother you any longer. Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, after you've finished breakfast, I'll pick you up to go shoot the commercial."

After finishing her business, Liu Weiting left.

As soon as the door closed, Ning Qianyu sighed, "Working for a day, each person gets 500,000? Wow, is this what celebrities earn?"

Qiu Mengxue retorted, "This kind of job doesn't happen every day. Don't just multiply 500,000 by 365 to calculate your annual income."

Ning Qianyu pursed her lips: "Of course I'm not that stupid. I just want to say that it's really easy for celebrities to make money. And they don't even need to rehearse or go on stage. It's just a pity that this endorsement only lasts for one quarter, three months."

Qi Yuan: "If the coffee we endorse is really delicious, maybe the event will be repeated, and we can get another endorsement fee."

Ning Qianyu laughed and said, "You've never tried their coffee, but you seem to know a lot about it."

Jiang Yi muttered to herself, "This is our first time shooting a commercial. Will we do a good job? Will we burst out laughing?"

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.

It's a bit difficult not to laugh during 149.

“This commercial script is quite interesting…” Jiang Yi said.

In the studio, the four teenagers each received a script and began to read it. The script was only a few thin pages long, and they finished reading it quickly.

Ning Qianyu complained, "To be honest, it's really conventional, not much different from what I imagined. We rehearsed, and it was a complete mess, and then Qi Yuan went to get coffee. As soon as we drank the coffee, we were immediately revived... Tsk tsk, this is just cliché after cliché, it's cliché to the extreme."

Qiu Mengxue: "Isn't the reason it's so clichéd just because it's easy to use?"

Qi Yuan pointed to the script and asked, "You need to show a feeling of exhaustion at the beginning, and act out a rehearsal, but you also need to deliberately mess it up. Can you do that?"

Ning Qianyu: "What's so difficult about that? I'll just randomly tap, and they can just randomly play!"

At this moment, the director of the commercial came over and reminded us, "Can we start now? Let's shoot the first part first, and we need to do our makeup first."

Qiu Mengxue asked, "Do I need to wear dark circles under my eyes to show that I'm tired?"

The director laughed and said, "That's not necessary. You can just play your instruments randomly. We'll adjust the color tone of the footage in post-production, and that'll give you the feel. Please come to the dressing room."

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.

The studio provided musical instruments, including guitars, basses, and drums, but no MIDI keyboards. However, this didn't matter, since Qiu Mengxue could use a guitar without any problem. Qi Yuan could simply bring another guitar for his entrance.

As arranged in the script, Qi Yuan and the three girls began rehearsing "Life in Full Bloom" for the final round.

Ning Qianyu tapped the drumsticks on her hands and began to play the drums. Then Qiu Mengxue and Jiang Yi started playing the instruments, and Qi Yuan began to sing:

How many times have I fallen on the road?

But after he sang only the first line, the director helplessly shouted "Cut!"

The director explained, "Do you know where the problem lies?"

The four teenagers shook their heads in unison.

The director looked helpless: "Your performance was excellent. If you were to go on stage, I think it would be flawless. But the problem is, we're supposed to portray a sense of disharmony and incoherence, so how can you be so perfect without making a single mistake?"

Qi Yuan scratched his head: "Sorry, we've rehearsed this song so many times that it's become muscle memory, so it's hard to make a mistake."

Qiu Mengxue asked, "Can't we adjust the audio track in post-production to create the feeling of a mistake?"

Director: "It's not that it can't be done, it's just that I didn't expect you guys to be so in sync... How about this, let's try one more time and see if we can deliberately misstep the beat. If that doesn't work, we can adjust the audio track in post-production."

For the Kasuga Shadow Band, deliberately messing up a performance was actually more difficult than playing together smoothly.

"Come on, get ready for the second take. Imagine you've been rehearsing for ten hours straight, and your brains are completely numb!" the director shouted from behind the proctor.

Ning Qianyu deliberately slumped her shoulders, and then the drumbeats began again.