Chapter 132: Recording the Song "Ten Years"

Li He arrived at the recording department.

The recording department was not a standalone department; much like the composition department, it operated under the singer department.

However, while the head of the composition department had a rebellious streak and wanted to break away for independence, the recording department harbored no such ambitions. They were remarkably detached and laid-back.

The recording department at Shengshi Entertainment was fully equipped with an extensive range of categories and subordinate units. This included recording studios as well as the company’s internal bands and instrumentalists, all of which fell under the jurisdiction of the recording department.

Located on the seventeenth floor of the Shengshi Tower, the recording department was positioned right in the middle of the singer department, originally established simply to make it convenient for singers to record their tracks.

Taking the elevator up to the seventeenth floor, Li He saw people coming and going, each wearing an identification badge on their chest. Different departments within Shengshi Entertainment had distinct badges.

"Hello, Teacher Jiabi!"

Nowadays, Li He was quite a prominent figure at Shengshi. In the past, many people had only heard of Jiabi’s moniker without knowing what he actually looked like. However, with the hit variety show *A Life Desired* airing, Jiabi’s frequent appearances brought him widespread public recognition.

Now, around the company, passing Shengshi employees would proactively greet him with charming and amiable smiles. Li He returned every single greeting, but gradually, he grew exhausted. Walking all the way down the corridor left his face stiff from smiling like an idiot.

Later, after Old Qin enlightened and advised him, whenever colleagues greeted him, Li He would simply nod slightly in response and pay them no further mind.

"Teacher Jiabi!"

Waiting for him on the seventeenth floor, his manager hurriedly stepped forward to welcome him. "Everything is pretty much ready. The equipment has been calibrated, and the band is in place."

The manager’s name was He Sui, and she managed Han Feng.

Even though Han Feng had already established a high status in the industry, just a kick away from stepping into the realm of the King of Songs, He Sui still treated Li He with immense respect, bordering on flattery.

Although Li He’s current ranking had not even reached the tier of a Gold-medal creator, He Sui was no fool. Having spent so many years grinding away in the entertainment industry, she possessed at least that much professional intuition.

Jiabi had the potential to become both a supreme lyricist and a master composer.

Such a phenomenon had never been seen before in the songwriting world. Anyone who failed to cling to such a massive figure would simply be a fool.

Could there really be someone foolish enough to give the cold shoulder to a thigh as thick as Jiabi's? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

"Where is Han Feng?" Glancing around and seeing only staff members busy making final adjustments to the equipment without a trace of Han Feng, Li He asked the question.

He Sui quickly replied, "Han Feng is inside the recording studio doing some vocal warm-ups and adjustments!"

As a manager, her presence alone was sufficient to welcome Jiabi; Han Feng’s status did not require him to wait at the entrance to greet visitors in person.

For Han Feng to personally come out to meet someone, it would have to wait until Jiabi became a true grandmaster of lyrics or composition, rather than merely possessing the potential to become one.

Stepping into the recording studio, Li He dispensed with the formalities and said directly, "Let’s run through it once first!"

Han Feng nodded in acknowledgement, put on his headphones, and began to rehearse.

His technical skill was entirely top-tier; otherwise, he would not have been dubbed by industry insiders as the man closest to the King of Songs.

Han Feng had spent a very long time practicing the song *Ten Years*. However, during that period, Li He had been busy preparing for his variety show, so he hadn't checked in on the progress much.

Soon, Han Feng finished his first trial run and took off his headphones.

"Your enunciation is a bit too heavy. It can be lighter; the core focus of this song lies in emotional expression." Li He tapped his fingers gently, analyzing calmly.

The implication was clear: they had to start over, as this run did not meet the standard.

Han Feng nodded. The music started again, only to be interrupted by Li He shortly after: "The emotion is still lacking."

Several times in succession, the recording was halted by Li He and restarted even before it could be finished.

Standing nearby, He Sui’s expression looked somewhat displeased. She couldn't help feeling that Jiabi was deliberately making things difficult for Han Feng. On multiple occasions, she felt Han Feng had sung exceptionally well, yet he was still called to a halt by Jiabi.

*Could it be because Han Feng didn't go out to the entrance to welcome him, so he's holding a grudge and trying to give him a hard time on purpose?* Although He Sui thought this way, she dared not voice it.

"Let's take a break before recording again!" Li He hadn't expected to run into so many troublesome snags on the very first track.

It wasn't that he was intentionally giving Han Feng a hard time; rather, his standards for songs released in September were extremely high. He was essentially operating based on the sensations of his past life, and his demands for minute details were all aligned with the style of Eason Chan.

Whenever the feeling wasn't right, he called a halt.

After coming out of the booth, Han Feng sat on the bench in the corridor outside the control room and took a large, gulping swig of water.

Just as he put down his cup, Li He walked over.

Han Feng’s voice sounded slightly muffled. "Teacher Jiabi."

Being stopped repeatedly, he too began to sense something was amiss. On many occasions, he felt his performance had been stellar, with his technical execution reaching his absolute peak.

"You rely far too heavily on technique." Li He sat down next to Han Feng and said with a smile, "The song *Ten Years* is primarily about conveying emotion. It's not that your technique is wrong, but relying too heavily on it causes your genuine emotion to slip away."

"In the end, when you sing it, you turn into an emotionless singing machine. Pure technique makes it feel like an assembly-line product."

Han Feng was stunned. Then, shaking his head, he let out a soft sigh and said, "Many people have said these things to me. Actually, I also know that over-reliance on technique does me more harm than good, but I..."

"Can't let it go," Li He finished the sentence for him.

In truth, Han Feng couldn't entirely be blamed for this. The title of "The Undisputed Number One Beneath the King of Songs" had weighed on him for far too long. This was not an honor; it was a heavy burden, pressing down so hard that Han Feng dared not try new things or cast aside his technique to experiment.

Han Feng nodded. Jiabi’s three words had struck right at the core of his heart.

He couldn't let it go, and he didn't dare let it go.

"There are no outsiders here; everyone in this room is someone you can completely trust." Li He patted Han Feng on the shoulder. "Trust me, *Ten Years* will help you step up to that position."

Han Feng froze.

Looking into Jiabi’s resolute eyes, he suddenly realized that the young man before him had likely endured hardships unknown to others, and the steadfastness in his heart could not be defeated by any adversity.

At that moment, Han Feng suddenly recalled some rumors regarding Jiabi’s inner struggles. If Jiabi could walk out of those circumstances and face his true voice anew, what was there for him to let go of?

It was simply that he was too fixated.

"Teacher Jiabi."

Han Feng uttered this title with profound respect—respect that stemmed from the bottom of his heart. Previously, although he had also addressed the other person as Teacher Jiabi, that was merely out of deference to his capability and future status.

This time, however, it was different. He genuinely and from the depths of his heart believed that Jiabi was truly his teacher.

Han Feng took a deep breath, turned, and patted Li He on the shoulder, feeling a sudden sense of sudden enlightenment. "Let's start recording. This time, I'm ready."

Having debuted for ten years, he had tasted all the bitter and sweet flavors of life. Yet, having reached his current position, he had lost his former drive and grown cowardly, afraid to step out of his comfort zone.

Ten years could change everything.

Ten years ago, throwing a tantrum meant ten oxen couldn't drag him back; ten years later, feeling angry made him realize in the blink of an eye that it was entirely unnecessary.

Ten years ago, every ounce of sentimentality was amplified for the whole world to see; ten years later, the deeper the pain, the more nonchalant he appeared, and the greater the bitterness, the tighter he kept his silence.

Time had smoothed away everything, yet it had also settled everything.

"Alright!" Li He stood up, stepping into the recording studio with eager anticipation.

The music began to play...