Chapter 149: The Trend of Chinese Style

Following the release of the fourth episode of "Different Tunes from the South and North", Zhou Miao's "Orchid Pavilion Preface" exploded with an immense surge of popularity.

On the day the show aired, the number one trending topic on Weibo was "Zhou Miao Orchid Pavilion Preface", and the second was "C-Pop Style".

Countless music fans spread the word, and in just a single day, the reading volume of related topics broke the hundred-million mark!

Admittedly, C-Pop style was not a fresh concept, but for a long time, many people had struggled to tell the difference between traditional Chinese style and ancient style.

The reason why Zhou Miao's "Orchid Pavilion Preface" caused such a massive sensation was precisely because he definitively established how C-Pop style ought to be written and sung!

Some netizens excerpted Zhou Miao's interpretation and views on the concept of C-Pop style from the Lin Jianxiang Music Radio, which immediately sparked a heated discussion.

"Three ancient elements and three new elements: ancient poetry, ancient culture, ancient melody, new singing techniques, new arrangement, and new concept. Zhou Miao summarized the C-Pop style brilliantly."

"I listened to the radio broadcast that day, but I thought he was just bragging. I never expected him to be the real deal!"

"Starting today, the Mandopop music scene has gained a brand-new musical path. I hope more musicians will join in and carry forward a music style that belongs uniquely to Chinese culture!"

...

Compared to ordinary people, the shock within the industry was even greater. Major music producers watched Zhou Miao's episode countless times, stripping down the lyrics, melodies, and instrumentation to study them meticulously.

None of them were fools. Once Zhou Miao revealed the correct way to unlock C-Pop style, they immediately perceived the charm and potential of this brand-new track.

This was a vast, blue ocean just opened up, one that only Zhou Miao had explored so far. Everyone stood at the same starting line, and now it all depended on who could run faster.

It was foreseeable that a huge wave of C-Pop style songs was about to strike!

...

In the production department, Ziran clutched his head and racked his brains over a sheet of musical score. He was about to pull out all his hair without coming up with anything, and in the end, he angrily crumpled the paper into a ball and shoved it into his mouth.

Liu Yiran, who had recently been learning under Ziran, chuckled at the sight. "It's just writing a set of lyrics. Is it really worth such agonizing distress?"

Ziran propped his legs up on the desk and said helplessly, "You literally can't write C-Pop style lyrics without some cultural foundation. If you write them too complex, people won't understand, and if they're too vernacular, they lose that certain flavor."

"Take it slow then. Zhou Miao didn't write 'Orchid Pavilion Preface' right off the bat either; he groped his way through it step by step too," Liu Yiran said.

"Yeah, and precisely because of that, I admire Zhou Miao even more. We can't even copy his homework properly, yet he actually managed to pave this path all by himself," Ziran shook his head in awe.

"As soon as 'Orchid Pavilion Preface' dropped, everyone wanted to blindly follow the trend and imitate it. Composing C-Pop style music is relatively easy, but the lyrics are the threshold of this style. Right now, the schedules of lyricists in the industry who can write classical prose are booked all the way to the year after next."

Just at that moment, a knock came from outside the door. Ziran smiled and said, "Speak of the devil."

Zhou Miao pushed the door open, followed by two very young-looking guys.

"Yo, you're all here. Have you had lunch yet?" Zhou Miao greeted.

"Not yet. Are you treating us?" Liu Yiran asked.

"Nah, I was just asking," Zhou Miao said with a grin, then stepped aside to introduce the two guys accompanying him to his colleagues in the production department.

"Let me introduce you. These two are my senior schoolmates from the composition department of the Central Conservatory of Music. Even though they specialize in classical music, they're also very interested in pop composition. They'll be interning with us from now on, so please take good care of them."

Having communicated with Zhou Miao before, Ziran understood immediately. Just like Liu Yiran, these two were transitioning into pop music production.

Of course Ziran welcomed this. After all, they were top students from the Central Conservatory of Music with a music foundation far more solid than his own. Their transition speed would be very fast; as long as he guided them during the initial period, they would quickly get the hang of it.

In the short term, this move by Zhou Miao might not show dramatic results, but in the long run, it would greatly enhance Rainbow's self-generating capacity and reduce reliance on Zhou Miao and Ziran.

After settling in the two newcomers, Ziran pulled Zhou Miao aside and asked, "I spent the entire morning thinking about lyrics, and didn't squeeze out a damn thing. Tell me honestly, how on earth do you write lyrics like those in 'Orchid Pavilion Preface'?"

A smile played at the corners of Zhou Miao's lips. "You really want to know?"

"Look at you asking that. Which musician in the industry doesn't want to know right now?"

Zhou Miao motioned for him to lean in closer, then whispered something secretively. Liu Yiran pricked up her ears from the side, but couldn't catch a single word.

After saying it, Zhou Miao patted Ziran's shoulder with a smile. "I'm heading out. I got my driver's license, so I'm going to go check out some cars this afternoon."

After Zhou Miao left, Liu Yiran asked curiously, "What did he say?"

Ziran beckoned her over with an air of absolute secrecy, and Liu Yiran quickly leaned her ear close.

"Read more books."

...

Zhou Miao put on a duck-billed cap and a face mask, arriving at a roadside café. Hu Can and Zhao Li were sitting in a corner of the shop, chatting.

Just as he walked a few steps closer, he overheard what the two of them were discussing.

"I can only tolerate a length of ten centimeters at most. Any longer and I can't take it." Zhao Li's remark made Zhou Miao freeze in his tracks instantly.

Holy crap! I never expected you to be this kind of person, Zhao Li! And is it really appropriate to discuss this kind of thing out in public?

"I can't. I can only handle eight centimeters at most, and right now it's just right." As Hu Can spoke, she even used her fingers to gesture out the length.

Hearing this, Zhou Miao instantly blew his top. Eight centimeters? Who on earth are you insulting with that?

With a darkened face, he walked quickly up to them and said in a low, furious voice, "What nonsense are you talking about? I'm only eight centimeters? Won't your conscience hurt when you say something like that?"

When Hu Can saw Zhou Miao appear, she was initially delighted, but his furious expression and those words left her instantly stunned, her brain failing to process the turn of events.

Zhao Li was also dumbfounded for a moment, but quickly realized what Zhou Miao was talking about. Her pretty face instantly flushed bright red, and she said with mixed embarrassment and anger, "We were talking about the heel length of high heels! Where on earth did your mind wander?"

High heels? Zhou Miao instantly froze in awkwardness, scratching his head helplessly and clumsily. "Is that so? I thought..."

Hu Can had also recovered by now, her face blushing crimson as she fiercely pinched Zhou Miao. "Can't you keep your mind a bit more wholesome?"

Zhou Miao felt so awkward his toes curled inside his shoes. "You can't entirely blame me for this either. What you guys said was just way too easy to misunderstand."

After the small misunderstanding was cleared up, Zhou Miao brazenly changed the subject. "What cars are you planning to buy? Have you looked at them yet?"

Zhao Li shot him an icy glare. "Haven't looked yet. We'll just buy whatever we like when we see it later."

Zhou Miao nodded and asked Hu Can, "What about you? Any favorite brands?"

"I'm not buying. I'm just tagging along with you guys," Hu Can said very decisively.