Chapter 120: Zhou Buyi Feels As Though He Were Dreaming

Su Bai finally understood why some people say that when they sit in front of a piano, they seem like completely different people.

The moment Zhou Buyi picked up his guitar, a sense of confidence radiated from within him.

"Young lady, you are to be wed, leaving your home behind. May the sunset's afterglow be cut to serve as your bridal veil.
Young lady, you are to be wed, for tomorrow is too far away. Let the white clouds flying in the sky be gathered to serve as your white steed.
The lights are vast across ten thousand homes; the daily necessities of life—firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea—clothed in red, you have given yourself to him.
In the days to come, beneath the setting sun, may you walk hand in hand like the flowers in a dream; do not forget that in your past, there was a home.
The lights are vast across ten thousand homes; the daily necessities of life—firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea—clothed in red, you have given yourself to him."

As Zhou Buyi finished his final note, Su Bai’s fingers, which had been gently tapping along, slowly came to a rest.

Zhou Buyi looked at Su Bai with hopeful eyes. He was deeply eager for Su Bai’s appraisal. From the moment Su Bai had risen to fame, Zhou Buyi had made him his idol. In some ways, they shared too many similarities: both were ordinary people singing the songs they loved, and both wrote their own lyrics and composed their own melodies. However, Zhou Buyi knew clearly that the quality of his song, "The Sister Who Is To Be Wed," was far inferior to the songs Su Bai had written. Yet, this did not diminish his admiration for Su Bai, nor did it affect his persistent pursuit of music.

"Overall, it’s not bad!" Su Bai said. "Your voice has a quality that makes people quiet down and listen to your stories. It is very gentle and creates a peaceful, serene atmosphere. That is truly commendable, and it is something many people cannot achieve."

Upon receiving Su Bai’s affirmation, Zhou Buyi’s face filled with excitement. He had not expected his idol to rate him so highly.

"However, you also have a very obvious flaw," Su Bai continued. Zhou Buyi’s heart immediately tightened. "Your breath control is unstable. You haven't received professional training, have you? When you sang 'walk hand in hand like the flowers in a dream,' your pitch was noticeably low. It must be because your breathing wasn't properly managed beforehand."

Zhou Buyi nodded humbly. When he reached that part, he had felt as if he lacked the power to sustain it. Seeing Su Bai point it out so clearly, he candidly admitted his shortcomings. Su Bai was pleased by his humble attitude.

"Your voice is highly malleable. If you handle it well, you have a bright future," Su Bai said. "Are you confident about joining the talent show *Light of Tomorrow*? Or do you have a prepared playlist?"

Zhou Buyi shook his head blankly. "I have written a few songs, but they are not very mature. Only 'The Sister Who Is To Be Wed' can be considered relatively complete, because I sang it at my sister’s wedding."

Hearing this, a bold idea formed in Su Bai’s mind: to take the original songs that made Zhou Buyi famous in his previous life and provide them to him now, allowing him to polish them properly. Since Zhou Buyi had debuted a few years later in this timeline, his trajectory had changed, and Su Bai could not be certain if he would still be able to create those same classics. Su Bai knew best that a songwriter needs the right time, the right place, and the right people to create a masterpiece. It required a specific environment and specific emotions to craft a song that resonated with one's inner state. Su Bai wasn't sure if Zhou Buyi still possessed the state of mind to create such classics, and time did not allow for a long wait.

When Zhou Buyi presented his current list of songs, Su Bai realized with a sense of helplessness that, as expected, none of the legendary, wildly popular songs from his previous life were present.

"Little Zhou, to be honest, if you rely only on these songs you’ve written to achieve results on *Light of Tomorrow*, it will be very difficult," Su Bai said.

Zhou Buyi nodded, a trace of desolation involuntarily appearing on his face. He knew that Su Bai’s words were essentially a death sentence for his prospects. If his own boss didn't believe in him, who would?

"Are you planning to sing other people's songs for the competition?" Su Bai asked.

Zhou Buyi shook his head blankly and explained, "Because I didn't come from a professional background—my knowledge of composition and lyrics was all self-taught online—I can only sing my own songs. I can't handle other people's music; I can't capture the right feeling. It either ends up as a simple imitation or a mess of a rewrite."

After saying this, Zhou Buyi looked visibly embarrassed. He knew that a singer like him was the least popular in the market. A singer who could only sing their own music and could not adapt to market trends was at a significant disadvantage. Zhou Buyi understood this, but he had no choice; he was just that kind of singer.

"I can tailor-make a few songs for you based on your characteristics," Su Bai said.

Zhou Buyi had expected Su Bai to drop him from the team after realizing his limitations. When he heard that his boss was willing to tailor songs specifically for him, he looked at Su Bai in utter disbelief, his eyes filled with shock. His boss, personally tailoring songs for him? What an honor! Everyone knew that his boss was a recognized musical talent who had become a hot commodity in a short time after releasing just a few songs. Although Su Bai hadn't joined the "National Team" yet, in Zhou Buyi’s eyes, his boss’s ability was already comparable to those at the top.

"How many years is your current contract for?" Su Bai asked.

Zhou Buyi wasn't sure what Su Bai was implying, but he answered, "Director Song said that because we are all newcomers and there is too much uncertainty, they only signed us for one year. It's considered an observation period; after a year, they will look at the results we’ve achieved and then discuss contract renewals."

Su Bai nodded. That was reasonable. After all, Director Song didn't know what their future held. The strength they showed now was worth polishing, but potential didn't guarantee success. Some rough jade becomes a treasure after polishing, while others simply lose their luster.

"There is one thing I need to make clear," Su Bai said. "Because some of these songs are tailored specifically for you, to some extent, we are tied together in the short term. Your contract needs to be changed to a five-year term. If you agree, I will first create a song that belongs to you, and then, based on your progress in the competition, I will craft hit songs for you bit by bit. Of course, in a sense, it means you will be working for me for these five years. But don't worry, what you deserve will still be yours."

Zhou Buyi was struck with disbelief, as if he had been hit by a lottery jackpot. It all felt so unreal. For a newcomer, a five-year contract was already a benefit, but on top of that, his boss was personally crafting songs for him—and it sounded like more than just one. Zhou Buyi wondered if he was dreaming, but he nodded excitedly.