Li Yu, Xu Ming, and Wu Yao's eyes never left Mu Li.
"Li, what do you say?" Li Yu asked tentatively.
Mu Li's gaze also lingered between the three for a long time before he replied, "It's not impossible for me to agree, but I have one condition."
"What condition? Tell us, we'll agree to everything," Li Yu promised, patting his chest.
Mu Li looked at the three of them, a slight curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.
At the Yangcheng Conservatory of Music, in the Dean's office, Vice Dean Yun Moli was looking at a report, while Ai Yu stood opposite her, a little anxious.
"Two songs? Isn't that a bit too many?" Yun Moli couldn't help but frown.
Ai Yu could only brace herself and reply, "Vice Dean, as you know, our Broadcasting and Hosting Department isn't good at performing. It's already very difficult for us to come up with these programs."
Yun Moli sighed, "It's tough on you all. The Broadcasting and Hosting Department is a major department in our conservatory. If you can't even come up with three programs, wouldn't other departments laugh at us?"
"Vice Dean, we are broadcasters and hosts; our strength is hosting. Performing isn't our strong suit," Ai Yu argued, feeling a bit indignant.
"Forget it, let's just do that," Yun Moli said, shaking her head. "Tell the students to go back and prepare well, don't... don't perform too badly."
Ai Yu couldn't help but show a wry smile, thinking to herself, 'You know it's difficult for us, yet you still make us perform three programs.'
Although they managed to gather three programs this time, Ai Yu knew that among them, perhaps only Shi Miaomiao's performance was somewhat presentable; the other two were probably just for show.
Ai Yu looked at the performance list in her hand, a little curious: "Which version is the song that Mu Li is Singing?"
Tomorrow is the graduation ceremony, and for such an important ceremony, rehearsals are mandatory.
Ai Yu sat down in her seat early in the morning, enjoying the performances.
Shi Miaomiao's performance had been submitted very early, and her rehearsal order was also quite early.
Although Shi Miaomiao wasn't wearing her performance costume today, and despite wearing loose sportswear, her exquisite figure was still evident, and her every movement displayed her graceful posture.
"Excellent, truly excellent," Ai Yu felt her eyes warm up watching Shi Miaomiao's performance. "It still has to be our classical beauty!"
After watching Shi Miaomiao's performance, Ai Yu felt her mood greatly improved.
With student Shi Miaomiao as the foundation, even if the remaining two programs... oh, let's not mention the remaining two programs.
With great difficulty, it was finally the turn of the literary committee member, Xi Wen'er, to perform. Ai Yu's rationality told her not to expect anything, but people are like that; they always hold a glimmer of hope.
What if? What if Xi Wen'er's performance was splendid enough?
The song Xi Wen'er Sang was a popular song from a few years ago called 'Tomorrow,' a song expressing students' hopes for the future. The lyrics were positive and uplifting, but also conveyed students' regret at parting, making it a very suitable song for a graduation ceremony.
However, the Singing difficulty of 'Tomorrow' was not small. The original singer was a male pop star with excellent vocal skills. Now, transitioning to a female voice, Xi Wen'er not only had to re-arrange the music but also adapt to the new arrangement and infuse her own emotions.
For someone not professionally trained, this was not an easy task.
When Ai Yu heard Xi Wen'er's voice, the hope she had held in her heart completely died.
It must be said that Xi Wen'er's voice was very pleasant. After four years of broadcasting training, Xi Wen'er's breathing and pronunciation were both very scientific.
However, having a pleasant voice and Singing well are two different things.
From Xi Wen'er's voice, it was clear she had received some vocal training. She could accurately hit the notes and stably perform the entire song. Such a performance would be considered above average among ordinary people.
But this was a conservatory of music, and one ranked among the top ten in the country. The students here, if not all geniuses, were at least the cream of the crop among countless students nationwide.
These outstanding students, after four years of training, had voices that ordinary people could no longer compare to.
Even though Xi Wen'er's voice was good, in comparison to these individuals, it seemed ordinary, even a bit lackluster.
Perhaps it was the conservatory's intentional arrangement, but Xi Wen'er's rehearsal order was precisely between a student from the Pop Music Department and one from the National Vocal Music Department, making her already somewhat ordinary voice seem even more so.
After listening continuously, Ai Yu felt that Xi Wen'er's voice was even worse than an ordinary person's.
"What to do? What to do?" Ai Yu suddenly became anxious. "If this continues, Xi Wen'er will definitely become a laughingstock online."
Although she knew this performance wouldn't affect Xi Wen'er's future career development, she worried that Xi Wen'er would be affected by the online comments.
Xi Wen'er had finished her performance and walked over to Ai Yu's side.
Her expression looked a bit dejected, clearly affected by her recent performance.
"Teacher, I don't want to perform anymore," Xi Wen'er mumbled.
Upon hearing this, Ai Yu's heart immediately sank: 'It's over, my biggest fear has come true.'
"Student Xi, don't be impulsive. Let's first think of a way to adjust it," Ai Yu comforted her.
Shi Miaomiao also walked over. She seemed to want to comfort Xi Wen'er, but she only moved her lips, ultimately saying nothing.
"Oh, right, where's Mu Li?" Ai Yu suddenly changed the subject. "Why hasn't Mu Li come to the rehearsal yet?"
Ai Yu just wanted to buy some time now to think about how to help Xi Wen'er. However, on second thought, if Xi Wen'er heard Mu Li's voice, would her mood improve?
Fortunately, Mu Li wasn't here, otherwise he would surely howl at the sky: 'Feed me peanuts!'
But even after all the performances had ended, Mu Li still hadn't arrived.
"This Mu Li, he's infuriating! How dare he not come to the rehearsal!" Ai Yu, leading two lovely girls, stormed towards the male dormitory in a rage.
Downstairs at the male dormitory building, Ai Yu, with Shi Miaomiao and Xi Wen'er, glared fiercely at Mu Li and the other three.
"You'd better give me an explanation, otherwise, tomorrow's performance will turn into you four bleeding on stage!" Ai Yu gritted her teeth.
But she didn't know that her expression, combined with her somewhat childlike face, not only had no destructive power but made her seem somewhat adorable.
However, Mu Li didn't dare to tease the furious Ai Yu at this moment. He showed a fawning smile: "My dear counselor, I didn't do this on purpose."
"You didn't do it on purpose? I think you did it deliberately," Ai Yu sneered.
"This humble one wouldn't dare!" Mu Li quickly replied. "I only found out today that I had to perform. So, I've been practicing in the dormitory. Time is limited, where would I have the time to rehearse?"
A hint of doubt appeared on Ai Yu's face: "Really?"
"Absolutely true, if you don't believe me, ask them." Mu Li quickly pointed to Li Yu and the other two.
The three of them nodded frantically.
"That's right."
"That's how it is."
"He was indeed practicing."
...
"I'll reluctantly believe you then." The doubt on Ai Yu's face faded slightly. "But! We've encountered a new problem that urgently needs to be solved. If you can offer some advice, I'll reluctantly forgive you."
Mu Li and the other three immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Mu Li winked at Li Yu, who nodded confidently, revealing a fawning smile, and asked, "It's our honor, the four of us, to share your worries. Please tell us, and we'll listen."
Ai Yu snorted coldly, a satisfied expression on her face, and then explained the problem Xi Wen'er had encountered.
After listening, Li Yu was bewildered. He subconsciously looked at his three companions, but unexpectedly saw only two equally bewildered faces.
Li Yu curiously scrutinized the only one who seemed somewhat normal, Mu Li, pacing back and forth. "My friend, I see you seem to have some ideas. Why don't you share them with us?"
Mu Li rolled his eyes impatiently, directly ignoring the overly dramatic guy, and looked at Xi Wen'er, saying, "Student Xi's shortcomings are very obvious. It's not something that can be improved overnight."
At these words, Xi Wen'er's eyes immediately dimmed.
Ai Yu couldn't help but slap Mu Li's arm: "How can you talk like that?"
Mu Li couldn't help but rub his arm: 'This woman, she's really strong.'
"I didn't mean it that way." Before Ai Yu could strike again, Mu Li quickly explained, "My point is, Student Xi's shortcomings can't be improved, but stage performance isn't just about vocal talent."
Xi Wen'er's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but say, "Student Mu, please elaborate."
Mu Li couldn't help but roll his eyes: "Student Xi, what's with 'please elaborate'? Don't go around learning useless phrases." With that, he glared fiercely at Li Yu, who was gloating nearby.
This was his verbal tic, and he couldn't let others pick it up.
Seeing the conversation stray further and further off topic, Ai Yu couldn't help but give Mu Li another slap.
"Ouch..." Mu Li cried out, quickly jumping back to create distance from Ai Yu, and explained, "There are a few important reasons why Student Xi's previous performance didn't sound very... well... melodious."
"Firstly, Student Xi's performance was sandwiched between two powerhouses from the Pop Music Department and the National Vocal Music Department. Even if Student Xi had talent, it would be difficult to compare with those two powerhouses, so being outshone is very natural."
"Thus, being sandwiched between two powerhouses, and after such a comparison, Student Xi's performance naturally fell short."
"Secondly, Student Xi's performance was Singing, but as we all know, when it comes to Singing, it's not just about the voice, but the entire stage presentation."
"Professional singers have strong expressive power not only because their voices are pleasant, but also because their stage performances are good enough. Their every gesture and expression on stage are trained."
"Student Xi hasn't had this training. Audiences can't enjoy the stage from Student Xi's performance, so their attention is more focused on Student Xi's voice. As a result, any slight flaw in Student Xi's voice will be picked out by the audience."
"And thirdly, Student Xi's own Singing technique indeed has some issues."
Seeing Xi Wen'er's expression dim with each point Mu Li listed, Ai Yu couldn't help but interrupt, "Stop talking about these shortcomings! Come up with a solution!"
Mu Li smiled confidently, "Don't worry, since I brought it up, I naturally have a solution."