041 Let’s Put It in Writing
Wang Heng was very helpless.
Pei Ningle was actually very easy to persuade in daily life; she was quite soft-hearted. On issues like when to pay back money or how to rent an apartment, let alone insisting on her own opinion, it was uncertain if she even had a specific opinion. Naturally, she would just do whatever Wang Heng said.
But when it came to the path of her music and choices about the future, Pei Ningle had an extraordinary determination. Of course, a girl who dared to break with her family and run away alone just after turning eighteen couldn’t possibly be like an ordinary person.
Wang Heng thought for a moment and suddenly thought of a question.
“What kind of songs do you want to write?” he asked. “Or, according to the classifications in the music market, what genres do you like?”
Regarding this question, Pei Ningle had clearly thought about it many times. So when she answered at this moment, she had almost no hesitation at all.
“Folk, rock, electronic, and ordinary pop styles are all fine. I even like some hip-hop and rap. I don’t look at the style, but the theme. I like themes that honestly express oneself.”
“Honestly express oneself?”
Pei Ningle nodded slightly. “Yes. I don’t like most popular love songs. Themes like ‘I love you, you don’t love me, you love him,’ are very melodramatic and boring. I like songs with new ideas that express one’s true feelings. For example, Leslie Cheung’s ‘I’ is one of my favorites.”
Wang Heng: “…’I am who I am, a firework of a different color’?”
Pei Ningle: “Yes, yes, that’s the one! When you listen to the original version of this song, it’s as if you can see a sensitive and hesitant boy, talking to himself alone in the mirror late at night… This is one of the most popular and mainstream songs among those I like. You can look at what I’ve downloaded on my MP3 player. Most of them are probably things you’ve never even heard of. There’s Chinese, English, Japanese, German, French, and also post-rock without lyrics, West Coast rap, piano or guzheng solos, and Dubstep…”
Wang Heng: “I see. Got it.”
Pei Ningle came to her senses and couldn’t help but ask, “Do you understand what I mean? You don’t seem surprised at all by what I just said?”
Wang Heng spread his hands. “What’s there to be surprised about?”
For him, there really was nothing to be surprised about. After all, what Pei Ningle was saying now was almost no different from her in the first timeline.
Pei Ningle: “Alright then. What kind of persona do you think suits me?”
Wang Heng thought for a moment and said, “An unconventional musical genius.”
The girl’s eyes lit up. “I like that!”
Wang Heng added, “Disdainful of vulgar things like romance, hates melodramatic love songs, and is not interested in the ups and downs of the entertainment industry, only caring about music. Has absolute pitch, is particularly sensitive to melody, can sing an ordinary pop song after listening to it once, and can guarantee not to be off-key after listening twice.”
The girl clenched her small fists. “That’s right, that’s right, that’s it!”
Wang Heng: “Has a discerning ear for music, has mastered many different instruments. Not only can she write her own lyrics and compose music, but she can also handle the arrangement all by herself.”
A trace of hesitation finally appeared in the girl’s expression. “Isn’t that too much of an exaggeration? The only instruments I can play are the electronic keyboard and the guitar, and I’m self-taught, so my level is average. I’m even worse at arrangement. That really requires having gone to a music conservatory and being very experienced…”
Wang Heng: “Instruments and such are secondary. The core is passion. A passion for music, but with no intention of becoming a famous star, just wanting to play music as she pleases, using notes to record her every thought.”
Pei Ningle finally couldn’t help but retort, “I do want to play music, but… I also really want to be popular. Being a star is great!”
Wang Heng smiled. “This is a persona. It’s a different matter from your true thoughts.”
Pei Ningle expressed her doubt. “A persona and one’s true self, can they be two different things?”
Wang Heng: “A persona is the image you present to your fans. It doesn’t have to be your current state; it can be your ideal self. Then, you just have to work hard towards this ideal. You know, business owners all know how to borrow money to expand their business. It’s the same with creating a persona. As long as you can make good on the boasts you’ve made in the future, it’s not called boasting.”
With that, he started walking forward again.
Pei Ningle followed silently behind, lost in thought for a long while.
Finally, the girl made up her mind. “You have a point! This persona is good. So what should I do? How do I promote myself?”
Wang Heng said without turning his head, “Think of a way around the ‘music-crazy girl’ persona. For example, cover your favorite songs, film them as videos, and post them online. I recommend Bilibili as the platform for posting videos. It’s full of young people, and it has a very promising future for growth.”
“Why covers?”
“It’s simple. Because you’re not famous, no one will listen to your original music. And when you’re doing covers, you must also think of a gimmick, such as ‘sang this song after drinking fake alcohol,’ ‘milk-powder-flavored cover,’ ‘funny lyrics parody version,’ and the like.”
The girl looked even more confused. “Why do it like that…”
Wang Heng turned to glance at her. “Still don’t get it? This is the age of ‘amusing ourselves to death.’ You can be serious, but the prerequisite is that you must first make yourself look interesting enough, otherwise, people won’t click on your title. It’s best if you can be playful first, be particularly interesting, and then release a serious original work. Only then will you have fans who will watch.”
After he said this, the two walked in silence for a good while, until they reached the entrance of the hotel where Pei Ningle was staying.
Wang Heng: “You should go back to your room and get some rest. Rent a place first thing tomorrow. That bar is quite safe. You probably won’t need me to accompany you in the future. You can just go and earn money on your own.”
With that, he turned to leave. But just as he took a step, he felt his clothes being pulled and subconsciously turned his head.
Pei Ningle had grabbed the corner of his shirt and said in a low voice, “I have no problem with all that. Can you help me film the videos?”
Wang Heng sighed. “You have to learn to do it yourself.”
Pei Ningle’s tone became even more dejected. “But I really don’t understand… No, what I mean is, I think everything you said is right, but I really don’t know what to do. I don’t know what Bilibili is, and I don’t know how to film videos.”
Wang Heng looked at her speechlessly.
Pei Ningle stole a glance at him and said weakly, “Then how about this? You can be my manager, and we’ll split all the money I earn in the future?”
Now that was something he wasn’t sleepy for.
Wang Heng instantly perked up. “Can you put it in writing?”
