I Became an All-round Artist

After finishing his meal, Lin Yuan felt very satisfied. Just as he was about to head back to work, Zhou suddenly spoke up, “I’ve got some good news for you. I’m planning to send your song to Qizhou!”

“Okay,” Lin Yuan nodded.

Zhou had expected Lin Yuan to be excited. However, to his disappointment, Lin Yuan’s expression remained as calm as ever, his tone as composed as usual.

At that moment, Zhou understood how Zhao Jue  had felt before. Feeling slightly frustrated, he asked, “Don’t you have anything to say about it?”

“I do,” Lin Yuan replied earnestly, “I played the piano part in the arrangement of ‘Big Fish,’ so I hope the company includes payment for that as well.”

Huh? That’s it?

Zhou was stunned for a few seconds before nodding in agreement. That afternoon, he sent the approved version of "Big Fish" to Qizhou.

In Qizhou, inside a conference room in the post-production department of the animated film Dance of Fish and Dragons, the female director, Zheng Li, was lightly tapping the table. “Our film is about to be released soon. How much longer will it take to finalize the theme song?”

“Director Zheng,” the producer shook his head, “You can’t blame me for this. Star Entertainment in Qinzhou sent over a total of fourteen theme songs, all composed by top-tier musicians, and you didn’t like any of them.”

“That’s not the point,” Zheng Li said with dissatisfaction. “You all know what kind of story Dance of Fish and Dragons is. It’s a fact that their compositions didn’t fit the story. Or do you think I’m being too demanding?”

The room fell silent, with people avoiding her gaze.

Zheng Li’s anger flared up. So, everyone here really thinks I’m too demanding?

She raised her voice, “Fine, since everyone thinks that, I won’t be the sole decision-maker anymore. After all, we’re all part of the core creative team. From now on, the choice of the theme song will be up to you. Producer, please play the fourteen tracks we received earlier. If you think any of them is suitable, I won’t say a word.”

“There’s no need for that,” the producer laughed awkwardly. “The theme song is too important for the project. It should be your decision, Director Zheng. I’ll urge them to—wait, what?”

The producer paused, confused.

“What is it?” Zheng Li asked.

The producer glanced at his phone and smiled wryly, “No need to urge them. They just sent another one. Director, would you please listen to it later?”

“Later?” Zheng Li sneered, “No. Let’s do it right now! While the whole team is here, play the song. I want everyone to listen and see if I’m being too demanding.”

The producer hesitated, “Is that really necessary?”

Zheng Li raised her voice, “Yes, it is.”

Reluctantly, the producer connected the projector and played the newly received song through the room’s sound system.

The projector was for displaying the lyrics. Whether they liked the song or not, Star Entertainment had provided full support, including lyrics.

As the music began, a hauntingly beautiful melody filled the room, accompanied by a clear, ethereal voice:

“The waves silently drown the night,
Engulfing the corners of the distant sky.
A big fish swims through the seams of a dream,
Gazing at your sleeping silhouette…”

As the music played, everyone glanced at Zheng Li with strange expressions.

Zheng Li shifted uncomfortably in her seat, yet couldn’t help but perk up her ears as her heart began to stir.

This song… feels different from the previous ones.

What are the odds?

“The sea and sky blend as one,
Hearing the wind and rain’s rise and fall.
Holding your hand, we scatter the mist,
The big fish’s wings have grown too vast,
I release the rope of time…”

As the song transitioned from the verse to the chorus, everyone forgot to look at the director.

Even Zheng Li, the director, didn’t care about potentially embarrassing herself anymore. She was eagerly and nervously anticipating the next part of the chorus:

“Afraid you’ll fly far away,
Afraid you’ll leave me,
More afraid you’ll stay here forever.
Every tear flows towards you,
Flowing back to the ocean’s depths in the sky…”

As the fish leaped over the dragon gate, it was clad in pure white, but it could no longer see the little girl.

“If you hadn’t crossed that dragon gate, you could have stayed with me.”

“But without crossing the gate, how could I protect you?”

“So, reunion is just the beginning of the end.”

As the song played, scenes from the Dance of Fish and Dragons script suddenly filled Zheng Li’s mind. Several key frames from the film, which she had personally chosen, began to flash before her eyes.

Her eyes moistened.

As the piano paused, a whistle sound echoed suddenly, clear and piercing like a dolphin’s call.

At that moment, everyone in the room seemed to hold their breath.

Caught in the music, they all felt the vastness of the ocean, the deep blue of the sky above it, and the powerful surge of the waves…

When the song ended, everyone remained seated, lost in thought.

After a long silence, the producer muttered, “So… only Qinzhou… is truly the music capital of our world… This song is truly stunning…”

"What's the name of this song?"

Everyone snapped out of their reverie, talking all at once.

The producer responded, "The song is called 'Big Fish.'"

While most were pleased, a few expressed concern: "Fish? Should we consider changing the title? Our film is called Dance of the Fish and Dragon, but it's really about the story of a little girl and a white dragon..."

"No need to change it."

Zheng Li stood up, her voice firm and resolute: "I’m the director! My word is final!"

Everyone looked at her in silence: "..."

Zheng Li clenched her teeth: "Don’t look at me like that! It’s not that my standards are too high! The previous fourteen songs just weren’t good enough!"

The group burst into laughter.

But in truth, they all believed her. No matter how good the previous fourteen songs were, none could surpass 'Big Fish.' It was just amusing to see the director caught off guard.

"So, is this one good enough?"

The producer teased with a grin.

Zheng Li retorted irritably, "If this one isn't good enough, do you think you can find me a better song? Do you have the budget to bring in another top composer? Besides, even if you did, they couldn't possibly surpass this level because this composer..."

"Xian Yu."

The producer glanced at the composer's name.

Zheng Li nodded, "This composer, Xian Yu, is the one who truly understands the emotion I want to convey in this film!"

This impression song was bought for five million by the company.

According to industry practices, the Dance of the Fish and Dragon production team had the right to make changes to the purchased work, including the song title, lyrics, arrangement, and even replacing the singer to re-record the track. This was all within their rights, and Xingmang wouldn't object—at most, they’d offer some suggestions.

But for Zheng Li...

This was the perfect 'Big Fish'!

So perfect that she didn’t want to make any changes—no adjustments to the singer, the arrangement, the lyrics, or the song title that someone had just suggested altering!

"Maybe it's because the first impression was just too stunning?"

Zheng Li thought to herself, the goosebumps from listening to the song still lingering.

But the reason didn’t matter anymore.

In her eyes, 'Big Fish' was a masterpiece, and it was the perfect match for her soon-to-be-released film.

The Qinzhou music scene...

Truly a place of hidden talent!

Xian Yu, she’d remember that name.