The two girls’ eyes met.
Mo Ran looked at Bai Xue’s natural expression thoughtfully. She didn’t look away immediately but stared at her for a long time, as if trying to verify some hidden secret. Bai Xue simply looked back calmly, without any extra expression or movement, as natural as if nothing had happened.
Shen Yue flipped through the lyric sheet. “I think it’s better for Lingling to record next. How’s your condition?”
“Oh, I’m ready now.”
Jiang Ling stood up immediately and gave Shen Yue an okay gesture, indicating she had adjusted her state. Once Jiang Ling walked into the recording studio with a sincere face, Mo Ran quietly got up and sat down next to Bai Xue.
Her movement in changing seats wasn’t obvious, so no one paid much attention. Mo Ran asked with a calm expression, “Did you take her out to chat just now?”
Bai Xue did not deny it. Instead, she nodded. “She’s been under a lot of pressure lately, so I helped her relieve some of it.”
Hearing this, Mo Ran curled her lips. She didn’t intentionally lower her voice as she enunciated each word, “Re… lieved?”
Sensing the vague interest in her voice, Bai Xue looked up and met Mo Ran’s slightly searching gaze. She couldn’t help but arch an eyebrow in confusion. Mo Ran didn’t say anything more; she simply tapped her own earlobe with her finger, her smile widening.
Bai Xue suddenly realized what was happening. She hadn’t expected her small gesture to be discovered so quickly, and by Mo Ran of all people — the most difficult teammate to deal with.
She paused for a moment, preparing to explain something, only to see Mo Ran look away. As if she wasn’t the one who had initiated the topic, Mo Ran stared at Jiang Ling in the recording studio and broke into a smile.
This left Bai Xue, who was about to speak, momentarily stunned. However, she didn’t continue the conversation, withdrawing her gaze as if nothing were wrong.
Jiang Ling didn’t see the brief confrontation between the two. Instead, she stared at the lyrics with a serious expression, terrified that she might perform poorly again.
But after Bai Xue’s mediation, Jiang Ling’s irritable mood had indeed improved significantly. Even the lyrics seemed much clearer and more pleasant now. She looked at Shen Yue and nodded to indicate she was ready.
After Shen Yue pressed the record button, Jiang Ling quickly entered the zone.
This time, her voice sounded much better. Whether in terms of texture or volume, it was perfect. Shen Yue’s slightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed, and her fingers gently tapped the rhythm on the table.
After Jiang Ling finished her part, Shen Yue nodded in satisfaction. She quickly moved to the next segment of the accompaniment and spoke softly into the microphone. “This is very good. Continue.”
The recording proceeded unusually smoothly. Soon, they reached the final part, which was the only high note in the entire song. This was the section before the final chorus, commonly known as the bridge. A singer who performed well enough here could instantly pull the audience into the emotions of the song.
Now, this part was handed to Jiang Ling.
In fact, when Jiang Ling first received the lyrics, she had vaguely guessed that this part wouldn’t be easy. But after actually hearing the demo, she still felt some self-doubt.
Shen Yue seemed to have guessed what Jiang Ling was thinking. She didn’t offer blind encouragement but gave her opinion reasonably. “I researched your stage performances before writing the song. You sang a similar pitch in a previous song, so I think your range is actually fine.”
“So don’t doubt yourself. I’m the producer, and I know your voice better than you think. Just sing. If it really doesn’t work, we can make temporary changes. Understand?”
Jiang Ling looked at Shen Yue, who was looking back at her seriously from outside. For some reason, she felt that Shen Yue’s petite body contained a huge amount of energy, giving her a sense of… ‘peace of mind?’
She pursed her lips and didn’t belittle herself. Instead, she nodded, leaned over to take a few sips from her water bottle, and then began to warm up her voice.
Perhaps because Shen Yue’s heartfelt support and encouragement had worked, Jiang Ling felt she was no longer afraid. Instead, she felt a sense of anticipation.
The accompaniment sounded, and she tried singing it once. The effect wasn’t outstanding, but a joyful smile appeared on her face. She and Shen Yue, who was outside, met each other’s eyes at the same time.
“It’s totally doable.”
“I think I can sing it!”
Shen Yue’s satisfied voice and Jiang Ling’s confident tone overlapped. This result made the two of them smile at each other before throwing themselves into a new round of recording.
In fact, everything was exactly as Shen Yue had said. Jiang Ling could completely handle the range of this song. By the end, her recording got better and better, and she even improvised some background vocals, drawing repeated praise from Shen Yue.
“Phew… Good work, everyone!”
After the recording, Jiang Ling showed the brightest smile she had seen in a long time. She let out a heavy sigh as if a burden had been lifted, and then walked out of the recording studio in a pleasant mood.
As soon as she walked out, she saw that Mo Ran had sat down next to Bai Xue at some point. She tilted her head in confusion, but before she could ask anything, Shen Yue called Bai Xue in to record.
Jiang Ling naturally sat down next to Mo Ran. “Why are you sitting here?” She took a few more sips of water and asked casually.
Hearing this, Mo Ran let out a light laugh but didn’t answer the question. Instead, she stared at Jiang Ling’s earlobe and asked, “Are you free tonight?”
“Huh?”
Jiang Ling didn’t react immediately. Her mind spun for two laps before she realized she didn’t seem to have anything to do tonight. She shook her head. “No. But I’m planning to go out with friends in two days to release some stress.”
She then asked, “Why? What’s up?”
Mo Ran had intended to drop the subject, but looking at Jiang Ling’s innocent and cute face, a strange emotion suddenly welled up in her heart. She curled her lips. “Sister Bai Xue said she has something to discuss with you and me tonight. She asked me to let you know.”
Hearing this, Jiang Ling didn’t show any suspicion. After all, as the album release date drew closer, Bai Xue was already incredibly busy. It was normal for her to have something to discuss with the two of them.
***
Because Jiang Ling and Mo Ran’s voices set the tone, the subsequent recording went very smoothly. The title track was completed almost instantly.
“I think it’s great.”
Shen Yue pushed up her black-rimmed glasses and spoke seriously. “Actually, my requirements are quite high, but I think you’ve all met my standards. The next steps will be post-production and the other songs. Let’s call it a day for now.”
After she said this, Bai Xue immediately followed up. “Once the finished product is out, we can start arranging the dance. Xiaoyu?”
Lin Xiaoyu, meeting everyone’s expectant gazes, nodded decisively without any hint of shrinking back. “I’ll arrange it as soon as possible. Everyone is welcome to offer suggestions.”
“Xu Nuo is in charge of the album cover. Nannan, if you’re not busy lately, stay in the dormitory.”
Fang Wannan naturally had no objections and added, “If you need any help, just let me know.”
Standing among her teammates, Jiang Ling listened to the fragmented conversations. She didn’t feel any irritability; instead, she was full of anticipation for the future. She couldn’t help but take out her phone and secretly take a group photo while everyone was discussing.
***
After the recording, Fang Wannan said she was going back to pack her things, since she would be staying for a long time. The others went directly back to the dormitory.
After dinner, Jiang Ling remembered the matter of Bai Xue looking for her and Mo Ran. She moved quickly to take a shower first, planning to go straight to sleep after hearing what she had to say.
However, when Jiang Ling knocked on Bai Xue’s door, she heard Bai Xue ask with some confusion, “What is it?”
Hearing this, Jiang Ling was also stunned, her face full of daze. “Xiao Ran said you had something to discuss with us, so I came. Didn’t you?”
Bai Xue, who had never heard of this matter, couldn’t help but touch her forehead. She considered it for a moment and then helplessly beckoned to Jiang Ling. “Yes, come in first.”
After Jiang Ling sat on the edge of the bed a bit tentatively, Mo Ran also came in uninvited. With a comfortable smile on her face, she greeted the two of them, “You’re here?”
Bai Xue looked at Mo Ran, then at the bewildered Jiang Ling, and couldn’t help but sigh. “I admit, I do have selfish motives toward her, but there’s no need — “
“As for selfish motives, I have them too.”
Mo Ran lightheartedly picked up where Bai Xue left off. She stared at Bai Xue with burning eyes, showing no intention of backing down. Her words were vaguely aggressive.
She never showed such an aggressive side in front of Bai Xue. But today seemed to be an exception.
Watching the smell of gunpowder spreading between the two, Jiang Ling gripped her fingers blankly, having no idea why things had progressed this way.
Didn’t Bai Xue have something to talk to them about?
She thought about it and raised her hand a bit timidly. “Um, didn’t you have something to tell us?”
With Mo Ran pressing her at every step and Jiang Ling being at a loss, Bai Xue’s eyebrows knitted slightly, and her tone softened. “I’m sorry. What do you want?”
Subconsciously, she felt that as the captain, she owed Mo Ran an apology.
Mo Ran didn’t seem satisfied with this answer. Looking at Bai Xue, who was intentionally backing down, she curled her lips into a brilliant smile. “Sister Bai Xue, did you misunderstand something?”
“Hmm?” Bai Xue rubbed her forehead, looking a bit tired.
“I just think we’re all teammates, so there’s no need to hide anything. And… I don’t think you need to apologize to me, because everyone has selfish motives.”
“Just like — “
As she spoke, she turned toward Jiang Ling, who was still sitting on the edge of the bed. She strode forward and, without any hesitation, pressed her lips against the girl’s.
Jiang Ling’s eyes, which were still a bit dazed, instantly widened.
‘Huh?!’