Chapter 42: "Hourglass of Memories," Chen Meijing's New Album!

Whether it is more important to care for one's health or to tend to someone else's feelings is always a difficult dilemma...

Yet Li Can had no choice to make.

He was simply dragged by Winnie into a small tavern.

The bar snacks were modest: a plate of French fries, a basket of popcorn chicken, and a dish of pickled cucumbers.

"How about we just have some Kvass tonight?"

"No way, what's the fun in drinking that stuff? It has to be vodka. We can just drink a bit less if we must."

Winnie began to order her drink.

A whole bottle of vodka.

A 700ml bottle at 60 proof, no less.

There were no soft drinks ordered to mix with it, giving the impression they were going to drink it straight.

The young waiter serving them asked hesitantly, "Brother, do you guys really not need any Coke or orange juice to go with that?"

"No need."

Winnie turned down the suggestion on Li Can's behalf.

She immediately poured half a glass of vodka, swirled it slightly, and took a large gulp in one go.

"Phew... That's the feeling, *Khorasho*!"

After a few brief words of caution, Li Can stopped nagging and started drinking toe-to-toe with Winnie.

When they finished the wine, paid the bill, and left, both of their eyes were clear.

Their footsteps were entirely steady.

They looked completely unaffected, as if they had merely come in for soft drinks.

"How is it, Winnie? Feeling better?"

"Mm-hmm, I kind of want a little more, but this is fine too. I'll get a good night's sleep tonight."

Breathing in the outdoor air, Winnie's cheeks were slightly flushed, and her expression was remarkably relaxed.

Leaning against Li Can, Winnie pouted, speaking a rapid mixture of Russian and Chinese.

"Let's leave it at that for tonight. After the gala is over, you have to keep me company until I've had my fill of drinking."

"Alright, as you say."

After seeing Winnie back to her dormitory, Li Can left.

The night passed quietly.

The next day.

The studio began to buzz with activity.

A lot of work had to be rushed through with overtime.

Chen Meijing's new album was rolled out across the board, and she began traveling for various promotional appearances with her new release.

Variety shows followed one after another, landing right in the window between the completion of recording and imminent broadcast.

The new album had already finished its distribution phase.

Traffic resources were primed and ready for action.

The countdown for the new album's teaser on the platform had officially entered single digits.

They were just waiting for the variety show to air, whereupon the album would be released simultaneously.

At this moment, the "Melodic Cathay" forum grew lively once more.

For no other reason than that the topical singer Chen Meijing was releasing a new album.

Initially, Chen Meijing's explosive rise was entirely driven by the shockwave of novelty hits like "Chick Chick". Had there not been subsequent releases like "Mirage" to anchor her career, she undoubtedly would have faced severe criticism.

Yet even with the stark contrast, some people on the forum still maintained a critical stance.

Praise and condemnation existed in equal measure.

With the launch of Chen Meijing's new album this time, everyone was guessing whether there would be another novelty track similar to "Chick Chick", and whether Chen Meijing would truly turn out to be a mere clown, lingering in mediocrity.

Thus, they lay in wait the moment the new album dropped.

"It's here, it's here!"

Right on the stroke of the designated hour, it went live.

Many musicians clicked open the album.

Without rushing to listen just yet, they first checked the tracklist.

After clicking through and reviewing the information track by track, many of the musicians were somewhat surprised.

The brief intros seemed to indicate these were all conventional songs, yet for half of the tracks on the entire album, the credited producer was that man—Li Can!

"The lead single is 'The Hourglass of Memories'? Produced by Li Can... Let's listen first."

Music critic Chen Zeyu clicked play on the track.

As a prominent heavyweight on the "Melodic Cathay" forum, Chen Zeyu had only one defining trait... speed!

His exceptional auditory perception and instantaneous analytical ability were the tools of his trade.

The music had just started playing, before even a single vocal note had emerged, his cursor had already moved to the review section in preparation to type.

What first entered the ears was a very clean piano prelude.

Beneath the piano lay a softened, underlying layer of strings.

Chen Zeyu furrowed his brow slightly.

He began typing in the review section.

[A remarkably clean piano prelude with a catchy melody. The undulating differences in contrasting intervals, paired with the high-register string pad underneath, feel as though one is floating in the skies, stepping into a realm of memories.]

[The female vocal adopts a traditional pop singing style. As it enters the first verse, the strings drop out, and thoughts gently touch the ground with the singing. Upon entering the second verse, a low register is added to the string pad, as if stepping onto firm ground, creating a stark and contrasting echo to the beginning.]

[The sonic intensity of both the female vocal and the piano is quite high, creating a strong sense of confrontation, and this confrontation heightens the dramatic tension of the entire piece.]

Before he knew it, Chen Zeyu had listened to the second section.

The piano's chromatic embellishments further displayed a strong lyrical quality.

Just as he intended to type, a brief, silent rest caused Chen Zeyu to feel as though his heartbeat had skipped a beat.

Yet it was fleeting; soon enough, the female vocals resumed.

"The lake water guards the silence... waiting for the moon at the edge of the sky."

Chen Zeyu's hand paused slightly.

Yet it was precisely this pause that meant his music review could no longer keep pace!

As the song gradually built up toward the prelude of the second chorus, the acoustic volume of every single instrument was continuously being cranked up!

This mountain-storm-is-coming sensation caused Chen Zeyu to focus his absolute attention entirely on the song!

"I only want to remember this eternal moment..."

Suddenly, after another brief moment of silence, the drumbeat struck on the offbeat, yet the emphasis returned squarely to the downbeat.

The vocals burst forth accordingly.

The strings drove the emotion forward frantically, while the humming bass guitar notes twined continuously around the ears.

"Like the falling of a shooting star, brilliance loses its outline..."

"After this brief moment, the world is merely... the hourglass of memories!"

Chen Zeyu felt a sudden surge of goosebumps across his scalp, his emotions stirred and turbulent.

Yet this was merely the beginning.

Following closely upon Chorus A came Chorus B?!

No! Not Chorus B! Rather, it should be a bridge used to elevate the emotional intensity between two repetitions of the chorus!

"At the end of the dark night, it is your teasing, and the silent agony!"

"After the burning, only stillness remains."

Chen Zeyu snapped to awareness, his eyes widening.

Such an arrangement pushed the emotional peak to an entirely new height.

There was no coming down now!

Could it be...

Seeming to realize something, Chen Zeyu's pupils constricted.

The next second, a powerful female vocal delivered the answer.

"Like the falling of a shooting star..."

"Oh my god, it really is a key-changed chorus; it actually is like this!"

Chen Meijing's voice held back nothing more, venting unreservedly as frantic emotions surged forth wildly.

Through a transitional bridge, the chorus was hoisted upward!

The entire progression from A4 to E5 was executed entirely in full mix!

Be it the singer's personal vocal prowess or the exceptional composition that brought that prowess to its absolute limit, it blew Chen Zeyu's mind into a state of total numbness.

[E5 full mix!! The enunciation at E5!! Versatile phrasing, an imaginative bridge, and a melody that is catchy without falling into cliché—when Chen Meijing and Li Can make music seriously, the chemical reaction it triggers is simply breathtaking!]

Finishing his review, Chen Zeyu let out a long breath.

Putting aside his urge to listen to the other tracks, he clicked on "The Hourglass of Memories" once again.

No, I have to listen to it one more time!