"I've finished writing the song," Ye Huanqiu announced, pulling out his laptop. "This time, I'm still using both Chinese and Japanese. Listen to the music first, and I'll give you the lyrics later."
He connected the laptop to the dance studio's sound system and played Gokuraku Jodo. The explosive opening, with its thunderous bass drums and orchestral instruments, instantly stirred excitement in the listeners.
Mirei Mei's eyes lit up. The more she listened, the more captivating the melody became. By the final section, the bass drums had vanished, replaced by a harmonious blend of zheng (Chinese zither) and electric guitar chords, seamlessly weaving traditional Eastern instruments with Western rock elements.
By the end of the track, both Hanakawa and the blonde tomboy Mika were fighting the urge to dance.
"What do you think?" Ye Huanqiu asked.
Mei and her two friends gave him enthusiastic thumbs-up. One gesture spoke louder than a thousand words.
"Here are the lyrics," Ye Huanqiu said. "I'll teach you the correct Chinese pronunciation later—I guarantee it'll take your spoken Chinese to the next level."
Ye Huanqiu was brimming with confidence. And with a willing "student" right here, it was the perfect opportunity to test his teaching prowess.
This experience would make her affiliation with the educational institution all the more legitimate.
When Mirei Mei first heard the song, it felt as if it had been tailor-made for her. Though she would never admit it aloud, she couldn't help but compare Ye Huanqiu's composition to Gao Jin's work.
There was simply no comparison. While Gao Jin was undoubtedly talented, his style just didn't suit her.
How could Ye Huanqiu, on their very first collaboration, so precisely gauge her preferences?
"Mr. Ye, I promise to give this my all. I look forward to learning from you."
Ye Huanqiu replied with a smile, and they immediately began rehearsing.
Mirei Mei's dedication rivaled even Yang Chaoyue's. Apart from a brief half-hour lunch break, she quickly immersed herself back into practice.
It's not just talent that matters; it's how hard talented people work.
When Ye Huanqiu instructed Mei, she often grasped concepts instantly, her musical knowledge far surpassing Yang Chaoyue's.
The only area needing refinement was her Mandarin pronunciation.
Around 3 PM, Ye Huanqiu left, leaving Mei to continue practicing alone. Her only real challenge now was perfecting her Chinese pronunciation.
Mei practiced relentlessly, incorporating the pronunciation techniques Ye Huanqiu had taught her. Her hard work paid off immediately, resulting in a performance that far surpassed her previous attempt at singing a Chinese song.
After two days of intense preparation, Ye Huanqiu invited Mei and her assistant to the recording studio on Thursday morning. He took full control of the entire session.
To Mei, it seemed there was nothing about music this man didn't understand.
The recording session wrapped up before eleven o'clock, and Ye Huanqiu returned to the dance studio with Mei.
With the song finalized, all that remained was to create a breathtaking dance performance. Hanakawa, Mika, and Mei began discussing which dance style would best suit the track.
Although Ye Huanqiu was no dance expert, he had a clear vision of the movements that would perfectly complement Gokuraku Jodo and maximize its impact.
As the three women reached a stalemate, Ye Huanqiu suddenly broke the silence. "I have a suggestion," he said. "See if you're willing to consider it!"
"Huh? Mr. Ye, you're still here!" Hanakawa exclaimed with her signature airheadedness, startled by Ye Huanqiu's sudden interjection.
Mirei Mei's eyes lit up. Of course! she thought. Ye Huanqiu wrote this song. Who could understand it better than him?
When a song is created, it inevitably reflects the creator's state of mind, becoming a kind of ethereal extension of their inner world.
"Mr. Ye, please go ahead!"
"I understand Neon has a unique gait called the Oiran Walk, right? Does anyone here know it? Could you demonstrate a few steps?"
"The Oiran Walk... sure, I can do that."
Mirei Mei stood up and demonstrated the Oiran Walk for Ye Huanqiu. However, its rigid, measured steps differed from the fluid movements he had envisioned.
"Mei, try lifting your heels slightly as you transition between the figure-eight steps. Speed it up a bit, and synchronize your steps with the rhythm of 'Gokuraku Jodo.' Let's try that again!"
Following Ye Huanqiu's suggestion, Mei adjusted her movements. Her steps became lighter and more fluid, perfectly aligned with the song's drumbeats as she transitioned between movements. Hanakawa and Mika watched in awe, as if they had discovered a new continent.
"Wow, that's beautiful! And it matches the song's rhythm perfectly."
"Exactly! I've been debating whether the dance should prioritize rhythmic dynamism or elegant grace. This version strikes the perfect balance between both."
Mika, the lead choreographer, was full of praise, a clear indication that the dance was blending seamlessly with the music.
Ye Huanqiu then suggested adding subtle hand gestures, reminiscent of the graceful posture of an Oiran dancer.
Following Ye Huanqiu's advice, Mirei Mei meticulously refined the dance movements until they perfectly matched his vision.
"Perfect," she murmured, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction.
Unknowingly, they had created a completely new dance style. Though derived from the Oiran Walk, this refined version was lighter and more graceful, a perfect complement to the song "Gokuraku Jodo."
The trio was captivated by Ye Huanqiu's boundless creativity.
"Mr. Ye, since you suggested this dance, why don't you name it?" Mei asked eagerly.
"...Let's call it the Butterfly Step," he replied. "Like butterflies dancing gracefully, it's both elegant and lively."
With the core choreography finalized, Ye Huanqiu entrusted the remaining details to Mika. Hanakawa planned to design costumes, and both would lend their support during the final performance, promising a scene of breathtaking beauty.
While others rushed to begin stage preparations by Friday, Ye Huanqiu had completed all his tasks by Thursday morning.
After bidding farewell to Mei, he gracefully withdrew, his mission accomplished.
When the film crew finally arrived to capture some footage, they left Ye Huanqiu's group for last. Though Thursday wasn't particularly late, Ye Huanqiu had already departed.
The remaining footage consisted solely of Mei and her teammates diligently rehearsing their dance routine.
After reviewing the footage, Director Zhang specifically inquired about the absence of Ye Huanqiu. The cameraman, bracing for a furious reaction, was surprised when Zhang simply waved him away.
"Still as arrogant and conceited as ever," Zhang muttered. "He probably doesn't realize there's such a thing as malicious editing. Thinks his little bit of talent makes him above the show, completely disrespectful... We'll see how long that lasts."
Admittedly, Ye Huanqiu had been the show's savior in the first episode and had driven high viewership in the second. But Director Zhang, a notorious control freak, couldn't tolerate an uncontrollable figure in his production—especially one he couldn't immediately rein in.
He was the director of I Am a Creator, wielding absolute power over the show's fate. He would never allow anyone to challenge his authority.
Director Zhang glanced at his phone. A new text message had arrived.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend, he thought, even though this guy had previously made a fool of him.
But once I've dealt with Ye Huanqiu, I'll settle the score with him later!!!