Studio Recording

One day later...

The present Tang Miaoyi and An Qiuying have just gotten off the subway, holding their mobile phones and consulting the navigation, aimlessly searching for the recording studio they have already reserved online.

As for why Miaoyi decided on a professional studio, it's due to the style of "Closer." With a song like "Solo Dance," with highly produced and electronic-sounding vocals, the margin for error is much higher than for a vocal-based piece like "Closer."

And Miaoyi was in no way confident in the quality of the cheap microphone she bought, let alone the makeshift "recording studio" which was in no way soundproof.

So she decided to head to a professional studio instead of taking the risk.

The two girls, each with their unique style, walked along the roadside towards the studio, their clothes enhancing the beauty of the scenery. Miaoyi, in particular, looked lovely wearing a light blue shirt and a black A-line skirt (The only skirt Qiuying could convince her to wear) with knee-length white socks. Her appearance catches the attention of many passersby, who turned their heads to look at the two friends as they walked past.

Miaoyi felt a little helpless with the constant glances, but she didn't say anything. She had originally planned to wear her blue and white sports clothes, but Qiuying intercepted her, saying they hadn't been washed in a while.

"Your outfit looks great on you, Miaoyi. Why don't you try wearing something like this more often?" An Qiuying said, completely unfazed by the looks they were getting. She was used to the extra attention, having been friends with Miaoyi for so long.

Miaoyi shrugged, resigned to the situation. "Sure, why not? As long as it makes you happy," she said with a small smile.

Actually, compared to the beginning, Miaoyi was beginning to understand the appeals of fashion.

"Oh, by the way." Miaoyi looked at the navigation interface on her phone, suddenly feeling a little tired and weak in her legs, and suggested, "The recording studio is over a kilometre away. Should we find two bicycle rentals and ride over?"

"No, you want to ride a bike just for one kilometre... How lazy can you be?" Qiuying gave Miaoyi a massive side-eye, shook her head and refused, "Let's walk. Your daily routine is too abnormal. If you don't have to go to school, you can't stay home playing games all day. Just accept the exercise for once."

"Uh, okay..."

The proposal was ruthlessly rejected, and Qiuying stole Miaoyi's phone to use the map and lead the way ahead. Miaoyi, with slightly sore legs, dragged herself slowly to catch up.

To be honest, if she hadn't gone out today, Miaoyi wouldn't have realized how weak her physical strength had become. The recording studio they booked was over twenty kilometres away from their home, so they had to take the subway to get there. And of course, it goes without saying that there wouldn't be any seats left when Miaoyi and Qiuying got on, so they stood throughout the journey.

In her previous life, standing for more than ten stops on the subway was no big deal for Miaoyi. It was just a matter of minutes. But now, when she got off, she really felt like her body was drained, and her feet were sore.

Now Miaoyi finally understood that although being a homebody was comfortable, it was really uncomfortable once this kind of creature stepped out of the door... It's easy to imagine that her previous life did not involve much exercise.

An Qiuying held Miaoyi's hand and walked along the route planned by the navigation.

"Can you slow down a bit? I feel like I'm about to die," Miaoyi said, feeling that her feet were as heavy as a thousand pounds. Her waist-length hair, which was scattered behind her, fluttered and swayed with each step.

"Okay, okay, we're almost there," Qiuying replied and then asked, "By the way, Miaoyi, how much did you pay to book this recording studio?"

"Well, the price is quite reasonable, considering the good reviews. The equipment and personnel seem good, and it's difficult to get a reservation, so you have to act quickly to book one... The price is decent, 4,800¥," Miaoyi said calmly. "I guess the recording effect is also good, and it's quite popular."

"Four...four thousand eight hundred? Why is it so expensive?" Qiuying was startled by the price when she heard it.

Initially, when Qiuying heard that Miaoyi had booked a recording studio for a day to go and record "Closer," she thought the price of the recording studio would only be around one or two thousand yuan, which wouldn't be too outrageous.

But now, the price Miaoyi mentioned was beyond her expectations.

"It's a normal price, and I can afford it," Miaoyi didn't think it was a big deal. "There are cheaper options, too. Many privately-owned clubs that function as recording studios have lower prices, but I can't choose that kind of non-standard place to record 'Closer.' I have to consider quality."

"What's the name of that recording studio? Let me search for it online," said Qiuying, looking impressed.

"I think it's called 'Dream Painting Recording Studio.' There are a few celebrities that seem to be members there," Miaoyi dug through her memory briefly, before recalling the name.

She had searched for studios in the area, and Shanghai being as large as it was, thee were plenty. This particular one stood out, however, due to the number of celebrities that seemed to endorse it.

As they chatted, the two walked and quickly covered the slightly over a kilometre distance. They soon stopped in front of a small building with a sign that read 'Dream Painting Recording Studio.' It looked quite stylish, unlike other commercial recording studios with their typical decor. This studio had an elegant and sophisticated atmosphere.

Finally, they had found the place, and Miaoyi rubbed her ankle subtly. She returned the phone to Qiuying and confirmed the location. Then, she led the way inside.

Tang Miaoyi explained their purpose to the staff and provided her phone number. The receptionist asked, "We're pleased you've chosen our studio. Do you need to apply for a membership card? During this promotional period, you can receive the qualification for a top sound engineer service when you apply for a gold membership."

"No, no, no, that's not necessary," Miaoyi quickly declined, shaking her head.

She had only planned to use the studio this one time, and getting a membership card would be a waste of money, especially since her wallet was already running low on funds. If it weren't for the money that Qiuying had given her for the rent, she wouldn't have had enough money to rent the studio.

Finally, when the receptionist led them to a small soundproof room with all the necessary equipment and left Miaoyi and An Qiuying on their own. Miaoyi didn't want any recording engineer to stay with them. As a producer, she wanted to be fully involved in the recording of "Closer," and there was no one who understood this song better than her.

Meanwhile, at the reception hall of the 'Dream Painting Recording Studio,' a hidden door with the sign 'Manager's Room' was quietly pushed open...