Chapter Twenty-Two: Studies in the Composition Department

Zhou Peng quickly opened the page for "Invisible Wings" on the Cloud Web. Sure enough, just over ten minutes ago, the play count was barely over one thousand, but now it had surged past two thousand. In little more than ten minutes, the number had doubled. As for the comments, they had soared from just sixty to more than three hundred.

"Douyin check-in!"
"Here from Douyin."
"Also from Douyin—Cloud Web’s sound quality is so much better, makes it more immersive."
"Me too. It moved me deeply."
"Put on headphones, listen in the dark—transcendence!"
"This is a true inspirational song—professional!"
"......"

Yet the group was still sighing over the impossibility of "Invisible Wings" climbing the charts.

Zhou Peng sent a voice message: "Everyone, have you ever heard of a mysterious army coming from Douyin?"

......

September ninth.

The solar calendar.

It was not the Double Ninth Festival.

Originally a Saturday, a day for rest, but the staff of the Composition Department had been scheduled for a learning activity.

At Yunhai Media, each department would be organized by the administrative office for an internal training session every month or two.

First: it could strengthen bonds between colleagues.
Second: it could inspire employees to strive for excellence.

Today, not one of the more than two hundred members of the Composition Department was absent, all gathered to listen to Liu Zhengwen’s lecture.

Liu Zhengwen spoke with ease: "Colleagues, today our training is mainly to analyze the outstanding works produced by our department in recent months, to draw lessons and learn from their essence. I believe many of you already know which work we’ll be discussing today. That’s right—it’s the masterpiece that took first place on the Newcomer Chart in August, by our very own Wang Mo: 'Doesn’t Matter!'"

Applause broke out.

Wang Mo, sitting below, was a bit stunned. He hadn’t expected his song to become the subject of everyone’s study.

But soon, he grew even more astonished.

Liu Zhengwen continued, "Now, let’s invite Wang Mo to tell us how he came to compose this song, where his inspiration originates..."

Thank you, your whole family.

Wang Mo shot Liu Zhengwen a grateful look, then stood up and said, "Ahem... Well, inspiration... Is it important?"

Liu Zhengwen asked, "Is it not important?"

Wang Mo replied, "Is it important?"

Liu Zhengwen repeated, "Is it not important?"

Wang Mo’s expression turned serious: "Alright, I admit it’s important. But personally, I think all inspiration comes from solid fundamentals. If we can master the relevant composition knowledge in school, we’ll have an endless stream of inspiration and can create good works."

As soon as he finished speaking,

Many colleagues in the Composition Department looked skeptical.

Even Liu Zhengwen thought Wang Mo was talking nonsense.

How much composition knowledge could Wang Mo possibly have?
Could he have more than these colleagues who graduated from professional composition programs?

In fact, there was a rumor in the department: Wang Mo’s "Doesn’t Matter" was written with help from a secret expert. Otherwise, as a pretty boy with only superficial talent, he couldn’t possibly have written such a high-quality song.

Now, seeing Wang Mo unable to explain the inspiration behind "Doesn’t Matter," everyone became even more convinced of the rumor.

But they kept their thoughts to themselves, not showing them outwardly.

Liu Zhengwen, however, smiled and said, "Since you claim you have a good grasp of composition knowledge, why don’t I test you with some music questions?"

"Will there be prizes if I answer correctly?" Wang Mo blinked.

"You’re serious?" Liu Zhengwen was taken aback.

"Of course!"

"Alright, for each correct answer, I’ll personally reward you one hundred. If you get it wrong, you lose one hundred to the pot."

"Let’s raise the stakes. One thousand for each question."

"Deal. Don’t regret it later."

Liu Zhengwen thought Wang Mo was playing with fire.

Brother.

You’re the one who even got Yue Meng’s name wrong. How much music knowledge could you possibly have?

Thinking it over, he said, "Shall I begin?"

Wang Mo: "Go ahead."

Liu Zhengwen asked, "What skills and knowledge are required for composition?"

Wang Mo replied fluently, "Composition requires mastery of music theory, harmony, understanding of musical forms, instrumental performance techniques, as well as knowledge of music history and culture."

The question was simple, but Wang Mo answered quickly and accurately, leaving everyone slightly surprised.

Impressive?

"Next, the questions won’t be so easy." Liu Zhengwen smiled, then continued: "What does an anacrusis mean in music?"

Wang Mo answered without hesitation, "An anacrusis refers to a bar in which none of the notes reach a stable pitch, but instead there’s a weak note either before or after the first note, called the anacrusis."

A trace of surprise appeared in Liu Zhengwen’s eyes. "Third question: In music theory, what is 'chord progression'?"

Wang Mo spoke confidently, "Chord progression refers to a series of chords combined in a specific way to form a melodic movement. Chord progressions can alter the character and color of a melody, making it richer and more varied. For example, triad progressions can express gentle, warm emotions, while seventh chord progressions can convey excitement and fervor..."

He answered three questions in a row.

Without even a moment’s hesitation.

Wasn’t this just some music theory?

He had received a system reward: Mastery of composition-related knowledge (advanced).

All these theoretical concepts were included.

Easy.

Too easy.

But...

Everyone present, including Liu Zhengwen, stared at Wang Mo in stunned silence.

How could this be?!

The last two questions Liu Zhengwen asked were quite difficult; even those present understood the gist, but to recite a complete answer was impossible.

But Wang Mo’s responses were almost identical to the correct textbook answers.

Liu Zhengwen looked as if he’d seen a ghost.

He was certain Wang Mo hadn’t prepared answers in advance, since these questions were chosen by himself on the spot.

"This..."

"Luck, it’s definitely luck." Unconvinced, Liu Zhengwen pressed on with the fourth question: "What is musical texture?"

Wang Mo answered calmly, "Musical texture refers to, in the same work..."

Still no hesitation.

Still fluent.

Fifth question.

Sixth.

......

Seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth!

By the end, Liu Zhengwen’s voice was shaky, and his gaze at Wang Mo had become that of someone looking at a monster, utterly bewildered.

Not just him.

Everyone in the Composition Department was completely dumbfounded.

"What the—?"
"Effortless?"
"My God!"
"I’m speechless!"
"Is this even humanly possible?"
"I could only answer half of Liu’s questions, and not even with standard answers. The other half, I couldn’t answer at all."
"I know the rough idea, but to recite full answers like Wang Mo? Nearly impossible."
"Put it this way: when I was at university, only our music professors reached this level."

Liu Zhengwen opened his mouth, then finally stopped his line of questioning.

He stepped off the podium and walked over to Wang Mo.

Wang Mo asked in surprise, "Director Liu, what are you doing?"

Liu Zhengwen pointed at the podium: "From now on, you’ll teach the Composition Department’s training sessions. I’m not worthy."