Little Bear had been delivered in secret by the salvage crew. He had only brought along Little Riches, who was all curled up. He hadn’t been allowed to bring his two darling robot dogs Dogdan and Dogke.
After all, he wasn’t a real child. While he sometimes acted immature, he understood the gravity of their situation and wouldn’t do anything against orders. Fang Zhao didn’t have to worry for the time being.
Fang Zhao sent the scoresheet he had spent completing over the last few days to the series production crew and answered any questions they had regarding the composition.
At the same time, “Above the Blue Dome of Heaven” production team.
The busy music studio didn’t stop to rest at all.
The scale of this drama series about warp engine engineers could not compare with the extent of “Founding Era”. But, it was still a rather large investment in comparison to other series being produced currently. The series had already been fully shot, and it was currently in the tense period of post production.
“Above the Blue Dome of Heaven” was a quality series. Professionals like Fang Zhao had been contracted to compose the opening, closing and various accompaniment music.
The music studio was also receiving completed works from the other contracted composers. All they needed to do was choose the most suitable pieces according to the series.
This job sounded easy, but in truth, it really wasn’t. The style and instruments of the accompaniment needed to match the scene’s plot. This was highly important for a quality series like this one. Investors, producers and even the director viewed the music with great importance.
Emotional people could be entirely won over by a film’s music. The music could have a long-lasting effect. Many people still associated scenes of long ago to familiar tunes.
When Fang Zhao’s works were sent over, the music studio staff immediately jumped into a discussion.
“Oh, this song isn’t bad. I told him we needed a slow emotional style during the drafting stage. Fang Zhao hasn’t let me down!”
That staff played the tune as he was talking.
“Every note tells a story! It’s slow, but not boring. It’s rich, but not too heavy. It’s suitable both for the opening or accompaniment. Maybe it’s better as the accompaniment during the pan-in. That will create a powerful impression!”
A team member in the room nodded, but then shook his head. It wasn’t that he didn’t accept what his colleague had said, but rather, they had different preferences.
“I prefer the second song in the list. It’s lively! There’s both the cello’s deep timbre and the guitar’s bounce. There’s a sort of industrial romanticism. It’s very apt for our series! I personally think that it can be used for the end credits. It can even be adapted to have vocals.”
“No no no, if we’re talking about the ending theme, the third song is best suited for it!” Another staff member in the corner with earphones plugged in was visibly excited.
“Really, have a listen. Oh, Chief, you should listen to it too! It’s simply entrancing! The brisk tension can fit seamlessly in any plot. It doesn’t sound out of place at all, and it’s pleasing to listen too! Fang Zhao’s composing ability is really too strong! Chief, did you specifically request Fang Zhao for an all-purpose ending theme during the planning stage?”
The chief hadn’t said a word all this time. He nibbled on his pen and flipped through the materials while listening to the music on his earphones. Then, he removed the earphones, placed the pen down and rubbed the goose pimples on his arm. “I didn’t. Anyways, why don’t you all like the last song ‘Millennium’?
“How can any other song compare with it in terms of extravagance and narrative? Even compared with all our music scores, every other song pales in comparison! You guys should at least have the basic ability to appreciate what’s good, right?”
All the others in the studio appeared embarrassed.
“It’s not that we don’t like it. In our opinion, Fang Zhao’s ‘Millennium’ is already at the level where it can be the series’s main theme. However, cough… didn’t… didn’t we already decide on the series’s main theme…?”
His voice trailed off towards the end of his sentence.
All of them had a rather considerable professional ability and could easily appreciate the finer works. Even if they didn’t like the genre, they were still more than capable of telling what was good.
It wasn’t that they didn’t like “Millenium”. In fact it was so good it exceeded the expectations! It even surpassed the range of their ability! But, their hands were tied.
The tune selected as the series’s main theme was also composed by a great master-level composer. It too was an exquisite piece, and more importantly, that composer was very experienced. In terms of seniority and connections, he was surely stronger than the rest. As a young composer, Fang Zhao was famous, but he still had to pay respects to the master-level composers.
The studio’s chief frowned silently for a moment before clicking his tongue.
“The series has two seasons. We can keep the first season’s theme. Since Fang Zhao’s songs are more applicable for the second season, we’ll use them there,” the studio chief said.
In the original plan, the main theme of the series wouldn’t change between the seasons. However, the studio chief wasn’t willing to neglect Fang Zhao’s “Millennium”.
“The historical sentiments and sense of mission isn’t something others can compete with. There are also some complex elements within that I am unable to describe for the time being. I just feel that it would be a pity not to use ‘Millennium’ for the main theme!”
The others also nodded and smiled. “Using it in the second season is fine too. Perhaps it may even be more suitable.”
The studio chief suddenly seemed to think of something. “All the works that Fang Zhao sent over match well. I have seen the music scores he sent. A few songs are suitable for rearranging. Let’s adapt several other uses from this main theme. This way, we use other composers’ works in the first season and have Fang Zhao’s pieces cover the entire second season.”
“Can… can we do that? But, Chief, rearranging tunes will still incur expenses. Given Fang Zhao’s current status, this might be a little expensive. Our funding might not be… well, how about we discuss a full package with Fang Zhao? It would be more cost-effective.”
The chief went out and made a call asking his superiors for instructions. He returned and tapped his hands on the table. “Negotiate a whole package!”
“Got it. Can we contact Fang Zhao now?”
“It should be fine. Even if he can’t be contacted, he left a number probably belonging to his assistant or manager.”
The studio chief exhaled sharply after giving out the instructions to discuss a whole package deal with Fang Zhao. He grinned in satisfaction. “Although Fang Zhao is young, he won’t have any problem carrying a season solo. It doesn’t matter if others have doubts. His works do the talking! Besides, Fang Zhao’s current influence is global! In terms of popularity, appeal and ability, he really doesn’t fear anyone!”
The studio chief was fully confident. Fang Zhao’s ability was the reason for his decisiveness. Otherwise, he wouldn’t dare raise this matter to his superiors.
As he leaned back in his reclining chair, the studio chief’s smile slowly dwindled. He gazed in nothing in particular and mumbled, “Old Master Mo said he didn’t even provide any counsel for these compositions. He really wouldn’t lie about such stuff. That means that all these are Fang Zhao’s own works.
“Young people these days!
“Too impressive!
“Fortunately, there’s only one of him. Otherwise, won’t seniors like us lose our jobs?
“Honestly, in terms of character, hardships and realization, some people that are close to two hundred years old can’t even be compared to Fang Zhao. Ahh, I wonder how profound the composers during the Period of Destruction were? Why haven’t we heard of any really renowned composers from that time?”
“Even if there were any, that period didn’t permit pure musicians to exist, right?” someone else interjected.
“That’s true.”
“Eh? I’ve seen Fang Zhao’s file. He hasn’t experienced many trying times before.”
“That’s innate talent.”
“Oh, some people just can’t be compared.”
The production team acted quickly and immediately contacted Fang Zhao to discuss buying the whole package.
Fang Zhao didn’t have any urgent matters to attend to and had remained on the island. Thus, he answered the incoming call immediately. While he was discussing this matter with the production team, Little Bear was on the sofa watching TV in the refurbished storehouse underground.
Yan Biao and Zuo Yu had just tidied up the armory and came over to check. When they saw Little Bear seated there quietly, they couldn’t help feeling some pity for this kid and decided to accompany him for a bit.
Yan Biao replaced his stern expression with a more amiable one as he served up some fruits and snacks.
“Little friend, are you missing your family?” Yan Biao asked with a stiff smile.
Little Bear looked up with a questioning glance. “Family?”
“Was the person we saw previously your family?”
Little Bear’s lips twitched and he answered casually, “Oh, her? She’s bringing men to prod Tomorrow Empire’s stronghold. Outer space immigration can’t move along if they aren’t suppressed. Interstellar navigation still lacks this piece.”
Yan Biao and Zuo Yu: ?!!
No! Shut your mouth! This is too much info! We don’t want to hear this!
How can you tell us such confidential matters to us this easily!!!
Yan Biao felt like slapping himself. Stupid mouth!
The atmosphere became awkward once more.
Just as Yan Biao and Zuo Yu decided to leave, Little Bear glanced at them with a playful smirk and called out, “Hey, salted fishes, have you heard of hand-shredded mecha?”
Zuo Yu said, “Nope, I have only heard of hand-shredded chicken.”
Zuo Yu then added, “Little friend, have you ever seen a mecha being swallowed whole?”
The two of them stared at each other in silence.
And, it was as if they both came to sudden realizations as ghastly looks appeared on their faces.
Zuo Yu really wanted to slap himself. You and your stupid mouth!
The kid had a really strange expression. He noticed Zuo Yu didn’t seem to be joking, like there was some unknown horror story behind it.
Swallowing a mecha whole.
Meanwhile, Zuo Yu was thinking, Ripping a mecha with bare hands… doesn’t seem to be false either.
Zuo Yu shuddered and suddenly felt envious of Nanfeng.
