“Um…” April hesitated for a moment, glancing at Jane before speaking softly. “At the bar.”
Suddenly, Marco’s expression changed and he narrowed his eyes, looking mysterious and deep.
Jane couldn’t bear to watch anymore and rolled her eyes. “Get ready to record.”
But Marco still seemed skeptical and continued to sneak glances at Jane.
“But let me tell you, Marco,” Jane said. “April is the most talented person I’ve ever met.”
Hearing this, Marco looked surprised. “The most? It’s rare to hear that kind of word from your mouth… come here.”
He beckoned April over with a wave of his hand.
April was unsure what to do and instinctively turned back towards Jane. But Jane patted her shoulder reassuringly.
“Just try singing it acapella first,” she said. “Sing your original song.”
“Well… actually I have an accompaniment on my phone that I recorded,” April hesitated before saying.
“Even better.”
“Marco, you can put her accompaniment in there for her.”
Marco nodded and sat down in front of the computer while April sent him the recording from her phone.
“Have you ever recorded before?” Marco asked as he looked up at her.
April shook her head honestly but then whispered softly, “Does recording with headphones on my phone count?”
Marco chuckled and turned his head, saying casually, “Go in, put on the headphones, and when I say yes, you can sing.”
April nodded blankly and turned to walk into the recording studio, feeling somewhat awkward and uneasy as she stood in front of the microphone.
Then, Marco’s voice came from outside the recording studio, “Can you hear my voice?”
April nodded, adjusting her headphones.
“Get ready, we’re starting soon,” Marco said, as he opened the backing track that April had sent him.
A soothing rhythm filled the room, and Marco’s brow twitched slightly as his fingers lightly tapped the table to the beat of the music.
However, when he looked up, he saw a different April in the recording studio. Her gaze was gentle as she softly began to sing.
Marco rested his cheek on his hand, his previously lazy expression slightly restrained as he glanced at April.
As soon as she started singing, she seemed like a different person, completely different from the shy and timid girl just moments ago.
However, Marco still reached out and pressed the stop button, abruptly interrupting April.
“Stop for a moment, let’s start again. Did you go off-key?” he said.
Marco’s expression didn’t change much, unlike Jane’s shocked reaction at the very beginning.
“That melody you just sang was supposed to be in the key of C, but it seems like you got it wrong,” he continued.
April was slightly stunned. She had only sung one note, and Marco had already noticed.
Moreover, it was her own song, and Marco had clearly heard the mistake on the first listen.
While April was still in a daze, Marco’s voice came again, “What are you spacing out for?”
“How did you know I sang the note wrong just now?” April couldn’t help but ask.
“I guessed,” Marco casually replied, “Based on the melody of this song, 90% of the time that note would be in the key of C. Let’s continue.”
Without waiting for April’s reaction, Marco immediately started the accompaniment. However, due to her previous daze, April was half a beat slow, and Marco stopped the music once again.
“Do you want to join Star Entertainment?” Marco took off his headphones and hung them around his neck, leaning back on the chair as he spoke calmly.
“I do,” April nodded, answering without hesitation.
For her, Star Entertainment was a great opportunity that she wouldn’t miss.
But Marco’s next words were like a bucket of cold water poured over April’s heart, “But I can’t see it. If I didn’t know, I would think you’re singing at a karaoke bar right now.”
April’s expression soured, and she bit her lip, feeling a bit lost.
“Let’s start again,” Marco spoke up once more.
This time, April’s eyes were filled with determination as she earnestly sang along with the accompaniment.
Jane had been silent all along, just watching April in the recording studio.
Marco looked up at Jane and whispered, “What do you think, boss? Wasn’t I being a strict teacher just now?”
Jane’s brow twitched slightly, “What, are you trying to break into the entertainment industry?”
“I thought you wouldn’t let me be so serious with April,” Marco said, resting his chin on his hand. “After all, she’s still a newcomer, and a little encouragement is only natural.”
“You know you should encourage her, yet you don’t hesitate to point out all the problems,” Jane said calmly.
But Jane didn’t think there was anything wrong with Marco’s approach. After all, she wanted April to improve and not just maintain her current level with constant encouragement.
“I thought you were so tolerant of everyone,” Marco teased.
“Are you talking about yourself?” Jane glanced at Marco, who shrugged and fell silent.
After all, talking too much would result in a deduction from his bonus.
Jane’s gaze flickered. Apart from being signed to Star Entertainment, Marco’s daily behavior was not like it was here.
Jane never used the company’s rules to constrain Marco because she had known him for many years and knew what kind of person he was.
After all, he had never been one to follow the rules.
Besides, Marco had a sense of propriety.
However, Jane didn’t dwell on it. Her gaze fell on April because of Marco’s words just now, and April seemed to be completely invested in the performance.
She was even better now than she was at the bar earlier.
As the final note faded, April exhaled slowly, finally detaching herself from the emotions of the moment.
She loved music, so when she sang, music became her everything. She poured her heart and soul into it.
Taking off her headphones, April turned to look at Marco and Jane outside, carefully observing their expressions.
She saw Marco stretch his long legs lazily in the chair, giving off the air of a lazy cat. April couldn’t help but notice.
“Did you finish singing?” Marco casually asked.
Nervously, April nodded and bit her lip, feeling a bit awkward. “Wasn’t my performance good?”
To her surprise, Marco crossed his arms in front of his chest and said seriously, “Indeed, your performance was really poor.”
April’s face changed slightly, not expecting to receive such an evaluation.
“You have talent, but you lack technique, your lyrics and melodies are also amateurish, and your state is not good,” Marco pointed out April’s flaws one by one, using his fingers.
The hopeful expression on April’s face, expecting praise, instantly turned awkward. She twisted her hem and slowly lowered her head.