Xiangjiang, Hua Ying Tower.
In a lavishly decorated office, the renowned martial arts film director, Fan Lin, was pounding the table in a fit of rage.
"What have you all been doing? It's been over a month, and we still haven't found a decent theme song! I've said it countless times; it needs to match the TV series, not those messy lovey-dovey tunes. Look at what you've been sending me these days, such garbage songs! Listening to them makes me want to vomit!"
Fan Lin's chest heaved violently, his face flushed with evident anger.
With the editing work about to be completed and the time for promotional broadcasts approaching, not having found the theme song for the TV series had him infuriated.
The leader of the music team, Yang Jie, stood with his head lowered in front of the desk, not daring to speak.
When the director's temper had reached its peak, Yang Jie cautiously raised his head and smiled bitterly, "Director, it's not that we haven't tried. We've looked for many singers and songs in the past month. We even published announcements in newspapers for song submissions. But none seem to meet your standards, and we are..."
"Enough!"
Fan Lin stood up, pounding the table again, and angrily said, "Stop making excuses for yourselves! You should be working your hearts out to get this done. What's the use of giving me all these reasons? Do you think I can magically compose a song for you? If you want, you can direct, and I'll find the songs for you. How about that?"
Yang Jie, hearing this, nervously said, "Director, please don't scold me. Rest assured, I'll continue searching. In the next few days, I'll definitely find a song that satisfies you. If I can't, I... I'll resign!"
Fan Lin snorted, glared at him, and said, "Resign? Do you think resigning is enough? This is your responsibility and your job. If you can't find it, even if you resign or bury yourself in a grave, believe me, I'll have someone dig you up to find the song!"
With a tearful face, Yang Jie said, "Yes, I will definitely find it."
Just as he was about to leave, Fan Lin followed him, furrowing his brow and saying, "Come, let's go to the music studio together. I refuse to believe that all the talented people in this world have disappeared. We can't even produce a theme song!"
Yang Jie reluctantly followed behind, saying, "Director, I think your TV series is magnificent and spectacular. The plot is simply astonishing. If you really want to find a theme song that complements it, it's a bit... challenging."
Fan Lin sighed, "Jin Lao Ye's martial arts masterpiece is bound to be splendid. Moreover, this martial arts series is Jin Lao Ye's classic work. Since we've acquired the rights, we should treat it seriously. We can't be careless. Although the theme song is not the content, it affects the face of the TV series and is crucial."
Both of them entered the music studio together, where many staff members were busy screening one song after another nervously.
"This one won't do. It lacks the right feeling from the beginning. Next! Don't waste time!"
Fan Lin stood behind a member of the music team, listening to the music being played. Within the first few seconds, he immediately rejected it.
Yang Jie explained, "These are all submissions from amateur contributors, and their skills are limited. Director, how about we go to the other music studio? Famous singers have composed songs there, and perhaps you'll find something you like."
Fan Lin remained silent, still listening as the staff member continued to sift through songs. He continued to furrow his brow, saying, "Next one, directly to the next! Just by listening to the lyrics, it's no good—those lovey-dovey, messy things."
The staff member, with both the team leader and director standing behind him, began sweating profusely, hastily pressing for the next song.
"No, no! Next one! What's this, a solo guitar folk song? It's not suitable at all!"
"Change it! Change it quickly! It's annoying! What nonsense songs! Didn't they see what theme we need when submitting?"
"Why is there a song sung by a woman? Where's the grandeur? Next one! Directly to the next!"
"Next one! Continue to the next one!"
"Change it! Change it quickly!"
Fan Lin stood behind, infuriated by what he was hearing, repeatedly pounding the chair of the staff member in frustration.
Yang Jie, too, began wiping the sweat from his forehead. The chances of finding a suitable submission from amateur contributors were already slim, and if the director continued listening, he might go crazy.
"Director, how about we go to the other studio? The quality there must be much better."
Yang Jie suggested with a wry smile.
Fan Lin rubbed his temples vigorously, looking disheartened. Shaking his head, he said, "It's over, it's over. The more I listen, the less confident I become. What kind of garbage songs are these? I'm afraid we won't find the theme song. Ah..."
With a troubled expression, he turned around, ready to leave.
Just at that moment, a rapid violin melody accompanied by drumbeats suddenly echoed from the music studio. Then, a resounding male voice singing "Ah, ah, ah..." followed.
Fan Lin, who had just turned to leave, froze in place. One foot remained suspended in the air, frozen like a statue.
However, at that moment, the staff member pressed the play button for the next song, dismissing the one that had just started.
Fan Lin's face changed dramatically. He swiftly turned, and in a split second, he stopped mid-step. One foot was still hovering in the air, frozen like a statue of a rooster.
Yet, the staff member proceeded to press the play button for the next song, eliminating the one that had just started.
Fan Lin's expression shifted, and with a swift turn, he executed a 180-degree sharp turn, stumbling and nearly falling to the ground.
Ignoring his own embarrassing state, he rushed over, landing a loud slap on the staff member's head. He roared in anger like an enraged lion, "Quick! Play the previous one! Who the hell told you to press the next one!"
Having never laid a hand on anyone and never exhibiting such impulsive behavior towards subordinates, the renowned director Fan Lin's sudden change into this agitated state left Yang Jie and the staff member startled.
The staff member, trembling, quickly clicked the mouse to revert to the previous song.
"Increase the volume! Crank it up to the maximum!"
Fan Lin gripped the back of the chair, his voice slightly trembling as he shouted.
"Ah... Ah ah... Ah ah ah ah... Ah... Ah ah ah ah..."
The resounding music echoed in the entire music studio with deafening intensity. Drums, instruments, accompanied by the male voice, surged like a galloping cavalry from a distance, gradually approaching from the mountainside, suddenly ascending to the mountain peak!
Fan Lin's hands trembled, his eyes filled with a shining brilliance.
As the volume was at its maximum, curious staff from nearby studios gathered. Upon hearing the introductory melody, their hearts trembled involuntarily, feeling a surge of blood.
With the prelude descending from high to low, the drumbeats fading, and the melody calming down, a female voice, as if having experienced countless vicissitudes, began: "Vaguely like a dream... Once seen... Waves in the heart now... Casting aside worldly troubles... Sorrow and resentment... Accompany to the end of the world..."
When this singing started, the entire music studio fell into complete silence, and other department staff outside surrounded it in silence.
Fan Lin's mouth trembled slightly, and his face turned red due to the sudden excitement.
"Faring through the vast desert in all directions... Unafraid of snow and frost... Shooting the bow, galloping beyond the Great Wall... Laughing proudly, this life never tires..."
When this perfectly fitting climax, harmonizing flawlessly with the TV series, emerged, everyone's bodies shook suddenly. Blood boiled, and they couldn't help but shiver lightly. In their minds, scenes from the TV series unfolded—the vast grassland, galloping horses, a young man bending the bow, the arrow pointing to the soaring eagle in the sky, all under the gaze of thousands.
"Having experienced numerous hardships in the heart... The dilemma of gratitude and righteousness..."
As this song, "Iron-Blooded Heart" selected from the submissions of amateur contributors, reached its final performance, the last line, "The dilemma of gratitude and righteousness," sounded like a sigh. It seemed to lament the emotions of Guo Jing towards the grateful Mongols and the righteous Great Song, slowly approaching its end.
The entire music studio, the entire corridor, had already fallen into complete silence.
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