205: Chapter 205 On the Eve of the Semifinals

They had barely been riding for three minutes when it indeed started to rain.

However, the rain wasn't heavy, the fine and soft kind that felt cool against the face, not enough to drench them completely, but not making one feel comfortable either.

But as time passed, it felt like it was getting a bit heavier.

Lu Li turned his head slightly and called out.

"It looks like the rain is getting heavier. Should we find a place to shelter from it?"

Shen Qingxue's voice came from behind her helmet, sounding slightly muffled.

"There's a bus stop ahead. Why don't we stop over there?"

Lu Li looked in the direction she was pointing and indeed saw a bus stop not far away, with two people waiting for a bus sitting on the bench under the canopy.

He twisted the handle, and the electric scooter stopped beside the station.

The two of them got off, took off their helmets, and walked quickly under the canopy of the station.

Not long after they got off, the rain became a bit denser than before, drifting in slantingly with the wind.

Shen Qingxue stood on the inner side of the platform, raising her hand to gather her rain-dampened hair.

A few stray strands of hair clung to her temples, and she casually brushed them away with a very natural movement.

Lu Li stood beside her, with his hands in his pockets, his gaze falling on the curtain of rain outside the platform as he fell silent for a few seconds.

"When do you think this rain will stop?"

Shen Qingxue turned her head to look at the sky. The sky within the curtain of rain was grey and murky, showing no signs of change.

"Hard to say, but it shouldn't... rain for too long, right?"

The two people waiting for the bus on the platform had already boarded a bus in the rain, leaving only the two of them at this moment.

The surroundings became much quieter, with the sound of rain hitting the station canopy making a dense and steady noise.

Lu Li turned his head to look at her.

Shen Qingxue's profile appeared somewhat soft in the greyish-white daylight, with tiny droplets of water clinging to her eyelashes.

She didn't notice Lu Li looking at her, her gaze falling squarely on the distant curtain of rain.

Lu Li watched for a few seconds, then withdrew his gaze and looked toward the rain curtain as well.

After being quiet for a moment longer, Lu Li suddenly spoke up.

"Actually... I've been thinking about something."

Shen Qingxue turned her head, her gaze carrying a hint of inquiry.

"What is it?"

Lu Li didn't answer immediately.

He lowered his head, looking at the rain-soaked road surface as if organizing his wording.

After several seconds, he raised his head and met her gaze.

"After the Semifinals end, there's something I want to show you. You'll come with me to a place then."

Shen Qingxue's heart skipped a beat instantly.

As clever as she was, she roughly guessed something right away.

But on the surface, she still maintained a nonchalant look, tilting her head slightly to ask.

"What kind of thing?"

"It won't be interesting if I tell you now." Lu Li smiled, his tone deliberately relaxed.

"Anyway, you'll find out when the time comes."

"Alright, then I'll wait."

Shen Qingxue smiled, but her hands were already intertwined, starting to knot together nervously.

The rain gradually lightened after a dozen minutes.

It changed from fine rain threads into an almost imperceptible mist, leaving only a tiny bit of coolness when it fell on the face.

Lu Li looked at the sky.

"It should be about time. Let's go; if it gets heavy again later, we'll be doomed."

The two of them put their helmets back on and straddled the electric scooter.

The post-rain air was much fresher than before, and the road surface was damp, reflecting the grayish-white sky and the tree shadows on both sides.

Lu Li did not ride fast, maintaining a speed of just over twenty yards.

When they returned to the hotel, the surface of both people's clothes still had a layer of wetness.

Lu Li parked the vehicle at the entrance, pulled out the key, took off his helmet, and hung it on the handlebars.

Shen Qingxue also got off the bike, patted the water droplets clinging to her coat, and the two of them walked quickly into the hotel lobby.

There were only the two of them in the elevator, their damp soles leaving a few faint water marks on the floor tiles.

Shen Qingxue bent over slightly to look at the tips of her shoes, then looked up at Lu Li again with a hint of helplessness in her tone.

"We'll probably have to stay in the room this afternoon."

"It's a good time to practice songs."

Lu Li picked up the conversation quickly, amusement evident in his tone.

"On rainy days like this, it's actually most suitable to stay quietly indoors and do one's own thing without being disturbed."

Shen Qingxue nodded.

At this moment, the elevator happened to reach their floor, and the doors opened.

The two of them walked out of the elevator side by side until Shen Qingxue stopped at her room door, turned around, and glanced at Lu Li.

"Then... I won't go out this afternoon. You go ahead and be busy with your stuff."

"Alright, I can also take the opportunity to fine-tune the post-production of "encounter" once more."

Lu Li nodded, paused, and added another sentence.

"I'll call you when it's dinner time."

"Okay."

Soon, the door opened and the door closed.

Lu Li didn't stay in the corridor for long before turning around and walking toward his own room.

...

Over the next few days, neither of them went out of the hotel much.

Shen Qingxue stayed in her room practicing "encounter", going over it again and again.

Occasionally, she would record a short a cappella snippet and send it to Lu Li, then wait for his feedback.

As for Lu Li, he spent most of his time on post-production, while also sorting through the arrangement of "blue and white porcelain" once more.

As for the organizer's side, news also came saying that the folk orchestra had already been contacted and a time could be arranged for a test recording.

Thus, the two of them made another trip to the organizer's recording studio to go over the accompaniment framework of "blue and white porcelain" with several veteran artists from the folk orchestra.

Although those veteran artists were getting up there in years, sometimes one had to sigh that older ginger is indeed spicier.

Their technique was clean and crisp, and basically within one or two takes, they could perform the melody written by Lu Li to perfection.

They would even immerse themselves in the music while playing, making it twice as effective with half the effort.

Lu Li sat behind the mixing console, listening to the sounds of those traditional ethnic instruments coming out of the monitor speakers.

This feeling was completely different in texture from the songs previously made with synthesizers; it was smoother, more breathable, and possessed an extra layer of soul.

Shen Qingxue listened quietly beside him for a segment. Although she didn't say much, the satisfaction in the depths of her eyes couldn't be hidden.

They recorded for nearly two hours, going through all the major instrumental tracks.

Lu Li saved the files, stood up to thank the teachers, and then walked out of the recording studio side by side with Shen Qingxue.

After returning to the hotel, they once again plunged into tense busyness.

...

Until 6:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Lu Li changed his clothes, stood in front of the mirror for two seconds, and then pulled open his room door.

At the end of the corridor, Shen Qingxue happened to come out of her room as well.

Today she was once again dressed in a white dress, and just standing there made her a stunning sight.

The two of them looked at each other across the corridor and then walked toward the elevator direction at the same time.

"Are you nervous? Do you need me to give you a set of pre-match psychological therapy?"

Lu Li pressed the elevator button, full of smiles.

Shen Qingxue thought for a moment, then suddenly realized that Lu Li was teasing her.

"You're the nervous one."

"Hahaha, alright then."

The elevator arrived just in time, and the doors opened.

Lu Li followed her inside.

The entrance of the Sucheng Grand Theatre was much livelier than last time, with quite a few audience members lining up to enter in order.

The two of them entered the backstage through the side door.

According to the drawing order from last time, Shen Qingxue was still the last one to perform.