Chapter 16: Accelerated Singing Learning Method

The world inside a mobile phone feels like an extreme opposite to the outside world.

With one ear listening to the boisterous clamor of her teammates, the world in her other ear was a realm of tranquility, filled only with a soft female voice speaking.

"Chengzi, I have something to do this afternoon, so I won't be going to the gym. If you want to go, you can go anytime. I've also canceled tomorrow's appointment, so you're free to go then."

Today's appointment could not be canceled.

Jin Li had thought about how this young man spent every day at the gym, likely needing to complete a daily check-in routine, so she simply called to remind him that he could also go this afternoon if he needed to.

She did this more out of kindness; the young man had reminded her about her breathing issues, and since Jin Li had no way to repay him, she hoped to be of some help.

Gu Cheng already had arrangements for this afternoon and tomorrow, but he accepted her kindness.

"OK, it's just that I don't have time this afternoon or tomorrow. If you want to go, you can go whenever you like."

Jin Li smiled. "Alright."

After hanging up the phone, Gu Cheng's mind still echoed with that "Alright."

That voice was quite sweet.

In reality, such a voice didn't have a huge advantage for singing; it leaned slightly toward a "baby voice," but her voice possessed a crispness and decisiveness that went beyond a soft, doll-like tone—perhaps a vocal trait bestowed by her personality.

Though it sounded soft, it gave off a sense of steady strength.

"Ah Cheng, what are you doing? Why are you spacing out?" A teammate reached out, draped an arm over his shoulder, and leaned his entire weight on him.

"It's normal for Ah Cheng to space out. Stop clinging to him so much; don't you realize how heavy you are!"

Another person said, "Tomorrow we have to stand on the initial stage again. I'm a bit nervous. It's gone by in a flash—it's already been two years!"

The person suspected to be the captain spoke up: "Then hurry up and go train! Even if we have to pull an all-nighter tonight, we have to master that dance!"

...

On the other side, after hanging up the phone, Jin Li started her study livestream.

Jin Li hadn't broadcasted in the afternoon for several days, leading fans to speculate that she was either training or running errands for shows.

Regarding the news that she would be a mentor partner for the second season of *PICK~ The Next Diva*, neither the variety show nor her company had disclosed anything yet.

Therefore, even when fans asked her, Jin Li would not say anything.

Only when the comments flooded the screen would she reply: "You'll be able to see me very soon!"

Then, she would lower her head and return to her online classes.

The sound of the online teacher's lecture echoed in the livestream room, causing the thoughts of netizens to calm down as well. Their phones remained on the livestream interface, but they were set to silent as they focused intently on their own tasks.

Some fans had originally been wasting time, scrolling through their phones while keeping a variety show running on their computers.

But seeing how seriously Jin Li studied, they felt an inexplicable sense of guilt. The variety shows were no longer enjoyable, so they simply turned them off and picked up professional books to read.

The planet does not stop rotating because of one person; Jin Li's strength was tiny, but she was doing her best to shine and radiate warmth.

What interrupted her studying was the arrival of Sui Lingfang and Zou Da, along with a vocal coach.

Jin Li told the netizens she was ending the stream and decisively closed the livestream room.

[I think I just heard a woman's voice. Is that Li-bao's manager?]

[Is this child finally going out for work? Heaven help her, she's been grinding through studies with me every day. She's made my roommate feel so pressured that my roommate told me, 'Doggy, you've changed, you're no longer the lazy dog you used to be.']

[I'm so looking forward to Jin Li's stage! Will her first assignment be on a stage?]

The vocal coach had been sought out urgently and was quite famous in the industry, specializing in correcting the improper singing methods of celebrities who couldn't sing, providing an "accelerated singing method."

"Accelerated" was this teacher's specialty.

The teacher was a bit surprised to hear that it was Jin Li's manager looking for her.

Jin Li had retired three years ago, but before that, she had spent a year in a top-tier girl group, proficient in both singing and dancing. Why would they seek her out?

The teacher's first reaction was: *Wrong person.*

However, after conducting an urgent test in Jin Li's apartment, the teacher realized they hadn't made a mistake at all!

The vocal coach said with a serious expression, "Your problem is much larger than I imagined. Aside from having a decent sense of pitch, everything else has to start from scratch—especially your breathing; that is a major issue."

The vocal coach proceeded to teach Jin Li the most basic breathing training methods right there in the living room.

The teacher first said, "In all breathing exercises, you must pull in your lower abdomen. This allows the diaphragm to have enough strength to support the voice."

She paused, then smiled to ease the atmosphere.

"Don't worry, Jin Li has a foundation. She will enter the rhythm faster than most people. She should be able to find her groove in three or four days of practice."

This sentence was directed at Sui Lingfang and Zou Da.

Being stared at by the two managers, the vocal coach felt a bit of pressure.

Sensing her tension, the two managers moved over to the dining table.

Sui Lingfang felt a bit restless and went to the kitchen to slice some fruit.

"Come, let's practice the first method: dog panting.

Pant just like a dog, but you must use your diaphragm rather than tensing your throat to inhale and exhale. First, use your chest and abdominal breathing to control the movements of inhalation and exhalation..."

The vocal coach had Jin Li place her hand on her stomach to feel how her abdominal cavity expanded and contracted to drive the breath upward.

Sui Lingfang returned to the dining table with the plate of fruit and asked in a low voice, "How is it?"

Zou Da gave a thumbs up. "Jin Li enters the state very quickly. Her learning ability is strong; the teacher has praised her several times."

Sui Lingfang felt slightly relieved. From the looks of it, a three-to-four-day crash course should be fine.

She didn't want to see a trending topic like #JinLi's Debut Stage Fails#; it would give her nightmares.

Thinking of something else, she took out her phone and sent a message to He Yixuan.

On the other side, He Yixuan was in the resting area.

As soon as the staff member who had brought her there walked away, some of the celebrities sitting in small groups in the resting area began to speak sarcastically.

"Why don't I see your manager? Weren't they accompanying you through the first two rounds of interviews?"

"Exactly. I was shocked when I saw her manager there earlier. What, is she trying to use her manager to pressure us?"

"So many second-tier stars came to interview, yet she's the biggest star, and her manager still has to follow her around."

He Yixuan sat down with a grim expression, closing her eyes to try and adjust her state. The more she reacted, the more outrageous they would become.

Her phone vibrated. She looked down to see a WeChat message from Sui Lingfang, encouraging her to do her best in the audition.

He Yixuan irritably threw her phone into her bag.

If Sui Lingfang had come along, there wouldn't be so many annoying things happening right now!

In the apartment.

Following the vocal coach, Jin Li practiced unconsciously until seven in the evening.

Her stomach was the first to give out, letting out a loud "gurgle."

The sound made everyone burst into laughter. Sui Lingfang stood up and said, "No one fight me for it this time; it's my treat. Let's go out for a meal together."

There was still some traffic in the central district at this hour, but since the restaurant wasn't far, they arrived quickly.

Upon entering the private booth, a fast-paced, energetic song was playing. A clear male voice made her feel a sense of familiarity.

Jin Li's heart stirred, and she asked, "Whose song is this?"