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As John Burns pressed the final piano key, a sigh of relief escaped him. This marked the completion of the last piece, and with Angela familiarizing herself with these few compositions, the recording process could begin promptly. There was no doubt that the girl's musical talent was astonishing, but in certain aspects it also left people somewhat amused.
For instance, right from the start, she insisted on using three different instruments to play three separate pieces for the EP! This was, after all, an EP, not a full-fledged album! Even in purely instrumental albums, there would typically be a featured instrument rather than different ones playing separate pieces. When she first made this request, both he and the studio staff were left dumbfounded.
Fortunately, after he explained the situation, the young girl readily agreed to make the necessary changes and even apologized to everyone, flashing an adorable smile. However, it became evident that she didn't entirely grasp the concept of a purely instrumental album. So, what drove her insistence on releasing one?
John shrugged and flipped through the sheet music before him. It had been his idea for Angela to play the piano, and he had curated three unique pieces for her—one classical, one jazz, and a reimagined version of the song《Big Big World》from her previous EP. This approach allowed them to showcase a blend of classical and modern elements while evoking nostalgia among listeners who were already familiar with her past work, promising to pique their curiosity.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Burns," Angela's voice came from the door as she entered, lightly clutching her stomach, her face a bit pale, devoid of any extra expressions.
Unaware of her condition, John stepped aside from his seat, saying, "No problem, it hasn't been too long. We have one last piece left, and once you're familiar with it, we can start the recording."
"Alright, no problem," Angela replied, settling at the piano. After a moment, she asked, "Mr. Burns, what is MMC?"
"Oh, that's the abbreviation for the Mickey Mouse Club," John explained, then inquired, "Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing. When I was in the restroom just now, I met two girls who asked if I was a new member of MMC," Angela shrugged, attempting to dismiss the encounter casually.
"Ah, the Mickey Mouse Club is a group established by the company in '89. It usually consists of kids aged 8 to 13 who go on a nationwide tour, performing singing, dancing, and more. They are here today to record an album. Since the number of members is not fixed, with kids joining or leaving from time to time, they probably asked you like that," John explained.
"Sounds interesting," Angela touched her chin thoughtfully.
"Do you want to join? You would definitely be the lead singer, and there are many kids in the club who are fans of Miss AM," John joked.
"Forget it, Mr. Burns. Do you think such a group will have a strong staying power?" Angela raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"What? Do you see something?" John was slightly taken aback.
"A group with multiple members, but the number of members is not fixed, often with kids under 13 years old," Angela turned her head and smiled at the music director. "I think you can see what I'm getting at."
John shrugged, saying, "Well, I admit this group can last at most two years. To be honest I was against it from the beginning, but I'm just a small music director."
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Then he waved his hand, "Anyway, let's not dwell on that now. Let's focus on this last piece, a piano version of《Big Big World.》Here's the sheet music I wrote. Give it a try, and then we can discuss it, okay?"
"Why not choose《My Name is Helene》? I heard that the French version of that song on my EP sold well in Europe and even topped the music charts in France for several weeks," Angela asked.
"But in the US《Big Big World》is much more popular than《My Name is Helene.》Our contract is for this album to achieve 1 platinum in the domestic market," John said with a smile.
"Alright, I got it," Angela shrugged and was about to start playing. At that moment, a knock on the door sounded, and a young man appeared at the entrance, saying, "Sorry to bother you, Mr. Burns, but there's a problem with MMC. Can you come and take a look?"
John frowned and replied, "Alright, I'll come."
Then he turned to Angela, "I'm sorry, Miss Angela. Please wait for me for a moment. I'll be back soon."
"Okay, Mr. Burns," Angela nodded.
The music director quickly walked out and headed to the recording studio. It turned out that someone on the MMC team had made a mistake with the song selection for the kids to sing. The person in charge of selecting songs was absent and hadn't responded to their calls, so they had to ask the music director to come and sort it out.
John scolded them severely and waited for them to organize the kids before the recording could finally begin.
"I don't want something like this to happen again," he warned before leaving.
"What a bunch of idiots," he muttered as he walked. When he reached outside the music room, he heard rapid and rhythmic music playing inside, buzzing like a swarm of bees, but with a different kind of rhythm.
"《Flight of the Bumblebee》"? No, it sounded somewhat like it, but what could it be? It can't be! John, who was stunned, carefully pushed open the door.
Inside, Angela was sitting in front of the piano, rapidly waving her arms while playing the piece. She was completely focused, with sweat pouring down her face and her chest heaving, as if she was exerting all her strength. Her hands were moving at an incredible speed, almost too fast to see clearly. Finally, after a series of intense notes, she suddenly raised her hands and stopped playing, but her sweaty face showed a satisfied smile.
John, who had been in awe, finally came back to his senses and walked over to Angela. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "《Enduring Movement》?"
Still catching her breath, Angela nodded with a happy expression.
"Good Lord!" John felt a bit dizzy. "This is a duet for two pianos!"
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Although《Enduring Movement》was intended for two pianos and played entirely on the black keys, it demanded exceptionally high technical skill to be played with both hands. While some had achieved it before, Angela was only 12 years old. Despite only playing most of it, it was still enough to shock people.
"It's a pity I couldn't finish playing it," Angela said as she rubbed her fingers, still smiling. "But at least I got past the fourth measure. Previously, I always got stuck there. It's all thanks to the atmosphere in here."
"I was already amazed by your musical talent, but you still surprised me. I really don't know what to say," John shook his head. "Honestly, Angela, I think you should consider attending a music school."
"Why? Aren't the teachers who taught me before professional enough?" Angela asked.
"Of course they are, but music schools have the best atmosphere for fully developing your talent!" John said earnestly.
Angela raised her hand and observed her fingers as they moved a few times. She shrugged noncommittally, "We'll see."
The music director could somewhat guess some of her thoughts. After pondering for a moment, he gently held her hand and raised it in front of her, saying, "You don't need to rush. Look, you're not fully grown yet. Your hands are already beautiful, and as you mature, your fingers will become even more slender. By then, maybe you'll be able to play the complete《Enduring Movement》effortlessly."
"More slender?" Angela suddenly asked.
"Yes, having sufficiently slender fingers can provide many advantages," John explained, but then noticed that the girl's face turned slightly red, and her eyes were shifting restlessly as if lost in thought.
"What's wrong?" the music director asked curiously.
"N-nothing!" Angela tried to cover up, quickly changing the topic. "Alright, Mr. Burns, let's get back to this last piece."
"No, no, no, Angela," John quickly interrupted, "after hearing you playing just now, I have a new idea. Let's give it a try!"
...
"I thought it would take you a while to finish, dear," Frank said, sitting in the driver's seat, ready to start.
"In fact, if there are no surprises, I'm afraid I won't be done until dinner," Angela replied from the backseat, sounding a bit exhausted.
"Is that so?" Frank looked at Angela who had just gotten in, then turned to the passenger seat where Sparrow was sitting.
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"The music director needs to readjust the plan. He said Miss Mason's abilities can handle a groundbreaking performance," Sparrow said, raising the plan that was no longer needed in his hand.
"A groundbreaking performance? My dear Chris, you never fail to surprise people wherever you go," Frank shook his head and started the car, sounding a bit jealous.
"Well, Uncle, just say what you want to say. After all, you came to Los Angeles to invest," Angela replied listlessly.
"Based on the information I gathered《Sleepless in Seattle》grossed about 180 million in the US. So, dear, I've changed my mind. The script you promised me can't be lower than that number," Frank said, patting the steering wheel incessantly.
Angela rolled her eyes, "My God, don't you understand anything about movies, uncle? The success of a film depends on many factors, and the script is just one of them. I read some reviews about《Sleepless in Seattle》and most of the praise was focused on the performances of Mr. Tom Hanks and Miss Meg Ryan. My script was only mentioned briefly, at most."
"Are you saying that Julie's acting is not as good as Miss Ryan's?" Her unscrupulous uncle glanced at the rearview mirror, waiting for her response.
The young girl hesitated for a moment, then stared at her uncle before sighing, "Can we talk about this when I'm not already dealing with so much trouble?"
"Trouble? Tell me about it," he asked, concerned.
"No, you wouldn't want to hear it," Angela replied.
"Oh, dear, how do you know I wouldn't want to hear it if you don't tell me?" he insisted.
Angela rolled her eyes again and then ground her teeth. She leaned in closer to him from the back seat, "Do you really want to know?"
"Of course, maybe I can help," he said.
"Okay," the girl took a deep breath, "I have menstrual cramps!"
Snap! Sparrow, who had been sitting silently in the passenger seat, suddenly poked a hole in the paper he was holding.
At the same time, screech! The car came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the street. Luckily, there weren't many other cars around, or they might have caused an accident.
Caught off guard, Angela almost bumped into something and couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my God, I'm already in a terrible state, do I have to be worse than this?"
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"Hehe, Chris, what did you just say? Men-strual... menstrual cramps? How could you..." Frank still hadn't reacted at this point.
"Most girls experience menstrual cramps after their first period. Do you need me to explain what menstruation is and why there are cramps, Uncle?" Angela retorted from behind the seat, through gritted teeth.
"Oh, no... I just... I just didn't think you've grown up already," Frank stuttered.
"You didn't think? Of course, how could you think of that? How could men possibly understand this? They have no idea what menstrual cramps feel like. All they can say is, 'It'll get better soon.' It's completely meaningless. God should make men experience this too, from time to time!" Angela vented her frustration, and her poor uncle became the scapegoat, not daring to say a word.
Fortunately, Sparrow intervened, "Alright, you two, we're parked in the middle of the road now. If we don't move, the police will come."
The young girl fell silent and sulked in her seat. Frank let out a sigh of relief, realizing that the saying about women being unreasonable when talking about menstrual cramps and menopause might have some truth to it. Of course, he didn't dare to voice this thought at the moment, so he started the car again and continued driving.
In reality, Angela hadn't intended for things to unfold this way, she had just lost control for a moment. Her menstrual cramps were more severe now, and that's why she had played《Enduring Movement》on the piano at the record company earlier—to distract herself. It was a mere accidental breakthrough of the fourth measure, and John's comment about the atmosphere had been a casual remark.
She silently cursed all the deities in her heart, but what good did it do? Would cursing make her pain go away? Would cursing transform her back into a male?
Feeling frustrated, Angela slumped back in her seat. She knew she was fortunate in some ways, she had researched this topic extensively after her first period. Her cramps were considered mild, as in severe cases, women might need to rest in bed, and even pain relief measures might not be effective. Moreover, this was a normal phenomenon after the first period for most women.
However, she also knew that taking care of her body was crucial to preventing primary dysmenorrhea from escalating into secondary dysmenorrhea, which could be life-threatening. The thought of dealing with this for decades to come left her feeling disheartened.
Why did being a woman have to be so challenging?
Wait, the book mentioned that menstrual cramps usually started 2 to 3 years after menarche. So, why did they begin after only ten days? Angela puzzled over this but then recollected the night after her period stopped. Could it be... because... she had masturbated? Her face flushed with embarrassment, but she managed a wry smile. It was probably related to that to some extent.
When you venture into the world, you'll inevitably have to face the consequences!
[TL Note: I'm currently pressed for time, so I can only provide one chapter.]
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As John Burns pressed the final piano key, a sigh of relief escaped him. This marked the completion of the last piece, and with Angela familiarizing herself with these few compositions, the recording process could begin promptly. There was no doubt that the girl's musical talent was astonishing, but in certain aspects it also left people somewhat amused.
For instance, right from the start, she insisted on using three different instruments to play three separate pieces for the EP! This was, after all, an EP, not a full-fledged album! Even in purely instrumental albums, there would typically be a featured instrument rather than different ones playing separate pieces. When she first made this request, both he and the studio staff were left dumbfounded.
Fortunately, after he explained the situation, the young girl readily agreed to make the necessary changes and even apologized to everyone, flashing an adorable smile. However, it became evident that she didn't entirely grasp the concept of a purely instrumental album. So, what drove her insistence on releasing one?
John shrugged and flipped through the sheet music before him. It had been his idea for Angela to play the piano, and he had curated three unique pieces for her—one classical, one jazz, and a reimagined version of the song《Big Big World》from her previous EP. This approach allowed them to showcase a blend of classical and modern elements while evoking nostalgia among listeners who were already familiar with her past work, promising to pique their curiosity.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Burns," Angela's voice came from the door as she entered, lightly clutching her stomach, her face a bit pale, devoid of any extra expressions.
Unaware of her condition, John stepped aside from his seat, saying, "No problem, it hasn't been too long. We have one last piece left, and once you're familiar with it, we can start the recording."
"Alright, no problem," Angela replied, settling at the piano. After a moment, she asked, "Mr. Burns, what is MMC?"
"Oh, that's the abbreviation for the Mickey Mouse Club," John explained, then inquired, "Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing. When I was in the restroom just now, I met two girls who asked if I was a new member of MMC," Angela shrugged, attempting to dismiss the encounter casually.
"Ah, the Mickey Mouse Club is a group established by the company in '89. It usually consists of kids aged 8 to 13 who go on a nationwide tour, performing singing, dancing, and more. They are here today to record an album. Since the number of members is not fixed, with kids joining or leaving from time to time, they probably asked you like that," John explained.
"Sounds interesting," Angela touched her chin thoughtfully.
"Do you want to join? You would definitely be the lead singer, and there are many kids in the club who are fans of Miss AM," John joked.
"Forget it, Mr. Burns. Do you think such a group will have a strong staying power?" Angela raised an eyebrow skeptically.
"What? Do you see something?" John was slightly taken aback.
"A group with multiple members, but the number of members is not fixed, often with kids under 13 years old," Angela turned her head and smiled at the music director. "I think you can see what I'm getting at."
John shrugged, saying, "Well, I admit this group can last at most two years. To be honest I was against it from the beginning, but I'm just a small music director."
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Then he waved his hand, "Anyway, let's not dwell on that now. Let's focus on this last piece, a piano version of《Big Big World.》Here's the sheet music I wrote. Give it a try, and then we can discuss it, okay?"
"Why not choose《My Name is Helene》? I heard that the French version of that song on my EP sold well in Europe and even topped the music charts in France for several weeks," Angela asked.
"But in the US《Big Big World》is much more popular than《My Name is Helene.》Our contract is for this album to achieve 1 platinum in the domestic market," John said with a smile.
"Alright, I got it," Angela shrugged and was about to start playing. At that moment, a knock on the door sounded, and a young man appeared at the entrance, saying, "Sorry to bother you, Mr. Burns, but there's a problem with MMC. Can you come and take a look?"
John frowned and replied, "Alright, I'll come."
Then he turned to Angela, "I'm sorry, Miss Angela. Please wait for me for a moment. I'll be back soon."
"Okay, Mr. Burns," Angela nodded.
The music director quickly walked out and headed to the recording studio. It turned out that someone on the MMC team had made a mistake with the song selection for the kids to sing. The person in charge of selecting songs was absent and hadn't responded to their calls, so they had to ask the music director to come and sort it out.
John scolded them severely and waited for them to organize the kids before the recording could finally begin.
"I don't want something like this to happen again," he warned before leaving.
"What a bunch of idiots," he muttered as he walked. When he reached outside the music room, he heard rapid and rhythmic music playing inside, buzzing like a swarm of bees, but with a different kind of rhythm.
"《Flight of the Bumblebee》"? No, it sounded somewhat like it, but what could it be? It can't be! John, who was stunned, carefully pushed open the door.
Inside, Angela was sitting in front of the piano, rapidly waving her arms while playing the piece. She was completely focused, with sweat pouring down her face and her chest heaving, as if she was exerting all her strength. Her hands were moving at an incredible speed, almost too fast to see clearly. Finally, after a series of intense notes, she suddenly raised her hands and stopped playing, but her sweaty face showed a satisfied smile.
John, who had been in awe, finally came back to his senses and walked over to Angela. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "《Enduring Movement》?"
Still catching her breath, Angela nodded with a happy expression.
"Good Lord!" John felt a bit dizzy. "This is a duet for two pianos!"
Sponsored Content
Although《Enduring Movement》was intended for two pianos and played entirely on the black keys, it demanded exceptionally high technical skill to be played with both hands. While some had achieved it before, Angela was only 12 years old. Despite only playing most of it, it was still enough to shock people.
"It's a pity I couldn't finish playing it," Angela said as she rubbed her fingers, still smiling. "But at least I got past the fourth measure. Previously, I always got stuck there. It's all thanks to the atmosphere in here."
"I was already amazed by your musical talent, but you still surprised me. I really don't know what to say," John shook his head. "Honestly, Angela, I think you should consider attending a music school."
"Why? Aren't the teachers who taught me before professional enough?" Angela asked.
"Of course they are, but music schools have the best atmosphere for fully developing your talent!" John said earnestly.
Angela raised her hand and observed her fingers as they moved a few times. She shrugged noncommittally, "We'll see."
The music director could somewhat guess some of her thoughts. After pondering for a moment, he gently held her hand and raised it in front of her, saying, "You don't need to rush. Look, you're not fully grown yet. Your hands are already beautiful, and as you mature, your fingers will become even more slender. By then, maybe you'll be able to play the complete《Enduring Movement》effortlessly."
"More slender?" Angela suddenly asked.
"Yes, having sufficiently slender fingers can provide many advantages," John explained, but then noticed that the girl's face turned slightly red, and her eyes were shifting restlessly as if lost in thought.
"What's wrong?" the music director asked curiously.
"N-nothing!" Angela tried to cover up, quickly changing the topic. "Alright, Mr. Burns, let's get back to this last piece."
"No, no, no, Angela," John quickly interrupted, "after hearing you playing just now, I have a new idea. Let's give it a try!"
...
"I thought it would take you a while to finish, dear," Frank said, sitting in the driver's seat, ready to start.
"In fact, if there are no surprises, I'm afraid I won't be done until dinner," Angela replied from the backseat, sounding a bit exhausted.
"Is that so?" Frank looked at Angela who had just gotten in, then turned to the passenger seat where Sparrow was sitting.
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"The music director needs to readjust the plan. He said Miss Mason's abilities can handle a groundbreaking performance," Sparrow said, raising the plan that was no longer needed in his hand.
"A groundbreaking performance? My dear Chris, you never fail to surprise people wherever you go," Frank shook his head and started the car, sounding a bit jealous.
"Well, Uncle, just say what you want to say. After all, you came to Los Angeles to invest," Angela replied listlessly.
"Based on the information I gathered《Sleepless in Seattle》grossed about 180 million in the US. So, dear, I've changed my mind. The script you promised me can't be lower than that number," Frank said, patting the steering wheel incessantly.
Angela rolled her eyes, "My God, don't you understand anything about movies, uncle? The success of a film depends on many factors, and the script is just one of them. I read some reviews about《Sleepless in Seattle》and most of the praise was focused on the performances of Mr. Tom Hanks and Miss Meg Ryan. My script was only mentioned briefly, at most."
"Are you saying that Julie's acting is not as good as Miss Ryan's?" Her unscrupulous uncle glanced at the rearview mirror, waiting for her response.
The young girl hesitated for a moment, then stared at her uncle before sighing, "Can we talk about this when I'm not already dealing with so much trouble?"
"Trouble? Tell me about it," he asked, concerned.
"No, you wouldn't want to hear it," Angela replied.
"Oh, dear, how do you know I wouldn't want to hear it if you don't tell me?" he insisted.
Angela rolled her eyes again and then ground her teeth. She leaned in closer to him from the back seat, "Do you really want to know?"
"Of course, maybe I can help," he said.
"Okay," the girl took a deep breath, "I have menstrual cramps!"
Snap! Sparrow, who had been sitting silently in the passenger seat, suddenly poked a hole in the paper he was holding.
At the same time, screech! The car came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the street. Luckily, there weren't many other cars around, or they might have caused an accident.
Caught off guard, Angela almost bumped into something and couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my God, I'm already in a terrible state, do I have to be worse than this?"
Sponsored Content
"Hehe, Chris, what did you just say? Men-strual... menstrual cramps? How could you..." Frank still hadn't reacted at this point.
"Most girls experience menstrual cramps after their first period. Do you need me to explain what menstruation is and why there are cramps, Uncle?" Angela retorted from behind the seat, through gritted teeth.
"Oh, no... I just... I just didn't think you've grown up already," Frank stuttered.
"You didn't think? Of course, how could you think of that? How could men possibly understand this? They have no idea what menstrual cramps feel like. All they can say is, 'It'll get better soon.' It's completely meaningless. God should make men experience this too, from time to time!" Angela vented her frustration, and her poor uncle became the scapegoat, not daring to say a word.
Fortunately, Sparrow intervened, "Alright, you two, we're parked in the middle of the road now. If we don't move, the police will come."
The young girl fell silent and sulked in her seat. Frank let out a sigh of relief, realizing that the saying about women being unreasonable when talking about menstrual cramps and menopause might have some truth to it. Of course, he didn't dare to voice this thought at the moment, so he started the car again and continued driving.
In reality, Angela hadn't intended for things to unfold this way, she had just lost control for a moment. Her menstrual cramps were more severe now, and that's why she had played《Enduring Movement》on the piano at the record company earlier—to distract herself. It was a mere accidental breakthrough of the fourth measure, and John's comment about the atmosphere had been a casual remark.
She silently cursed all the deities in her heart, but what good did it do? Would cursing make her pain go away? Would cursing transform her back into a male?
Feeling frustrated, Angela slumped back in her seat. She knew she was fortunate in some ways, she had researched this topic extensively after her first period. Her cramps were considered mild, as in severe cases, women might need to rest in bed, and even pain relief measures might not be effective. Moreover, this was a normal phenomenon after the first period for most women.
However, she also knew that taking care of her body was crucial to preventing primary dysmenorrhea from escalating into secondary dysmenorrhea, which could be life-threatening. The thought of dealing with this for decades to come left her feeling disheartened.
Why did being a woman have to be so challenging?
Wait, the book mentioned that menstrual cramps usually started 2 to 3 years after menarche. So, why did they begin after only ten days? Angela puzzled over this but then recollected the night after her period stopped. Could it be... because... she had masturbated? Her face flushed with embarrassment, but she managed a wry smile. It was probably related to that to some extent.
When you venture into the world, you'll inevitably have to face the consequences!
[TL Note: I'm currently pressed for time, so I can only provide one chapter.]
