These past two days have been fulfilling, spent continuously sowing seeds and looking forward to future harvests.
In truth, Zhou You felt that as someone with a farming background, investing was only natural—it was all about sowing and reaping, with weeding, pesticide spraying, and relying on the weather in between. Farmers truly are angel investors; many toil hard for a year, only to have everything ruined by drought or heavy rain. After all that painstaking cultivation, they can't withstand natural disasters.
Not to mention the unpredictable man-made calamities. A person's growth path is fraught with difficulties, and a company's journey is no different, facing unknown challenges. Just like the instant noodle industry—who would have thought that its downfall wouldn't come from competitors but from food delivery services?
The next day, Zhou You took Sun Li to the Beijing Conservatory of Music. Director Teng knew a friend who taught there, and they planned to use the equipment on-site for an assessment.
When Teng Huatao approached Miao Xia yesterday, she wasn't keen: "Old Teng, how old is she now? Bringing her to me like this—aren't you just wasting her time? Late bloomers exist, but they're far too rare."
"I'm trusting you by bringing her here. If you weren't a woman, I wouldn't introduce her to you. Don't worry, I won't lead you astray. Honestly, if you're willing to teach, you won't lose out. Have I ever screwed you over all these years?" Teng Huatao said helplessly. He didn't know many female musicians, and Miao Xia, as a conservatory teacher, was a solid professional.
More importantly, she taught flute and drums daily, so her skill level was definitely far above Sun Li's.
After hearing the basics yesterday, Teng Huatao had been pondering the best approach. After much thought, he decided that a professional path was the safest bet—offensive and defensive options, without compromising either.
The meeting was held at a training center Miao Xia ran near the conservatory. After introductions, Teng Huatao noted that both sides were university teachers, which immediately fostered a sense of camaraderie.
Miao Xia didn't stand on ceremony and asked Sun Li to perform her best piece first. Sun Li thought for a moment and, with her current mood still manageable, played a flute piece—the same "Partridge Flying" she had performed for Zhou You before.
Though she was a bit nervous at first, her playing grew smoother as she delved deeper, gradually conveying the tense feeling of a bird wanting to fly but afraid to do so. Miao Xia's expression shifted from a furrowed brow to a calm demeanor.
After listening, she had Sun Li perform on the drums. The drum piece was "Golden Snake Dance." The earlier flute had carried a hint of gentleness, but the drums now fully unleashed her nature—smooth and natural throughout, with thunderous beats and wild movements.
Finally, she hummed a few simple notes. Afterward, everyone couldn't help but applaud, and Miao Xia's face lit up with joy.
"Your skill level is no less than some of my students. Your fundamentals are very solid. Why didn't you apply to our school back then?" Miao Xia asked curiously, noting the clear signs of childhood training.
"I passed the professional exams, but my cultural course scores were too low," Sun Li said, her head slightly bowed. Her face was still flushed from drumming as she spoke sheepishly.
"I heard from Director Teng about your situation yesterday, and after seeing your performance today, let me share my thoughts—they might not be spot-on, but take them as a reference. First, your professional level is decent and solid, but there's still a gap before you can perform on stage. Second, your age is awkward—stuck in the middle. A bit older, and you'd probably lose the drive to chase your dream; a bit younger, and you'd have a good chance of being scouted by an entertainment company."
"With your current foundation, signing with an entertainment company would be tough. Even if you did, it would be at the lowest tier of a newcomer contract—full of restrictions and poor treatment." She glanced at Zhou You. "Of course, even if money isn't an issue, I wouldn't recommend it. You'd just be signing a slave contract."
Seeing Sun Li's spirits dip, Zhou You looked at Miao Xia and asked, "Since Teacher Miao has honestly pointed out these issues, you must have a good solution."
"Even if Mr. Zhou hadn't asked, I would have said it. There are two options right now. First, Sun Li is still young with solid professional skills—she could pursue further education. Since Mr. Zhou isn't short on money, she could apply for graduate studies at our school. With tutoring in both professional and cultural courses, her chances of getting in are quite high. Second, she could go the independent musician route, but she'd need to strengthen her fundamentals, fully study vocal music, and learn the behind-the-scenes production of songs."
After hearing this, Zhou You leaned toward the first option: "Teacher Miao, after listening to you, can I understand it as the first option encompassing the second?"
Miao Xia smiled. "Yes, Mr. Zhou's understanding is correct. The first option has a higher ceiling and a broader future. After further study, with the school's reputation backing her, whether she enters the music industry or releases her own songs later, the advantages are significant."
Sun Li felt overwhelmed listening nearby. Was she about to go back to school again?
"Brother You, I'm a bit confused. Is Teacher Miao suggesting I go for graduate studies?"
"Yes, after hearing her out, I also recommend you pursue a graduate degree. The prestige of your current school and Teacher Miao's school are worlds apart. After you graduate, you can either take the professional route or return to being a university teacher at your school. Your music resources will also be much broader," Zhou You strongly advocated for this path.
"But what about my studies? Can I even focus on learning now?" Sun Li had no confidence.
"Don't worry about that. Teacher Miao just said they have professional training, and the chances of passing are high. Besides, if it doesn't work out, you can always take the second path—it's not too late. Except for the cultural courses, the two paths are essentially the same."
"No rush. Go home and think it over. Let me know when you've decided," Miao Xia said, noticing Sun Li's hesitation.
At that moment, Sun Li's inner turmoil was raging. Her lifelong lack of confidence flared up, making her instinctively want to avoid the decision. But if she missed this chance, who knew when she'd get another to change her fate? So she steadied herself and said with firm resolve, "Teacher Miao, I'll take the first path. I'll leave the rest to you."
Miao Xia was slightly surprised to see such a quick shift in mindset. This was promising material.
Zhou You was delighted too. Seeing someone he cared about pursue her own dream made him empathize with that feeling. Opportunities to change one's fate were rare, and now Zhou You had the ability to change someone else's.
With the matter settled, everyone was pleased. Teng Huatao had successfully completed his task. Miao Xia had found a promising talent, and tutoring would bring in extra income—not a small amount at that. She also had the chance to connect with a new investor.