Seven o'clock in the evening, as dusk settled.
Aaron Yuan got up from the small bed in the recording room, looked out the window, and mumbled: "It's so late already, why didn't Lily wake me?" In his youth, Aaron Yuan often stayed up late recording songs. Now that he was older, his health wasn't as good, and he needed to sleep for two to three hours every day after lunch. Usually, his granddaughter, Lily Yuan, would wake him up, but today he had slept until dark, and his obedient granddaughter hadn't come to call him. Aaron Yuan patted his head, then remembered the young man introduced by Celeste Monroe who was still outside.
"Lily wouldn't still be recording with that kid, would she?" Aaron Yuan felt a bit annoyed and decided to go out and send him away. His obedient granddaughter had been occupied by this kid for so long that she forgot to wake him up. What a crime that Frank fellow had committed!
Aaron Yuan huffily opened the door and walked out. "You little..." He stopped mid-sentence. Inside the humble recording studio, a mournful and majestic violin melody was playing, accompanied by a classical-style operatic chant.
Opera! Aaron Yuan immediately recognized the musical form. Musicians of his generation not only had to know popular music but also be proficient in traditional instruments and opera. Such classic operatic singing, Aaron Yuan had heard countless times, so it wasn't surprising. But at this moment, Aaron Yuan's eyes widened in astonishment. Because the person currently performing the opera was none other than that brat.
"Frank Castle?"
Frank stood wearing headphones, in front of the microphone, his eyes tightly closed, his constantly moving lips emitting melodious and powerful operatic lyrics. Lily Yuan, helping with the recording nearby, was utterly mesmerized, her almond eyes shining brightly. Aaron Yuan quietly walked to her side. Lily Yuan saw him and quickly stood up. "Grandpa!"
"Shh." Aaron Yuan gestured for her to be quiet, picked up a pair of headphones and put them on, carefully listening to Frank's performance.
Soon, Frank finished one take, opened his eyes, and emerged from the emotional intensity, only then noticing Aaron Yuan was also there. He quickly took off his headphones. "Mr. Yuan, I apologize. Did I disturb you?"
Aaron Yuan stared at him coldly without speaking. Lily Yuan tugged at his sleeve. "Grandpa, Mr. Frank actually sings quite well..."
"Unstable breath, unclear diction, no resonance in the operatic style. You call that good singing?" Aaron Yuan snorted. In just a few hours, his obedient granddaughter was calling this brat "Mr. Frank." He put his headphones back on: "Do it again!"
Frank didn't react for a moment. Lily Yuan, overjoyed, repeatedly winked at Frank. "Mr. Frank, quickly, sing it again!" She hadn't seen her grandpa personally help someone practice singing in many years. This was a rare opportunity for Frank! Frank understood, immediately put on his headphones, composed himself, and gave Lily Yuan an "OK" gesture. Lily Yuan started playing the accompaniment track they had just recorded together.
The melodious and poignant sounds of the piano and cello began, Frank sang an operatic phrase first, then started the first verse. Soon, he finished another take. Lily Yuan took off her headphones, wiping her slightly red eyes. This song was so moving. Even after hearing it many times, she still couldn't help but tear up. Especially this take; Mr. Frank sang with exceptional emotion. Lily Yuan felt the lingering melody wrap around her heart. She became even more curious about Frank. Why had she never heard of such an amazing person in American music before?
While helping Frank record the accompaniment track earlier, she had discovered that the accompanying instruments in this song included the piano, cello, flute, lyre, and harp – essentially covering some of the oldest Western and Middle Eastern instruments. Frank was proficient in every instrument. Lily Yuan had studied classical music and could play these instruments, but nowhere near Frank's level of mastery.
What impressed Lily Yuan even more was Frank's operatic voice. The operatic part of this song was primarily inspired by classical European opera. Lily Yuan, influenced by her grandfather, had studied it for a period when she was young, but she didn't have the talent to fully master it. Frank's operatic singing reminded Lily Yuan of the teacher who had taught her. Although there were only a few short lines, it was enough to leave a lasting impression. When they chatted earlier, she learned that this song was also Frank's original work. Lily Yuan was immediately awestruck. To be able to compose, master eighteen different instruments, sing, and perform opera... This was simply a genius!
"This take is not good. Again." Lily Yuan was excitedly about to applaud when Aaron Yuan said coldly, gesturing for her to play the accompaniment track again.
"Ah? Oh, oh." Lily Yuan was stunned, then nodded in agreement. With a flick of her finger, the melodious and poignant tune filled the recording studio again.
For the next two hours, Aaron Yuan made Frank sing more than ten times, then asked expressionlessly: "Where did you learn your operatic singing?"
Frank replied: "When I was little, I liked watching plays with my grandpa. The head of the opera troupe knew my grandpa and taught me opera singing. In college, I took elective courses in opera and classical theatrical singing."
Aaron Yuan nodded, still outwardly unfazed: "Your vocal talent isn't great. Your breath control and pitch still need work. Come tomorrow at eight, and practice in there." He pointed to the recording room nearby.
"Okay, thank you, Mr. Yuan." Frank respectfully nodded.
"Grandpa?" Lily Yuan's small face was full of shock. That recording room was Grandpa's most treasured place. Even she wasn't allowed to enter casually. Grandpa once said that fewer than three people in the current American music scene were qualified to enter that recording room. One of them was Ms. Celeste, but Ms. Celeste was too busy and hadn't been there in a long time. This Mr. Frank looked so young and had no fame at all, yet Grandpa was letting him into his treasured recording room?
"Alright, you can go now." Aaron Yuan ignored his granddaughter's surprise, told Frank, and walked back to the lounge with his hands behind his back.
"Okay, I'll be leaving now, sir." Frank bowed to Aaron Yuan, smiled at Lily Yuan, and turned to leave the recording studio.
After Frank left, Lily Yuan finally couldn't hold it in anymore. She walked into the lounge and asked Aaron Yuan: "Grandpa, are you really going to let him into Dragon's Roar Mountain?" Aaron Yuan had specifically named his treasured recording room "Dragon's Roar Mountain."
Hearing his granddaughter's words, Aaron Yuan still looked cold and aloof. "Things unused for too long will rust. Let him help me break in the equipment." Lily Yuan knew her grandpa's temper; he would never admit defeat verbally. She turned to look at the main door.
"Grandpa, do you think Mr. Frank will become as great as Ms. Celeste in the future?"
"Him?" Aaron Yuan scoffed with a grin, but ultimately didn't deny it, muttering: "Where did that little Celeste find a person like this?"
Frank left Evergreen Recording Studio, found a random hotel to stay at, washed up, and checked his phone. Celeste Monroe still hadn't replied about the critique of his "homework" today. She must be busy, right? After all, she's a Pop Queen, not as闲 as I am.
However, Frank didn't receive Celeste Monroe's reply, but he did get a message from his ex-wife. Amelia Quinn sent a location pin for a secluded teahahouse.
"Frank, I want to talk to you."