Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 456 Striving for Xixi's Dream

Summer 1995, Beijing.

Lin Yan’s record company, which he previously founded under the name “Siyuan Culture”, has begun to show its potential after several years of low-key capital integration and talent acquisition.

The lights of "Siyuan Records (Hong Kong) Limited" on the Victoria Harbour waterfront in Hong Kong are bright.

With its strong financial backing and close ties to the "Lin Group," coupled with the keen eye of its professional team, the company successfully attracted the attention of several future superstars with highly competitive contracts and a commitment to respecting the development of its artists.

Eason Chan, who had just graduated from the Department of Architecture at Kingston University in the UK, was still a bit green but had a unique voice. After several interviews, the company's music director was amazed by his talent and believed that his voice contained "the great tension of storytelling and the charm of emotional resonance". He immediately signed him.

Also signing at the same time was Miriam Yeung, who came from the New Talent Singing Contest, has a bright smile, and sings with a stubbornness and genuine personality typical of urban women.

Another highly anticipated artist, Lin Jianhua, also chose to join Siyuan Music after being contacted by various parties.

The company has equipped them with a top-notch production team, and creative resources have begun to be allocated to them. Their first album is already in intensive preparation, with the goal of reshaping the new force of Hong Kong music.

Mainland China.

Lin Yan directly instructed that "Siyuan Culture" acquire Guangzhou's long-established record company, New Era Audio-Visual Company, in a stunningly low price and a clean and efficient transaction.

This move shocked the domestic music industry.

The "golden couple" at the peak of New Era's success—Yang Yuying, with her sweet and gentle voice and pure and charming image, and Mao Ning, tall, handsome, and affectionate—along with their vast library of works, mature production and distribution channels, and a group of veteran musicians, have all come under the banner of "Siyuan Culture".

After the acquisition, Siyuan Culture was not content with remaining confined to Lingnan.

With a wave of his hand, Lin Yan moved the company headquarters directly from Guangzhou to Beijing, settling in a newly purchased standalone building in Chaoyang District that combines modernity and artistic style, and named it "Siyuan Music Center".

This place is not only the administrative headquarters, but also houses Asia's top recording studios, rehearsal rooms, and artist apartments, demonstrating its ambition to be based in the capital and radiate throughout the country.

On a drizzly afternoon, at the Beijing Siyuan Music Center.

Outside the largest recording studio, inside double-layered soundproof glass, Yang Yuying was recording a new sweet song.

She was wearing headphones, standing in front of the microphone, with soft light shining on her. She was still wearing a white dress, exuding a gentle and graceful aura.

The recording engineer and producer were focused on making adjustments at the mixing console.

Outside the glass, on the soft carpet of the control room, a small figure was lying there, intently watching inside.

It was Xixi, this adorable little girl with boundless curiosity. Her big, dark eyes were fixed on Yang Yuying as she sang, and she would occasionally lip-sync silently to the songs.

Lin Yan sat on the sofa next to her, looking at his daughter with gentle eyes, and occasionally glancing at the work in the recording studio.

Today, he was dressed casually in a linen shirt, a rare sight for him. He had shed his usual aloofness and sternness, and was just an ordinary father spending time with his child.

"dad,"

Xi Xi suddenly turned her head and asked in a low voice, afraid of disturbing the recording inside.

"Isn't Sister Yuying's singing voice as sweet and soft as cotton candy?"

Lin Yan smiled slightly and reached out to pat his daughter's head: "Hmm, she looks a lot like her. Does Xixi like it?"

"like!"

Xi Xi nodded vigorously, then turned back and rested her chin on her hand.

"How can she sing so well all the time? Doesn't she get tired?"

At this moment, the recording came to an end, and Yang Yuying came out to rest. Seeing Lin Yan and Xi Xi, she immediately showed a gentle smile and bowed slightly.

"Mr. Lin, you've arrived."

She always maintained a respectful attitude towards the young boss, and knew that the boss would occasionally bring the little princess to listen to recordings, seemingly showing great affection for his daughter.

"Ms. Yang, you've worked hard and are in great shape." Lin Yan nodded.

Xi Xi had already jumped up and run to Yang Yuying's side, looking up at her with her little face full of admiration:

"Sister Yuying, you sing so beautifully! Like...like a lark!"

Yang Yuying was amused by the little girl's innocent praise, squatted down, and gently pinched Xi Xi's cheek:

"Thank you, Xixi. If you like it, Xixi, please come and listen to me sing often, okay?"

"Okay!" Xi Xi replied happily, then asked curiously, "Sister, what were you thinking about when you were recording the song?"

"When Xixi gets a little older, she can also learn to go to the recording studio," Lin Yan suddenly said.

Xi Xi immediately turned around, her eyes sparkling: "Really? Daddy!"

"Of course," Lin Yan smiled.

Yang Yuying smiled to herself, and she also had a different feeling about this mysterious boss.

Recording continues.

Lin Yan didn't leave; he stayed with Xi Xi and listened to the entire recording process of Yang Yuying's song.

Xi Xi would occasionally ask questions in a low voice, and Lin Yan would explain some simple recording knowledge or musical anecdotes in a low voice.

As they left the recording center, Xixi was still brimming with excitement, chattering away while holding Lin Yan's hand. Lin Yan led her along in the cool evening breeze of late summer.

"Dad, can we come again next time? I want to hear Brother Mao Ning sing again, and... the songs of the brothers and sisters from Hong Kong!" Xi Xi asked, looking up.

"Sure," Lin Yan promised. "As long as Xixi likes it, Daddy will bring you. You can not only listen, but also watch them rehearse and even attend their concerts in the future."

"Great!" the little girl cheered.

Once inside the car, Xi Xi gradually fell asleep leaning against Lin Yan, a smile still on her lips. Lin Yan gently adjusted her position to make her more comfortable, his gaze fixed on the dazzling night view of Beijing outside the window.

The record company's efforts to sign popular and promising artists are, for him, nothing more than to fulfill Xixi's dream of becoming a singer and to gain a voice in the future.

"But since we've already started, we'll make a comprehensive plan encompassing music, film, media, and more."