“Hey, did you guys notice? I don't think I've seen Cao Zei around.”
“Yeah, I haven’t seen Cao Zei all day.”
In the practice room of Class B, the trainees noticed a problem.
They had started practicing the theme song, each trainee working hard to learn their parts.
But during a break, they realized they hadn't seen Cao Gong.
“I think Reba PD called Cao Zei out around noon, and we haven't seen him since.”
“Yeah, I didn't see him in the cafeteria for dinner either.”
“Maybe he got kicked off because he wrote the theme song, and they felt it was unfair?”
“No way, right? Even if he wrote the song, it's not a reason to kick him off.”
“Maybe he's too strong, so they're kicking him off? That's not logical.”
The trainees were discussing this, but Cao Gong was actually hanging out with Zhang Yi Xing.
In the practice room, Cao Gong was discussing the choreography for the song he had just finished.
He had composed the melody and written the lyrics.
However, Zhang Yi Xing had his own ideas about the dance.
“Hmm…” Zhang Yi Xing was troubled, listening to the music over and over.
He wasn't very good at choreography, to be honest.
He was a great dancer, but that didn’t mean he could choreograph.
Choreography was like composing music or writing lyrics.
Just because you sing well doesn’t mean you can write a song.
Just because you're a good actor doesn’t mean you can write a script.
Similarly, being a good dancer doesn't automatically make you a good choreographer.
There's a saying: "A dancer can't always choreograph, but a choreographer can always dance."
Zhang Yi Xing would occasionally try to choreograph his own dances during practice.
But when it came to choreographing a new song, he wasn't up to the task.
“Are you in a hurry to get this song out?” Cao Gong asked, sitting cross-legged, looking at Zhang Yi Xing who was struggling.
“Well, to be honest, I am in a hurry.”
“You know the situation with my group. After the other two members came back to China, they both released albums.”
“They've returned to China to develop their careers and have their own works to give back to their fans.”
“I’m not envious, I’m actually happy for them.”
“But I'm in a rush because I’m back in China to develop my career, and my fans want to see my work.”
“Right now, I don't have any work I can really put out there. I've had many people submit songs to me, but they're not really my style, and I can't do them justice.”
“A lot of music composers have written songs for me, but they're all either ballads or love songs.”
“I'm an idol singer, I’m not good at singing love songs, so…”
Zhang Yi Xing's final words showed his high emotional intelligence.
They were filming a show, with many cameras in the practice room.
He didn’t know if this part would air, so he was cautious with his words.
Zhang Yi Xing actually wanted to say that he didn’t like any of the songs submitted to him, he wasn’t satisfied with any of them, and he looked down on them.
But he couldn't say that. If he did, and this segment aired, or was leaked out by someone on purpose, the songwriters who had submitted songs to Zhang Yi Xing would know.
They wouldn’t write for him again.
So, Zhang Yi Xing cleverly chose to lower his profile.
He didn't say the songs were bad, instead he said he wasn’t skilled enough, the style didn’t suit him, and he couldn’t sing them well.
That way, he showed his humility, and didn’t offend anyone.
No wonder he was challenged by Man Bang (Man Team).
Last year, Zhang Yi Xing was pushed and honed through a season of Man Bang, and now he has grown up, and is even emotionally intelligent in his speech.
“I see.” Cao Gong lazily stretched out on the floor.
He was lying on the floor in a very glamorous, relaxed pose, with his hand propped under his head.
Cao Gong lay there, thinking about the dance for this song.
“How about this, we forget about trying to incorporate Chinese elements into the dance, it would be too limiting.”
“We can put the Chinese elements in the music video.”
“Then, for the live performances, we can use Chinese elements for the stage design.”
“The stage design can use a Chinese style, that would be really good too.”
Zhang Yi Xing stroked his chin, thinking about Cao Gong’s suggestion.
If that’s the case, Zhang Yi Xing said seriously, “Then what’s your idea for the dance?”
“I have ideas, but I don’t know if you’re willing to push your boundaries or try something new.”
“Tell me.” Zhang Yi Xing wanted to hear his ideas.
“The next thing I’m going to say might make you uncomfortable, but it’s also what people are criticizing and trolling you about right now.” Cao Gong prepped him first.
Zhang Yi Xing, being smart, already knew what was coming. He said, “Effeminate? Girly?”
“…” Cao Gong, who was about to say it, just clapped his hands and gave Zhang Yi Xing a thumbs up.
“It’s okay, right now the whole internet is trolling us like that.” Zhang Yi Xing said it was no problem.
“You heard the melody, the rhythm is strong, right?”
“So, the dance will show off the masculine side, the raw, powerful side.”
“It’s also a response to the criticisms, and a stylistic breakthrough.”
Zhang Yi Xing was convinced, this suggestion was great.
“So, the dance.” Zhang Yi Xing clapped, asking about the dance.
“We can do this.” Cao Gong stood up, performing the dance moves he had in mind for Zhang Yi Xing to see.
Zhang Yi Xing played the music to accompany him.
Following the music, Cao Gong danced, not worrying about timing or anything.
He just needed to choreograph the moves and finalize them.
They could work on timing and rhythm with the melody later.
After watching Cao Gong’s choreography, Zhang Yi Xing jumped up excitedly. “This is it! This is it!”
The part about Cao Gong choreographing the dance for Zhang Yi Xing was not shown in the first two episodes of Idol Producer.
It was about Zhang Yi Xing's new album, so if it aired, it would spoil the surprise.
So, Zhang Yi Xing would discuss with the show’s team and hold onto this segment.
They could always air it after his album came out.
“Let's go with this for the dance, we can refine it some more. And then there’s the rap in this song.”
“As the songwriter and choreographer for this song, you should rap on it.”
“What do you say? We'll collaborate on this song?” Zhang Yi Xing was very excited to invite him.
He invited Cao Gong to collaborate because he felt Cao Gong had the ability.
If Cao Gong didn’t have that ability, then it wouldn't be right.