Xing Chen knew that Columbia's prototype was a Western Great Power, but it wasn't the Western Great Power he knew.
Columbia was a rising, nascent nation, representing the most advanced productivity in contemporary Terra, corresponding to the Western Great Power of its golden age—then, an undisputed beacon.
He hadn't experienced that era; by the time he opened his eyes to the world, the Western Great Power was already a gradually declining camel, with only its old reserves left.
He didn't think the Western Great Power of the last century would appreciate the over-medicated music of the modern Western Great Power, and Columbia should be the same.
"Y.M.C.A should be good, are there any others..."
Xing Chen silently wrote down the Western Great Power music he knew on a scrap of paper, then used the process of elimination to remove the less suitable parts.
"Xing Chen, Xing Chen, what do you think of this dress?"
Theresa suddenly jumped out from behind a wall, her elaborate black gown and veil slowly falling with gravity.
The Demon Lord Girl spun in a circle in front of Xing Chen, as if showing off.
"Hmm, it's very beautiful," Xing Chen gave a very high evaluation.
"Any more, any more?" Theresa showed a very expectant expression.
"If you sing in this, will it cause apoptosis damage?"
Hearing Xing Chen say this, Theresa immediately drooped her head.
Seeing this, he knew he seemed to have made a mistake and had to make amends.
So Xing Chen quickly got up from the table, put his arm around Theresa's slender waist, and, taking her by surprise, pressed her onto the bed.
"Just kidding, don't take it seriously."
"Hmph, Klonny is still here."
Though she said this, Theresa did not resist, seemingly anticipating his next move.
Speaking of which, are Sarkaz really that open-minded?
Game productions need to pass censorship, so certain things can only be touched upon lightly, but by referencing people in similar living environments, some answers can be found.
For Xing Chen, the small head often controlled the big head, but when it came to Theresa, the big head still called the shots.
So Xing Chen did not proceed further but held her hand and lay on the bed with her.
The two of them lay together like that for an unknown amount of time, then Theresa asked, "Xing Chen, are you tired?"
"Yes, I am," Xing Chen narrowed his eyes, then turned his head to look at the Demon Lord's face, "But being with you, I am very happy."
"Mm, me too."
Rest time over, Xing Chen continued his work, and Theresa went to find Klonny.
"That fast?" Klonny looked up from her workbench.
"What are you thinking!" A hand chop sent all impure thoughts away.
Just then, the doorbell rang.
Theresa went to open the door, and Red Bean and her band members arrived at Xing Chen's apartment with their respective instruments.
He and Theresa would leave after they were done; Klonny wasn't interested in music and would go independent as a fashion designer once she made a name for herself in Columbia.
So the band's work would naturally fall to Red Bean.
It would be even better if Mingjiao could be found, but she was in the countryside, and Xing Chen didn't have the energy or time.
"Are we supposed to rock out in this?" A band member picked up a dress, finding the hem trailed on the ground.
"We'd probably just trip and fall," another band member gestured on himself.
"This is also a unique style, isn't it?" Theresa said gently, "Besides, the core of rock is the music, isn't it?"
On the other side, Xing Chen took out the prepared music and played it for them, receiving approval from Red Bean and the others.
"Alright then, where do we perform?"
"Right here."
"Eh?" * 3
"Trimounts' intercity network is so developed, of course we'll start by becoming internet celebrities," Xing Chen said, shaking the terminal in his hand in front of Red Bean's band.
---
In Terra, a place where entertainment wasn't yet so developed, human media was almost overwhelmingly dominant.
With the assistance of Deep Friston, Theresa created a free app for civilian terminals in Columbia, which could use big data to promote short videos.
Personal talent shows, commercial promotions, and such could all be done. Xing Chen even planned to perform eating (Originium) stones, but Theresa vetoed that terrible idea.
Before long, under his operation, Red Bean's band gradually gained some fame on Trimounts' network, primarily as a Sarkaz-style band.
Red Bean's bandmates were right; it was indeed difficult to play rock in long dresses, but conversely, if done well, it became a distinctive feature... "Hello everyone, I'm the producer for all..."
Red Bean and her band introduced themselves to the audience on stage, while Theresa and Xing Chen, acting as Agent T and Agent X, watched from backstage.
Xing Chen believed in their abilities and in the songs he had painstakingly organized.
At worst, there was still Theresa's Originium Arts; subtly influencing emotions wasn't cheating.
The band's introductions on stage finished, and the performance immediately began.
"I think it's fine now," seeing the Columbia audience dancing along to the passionate music, Xing Chen's heart, which had been in his throat, finally settled.
Just then, he suddenly heard the sound of a violin, but there was no such instrument in the band.
Theresa also heard the strange music, and soon she reacted, telling Xing Chen, "It's the same type of Originium Arts as mine."
Realizing something was wrong, the two rushed out from backstage, and the sound of the violin led them to its source.
"Arturo, what are you doing here?"
The angel with a black halo above her head turned around, the confusion of Xing Chen calling out her name fleeting.
"Oh?" Having been discovered, Arturo also put away her Originium Arts, "No reason, I just saw a group of people here and improvised a tune."
"You are interfering with others' minds," Theresa intercepted Arturo's Originium Arts and asked her, "Can you explain this?"
"Aren't you also using witchcraft to control others' emotions?" Arturo jumped down from the high stand and stood in front of the two, "Don't worry, I have no ill will towards you; I really just got interested on a whim."
Arturo ranked quite high on the 'Vanilla List,' but Xing Chen didn't really understand her story.
Because compared to invisible and intangible philosophy, he preferred to study things in the real world, such as physics, chemistry, etc.
After speaking, Arturo put away her violin and suddenly bowed to the two, "I'd like to join your band, may I?"
"But our band primarily features Sarkaz," Xing Chen didn't want to cause trouble for himself, thinking this hot potato should be Federico's headache.
"I can bring investment to the group," Arturo suddenly leaned close to Xing Chen, revealing a ghostly smile, "Besides, look at my halo, doesn't it look quite similar to the Demon Lord's crown?"