Thug and Idol: 10X Rewards Second Identity System

Instead of a reply, Tristan heard a short, rapid piano melody played somewhere around the phone. It ended just when Tristan was about to ask what this all was about.

"Record a song together with me. I still want to play music with you, and I want to be able to listen to it later."

'That's it?' Tristan raised his eyebrows. 'Well, I won't be looking a gift horse in the mouth this time.'

"Sure, Angelo. Can it wait until after the shooting, though? We can sign a contract beforehand, decide on how you want profits for releasing this song to be split. It's going to be an original one, right? We can just do a cover—I don't care."

"Releasing the song? I didn't think about it, but it's acceptable. I don't have a preference about which song, either."

"Good. And I will tell the CYS show producer to contact you again. We should talk about it more in person."

"Absolutely." Despite the lack of emotion, there was a lot of weight in this word.

When the call ended, Tristan stared at his smartphone for another minute.

'I feel like there was something besides recording music in Angelo's mind. He seems so straightforward, but I feel like this is just a tip of the iceberg! Or I'm just making things up… I will ask Derek to check any contract he will sign with me twice.'

***

With Angelo's appearance, the filming was completed according to the plan.

Most of it happened on the same several filming sets in Los Angeles. Having to take a four-day trip there was inconvenient for Tristan's criminal identity, but he salvaged it by using the opportunity to organize his Los Angeles subordinates better.

The extra shots were various documentary pieces, going deeper into the history of participants—most of which were either embellished or outright untrue for the sake of the show.

Tristan took great pleasure in coming up with a 99% fake story of a rags-to-riches man who played piano in bars to afford a guitar, which he actually wanted to play.

Angelo didn't seem to like attention from the interviewers and the entire filming process at all. Like always, he spoke in monotone, and on the set he was always wearing headphones—either big, or less obvious, small ones.

His life story explained a lot about him. Tristan listened to it from the edges of the shooting set with great interest.

Angelo was a real-life savant, a true genius… The type who are incredibly inept in most other aspects of life. The Californian Young Star contest wasn't the first talent show he won (or almost won). The prize money and prestige afforded him more money to spend on musical equipment and visits to live orchestra concerts.

"But I don't need those anymore," Angelo admitted at the end. "I found a better source of income lately. After this show, I won't appear in public unless it's to create masterpieces."

***

Angelo suggested they should record that song as soon as the shooting was over—while they were still in Los Angeles, since both of them had to leave the city again after this.

Tristan had written a few original songs for his upcoming album already, and having someone like Angelo helping him was actually very convenient.

These songs had much more instruments than just the guitar. Tristan could record them all himself (he had all the Pop-star Points necessary to learn the skills), or let the GTG agency find someone to record them.

But he suggested Angelo to help him record these, and Angelo was glad to agree. Tristan added a fair payment on top of the deal, but from the speed with which Angelo said, "yes", he felt like Angelo could've done it for free.

Now both of them were in a recording studio rented by GTG, standing amid the various instruments. Derek stood in the listening booth with the sound technician, watching Angelo curiously.

"You know, we could replace one of the guitar tracks with a piano," Tristan said, watching Angelo tinker with the electric piano in the room.

The song had drums, bass, two guitar tracks and vocals. Despite that, Angelo agreed to perform on it after reading Tristan's note sheet once.

"No need yet. We should try it as it is, then see. I will play drums for now…"

He tapped the keys in an extremely fast rhythm, creating a staccato of drumming.

"Wouldn't it be easier to play drums on an actual drum?" Tristan asked, pointing at the drum set in the corner.

"I can only play keyboard instruments. The electric pianos are the easiest, anyway." Angelo's palm brushed the keys gently. "Every note is spread around me, and I can arrange them in whichever way I want. The loss in sound quality compared to non-electric instruments is worth the breadth of opportunities."

Knowing what Angelo could do with electric pianos if he really felt like it, Tristan nodded.

"As long as the result is good, I don't care if it's played on a banana." He hit the strings of his guitar. "Let's go!"

***

4 hours later.

They recorded two songs in exceptional quality. Angelo's presence sped things up a lot, and he also added a few improvements to the melodies itself. He was also easy to work with in a personal sense, too–he seemed to understand Tristan's musical thoughts from half the word.

The quality of his tracks was superb, too.

"It was wonderful to work with you," Derek said to Angelo after the recording session. He smiled and offered Angelo a hand to shake. "If you ever feel like changing your mind on show business, Golden Talent Group will always be there with an offer of support."

Angelo made no movement to shake the hand.

"I know." A pause. "Thank you."

He turned to Tristan, ignoring Derek entirely.

"Today's recording session confirmed my earlier hopes. Tristan, I have another suggestion for you. A suggestion…" He paused. "We better talk in private about it."

Tristan blinked.

'I knew it! He had some weird plan in his head all that time!'

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