The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

108.

Watching his hurried steps, Li Ke whispered to Zhao Qianfan beside her, "What did you do to him? Why are you acting so indifferent to us?"

Zhao Qianfan said with a smile, "That's for you, it has nothing to do with me. He even sent me a message before he came back."

Li Ke rolled her eyes: "Damn, so friendships disappear?"

After finishing his sentence, Li Ke went back to his room to rest in a huff. He wasn't going to keep up with this man who reeked of the sour smell of love anymore; he was going to chat with his "Little Yama" Yan Xiaoli.

Zhao Qianfan smiled but remained silent, watching Qi Tong run back to his nest to bask in the moonlight, lost in thought.

The next day, after breakfast, Li Zichun went out to visit again. This time, someone was already waiting at the door, and several bodyguards in black respectfully escorted him to the car. If he hadn't identified himself as a friend, Zhao Qianfan and the others would have suspected he was about to be kidnapped.

Li Zichun sat in the car with his eyes closed in deep thought. Soon the car arrived at a manor on the outskirts of Beijing. After his identity was confirmed, he was allowed to enter.

As soon as Li Zichun got out of the car, a butler came up to greet him and respectfully led him to the living room. He sat there listlessly for a while before Lin Xuehua came down from upstairs. She had a very good temperament, dignified demeanor, and an air of elegance and nobility, befitting a wealthy young lady.

Lin Xuehua said with a smile, "I'm sorry, I just finished seeing off the two distinguished guests upstairs. I've kept you waiting."

Li Zichun said with a smile, "Miss Lin is too kind. It is my honor to meet you."

Lin Xuehua chuckled: "You're so glib. I bet the bosses of the eight entertainment giants will never know how they offended so many people, or who they've offended! You don't know, but now, everyone in the elite circles calls you 'Yanluoque' (a derogatory term for a powerful and influential figure).

Li Zichun sipped the tea beside him and said with a smile, "How should I put this? My junior sister hasn't even made it yet."

Lin Xuehua laughed and said, "Hehe, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Little brother, you seem to have done nothing in this competition and ended up with nothing, but your extraordinary skills are enough to surprise people. You've mastered the art of using someone else's strength against them. I reckon no one will dare to trip you up in secret anymore."

Li Zichun laughed and said, "Hehe, what are you talking about, Sister Lin? They're just some eyesores. What's wrong with me teaching them a lesson? Some of them haven't even had a chance to appear yet, they don't even have names, I don't even know who they are."

Lin Xuehua laughed heartily: "Hehe, I wonder who's the unluckiest one to be remembered by you. Don't forget to call me next!"

Li Zichun cupped his hands and said, "No problem, no problem. I really have to thank Sister Lin for her help this time."

Lin Xuehua smiled and said, "No need for thanks, it would seem too formal. It's just a mutually beneficial arrangement. On the contrary, I should thank you for helping me take over the catering business of Dynasty Entertainment, which stabilized my position in the Lin family and shut up those old fogies on the board of directors."

Li Zichun smiled gently and said, "That was just Sister Lin's clever trick. I only offered a few suggestions from the side. Don't take it too seriously."

Lin Xuehua said with a faint smile, "You really don't plan to stay and work with me? Or do you want to go down alone? There isn't a single business in the eight major entertainment companies that you'd even look at? You're actually willing to give them all away."

Li Zichun smiled and patted Qi Tong's head, saying, "It's just worldly gold and silver. You can't take it with you when you're born or when you die. As long as you have a brain, it's only a matter of time before you earn more or less. Besides, I'm already content with having the Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust."

Lin Xuehua said with a strange smile, "You don't seek power or wealth, so you're not after love and lust, are you? No, your body can't withstand that... You can't be after immortality, can you?"

Li Zichun felt annoyed by her gaze and thought to himself, "What's wrong with my physique? Aren't there a bunch of girls screaming and yelling on the platform? Are you looking down on Xigou?"

Li Zichun took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Too much wisdom is almost demonic, and too much intelligence is bound to cause harm. Lifespan is limited, and I won't live much longer. Sister Lin, please don't put your mind on me. If one day I become someone else, please help me die."

Lin Xuehua was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. Although she didn't understand what he meant, she nodded in agreement when she saw the piece of paper he pushed towards her.

He spent the rest of the day with Lin Xuehua, enjoying the beautiful scenery of the manor while preparing for the evening's banquet.

The banquet is a regular gathering between the Lin family and various powerful forces in Beijing, where major capital groups exchange information and make connections. This is one of the reasons why Lin Xuehua invited him here today.

Li Zichun's decision to participate was naturally based on his own considerations. It was both to build momentum for the final two rounds of the singing competition and to deepen cooperation with various powerful figures in Beijing.

Accompanied by Li Zichun and Lin Xuehua, they toured the entire manor. Although it was called a tour, their conversations revolved entirely around business. The manor was divided into east and west sections, with the overall layout resembling the Chinese character "吕" (Lü). The east side featured artificial hills, flowing water, pavilions, and towers, arranged in a way that exuded a Zen-like tranquility. The west side, naturally, featured Western-style architecture, European-style gardens, and bronze and stone sculpture fountains, which were harmonious and interesting.

It wasn't until after dinner that Lin Xuehua temporarily let Li Zichun go because she had to entertain guests.

Li Zichun wasn't sure who the guests would be tonight, but he figured a piano piece wouldn't be a bad choice. He'd decide what song to sing based on the majority of the audience's ethnicity.

Li Zichun ate the lavish buffet dinner by himself. The Lin family's private chef was always top-notch. He had eaten so much at the Kowloon Port Singing King Competition that Zhao Qianfan even dragged him to exercise with her every day.

Don't overthink it, it's a legitimate sport.

After several rounds of exercise, Li Zichun has indeed become more lean, with a firm silhouette, sexy abs, and a youthful face full of boyish charm, making him incredibly likable.

Li Zichun wondered if she was becoming too dependent on him. He prepared breakfast for her and accompanied her in her work. Wait, Li Ke was there too. Well, it was just a coincidence, nothing serious. Don't overthink it.

The banquet was a success. Those invited were either newly rich capitalists or top-tier powers. Li Zichun looked at a group of faces that should have appeared on television, in magazines, and in news reports, and in a daze, he was transported back to the extravagant life of drinking and feasting during his previous life.

The dinner party had almost ended, and it was time for him to make his appearance. The butler came over to signal him, and seeing him lost in thought, coughed slightly in acknowledgment.

Li Zichun said with a smile, "I'm sorry, let's go. Thank you for your trouble."

Li Zichun was in charge of the piano performance tonight. He had originally planned to leave after shopping in the afternoon, but since Lin Xuehua had invited him, he decided to return the favor.

Li Zichun, dressed in a sharp and handsome suit and tuxedo, sat upright in front of a custom-made Mayaha piano. After thinking for a while, he played "Illusionary Daytime".

This piece is an instrumental piece composed by Shirfine, an independent musician from Fuzhou, Fujian, China. It was completed on August 9, 2013, and released on Valentine's Day 2014. No one knows what the composer went through to write such a melody on that day.

Some say it's an ethereal and beautiful tearjerker, a dreamlike world.

The entire piece is like a mirror-like lake with gentle ripples, where sunlight shines obliquely into its surface. It begins with a sense of melancholy and sadness, then transitions to despair as it pours out its emotions and makes pleading requests, and finally falls into the vast ocean, returning to a state of serene lightness.

Li Zichun's choice to open with this song was clearly intended to capture the attention of these successful individuals. The song evokes a multitude of emotions, varying from person to person. Vanity, sadness, loneliness? Or perhaps a sense of letting go and anticipation for the future?

The people at the banquet were drawn to the dreamlike piano music and slowly gathered around him.

This piano piece is different from the songs they hear in concert halls and recitals; it is freer, more spontaneous, and full of a sense of fragmentation.

The song ended and applause broke out.

Lin Xuehua whispered in his ear, "Why are you playing this kind of song?"

Li Zichun looked at him innocently and replied, "Didn't you say I could play whatever I wanted? Don't worry, they won't care. Who comes to a party like this to listen to music?"

Lin Xuehua thought about it and agreed, so she let him do as he pleased.

Li Zichun stood up, bowed, and said with a smile, "It's just a humble work; please excuse its poor quality."

Many people in the crowd had brought their families. Some of the younger generation recognized him and came over to him in a low voice, saying, "I've seen your performance before, and I really like you. Could you sing another song?"

Li Zichun looked at Lin Xuehua, and seeing that she neither supported nor opposed him, he nodded and said, "Alright. Is there anything you want to hear?"

The girl tilted her head, pouted, and said, "I just broke up with my boyfriend, so just play any song that will cheer me up."

Li Zichun thought for a moment and then played the piece "The Truth That You Leave".

The composer of this piano piece is Kao Chih-hao, a piano poet from Taiwan. Born in 1980, he suffered a severe injury to his right hand due to a mishap during delivery. He began learning piano at the age of five. In 2004, shortly after being admitted to the physics graduate program at National Taiwan University, he immediately took a leave of absence upon registration, giving himself a year to explore life. It was during this year, amidst a mix of youthful dreams and passion, that this piece was born.

Although he is far from being a world-class pianist, he is an academic superstar, a popular pianist with a master's degree in physics and a disciple of Stephen Hawking's student. His future is limitless!

The entire piece is beautiful yet melancholic, with a sadness as transparent as the air, but it is also full of healing power.

Everyone was captivated by the soothing melody, like beautiful fragments of time drifting by, impossible to grasp. But in the multiple-choice question of life, every choice will have its regrets.

After Li Zichun finished playing, the girl's tearful eyes flickered slightly, and her trembling hand gently patted her shoulder, slowly wiping away the tears in her eyes. She smiled and said, "Great job, thank you."

After saying that, she gracefully and calmly stepped back, holding her wine glass.

Li Zichun smiled and nodded in greeting, then said, "The last piano piece is for everyone here. I hope you all have a great time tonight."

Amidst everyone's expectant gaze, he began to play the incredibly soothing instrumental piece "Windy Hill." This piece evokes a sense of tranquility and healing, like a rainbow after the rain under a blue sky and white clouds in a valley, with the wind blowing fallen leaves, the morning mist dissipating, and birdsong echoing through the secluded mountains—warm and beautiful.

Even if the road ahead is winding, uncertain, and full of waves, those who do not give up will eventually win the final victory.

After Li Zichun finished playing, he withdrew under the guidance of the butler. He didn't have much time to socialize here, and these financial tycoons wouldn't confide in a pianist who hadn't gained international fame. In their eyes, this person was at most someone who played reasonably well, and they wouldn't pay much attention to him.

Li Zichun was happy to have some free time. After a brief greeting to Lin Xuehua, he was sent out by the housekeeper.

Li Zichun got off the bus after they dropped him off in the city. Seeing that it was still early, he put on a mask and wandered around.

As the capital of a country, Shangjing naturally boasts a bustling and vibrant night scene, brightly lit. Li Zichun, carrying a cat-shaped bag, wandered through it all, like a tourist from out of town, curious about everything. The ancient market streets, traditional handicrafts, quaint buildings, and mouthwatering delicacies held no appeal for him, who had just finished performing at a garden villa. As he walked, he had a disorienting feeling, wondering if he was on Earth or in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Suddenly, Faye Wong's song "Hypnosis" came to mind, and he couldn't help but hum along:

The taste of the first bite of cake, the comfort of the first toy

The sun rises, the sun sets, and the ice cream cries.

The taste of the second bite of cake, the comfort brought by the second toy.

The wind blows, the wind blows, the popcorn looks so beautiful.

From beginning to end, who did I forget, and who did I remember?

Let's count again from beginning to end. Let's count again. Has anything been wasted?

La La~~~~

My first time kissing someone on the lips; my first time being sick and having to take medicine.

The sun rises, the sun sets, and the ice cream cries.

The second time I kissed someone else's lips; the second time I got sick and needed to take medicine.

......

Suddenly it's dawn, suddenly it's dark, and so on; flying far away.

One, two, three years old; four, five, six years old; may you live a thousand years!

From beginning to end, who did I forget, who did I remember? / From beginning to end, let's count again, let's count again, has it all been wasted...?

Li Zichun suddenly felt that the whole world might just be an illusion of the underworld, a mirage that was false and unknowable. Like the feeling he had the first time he saw Beijing, would he still feel the same way now? One can quickly get tired of eating the same kind of food repeatedly.

This diminishing marginal utility causes emotional experiences to gradually fade, becoming increasingly dull, and feelings of satisfaction to decrease. He suddenly just wanted to obediently go back to his house and lie down, not wanting to do anything at all.

PS: Data is from the internet.

《Illusionary Daytime/幻昼》是中国福建福州独立音乐人Shirfine创作的一首纯音乐，收录在专辑《Endless Daydream》中，成曲于2013年8月9日，发行于2014年2月14日。

"The Truth That You Leave" is a piano piece composed and performed by Painoboy, included in his 2005 album "A Best". The piece was later adapted into "Unforgettable," with lyrics by Han Yang, music by Zheng Nan, and vocals by Jane Zhang, serving as the theme song for the film "Unforgettable Love".

"Windy Hill" is an instrumental piece produced by Chinese mainland musician Yu Zhong, included in the album "Windy Hill", and was created and released on August 30, 2016.

"Hypnosis" is a song with lyrics by Lin Xi, music and arrangement by Guo Liang, and sung by Faye Wong. It was first included in her Mandarin album "Only Love Strangers" released in September 1999.