The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

136.

Zhao Qianfan took the stage and said with some emotion, "I urge you not to waste your youthful days, but to cherish what you have. I'd like to dedicate a song called 'Cherish' to everyone; I hope you enjoy it."

Zhao Qianfan adjusted her voice and began to sing Alec Su's "Cherish":

Anchored at the pier where we parted yesterday, so many dreams layered upon each other, yet mottled.

As the sun sets and dusk falls, I keep the moon company in my loneliness.

Youthful folly sometimes crumbles under the autumn wind; through you, happiness is more prevalent than sorrow.

My deep affection was met with a fleeting fate.

Who says youth can't make mistakes? I'd rather shed tears than bow my head.

Cherish what you once had and the hands you once held.

Cherish the dream of youth, cherish the time spent together.

Who can be young and not reckless, venturing out on their own?

Even if the moon waxes and wanes, even if people experience sorrow and joy.

Who can help but raise the sail of their dreams?

Cherish the tears you shed for me, cherish the years you spent with me.

Who can remain unmoved and indifferent to this precious moment?

Tomorrow there will still be clouds to fly by; let the sky accompany me as I chase them.

Having no regrets is also a kind of beauty in life.

You have more worries than happy times.

My deep affection was met with a fleeting fate.

Who says youth can't make mistakes? I'd rather shed tears than bow my head.

......

Cherish the tears you shed for me, cherish the years you spent with me.

Who can remain unmoved and indifferent to this precious moment?

Tomorrow there will still be clouds to fly by; let the sky accompany me as I chase them.

Having no regrets is also a kind of beauty in life.

Cherish the tears shed for me, cherish the years spent with you. To have no regrets is also a kind of beauty in life.

The song "Cherish" has a beautiful melody, and combined with Alec Su's deep voice and touching performance, it has become one of the representative works of Alec Su's early songs, and it is still very popular to this day.

Li Zichun chose this song as a way of reminiscing about his youth and offering a message to life. Perhaps this is how people are: they don't cherish what they have, but they miss what they've lost.

After Zhao Qianfan finished singing, she didn't leave the stage. Instead, she continued singing the next song, "Wishing You a Safe Journey" by Nicky Wu:

That day, when we knew you were leaving, we didn't say a word.

When the midnight bells toll, they pierce the heart of parting.

But it couldn't break the deep silence in my heart.

That day, we saw you off until the very end, without leaving a single word.

When the crowded platform squeezes the people who are saying goodbye

But it can't squeeze out my deep sorrow

I know you have a thousand words to say, ten thousand words to say, but you refuse to speak them.

You know how worried and sad I am, but I don't dare to say it out loud.

When you shoulder your pack and lay down that glory

I can only let the tears stay in my heart

With a slight smile, I waved vigorously and wished you a safe journey.

Once you step onto the platform, you'll walk alone from now on.

I can only offer you my deepest blessings.

My deepest blessings to you, my dearest friend. Wishing you a safe journey.

......

My deepest blessings to you, my dearest friend. May you have a safe journey.

In 1992, the Little Tigers temporarily disbanded because Chen Zhipeng went to serve in the military. Nicky Wu was the first to go solo and release an album, including "Wishing You a Safe Journey," which he wrote to bid farewell to Chen Zhipeng. The song became very popular, beautifully expressing the sorrow of parting, and was often used by many people when graduating or saying goodbye.

Li Zichun was quite moved when he heard this back then. When they were deeply in love, they were so close that he could write songs for each other. But now, when he looks back, there are always rumors of discord and conflict between them, as if it were a different world.

He didn't know how far he and Zhao Qianfan could go, but he felt a pang of sadness, knowing that no matter how far they went, they would eventually separate. Even so, he would probably still wish her a safe journey.

After Zhao Qianfan finished singing, Li Zichun came on stage and said with a smile, "These are the last two songs. Life eventually comes to an end, but everyone will move towards a brighter tomorrow. I'll dedicate 'Hello Tomorrow' to everyone."

After saying that, he began to sing Milk & Coffee's "Hello Tomorrow":

Look at us from yesterday, now far away, waiting in the center of Destiny Square.

Those blurred shoulders grew smaller the more they ran.

The partners who once walked side by side all went their separate ways after raising their glasses in a toast.

That night, however, remains deeply etched in my heart.

When I grow up, all I can do is run. I'm so afraid of falling in the dark.

Hello tomorrow. Smiling through tears. The more beautiful it is, the more afraid I am of getting it.

Every time I cry, I run again with a smile, losing one thing while searching for another.

Hello tomorrow. Your voice may be small, but it reminds me of what courage is.

As I walked in the opposite direction, I found courage in the corner of the stairs.

Shoulders trembling, I cried and asked myself, "Where am I?"

My former companions, who once walked alongside me, now silently understand my grievances.

Time always lies, but I've never lost those shoulders.

......

"Hello tomorrow, your voice is so small, yet it reminds me what courage is."

The song "Hello Tomorrow" was created to encourage people to be hopeful and have aspirations for life, and to hope that young people today can see each day as a new one, so that life will be happier.

"Hello Tomorrow" represents growing up. Milk & Coffee uses music to express their own growth experiences, encouraging those who are still feeling lost not to be afraid of current setbacks, to strive to live life to the fullest, and to work hard to find a new direction in life. It also conveys care for the public, hoping that everyone can draw strength from love and courage to face life.

Li Zichun actually wanted to quote the famous line from *Gone with the Wind*, "Tomorrow is another day," during his introduction, but he held back. Anyone who has read the original novel knows why tomorrow is another day. Because the protagonist, Scarlett, is the daughter of a large plantation owner in the American South, a woman who owns an entire plantation. No matter how tough life gets, with a house and land, she can always make ends meet. Just like her father once told her: "The only things in the world that last are the land and tomorrow."

So whenever Scarlett faced setbacks, she would use this phrase to encourage herself, then drink a little wine and obediently go to bed. Because when she woke up the next day, she wouldn't be sad or cry anymore; she would become that fearless, courageous, and determined self again.

A woman who has no worries about food and clothing but lacks a man, wakes up to find that it's a new day.

But is tomorrow the same for ordinary people? Tomorrow is just a repetition of today. The same worries about firewood and rice, the same poverty and suffering, the same busy but meager income, the same mortgage and car loan payments, the same aging parents, the same growing children, the same ever-present illness... Any problem with any of these can be enough to deliver a devastating blow to life.

In his view, saying things like "Only those who treat each tomorrow as a new beginning and strive harder to achieve their goals can be considered true wise men" is nothing but deceptive nonsense, just self-encouragement from the wealthy.

In 2011, RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) produced a reality show called "Rich Man, Poor Man," inviting several Hong Kong residents from relatively wealthy families with high levels of education or successful experiences to experience the daily lives of Hong Kong's underprivileged. After experiencing two days of living like the poor, billionaire Michael Tien chose to give up and shared his most genuine feelings on camera.

Reality always slaps you in the face too quickly. When they actually took on this ordinary job, they realized that it wasn't that ordinary people didn't work hard, but that they had already exhausted all their energy to make a living.

Li Zichun certainly wouldn't try to fool these recent college graduates and current students with nonsense like "tomorrow will be better" or "a bright future awaits you."

Anyone with a little life experience knows that by the time they graduate from college, the average person's life consists of endless resumes to send out, countless unsuitable career choices, and the option of going home and lying down.

Because the ones that are suitable for you have already been reserved or given as favors.

Li Zichun naturally couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of these recent college graduates preparing to enter society, so he just smiled faintly and hoped that they would all be better tomorrow.

Tomorrow must be better.

PS: Data is from the internet.

"Cherish" is a song sung by Alec Su, with lyrics by Li Ziheng and music by Huang Yali. It was included in Alec Su's third solo album, "Cherish Backpack," released on March 10, 1994.

"Wishing You a Safe Journey" is a song performed by Nicky Wu, with lyrics by Nicky Wu and music by Li Ziheng. It was included in Nicky Wu's first solo album, "Chasing the Wind," released in August 1992. The song is the theme song for the TV series "The Legend of the Schoolboy."

"Hello Tomorrow" is an inspirational song performed by the Mandopop duo Milk & Coffee. The lyrics were written by Wang Haitao, the music composed by Milk & Coffee, and the arrangement by duo member Ge Fei. The song has a gentle melody with a touch of melancholy. It was included in their 2011 album "Lost & Found" and was the theme song for the TV series "Go! Intern". In April 2012, the song won two awards at the 19th Oriental Billboard Music Awards: Best Composition and Top Ten Songs.