The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

147. Retired from the entertainment industry and went into silence

When Zhao Qianfan woke up the next day, he had a splitting headache, and Li Zichun, who had been in his arms, was nowhere to be found.

Zhao Qianfan assumed he had woken up early and gone to have breakfast. She rubbed her head and started looking for him all over the house. As she walked, she realized something was wrong. There was no one in the house, and no meows. The whole house was unusually quiet.

He called his name for a long time but received no response, which made him start to panic. He took out his phone to call, only to find that the number was no longer in service.

He broke out in a cold sweat. Looking around the room, all of Li Zichun's belongings, such as towels, toothbrushes, clothes, and shoes, had vanished.

Just then, Jin Dili called: "What's going on? How did things get to this point?"

Zhao Qianfan was completely bewildered: "What happened? What's going on?"

Jin Dili shook her head and said, "You take a look at the news first, and wait for us to come over."

After saying that, she hung up the phone. Half an hour later, Jin Dili brought Zhao Jinmai to Zhao Qianfan's residence.

Within half an hour, Zhao Qianfan had learned the whole story from the news and information.

It turned out that Li Zichun had put sleeping pills in Zhao Qianfan's water last night, and one night was enough time for him to complete all his plans.

Li Zichun first took all the blame upon himself, and then posted a long image of the video and various gossip news, along with a statement: "Since my debut, some false rumors about me and various male and female celebrities have been circulating on the Internet. I hereby make the following statement about the rumors: The various rumors circulating on the Internet are completely fabricated and have no basis whatsoever."

I sincerely apologize for the misunderstanding caused by the shooting angle of this video and for the harm caused to the relevant personnel.

I am good friends with Zhao Qianfan, Li Ke, Li Jiawei, Yuan Zian, Jiang Yiyi and others. These unfounded slanders and false rumors are completely fabricated and have no factual basis. They have seriously damaged our reputation and friendship. I reserve the right to pursue legal action against those who spread rumors online.

Although the origins of rumors are so unsubstantiated, they are gradually embellished and added to as much as possible as they are passed from one place to another. Of all evils, rumors spread the fastest.

If a monk is a foolish person, he can still be taught; but if a demon is a ghost, he will surely bring disaster.

I hope that in the future, when faced with these baseless fabrications and rumors, everyone can distinguish right from wrong, view these rumors rationally and objectively, and not easily believe them, so as to avoid causing unnecessary trouble and harm to me, my family, and my friends.

At the same time, I would like to thank all my fans for their continued attention and support. To prevent these false accusations from happening again, I have decided to stop them altogether.

After the message was sent out late at night, it was quickly forwarded by netizens who had been waiting for updates and various media outlets.

At the same time, Li Zichun unlocked Zhao Qianfan's phone with Zhao Qianfan's hand, logged into his account, forwarded the message, and added the comment "May our friendship last forever."

Afterwards, Li Zichun, carrying a cat carrier, gently kissed Zhao Qianfan's forehead, removed the marriage certificate and the matching rings from the necklace, and placed them back on the bedside. He also placed a USB drive filled with songs on his bedside. After circling the large villa, he took a deep breath, locked the door, and left.

Li Zichun dragged his packed suitcase out of the residential area, made a phone call and sent the other party his location, then bought a can of beer at a 24-hour convenience store at the end of the street and sat on a bench on the deserted street, drinking it by himself.

Li Zichun looked up and saw moths fluttering around the light bulb under the streetlight, much like his situation in the entertainment industry. After a year of ups and downs, he had returned to where he started.

Life under the spotlight, revolving around a bright reputation and the pursuit of fame and fortune, ultimately returns to where it all began.

The difference is that he is now rich, and the current progress of the system task is 70%. Originally, according to the plan, after participating in the singing competition, he would enter the global finals and win the title of "Singing King of the Century". At that time, completing the task 100% would be a piece of cake. Who would have thought that this mishap would happen.

Indeed, being unable to control one's lower body and abusing one's emotions has always been a major taboo for military strategists.

On nights in late June when I went to Beijing, even the dry air felt stiflingly hot when it brushed against my face.

Li Zichun waited on the bench for more than ten minutes, and then a black car stopped in front of him. He smiled and raised his hand.

Li Zichun sat in the passenger seat, enjoying the breeze, and called director Zhang Xiaochuan. After some discussion and persuasion, Zhang Xiaochuan stopped trying to persuade him to stay, simply wishing him well and saying that they could get together when he had time, and that the doors of Qianzhen Pavilion would always be waiting for his visit.

Subsequently, Zhang Xiaochuan, on behalf of the production team, announced adjustments and replacements for the participants in the "Singing God Competition." Li Zichun withdrew from the subsequent recordings due to health reasons. After discussions within the production team and recommendations from relevant personnel, Du Zihua, who had been driving for him, was chosen to fill the vacancy—a parting gift, one might say.

Du Zihua and he didn't have much of a relationship; they'd only met a few times. But it was precisely because they didn't contact each other often that things were easier to get done.

Just like the car he's driving now, it doesn't belong to Du Zihua himself, but was borrowed from other friends by Li Zichun.

When Li Zichun called him, he wasn't sure if he would actually come. After all, it was someone he had only met two or three times, and it was really unreasonable for him to go to such lengths for him in the middle of the night.

But Du Zihua still came over out of loyalty.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Li Zichun asked curiously, "You actually came. I thought you wouldn't."

Du Zihua said with a smile, "I don't know why, maybe it's because you're pleasing to the eye. As soon as you open your mouth, I want to agree to anything you want."

Li Zichun was taken aback by what he heard, then shook his head and said with a smile, "What nonsense are you talking about? I'm already unlucky enough, don't you dare to make things worse for me."

Du Zihua shrugged and said, "No, I believe you're not that kind of person."

Li Zichun frowned slightly: "What if I were?"

Du Zihua pursed her lips, tilted her head to look at him, and said with a smile, "Then I'll just have to sacrifice my looks. Anyway, you're not bad-looking, so I won't lose out."

Li Zichun was amused by his appearance and shook his head, saying, "Don't worry, I wouldn't lay a hand on a little brat like you."

Du Zihua rolled her eyes and pouted, saying defiantly, "Where is it small? It's huge."

After saying that, he realized something was wrong, coughed a few times, and said, "Logically speaking, I'm a year older than you, so you should call me brother."

Li Zichun glanced at him speechlessly: "Don't push your luck. Don't let people call you 'brother' for no reason, or you'll run into trouble sooner or later."

Du Zihua nodded perfunctorily and said, "Yeah, yeah, I'm only saying this because it's you. I wouldn't have mentioned it to anyone else."

Li Zichun raised an eyebrow, looking at his cute and handsome profile, and said, "You really have a charmingly unexpected side, no wonder so many people like you."

Du Zihua let out a long sigh and said, "All they like is my face."

Li Zichun looked at his face and said, "A face is also a kind of strength, just a gift from heaven..." His voice grew softer and softer as a shocking idea began to emerge in his mind and gradually took shape.

Du Zihua looked at his pensive face, not disturbing him, and waited for him to slowly come back to his senses before asking, "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

Li Zichun sighed and said, "It's nothing, I was just thinking about some random things."

Du Zihua said nonchalantly, "Oh, okay. So where are we going now?"

Li Zichun nodded and said, "Hmm~ Let's stick to the plan I gave you before."

Du Zihua gasped and said, "Hiss~ You're really leaving?"

Li Zichun said with a smile, "Don't worry, I will definitely help you complete what I promised, but only if I can complete it perfectly."

Du Zihua smiled and nodded, saying loudly, "Yes, yes, I will definitely finish it."

Li Zichun nodded and said, "Then I'll wait for you."

Du Zihua stopped in the airport parking lot to see Li Zichun off.

After Li Zichun finished the formalities, she hugged him while wearing a mask and said, "Thank you, let's keep in touch."

Du Zihua watched him walk into the airport without any hesitation, waving goodbye as if bidding farewell to an era.

Before the plane took off, Li Zichun also released a final statement on the accounts of Li Zichun, Li Yuehe, Senluo, and Fengchen Sanxia: "Due to the influence of some negative public opinion and rumors, after discussion with our teacher and fellow students, we have decided to withdraw from the entertainment industry and seek peace of mind for ourselves."

We are deeply sorry for the people affected and disturbed by these rumors and gossip.

We just want to make good music. If any of our songs have ever touched you, it's our honor. We hope everyone will be happy every day in the future.

May we meet again in our lifetime.

Along with this final statement, a song was also released, titled "In This Lifetime," posted by an account under the name of the one that Senluo reposted:

May you have no regrets in your lifetime; may your smile be radiant in your lifetime.

May you be warm in the depths of winter, may your spring be free from chill, may you be courageous, may you be safe.

May you live a simple life free from suffering.

May you meet the person you desire most through love, and become wealthy enough to no longer be trapped by reality.

May your future be bright and your life extraordinary.

May you never get drunk, always have a good companion, and possess the wisdom to see through the ever-changing world.

May you remain a youth even after the passage of time.

......

May someone share your burdens when you are tired and weary, and may you have sweet dreams every night.

May your long journey be filled with fulfillment of your wishes.

May all the troubles of this world be irrelevant to you from now on, and may everything you encounter bring you joy.

May you have half love and half affection.

After sending everything, Li Zichun turned off his phone, sat on the plane, and watched it slowly take off. The lights of Beijing were dim under the night sky. After a good night's sleep, he would be in another world.

The announcement of her retirement from the entertainment industry, the replacement of contestants in the singing competition, and the support from various celebrities directly triggered a frenzy of trending topics across all media outlets, causing the entire internet to crash.

The release of photos taken by passersby showing Du Zihua seeing off Li Zichun at the airport late at night caused the entire topic to trend and be discussed online for a whole week.

The truth or falsehood of the video incident is no longer important; what's important is that this sudden farewell declaration completely stunned everyone. In everyone's view, regardless of whether it's true or false, the conventional approach should be to offer some explanations, then gradually start tearing each other apart, going back and forth in debate, before finally drawing a conclusion.

His move of immediately self-destructing and taking everyone down with him is extremely rare.

Various capital forces have remained silent and are observing the situation regarding this incident.

Inside the Lin family manor, Lin Xuehua quietly looked at the report brought by the butler, and said in disbelief, "He just left overnight? He didn't see anyone else besides Du Zihua?"

The butler nodded and said, "Yes, our people found out that after leaving Zhao Qianfan's mansion, they took a plane and left."

Lin Xuehua breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Can you find out where they went?"

The butler nodded and said, "Based on the flights that night, there are two places to consider, both in the Europa region."

Lin Xuehua nodded and said, "Yes, I understand. He will contact us if he needs anything. I don't believe a man who can disrupt the eight major entertainment capitals would surrender so easily."

The butler nodded respectfully and said, "Zhao Qianfan has called to inquire about this. We don't know how to respond."

Lin Xuehua smiled and said, "Just tell the truth. The person disappeared right under his nose. He did something shady, and now he only knows how to cherish what he has lost. Who can he blame?"

Inside the Xu family mansion in Beijing, Xu Chengfeng and Dai Rong sat facing each other, while Xu Qiunian served them tea.

Xu Chengfeng took a sip of tea, looked at Dai Rong across from him, and said, "What do you think about this?"

Dai Rong took a sip of tea, but instead of answering him directly, she looked at Xu Qiunian and said, "I wonder what you think, my grandniece?"

Xu Qiunian smiled and thought for a moment, then said with a smile, "Regardless of whether this retirement is true or not, it is a loss for our Great Zhou Kingdom to be forced to flee to another country by someone who can write a work like 'To Live'."

Dai Rong nodded in agreement and said, "Yes, not bad."

In the conference room at the headquarters of Jiyin, after listening to his subordinate's report, CEO Xiong Wei said calmly, "Can you find a way to contact him?"

The people below looked at each other in bewilderment. One of the supervisors said calmly, "I'm afraid it will be a bit difficult. He has changed all his contact information and has made several transfers by plane in the past week."

Xiong Wei rubbed his temples and said, "Since someone is already helping him, let's just wait and see. If he needs anything, remember to reply promptly. Who will ultimately employ such a talented person?"

Zhao Qianfan looked at Yi Zhichun, who was so fair he seemed to glow, and said, "Really, can't you help me?"

Yi Zhichun let out a sigh of relief and said, "It's not that I don't want to help, but I've already received hush money. Before he left, he told me that no matter who inquires, I must not reveal any information about him to anyone else, especially you."

PS: Data is from the internet.

"In This Lifetime" is a song with lyrics and music by Zhou Haoming, arrangement by Han Bing, and vocals by Zhang Yuan. It was released on May 25, 2021, and included in the album of the same name.