The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

154.

After singing "The First Dream," the album was already halfway done. It was probably this song that boosted Du Zihua's confidence, and it was also this song that made Li Zichun nod and smile in approval.

Du Zihua stared at him, somewhat mesmerized. This was the first time he had seen Li Zichun smile at him while recording a song. It was a kind of indirect recognition. Before, the smiles were more or less accompanied by encouragement and compromise. But this song was different. This heartfelt recognition made him glow and instantly feel full of energy.

Li Zichun didn't laugh loudly, but just smiled faintly, with the joy and emotion of "my son has grown up." After teaching for a few days, it was finally worth the effort.

Looking at his radiant appearance, Du Zihua was inexplicably moved and couldn't help but say, "Zichun, you look so handsome, just like the gentlemen in those ancient paintings."

Li Zichun was taken aback when she heard this, and gently tapped his head, saying, "Hmph, you've even learned to tease me now. Focus on recording the song."

Seeing that he wasn't angry, Du Zihua nuzzled his head against him and said, "I'm telling the truth. You have long hair in a ponytail, a handsome face, and a slender build. You have a naturally delicate temperament, but you like to pretend to be strong. You have a kind of pure and aloof temperament, like a lotus flower that is pitiful yet grows out of the mud. It's as if nothing dirty in the world can affect you. Just looking at you makes people feel calm and happy."

This was the first time Li Zichun had ever heard someone describe him like this, and he couldn't help but feel a little surprised. But he still tapped the other man's forehead and said, "You brat, don't fall for me too."

Du Zihua swallowed hard, then hesitated before saying, "Is it not even allowed to secretly like you?"

Du Zihua blinked intently, staring at him, which made Li Zichun feel a little hot inside.

Looking at the handsome man before him, Li Zichun felt a resurgence of his dormant passions and desires. For the past six months, he had been preoccupied with traveling and studying, neglecting to properly relax. Although many people had feelings for him, he remained alone, avoiding trouble and maintaining a polite distance.

He thought that after being alone for a long time, he would probably get used to it, but he never expected that his heart, which had been set on death, would be stirred up again today.

Seeing that he didn't speak, Du Zihua panicked a little. Just as she was about to explain something, she heard Li Zichun smile and say, "If you like someone, you like them. Why are you afraid to admit it?"

Upon hearing this, Du Zihua smiled and said, "You don't mind?"

Looking at his cheerful demeanor, Li Zichun smiled and said, "If you like me, so be it. What's there to mind? Besides, plenty of people like me, so one more won't make a difference."

Du Zihua was taken aback upon hearing this. After thinking carefully for a long time, he finally asked, "Li Zichun, can I pursue you?"

Li Zichun, who was checking the configuration and frequency of the next song, paused when he heard this, continued adjusting the recording equipment, and said with a smile, "Whatever you want."

Du Zihua said happily, "I will try my best."

After saying that, he continued to familiarize himself with the lyrics and music in his hands, and said with a smile that it was rather cute.

Seeing his somewhat dazed expression, Li Zichun wondered if it was his first time. He thought for a moment and then shook his head, laughing self-deprecatingly. How could that be? With his handsome appearance, he shouldn't be a virgin.

Li Zichun originally thought this was just a minor incident, but he didn't expect that the kid would take action the very next day.

The next morning, Li Zichun opened the door groggily and saw Du Zihua, dressed neatly, standing outside, holding a bouquet of roses. Du Zihua said, "My dear, may I call you that?"

Li Zichun patted his face with her hand, making a slapping sound, and said in surprise, "Wow~ this dream is so real. It must be because I was sleeping in the wrong position. Wait a minute, I'll go back to sleep."

Just as Li Zichun was about to close the door and go back to his room, Du Zihua grabbed him and said, "Yes, this is a dream, a beautiful dream where you can do whatever you want."

Seeing his increasingly affectionate manner as he spoke, Li Zichun pulled him into the room, shoved him onto the bed, and said with a wicked smile, "So now? Are you still sure this is a dream where you can do whatever you want?"

Du Zihua was a little startled by this sudden action, but still stubbornly said, "Well, do as you please."

Li Zichun was amused by his dazed yet stubborn expression, and for a moment she felt like teasing him. She sat directly on his lap, put one hand on his shoulder and said, "Are you sure? I can be quite ruthless when I'm being casual."

Du Zihua was a little frightened, but he still closed his eyes and said loudly, "Come on, I'm not afraid."

Li Zichun was thoroughly amused by his resigned expression and patted his face gently, saying, "Alright, whoever gave you that terrible idea, that's enough. Don't let it happen again, or I'm afraid I really won't be able to hold back..."

As Li Zichun was speaking, he prepared to get off him, but Du Zihua hurriedly grabbed him and pushed him down, his face flushed and he said angrily, "I told you you can do whatever you want, why have you been putting up with it? Am I not charming enough?"

Li Zichun was suddenly stunned by his outburst. What was he talking about? Was he getting carried away with his acting?

Seeing him struggle, Du Zihua pressed him down even harder and said fiercely, "I was ready to give you my first time, and you don't want it? Do you look down on me?"

Upon hearing this, Li Zichun gasped and was about to speak when Du Zihua said irritably, "Since you don't want it, then I'll do it myself."

After saying that, he pressed down and kissed me.

Li Zichun was jolted awake from his morning drowsiness. Although he had some feelings for him, he wasn't a casual person.

Seeing his resistance, Du Zihua was also provoked and said loudly, "This is the first time I've ever felt anything for someone. I want you."

His tone was a mix of madness, coquetry, pleading, and even a touch of obsession.

Li Zichun couldn't tell if he was being genuine or not for a moment. He hadn't expected this seemingly weak boy to be so strong. He couldn't break free and had to bite the lips that were kissing him hard.

He used just the right amount of force, enough to break the skin. Bright red blood spread in Li Zichun's mouth, its metallic taste filling the air between their lips and teeth.

Du Zihua was still persistent, pressing him down and kissing him relentlessly. Although Li Zichun was unwilling, he couldn't break free, so he simply gave up struggling and took the initiative to reciprocate.

Perhaps sensing the other person's cooperation, Du Zihua was delighted and his movements became gentler. However, it was his first time, so he was inevitably a little nervous. Sensing his tension, Li Zichun almost rolled her eyes and simply lay down on the bed and pretended to be dead.

Du Zihua wanted to take things further, but he didn't know how. This was the first time he had ever been moved by love, or rather, the first time in his life he had ever felt anything for someone. In his knowledge and understanding, he only knew how to express affection through kissing.

As expected, he was a very well-protected and well-mannered little kid. It's unbelievable that there are still people like this in this era. Li Zichun felt like he was reading a fairy tale about a little prince who never grew up.

Watching Du Zihua become more and more adept at kissing, yet anxious and unsure of how to proceed, Li Zichun almost burst out laughing.

After six months of traveling and being alone, Li Zichun was already quite aroused by this sudden, passionate, and sincere kiss. Looking at the beautiful man in front of him, whose face was as red as a shrimp, he took advantage of his inattention to turn over and pin him to the bed, laughing as he said, "If this continues, I won't be able to stop. You won't regret it?"

Du Zihua nodded, blushing, and pulled him into her arms.

Li Zichun chuckled. He was the one who was harassed first thing in the morning, but now it had become his fault. Thinking of this, he decided to take the initiative and help this silly boy finish quickly.

With Li Zichun's help, Du Zihua was happy to cooperate. In Li Zichun's hands, he was like a porcelain doll with a reddish body, which could be held in one hand.

......

Li Zichun didn't do anything excessive to him; he just felt his hands were sore, and he treated it as morning exercise. Of course, he couldn't really do anything to an innocent young boy like Du Zihua; he always felt like he was committing a crime.

But for Du Zihua, it was a different experience. It was like riding a roller coaster that went up and down the mountain, leaving her feeling refreshed and invigorated, as if she had been soaking in water.

Before Du Zihua could do anything else, Li Zichun flicked him on the head and said with a smile, "Go take a shower, you still have to record a song later."

Du Zihua didn't dare to do anything more. He felt light and refreshed all over. He lay on the bed for a while and then went to tidy up.

Li Zichun chuckled silently. This was nothing more than a casual act for him; they were all guys, it wasn't a big deal. He certainly wasn't going to go looking for women. Three years had passed in the blink of an eye, and only a year and a half remained. If he were left with a child or two by then, would he still be able to leave?

Li Zichun was scrolling through his phone in the hall, watching the news broadcast of the Great Zhou Kingdom and various events happening in the capital city.

Watching the morning news is a habit he has developed over the years. No matter which country he is in, apart from some emergencies and changes, most of the time the things that happen every day are basically the same.

The world is like a precise sphere with its own operating rules. Unexpected events occur from time to time, causing subtle adjustments to the data, so that people living in it experience joy and sorrow.

In the past six months, Li Zichun has also paid attention to some activities in the foreign entertainment industry. He wandered around like a ghost and helped some homeless singers get on stage and shine. He only gave each person one song, but even a simple song was enough to make them live a comfortable life.

Nevertheless, he didn't find a voice that was truly impressive or surprising. This was certainly related to his own concealment and avoidance, which prevented him from ever getting in touch with the real elite stars.

But so what? He didn't come away empty-handed. At least he learned one thing: the entertainment industry is the same all over the world, with interconnectedness between capitalists.

While he was lost in thought, Du Zihua had already finished showering and come out.

Li Zichun glanced at him and thought, "Wow, he really is slim when dressed but muscular when undressed. This little guy has something special."

Seeing the light in Li Zichun's eyes, Du Zihua smiled and said, "How is it? Are you satisfied?"

As he spoke, he even did a few bodybuilding moves, showing off his biceps and pectoral muscles with a touch of narcissism.

Li Zichun raised an eyebrow slightly, picked up his clothes and threw them at him: "Put your clothes on properly and go practice your singing. We're going to record a song later."

Du Zihua nodded, and the two of them tacitly avoided mentioning what had just happened.

Du Zihua practiced her singing with exaggerated vocalizations, occasionally glancing at Li Zichun who was playing on her phone, looking like a young man experiencing his first love.

Li Zichun pretended not to see it. He thought that although the child had grown up in the right places, his mentality was no different from that of a college student who had just entered society. In his opinion, the child was even worse than a college student.

It's been so long since I've seen such an incredibly handsome but idiotic guy; he makes you want to cherish him terribly.

Getting back to the main point, after Du Zihua finished practicing and Li Zichun reviewed his work, he went directly into the recording studio to start recording.

The seventh song, the first track on side B, is "Nowhere to Hide" by the Black Panther band:

Oh… Oh…Oh… Oh…

In the sea of ​​people, you and I meet, get to know each other, and learn from one another.

In the sea of ​​people, it's you and me, pretending to be upright with smiles on our faces.

There's no need to say too much; we both know exactly what we want to do.

Don't worry about so much, and don't be sad. One day you'll understand me.

In the sea of ​​people, I saw you again, just as charming and beautiful.

Slowly relax, slowly let go, and still not care.

You don't need to say anything more. You know perfectly well what we want to do.

Don't worry about so much, and don't be sad that one day you will leave me.

......

No longer believing, what principles can we believe in? People have become so indifferent.

No more reminiscing. What's the point of reminiscing about the past? I'm not the same person I used to be.

I've felt lonely before, and I've been ignored by others, but I've never felt ashamed of myself.

Oh... Oh...Oh...YeahOh..."

The most distinctive features of this piece lie in its intro and coda. At the beginning, a surging wave of electric guitar sound is followed by a distant but husky, shouting vocal accompaniment, "Ee-yo," with a scale progression of "3-2-3-3-2-1," exhibiting a clear vocal style characteristic of traditional Han Chinese singing. In the coda, the vocals fall from a high point to a flat ending, utilizing altered notes b2, 4, and b3 rarely used in Chinese songs, evoking both the chanting style of ancient scholars and the languid, rebellious feel of exotic rock. The piece combines traditional vocal styles with novel scales in the vocals, and the electric guitar playing with both expressive qualities and unique timbres.

Every time I listen to it, I am always moved by its high-spirited and unconventional sentiments. It is as if I can feel the pure spirit of people in that era, which is completely different from that of today. It is like drinking a pot of old wine, which is very enjoyable.

Perhaps the joy of the morning made him very relaxed, and he sang the whole song smoothly without any flaws. Du Zihua sang very well, and he himself liked this rebellious flavor that was both restless and slightly sexy.

PS: Data is from the internet.

"No Place to Hide" is a song performed by the Black Panther Band, composed by Li Tong, with lyrics by Dou Wei, and arranged by the Black Panther Band. It was included in the Black Panther Band's album of the same name, released on August 1, 1991. On October 5, 2016, the song won the 30th Anniversary Classic Award at the 2nd Mainland China Golden Melody Awards.