The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

156.

Du Zihua didn't dwell on the issue too much. Li Zichun's words made sense. He had only been in the industry for a short time and his foundation was not solid. He had only been able to enter the entertainment industry because of his passion and the opportunities his family had fought for. If he couldn't achieve something, he would have to obediently go back to following a fixed path, which was not what he wanted.

He knew perfectly well that he couldn't give him what he wanted right now, but he felt very good about spending time with him these days, especially in that area.

Actually, Du Zihua had already decided on him the moment they first met. He couldn't quite explain why; he simply knew that this person was the one he wanted to spend his life with. He didn't have many requirements regarding gender, after all, no one knows whether their destined lover will be male or female. Setting too many limitations might easily lead to missing out.

The moment he met Li Zichun, he knew he was doomed.

Although Li Zichun had feelings for him, they weren't strong enough to make him abandon his goal of immortality. There are plenty of fish in the sea; he had Zhao Qianfan before, and now he had Du Zihua. Once he reached the Eternal Heaven, handsome men and celestial beauties would be everywhere. Humans are but a hundred years old; even the best appearance, carefully maintained, has a shelf life of only fifty. He wanted to live forever, to witness the fleeting nature of human life.

Du Zihua didn't understand what Li Zichun was thinking. He just secretly made up his mind to try to get closer to him so that he would be there for him when he needed him.

Li Zichun didn't want to waste too much time on this issue, so the two continued recording the remaining songs.

The tenth song Li Zichun gave him was "Leaving Blank Space" by Zhuang Zhuheng:

What kind of person do you want to be?

Farther than the setting sun, longer than a dream, deeper than the sea

Rushing towards the ideal life

Thinking that a somersault would allow them to reach the stars

Several sloppy successes and failures

Will the initial determination lead to a loss of composure?

The phone rings in a foreign land

How could someone who prides themselves on being brave suddenly burst into tears?

Empty-handed and naked, yet still daring to daydream.

I trudged through the mud, hesitantly moving forward, but still looked up to see the Milky Way.

Even if it ultimately fades like a gentle breeze across the dust of time.

Those faded marks on the pure white sleeves will remember that you were here.

......

Fragile hands cannot grasp the evening breeze.

Will we still be able to embrace the moonlight?

We wanderers cannot take the starry sky with us.

I still wish to use my own faint light to illuminate the loneliness of all living beings.

......

What kind of dream makes your life worthwhile?

This is a gentle and tender song, as if it is asking itself a question, and also as if it is encouraging itself to boldly pursue its dreams. Even if it is temporarily trapped and stopped, it should not give up and remember the distant place it wants to go.

Du Zihua was moved by this song because what he wanted, the dream that would make his life worthwhile, was right beside him.

Li Zichun was at a loss for words under his bright gaze. Several times she felt embarrassed and avoided his eyes, only nodding and going about her own business as she prepared to record the next song.

Du Zihua just smiled and didn't dare to continue acting recklessly in the recording studio, as their impulsive actions last time almost caused damage.

The next song is "The Clouds Are Still Singing" by Zhang Jie:

I fear time is too turbulent, and you too are walking in the strong wind.

So I send this song off: At this moment, please forget the charge.

I want to talk to you, so brave, about our vulnerability in a quiet corner.

Can we stop chasing trends? Can we dare to cry out in pain?

Can you run as gracefully as you walk backward?

I only wish you the tenderness of a song.

Being alone doesn't necessarily mean being unhappy.

No matter which intersection you stop at

Be moved by the encounter, live for the present moment.

Two or three friends who stand together through thick and thin

In this mundane world, bowing one's head for a flower

I'll leave you with stories to enjoy with wine, and as the night deepens, I'll listen to you slowly.

The messages are all stored in the clouds; they are the eyes of the sky.

Songs accompany you on your journey.

Can I love the ordinary? Can I hide in a tree hole?

Can we embrace our own weakness and still be brave?

......

I'll leave you with stories to share with drinks. Late at night, I'll listen to your tales of fireworks and loneliness.

You said you once trekked through love, searching for an ark in the torrential rain.

On some deserted island, waiting for a shooting star to fall.

Can you hear it? The clouds are still singing.

Being alone doesn't necessarily mean being unhappy, no matter which city you're in.

Falling in love at first sight, living for myself, witnessing you, exchanging trials for tenderness.

When I want to hug you and cry, kind people will be blessed.

May there be love to look back upon, and dreams to pursue far away, okay?

This song is actually a warm and gentle healing song. Li Zichun chose it on a whim. Giving him this song was probably because she thought that if he were ever alone in the future, she wouldn't be unhappy. She had no one to confide in about the bitterness of only having a year and a half to live, and she just hoped he could be happier.

Du Zihua only knew that the person in front of him was the one he loved, and he would not let his isolated island fall silent and sink.

They've recorded eleven songs so far, and they plan to finish with twelve. Du Zihua smiled and hugged Li Zichun, saying, "How about you debut on my album? Okay?"

Li Zichun reached out and patted his head, laughing and scolding, "If I'm included, wouldn't the number 'thirteen' be a bit unlucky?"

Du Zihua rubbed against his shoulder and said, "It's not a bad thing. At least when people mention you in the future, they'll mention me too."

Li Zichun was itching to try it, thinking that if the record owner didn't mind, why should she refuse? So she smiled and agreed.

Li Zichun didn't really know what to sing for a moment. After thinking about it for a while, she quickly made her choice, recorded the background music, and sang Ju Jingyi's "Loneliness and Poetry" under the female voice of "Li Tianyi":

She imagined the dark blue stone steps as a vast wilderness.

This gentle mountain town cannot contain that world.

The winding river flows southward.

She had found amber by the river.

Many years later, she finally realized

This is the most beautiful period of my life.

With tearful resolve, she hoped she would eventually transform into a butterfly.

Love to the point of disregarding consequences; hate to the point of the world collapsing.

All that painstaking effort was thrown into the mud.

I've experienced all the joys and sorrows of life.

To forget about working non-stop

Only then did I realize that even the most precious amber is nothing more than a stone.

She knew very well that the higher one went, the lonelier one became.

The longer the story, the fewer people listened to her.

Why not trade half a lifetime of indifference for a corner to hide in?

She knew very well that the older you get, the more naked you become, and who can't live without whom.

Having once blossomed in the snowy land, why fear the desert?

She traded the fading remnants of her youth for the mystery of the azure sea.

Beautify yourself, not for anyone else.

curled up on the sofa watching cheap sentimental videos

Letting the tears dilute the effects of the alcohol.

I spent the entire holiday reading One Hundred Years of Solitude.

I can start dancing whenever I play a song I loved in my youth.

......

She knew very well that the more unwilling she was to stop...

Those seemingly perfect endings ultimately leave you with a sense of loss.

Why not use the rest of my life as paper to write an epic of solitude?

She knew all too well that the more people around, the lonelier she felt. Although she occasionally thought of uncovering a corner of the world where someone was waiting for her…

Released on Ju Jingyi's 2019 birthday, "Loneliness and Poetry" is a song of gentle perseverance, singing an "epic of loneliness." This personal experience can be described as "arduous," filled with both wounds and gains. She uses her voice to express that every moment is the most beautiful time.

Li Zichun also wanted to use this song to express his feelings over the past six months. The present moment is beautiful. Du Zihua, you are great.

Du Zihua listened to the whole song with a smile. At that moment, he suddenly decided to hug Li Zichun and said, "Even if I have to be your lover, I'll accept it. If it's you, I'll do anything."

Li Zichun was slightly taken aback, smiled and patted his head without saying a word.

After lingering for a while, and once Du Zihua had calmed down, Li Zichun said with a smile, "Alright, it's time to record the last song. Once we're done, we can relax a bit."

Du Zihua gently bit his earlobe and said, "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."

Li Zichun shook his head and chuckled. "You brat, you're getting better and better at it."

After adjusting his mood, Du Zihua, accompanied by Li Zichun, recorded the last song, Lu Han's "Medal":

The story begins in that first dream, where the stars twinkled only for me.

I saw that even an ordinary me can have a moment that is extraordinary.

Ahead lies the unknown, facing you is the sea breeze; the siren's song can tempt one to forget their original intentions.

They say every storm could drown me.

But I will, like Odysseus, head towards the direction in my heart.

Even if the gods would stand in their way from the other side

When I need to stand alone on the distant battlefield

Weapons are the dreams I hold tightly in my hands.

The wounds I've suffered are my medals.

Who said only greatness deserves to be celebrated? Even riding the waves doesn't guarantee success.

Life can only move forward; those who hold firm to their beliefs are heroes.

But I will, like Odysseus, head towards the direction in my heart.

The wounds I've suffered are my medals.

......

The wounds I've suffered have all contributed to my growth.

......

No matter how long the road ahead may be, I set sail again, carrying my medals.

No road in the world is without its obstacles; only with unwavering faith can one realize their dreams.

This song was the closing song of Lu Han's concert. Li Zichun remembers it very clearly. When he presents this song to Lu Han now, he probably has some kind of expectation for him. It is a medal for all dreamers as they grow up.

I crown your life.

PS: Data is from the internet.

"Leaving Blank Space" is a song with lyrics and music by Zhuang Zhuheng, arrangement by He Shan and Guo Yifan, and sung by Zhuang Zhuheng. It was released in December 2021 and is the theme song of "The Exciting Offer 3".

"The Clouds Are Still Singing" is a song with lyrics by Tang Tian, ​​music by A Qin, Sun Mingyue, Li Siyuan, Jie, Chen Tian, ​​and Liu Kecheng, arrangement by Terence Teo, and sung by Zhang Jie. It is included in the album "The Clouds Are Still Singing" released on April 23, 2022.

"Loneliness and Poetry" is a song sung by Ju Jingyi, with lyrics by Gan Shijia and music and arrangement by Hu Zhen. It was released on June 18, 2019.

"Medal" is a song with lyrics by Zhu Jingxi, music by Jamie Scott, Nicolas Squires, and Michael Needle, and sung by Lu Han. It was included in Lu Han's album "RELOADED," released on December 23, 2015. The song was chosen as the theme song for the movie "The Witness," starring Lu Han.