The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

216. Farewell Feast (Part 7)

Amidst cheers of reluctance from the audience, Li Zichun continued singing "Don't Ask When You'll Return":

The thorn hidden in my heart, though sought in vain, is just like that. Silence sometimes prevails, but ultimately, it's because of your recklessness.

Thick ink cannot stain my heart's secrets; how can I send my longing across the cold night? Silence is sometimes, and so is longing.

Who parted from lovesickness?

Do not ask about the ends of the earth, nor about the return date.

Unfortunately, no one understands.

When love ends, only the one experiencing it truly knows the bitterness and sweetness.

Who parted, consumed by lovesickness? Ask not of the ends of the earth, nor of when we shall meet again; yet, alas, no one understands my heart's longing.

......"

Then, seizing the opportunity, he sang "When the Applause Rings Out":

Standing alone on this stage, hearing the applause, my heart is filled with endless emotions.

So much youth has faded, so many feelings have changed, but I still have your love.

Like my first time on stage, hearing the first cheer, I couldn't help but shed tears.

After countless failures and countless hours of waiting, I told myself to be patient.

As the applause rings out, my heart understands even more clearly that your love will always be with me.

As the applause rings out, my heart understands even more; the songs intertwine our love.

......"

One song after another, he sang the classic "See You Again":

It's been a long day without you, my friend. Without your company, the days have truly felt long.

And I'll tell you all about it when I see you again.

We've walked a long way from where we began. Looking back, we've journeyed hand in hand through a long journey.

Oh, I'll tell you all about it when I see you again.

When I see you again

......"

Immediately afterwards, he sang "I Will Be Fine," a song he dedicated to himself:

I will be fine. The flowers still smell sweet. Time keeps passing, and the memories are truly beautiful.

I'm thinking of you, always thinking of you. You've become a secret in my heart.

Don't say you love me or miss me if you don't truly mean it.

It was just a perfunctory response; I know it will make me very upset.

I want you to leave silently without looking back. I will clearly understand what you want.

There's no need to force yourself to comfort me with strange reasons.

I still love you deeply, deeply.

It can be either romantic or platonic.

That is the happiness in my heart; I know it is bittersweet.

......"

At the moment everyone was eagerly anticipating, the lights came on, and everyone went on stage, signifying that the concert was officially coming to an end. He stood on the stage and sang "Is There a Song That Will Make You Think of Me":

The lights are off; the moon is a lonely eye.

Silently watching, who lies awake in their lonely bed?

That familiar song drifted from afar.

Why are those voices so faint?

Long time no see. How have you been?

You once said you didn't want to be alone.

We all live in this city, yet why haven't we met again? Why do we only brush past strangers?

Is there such a song?

It will make you follow gently and

It touches on our shared past

Memory will not fall silent.

Is there a song that will make you remember me, that will bring you joy and sorrow?

Do you still remember your truest dream?

You are now a person with a story.

The same cold rain is falling from the sky, onto the same world. Yesterday seems ever more distant.

......

Is there a song that you can gently sing along to, a theme song that rises and falls with our lives?

......

If the song I'm singing now reminds you of me, and if loneliness wells up inside you, I want to know why.

......

The song I'm singing now represents my feelings for you. Even though time flies by, we've walked together.

......

Even though time flies by, we have walked this path together.

Then he continued singing "The Sound of Silence":

Hello darkness, my old friend.

I've come to talk to you again.

Because a vision is softly creeping in.

It left its seeds while I was sleeping.

And the vision that was planted in my brain—this illusion—took root, sprouted, and haunted me.

Still remains within the sound of silence.

......"

No one left; instead, they stood up and continued listening to him sing "Never Say Goodbye":

When a ship sinks to the bottom of the sea, when a person becomes a mystery.

You don't know why they left; that goodbye was his last word.

When a car disappears into the horizon, when a person becomes a mystery.

You don't know why they left, just as you didn't know this was the end.

On every night when the stars abandon the Milky Way

I will say goodbye, say goodbye to myself.

Because I don't know, and I don't want to know, the distance between us.

......

In every dream where the Milky Way falls into a deep valley

I will wake up and forget the dream.

Because you don't know, and you never will know, what's gone is gone.

......"

The concert reached its final climax as the entire audience stood up and applauded.

Li Zichun stood on the stage, laughing and crying. Only after the shouts subsided and the screen scrolled through all the participating staff did he pick up the microphone and say, "The last two songs are for the grand finale. I hope everyone can have peace and joy every day and live a fulfilling life."

All the celebrities and performers took to the stage one after another, and led by Zhao Jinmai, they sang together the classic song "Farewell," which had been briefly featured in the performance:

长亭外，古道边，芳草碧连天

The evening breeze caresses the willows, the flute's melody fades, the setting sun shines beyond the mountains.

At the ends of the earth, at the corners of the world, my close friends have mostly scattered.

A ladle of wine exhausts the remaining joy; tonight, parting dreams are cold.

长亭外，古道边，芳草碧连天

The evening breeze caresses the willows, the flute's melody fades, the setting sun shines beyond the mountains.

A thousand threads of emotion, a cup of wine, the mournful sound of a parting flute urging us on.

When will you return, my friend? When you do, do not hesitate.

Green grass, emerald water, how sorrowful is Nanpu?

Life is short, and joyful gatherings are rare, while partings are frequent.

A thousand threads of emotion, a cup of wine, the mournful sound of a parting flute urging us on.

"When will you return, my friend? Do not hesitate when you come back."

This song was originally intended to be the last one, but Li Zichun didn't like a too depressing or bleak ending, so he added another one, which was also his last song in this world.

Li Zichun thought long and hard, and after much deliberation, he finally chose "The Lone Warrior" to end this journey as his final song:

They are all brave.

The scar on your forehead, your differences, the mistakes you made.

There's no need to hide anything.

Your tattered doll, your mask, your ego.

They said they would tame every monster with the light.

They say you need to stitch up your wounds. Nobody loves the clown.

Why loneliness is not glorious

Only imperfections are worthy of praise.

Who says someone covered in mud isn't a hero?

I love you as you walk alone through dark alleys, I love your unyielding spirit, I love you as you confront despair, refusing to shed a single tear.

I love your tattered clothes, yet I dare to block fate's gun. I love how much we resemble each other, even our notches are the same.

Should I go? Do I deserve it? This tattered cloak...

War? Yes, war! With the humblest of dreams.

To the sobs and roars in the darkness: Who says only those standing in the light are heroes?

They say that getting rid of your madness is like wiping away dirt.

They said we had to climb the steps, but the price was bowing our heads.

Then let me, though I cannot ride the wind, still possess that same proud, solitary courage.

Who says ordinary players aren't heroes?

......

Your mottled appearance is unique.

Your silence is deafening.

You Are The Hero

......

I love you from the wilderness, I will never borrow anyone's light in this life. You will build your city-state upon the ruins.

......"

As he sang, he laughed and then he cried.

The audience members also started crying, because they didn't know when the man would come back.

Maybe tomorrow, maybe never.

After everyone left the stage, the concert officially came to an end.

PS: Data is from the internet.

"Don't Ask When You'll Return" is a song with lyrics by Liu Tao and Jin Lin, music by Liu Tao, arrangement by Tan Kankan, and sung by Jiang Xueer. It was released on August 22, 2019.

"Applause" is a song sung by Fong Fei-fei, which has been covered by many people. The lyrics were written by Chen Gui-fen and the music was composed by Chen Jin-xing. It was included in her album "Applause", which was released in 1986.

《See You Again》是由美国说唱歌手维兹·卡利法与美国男歌手查理·普斯合作演唱的一首歌曲，词曲由DJ Frank E、查理·普斯、维兹·卡利法和安德鲁·希达尔等人共同创作完成，该曲作为电影《速度与激情7》的片尾曲和主题曲于2015年3月17日发行，被收录在电影的原声音乐专辑和查理·普斯于2016年1月29日发行的个人首张录音室专辑《Nine Track Mind》中。

"I Will Be Fine" is a song with lyrics and music by Wu Bai, arrangement by Tu Huiyuan, and sung by Cyndi Wang. It was included in Cyndi Wang's album "Cyndi With U" released on December 27, 2005.

"Is There a Song That Makes You Think of Me?" is a song sung by Emil Chau, with lyrics by Li Zhuoxiong and Li Zongsheng, music by Zhou Chuanxiong, and arrangement by Mac Chew. It was included in Emil Chau's album "Forget-Me-Not" released by Rock Records on October 16, 2001.

"The Sound of Silence" is a song by Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, included on the album "Wednesday Morning," recorded on October 19, 1964.

"Never Say Goodbye" is a song sung by G.E.M. (Gloria Tang), and is also the theme song of the movie of the same name. The lyrics were written by Han Han, and the music was composed by Anthun Kent and Dee Syluia. It was released as a single on July 10, 2014.

"Farewell" is a song with lyrics written by Li Shutong in 1915, and the melody is taken from the American song "Dreaming of Home and Mother" composed by John Pound Otway. In 1936, EMI released a recording of a solo performance by Long Xun, a student from the Affiliated Primary School of Beijing Normal University. This version was later included in the album "A Century of Classics 1: Autumn Water and Beautiful Woman" published by China Record in 2004.

"The Lone Warrior" is the Chinese theme song for the animated series "League of Legends: Battle of Two Cities," a spin-off of the game "League of Legends." The lyrics were written by Tang Tian, ​​the music was composed by Qian Lei, and the song was sung by Eason Chan. It was released as a single on November 8, 2021.