The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

Li Zichun's performances were all hits. His three catchy pop songs resonated in the streets and alleys, reaching every corner and touching the hearts of the general public. Except for the first song, which was slightly less popular, the other two songs were considered golden hits, causing his popularity to skyrocket.

Many people wanted to follow him on Weibo, but after searching around, they found he couldn't be found at all, as if he had appeared out of thin air. People then recalled his sobering quotes; well, the goddess probably really doesn't want to be disturbed and just wants to focus on singing.

Although people can't find her in person, it doesn't diminish their love for the "Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust" company. Since its inception, the company seems to have never released a single bad song, making them a true conscience of the industry compared to other companies whose 15-second previews are just intros.

Li Yuehe's identity as a recluse has always been a focus of public attention. Many of her fans and admirers have started sending her small gifts to the company, with all sorts of bizarre items being sent. In one gift package, even props such as rope, sleeping pills, stun guns, small whips, and small candles were found. In the end, Li Ke, the person in charge, had to come out and post on Weibo to appeal to everyone to be rational in their pursuit of celebrities and stop sending gifts, saying that the company is too small to contain their overflowing love.

As the most mysterious female star in the entire music industry, even company employees and Li Ke's assistant can only wander around the first-floor work area. The second and third floors are their residences, which are filled with various surveillance cameras, and no fifth person is allowed to enter. So far, even company employees have never actually seen Li Yuehe's true face.

Many journalists and media organizations have tried to conduct exclusive interviews with her, but she has been politely refused.

As a partner in the company, Li Zichun was already a familiar face to everyone. Coupled with his outstanding work ability and shrewdness, no one suspected him. They only knew that he might be Li Yuehe's agent, after all, they both had the surname Li, and he could freely come and go upstairs, it would be strange if they weren't related.

The company doesn't have many people, and even with the three of them performing, there are still less than ten people. But with every hit song they have, they are now a household name.

Any product made by the Three Heroes is bound to be extraordinary.

Along with him, the mysterious and unpredictable musician "Senro" also gained widespread fame, never having shown his face, yet producing outstanding lyrics and music for the music scene.

This musician, who shares the same name as the bestselling novelist, has been the subject of much attention. Many people have tried to get his contact information through the Three Heroes, but all have failed and received the same answer: "The lyricist does not wish to give any interviews."

Fortunately, the community has excellent security, and ordinary people cannot enter. Otherwise, who knows how many people we would have to receive every day.

While Li Zichun was still pondering what kind of album to release, the next competition arrived just a few days later.

The feeling of having his thoughts forcibly interrupted made him feel very bad, but he couldn't refuse, so he had to get up, dress up, put on makeup and change clothes. Although Li Ke and Zhao Qianfan had been practicing singing for the past few days, they could also sense his unhappiness and didn't dare to disturb him.

Zhao Qianfan massaged his shoulders and said, "Don't push yourself too hard. You don't need to plan everything out. We're here for you."

Li Zichun looked at the two men who were confidently patting their chests, and yawned listlessly. There were only two and a half years left, and the system process was only one-fifth complete. If you two were useful, I wouldn't need to work. Despite thinking this, he still said casually, "Okay, you two handsome guys, we should get going."

This is the fourth performance in the port area. After the first three rounds of competition, only one hundred companies and studios remain out of hundreds of companies. This fourth competition is even more brutal, as it cuts out 70% of the remaining companies. The two remaining winners will compete in the final two rounds of themed points competition, and the two companies with the highest scores will represent the region in the national music ranking battle.

This is the final free-themed competition among the major companies. After going through the song list in his mind several times, Li Zichun chose a song that was neither outstanding nor too bad. He should be more than capable of winning this competition.

Beneath the veil, his expression was indifferent, carrying a unique worldly melancholy. His arrogant demeanor swept away his previous charming and lively appearance, making him seem extremely cold and alluring. The audience was itching to see him, wishing they could go forward and tear off his veil and crush him in their arms.

Indeed, only men truly understand what men want; no wonder the leading female roles in ancient Peking Opera were all male.

He picked up the microphone and began to sing the poignant love song "Rouge":

Vows vanish like smoke and clouds

After much effort

Passion burning like fire

How can one burn for a lifetime?

It's not easy to continue.

Betrayal is your name

A thousand loves misplaced

The emotions flow eastward like water.

A foolish heart wasted.

I wish we had never met that day.

I only hope to be with you

That one sees only the regrets of the world.

As youth fades

Love's flame not extinguished, human face mutated

I pray to meet you again on that day.

Expressing a thousand kinds of longing

I hope you will not let me down again.

Devoted attention

People are kept by love

"When will we meet again..."

The song was short, but every word sounded like a plea and a lament, while the large screen behind it displayed the rouge box's several changes of ownership. The first time, Zhao Qianfan's character, Twelfth Master, used his earnings from his time as an extra in the theater to buy it from a street stall outside the theater, as a token of their love for Li Zichun's character, Ru Hua, who wore a cheongsam and veil. The two were carefree and joyful under the moonlit flowers. But decades later, the rouge box reappeared in Li Ke's private shop, reduced to being carelessly discarded.

At the end of the story, only two lines remain on the screen: "A famous courtesan's infatuation leads to a final farewell; a wealthy young man awakens from his dream, only to survive on sleeping pills."

A stir ran through the audience, more from the captivating visuals on the big screen than from the song itself. Li Zichun's filming was based on the feel of the original movie, and although it only featured a few movements, it was a brilliant recreation of the original. The interplay of light and shadow created a dreamlike, ethereal atmosphere, both tender and alluring, leaving the viewer with a profound sense of melancholy.

Men cling to life, women cling to love. Li Zichun's inherent melancholy and helplessness emanate from within; with just a raised eyebrow or a glance, the emotional impact blurs the lines between actor and character, easily captivating the audience. That deep-seated sorrow and bitterness, conveyed in her eyes and in those moments of unspoken words…

When the song ended, the audience stood up and applauded. The melody was beautiful, the singing was excellent, the visuals were exquisite, and the performance by the three heroes was absolutely amazing.

As expected, advancement was a sure thing. "Rouge" was specially composed for Anita Mui and is also the theme song for the film of the same name. It was a Hong Kong Top Ten Gold Songs in 1988 and won Best Original Film Song at the 1989 Hong Kong Film Awards.

Using this song to enter the competition is a piece of cake.

Li Zichun considered whether to make this movie, but then thought about the money he had and decided against it. The company had just been established and there weren't enough people. He couldn't afford to ruin this masterpiece of art-house cinema.

Zeng Ziwei and Zhen Yuling were both moved by the sorrowful atmosphere of the scene. It was a tragic tale of a famous courtesan meeting a heartless lover, only to spend the rest of her life waiting in vain. Seeing her lost in thought, neither of them dared to disturb her. After asking her a few simple questions, they dismissed her.

Without a doubt, the song was a success, and the Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust advanced without a doubt.

Next up is the assessment for Li Ke and Zhao Qianfan. The second round of the singing competition is coming, testing their control over opera singing. The songs must contain elements related to opera.

During this period, Li Zichun has been giving the two intensive training sessions, correcting their pronunciation and rhythm so that they can perfectly reproduce the essence of opera.

The preliminary round of the singing competition was noticeably more upscale, with many celebrities in attendance. Li Zichun, accompanied by Li Ke and Zhao Qianfan, seemed to be acting as their manager.

Despite his previous popularity and public acclaim, he was still a newcomer in Kowloon Harbour. Apart from those who paid special attention to him, everyone else ignored him, and he was happy to have some peace and quiet.

Here, he also encountered Xu Meiqin, the Taiwanese woman he had met before.

Xu Meiqin looked at the long-haired woman wearing a veil and then remembered that she was Li Yuehe, a rising star. She felt that the person in front of her looked somewhat familiar, but she didn't recognize her as Li Zichun.

Xu Meiqin previously sang "Half Moon Serenade" with Li Ke on a variety show. While her skills weren't particularly strong, her unique and memorable voice, along with her decent appearance, made her way to the second round. Reaching that far is likely her limit, given that her opponent was Li Ke.

Li Ke was favored by Li Zichun because he stood by Li Ke's side throughout the "Moon Emperor's Fall" incident, even at the risk of falling out with the company, and insisted on upholding his sense of justice. This was an important reason why Li Zichun agreed to cooperate with him to start a company.

Xu Meiqin's singing is conventional, and it sounds somewhat similar to his "Chi Ling" style, as if it is consciously stitched together and disassembled, giving people a vague feeling.

When Li Ke came on stage, he glanced at him sideways, then composed himself and continued walking towards the stage. Li Zichun sang the famous Cantonese opera piece, "Autumn Regret on a Journey."

"Autumn Regret on a Journey" was originally the title of a song written by Ying Gen, a scholar during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. It describes the poignant lives and feelings of courtesans at the time, and is said to be melodious and easy to sing, thus becoming very popular. Later, Ye Ruibo from Nanhai re-edited "Autumn Regret on a Journey" during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty into a local Cantonese folk song, which has remained widely circulated and known to every household ever since.

The most famous and widely known performance of this song is undoubtedly Leslie Cheung's recording of it. If you haven't heard this song, you'll definitely know the first line. It's the catchy rhyme that's often used in Dicky Cheung's version of "The Duke of Mount Deer": "A cool breeze carries tidings, the autumn moon is boundless, my longing for my beloved makes each day feel like a year. Although I'm not handsome or dashing, I have a broad mind and strong arms."

We've gotten a bit off-topic, let's get back to the preliminary rounds of the singing competition.

Li Ke picked up the microphone, stood tall and straight, and smiled calmly. As the music began, she slowly sang:

A cool breeze carries tidings, and the autumn moon shines without end.

Seeing my longing for her, I feel as if each day is an eternity. My name is Miao, and my given name is Lianxian. I am writing to remember the passionate singer, Mai Shi Qiujuan. I admire her beauty and charm, and she is truly a woman of both talent and beauty.

Today we are separated by distance and cannot meet, so I sit alone on a quiet boat in the cool evening air. Look at the setting sun shining on the pair of swallows flying in pairs, and look at me leaning alone against the window, lost in thought.

I hear the autumn sounds of falling paulownia leaves, and see only withered willows shrouded in cold mist by the flat bridge. My melancholy for autumn is like that of Song Yu; moreover, I come from afar, carrying my sorrows, but to whom can I speak? Even old promises are hard to keep like the tide, and new sorrows are as deep as the boundless sea. The first sight of this scene only adds to my distress, as I gaze upon the full moon, longing for my beloved.

The entire song was performed in one go. Li Ke's voice became rich and mellow under Li Zichun's sudden adjustment. He used his real voice to sing the male lead's role in a falsetto style, which was desolate and bleak. It was low, melodious, and moving, and had a great appeal.

This piece is considered newly composed for this era; the melody and lyrics are subtle and easy to sing. Everyone understands it now, and compared to those awkwardly adapted opera excerpts from before, this is the best.

There were drama experts present, and they were all impressed when they heard the piece. The lyrics were excellent, and the singing was even better. This performance naturally received unanimous praise, and she passed the test smoothly.

When Zhao Qianfan took the stage, the audience was filled with anticipation. After all, his previous performance of "Autumn Regret on a Journey" was already quite impressive. They wondered what kind of song he would conjure up.

The song Li Zichun gave him was "The Princess Changping," a famous Cantonese opera piece. Since it was a theatrical work, and Li Ke's previous version was already a fragment, it would be repetitive to give him another one. Therefore, he gave him the version by Chen Yipeng, the initiator of Cantonese Chinese style music and the promoter of Cantonese opera culture.

Zhao Qianfan calmly and intently waved her hand with a gentle and sorrowful gaze, and a melodious, plaintive female voice rang out:

Fallen flowers fill the sky, obscuring the moonlight.

Borrow a cup to recommend to the Phoenix Terrace

Princess Changping offers incense with tears in her eyes.

I am willing to sacrifice my life to repay my parents

I secretly looked and secretly gazed.

She was secretly sad, tears streaming down her face.

I was half-terrified

Fearing the prince consort would cherish the phoenix and dragon pairing

"Unwilling to die for love, I will accompany you to the grave."

The audience erupted in commotion as he then began singing in male vocals.

My heart longs to be buried with you.

Mandarin ducks nestled together

A new house was built on the spring platform.

"Search for Pingyangmen Lane again in the underworld."

Zhao Qianfan's voice can switch freely between male and female, conveying delicate emotions and leaving a deep impression.

"female:

Alas, those who cherish flowers are willing to die for them.

On their wedding night, the prince consort was forced to drink poison.

male:

The tragedy of the land

I am deeply grateful for the late emperor's boundless grace.

Together with his wife, they paid their respects to the Emperor.

Female:

Alas, I long for the day we can grow old together in our wedding night.

Who would want to see the wedding candles overturned into a sea of ​​blood?

I have misled you, and now you are buried with me.

We should perform the proper courtesies and bow deeply before the flower candles.

They will drink the nuptial cup together again and use the tomb as their new home.

A thousand years of praise will be sung, and the imperial son-in-law's name will be inscribed on his memorial tablet.

Using the shade of willows as a curtain for hibiscus

male:

A Ming Dynasty prince consort visits his bride

In the dead of night, she lit a lamp, intending to secretly admire someone's makeup.

Female:

Love lasts until the end of time, a pair of lovebirds forever.

I wish to bow and exchange cups with my husband.

male:

Passing over the golden cup, I slowly sipped and savored.

Arsenic was placed on the grapes with tears in its eyes.

Female:

Albizia and you are in a drunken dreamland

male:

Clink glasses and head to the night stage

Female:

Flower crown as an alternative to burial attire

male:

Collection of the tomb of the Imperial Son-in-Law Jia

Female:

Embrace

male:

nestled together

combine:

Two branches of a tree reveal the fragrance of the Empress.

male:

帝女花

Female:

My beloved will stay with me forever

combine:

The couple died and their bodies resembled the tree.

"

PS: Data is from the internet.

"Rouge" is the theme song of the movie "Rouge", composed by Lai Siu-tin, with lyrics by Tang King-sang, and sung by Anita Mui. It was included in her 1987 album "Flaming Red Lips".

"Autumn Regret on a Journey" was originally the title of a song written by Ying Gen, a scholar during the Jiaqing period of the Qing Dynasty. Later, Ye Ruibo from Nanhai re-edited "Autumn Regret on a Journey" during the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty into a local Cantonese folk song, which has been widely circulated and known to every household ever since.

"The Princess Changping" is a Cantonese opera that premiered in 1957. The author is the opera master Tang Disheng. The version used here is the one adapted and released by Chen Yipeng in 2020. The music was arranged by Yuan Chengyu and Chen Yipeng, with guitar by Wu Yutao and post-production by Xia Fudong. Chen Yipeng was responsible for the cross-dressing role, production, and harmony.