The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

Li Zichun simply smiled and accepted Lin Ruhai's big order. It's just a song, right? How could that possibly stump my brain?

Lin Ruhai admired his calm demeanor. Only a talented scholar with profound knowledge and profound understanding would be completely unconcerned and nervous. This is the kind of person who is described as a wise man without worries.

Zhao Qianfan, standing to the side, didn't seem particularly affected, only knowing that Li Zichun wasn't afraid, and that the old man in front of him seemed to be quite powerful in Kowloon. Li Ke, on the other hand, who had already finished singing, almost jumped up excitedly. This was Lin Ruhai! The head of the Lin family, one of Kowloon's twenty largest families, a pillar of the entertainment industry, a master manipulator of capital, a legendary figure who could escape unscathed even during a stock market crash. It was said that those who caught his eye would automatically find wealth and fortune. He was already imagining himself living a life of luxury and financial freedom, sitting atop mountains of gold and silver, commanding respect, with a beauty on his left and another on his right…

Seeing how worthless he looked, Li Zichun gave him a forced smile and stepped on his shoe. If there weren't other people around, he would have wanted Zhao Qianfan to pee on him to wake him up. As for why he didn't do it himself, well, he had eaten too many sweets before the buffet...

Lin Ruhai was satisfied with his answer, said "I look forward to your performance" and left.

Li Ke and Zhao Qianfan immediately stepped forward and asked, "Are you alright? Four songs, is there really enough time for the accompaniment?"

Li Zichun glanced at the clock on the wall. There was still an hour and a half before the show started. It was only four songs with instrumental accompaniment, and with his current level of proficiency, half an hour would be more than enough. However, he had too many classic Hong Kong and Taiwan songs in his head, and for a moment he didn't know which one to choose.

While hesitating and selecting, he kept stuffing the desserts and snacks in front of him into his mouth, considering whether to ask the chef here to go back. This Cantonese food is really authentic.

Seeing that he seemed unaffected, Zhao Qianfan wasn't in a hurry anymore. She picked up the champagne in front of her, lightly moistened her lips, ate a few light snacks, and then stopped eating. The food here was indeed delicious; no wonder he ate like a starving ghost. If she didn't have a performance later, she would have loved to feast like him.

Li Zichun quickly finished the food in front of him, patted his round little belly, and smacked his lips as he said, "Sigh, I'm only half full. If I didn't have to sing later, I would have digested all of you by the time I finished watching you."

After saying that, he found the waiter left by Lin Ruhai and, under his guidance, went directly to the recording studio and the instrument storage room. Only after passing the verification and entering the room did he realize what true wealth and power meant.

The recording studio was impeccably set up, but the instrument storage room truly broadened his horizons. Like a museum, each instrument, from large to small, had its own small room with its own number, description, and category. From ancient to modern instruments, even replicas of museum-rare pieces were displayed there—it was truly eye-opening.

You can find musical instruments here, both familiar and unfamiliar. Keep in mind that this is Kowloon Harbour, where land is incredibly valuable. The orderly storage rooms of these hundreds of square meters are beyond the imagination of most people.

Li Zichun didn't have time to look at it closely. He simply asked the housekeeper to borrow what he needed and then called Li Ke and Zhao Qianfan to go to the recording studio to prepare for the upcoming performance.

Li Ke and Zhao Qianfan held the lyrics in their hands, listened to him sing it once, and then began frantically memorizing them, trying to find the feeling by following the melody. Although Zhao Qianfan had a competition in the afternoon, after receiving his affirmative answer, they felt relieved; it was just one more song, and it wouldn't have a big impact.

Half an hour was enough to record four backing tracks. The rest of the time was spent practicing the last song with the two of them, trying to make the song as good as possible.

They quickly returned to the recording studio to confirm their upcoming content with the director and other staff.

Soon the time was up, and the recording studio suddenly went dark. Li Zichun slowly rose from the center of the stage, with a lunar phase display playing on the ground and behind the stage. He smiled calmly, picked up the microphone, and slowly began to sing Priscilla Chan's "The Moon":

Let's embrace as we part, no words needed / If in your heart a thunderstorm is brewing. /

Understand, I'm flying away, don't worry about me. / If you want to cry, let me go first, okay?

May my life be brilliant, shining beautifully; may my footsteps be as gentle as the wind and as cold as frost.

The moon is bright, but dawn will eventually break / The moon's departure mirrors my own thoughts /

As we part, let's dance, for time will pass quickly. Remember, this last smile was beautiful.

Forgive me for all this being so rambling/My heart, in the end, wishes to find refuge in the wind/

...

The moonlight shone on my shoulder.

"Wandering at night, I fear not heartbreak, but even greater pain."

The original song is Meng Tingwei's "Look, Look at the Moon's Face," which is the song that Li Zichun wrote for Xue Qingrou and Feng Zhennian to sing. Now, the old song has new lyrics, which is both a remembrance and a sentiment. Just like the lyrics say, may our lives be as brilliant as the starry sky and live beautifully.

Li Zichun's voice is captivating, like a magnet; the emphasis is strong yet not harsh, deep, sexy, and resonant. After he finished singing, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Zeng Ziwei and Zhen Yuling stepped forward and clapped their hands, saying, "You sang well. I wonder what brings Mr. Li Zichun to our program this time?"

Li Zichun said with a smile, "I originally just came here with Li Ke and Zhao Qianfan to watch the show, but I didn't expect to receive an invitation from Mr. Lin Ruhai to perform. It's truly an honor. I've prepared four songs this time, and there will be three more songs at the end. Please look forward to it."

Zeng Ziwei nodded and said, "In that case, we'll wait and see. But why did you come with Li Ke and Zhao Qianfan? Li Yuehe always accompanied them before. You and she both have the surname Li, so there can't be any connection between you, right?"

Li Zichun calmly said, "To be honest, I came to Kowloon Port to help her. As her most beloved junior sister, she chose to establish the 'Three Heroes of the Wind and Dust' company, and as her senior brother, I naturally have to lend a hand, otherwise she would scold me."

The crowd burst into laughter, probably because they simply couldn't imagine what Princess Yuehe would be like when she was cursing.

Zhen Yuling smiled and said, "You just said she's your junior sister? Can I ask who your master is?"

Li Zichun said calmly, "Didn't you guess it? It's Senluo, the one who wrote the lyrics for her song before. My master has never liked being disturbed, so he always uses an alias for everything."

Zeng Ziwei said meaningfully, "Oh, so you two are from the same school. I really want to meet the great man who trained you two singing masters."

Li Zichun said with a smile, "Then you probably won't be able to see it. If it weren't for my junior sister's constant pestering, Master Senluo wouldn't have agreed to come out of seclusion to write those songs. He really had no choice recently, and seeing that my career wasn't going very well, he called me back to write songs for them."

Upon seeing the director's prompt, Zhen Yuling smiled and said, "Oh, I see. Alright, then we'll look forward to your next performance. Please go and rest for a while."

Li Zichun walked off the stage with a smile and sat between Li Ke and Zhao Qianfan, quietly enjoying the performance to come.

After Li Zichun's performance, the following singers all wanted to give it their all. You know, he's the Moon King, who can hit a pop song with every song he releases. If he takes a liking to you, you'll have a masterpiece in no time. The pressure was immense. Several singers went off-key and rushed the beat. Their mental fortitude was laughable, and the judges frowned.

After a few people, it was Zhao Qianfan's turn to take the stage. Li Zichun nodded symbolically, showing considerable confidence in his abilities.

Zhao Qianfan stood on the stage with a gentle smile, and began to sing "Next Year Today" to the accompaniment:

If this chandelier were to pour down, / perhaps I would no longer exist.

Even if you don't love each other, there's no need to separate.

If at this moment I were to suffer severe dementia...

There is no need to be loved

Always dreaming in bed

I will never be sad again for the rest of my life.

People always need to be brave to survive.

I will make a wish again.

For example, learning to cope with heartbreak.

Next year on this day, I won't have insomnia anymore / My bedding will be different. If we are lucky enough to meet / Or at a friend's wedding feast / I'll anxiously wait for you to appear.

Next year at this time, I won't see you again / Who would bear to change after sixty years away from you / I hope I can recognize your children / And hear you say goodbye before I leave.

......

I haven't seen you this time next year.

Who would be willing to change after leaving you for sixty years?

Hopefully, I can recognize your children.

Even as we parted, I could still hear you saying goodbye.

To meet you in this fleeting moment of life / It must have used up all my luck / Only today do I realize / I once breathed air.

When Zhao Qianfan sang the last line, the entire audience fell silent. With lyrics like these, it's hard to imagine it not becoming a classic. The warm and gentle melody, paired with undisguised deep emotion, showcased Zhao Qianfan's masterful control and perfect delivery. No wonder they're a golden duo that everyone's swooning over.

The first contestant passed smoothly, putting pressure on the following contestants.

Psychological theory suggests that the more someone tries to perform well, the more likely they are to make mistakes. In the scientific community, this phenomenon is known as "purpose tremor" or "threading the needle mentality."

Those who performed later largely followed the same pattern. While many mistakes appeared accidental, they were actually inevitable. Maintaining a calm and composed mindset—simple to say, but requiring consistent and serious attention in all aspects of life—was crucial. Li Zichun believed their errors were entirely avoidable because they lacked focus and always thought "good enough" was sufficient. However, at critical moments, they consistently fell short by just a little bit; the saying "a small difference can lead to a huge error" perfectly illustrates this point.

It may seem like you're fooling others, but in the end, you're only fooling yourself. Practice is not just about learning skills, but more importantly, about cultivating your mind and character.

Li Zichun stared blankly, even looking a little sleepy, probably because he had eaten too much at noon.

Soon it was Zhao Qianfan's second performance turn. The same melody began, and he picked up the microphone and slowly sang "Ten Years":

If those two words didn't tremble

I won't find myself uncomfortable

How to say it

It's just a breakup

If there is no request for tomorrow

Holding hands is like traveling

Thousands of doorways

There is always someone to go first

Since the embrace cannot stay

Why not when you leave

Enjoying it while shedding tears

Ten years ago

I don't know you, you don't belong to me.

We are still the same

By a stranger

Walk through the streets that are gradually familiar

Ten years later

We are friends and can still exchange greetings.

Just kind of gentle

No more reason to hug

Lovers will inevitably become friends in the end

......

Until I've been friends with you for many years

Only then did I understand my tears

Not flowing for you

Also for others to shed tears

Zhao Qianfan's singing voice seems to carry endless bitterness, leaving listeners feeling disoriented and heartbroken. This unique performance instantly breaks down everyone's emotional defenses, leaving no room for regret and lament.

After a brief silence, thunderous applause erupted. Zhao Qianfan slowly retreated. The judges had naturally voted; it would be a pity if such a singer were buried, truly a hidden gem of the era. At the same time, they felt a pang of sympathy for Li Zichun, the songwriter and composer of the song, sitting there. Some people's talent seems inexhaustible; God, you are truly biased.

After Zhao Qianfan finished singing, he looked up and met Li Zichun's bright eyes. It was as if he had a thousand words to say, but in the end he just smiled and nodded.

The singers after them have lost their fighting spirit and desire to sing. What kind of devils are they this year? It's one thing for the contestants to be arrogant, but even their guest performers are all top-notch. This is only the preliminary round for the King of Singers. How are they going to compete in the finals? Now they only want to compete for third place. They don't even have the slightest thought of winning the championship or runner-up.

Zhao Qianfan sat back down, and Li Zichun nodded and said, "Hmm, not bad."

Zhao Qianfan laughed and said, "It's all thanks to Senior Zichun's excellent teaching."

Li Zichun chuckled and said, "Of course, after all, a good teacher produces outstanding students."

Zhao Qianfan continued, "I wouldn't call him a top student, but he's definitely a renowned teacher..."

Li Ke listened expressionlessly to the two blatantly flattering each other. This pair was really enough, no, absolutely enough.

PS: Data is from the internet.

"The Moon" is a song with lyrics by Chen Shaoqi, music by Chen Xiaoxia, and sung by Priscilla Chan. It was included in Priscilla Chan's album "Come Back" released on March 26, 1992.

"Next Year Today" is a Cantonese song by Hong Kong pop singer Eason Chan, with lyrics by Lin Xi, music by Chen Xiaoxia, and arrangement by Chen Huiyang. It was included in the album *The Line-up*, released on July 24, 2002. It was also the theme song for the film *Mr. Scoundrel*. The song won numerous awards, including the 2002 Hong Kong Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award, the 2002 25th Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Global Chinese Supreme Gold Song Award, and the 2010 "Chinese Golden Melody Awards" 30 Classic Songs of the Past 30 Years, among others.

"Ten Years" is a song with lyrics by Lin Xi, music by Chen Xiaoxia, and arrangement by Chen Huiyang. It was included in the album "Black, White, and Gray" and released on April 15, 2003. The song was the ending theme for the TV series "Talented Women and Handsome Men," and also featured in the films "The Ferryman" and "Hidden Marriage." In 2004, the song won one of the Top Ten Songs (Hong Kong and Taiwan) at the 4th Pepsi Music Chart Awards. It was also nominated for the 2018 Global Chinese Music Awards for Most Popular Karaoke Song.