The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

Li Zichun listened to the shouts with a detached smile throughout. Only after the shouts subsided did he signal for the music to start, and then slowly began to sing Anita Mui's "It Seems Like an Old Friend Has Come":

We were both passersby and dreamers; we should have been a pair.

People are unaware in their youthful dreams; upon waking, they must return to their roots.

Who could it be, sharing meals and lodging with just one person?

Anything not obtained, anything that is in the past.

Always the best match

You in the audience watch me on stage as I perform the play you want to do.

Do you, who were carefree in the face of past accidents, still remember...

Joy, sorrow, old age, sickness, and death—it's hardly a legend.

I hate the lovers on stage, or the lovers off stage.

It's not me and you

The mundane world is vast and insignificant; the will of Heaven is boundless and uncertain.

Separating you from me

Heartbreaking words, one after another; the sound of wind and rain, one after another.

It seems like an old friend has come.

When and where shall we meet again, tonight so warm?

Though we were not destined to be together, our memories lingered; yet life was too short.

One unrequited love, two bitter romances, a lifetime of unfinished stories.

In the depths of time, gazing at the distant moon.

Imagine your sorrow

The mundane world is vast and insignificant; the will of Heaven is boundless and uncertain.

Separating you from me

Heartbreaking words, one after another; the sound of wind and rain, one after another.

It seems like an old friend has come.

Let us stay or let us stay, and grow old together in this world.

Before parting, we knew nothing of each other; those days were so wonderful.

Holding hands, yet parting ways; love that was there, yet not there.

Ten years later, they'll be together; ten thousand years later, they'll be a pair.

I just wish I could see it.

Ten years later, they'll be together; ten thousand years later, they'll be in pairs; it's just a pity we can't see it.

"It Seems Like an Old Friend Has Come" is the theme song of the 1991 film "Double Bracelets," which tells the same-sex story between two women in Lugu Lake.

When composing music for films, Lo Ta-yu also used songs with Chinese story backgrounds to adjust and finalize the musical style, adopting melodies from Cantonese opera. Each musical phrase is divided into three pauses, with the first two pauses being basically the same in rhythm. Lin Xi also provided lyrics with the same symmetrical phrase structure. Therefore, singing it gives a feeling of repeated sighs.

After the song ended, if it weren't for the subtitles on the screen, most people in the audience probably wouldn't have understood it. But does good music necessarily require understanding what the singer is singing about?

Li Zichun's masterful singing skills, steady stage presence, and the infectious power of his voice have already moved the entire audience.

The song is melodious and graceful, with a well-structured tune. Coupled with the symmetrical and musically beautiful lyrics, it is captivating from the outset. Singing it not only produces beautiful melodies but also conveys a sense of rhythm and cadence.

Li Zichun sang with great emotion, his tone carrying a faint sadness that moved the audience.

Using such a program as an opening immediately sets the tone for the entire program at an extremely high standard.

After Li Zichun finished singing, the audience applauded continuously. He didn't linger, just nodded slightly, and left the stage without waiting for the host Li Fei to introduce him.

The host, Li Fei, was naturally the same host who hosted his new song concert. She was the same host they had been using before. I didn't expect her to be able to get into a show of this level now. It seems she has a strong background.

During the "Moon Emperor's Fall" incident, he took advantage of the situation and spoke in a sarcastic tone, much like a hidden green tea. Naturally, Li Zichun didn't give him a good look. After finishing his song, he bowed, nodded, and left.

Don't get involved. You're trying to piggyback on my popularity. Get lost.

Zhang Xiaochuan naturally stood by him. If it weren't for the fact that this was an official program and the powerful figures behind the scenes had personally appointed him to host it, he would have replaced him long ago.

Zhang Xiaochuan simply smiled faintly, showing no embarrassment, and continued walking onto the stage, muttering to himself, "Thank you to Emperor Yue, Li Zichun, for his wonderful performance. Let's give him a warm round of applause. Alright, now it's time for the official performance. This program is presented by..."

After finishing his performance, Li Zichun didn't go straight back to the dressing room. Instead, he wandered around backstage and asked the staff and Zhang Xiaochuan about the situation. Only then did he learn a shocking fact: Li Ke had been eliminated!

Li Zichun was shocked, but then she understood. "I was wondering why he hadn't contacted me for so long. I thought he was surrounded by beauties. Turns out he was eliminated. It seems that the beauty trap of GTV Entertainment worked."

He had been thinking that this was a preliminary round for the singing competition, and even if the singers were terrible, they couldn't possibly choose pretty faces like "Sleeping Beauty" and Luo Feiyu to participate. Turns out, it was all pre-arranged.

This kid hasn't contacted us, probably because he feels embarrassed and has let us down, so he's been avoiding us.

As Li Zichun was pondering the intricacies of the situation and walking back, he suddenly smelled a peculiar fragrance. The scent was soothing and calming, clearing his mind. Just as he was about to look around, a woman walked towards him.

She smiled and extended her hand to me: "Hello, I am Luo Feiyu. I have long admired you, Moon Emperor."

Li Zichun took a deep breath, smiled, shook her hand, and said with a slight frown, "Hello, it's nice to meet you."

Li Zichun swallowed hard. Damn, no wonder Li Ke couldn't resist and gave her his songs like cabbages. Most men couldn't handle that.

Luo Feiyu is indeed beautiful. Her beauty is not the kind that is breathtaking, but rather timeless. She is like a book that makes you want to read it carefully. From a distance, she is more like a long poem, with varying lengths and curves, a brisk rhythm, and endless aftertaste.

Such beauties are nothing special in the entertainment industry where beauties abound, they don't even rank high. There are plenty of beauties like them, and even if you don't have them, plastic surgeons have plenty of them.

The reason why she can leave a lasting and unforgettable impression on everyone who meets her is probably due to the wonderful, calming fragrance emanating from her body.

That's right, it's body odor.

Li Zichun couldn't help but think of the woman who haunted Qianlong's dreams, who married twice and remained childless throughout her life, yet was still repeatedly promoted to the rank of Consort, Xiangfei (Consort Rong).

Li Zichun originally thought this was just a legend, but he never expected it to be true. It was quite an eye-opener for him.

Li Zichun withdrew his clenched hand, and the two chatted briefly, mentioning things like the possibility of collaborating again before parting ways.

Li Zichun looked back at her departing figure and couldn't help but recall the lines from "The Rhapsody of Deng Tu Zi's Lust": "The son of the neighbor to the east, if you add an inch, he's too tall; if you subtract an inch, he's too short..." Then, thinking of Luo Feiyu's face, it was indeed "eyebrows like kingfisher feathers, skin like white snow; waist like a bound silk ribbon, teeth like pearls." Such a top-notch sucker of marrow, let alone Li Ke, he even doubted whether Zhao Qianfan could resist.

Li Zichun let out a long breath. The beauty left a fragrance wherever she went, which was indeed very pleasant. No wonder those big shots couldn't forget her. Such a person was born to be favored, and she was indeed someone that people of Zhong Lingling's level could not come into contact with, so it was no wonder that she was like that.

Lost in thought, he returned to Zhao Qianfan's dressing room. The makeup artist and stylist were working, and his entry didn't disturb them. However, Zhao Qianfan noticed him first and asked in a tone that revealed neither joy nor anger, "Have you seen Luo Feiyu?"

Li Zichun smiled and said, "How did you know?"

Zhao Qianfan looked you up and down, then scoffed, "Go wash your hands. I don't like the scent of her on you."

Li Zichun looked at his hand and said with a smug look, "Wow, you have a nose like a dog! You can even smell that. How did you know it was a hand? Do you know her?"

Zhao Qianfan continued looking in the mirror without turning her head: "I wouldn't say we know each other, we've just met before. Don't be fooled by how well she looks like she's in her teens or twenties; she's actually over thirty and has had children. You two aren't a good match."

Hearing a hint of jealousy in his voice, Li Zichun said, "We've only just met, how can we be talking about whether we're suitable or not?"

Zhao Qianfan gestured for the makeup artist and other staff to leave first. After they left, he smiled and said to him, "You probably don't know, but that woman is no ordinary person. She's incredibly capable and one of the candidates for marrying into a wealthy and powerful family. Your level just happens to be what she's looking for. It seems that her previous contact with Li Ke was only to meet you."

Li Zichun frowned and said, "Is she that capable? Would a wealthy family want a woman who has given birth?"

Zhao Qianfan patted his face lightly and said with a smile, "You, a virgin, naturally don't know her capabilities, the wealthy..."

Just as he was about to continue, a sarcastic voice came from outside the door. It was Luo Feiyu, whom he had just met: "Oh, long time no see. You're talking about me behind my back again. Go on, let me hear what I'm capable of that makes me stand out as a golden bachelor like you."

Luo Feiyu entered the workspace normally, crossed her legs and sat down on the sofa, even greeting Li Zichun with a smile.

Zhao Qianfan looked at Li Zichun speechlessly and helplessly, closed her eyes, and said with a lifeless expression, "Why are you back again, sister?"

Sister? Li Zichun looked at Zhao Qianfan with a face full of question marks and amazement, then looked at Luo Feiyu, his gaze jumping back and forth between the two, his mind already playing out several rounds of family drama.

Seeing Li Zichun's ever-changing expressions, Zhao Qianfan was both amused and annoyed. She pulled him over and said, "Sister, this is the Li Zichun I told you about. This is my sister, the beautiful and charming Luo Feiyu, whom you just met."

Luo Feiyu laughed and said, "Heh, didn't you just call me a scheming woman? How come you've changed your mind now?"

After saying that, without waiting for Zhao Qianfan to explain, she looked at Li Zichun beside her and said with a smile, "Hello, Zichun, we meet again. We must be old acquaintances now."

Li Zichun smiled and replied "Hello," but inside he was in turmoil. Could someone tell me what was going on? Was it a family with two surnames? The father's surname and the mother's surname?

Before he could figure it out, and just as Zhao Qianfan was about to explain to him, Ma Qian and the staff came in and saw the three of them looking bewildered, but still smiled and said, "Hello... sorry to bother you, but it's time to wait in line."

Luo Feiyu said with a smile, "Go ahead, I'll explain to him."

"Oh, okay, coming right away." Zhao Qianfan turned to Li Zichun and said with a smile, "She likes to talk nonsense, so don't believe everything she says."

After saying that, he patted Li Zichun on the shoulder and went to wait in the wings with Ma Qian.

Li Zichun watched them go on stage quietly, then sat down opposite Luo Feiyu and said, "Hello, Sister Luo."

Luo Feiyu looked him up and down, and said out of the blue, "Hmm, not bad, you're barely good enough for our family. You're so handsome, you should be able to meet our old lady's standards."

Li Zichun laughed and said, "Uh, what nonsense are you talking about, sister?"

Luo Feiyu said with a half-smile, "So, between you and him, who's on top and who's on the bottom?"

Seeing his blank and ignorant expression, Luo Feiyu said eagerly, "It's that one."

As soon as she finished speaking, she clapped her hands with a mixture of curiosity, scrutiny, and intriguing interest.

Li Zichun then realized what was happening, and abruptly stood up, waving his hands and saying, "No, no, no, ptooey, we're not like that! Don't talk nonsense..."

Seeing his panicked expression, as cute as a little rabbit, Luo Feiyu couldn't help but tease him further, "Really? It hasn't progressed to that stage yet? Do you have this?"

Luo Feiyu clenched his fists, tapped his thumbs together a few times, and then began rubbing them together.

Li Zichun swallowed hard, his eyes twitching. He was a little overwhelmed by this woman and said speechlessly, "No, please don't overthink it. We're just good friends who admire each other."

Luo Feiyu said with a disbelieving look, "Really nothing at all? But everyone online says your relationship is definitely not normal."

Li Zichun sat down and said with a smile, "The content on the internet is all lies. You're in the entertainment industry, you can't possibly not know this, can you? Very few of those news reports are true; they're all made up based on whatever comes to mind."

Luo Feiyu said with a smile, "Oh, right, I've been shipping you two for so long."

After saying that, she looked regretful, but still wouldn't give up, and said, "You really didn't do anything? You didn't see his body?"

Li Zichun fell silent. "We all live together, that's true."

"You never pressed your face against his chest?"

I've had this before; it was both hard and soft.

"without......"

Luo Feiyu's repeated "not really..." silenced him. He couldn't deny that these things did exist, so he could only nod helplessly and repeatedly emphasize that they were just "close friends".

Then the two probed each other, asking each other questions, and their back-and-forth questioning and answering showed great chemistry.

In the back and forth, Li Zichun finally understood the power of Zhao Qianfan's family. He had previously wondered why Jin Dili was willing for Zhao Jinmai to acknowledge his existence; indeed, the only family that could attract the attention of a powerful clan was another powerful clan.

Zhao Jinmai's family power was even more outrageously greater than that of the Jin family. If Jin Dili's family was merely a matter of daily infighting and conflicts of interest among wealthy families, then the Zhao family was practically a replica of a matriarchal society. Zhao Jinmai's mother was not even twenty-five years old when she inherited tens of millions of dollars from his deceased father.

At the prime of her life, full of youthful vigor and ambition, how could she, born into a prestigious family, possibly remain chaste for a dead man and compromise herself? So she directly built her own harem of men. From business elites to handsome young men, from innocent gods to domineering CEOs, she built her business empire entirely on men. Young, wealthy, and ambitious, she was rational, cautious, and principled. With the vision and knowledge inherited from her family, she seized opportunities proactively and almost never failed.

Aside from her minor quirk of being attracted to men, she had virtually no flaws. However, this flaw seemed nonexistent because these men were willing to do so. They were perfectly justified in helping her manage her business empire, offering everything they had just to get close to her and gain her favor.

As Li Zichun listened, he felt it was a bit of a dream. The plot was quite similar to that of Catherine the Great II of Russia. No wonder no one dared to touch Zhao Qianfan, who was so good-looking.

He suddenly understood why Xing Yiling kept pursuing him instead of easily pushing him away.

Zhao Qianfan left his family to enter the entertainment industry simply because he couldn't stand his mother's philandering and promiscuity. Even if he understood the meaning of "equal distribution of affection" under the influence of modern education, he couldn't comprehend it.

Li Zichun almost stood up when he heard Luo Feiyu's introduction. Zhao Qianfan's mother was truly amazing.

As they talked, Luo Feiyu finally threw out the ultimate question: "Did he ever tell you that you were his destined one?"

PS: Information is from the internet.

"It Seems Like an Old Friend Has Come" is a Cantonese song with lyrics by Lin Xi, music by Lo Ta-yu, and sung by Anita Mui. It was included in the compilation album *Queen's Road East*, released by Rock Records on July 1, 1991. The song is also the theme song for the film *Double Bracelets*. In 1991, Anita Mui won the Hong Kong Commercial Radio Ultimate Song Chart Award for Best Female Singer for this song. In 1992, the song won the Best Original Film Song Award at the 11th Hong Kong Film Awards.