The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

After Li Zichun submitted the lyrics, he was about to leave to find Zhang Xiaochuan when Zhang Xiaochuan arrived first.

Li Zichun already had a guess in his heart. It seemed that the new song concert had encountered obstacles, and GTV would not give up so easily.

Zhang Xiaochuan sighed and said with dissatisfaction, "I'm afraid I can't help you this time. The production team suddenly decided to cancel the new song concert, believing it to be a leak of the questions. So this performance is probably..."

Seeing his embarrassed expression, Li Zichun understood perfectly. She smiled and said, "Well, I thought it was something serious. If it doesn't work out, we can still use our own company's account to do a live stream. But then it won't have anything to do with your production team."

Zhang Xiaochuan thought for a moment, nodded, and said with a smile, "I'm sorry about this, it's all my fault for not being able to..."

Li Zichun chuckled and said, "It's nothing, it's not completely settled yet, it's not a big deal. Every family has one or two troublesome elders."

These words were quite blunt. Although he was angry, he couldn't just lose his temper. Considering that they would have to interact again in the upcoming competition, and that Zhang Xiaochuan was just a director and not the person in charge, he gave a few perfunctory words and left.

The TV appearance on the new song concert is off, but the performance itself won't be. The trailer for "The Three Musketeers of the Wind and Dust" has already been released; what happens next is his own business, and has nothing to do with you anymore.

After a brief handover, he left with Zhao Qianfan.

After walking a distance with Li Zichun, Zhao Qianfan whispered, "How should we tell Li Ke about this?"

Without thinking, Li Zichun said directly, "Just say it however you want. It's just singing a song, it doesn't have to be on stage."

Zhao Qianfan immediately understood. "That's right," he thought, "it's just singing a song; it doesn't necessarily have to be on stage. I'm being too attached to it. Even without the competition's promotion in Kowloon, I still won the title of 'King of Singers,' didn't I? Even without a big platform, anywhere can be a stage as long as I turn on my phone's live stream camera."

Li Zichun was wondering how much of this involved the eight major entertainment companies. These days, even the most talented ordinary person has to work incredibly hard to make a name for themselves.

Li Zichun couldn't help but reminisce about his three-story villa in Kowloon Harbour. It was so convenient there; he could do whatever he wanted. Truly, being far removed from the mainland entertainment industry meant success was just around the corner.

Is the Chinese entertainment industry really my nemesis?!

The two returned and explained the details to Li Ke, deciding to move the new song concert to another location. As for where to move it, that would be up to individual choice.

Li Zichun preferred the public square, Zhao Qianfan suggested going to a professional live streaming room, while Li Ke didn't care.

Just as the three were at an impasse, Yan Xiaoli suggested, "How about we go to that bar we went to before? It's a nice place, undisturbed, and we can thank the previous bar owner for protecting his privacy."

Li Zichun nodded in agreement. It made sense. The bar was bustling with people, and it also had a resident singer area. Discussing it with the owner about doing a live stream should be feasible.

The four nodded; time was short, so they immediately got to work.

The relationships within the capital city are complex and intertwined; anyone who can open a bar here must have some skill.

The bar owner, Dai Rong, is a native of Beijing. His family has lived here for five generations, making him a member of a century-old family.

When Li Zichun and his entourage arrived, Dai Rong happened to be there on business. To Dai Rong, they were just a group of minor celebrities, but he was particularly interested in Li Zichun. The reason was that, like the older generation, he enjoyed listening to opera and had paid special attention to Li Zichun's performances. After a conversation, they reached a consensus.

Li Zichun could perform here, even for free, but he would have to go to his theater to sing a play.

Li Zichun thought for a moment. It was just a play; that was easy for him to pull off. But this owner was really something else, running a theater and a bar. He wondered what else he had up his sleeve.

After the group quickly completed the handover, they began sending messages and setting up the venue.

At Li Zichun's request, Dai Rong nodded in agreement to install and test the security door. This was partly to prevent unscrupulous individuals from smuggling contraband, and partly to allow on-site personnel to conduct a simple initial screening. Bars are, after all, places prone to incidents; although this was a quiet bar, it was still inevitably somewhat dirty, so he had to be careful.

Li Zichun spent half a day in a professional recording studio and quickly recorded all the instrumental tracks for the songs.

Zhao Qianfan, along with Yan Xiaoli and Li Ke, arranged the scene according to their own preferences. With Dai Rong's permission, they could do whatever they wanted as long as they didn't cause any damage.

Two or three days should have been enough, but Li Zichun still underestimated his influence.

In his mind, since he hadn't been back to the mainland for so long, and they were too lazy to promote it—it was a live stream, why would they need so many people around? It wasn't a concert, so it wasn't necessary. In the end, only Dai Rong, the bar owner, gave it a token promotion on his WeChat Moments and Weibo, and that was it.

They estimated that there would be at most one or two hundred people, which was the maximum seating capacity of the bar.

But when they arrived at the scene that evening, there was already a long queue, and it was difficult for them to even squeeze in. Dai Rong had security escort them through the back door.

Looking at the chaotic scene, Dai Rong thought to himself that it was fortunate he had the foresight to limit the number of people entering and to install a display screen outdoors along with the security gate; otherwise, it could have easily aroused public anger.

Many people got in through Dai Rong's connections, and while they were at it, they also bought gold card memberships, which made him a fortune overnight.

Li Zichun and the other two quickly adjusted their state, and the performance officially began.

The bar was filled with their fans, and the three of them were greeted with enthusiastic applause and cheers as soon as they appeared.

Looking at the huge crowd sitting on the ground below the stage, Li Zichun smiled and said, "I originally just planned to borrow a place to do a casual live stream, but I didn't expect so many people to come. I had to plead with the security guards and they almost wouldn't let us in. I heard there are quite a few people blocking the entrance outside. I'm really sorry, thank you all for your enthusiasm, and please be careful."

"Alright, there are already over 100,000 people waiting online. Enough with the chit-chat, let's start today's live stream. Next up is our first new song, 'How Do You Say It'."

Because of his limited connections, Li Zichun couldn't find a genius who could perform the piece live within two or three days, so in the end he just played the accompaniment tape.

Li Zichun's voice, sweet yet tinged with a hint of melancholy, sang with tender emotion:

I haven't forgotten you, but you've forgotten me.

You even got the name wrong.

You've been lying to me all along.

Let's see what you say today.

You said you'd come see me in a couple of days.

More than a year passed.

Three hundred and sixty-five days are not easy to live.

You don't care about me at all.

Give me back my love.

......"

The entire song consists of just a few lines, yet it repeatedly evokes a sense of longing and captivating charm.

While singing, Li Zichun didn't forget to interact with the audience. The girls were fine, but many men were embarrassed by his singing. As expected of the Demon God Moon Emperor, after his trip to Kowloon, his voice carried even more poignant and lingering emotions.

After the song was finished, the response from the audience and online was quite positive.

Next up was Li Ke, who was to sing "I've Changed, But I Haven't":

A day feels like a year, and a year feels like a day.

As time goes by, I am still me.

Used once, a thousand times; a thousand times for just one time.

When memories fade, the original intention reappears.

I made so many changes

Just for the unchanging heart

I love you silently.

Whether we meet or not

I made so many changes, all for the sake of what remains unchanged in my heart.

I so wish you could see.

......"

Everyone has changed, yet no one has changed.

Li Ke's performance was deeply moving, as if she were recounting a journey of the soul. After finishing her song, Li Ke exchanged a glance with Yan Xiaoli, then quickly looked away.

The atmosphere was as good as ever. The large electronic screen outside the bar was already surrounded by a crowd of people, and many passersby stopped to listen and savor the experience.

Next up was Zhao Qianfan's rendition of "He Doesn't Understand":

He left you with his back to you.

Not a word about love, which made you cry your eyes out.

He told lies so convincingly.

He lied to you more than once.

He's not worth your sadness anymore.

He doesn't understand your heart; he's just pretending to be calm.

He doesn't understand love; he treats it like a game.

He doesn't understand how to express love.

All that's left is to say sorry and sigh.

He doesn't understand why your heart is crying.

Suffocating so much I can't breathe! Ohhh~

He doesn't understand your heart.

He left the memories to you.

It's unfair to impose this sadness on you.

Your lies sound so sweet.

He has lied to you more than once; he's not worth your sadness anymore.

......

Oh, he doesn't understand your heart.

The song was inspired by the real-life emotional experiences of one of the lyricists, Dai Yuedong. The two fell in love while studying abroad, but broke up after returning to China due to the long-distance relationship and various pressures of reality. At the time, the young and impetuous boy did not realize how much he had hurt the girl in this relationship. It was only after many years and many experiences that he finally realized how little he understood his girlfriend's heart and how deeply he had hurt her.

But everything is in the past, and it's too late for him to regret it. He can only express his guilt through lyrics, regretting his past ignorance and lamenting Ru Jun's helplessness.

The song has a simple melody and a gentle rhythm. Zhao Qianfan's performance is delicate and refreshing. His simple, low singing expresses the pain and helplessness. His clear and penetrating voice sings out the sorrow in the heart of every ordinary person.

The boy listened in silence, while the girl wept.

Amidst a silent round of applause, many people burst into tears.

Li Ke was completely convinced; no wonder the judges chose him to be the Kowloon Hong Kong Singing King, instead of him, a local Kowloon Hong Kong resident.

If he were to sing this song himself, it would probably have a completely different feel. This man has been through so much; he can sing about any emotion.

Li Zichun let out a long breath and said with a smile, "Alright, that concludes our regular performance of 'You, Me, and Him.' Now it's Li Ke's turn to sing. Let's hand the stage over to him."

After saying that, Li Zichun and Zhao Qianfan went to sit on the high stools next to them.

Li Ke said with a smile, "I was quite upset about losing my chance to compete for the title of King of Singers. I was blinded by women and failed to live up to the Emperor's expectations. Fortunately, he didn't mind, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to get back on stage in such a short time. Thank you, thank you for everything you've done for me."

After speaking, he bowed to Li Zichun. Li Zichun hadn't expected him to do this so suddenly, and by the time he got up to avoid it, it was too late, so he accepted the bow.

Li Ke continued, "Alright, that's all I have to say. Now it's time for singing. I'll dedicate 'Let Me Be Happy, Let Me Be Sad' to everyone."

His voice began to sing softly along with the melody:

Love at its end is like spilled water that cannot be gathered up again.

Love lingers, hate lingers.

Why do I only remember your tenderness when it's too late to hold on?

Your care relieved my worries, but it also added to my sorrows.

Endless waiting in the dead of night, tears streaming down my face, I endure alone.

I want to say I really love you.

I want to say sorry to you.

You cried and said that our love was over and could not be continued.

Please give me a little more time

A little more greetings

Don't take everything away

Please give me a little more space

A little more gentle

Don't make me feel so bad

A woman like you brings me both joy and sorrow.

I'm willing to give everything for you.

......

Ah, you, a woman who brings me both joy and sorrow, makes me willing to give my all for you.

"Let Me Be Happy, Let Me Be Sad" is a Chinese lyrics version of the song "Man and Woman" by the Japanese duo Chage & Aska. Jonathan Lee wrote the lyrics while sitting on the toilet in the bathroom.

The lyrics, which are both delicate and colloquial, perfectly capture the helplessness and frustration of wanting to speak but holding back, wanting to leave but hesitating to stay.

Li Ke sang with great enthusiasm, and everyone enjoyed listening. Even the people watching the big screen outside the bar spontaneously applauded.

Although everyone was moved, they also found it strange that such a singer could be eliminated from the competition. Perhaps they were blinded by the dazzling stage design and performance.

PS: Data is from the internet.

"How Do You Say" is a song with lyrics by Shangguan Yue and music by Sima Liang. It was included in Teresa Teng's PolyGram album "On the Water's Edge" and released on February 12, 1980. This song is a classic work by Teresa Teng and one of her must-sing songs at concerts.

"I've Changed, But I Haven't Changed" is a song with lyrics and music by Xiao Ke and sung by Yang Zongwei. It was the theme song for the 12th anniversary of an e-commerce company. In February 2016, famous comedian Cai Ming covered the song at the CCTV Lantern Festival Gala.

"He Doesn't Understand" is a song with lyrics by Zhou Zhenting and Dai Yuedong, music by Tang Xiangzhi, arrangement by Deng Ouge, and sung by Zhang Jie. It is included in his tenth album, "Love, No Explanation," and is the album's second single. In 2014, the song topped the MusicRadio China TOP Chart for three consecutive weeks and won one of the Top Ten Songs of the Year at the 21st Oriental Billboard Music Awards.

"Let Me Be Happy, Let Me Be Sad" is a song with lyrics by Jonathan Lee, music by Ryo Asuka, arrangement by Bobby Darin, and vocals by Emil Chau. It was included in the album of the same name, released on November 28, 1991. In 1996, the song was selected as one of the top ten overseas hits of the past decade by the Guanghua Cultural Center and China Broadcasting Corporation.