The Book of All Things: Born for Joy

Li Zichun's choice of the song "Selling Tangyuan" was not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a spontaneous expression of his feelings.

The original singer of this song was Fang Jingyin, a popular singer in the 1950s who debuted at the age of 12 and was known as "Little Zhang Lu." (PS: Zhang Lu is hailed as the "Queen of Chinese Songs.") "Selling Tangyuan" was recorded in 1957 as an interlude in the film "The Stormy Peach Blossom Village." Just as her career was reaching its zenith, a car accident in 1959 claimed her life at the young age of 28. "Selling Tangyuan" became her signature song, still sung today.

That's how the entertainment industry is; just when you think you've finally entered your era, everything comes to an abrupt end. We never know whether tomorrow or an accident will come first.

This is also why Li Zichun doesn't mind singing on the street; his own happiness is the most important thing. He doesn't care about style, status, or distance. Anyway, if he doesn't complete the system's mission in three years, he'll be trapped in this sub-world anyway. Even if he completes the mission, his soul will leave this body. He might as well enjoy and work hard every day.

The audience felt that the song was festive and lively, with a touch of humor and playfulness. After listening to it, everyone sang along to "Selling Tangyuan, selling Tangyuan." Ma Qian, Liu Wancun, and others were also pleasantly surprised. Unlike the previous song, which talked about love and romance, this song was like a portrayal of a corner of everyday life in the city, full of vendors' shouts and introductions. Anyone who heard it would want to have a bowl of Tangyuan and pray for a happy reunion.

A crowd had already gathered at the roadside glutinous rice ball stall. Bowls of different kinds of glutinous rice balls, such as black sesame, peanut, custard, and fermented rice, were being carried out by the owner. Many people sat next to the stall, eating and listening to him sing.

Li Zichun let out a long breath and said with a smile, "Alright, we've reached the last song. We've sung the main course and the snack, now let's have a side dish. According to the Qingyilu, onions have the effects of lowering cholesterol, softening blood vessels, benefiting the stomach and intestines, and resisting cold and killing bacteria. In addition, they can also promote metabolism, make people energetic, and eliminate fatigue."

Although many people don't particularly like this food, listening to songs about it isn't a big deal. Here's a song called "Onion" for everyone.

After saying that, he glanced at the three people resting nearby. Zhao Qianfan understood immediately and whispered a few words to Ma Qian and Liu Wancun. The two of them then got up and left. Anyway, Jia Hui was filming, so they could just go back and watch the video.

The three of them each performed their duties, and only after seeing them set off did Li Zichun begin to sing slowly in a voice with a slight sob:

If your gaze could fall upon me for even a moment

If you can hear the sound of a heart breaking

Silently guarding you, silently waiting for a miracle, silently making myself like air.

Everyone was eating, chatting, and laughing. What a happy evening!

I, in the very corner, am smiling so much in harmony with the crowd.

The onions at the bottom of the plate are like me—always just a condiment.

I secretly watch you, secretly hiding myself.

If you're willing, one floor

Peeling away my heart layer by layer

You will be surprised

You are my most suppressed...

The deepest secret

If you're willing to peel back the layers of my heart...

You'll feel a lump in your throat and tears will well up in your eyes.

As long as you can hear me

Seeing my wholehearted dedication

Listening to you talk about you and them, the air is filled with ambiguity.

Me and my despair were presented in a humorous way.

I'm like an onion

Always a supporting role

I wish I could have just one second of a special moment with you.

If you're willing to peel back my heart layer by layer...

You'll find yourself surprised; you are my most repressed...

The deepest secret

If you're willing to peel back the layers of my heart...

You'll feel a lump in your throat and tears will well up in your eyes.

As long as you can hear me and see my whole heart

......

You'll feel a lump in your throat and tears will well up in your eyes.

As long as you can hear me

"See my wholehearted dedication"

When Ashin wrote this song, he wanted to tell everyone not to easily miss the opportunity to truly understand someone, and to get to know them better before making a judgment. But in reality, who would really let someone into their heart so easily? It takes time to peel back the layers of someone's heart, and most people stop when they see that the other person's appearance and personality do not meet their expectations, let alone get to know each other.

Li Zichun's performance, tinged with tears, is just like the flavor of an onion, making people unable to help but be moved.

After finishing his song, he bowed to express his gratitude, and the audience applauded and cheered before handing the microphone back to the street singer standing nearby.

No one wanted to leave, wondering if there would be more contact. But as soon as the music stopped, Li Zichun, accompanied by Jia Hui and Zhao Qianfan, quickly walked towards the approaching van, waved goodbye, and left without any hesitation.

Before causing a traffic jam, the group quickly ran along the route planned by Ma Qian and quickly took a car away.

Li Zichun silently admired them; they were indeed professional intelligence investigators. They quickly found someone to pass through the large group of people and passed through without stopping at all. The authorities were really willing to go to great lengths.

Ma Qian escorted the two back to their residence and left after agreeing on a time.

As soon as Li Zichun returned to his house, he received a call from director Zhang Xiaochuan. All the previous contacts had been made, and rehearsals could begin tomorrow. They also discussed the theme of the concert.

Li Zichun thought for a while. There were too many names that could be chosen for the theme of love. Between poetic and popular, he finally got too lazy to think of any and simply chose the name "All About Love" and sent it over.

Li Zichun hung up the phone after agreeing on a meeting time for tomorrow.

Knowing his situation, Zhao Qianfan massaged his shoulders and joked with a smile, "You're really busy! We've never been this busy even in Kowloon Port."

Li Ke and Yan Xiaoli nodded in agreement, then said, "It was just a singing competition, why did so much trouble happen? Why not just refuse?"

Li Zichun said with a smile, "After this is over, I'll have paid off all the favors I owe you, and I can now focus on preparing your new album."

Li Ke said nonchalantly, "Are we going to start singing again? I mean, all the songs we sang before are enough to last for many years. Which one isn't a classic? Now, almost every supermarket and shopping mall is playing our songs. I don't want to work hard anymore, I just want to lie down."

After hearing this, Yan Xiaoli pinched his waist and said, "Shut up."

Li Ke hissed and jumped back, saying, "You're murdering your husband!"

Li Zichun and Zhao Qianfan both looked at them upon hearing this. Yan Xiaoli was too lazy to explain and said expressionlessly, "He's just talking nonsense, don't take it seriously."

Li Ke frowned and said anxiously, "How can I not take it seriously? Didn't you say you'd give me a chance? Are you going to go back on your word?"

Yan Xiaoli sneered: "I'm just giving you a chance to show off, I didn't say I'd agree to be your girlfriend. Besides, you look weak, you get aches and pains all over when I increase the intensity of your training, who knows what's wrong with you. I'm not going to fall for you so easily. Don't even try to get involved, get lost."

Li Ke said irritably, "Ugh, how could you do this? My feelings for you are genuine..."

Zhao Qianfan coughed to interrupt the two of them: "Ahem, if you're going to flirt, please go somewhere else. This place is for resting quietly."

Li Zichun said with a smile, "You two should resolve your own issues. If you can get along, great; if not, don't become enemies. You still have work to do."

Yan Xiaoli nodded and said, "Okay. I'll head back now. See you tomorrow."

Li Ke quickly caught up and said, "Then I'll see you off."

Li Zichun rolled her eyes: "I don't know who she learned this from, she really is a single dog who fawns over everyone she meets."

Zhao Qianfan smiled but didn't answer, instead massaging his shoulders.

Li Zichun yawned, then gently brushed his hand away, said a few words, and went back to her bedroom to take a shower and go to sleep.

Zhao Qianfan sighed softly. The feeling of having accumulated emotions across nine lifetimes yet being unable to recognize each other was truly unsettling.

The two went back to their rooms and fell into a deep sleep.

But in the middle of the night, the moonlight shone on the sleeping Seven-Tong, and it started meowing and running around, rolling on the ground, as if it had inexhaustible energy.

Li Zichun was woken up in the middle of the night by its sultry meows. He yelled that if it continued, he would send it to be neutered the next day. Only then did it respond softly and quiet down.

Zhao Qianfan was also woken up by it, but only went over after Li Zichun left. Looking at its irritated face, he asked, "What's wrong? Did something go wrong with the Silver Moon Fox Clan's cultivation technique?"

After saying that, he gently stroked its fur with his hand, and suddenly felt a current run through it to his hand. He laughed and said, "I see. It seems you're really starting to recover."

Qitong licked his fingers and chuckled softly, "Meow."

Nothing happened that night, and the next day, Qi Tong was eating his lunch at the table, full of energy.

Li Zichun glanced at it, yawned, and walked past it. But the little beast came over and rubbed against his trouser leg, fawning over him.

Li Zichun helplessly patted its head before it calmed down. It was just like a fox, a real little devil.

Li Zichun ate his breakfast while glancing at Zhao Qianfan, whose muscles were clearly defined and who was still diligently working out. He shook his head. Sure enough, no matter how good a physique is, looking at it up close for too long, while pleasing to the eye, eventually becomes uninteresting. It's like a work of art in a museum; no matter how beautiful it is, after looking at it for a while, it's just the same old thing. Sigh, now the only part of his body that interests him is between his trouser legs.

Ugh, why would I have such thoughts? It sounds like I'm a jerk. Maybe I've been lonely for too long? Yes, that must be it.

The two quickly finished breakfast, and Li Zichun then took a chair to the yard to bask in the sun for a while before taking a short nap.

When he woke up, he found that Ma Qian and the others had been waiting in the living room for a long time. Seeing that he was resting, they did not disturb him.

He gave Zhao Qianfan a reproachful look and said, "Why didn't you wake me up?"

Zhao Qianfan said with a smile, "The way you sleep is like a deer resting in the forest, and they can't bear to disturb you."

Li Zichun pondered for a while, figuring it was a compliment, so he didn't take it too seriously. After saying goodbye to the others, he headed to the TV station.

When the five arrived at the TV station, director Zhang Xiaochuan had already been waiting at the door for a long time.

Because the recording session had just ended, many staff members had gone home to rest, and there were very few people on site. The songs they were recording were behind-the-scenes footage, which couldn't be promoted or featured in much of their screen time; viewers would have to watch them online themselves.

As soon as Li Zichun stepped down, he saw the lineup for this performance: Cheng Xinghe, Li Jiawei, Zheng Conghu, Jiang Yiyi, Zhong Lingling, Xue Qingrou, Feng Zhennian, and Lin Fengmian.

There were eight people, plus Zhao Qianfan and Li Ke from our side, making a total of ten. Although Zhong Lingling's specialty is dancing, it shouldn't be a big problem if it's just a line or two of lyrics.

With only three or four days, whether they can learn the song depends on themselves.

Li Zichun first signed copyright transfer contracts with everyone. That's right, it was a transfer. After the song was sung, it would belong to them. This was both a way of thanking them for their righteous words during their time of crisis and a farewell gift.

Everyone initially wanted to postpone, but seeing his somewhat threatening and resolute demeanor, they reluctantly agreed. In their view, while it was certainly good to have the copyright in their own hands, the favor of a potential gold medalist was the most valuable thing.

Li Zichun said with a smile, "Relax, it's nothing serious. Okay, time is limited, I'll go and finish the lyrics and music first. You guys warm up your voices first, and then get back to training. The performance starts in four days."

There are so many songs about love that Li Zichun quickly selected one that suited them. Under his guidance, everyone practiced diligently. Zhang Xiaochuan looked at the lyrics and music and sighed with a smile, "Looks like I made the right bet. Every single one of these is a hit. I just hope this performance doesn't get more views than the main program, otherwise I really won't know how to explain it."

Li Zichun taught them one by one. Zheng Conghu and Jiang Yiyi, having been in the entertainment industry for a long time, were naturally no problem. Li Ke and Zhao Qianfan had been with him the longest, so he naturally trusted their abilities. Looking at the others, they all had some vocal background, leaving only Zhong Lingling.

Zhong Lingling is indeed not good at singing, nor is she suited for it. Her voice is high-pitched, similar to a sweet, girlish voice, but it is captivating and alluring. The song Li Zichun gave her is also very suitable for her. As long as she performs normally, she will definitely become a big star.

Over the next few days, everyone practiced back and forth here every day, and when they felt they had practiced enough, they went to Li Zichun for inspection.

Zhao Qianfan was naturally the first to pass, and the others practiced with renewed enthusiasm.

To prevent everyone from ruining their voices, Li Zichun also set strict practice times. Regardless of whether they passed or not, the three days passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was time for the live recording.

PS: Data is from the internet.

"Onion" was written and composed by Ashin, arranged by Mayday, and included in Yang Zongwei's 2008 album "Pigeon". In 2008, the song won the "Top Ten Songs of the Year" and "Longest-Off-Chart Song" awards on YES93.3FM's Top Ten Chart. In 2009, it won the "Top 100 Singles of the Year" vote on Taipei Radio Hit FM.