1991: The Era of Hong Kong Dramas

I wonder if anyone has seen the pop diva during her teenage years.

Wang Jingwen is 22 years old this year. She has long, straight black hair, slightly upturned almond-shaped eyes, and a tall and slender figure. Although her nose is a bit flat and her lips are a bit full, the combination creates a memorable look.

She has been in the industry for three years and has never become famous. Her first three albums were unsurprisingly box office flops.

The management company had no choice but to send her to the United States for further studies. When she came back, she developed a relapse into her teenage years, yearning for more avant-garde, more self-expressive, and cool music, and constantly talking about being herself.

That's really cringeworthy.

Leung Wing-Chun had a lot of headaches with her. Before Fok Seng came, he was at the AVON recording studio on Nanjing Street in Jordan, talking with Chan Ka-Ying and Wong Jing-Man.

"Mr. Huo is not in the industry. He originally bought the copyright for the theme song of his TV series. I personally went to TVB and negotiated the song back."

As you all know, TVB has its own Capital Artists record company, so it doesn't lack singers. If they're not satisfied, they can simply replace them. We can't do that; there aren't any good songs on the market.

Chan Ka-ying said, "Director Leung, don't worry. Jingwen and I talked about this before we came. We need to have the right mindset and try our best to sing this song well."

Leung Wing-Chun nodded and said, "From my interactions with him, he seems quite sensible. But he's very young, and as the main creator and editor of a TVB anniversary drama, he might be a bit arrogant."

Jingwen, don't do anything wrong.

Chan Ka-ying said, "Director Leung, you know Jingwen, she's a bit stubborn, but she's generally sensible."

Leung Wing-Chun nodded and said, "I hope we can all get along better. This song will be featured in the drama to promote it. It's TVB's anniversary special. In the past, only Jenny Tseng and Frances Yip could sing it. Now the opportunity is in our hands. It all depends on Jing-Wen's performance this time."

Wang Jingwen didn't say a word the whole time, her face remained expressionless, she just gave a soft "hmm".

But I was very dissatisfied.

She listened carefully to Miyuki Nakajima's song "Luju". It was created in 1977, with a traditional singing style and a very formulaic melody.

She had also read the first half of the lyrics, but she didn't understand why Leung Wing-Chun would praise the author so highly.

What does it mean to be an extremely easily hurt woman? And what does it mean to "please cherish my heart"? How could a screenwriter write lyrics that portray such a petty, humble woman?

I doubt the final product will be a very good one.

"Squeak—"

The recording studio door was pushed open.

Liang Rongjun was about to say something when he caught sight of Huo Sheng. He immediately stood up with a shout and greeted him at the door with a smile: "Mr. Huo has arrived. Come, come, let me introduce you to each other."

This is Huo Sheng, the copyright holder and lyricist of the song.

Mr. Huo, this is our singer, Wang Jingwen. This is her manager, Sister Jiaying.

Wang Jingwen slightly raised her eyelids and glanced at the man in front of her.

He seems different from the previous lyricists. He is not that old, he is smiling, and he is ordinary, but there is an indescribable feeling about him.

She looked at me with a hint of curiosity.

"Hello, my name is Huo Sheng."

The young man smiled and extended his hand.

While Wang Jingwen was still wondering why she had this feeling, Chen Jiaying had already stepped forward, shook her hand, and said with a smile, "Mr. Huo, hello."

"Sister Jiaying, it's an honor to meet you."

Chan Ka-ying also came from TVB. She started as an assistant director at the age of 17 and became the producer of "Enjoy Yourself Tonight" before she was 30. Later, she married TVB executive Lam Sze-cheung and switched careers to become an agent. She is definitely a senior figure in the industry.

However, since the artist she was managing was a minor flop, she became exceptionally polite to him.

After they finished exchanging pleasantries, Liang Rongjun eagerly asked, "Mr. Huo, did you bring the script?"

"I brought it."

Huo Sheng pulled a page of manuscript paper from his bag and handed it over. Liang Rongjun took it and carefully considered each word, his brows gradually relaxing. "Good lyrics, as always."

After saying that, he smiled and handed it to Wang Jingwen: "Take a look, this is the second half, we'll be singing it in a bit."

Wang Jingwen gently took it and glanced at it. As expected, it was the same style as "No matter what is in doubt, happiness is the lover".

This person looks only 20 years old, but the songs he writes are 40 years old.

After silently criticizing it, she put the manuscript back on the table.

"How is it?" Liang Rongjun asked.

That's so outdated.

The words were already on the tip of her tongue, but Wang Jingwen thought about Liang Rongjun's instructions and swallowed them back, squeezing out only two words, "It's alright."

Liang Rongjun breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at Huo Sheng, and quickly said, "Then let's give it a try. Mr. Huo is here too, so let's see if it passes the test."

Chan Ka-ying nodded in agreement: "Yes, let's try it once first and get a feel for it."

With things having come to this, Faye Wong didn't get the chance to loudly proclaim her desire for rock and roll and wandering. She could only pick up the sheet music, push open the glass door of the soundproof room, and go inside.

She put on her headphones and stood in front of the microphone. The lights came on, illuminating her face; her features were delicate and refined, and she exuded a powerful aura under the light.

Liang Rongjun sat down in front of the recording console and pressed the intercom button: "Jingwen, this isn't a formal recording, just sing whatever you want, get a feel for it first."

Wang Jingwen took a deep breath and spoke.

As people get drunk and the night deepens, how close we are at this moment.

Thoughts seemed to be shaking, and contradictions deepened...

The diva's voice is known to be very distinctive, somewhat like clear spring water at zero degrees Celsius, with a naturally crisp and pure effect, and her singing style also has a casual and self-assured quality.

Huo Sheng really enjoys listening to her sing, but to be honest, her performance right now is rather appalling.

The sound comes out, but it doesn't go in. The key is right, the rhythm is right, but it's just not right. It's like someone in the last row of a choir pretending to sing harmonies.

Liang Rongjun frowned and glanced nervously at Huo Sheng.

The problem became even more apparent when the chorus started.

The line "Please cherish my heart" was sung dryly, like a task being completed.

Forget about feelings, there weren't even any basic ups and downs.

Leung Wing-Chun pressed pause and said into the microphone, "Jing-Wen, relax a little, get your emotions in a bit more."

Wang Jingwen nodded cooperatively in the soundproof booth without saying a word.

The second attempt still didn't work.

This time it was even tighter than the first time, as if the more anxious you were, the less you could get the sound out, the voice was stuck in your throat, it was painful to listen to.

Chen Jiaying was anxiously waiting outside. Her lips moved, as if she wanted to say something, but she swallowed it back.

Liang Rongjun sighed, took off his headphones, turned to look at Huo Sheng, and gave a wry smile: "I'm sorry, Mr. Huo, Jingwen isn't feeling well today."

Chan Ka-ying chimed in, "Yes, she's not usually like this; she's probably just too nervous."

Huo Sheng leaned back in his chair and stared at Wang Jingwen through the glass for a few seconds.

She stood in front of the microphone, head down, her expression obscured, only a barely perceptible curve at the corners of her mouth.

Huo Sheng smiled as well.

Damn, if it were someone who didn't know the situation, they might have been fooled by those two outsiders and thought that Wang Jingwen wasn't in good condition and couldn't sing.

But Huo Sheng was different; he knew how Wang Jingwen had risen to become a superstar in the Hong Kong music scene, through sheer skill and determination.

Now, like a novice, it's dry, perfunctory, and soulless—what a joke!

He ignored the two men, pressed the microphone switch in the control room, and asked directly:

"You don't like this song?"