Huayu 1999: Starting with nothing but getting something for nothing

Gao Yuanyuan, who doesn't have a boyfriend, is so thick-skinned that she couldn't suppress her laughter.

"..."

The three of them ate hot pot at Hongyuan Restaurant, which even had pictures of Wang Fei and Dou Wei hanging on the walls...

They're already divorced, really.

As Xiao Ke gestured for the two to sit down, he said, "Old Yang, I heard from Zhang Yadong that Wang Fei will be releasing a new album in October. Will you include your song 'Fleeting Years' in it?"

Gao Yuanyuan asked curiously, "Aren't all her albums in the same style?"

Xiao Ke shook his head: "There aren't that many rules, it's all experimental..."

Yang Che shook his head: "I don't know. It's fine to play it or not. After all, it's not good to play two kings right away."

"That's true."

In the following moments, Xiao Ke subtly implied that Yang Cheqian's talent was wasted on films, stating in one sentence: "The Chinese music scene needs you!"

Xiao Ke wasn't just flattering him; he genuinely felt that Yang Che was on the same level as him—someone whose mind would automatically conjure up melodies, well, maybe a little less impressive than his own.

But this guy's lyrics are really awesome!

He can write about anything, whether it's popular or highbrow.

Well, Xiao Ke already learned from Gao Yuanyuan that Yang Che had also written "Good Springtime" and "Rolling Eyelashes," which made Yang Che sing a couple of lines for her on the table...

Yang Che's accommodating attitude towards Xiao Ke stemmed not only from respect for his skills but also from his admiration for the person himself—a very pure individual who could potentially become the technical director of his music company in the future.

"Xiao Ke, I won't trouble you with two things at once. I'll leave the entire soundtrack for this movie to you. Don't say anything more, I know my place."

What else can Xiao Ke say?

I was quite touched.

After the meal.

Yang Che escorted Xiao Ke back to the recording studio. He still had to do the mixing; the plan was already finalized, and Yang Che was no longer needed.

Mixing is like editing in the post-production stage of a film, integrating audio parts and connecting rhythms.

Huh? Let's compare film shooting and song production:

Song lyrics = film script

Composer = Storyboard Director

Screenwriter = Cinematographer + Art Director

Producer = Director

Singer = Actor

Instrumental performance = makeup + props + special effects

Sound engineer = cameraman + sound recordist

Mixing = Editing

Master tape = color correction

Harmony = Supporting actors + Extras

Does it suddenly give you a concrete idea?

Then say thank you!

After saying goodbye to Xiao Ke, the song recording is now complete. We finished recording this morning and even saved over two thousand yuan.

It is said that Sun Nan's fee for this song is 5 yuan, Xiao Ke's fee is 1 yuan, the recording studio usage fee is equivalent to 0.7 yuan, and the musicians' fee is 0.8 yuan. Anyway, it should be at least 8 yuan.

This is different from the two songs "Good Springtime". Those two songs together didn't even cost 6 yuan. Putting aside the difference in the singers' fame, this one has very good musicians, while that one has a music synthesizer, and the rest is just so-so.

Just like Yang Che insisted on using film stock that cost several times more than other films, it's the same principle.

............

Yang Che glanced at Gao Yuanyuan in the passenger seat: "Where do you want to go?"

"I don't want to go anywhere. Let's just go back to your place, enjoy the air conditioning, read books, watch movies, and buy a watermelon."

"You're quite the homebody."

"What? What's 'zai'?"

Ugh! This damned language habit is like in another time and space, when those twenty-year-old girls are using the most popular internet slang, and he still can't understand it.

"Hmm... 'Zhaizi' refers to people who are engrossed in a particular interest and rarely go out, or people who like to stay at home."

"Oh, I see. Then I guess I am a homebody. Did you make up that word again?"

"Oh, it was the Japanese and the Taiwanese who said that!"

"Haha, oh dear, haha."

Gao Yuanyuan has a very low threshold for laughter, but she is not oblivious at all; on the contrary, she is very perceptive and has a high degree of sensitivity to emotions and life.

Therefore, they are particularly easy to fool.

Because she is easily moved by emotions.

This emotional outburst indicates that she has a strong capacity for empathy and compassion. Such people are easily manipulated by emotional rhetoric; they often avoid conflict for fear of hurting others; they over-trust their intuition but not themselves; and they often engage in deep thinking but end up blaming themselves excessively.

The more time you spend with someone, the more you'll realize this.

Years later, a Weibo post she made late at night, "I suddenly burst into tears when I look at the crib, but I dare not say it, for fear of being called sentimental," perfectly illustrated the above judgment.

As Yang Che drove, he couldn't help but reach out his right hand towards her again.

Gao Yuanyuan stopped laughing, her lips curled up, and they clasped hands, their ten fingers intertwined.

"Yuanyuan, when I get a new car in the future, if someone asks me: 'Handsome guy, you're driving a Maybach now, is the woman who went through thick and thin with you still by your side?' I hope you can roll down the window, give him a smile, and then shake our hands together."

"Ha ha ha ha."

Yang Che's face fell immediately, while Gao Yuanyuan, who was laughing so hard she was doubled over, showed no sign of being moved at all... He felt that this girl was his nemesis.

"Sorry, oh dear, haha. No, well, I'm actually quite happy, haha, it's quite a vivid image, but..."

Yang Che said irritably, "Just say I'm exaggerated."

Gao Yuanyuan quickly smiled and said, "Oh dear, where have you suffered? Hmm... I won't let you suffer, and you certainly won't let me suffer. If anyone asks that, I'll tell them we're amazing, we've never suffered, we've always been sweet and happy."

This feeling of being in love is wonderful.

It's good that she called herself "darling" for the first time.

Yang Che smiled and said softly, "Yuanyuan, I want to kiss you."

Gao Yuanyuan kissed her fingers, then giggled and pressed them against his face.

Okay, he's actually a goofball, especially when he's happy.

It's less than 5 kilometers from Baihua Hutong to No. 8 Courtyard, about a ten-minute drive.

I stopped the car when I passed Jishuitan. There was a boutique fruit shop there, so I bought grapes and watermelon.

Gao Yuanyuan really loves watermelons; her eyes are full of longing. Yang Che has never seen a girl who loves watermelons so much.

After the two left the fruit shop, they both looked towards the intersection on their right.

Two city management officers, dressed in white uniforms with large collars, were seen. One of them was pointing at a vendor with a ferocious expression and cursing, while the other was pushing the vendor's tricycle selling donkey meat sandwiches with a crooked mouth.

This scene is common and not unusual.

Just as Yang Che was about to take a step, Gao Yuanyuan tugged at him, gave him a look, and said, "Look at that person."

Yang Che followed her gaze and saw the young vendor selling donkey meat sandwiches. He remained calm, holding onto the cart without moving, while the two inspectors scolded him.

Having seen so many vendors react with panic, pleading, avoidance, embarrassment, or hostility in such situations, this is the first time I've seen them so calm.

Yang Che wondered if this guy would pull out a knife the next second, but obviously he didn't; the guy just watched calmly.