Returning to Taiwan in 2000 as a patriotic artist

Fang Wenshan walked out with messy hair and fingerprints all over his glasses.

"The lyrics to 'Niangzi' are only a few lines short!"

He was clutching a piece of paper in his hand, and he smelled strange...

Looks like I haven't showered for several days.

"No rush, take your time." Gu Bei found a sofa and sat down. "Let's eat first, then take a shower and rest."

It's not that he didn't want to help.

The problem is that Fang Wenshan's "Niangzi" later won an award.

He is the pioneer of Chinese-style lyrics and also a passionate fan of Hanfu (traditional Han clothing).

If he could quickly gain fame, it would be far more valuable than Gu Bei adding his name to the lyrics.

"Okay, I just feel really useless." Fang Wenshan sat down next to Gu Bei. "I can't help you at all right now."

Jay Chou got up from the electronic keyboard and moved a chair to sit opposite him.

The three people formed an irregular circle, like they were having a late-night chat in a university dormitory.

"Gu Bei," Zhou Jielun suddenly lowered his voice, "How have you been lately?"

"Are you alright?"

"It's just..." Jay Chou lifted the brim of his hat, as if he didn't know how to start, "those news reports, and the people who criticized you..."

Fang Wenshan also looked up, his eyes filled with worry.

"We've all seen it," he said slowly. "Those people are criticizing you on TV, in the newspapers, and online."

"Some people are even saying they want to boycott your songs."

Gu Bei leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and asked, "So?"

"What's the use?"

"My song hasn't even been released yet... Are they going to boycott air?"

He suddenly laughed, "Do you know how many visits our studio's official website gets?"

Jay Chou shook his head.

He was so busy creating that he didn't have time to ask Sister Yang.

"120 million visits, and over 60 downloads of 'Lovely Woman'."

The two of them gasped.

"There are indeed many people who criticize me," Gu Bei said, holding up one finger, "but there are even more people who support me."

Jay Chou's eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again.

"But..." he hesitated, "Geng Hong came to see me yesterday and showed me a video of him imitating someone on a variety show..."

Gu Bei frowned: "Did he say anything?"

If he remembers correctly, Jay Chou and Wen Lan had a gathering at Liu Genghong's house last year, and ended up being hospitalized due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

From then on, the three formed a life-or-death bond.

Why did you have to come and cause trouble at this time, my good buddy?

"He said..." Jay Chou's voice trailed off, "He told me not to be too sad, that all newcomers go through this."

Gu Bei was silent for a few seconds, then reached out and took off Jay Chou's baseball cap.

What are you doing?

Jay Chou was a little confused and instinctively tried to snatch it back.

"Be more confident." Gu Bei threw his hat on the table. "When Einstein's theory of relativity first came out, there were very few people in the world who could understand it."

Believe in yourself, and the whole world will sing your songs in the future.

"Yes, we should listen to Gu Bei," Fang Wenshan added appropriately.

In his memory, Jay Chou sometimes liked to hide his things and play pranks on people.

But sometimes I just lack confidence.

"Tell me about it, what difficulties are you currently facing?" Gu Bei picked up the kettle and poured himself a glass of water.

After talking for so long, he was getting thirsty.

Fang Wenshan immediately handed over the manuscript of "Niangzi," saying, "Take a look at it for me..."

Gu Bei took it and looked at it; it said:

My wife, my wife still breaks off a willow branch every day. You are there, silently waiting for me by the stream outside the village.

A pot of fine wine, a bowl of hot porridge, and a few pounds of beef—I said to the waiter, would three taels of silver be enough...?

Gu Bei scratched the back of his head, somewhat bewildered.

He wasn't familiar with this song; he'd basically forgotten the rest of the lyrics.

"Wenshan, this really stumped me." He handed the manuscript back, embarrassed.

"Why don't you go back, take a shower, and get some sleep? Maybe you'll get some inspiration."

"Alright." Fang Wenshan was somewhat disappointed.

However, he quickly came to terms with it.

Gu Bei is a human, not a god. He can't possibly know everything, can he?

"Then take a look at mine." Jay Chou handed over a manuscript. "I tried to revise the lyrics of 'Starry Night' myself, but I just don't feel it's good enough."

Gu Bei took a look and found that it was indeed different from the future version of "Starry Sky".

"How do you want to change it?"

"For example..." Jay Chou picked up a pen and wrote a few lines on the paper, "'Make a wish silently back to back, and see if the distant stars can hear it.'"

"Would this be better?"

Gu Bei was stunned for a moment.

Isn't this the original lyrics?

Wait, he remembered.

There are some differences between the early and final versions of the previous version of "Starry Sky".

The sentences Jay Chou is writing now are exactly the final draft.

In other words, Jay Chou revised the lyrics himself, but he didn't know that this was already the best version.

"Jie Lun, listen to me." Gu Bei picked up a pen and scribbled a few words on the manuscript paper:

"Riding the wind, I wander along the blue sky, and a cloud falls in front of me. I mold it into your shape, and it follows me on the wind, eating away my sorrows bite by bite."

Jay Chou came over to take a look, and his eyes lit up.

"Carrying you is like carrying sunshine; wherever we go, it's a sunny day. Butterflies fly freely, and flowers fill the sky, each one fragrant because of you."

"Let the sunset take flight, leading us to embrace nature. Let's start each day together, facing the wind."

Gu Bei handed over the completed manuscript.

"Holding hands, one step, two steps, three steps, four steps, looking at the sky, watching the stars, one, two, three, four, connecting into a line."

"Back to back, we silently make a wish, hoping the distant stars can hear us."

"It will definitely happen."

Jay Chou was completely stunned after watching it.

"This...you wrote this?"

"Yes, I just wrote it." Gu Bei lied without changing his expression.

"That's awesome!" Jay Chou suddenly stood up, grabbed a piece of draft paper, and exclaimed, "That's it! That's the feeling I wanted!"

Fang Wenshan also came over to take a look, and after reading it, he pushed up his glasses and said, "Gu Bei, your writing skills are better than mine."

"No, no," Gu Bei waved his hand, "I was just writing something casually."

"Let's put your name on the lyrics of this song too." Jay Chou was unusually firm.

Gu Bei knew that given their personalities, they couldn't refuse.

He was secretly overjoyed, but feigned helplessness on his face: "Fine, whatever."

Jay Chou picked up a pen and solemnly wrote on the manuscript paper:

Lyrics: Gu Bei, Zhou Jielun

Composer: Jay Chou

Just then, a system notification sounded in Gu Bei's mind:

[Beep beep beep...]

Jay Chou composed the complete song: "Starry Sky"

[Random song selection in progress...]

Congratulations on winning: *The Yellow Race*

The system is registering your copyright...

[The system is currently recording the full version of the song into your DNA...]

Gu Bei was stunned.

"Yellow Race"?

Nicholas Tse's "Yellow Race," released in 2005 and hailed as a "patriotic anthem."

Is it from waves that have swept across five thousand miles, or from city walls awaiting reconstruction?

"All the faded yellow of history gathers into the sunset, staining me..."

This song came at just the right time.

There's a huge uproar outside because of his remarks.

If a song called "Yellow Race" were released at this time, the effect would be... absolutely incredible!

The system mistakenly attacked friendly forces; we need to find an opportunity to make amends for that.

They're all Sister Yang's people; it's important to distinguish between friend and foe.

Gu Bei's lips curled up slightly.

"Gu Bei, what are you laughing at?" Zhou Jielun asked, looking puzzled.

"It's nothing." Gu Bei's smile faded. "Jie Lun, the lyrics for 'Starry Sky' are settled."

"Wenshan, go take a shower and then get some sleep. Don't rush."

"By the way, I'm releasing a new song next week."

Jay Chou and Fang Wenshan looked up simultaneously: "What song?"

Gu Bei walked to the wall, picked up a bamboo flute, and said, "A song you've never heard before."

He took a deep breath and began to play quickly.

It's not "Fairy Tale," nor is it "I Have to Love."

It's "Yellow Race".

The prelude, with its melodious flute notes, carries an ancient and desolate power.

Jay Chou and Fang Wenshan exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

Fangwen Mountain, in particular.

He hadn't expected that Gu Bei would also like traditional Chinese style...

It truly feels like a thousand cups of wine are not enough when drinking with a bosom friend!