On the second day, the sun rose, and the sky outside the window was gray. Duma was bored to death, and he pushed the door to enter, causing Xiaoyi to awake in shock.
"Let me see?" Duma smiled.
Xiaoyi's face was imprinted with piano keys , and he was so exhausted he could not get up. Duma took the music sheet, and with a little shock he said: "Asking people to fill in the lyrics?"
Xiaoyi sat on the table after brushing his teeth, eating the breakfast Duma had brought and said: "I will do it myself."
"Not bad." Duma said, "Really good."
Duma sent Xiaoyi back to the company then went back to sleep. On this Sunday morning, Xiaoyi pushed the door to the his studio and stumbled in surprise.
On the table in front of the computer sat a birthday cake.
Before he left last night it wasn't there, now it was only 8 am there was no one in the company either. There could only be one person who would bring a cake here. Xiaoyi was very touched, he sat down and took a bite of the cake, and prepared to get back to work.
Yet another day passed. Xiaoyi was half awake, and his spirit was extremely unstable. He kept on humming the two songs, a small portion of the cake was eaten and his hunger was seemingly satisfied with just the birthday cake. It was as if the cake was a staple food for his mental and physical health.
Whilst he was in the midst of talking to himself, he didn't know how to face Luzhou. The same was true for his lyrics, he had a thousand words in mind and yet could not express them. Finally he whispered: "I guess you wouldn't understand."
Xiaoyi wrote the first word, as if a fan's love poem to his idol, and as he wrote on, the contents got more and more introverted. As he wandered around, he began to understand the composition of the lyrics, tired, very tired - just like a heart full of anger like Linxi, you are hidden in the depths just like Zhang Yadong, that is the release of true feelings, and also life's experiences. What atmosphere, what sense of music, these are all just exaggerated skills.
Directly pointing out people's feelings, composing a song, filling in the lyrics, these are enough to let a person's heart flip inside out, and enable the composer to enjoy his own work.
Xiaoyi released a breath, smiling at his own work, and started singing,
This is not enough, it still can be amended, lets just leave it like this first.
The sweltering weather made him very uncomfortable, and he didn't bathe for a few days too. Xiaoyi really missed Luzhou, he wished to tell him he finished writing the songs, wished to give him a call, but felt that it was better if he finalized his work before showing it to him.
This night, a thunderstorm suddenly came to the entire Beijing. The next day, Xiao Yi sat in a dark room. He did not turn on any lights, and carefully pondered. He deleted and edited repeatedly, holding the electronic dictionary for comparison.
In the evening, the rain turned heavier and people in the building got off work in advance. When Xiao Yi went downstairs and saw that Lin Biao was still there, but Dumei had left to meet someone else for dinner. When Lin Biao saw Xiao Yi, he smiled and said: "Is it finished?"
"Nope." Xiao Yi said, "But it will be soon, tomorrow I will be going to Juhua, to ask them to contact the band."
Lin Biao said: "Will you be able to go home today?"
Xiao Yi thought for a while, and said: "I shall stay one more day, has Zhou ge*1 been here?"
"In the studio." Lin Biao answered.
Xiao Yi looked at Luzhou's schedule. There was a night filming today, but it should have been cancelled by now due to the weather. He came back to the office to complete the songs, so Lin Biao had assigned two other assistants for Luzhou. Xiao Yi went to have dinner, and even though the rainstorm lasted the entire day, amidst all the lightning and thunder, Xiao Yi was still in a good mood.
While he was eating at a soup restaurant downstairs, he deliberated calling Luzhou, but he did not dare to do so directly, in fear that he may disturb Luzhou while he was having his meal, and hence called Lin Biao's assistant instead. The assistant informed Xiao Yi that the filming was indoors, and it was still ongoing even though the rain had kept on pouring. After Xiao Yi finished his dinner, he saw that it was 8:30pm. The thunder was still sounding outside as he stood beside the window for a while. He suddenly had an urge to go see Luzhou.
I, your father*2, can finally go out to explore! Xiao Yi seeing that the soup restaurant had not closed yet, hurriedly went to order a portion of chicken sou for takeout. Using the company's thermos to contain the soup, he hailed a taxi to head to the studio.
The neighborhood the filming crew found for 《The Era of Leftover Men》was not open for sale yet, so only they were around. When the rain came there was not even a shadow in sight. Xiao Yi got off the taxi, and he was totally drenched after just a few steps out in the open. What's worse was that there was a blackout, and the crew's engine slammed loudly.
Luzhou finished a scene and was taking a break. When he saw Xiao Yi, he got a shock.
"What are you doing here?!" Luzhou said, "The rain is so heavy outside."
"He he I came out exploring and by chance to feed you." Xiao Yi answered. "Have you eaten supper? Have you eaten at all?"
Luzhou was wearing flipflops, and the trousers he has on were pulled up like a migrant, even the sleeves were wet. He indicated for Xiao Yi to sit down, and began to gorge himself after receiving the thermos.
"Did you not have dinner?" Xiao Yi asked, "Why did no one buy it? Idiot! Where's the assistant? How can he let you film hungry!"
"The rain is too heavy." Luzhou answered, "There is a very bad traffic jam and the logistics team could not come, everyone have to wait till 9pm to finish filming then eat supper afterwards."
The stores were all closed, how could they go for supper. The wind blows through the corridor, and Xiao Yi was almost freezing to death. Luzhou finished the large thermos of chicken soup and all the meat as well, and whilst brimming with energy, prepared to continue filming. Before going on, he said to Xiao Yi: "Wait here, go home later, don't go back to the company."
Xiao Yi watched Luzhou film a scene. Luzhou was quiet, like he was afraid of awakening the main actress, who was obviously tired after crying and had laid on the sofa under the glow of the lamp, with tear tracks still lingering on her face.
Luzhou was wearing a singlet and jeans with flipflops. With his uncle like look, he wanted to kiss the main actress but he did not dare to, with his careful actions and looking so fearful of waking her up, he made others feel funny yet moved, not at all wretched.
Then, Luzhou knelt on the ground, and with a serious face he gazed upon the actress's sleeping face. The actress suddenly opened her eyes and got up from her lying position.
Luzhou did not let her kiss him. He only allowed her to act as if she kissed him, the main actress also did not dare to take advantage of him. The director shouted good, the next scene was that of the main actress and her best friend, so Luzhou came back to rest. Xiao Yi smiled saying, "I thought she really kissed you."
Luzhou swallowed, his teeth biting onto a chicken bone.
Xiao Yi: "......"
Luzhou smiled cunningly. Xiao Yi almost died of laughter because of Luzhou. What actually happened in the scene just now was that when the main actress was about to kiss him, Luzhou showed the chicken bone to show an expression that seemed to convey: Come if you dare. The main actress: 囧.
While Luzhou still tried to find more soup in the thermos, the main actress finished her scene. He went into the next scene. With the lights dimmed, the two of them sat in front of the tv dazed, the main actress leaned onto Luzhou's shoulder, and Luzhou hugged her. He then proceeded to carry her into the bedroom to sleep. With that, the last scene was over.
The rain got heavier and heavier. In the many years that Xiao Yi lived in Beijing, this is only the second time he had seen such a storm. The very first time he experienced such a storm, even the bridge was flooded. This time it just seemed like a scene belonging to the end of the world, with the lightning and thunder resounding across the skies. At half past nine, the assistants were sent home. After the crew packed up, Xiao Yi drove Luzhou back. The two of them were eventually stuck on the road. The overpass was flooded with water, but it had not reached the point where it could flood over the roof of the car.
"I can't drive across." Xiao Yi exclaimed. "The water's too deep!"
An entire row of cars stopped in the water before the overpass, and the water slowly rose up the car tires. Luzhou said: "The road ahead is blocked!"
In the distance there was a thunder rumbling. Xiao Yi lamented: "What should we do?"*3
"Cold salad!"*3 Luzhou said: "Damn it, the car beside us is shaking!"
Xiao Yi: "......"
In truth, the car was shaking because there were two men inside hugging and kissing. Xiao Yi pressed the horn a few times, embarrassed. Luzhou said: "Let's park the car outside the mall and walk over. It is not far."
It was about 3km or more distance to their home. Xiao Yi parked the car outside a big shopping mall and locked it. He wanted to hold the umbrella for Luzhou, but Luzhou took it first. He was taller than Xiao Yi, so while he was holding the umbrella the two were soaked within seconds after exiting the car. They walked to the opposite direction of the traffic jam.
"Why didn't you bring an umbrella!" Xiao Yi shouted.
"I gave it to some kids!" Luzhou shouted back at Xiao Yi. "I board a car once I'm out of the house! Who knew it would rain so heavily!"
Usually walking 2 to 3 km is pretty easy, but with the heavy rain it was impossible to move on. Luzhou and Xiao Yi kept knocking into each other, so Luzhou simply held onto Xiao Yi's shoulders and walked leaning against the walls.
Xiao Yi's heart thumped wildly. Water started to drip from Luzhou's body, it seemed that they will arrive home in a sorry state. Luzhou's shirt was totally soaked, the contours of his muscles peeping through.
"Zhou ge!" Xiao Yi exclaimed.
"What?!" Luzhou glanced at Xiao Yi.
"Did you miss me." Xiao Yi said with a softer volume.
The storm outside was overwhelming, with the sounds overshadowing their conversation. Xiao Yi was feeling a tad awkward when he said that, so the volume was softer, and with the sounds of the storm, the words that he wanted to hear were completely ruined.
Luzhou repeated his words again, but Xiao Yi still couldn't catch it. Luzhou roared, "..... bit ---!""
Xiao Yi: "???"
Luzhou grabbed him, and with his lips almost sticking to Xiao Yi's ear he said: "A little bit!"
Xiao Yi laughed. Suddenly, a lightning came down onto a high rise building nearby. The thunder and electricity appeared at the same time. The scene was extremely magnificent. The lightning rod of the building sucked the lightning, and in half a second, the surroundings seemed coated in a bright white light, as a bolt of light streaked across the night sky.
The shock of that scene submerged into their consciousness, like a catastrophe, as if it was the end of the world.
As Xiao Yi gave a shout in fear, Luzhou held him and shoved him to the entrance of the subway station. The two embraced tightly. Luzhou's subconscious reaction was less than a second, and Xiao Yi's action of hugging Luzhou was due to a conditional reflex. The crazy show of lightning frightened the both of them. Luzhou's face was wet, and as he looked at Xiao Yi gasp, he turned and looked at the building in the distance.
"Damn it....." Luzhou said, "Your father I, almost had a heart attack from the shock."
Xiao Yi said: "I thought..... that building will collapse....."
Xiao Yi breathlessly leaned against the subway entrance. Luzhou said: "Let's take the subway, my life shortened by half from shock."
Lu Zhou folded the umbrella, and they stood on the platform waiting for the train. There were people everywhere, and Luzhou was only wearing flipflops with his jeans rolled up to his knees, drenched. A girl noticed him, and nudged her companion to take a quick look.
Xiao Yi did not wait for her to speak, and said: "Dear, do you think Luzhou will wear a pair of $10 flipflops to the subway?"
The surrounding people laughed. Xiao Yi patted Luzhou's shoulders, and the two got on the train. Luzhou's hair covered his forehead and he faced the train doors. His white shirt was soaked to the point of nakedness, but he did not seem to care and leaned on to the railing. They looked at each other, and the two laughed.
Notes:
1. 哥, pronounced as 'Ge', is a chinese word used to describe an older brother, or someone who is generally an older male that is close to you.
2. The words used here are 老子, or pronounced as 'Lao zi', and means either a more arrogant 'I', or father, and is used when in anger or just in context.
3. So this is some chinese internet joke. XY asked what should they do, which in chinese it is '怎么办". The last word 办 or ' Ban' (pronounced as b-ahn, not ban) is the same pronunciation as 拌 , which means to toss and hence meaning the original sentence "What to do?" would have turned into "How to toss?" So LZ answered 凉拌, (pronounced li-ang b-ahn), which means coleslaw or cold salad.
On the second day, the sun rose, and the sky outside the window was gray. Duma was bored to death, and he pushed the door to enter, causing Xiaoyi to awake in shock.
"Let me see?" Duma smiled.
Xiaoyi's face was imprinted with piano keys , and he was so exhausted he could not get up. Duma took the music sheet, and with a little shock he said: "Asking people to fill in the lyrics?"
Xiaoyi sat on the table after brushing his teeth, eating the breakfast Duma had brought and said: "I will do it myself."
"Not bad." Duma said, "Really good."
Duma sent Xiaoyi back to the company then went back to sleep. On this Sunday morning, Xiaoyi pushed the door to the his studio and stumbled in surprise.
On the table in front of the computer sat a birthday cake.
Before he left last night it wasn't there, now it was only 8 am there was no one in the company either. There could only be one person who would bring a cake here. Xiaoyi was very touched, he sat down and took a bite of the cake, and prepared to get back to work.
Yet another day passed. Xiaoyi was half awake, and his spirit was extremely unstable. He kept on humming the two songs, a small portion of the cake was eaten and his hunger was seemingly satisfied with just the birthday cake. It was as if the cake was a staple food for his mental and physical health.
Whilst he was in the midst of talking to himself, he didn't know how to face Luzhou. The same was true for his lyrics, he had a thousand words in mind and yet could not express them. Finally he whispered: "I guess you wouldn't understand."
Xiaoyi wrote the first word, as if a fan's love poem to his idol, and as he wrote on, the contents got more and more introverted. As he wandered around, he began to understand the composition of the lyrics, tired, very tired - just like a heart full of anger like Linxi, you are hidden in the depths just like Zhang Yadong, that is the release of true feelings, and also life's experiences. What atmosphere, what sense of music, these are all just exaggerated skills.
Directly pointing out people's feelings, composing a song, filling in the lyrics, these are enough to let a person's heart flip inside out, and enable the composer to enjoy his own work.
Xiaoyi released a breath, smiling at his own work, and started singing,
This is not enough, it still can be amended, lets just leave it like this first.
The sweltering weather made him very uncomfortable, and he didn't bathe for a few days too. Xiaoyi really missed Luzhou, he wished to tell him he finished writing the songs, wished to give him a call, but felt that it was better if he finalized his work before showing it to him.
This night, a thunderstorm suddenly came to the entire Beijing. The next day, Xiao Yi sat in a dark room. He did not turn on any lights, and carefully pondered. He deleted and edited repeatedly, holding the electronic dictionary for comparison.
In the evening, the rain turned heavier and people in the building got off work in advance. When Xiao Yi went downstairs and saw that Lin Biao was still there, but Dumei had left to meet someone else for dinner. When Lin Biao saw Xiao Yi, he smiled and said: "Is it finished?"
"Nope." Xiao Yi said, "But it will be soon, tomorrow I will be going to Juhua, to ask them to contact the band."
Lin Biao said: "Will you be able to go home today?"
Xiao Yi thought for a while, and said: "I shall stay one more day, has Zhou ge*1 been here?"
"In the studio." Lin Biao answered.
Xiao Yi looked at Luzhou's schedule. There was a night filming today, but it should have been cancelled by now due to the weather. He came back to the office to complete the songs, so Lin Biao had assigned two other assistants for Luzhou. Xiao Yi went to have dinner, and even though the rainstorm lasted the entire day, amidst all the lightning and thunder, Xiao Yi was still in a good mood.
While he was eating at a soup restaurant downstairs, he deliberated calling Luzhou, but he did not dare to do so directly, in fear that he may disturb Luzhou while he was having his meal, and hence called Lin Biao's assistant instead. The assistant informed Xiao Yi that the filming was indoors, and it was still ongoing even though the rain had kept on pouring. After Xiao Yi finished his dinner, he saw that it was 8:30pm. The thunder was still sounding outside as he stood beside the window for a while. He suddenly had an urge to go see Luzhou.
I, your father*2, can finally go out to explore! Xiao Yi seeing that the soup restaurant had not closed yet, hurriedly went to order a portion of chicken sou for takeout. Using the company's thermos to contain the soup, he hailed a taxi to head to the studio.
The neighborhood the filming crew found for 《The Era of Leftover Men》was not open for sale yet, so only they were around. When the rain came there was not even a shadow in sight. Xiao Yi got off the taxi, and he was totally drenched after just a few steps out in the open. What's worse was that there was a blackout, and the crew's engine slammed loudly.
Luzhou finished a scene and was taking a break. When he saw Xiao Yi, he got a shock.
"What are you doing here?!" Luzhou said, "The rain is so heavy outside."
"He he I came out exploring and by chance to feed you." Xiao Yi answered. "Have you eaten supper? Have you eaten at all?"
Luzhou was wearing flipflops, and the trousers he has on were pulled up like a migrant, even the sleeves were wet. He indicated for Xiao Yi to sit down, and began to gorge himself after receiving the thermos.
"Did you not have dinner?" Xiao Yi asked, "Why did no one buy it? Idiot! Where's the assistant? How can he let you film hungry!"
"The rain is too heavy." Luzhou answered, "There is a very bad traffic jam and the logistics team could not come, everyone have to wait till 9pm to finish filming then eat supper afterwards."
The stores were all closed, how could they go for supper. The wind blows through the corridor, and Xiao Yi was almost freezing to death. Luzhou finished the large thermos of chicken soup and all the meat as well, and whilst brimming with energy, prepared to continue filming. Before going on, he said to Xiao Yi: "Wait here, go home later, don't go back to the company."
Xiao Yi watched Luzhou film a scene. Luzhou was quiet, like he was afraid of awakening the main actress, who was obviously tired after crying and had laid on the sofa under the glow of the lamp, with tear tracks still lingering on her face.
Luzhou was wearing a singlet and jeans with flipflops. With his uncle like look, he wanted to kiss the main actress but he did not dare to, with his careful actions and looking so fearful of waking her up, he made others feel funny yet moved, not at all wretched.
Then, Luzhou knelt on the ground, and with a serious face he gazed upon the actress's sleeping face. The actress suddenly opened her eyes and got up from her lying position.
Luzhou did not let her kiss him. He only allowed her to act as if she kissed him, the main actress also did not dare to take advantage of him. The director shouted good, the next scene was that of the main actress and her best friend, so Luzhou came back to rest. Xiao Yi smiled saying, "I thought she really kissed you."
Luzhou swallowed, his teeth biting onto a chicken bone.
Xiao Yi: "......"
Luzhou smiled cunningly. Xiao Yi almost died of laughter because of Luzhou. What actually happened in the scene just now was that when the main actress was about to kiss him, Luzhou showed the chicken bone to show an expression that seemed to convey: Come if you dare. The main actress: 囧.
While Luzhou still tried to find more soup in the thermos, the main actress finished her scene. He went into the next scene. With the lights dimmed, the two of them sat in front of the tv dazed, the main actress leaned onto Luzhou's shoulder, and Luzhou hugged her. He then proceeded to carry her into the bedroom to sleep. With that, the last scene was over.
The rain got heavier and heavier. In the many years that Xiao Yi lived in Beijing, this is only the second time he had seen such a storm. The very first time he experienced such a storm, even the bridge was flooded. This time it just seemed like a scene belonging to the end of the world, with the lightning and thunder resounding across the skies. At half past nine, the assistants were sent home. After the crew packed up, Xiao Yi drove Luzhou back. The two of them were eventually stuck on the road. The overpass was flooded with water, but it had not reached the point where it could flood over the roof of the car.
"I can't drive across." Xiao Yi exclaimed. "The water's too deep!"
An entire row of cars stopped in the water before the overpass, and the water slowly rose up the car tires. Luzhou said: "The road ahead is blocked!"
In the distance there was a thunder rumbling. Xiao Yi lamented: "What should we do?"*3
"Cold salad!"*3 Luzhou said: "Damn it, the car beside us is shaking!"
Xiao Yi: "......"
In truth, the car was shaking because there were two men inside hugging and kissing. Xiao Yi pressed the horn a few times, embarrassed. Luzhou said: "Let's park the car outside the mall and walk over. It is not far."
It was about 3km or more distance to their home. Xiao Yi parked the car outside a big shopping mall and locked it. He wanted to hold the umbrella for Luzhou, but Luzhou took it first. He was taller than Xiao Yi, so while he was holding the umbrella the two were soaked within seconds after exiting the car. They walked to the opposite direction of the traffic jam.
"Why didn't you bring an umbrella!" Xiao Yi shouted.
"I gave it to some kids!" Luzhou shouted back at Xiao Yi. "I board a car once I'm out of the house! Who knew it would rain so heavily!"
Usually walking 2 to 3 km is pretty easy, but with the heavy rain it was impossible to move on. Luzhou and Xiao Yi kept knocking into each other, so Luzhou simply held onto Xiao Yi's shoulders and walked leaning against the walls.
Xiao Yi's heart thumped wildly. Water started to drip from Luzhou's body, it seemed that they will arrive home in a sorry state. Luzhou's shirt was totally soaked, the contours of his muscles peeping through.
"Zhou ge!" Xiao Yi exclaimed.
"What?!" Luzhou glanced at Xiao Yi.
"Did you miss me." Xiao Yi said with a softer volume.
The storm outside was overwhelming, with the sounds overshadowing their conversation. Xiao Yi was feeling a tad awkward when he said that, so the volume was softer, and with the sounds of the storm, the words that he wanted to hear were completely ruined.
Luzhou repeated his words again, but Xiao Yi still couldn't catch it. Luzhou roared, "..... bit ---!""
Xiao Yi: "???"
Luzhou grabbed him, and with his lips almost sticking to Xiao Yi's ear he said: "A little bit!"
Xiao Yi laughed. Suddenly, a lightning came down onto a high rise building nearby. The thunder and electricity appeared at the same time. The scene was extremely magnificent. The lightning rod of the building sucked the lightning, and in half a second, the surroundings seemed coated in a bright white light, as a bolt of light streaked across the night sky.
The shock of that scene submerged into their consciousness, like a catastrophe, as if it was the end of the world.
As Xiao Yi gave a shout in fear, Luzhou held him and shoved him to the entrance of the subway station. The two embraced tightly. Luzhou's subconscious reaction was less than a second, and Xiao Yi's action of hugging Luzhou was due to a conditional reflex. The crazy show of lightning frightened the both of them. Luzhou's face was wet, and as he looked at Xiao Yi gasp, he turned and looked at the building in the distance.
"Damn it....." Luzhou said, "Your father I, almost had a heart attack from the shock."
Xiao Yi said: "I thought..... that building will collapse....."
Xiao Yi breathlessly leaned against the subway entrance. Luzhou said: "Let's take the subway, my life shortened by half from shock."
Lu Zhou folded the umbrella, and they stood on the platform waiting for the train. There were people everywhere, and Luzhou was only wearing flipflops with his jeans rolled up to his knees, drenched. A girl noticed him, and nudged her companion to take a quick look.
Xiao Yi did not wait for her to speak, and said: "Dear, do you think Luzhou will wear a pair of $10 flipflops to the subway?"
The surrounding people laughed. Xiao Yi patted Luzhou's shoulders, and the two got on the train. Luzhou's hair covered his forehead and he faced the train doors. His white shirt was soaked to the point of nakedness, but he did not seem to care and leaned on to the railing. They looked at each other, and the two laughed.
Notes:
1. 哥, pronounced as 'Ge', is a chinese word used to describe an older brother, or someone who is generally an older male that is close to you.
2. The words used here are 老子, or pronounced as 'Lao zi', and means either a more arrogant 'I', or father, and is used when in anger or just in context.
3. So this is some chinese internet joke. XY asked what should they do, which in chinese it is '怎么办". The last word 办 or ' Ban' (pronounced as b-ahn, not ban) is the same pronunciation as 拌 , which means to toss and hence meaning the original sentence "What to do?" would have turned into "How to toss?" So LZ answered 凉拌, (pronounced li-ang b-ahn), which means coleslaw or cold salad.
