So, what is the first thing that Toupai wants to do now that he has closed the 2-D world chapter of his life? And, not only Sheng Sheng, but I got educated by Toupai, too. :)
Hmm… can’t say I’ve ever had rum-flavoured ice cream. I have had Irish cream-flavoured and it did give me a little headache. (I don’t drink alcohol at all… don’t like the taste.) I am told that I was rather giggly after that pint of ice cream. And if you’re scratching your head wondering why I’m talking about alcohol flavored ice cream, just read the chapter. :p
Chapter 46 – “Splendid” Rice with Pickled Vegetables and Pork (5)
“These last few years, because of work, I have had to turn down all kinds of proposals. Some of them were from old friends, some of them from new people. I believe, it is difficult for everyone to be able to always treat everyone fairly. The ways of the world are unavoidable and will get in the way. So,” Qiang Qing Ci chuckled, “tonight all I want to say is, I hope my old friends will let me off the hook, new people will give other CVs a chance, and you can all gradually forget about me.”
His words had been spoken very indirectly and mindfully, but they were also very heartfelt.
But… how could they forget?
Even though any sort of entertainment circle will have its ups and downs during its establishment, those will not prevent it from becoming better and better. And those people who had emerged with the circle in the very beginning and had become famous in it would also be written into the first volume of this entertainment circle’s history books.
Although he had been very tactful, he was also very clearly stating that, because of his work, he would not be accepting any more invitations to work on online projects. In the future, if you wanted to hear his voice, it would have to be through the mainstream platforms…
And perhaps… the opportunities to hear him on those mainstream platforms would be less and less, too…
Gu Sheng was also feeling a deep sense of sadness, as if tonight, they were bidding farewell to that era that had once had Qiang Qing Ci.
A sudden, simple love confession that had come like a secret being uncovered followed by words that were bidding farewell to the entire online entertainment circle. Her heart was following Toupai, like it was suddenly being flung up and then unexpectedly being dropped back down. Even more exciting than riding a roller coaster…
She thought he would do as he always did, turn off his microphone and then leave.
But unexpectedly, background music began playing. Unlike normal, on this night when he was giving his farewell, without any warning, he presented this song to the listeners.
There were no opening pleasantries, no unnecessary remarks at all.
These last ten years, he had always been as such. No need for debate or hype, everything said with just the voice…
When his voice made its appearance in their ears, it seemed so ethereal and elusive that it caused people’s hearts to palpitate. This was completely different from the other songs he had sung before:
“Like morning dew on the orchid cactus [epiphyllum], so near, yet so far apart.
It is said, the Yellow River meanders, but in the end still flows eastward.
An 8000 year old jade suddenly fades overnight.
I ask Heaven, what is the purpose of this life?
Where the wind blew last night, who can count the petals that fell?
Under the vastness of the heavens, I dance with my shadow in the wind.
Who can share in everything with me?
Beneath the age-old Big Dipper, in a palace of beauty but cold with solitude,
It is better to be a loving couple, wandering the world together for all our lives.”
This was “Cha Na Fang Hua Qu” [A Song of Fleeting Beauty; more accurately A Song of those Fleeting, Most Beautiful Years].
His voice was grand and majestic, rising above this heartrending song, as if he truly had seen “an 8000 year old jade suddenly fade overnight” and “danced in the wind with his shadow under the vastness of the heavens”……
A moment of fleeting beauty…
Such a suitable song for him.
This last decade of his most beautiful years were merely a moment, like the snapping of fingers.
……
“So beautiful I’m crying! Bowing on my knees! Toupai DaRen… oh my, I’m Feng Ya Song’s diehard fangirl, ah!!!! How come one song has made me change camps T.T?…… Toupai, begging to marry you, AAAH!!!!” “(○^～^○) DaRen, no problem if you retire from the CV circle! The ancient-style music circle welcomes you!!!!” “Awesome idea! Begging Toupai to march over to the ancient-style music circle!”…… “⊙.⊙ Anyone notice the line, ‘Better to be a loving immortal couple, wandering the world together for all our lives’? This is the true song that SAMA is using to give his love confession, right?……”
As the song was nearing its close, Toupai, for the first time in history, used his administrator’s authority and prohibited comments and flowers on the public comment screen.
Quiet was restored to the comment box for a few seconds.
Very soon, a few words appeared. In a distinctive color text, he said: Thank you, everyone. Goodbye.
And then, he very quickly exited the room.
This was… the first time he had ever left a comment on the YY public comment screen, and it was to say goodbye.
The time he went offline was eleven o’clock at night. Later, that night and all the way through the entire day of the following day, everyone felt as if they were in a dream. Too many artists, old and young, big names and unknowns, friends of his and random fans of his… as if they had all collaborated together, were, one after another, drawing farewell pictures to him.
There were all sorts of styles, from chibi drawings to aesthetic style pictures, Japanese manga style to ancient-style brush ink paintings.
Without exception, every one was clearly marked with the three words, “Qiang Qing Ci.”
And when each picture was released, without exception, the artist would describe how he or she had felt in that first moment of hearing Qiang Qing Ci’s voice.
Gu Sheng was following along in Weibo and Tieba as the art and drawings continued to pour in. She sincerely felt that he was truly a perfect legend. After he faded out of the spotlight, perhaps his fans would also gradually leave the entertainment circle, or perhaps his voice would not seem as beautiful as it had been at the start…
But Qiang Qing Ci would surely be a name that would be difficult to surpass and one that would never be forgotten.
Since next week there was no library sorting work that needed to be done, she did not go back to campus.
Tuesday happened to be his day off, but he had some recording work that needed to be done to wrap-up his work for the video game. That meant he would be sacrificing the entire daytime of his hard to come by day off and could only meet her when it was nearly dinnertime.
This was her second time at this recording studio, but the two girls working busily at reception were already treating her like she was a familiar presence there. When she was waiting in the main reception area with nothing to do, the girl who knew her and Toupai’s true identities even pulled out from the freezer an ice cream that was normally for employees only and insisted on giving it to her.
She bit down on her plastic spoon, wordlessly refreshing Weibo.
When the search term, “Qiang Qing Ci” was entered, countless visually appealing pictures and drawings appeared.
It’d be nice if she saved all these artworks and then printed them out in an album for him to keep as a momento, hmm?
This thought had just flashed into her mind when she saw that Toupai’s fanclub’s Weibo had released the latest news this morning… that they had already started on such a project. Sure enough, fans’ strength was always the most formidable…
“What are you looking at?” A pair of hands was pressed against the couch back behind her as someone leaned in and asked her the question in a low voice.
“Huh?’ She tilted her head up to look at him. “I’m looking at those things all the illustrators and artists drew for you… I had wanted to make an album for you as a momento, but your fans love you more than I do and have already started on it.”
He smiled, his gaze shifting to the ice cream in her hand.
……
……
Don’t do it. One of your true, official fans is blatantly staring right over here and watching, ah T.T. Don’t think that just because you’ve retired, you can do whatever you want, ah, my Toupai DaRen…
And not just your fan, those people hanging around the reception desk are also watching you, ah…
But that feeling of having your food stared at by a gorgeous guy was too uncomfortable as well…
She hesitated for quite a while before finally steeling her mind. Completely ignoring the knowing looks that were coming from all around, she scooped out a spoonful and brought it to his lips. The creamy brown ice cream was taken into his mouth and eaten, and he even seemed very satisfied as he savoured the taste for a moment. His words were somewhat unclear as he told her, “Rum can be considered a hard liquor. When they make this particular flavor of ice cream, they will more or less mix some alcohol into it. Its flavor is really quite good.”
If this naturally alluring voice was recorded, it could definitely be used in an advertisement to endorse this ice cream……
She actually did seem to recall that his favourite flavor of ice cream was rum and his least favourite was chocolate.
He seemed to have mentioned this in an online radio interview a few years ago.
Now that they mentioned it, what a coincidence that today, the flavor they happened to be eating was rum…
He leaned over and continued casually chatting with her. “There is one thing that’s a little inconvenient when you eat this. There really is alcohol in it, and after eating it, a police breathalyzer test can detect the alcohol content in your breath.”
“You’ve come across such a situation?”
“No. One of my new graduate students saw me eating this particular flavor of ice cream, so he told me that he did an interesting experiment that tested for what types of things could cause you to be mistaken for ‘driving under the influence’.”
“What sorts of things?” She was honestly curious…
“Mouthwash, Huoxiang Zhengqi Shui[1]? And also this: rum-flavoured ice cream.” He reached back slightly in his memory. “But, the effect lasts only for a few minutes and then the alcohol content in your mouth will decrease, so really, it was just strictly an experiment. No one would actually have such bad luck where they would be eating ice cream and getting tested at the same time.”
She dug out another spoonful for herself, put it in her mouth, and nodded.
Increasing her knowledge.
“Teacher Mo, do you like it?… I mean, this ice cream?” The girl who had had her ears pricked up the whole time to listen in had taken advantage of the opportunity of pouring herself some water to saunter up next to the two of them. Her stance was completely one where her hands were covering her heart. “There is lots more in the freezer. I specifically bought this flavour. You can eat as much as you like.”
*cold sweat*
So obviously an abuse of power, making the entire recording studio eat rum-flavoured ice cream along with him…
“Thank you. It tastes very good.” This man, who caused jealous, envy, and rage in people, however, only answered in an exceptionally polite manner.
Gu Sheng gnawed on her spoon and gave him a very, very, very meaningful look.
Toupai DaRen.
I swear, even if you’ve retired from the entertainment circle, your fans’ eyes and heart only have room for you. Even if they only stare at the three words, “Qiang Qing Ci,” they will be perfectly content and think of nothing else…
“I thought of something.” He suddenly lowered his head to look at her.
“Mm-hmm?”
“What are you doing for the May Day holiday[2]?”
“May Day? Haven’t thought about it yet.” Honestly, this second half of her fourth year in university was no different than if she had been given a half a year holiday. Only people who actually had to work would think about holidays… She really had not considered it at all T.T……
“These last few years, I haven’t taken any of my vacation time. I finally was mercifully granted some vacation time-off, but the duration is very short so I can’t go too far.” Mo Qingcheng put on a look of musing. “We can choose any island in Southeast Asia, how about that?”
Travel? With her boyfriend?
She gently reminded him, “My parents are pretty conservative…”
He pondered briefly.
Although she really wanted to go, the instant she thought about her dad and mom’s teachings, she decided to call off the idea.
“I’ve thought about that, too.” He very considerately dismantled her doubts and crushed them to pieces while offering up a plan. “I’ll first arrange to have my parents meet your father and mother. Once we make our relationship official, things will be a lot easier.”
( ⊙ o ⊙)
……
She gazed up into his eyes, unable to find any valid and feasible excuse to refuse him, particularly since his fan was there staring unblinkingly at them with a mushy expression like pink hearts were going to explode off the charts. It was obvious she had overheard the entire conversation.
How was she supposed to refuse him in front of his diehard fangirl T.T? Toooo hard…
But, they had only been together for two months. Were they really going to have both sides’ parents meet each other so soon, and then just like that, nail down the question of who they will belong to for the latter half of their lives?……
[1]藿香正气水. Liquid medicine used to treat various ailments, which I’ll be honest, I could not completely comprehend with the Chinese medicinal terms, but included dealing with symptoms such as headaches, chest tightness, abdominal swelling and pain, etc.
[2]五一假期. Literally, the “five one” holiday, or the holiday on the first day of the fifth month. More officially known as Labour Day holiday. May 1 is International Labour Day, which is a nationally recognized holiday, and then in China, a couple more days off are given as a national holiday.
Additional Comments:
The lyrics to the song 刹那芳华曲 ‘Cha Na Fang Hua Qu’ [A Song of Fleeting Beauty/A Song of those Fleeting, Most Beautiful Years] were actually presented in their entirety in this chapter already. I will just include the Chinese lyrics with timing points in case anyone wants them. There are tons of good female recordings of this song, but the one I linked is the only male cover that I like. (Sorry that the Chinese opera video might be visually jarring to the story, but it’s the only video of this version of the song on YT.)
[0:30] 朝露昙花, 咫尺天涯，
Like morning dew on the orchid cactus [epiphyllum], so near, yet so far apart.
[0:38] 人道是黄河十曲，毕竟东流去
It is said, the Yellow River meanders, but in the end still flows eastward.
[0:52] 八千年玉老，一夜枯荣，
An 8000 year old jade suddenly fades overnight.
[1:02] 问苍天此生何必？
I ask Heaven, what is the purpose of this life?
[1:16] 昨夜风吹处，落英听谁细数。
Where the wind blew last night, who can count the petals that fell?
[1:26] 九万里苍穹，御风弄影，
Under the vastness of the heavens, I dance with my shadow in the wind.
[1:31] 谁人与共？
Who can share in everything with me?
[1:35] 千秋北斗，瑶宫寒苦，
Beneath the age-old Big Dipper, in a palace of beauty but cold with solitude.
[1:44] 不若神仙眷侣，百年江湖。
It is better to be a loving couple, wandering the world together for all our lives.
[1:54] 不若神仙眷侣，百年江湖。
It is better to be a loving couple, wandering the world together for all our lives.
[2:08] 朝露昙花, 咫尺天涯，
Like morning dew on the orchid cactus [epiphyllum], so near, yet so far apart.
[2:16] 人道是黄河十曲，毕竟东流去
It is said, the Yellow River meanders, but in the end still flows eastward.
[2:25]八千年玉老，一夜枯荣，
An 8000 year old jade suddenly fades overnight.
[2:34] 问苍天此生何必？
I ask Heaven, what is the purpose of this life?
[2:43] 昨夜风吹处，落英听谁细数。
Where the wind blew last night, who can count the petals that fell?
[2:52] 九万里苍穹，御风弄影，
Under the vastness of the heavens, I dance with my shadow in the wind.
[2:57] 谁人与共？
Who can share in everything with me?
[3:01] 千秋北斗，瑶宫寒苦，
Beneath the age-old Big Dipper, in a palace of beauty but cold with solitude.
[3:10] 不若神仙眷侣，百年江湖。
It is better to be a loving couple, wandering the world together for all our lives.
[3:18] 昨夜风吹处，落英听谁细数。
Where the wind blew last night, who can count the petals that fell?
[3:27] 九万里苍穹，御风弄影，
Under the vastness of the heavens, I dance with my shadow in the wind.
[3:33] 谁人与共？
Who can share in everything with me?
[3:37] 千秋北斗，瑶宫寒苦，
Beneath the age-old Big Dipper, in a palace of beauty but cold with solitude.
[3:45] 不若神仙眷侣，百年江湖。
It is better to be a loving couple, wandering the world together for all our lives.
[3:54] 不若神仙眷侣，百年江湖。
It is better to be a loving couple, wandering the world together for all our lives.
