The prelude began.
The guitar, accompanied by the piano and the melodious cello, played a soothing tune.
"Later, I finally learned how to love.
Unfortunately, you were long gone, vanished into the crowd.
Later, I finally understood through tears.
Some people, once missed, are gone forever."
As the music slowly played, the expressions on everyone's faces gradually turned peculiar, their gazes fixed on Zhang Li, who sat in the main seat. The producer, holding the mouse, stared blankly at Zhang Li, his mouth agape. Director Zhang Li slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of surprise in them. He leaned back from the chair's backrest, ignoring the gazes of the crowd, and cocked his ear to listen intently to the music.
"Gardenia, white petals.
Falling on my blue pleated skirt.
'I love you,' you whispered softly.
I lowered my head and smelled a fragrance.
That eternal night.
The night you kissed me in midsummer, at seventeen.
Letting my future moments, whenever I sigh.
Always remember the starlight of that day."
The singing continued, but Zhang Li could no longer sit still. He stood up, walked behind the producer, and snatched the mouse from his hand. He opened the lyrics file, and the screen synchronized with the projector. Then he stood there, his eyes fixed on the lyrics displayed on the screen.
"How do you remember me?
With a smile, or in silence.
Over the years, has anyone made you feel less lonely?
Later…"
When you truly understand what love is, you realize how regrettable it was to easily give up that relationship in your youthful recklessness. Some people, once missed, are gone forever, leaving only melancholy and sighs. Zhang Li was completely immersed in the song's mood. He felt as if a girl was softly telling him her story. The story's ending was not perfect, but precisely because of its imperfection, it was more deeply moving. When transposed into the movie "Us Back Then," wasn't this exactly the spirit the film conveyed?
"It will never come again, there was a boy, who loved that girl…"
The song was nearing its end. His eyes were slightly moist. To avoid being noticed, Zhang Li turned sideways and secretly wiped away a tear.
"Director Zhang…" the producer looked up at Zhang Li behind him. The computer was right there, when were you going to eat it? His heart rate was still over a hundred, but he paid it no mind. In his mind, he was still replaying the song.
"Ahem… What are you still staring at? This is it. Quickly contact Xinghui and expedite the recording of the official version!" Zhang Li coughed unnaturally and then returned to his seat.
"But… this song was written by a freshman," the producer feigned difficulty, though his heart was blooming with joy. It felt so good. Seeing Director Zhang flustered was worth the earlier anxiety.
"So what if it's a freshman? Who says freshmen can't write good songs?" Zhang Li, forgoing any pretense of dignity, began to praise it directly.
"You said earlier that using a song written by a newcomer would be laughed at by peers…" the producer said meekly. As soon as he said this, everyone present covered their mouths and stifled their laughter.
"Laughed at for what? Have the intermediate producers in Kyoto try it. See if they can write a song that fits our movie so well?" Glancing at everyone's expressions, Zhang Li grumbled irritably. This wasn't just a newcomer; the quality of this song, "Later," was undoubtedly higher than what intermediate producers wrote. Coupled with its perfect fit for the movie, it was no exaggeration to call it a match made in heaven. He now strongly suspected if this producer named Tingyu was truly just an eighteen-year-old freshman?
"What are you still waiting for? Hurry up!" Seeing that everyone was still looking at him, Zhang Li felt a bit embarrassed. Damn it, are you guys serious? Do you want me to perform the act of swallowing a computer?
"Yes, yes, going immediately…" Of course, the producer and everyone present knew that while they wished to see Zhang Li swallow a computer, it was unrealistic. However, the approval of the theme song was a cause for universal joy. Everyone wanted to finish this matter quickly, as the movie was set to be released in a few days. Thus, with smiles on their faces, all departments dispersed.
…
Six in the afternoon.
Male dormitory.
Zhao De and Zhou Tao were snoring on their beds. After a day of military training, they had collapsed onto their beds to sleep the moment they entered the dormitory, without even exchanging a greeting.
"Su Yu, I have time now. You promised to treat me to a meal, no backing out." It was a message from Lin Da, the campus beauty. Glancing at the time, Su Yu, wearing flip-flops, prepared to leave the dormitory.
"Where are you going?" Zhang Yang poked his head out to ask.
"Lin Yan Yu helped me find my way earlier, and I promised to treat her to a meal. Are you coming?" Su Yu stopped. Before Zhang Yang could answer, the snoring of Zhao De and Zhou Tao abruptly stopped.
"A meal?"
"Lin Yan Yu?"
The next moment, two heads had already nudged close to Su Yu.
"Do you guys want to go together?" Su Yu was initially taken aback, then smiled and asked them. These two comedians were truly something else; just moments ago they were snoring like thunder, but the moment they heard Lin Yan Yu's name, they were instantly awake.
"Yes, yes, yes!"
"Can we?" Hearing that Su Yu would take them along, the two of them jumped up in excitement. Lin Yan Yu was their goddess; the thought of eating with their goddess was almost unbelievable. At this moment, Zhang Yang jumped off his bed and said, "Su Yu, you go by yourself. We have something to do."
"What do we have to do?"
"Nothing, we're very free."
"Free my ass, hurry up and rank up with Brother Yang. The season is ending soon, and Brother Yang is still in Star Diamond." Without further ado, Zhang Yang dragged Zhao De and Zhou Tao to play ranked matches.
"Then I'm leaving." Su Yu said, then walked out of the dormitory.
"Su Yu, bring me back a pack of Huanghelou," Zhao De shouted from inside.
"I'm out of tissues, bring me back a pack," Zhou Tao also chimed in.
"Alright." Yelling back, Su Yu headed downstairs. These two lazyards had reached the point where they didn't even want to go downstairs to buy things…
After walking only a few steps, his phone suddenly rang. Opening it, he saw that it was a message from Zhang Yang. A transfer of 2000 yuan. Su Yu was wondering why Zhang Yang would transfer money to him for no reason when he received another message. "That little bit of money you have isn't enough for a meal with the campus beauty. Don't be too touched, Brother Yang is lending it to you." Reading this message, Su Yu's heart warmed. When did Zhang Yang become so considerate? He indeed didn't have much money now; his mother had only given him five hundred for living expenses at the start of the semester. However, Zhao Yuan had called him in the afternoon, confirming that the client had chosen his song. If he finished recording the official version tomorrow, he could earn hundreds of thousands. Moreover, once "Later" was downloaded, there would be a continuous stream of income and prestige. He still had another song, "What If It's Not Possible," and he would release it when the opportunity arose. The future days would only get better.
"Thanks." After typing these two words, Su Yu didn't send them. He deleted them and then re-sent "Okay." Between brothers, there was no need to say thank you; it made things seem distant.