Chapter Sixteen: "Ephemeral Fireworks"

Chapter Sixteen: “Fireworks Fade”

You can’t stop the medicine!

As soon as these words were uttered, everyone present was momentarily stunned. Then, as the meaning sank in, some couldn’t help but burst into laughter. In the midst of this laughter, everyone understood.

Why did you give up treatment?

This phrase had become the most popular saying of the moment. Everyone present knew it referenced that infamous post by Zhang Le, where he called out Li Ming by name, implying he was sick. Now, to say these words in front of the assembled media was simply irresistible. Especially so because of Zhang Le’s concerned demeanor, his pained and earnest tone, like a senior earnestly admonishing a junior, which made the whole scene even more hilarious.

Who let you out?

You can’t stop the medicine!

These two lines were bound to catch fire online, becoming the catchphrases on everyone’s lips.

In this brief exchange, there was no question Li Ming was utterly defeated. Not only did he lose the war of words, but his image, by comparison, was left in complete ruins. Next to Zhang Le, Li Ming truly did come across as a shrew shrieking in the streets, while Zhang Le was the very picture of a gentleman.

A gentleman who even insults with such style.

This was the highest level of verbal sparring.

After Zhang Le finished, he took Yang Xin’er by the hand and left.

Li Ming was dazed by Zhang Le’s words. By the time he recovered from the laughter of the surrounding media, Zhang Le and Yang Xin’er had already gone far, leaving him seething, his face flushed crimson with rage.

“Will he hurt himself holding that in?” Yang Xin’er glanced back at Li Ming, then laughed and said to Zhang Le.

“What do you think?” Zhang Le replied with a smile.

“Hmph! I’d like to see him dare insult you again after this!” Yang Xin’er chuckled, clearly relieved.

The two of them reached the end of the red carpet and, after signing their names on the grand movie poster, headed inside the theater, where they soon met Chen Ke and Zhou Run.

“Director Chen, Brother Run, this is Zhang Le,” Yang Xin’er introduced them, then presented the two men to Zhang Le as well.

“Hello, Director Chen. Hello, Brother Run!” In truth, there was no need for introductions. With Chen Ke and Zhou Run’s fame, Zhang Le naturally recognized them.

“Hello! I’ve often heard Xin’er speak of you. Now I finally get to meet you in person, and you certainly live up to your reputation—no wonder you’ve won Xin’er’s heart,” Zhou Run said with a warm smile.

“Heh! It’s not his looks that won her over, but his talent,” Chen Ke added, “I’m glad to meet a fellow alumnus. I haven’t had a chance to thank you for the theme song yet. That piece brought so much to the entire film.”

“You’re too kind, Director Chen! I hope I can continue to learn from you,” Zhang Le replied.

Zhang Le knew that he and Chen Ke had attended the same school. Not only had Chen Ke graduated from the directing department of Yanjing Film Academy, but he was also listed as an honorary professor there.

In his previous life, Zhang Le had attended several film premieres himself, though always as a crew member, not a guest. Naturally, he was quite interested in this premiere.

Film premieres were nothing new; they were simply a means to create buzz and promote a movie, and their content was largely similar. In fact, much of what was shown could be found in the film’s featurettes, just with a bit more entertainment added.

The premiere of “Awaiting Return” was co-hosted with Yanjing Television and broadcast live on TV. The host for the event was Yanjing TV’s leading anchor.

The host was highly skilled, able to control the atmosphere and direct the flow of the event with ease.

Of course, a premiere wasn’t just for the film’s main cast and crew to perform or share behind-the-scenes stories; numerous guest performers were also invited to liven things up.

Zhang Le’s performance of the theme song, “Fireworks Fade,” was scheduled as the program’s finale.

“Director Chen Ke is known for his pursuit of perfection and attention to every detail. As an integral part of the film’s overall artistry, the theme song plays a special role in highlighting the lyrical, dramatic, and atmospheric qualities of the film, and has itself become a new genre in modern music. A good theme song is crucial for any film—years later, when people hum the tune, the movie replays in their minds. Now, please welcome Zhang Le to perform the theme song, ‘Fireworks Fade’!”

Under Chen Ke’s almost exacting standards, this theme song had stumped countless music producers. In the end, it was Zhang Le—Yang Xin’er’s boyfriend—who wrote the song that finally met with approval.

This song had piqued everyone’s curiosity. For many, the most anticipated part of the premiere was this very theme. Rumors had swirled about the song, yet it had never been released to the public. Some even said it wasn’t fit to be heard and was chosen as the theme only because of Yang Xin’er, or because Chen Ke couldn’t find a better one and simply gave up.

There were even whispers that Chen Ke had intended not to use a theme song at all.

At last, the song was about to be revealed, and countless ears strained to catch every note.

Standing on stage, Zhang Le felt a touch of nervousness—it was, after all, his first time in the spotlight. Yet, as the music began, he lost himself completely in the melody, his self-consciousness melting away.

The gentle, lingering tune rang out, and the audience seemed to have their heartstrings plucked by each note, gradually sinking into the music’s embrace. An inexplicable sense of longing and sorrow welled up from within.

As the music played, a giant screen behind Zhang Le displayed scenes from the film.

The bustling world retreats into emptiness, leaving mortals behind
Dreams grow cold, a lifetime of tangled debts
If you acquiesce, life and death wither in waiting
Waiting through ring after ring of passing years
How many stories were broken atop the pagoda, whose soul was lost?
Pain races toward a dying lamp and a crumbling temple gate
Let me wait for history to turn
Wait for the wine to age, wait for you to play the zither once more

Rain falls, the old hometown is lush and deep
I hear you have always been alone
Moss-covered city gates entwined by ancient roots
On the stone path, echoes the sound of waiting

Rain falls, the old hometown is lush and deep
I hear you still guard your lonely city
From the outskirts, a shepherd’s flute drifts toward a deserted village
Fate takes root in the earth—this is us

In youth, laughter drew envy from all
The chronicles, though gentle, were too cruel to pen
Fireworks fade, people drift apart
And you ask if I remain sincere
A thousand years on, after lifetimes of devotion, who still waits?
How could history not be true—Wei’s chronicles, Luo Yang’s city
If you were here, the past would cross the threshold
Following the dust, I would wander with you for life
...

In the temple, listening to the rain, longing for eternity

“Fireworks Fade” was a work infused with the essence of Chinese style, its notes carrying a faint fragrance of ancient rhyme, lingering in the listener’s mind. The sensation was fresh as a secluded valley, yet somehow distant and ethereal—a feeling hard to describe, merely sensed.

While this world had its share of Chinese-style songs, few possessed such an ancient air. This song matched the film so perfectly that, even without the movie clips, one could hear the story woven into the lyrics.

A tragic love story unfolded: a woman and a general fall in love, but the general is dispatched to fight at the border. The war drags on for decades, and he never returns, while the woman waits faithfully all the while. The land is torn by war; fleeing the chaos, the general becomes a monk, hoping one day for peace and homecoming—but that day never arrives.

Life and death dissolve into endless waiting, each hope and disappointment, each longing and despair, buried in the passing years, yet never bringing back the distant beloved.

The song itself was deeply moving, and with the film clips, it was even easier to grasp the story within. When Zhang Le finished his performance, the hall was silent, with countless eyes glistening with tears.

A moment later, thunderous applause erupted.

Yang Xin’er watched it all and smiled. With this song unveiled, who would dare question that Zhang Le’s previous works were written by a ghostwriter?