Noon.
Lunch boxes were being distributed.
Other than those with special circumstances, even the A-list celebrities did not go back home. They just received their lunch boxes and made do with it. Zhang Ye was also eating, but he was alone.
He did not know where Zhang Xia and Zhang Yuanqi had gone, but they were probably practicing the song together. After all, it was their first time listening to the song today. If they wanted to sing it well, especially with the two of them singing together, it would not be easy. It would require a long period of practice. The song that Zhang Ye had given them was something that he had heard more than a hundred times in his previous world. However, he was not a professional in music, so he did not dare to blindly give them instructions. They were professional singers, so they would definitely know better than him. So he just had to eat by himself.
Ring, ring, ring.
His father called on his cell phone.
"Where are you?"
"Dad, I'm outside."
"Are you coming back for lunch?"
"Uh, I don't think I can go back. I still have some matters to attend to. Are you at my aunt's place? Can you help me tell her that I won't be able to go back to my maternal grandma's place? "
"Is it something very important?"
"Yes, it's very important."
"Then I won't talk about it anymore. Go do what you need to do."
In the afternoon, Zhang Ye received a few calls from Zhang Yuanqi and Zhang Xia's team. They wanted to discuss the music score with him. The version that he had given to the production team was only a simplified version of the song. It was not fully done yet and had many flaws, so they needed to be discussed and researched further. Zhang Ye found a quiet corner and spent the entire afternoon on the phone with them on this matter. When Zhang Xia called him, he went to listen to Zhang Xia and Zhang Yuanqi's performance. From a professional point of view, he could not do it, but he could use the standards of the song from his previous world to evaluate their performance. He also pointed out some flaws and corrected some of the intonation problems caused by them not being familiar with the song.
An hour.
Three hours.
Five hours.
7: 40 PM at night.
Finally, he finished accompanying them. Zhang Ye was exhausted. He did not sleep well last night. At most, he had slept for four hours. He really could not take it anymore. The Spring Festival Gala was about to be broadcasted live, so everyone was busy preparing to go on stage. Seeing this, Zhang Ye found an empty room, which was the dressing room that Zhang Yuanqi and the others had been in previously. It was a mess inside, with makeup products and unused props and costumes strewn all over the place. However, there was no one there, so Zhang Ye closed the door and walked inside. There was a sofa in the corner, and the few partitions here were all covered with curtains. It was probably a place for changing clothes. He pulled the curtains aside and sat on the sofa. Aiyo, it was quite comfortable. Zhang Ye did not care about anything else as he had already done everything he could. He laid down on the sofa and fell asleep, not moving at all.
…
Firecrackers went off!
The entire nation rejoiced!
The annual Spring Festival Gala had begun!
The first act was the opening dance. The main performers were all primary and secondary school students. Although they were still young, their movements were not rusty at all. The dance was very beautiful and the rhythm of the music was also very energetic. From this opening dance, it could be seen that this year's Spring Festival Gala was really focused on the younger generation. Those stereotypical songs and recitals that were doubted and rejected by the younger generation in the past were likely to be canceled. What was added was a language program that everyone loved or a song and dance program for the younger generation. It had to go with the current trends, as traditional programs were too old-fashioned and would not be able to earn money or attract attention. The other meaning behind the vibrant Spring Festival Gala and the young Spring Festival Gala was that it would go with the commercial beat!
At Zhang Ye's maternal grandma's house.
Cao Mengmeng was sitting on the sofa in anticipation. "It's starting, it's starting!"
Zhang Ye's mother harrumphed, "There's nothing much to watch on this year's Spring Festival Gala!"
His second uncle said gloomily, "We already agreed to put on Little Ye's songs, so why aren't we letting them on!"
His third aunt said, "That bunch of production team people don't have any foresight. They only care about attention and money. What a Spring Festival Gala for the younger generation. They've forgotten about us old comrades!"
His maternal grandma also said, "Let's change the channel. I'm not watching without Little Ye's songs! Zhang Xia and Sun Ying won't be appearing this year either. What's the point of watching it? "
His maternal grandpa said, "I heard that there's only one Peking Opera performance left this year. It's even performed together with other opera genres. What's that called again?"
Cao Tong said, "Hehe, that's called a mix and match."
"What the heck is that!" His maternal grandpa criticized, "Our ancestors' things have all been ruined by them!"
Cao Mengmeng held onto the remote control and refused to let go, "We can't change the channel. I still want to watch my Lee Anson."
Cao Dan looked at her, "Didn't you say that you wouldn't chase after Korean stars in the future? It's not like you don't know that our bro is a nationalistic youth. If he knew that you were chasing after Korean stars, our bro would definitely beat you up. "
Cao Mengmeng said with a cheeky smile, "I'm not chasing after stars. My bro is my bro's only idol. That Lee Anson or whatever? I'm just listening. Hehe, just listening."
Cao Dan tapped her sister on the head, "You."
His maternal grandma asked, "Little Ye, are you really not going home for the new year this year?"
His mother said angrily, "I don't know what he's busy with! Ignore him! "
His maternal grandma doted on Zhang Ye the most. "Little Ye has his own career and is famous now, so he must be busy. Our family can understand that."
The Spring Festival Gala continued.
The second act was a chorus.
Following that, the third act was a magic show. This was something that was rarely seen in previous Spring Festival Galas. The magician was a 19-year-old Hong Kong and Taiwanese celebrity. In terms of fame, he was not as famous as the other magicians in their thirties or forties, but he had the honor of appearing on stage this time.
"This magic show is just so-so."
"Yeah, it's not that interesting."
"It's alright. I think it's still alright."
"It's far worse than Old Fang's magic show. Are they really not letting the middle-aged and elderly take the stage this time? If they want to give the younger generation a chance and organize a Spring Festival Gala for the younger generation, I would support that too. But we still have to look at the quality of the acts. If the acts are not good, why would they take the stage? No matter how good the older people's acts are, they still have to be stopped? This is a little unfair. Besides, a magician in his forties isn't considered old. "
"I wonder what they're thinking!"
"This is for the future, to groom the newcomers."
"But they can't just abandon the older generation!"
"But they're really getting old. They'll only go downhill in the future. But the younger generation will have more opportunities and will continue to move up."
This was the discussion at Zhang Ye's maternal grandma's house. Many similar families across the country were also having such conversations. Some opposed it, some understood it, and some supported it. There was no consensus.
Finally, the language acts came.
First was a crosstalk, followed by a skit.
Cao Mengmeng nearly fell asleep watching it. "What trash! Why are the crosstalks and skits on the Spring Festival Gala getting worse and worse in recent years? They're not even as funny as my brother's talk show! "
But Cao Tong was amused. She said, "You, your sense of humor is too high. Why do I feel that it's still alright?"
Cao Dan objectively commented, "It's because your sense of humor is too low. The quality of the language acts has indeed dropped. There aren't many good works. Some of the works are still alright, but I always feel that they're not outstanding enough. They're not as funny as the skits and crosstalks from ten years ago. Didn't you see how the Internet is scolding the language acts year after year?"
First Aunt said, "That's right. It's getting worse every year."
First Uncle said, "It's easy for you to say, but crosstalk and skit are the hardest to do. They have to be artistic, humorous, and have to be recognized by the market. It's too difficult to produce a good work."
......
At the venue of the Spring Festival Gala.
There were no empty seats upstairs or downstairs.
There were officials, workers, white-collared workers, students, family members, etc. There were all sorts of people. If there was anything in common, it would be that they all had some connections. Either they had obtained the tickets through their company's connections, or they had personal connections. Otherwise, the tickets for the Spring Festival Gala would not be given out so easily. Even Zhang Ye had to rely on Tian Bin's work permit to sneak in.
"Wonderful!"
"It's so good to watch!"
"This year is so boring."
Some people applauded, while others were sleepy and expressionless.
The calligraphy world's Master Zhou and Master Wei did not celebrate the new year with their families. Instead, they came to the venue. Master Zhou brought his wife and daughter, while Master Wei brought his grandson and granddaughter. They were sitting on the left side of the sixth row.
Madam Zhou said, "Since Big Sis Zhang is not appearing, we're unnecessary."
She was friends with Zhang Xia. They had known each other for decades.
Master Zhou also knew Zhang Xia, "You know Big Sis Zhang's health condition. She even underwent interventional surgery last year for cerebral thrombosis. At this age, it's time for her to retire and enjoy her life."
Madam Zhou shook her head, "I know her. Singing and the stage are Big Sis Zhang's life. She can't leave it, not even in her lifetime. If she were to retire, she would definitely not be happy. When a person is in a bad mood, their health will deteriorate."
Master Wei said, "I heard that Zhang Xia has heart disease and high blood pressure? If it weren't for the fact that I had to pave the way for my children and grandchildren, I would have stopped writing a long time ago. At this age, especially Big Sister Zhang's age, she might even be older than me. You have to admit that you're getting old. Performing on the stage all day is the job of young people. When you get older, you have to come to an end. "
Master Wei's grandson and granddaughter did not listen to their conversation.
Suddenly, a few hosts on the stage began to announce.
Upon hearing this, Master Wei's granddaughter exclaimed, "Lee Anson is going on stage! My idol! "
Master Wei was jealous, "Isn't Grandpa your idol?"
"Grandpa is too." His granddaughter giggled, "Lee Anson is my second idol. I like him so much. He's so cool!" If she did not know that Lee Anson would be going on stage, Master Wei's granddaughter would not have come. Today, she had begged her grandfather to bring her.
Master Wei's grandson was also very concerned, "Stop talking. Watch the performance, watch the performance!"
At this moment, the music played. Lee Anson went on stage singing. He did not sing in Korean, but in Chinese. He had written a Chinese version of the song!
This time, countless screams sounded!
"Ah!"
"It's Chinese!"
"Too cool!"
"Lee Anson, I love you!"
It was the same in front of the TV!
Countless young fans were shouting Lee Anson's name in excitement. The atmosphere was too enthusiastic. In all the previous performances, there had never been such a situation!
Lee Anson smiled and sang calmly on stage, "Love... Just the only... Love... Inevitably heartbreak..." He probably did not know how to speak Chinese, and could only imitate the syllables. Some of his intonation and enunciation were very stiff, but he still won the applause of the audience!
The song came to an end!
The young people's applause was thunderous!
Lee Anson smiled as he bowed and left the stage. It was time for the next performance.
Master Zhou looked left and right. Seeing the excited expressions of the young people, he felt very helpless, "Old Wei, do you understand this song?"
Master Wei smiled, "I don't."
Master Wei's granddaughter said, "How nice it sounds!"
Madam Zhou rubbed her child's head, "You young people think it's nice, but we are old. Our ideas can't keep up with the times."
Master Zhou sighed, "Hai, we are really behind the times. The future of the world belongs to the young. Hur Hur, let's all stand aside."
At the venue, many middle-aged and elderly people also had such sighs.
Suddenly, the lights and background on the stage changed. A melodious melody rose, and a new show was about to go on stage. It was supposed to be a very normal thing, but when they saw the two people walking out from the stage, all the audience present and in front of the TV were stunned!
"Grandma Zhang Xia?"
"Heavenly Queen Zhang Yuanqi!"
"Holy sh * t! Didn't their shows get canceled? "
"What's going on? They're going on stage again? And why are there two of them together? Are they going to sing a duet? One is bel canto and the other is pop. They don't even have a duet! "
"Why didn't the production team inform them?"
"The program roster changed at the last minute again?"
......
At Zhang Ye's maternal grandma's house.
"Ah!" Cao Mengmeng shouted.
"Xiaomeng, what's your name?" Grandma was shocked.
"Quick, come and see! Come quickly! "Cao Mengmeng hurriedly shouted to Zhang Ye's parents.
Zhang Ye's mother said, "I'm making dumplings. I'm not watching."
Cao Dan also looked at the TV and exclaimed, "Zhang Yuanqi is up! And Grandma Zhang Xia! "
"Ah!" His mother hurriedly threw down the rolling pin and ran over. "That's impossible! Wasn't their program axed by the production team!? "
Everyone in the family stared at the TV.
......
At a certain house.
"Mom! Don't cook! "
"If I don't cook, what should I do? That crappy Spring Festival Gala is meaningless."
"Zhang Xia and Zhang Yuanqi are going on stage together!"
"What? Let me see, let me see! "
......
On a certain phone.
"Hello, Sis."
"Brother, why are you calling again? Didn't you just wish us a new year? "
"Did you watch the Spring Festival Gala?"
"I'm not watching it this year. There's no Zhang Yuanqi either."
"Quick, watch it! Zhang Yuanqi is coming out! There's a new song! "
"Impossible."
"It's true! She came out with Zhang Xia! I've never heard this melody before. It's definitely not 'Wishing We Last Forever', nor is it Zhang Yuanqi's previous songs! "
"There's a new song? Damn! Then I won't say anymore. I'm hanging up! I'll go watch it immediately! "
......
All over the country, such scenes were constantly playing out.
It was the opposite of the previous situation. Many older people had their spirits lifted.
However, the young people looked indifferent and uninterested.
"Why is it Zhang Xia again!?"
"It's always her every year!"
"Zhang Yuanqi too. She comes every year. Isn't it annoying!?"
"Sister Zhang's movies are great. The old songs from the past are nice, but the new songs from the past few years are terrible. They are already outdated!"
"How boring."
"There's no need to listen. It's definitely the same old routine!"
Mrs. Zhou's eyes lit up, "Big Sis Zhang really came out!"
Master Zhou gave a wry smile, "Why bother? The general idea of this year's Spring Festival Gala is to be energetic and youthful. If it were me, I wouldn't have gone on stage. There's no need for that."
Master Wei's granddaughter said, "That's right. Grandma Zhang Xia is already so old. Auntie Zhang Yuanqi isn't young either. How can her popularity compare to our Lee Anson? It's better if she didn't come. Well, of course, I'm talking about the music aspect. In the film aspect, Zhang Yuanqi is definitely the best."
Master Wei's grandson also commented, "Sister Zhang shouldn't have come to sing. She should focus on filming movies. Her songs are no longer suitable for this era."
Master Wei frowned, "That Korean kid has already been announced by the host. Why didn't Zhang Yuanqi and Zhang Xia, these two big names, announce their programs? Just a few songs and programs were directly approved? "
His granddaughter curled her lips, "It means that the production team doesn't think much of it."
The older people in the audience looked at the two women on the stage and listened to the not very enthusiastic atmosphere below. They suddenly had a feeling that perhaps the era of the young had arrived. Zhang Xia and Zhang Yuanqi were old. The music stage … might not need them anymore. Perhaps they really shouldn't have gone on stage this time. They might as well retire from the competition. What's the use of putting in more effort?
The only thing that made them feel strange was that the clothes that Zhang Xia and Zhang Yuanqi wore on stage today were actually very bright colored evening gowns. There were red, green, yellow, purple, and blue. A bunch of bright colors piled on top of their clothes, it was very dazzling. Furthermore, people of their age actually had a bright red flower pinned to their hair today. This kind of gorgeous dressing, Zhang Yuanqi had never worn it before, and Zhang Xia had never worn it before!
What was going on?
What were these two trying to do?
Peng Yiyu and the production team were also watching the screen backstage!
Countless people in front of their televisions were also bewildered by the two women's attire!
The next moment, Zhang Yuanqi raised the microphone and took a light breath. With a smile, she began singing.
"I have a flower."
"Growing in my heart."
"Budding and waiting to be released... faintly."
"Zhaozhao and mumu, eagerly waiting for those who have the heart to enter my dreams."
Anita Mui's "Woman Flower" was performed incisively by Zhang Yuanqi. Her voice was not youthful or energetic, nor was it clear and lingering. Zhang Yuanqi's voice was a little hoarse and magnetic. However, it was precisely this kind of voice and this kind of voice that could bring out the flavor of "Woman Flower"! This was not a song written for young women! This was a song that belonged only to them!
When this part of the song came out, many people present were stunned!
Flowers?
Budding?
In films and literature, these words were often used to symbolize youthful women. But today, Zhang Yuanqi and Zhang Xia had actually done the opposite. They had come to the stage with "flowers" all over their bodies. They had actually sung "flowers", singing about themselves!
Bloom?
That was the right of the young!
That was the right of the young!
At your age, what right do you have? Why?
Zhang Yuanqi held Zhang Xia's hand. It was as if the whole world had disappeared. She smiled at Zhang Xia:
"Woman flower, swaying in the world of mortals."
"Woman flower, gently swaying with the wind."
"Only hoping for a pair of gentle hands."
"To soothe the loneliness in my heart."
A middle-aged woman in the front row suddenly held her daughter's hand. Silently, tears began to flow down her cheeks!
"Mom, why are you crying?" The little girl asked.
The woman laughed and cried at the same time, "You are still young. When you grow up, you will understand."
Mrs. Zhou stood up. Her eyes were red. She stared unblinkingly at the two women on stage!
Zhang Yuanqi's voice seemed to be hitting the hearts of all the mature women at this moment. Her voice was like a pair of hands, touching their shoulders!
Master Wei's face was also moved, "This song..."
There was a slight change in the melody.
Zhang Yuanqi put down the microphone and Zhang Xia raised it.
Grandma Zhang Xia held Zhang Yuanqi's hand and looked at the audience with a smile. Although her hair was white and her face was wrinkled, Grandma Zhang's smile did not have a hint of twilight!
Like a flower!
It opened up in an instant!
"I have a flower.
"The fragrance of flowers fills the branches.
"Who comes to seek the scent with sincerity.
"The flower doesn't bloom for long. If it can be plucked, it must be plucked.
"Women are like flowers, flowers are like dreams."
When many of the women present heard this, they covered their faces and cried!
But Grandma Zhang Xia smiled with vigor.
"Woman flower, swaying in the world of mortals.
"Woman flower, gently swaying with the wind.
"Only hoping for a pair of gentle hands.
"To soothe the loneliness in my heart."
Mrs. Zhou also cried. For the stage! For the Spring Festival Gala! For the audience! They had dedicated all their years! They had given all their youth and years to the stage!
Who said they were old!
Who dared to say they were old!
They could still sing! They could still sing for the rest of their lives!
Even if 10 years had passed! Even if 50 years had passed! They would still be the most brilliant and vibrant woman flowers on stage!
They would never grow old!
We will never grow old!
At this moment, even the men present were shocked. Sometimes, men understood women better than women. Everyone felt as if their hearts had been hit by something!
A middle-aged man in the back row looked at his wife. He reached out and held her hand tightly, as if he would never let go for the rest of his life. "Yan'er, I'm sorry for last time. I even called you a faded old woman. I..." His voice was choked. "You've sacrificed too much for the children, for me, for this family!"
His wife smiled happily. "Money can't buy my willingness."
The middle-aged man held her hand even tighter. "In my heart, you will always be a flower!"
They sang together!
Zhang Yuanqi and Zhang Xia walked forward hand in hand. As they walked, the two of them performed dance moves. It was not a formal dance, but a very casual movement that came from the heart. Sometimes, their hands would make a playful gesture, and sometimes, their fingers would touch the flower on their heads!
"Woman flower, swaying in the world of mortals.
"Woman flower, gently swaying with the wind.
"If you've smelled the fragrance of the flower.
"Don't ask me who the flower is red for.
"Knowing the importance of love, knowing the strength of wine after getting drunk, the flower blooms and withers for nothing.
"Fate does not stay, like the spring breeze that comes and goes. Women are like flowers in a dream."
The harmony between the two made many of the audience stand up. That kind of shock was hard to describe. They only knew one thing:
This was a woman!
This was a woman!
Women were like flowers! They would never wither!
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