Chapter 31: Keep going, talented lyricist and composer

In 2001, the 73rd Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film went to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

This was the first Chinese-language film to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Li An, a Tai Sheng director who had spent six years as a househusband, suddenly became a household name, basking in glory.

His "Family" trilogy became a required study for every future film and television student.

At that time, after completing The Hulk and Brokeback Mountain, Li An turned his attention to novel adaptations.

Eileen Chang's novel Lust Caution thus entered his field of vision.

He added a clear Republican-era backdrop to the tale of passionate lovers and heartbroken women.

Finally, he obscured the purely political assassination with overlapping shadows of desire and true emotion.

This was Eileen Chang's signature style, and it constantly stirred Li An's heart.

In this film, Li An confronted history for the first time.

To create a sweeping historical canvas, he poured immense effort and heart into faithfully recreating the era's atmosphere.

But he struggled with casting the female lead.

Li An was a renowned director, and Eileen Chang's novel was a masterpiece; once casting news spread, many actors—especially actresses—began clamoring for the role.

Li An initially considered Shu Qi, but Shu Qi had barely managed to put back on each garment she had taken off for Wang Jiazhi—wasn't that just returning to her old routine?

He also considered Liu Qianqian, Zhou Xun, Zhang Ziyi, and others, but none felt right—until he saw Tang Wei, and instantly knew she was perfect.

Tang Wei carried a rare quality of a classical Chinese language teacher.

Natural beauty, elegant when made up, with a faint chill and detachment, as if stepped out of a Republican-era painting.

Tang Wei was twenty-seven, her career since graduating from Central Academy of Drama had been lukewarm, and Li An's offer suddenly lit a beacon of hope.

Though the role had nudity, after much deliberation, she accepted the part.

And with that exposure, Tang Wei was blacklisted for two years.

Tang Wei's rise from overnight fame to rock bottom was all contained within this one film.

So when Cheng Chen saw the girl before him, holding a paintbrush with a sweet smile, he froze.

At this time, Tang Wei was still a sophomore in the Directing Department at Central Academy of Drama.

Perhaps she was still struggling with her daily assignments at Central Academy of Drama, not yet the actress who would be blacklisted.

"What are you staring at? Are you here to see Luo Tong?"

Tang Wei, noticing the man staring at her, called out loudly.

"Oh, yes, I'm here to see Teacher Luo. When will he be back?"

Cheng Chen asked with a smile.

"Hard to say—he might return in a moment, or he might not come back all day."

Tang Wei gestured with her brush over the easel.

Tang Wei's parents were both artists; her father was a famous painter.

The New Year paintings you saw on walls in 80s and 90s homes—a chubby baby in a red bellyband riding a giant carp—

were painted by her father.

Since childhood, Tang Wei had dreamed of becoming a painter like her father; though she later entered film and television, she never let her painting skills fade.

"Are you also studying music with Teacher Luo?"

Cheng Chen asked, walking over to the painting.

In the future, no one seemed to remember Tang Wei singing.

"No, Teacher Luo is my father's good friend. When I'm not in class, I come here to paint, and he teaches me some art techniques."

Tang Wei answered while coloring the landscape on the canvas.

At this moment, Tang Wei was not yet the later-generation Eastern classical muse.

But raised in an artistic household since childhood, her ethereal aura had already begun to emerge.

She was the type of beauty who grew more captivating with time—her features weren't striking at first glance.

Yet her personal style and presence were intensely strong; against a blank background, she might seem dull.

But once placed in the right scene and story, she instantly shone brilliantly.

Like now.

"You must be Xiaoxiao's little Cheng, right?"

A voice came from outside—it was Luo Tong, just returning.

Luo Tong looked about fifty or sixty, dressed in a crisp suit, looking sharp and alert.

"Teacher Luo, hello, I'm Cheng Chen. Sorry for the unexpected visit."

Cheng Chen said politely.

Luo Tong waved his hand, looking at Cheng Chen and Tang Wei:

"You two probably know each other already, so I won't introduce you further.

Xiao Cheng, Xiaoxiao said on the phone you're a gifted lyricist and composer.

And she said you only write five songs. Show me those five."

Beside him, Tang Wei, hearing Luo Tong's words, quietly perked up her ears, glancing occasionally at Cheng Chen.

Cheng Chen took out five sheets of handwritten lyrics from his bag and handed them to Luo Tong.

Luo Tong silently studied the pages. After a long while, he looked up at Cheng Chen, then down again, his expression darkening:

"What the hell is this?" He pointed to Blue Lotus with slight relief: "Only this one's decent. The rest are trash pop."

Uh…

Cheng Chen felt embarrassed.

Indeed, songs like "Autumn Does Not Return" and "The Wolf Fell in Love with the Sheep" are basically the same type of earworm — simple, catchy lyrics with infectious melodies.

That's just the state of the music scene these days.

If Luo Laotou were to see "Little Apple," he'd probably kick Cheng Chen out on the spot.

Honestly, the moment Cheng Chen first met Luo Tong, he'd already braced himself for an unfriendly reception.

This guy's talent is undeniable (according to Gao Yuanyuan and Wang Tianxiao), but can an "old-school artist" like him really accept today's pop songs?

It's like how traditional writers look down on web novelists — the notion that traditional literature is the mainstream is deeply rooted in them.

That kind of thinking won't be turned around overnight.

Tang Wei took the lyrics from Luo Tong's hand and looked them over curiously.

"I think they're pretty good actually. Just looking at the lyrics, 'Love Transfer,' 'Fairytale,' and 'Blue Lotus' are way higher quality than all those melodramatic songs out there now.

Of course, the other two are a bit weaker, but Uncle Luo, you can't judge new things with old eyes."

Tang Wei raised her head and said to Luo Tong.

"Sigh, I was asked to do this, so I'll see it through. Since Xiaoxiao recommended you to come learn music, I won't say anything else.

Starting tomorrow, come here on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th of the week. For these five songs, about two months should be enough to learn them.

As for the results, well, that depends on your vocal condition and learning ability."

Cheng Chen nodded. Seeing that Luo Laotou had no intention of asking him to stay, he left his gift and took his leave.

"Good luck, you incredibly talented songwriter."

As he was leaving, Tang Wei poked her head out and whispered to Cheng Chen.

Cheng Chen smiled and thought to himself:

You too.

……