Chapter 291

"Let me introduce you. This is the singer of *Moonlight Shadow*, Sarah Brightman. She is only 21 years old and is a talented singer and musical actress.

"I admit that your song is written very well, but paired with Sarah's perfect voice, it is simply complementary. This is the energy that this song erupted with. It not only entered the US Billboard Top 100 singles, but also killed its way into the top ten in the UK. Of course, Lennon also deserves credit; everyone still misses him."

Then she told Wei Ming: "Sarah is very interested in you. Because of Mr. Why's fame in the children's book world, she found me through the publishing company. When she learned that you were my former lover, she praised my taste and felt sorry for our separation. After drinking coffee twice, we became friends."

Wei Ming could only say that Melinda had made the right friend; he wouldn't have to worry about no one buying songs in the future. Brightman also made the right friend; this was a win-win-win situation.

However, Melinda told him later that it was a win-win-win-win.

The fourth person was named Andrew Lloyd Webber.

This person was too amazing. He was only 33 years old this year. He was a musical composer. He founded a company before he was 30 and was one of the largest theater operators in London.

And at this time, the musical his company was rehearsing was exactly *Cats*, which he personally directed and adapted from the children's poetry collection *Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats* by British poet T. S. Eliot.

Even people who weren't interested in musicals should have heard of this musical. It once set the record for the most performances on Broadway. American pop star Taylor Swift even starred in the movie version.

Later, this record was replaced by another more famous musical, *The Phantom of the Opera*, and *The Phantom of the Opera* was also created by Andrew Lloyd Webber.

The musical circle also had the so-called "World's Four Greats," which were *Cats*, *The Phantom of the Opera*, *Les Misérables*, and *Miss Saigon*. Andrew Lloyd Webber alone occupied two seats.

And the fledgling little singer Sarah Brightman was rehearsing the musical *Cats* at this time. In addition, a few years later, she would become the female lead of *The Phantom of the Opera*.

The key was that she would also become the second wife that Andrew Lloyd Webber married a few years later. Whether counting forward or backward, she was the second wife.

As for how far Sarah and the married man Andrew had developed at this time, Wei Ming didn't know.

But Melinda said in the letter: "Sarah also likes the story of *The Lion King* very much. She also recommended this fairy tale to musical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. He is the founder of the Really Useful Group, and the company's business is to develop musicals.

"Andrew is very interested in this work. How about it? Are you interested in letting this story be the first to step onto the musical stage? I also sent you a copyright authorization agreement this time. If you are interested, you can authorize me to handle it for you. I only want 20 percent. Don't think it's expensive; I still have to hire professional lawyers. You don't know how expensive lawyer fees are."

Wei Ming couldn't help but smile. Let alone 20 percent, he wouldn't care if it were more. He had always been generous to women, not to mention Melinda had also helped him a lot. It was just that he needed to make some things clear in advance.

Authorization was certainly fine. After all, *The Lion King* really became a musical later, and its influence could completely rival the world's four great musicals. It was very successful.

But the musical version couldn't bypass him to authorize other derivative works, such as movies, animations, etc. This point must be written in the contract.

It wouldn't do if you made a musical version and this IP became yours, and Hollywood got authorization from you to make a movie. That wouldn't work.

Besides talking about the copyright development of *The Lion King*, Melinda also mentioned the translation progress of *Magic Cube? Anyone Can Play*. It should be completed this month.

"Now the magic cube is selling very hotly in Europe. We are also working overtime, with translation and illustration proceeding simultaneously, fearing that similar books will be published before us. And our advantage is that your name is in the author column, Mr. Why."

The implication was that Wei Ming had become a very useful signboard, even if he was just a co-author.

Wei Ming took out letter paper, prepared to tell Melinda his thoughts, and by the way, mailed *Jurassic Park* to her, letting her try to translate it. However, this novel wasn't suitable to be made into a picture book; it was better to publish it directly as a novel.

He also received a letter from Lao Wan of *Science Fiction World*. Although the more than 50,000-word manuscript he had already completed had a relatively complete story, the story about Jurassic Park indeed hadn't ended.

So he would continue to create Jurassic 2 and 3, writing until a new consortium was ready to take over the transformation of Jurassic Park and named it "Jurassic World."

He didn't know if Melinda had the ability to translate such a novel with science fiction and thriller colors and many professional terms. If her ability wasn't enough, Wei Ming believed she would help him find a more suitable translator.

Besides liking to show off in sexual matters, Melinda always had self-knowledge in other things.

Wei Ming's letter had just started when he heard a knock on the door. Knowing it was Sister Lin, Wei Ming hurriedly went to open the door, pulled her in, pinned her to the wall, and gave her a deep kiss.

After a long time, the oxygen-deprived Zhu Lin pushed Wei Ming away. Her whole body was limp.

"I came to listen to the song. Where is the song?"

Wei Ming started playing the record, then hugged Zhu Lin and sat on the sofa. Wei Ming sat on the sofa, and Zhu Lin sat on Wei Ming.

"Oh my, don't move your hands and feet; you're defiling art."

Wei Ming: "I only want to defile you. Of course, in my heart, you are a piece of art."

Zhu Lin was very receptive to Wei Ming's sweet words, but she still patiently listened to the whole song.

"Did you really write this? Did you write the lyrics too?"

"Of course. Do you think the English classes I usually mooched at Peking University were in vain? Generally, English majors in the Western Languages Department aren't as good as me."

Zhu Lin thought to herself that it was mainly because he had an ex-girlfriend to practice with. She had always felt that the environment around you was very important for language. Like her, because her grandmother spoke Shandong dialect at home and her father occasionally spoke it too, she had the skill of Shandong dialect, and she was like a fish in water when going to Shandong to film.

Wei Ming looked at his fingers and smiled slightly. Sister Lin blushed: "Carry me inside."

This time, Wei Ming carried her directly on his shoulder, just like a mountain stronghold king snatching a wife.

However, the flipped-view Zhu Lin suddenly saw an outer packaging of a package. She had seen it before; this was the look that only overseas packages had. Damn it, the foreign woman was starting to hook a man across half the earth again!

She didn't know if Gong Xue knew. You have to guard your home well while you're in Beijing!

More than an hour later, Zhu Lin and Wei Ming lay on the bed, both defeated. This battle was very intense. Wei Ming even worried whether the old couple, Old Wu next door, would hear it.

But it felt really good. After resting enough, Wei Ming pulled Sister Lin up: "Let's go have lunch; it's already past one o'clock."

Zhu Lin nodded. The intense exercise just now had also exhausted her.

However, just as the two had finished dressing and were about to go out, the door opened, and a very spirited little old lady appeared in front of the two.

"Grand... Grandmother!"

Wei Ming was startled. Grandmother, why do you like blocking your grandson so much? It was the same with Gong Xue last time.

Zhu Lin hid directly behind Wei Ming, guiltily following up with a soft "Hello, Grandmother." They had met at Yunyun's wedding.

It was just that at that time, Grandmother didn't see as clearly as Lao Lao Lao Wei's couple.

But today, she finally saw clearly. Her grandson was capable, and this girl was too pretty.

"Oh, hello, hello. Little... Little Zhu, right?" She remembered there was also a Little Gong. "I, I came back to get something. I'll go first."

Without waiting for them to react, Grandmother ran away, looking back as she ran.

Zhu Lin tapped Wei Ming lightly: "It's all your fault. What was wrong with going to Tuanjiehu to listen to the song with me? You had to come here. Grandmother must be thinking wildly."

"How can you call it thinking wildly? We did indeed act wildly. If we act wildly, we can't blame others for thinking wildly," Wei Ming hugged Sister Lin and kissed her nose, looking righteous. "Alright, it's fine. Let's go, let's go, let's go eat."

Actually, there was still a little something. When the whole family was eating at night, Grandmother proposed that she wanted to return to her hometown.

Parents also asked her if she wasn't happy staying here.

Grandmother indicated that there were so many quails being raised at home, and the eldest aunt's legs weren't good, so she wanted to go back to help the eldest aunt share the burden.

Wei Ming knew these were all excuses. Grandmother was just afraid of delaying her grandson's affairs, so she persuaded: "Grandmother, in two months it will be the rainy season. Your rheumatism has finally gotten better. I'm afraid it will flare up again if you go back."

Speaking of the rainy season, Wei Ming remembered that Sichuan would have floods this summer, and Ya'an was also in the flood area, so he was even more worried about letting Grandmother go back.

"And we aren't at ease with you taking the train or plane alone. If you insist on leaving at this time, I can only ask for leave to accompany you on a trip."

"No need, no need. Oh my, then I'll stay for a while longer." Grandmother conceded. Actually, she was also reluctant to part with her daughter. After being separated for twenty years, she also wanted to make up for it well.

After finishing Grandmother's problem, Xiao Hong said again: "Brother, I signed up for high jump, long jump, and table tennis for tomorrow's student sports meet. You have to cheer for me then."

Wei Ming: "I won't just cheer for you; I'm also a referee. A referee for women's table tennis. But how well do you play table tennis?"

"Anyway, I'm invincible in the dormitory," Xiao Hong said proudly.

Wei Ming: "Then go to school early tomorrow, and let's have a match."

The next day, under the supervision of referees Liu Zhenyun and Liang Zuo, Wei Ming beat Wei Hong with a score of zero.

Liang Zuo exclaimed: "Brother Ming plays table tennis so well. This must be at the national team level."

Liu Zhenyun shook his head: "The national team probably isn't an opponent either. Look at how weird this serve is. Xiao Hong eats his serve every time."

Wei Ming listened without blushing or gasping. Table tennis technology was constantly developing and progressing. Some of the serving techniques Wei Ming used now would be banned in the future. Things that could be banned must be particularly easy to use, such as Little Fatty's shielding serve.

Moreover, he had decades of park table tennis experience, which was incredibly rich. However, it was the small ball era now, and he was slightly uncomfortable.

Wei Hong was discouraged, while Wei Ming had the demeanor of an expert: "Want to learn? I'll teach you."

Wei Hong nodded: "I want to learn that move of catching the ball behind the back. It's too cool!"

Wei Ming looked stern: "Those are all flashy moves and not practical. The most important thing in table tennis is three words: receive, neutralize, and attack. However, receiving and neutralizing require long-term continuous practice and are difficult to master quickly. I'll teach you how to serve."

After an hour of intensive training for Wei Hong, Wei Hong's level improved by leaps and bounds. She won a championship directly in the women's table tennis competition in the afternoon. As for the high jump and long jump, she didn't even enter the finals.

From then on, Wei Hong's interest in table tennis increased greatly, feeling that she was incredibly talented and might not be unable to become a table tennis star like Tong Ling or Cao Yanhua.

A few days ago, the 36th World Table Tennis Championships had just concluded in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia. The Chinese table tennis team swept all seven championships: men's team, women's team, men's singles (Guo Yuehua), women's singles (Tong Ling), men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles, marking the dominant position of Chinese table tennis in the world. At this time, Brazilians couldn't even enter the finals.

So the popularity of table tennis was very high at this time. The newspapers were full of reports on people like Guo Yuehua and Cai Zhenhua. Two days later, Beijing also held a grand meeting to welcome the victorious return of the table tennis delegation.

In order to satisfy Xiao Hong's enthusiasm for table tennis and also to satisfy the whole family's love for table tennis at this time, Wei Ming and Lao Lao Lao Wei cleared out a room in the courtyard and bought a standard wooden table tennis table. Parents could also play table tennis at home to exercise when they were bored, and Grandmother would occasionally play a few hands.

This night, the wind was high and the night was dark. Wei Ming's motorcycle brought Gong Xue to the courtyard.

Her scenes at the Beijing Film Studio had been filmed, and she was going to northern Jiangsu to film the final part.

Since they were about to part, she was reluctant to let Ma Xiaowei not get his fill. Moreover, yesterday she slept with Zhu Lin and heard Zhu Lin talk about how the two of them were blocked by Grandmother at the Overseas Chinese Apartment.

Gong Xue was not to be outdone and told about the time she and Wei Ming were blocked by Grandmother in the bedroom: "We were still connected at the time."

The speaker was blushing, and the listener was panting. The matter of sex was indeed more stimulating and moving the more unconventional it was.

Two once pure and beautiful girls had been corrupted by Ma Xiaowei.

Today, Wei Ming brought Gong Xue to the courtyard and first took her to visit the table tennis room. The two even played two games.

Playing with Sister Xue, Wei Ming automatically adjusted his level to be equal to hers; otherwise, one always scoring and one always losing wouldn't be fun.

While playing, Sister Xue seized the opportunity and made a fierce smash.

The ball didn't land on the table but hit Wei Ming directly in the crotch.

Wei Ming wailed. Sister Xue put down the racket and immediately went up to check. Concern led to chaos; the sister had fallen into the trap.

Soon, under the light of the table tennis room, two figures began to sway on the table, accompanied by the howling of the dog at the moon.

Of course, the swaying figures didn't only appear in the table tennis room. The bedroom was the main battlefield. Gong Xue liked this red bed and red quilt that felt like a bridal chamber.

Gong Xue left, and Zhu Lin also entered the performance advanced class of the Film Academy. Having filmed three plays and being the female lead in two, she officially began to learn performance systematically with new recruits like Li Chengru, Zhang Guangbei, and Zhao Baogang.

Her arrival not only amazed the performance advanced class, but even other departments of the Film Academy knew of her existence. Many boys and even girls from the 78-level performance class and directing department even came to see her specifically. Zhu Lin behaved generously and appropriately.

Until one day, Tian Zhuangzhuang and Xie Xiaojing from the directing department stopped her and wanted to invite her to film a movie.

Xie Xiaojing told her: "This is our graduation work, adapted from female writer Wang Anyi's novel *Records of the Small Courtyard*. We want to invite you to be the female lead."

Tian Zhuangzhuang added: "Just use your spare time."

Zhu Lin instinctively asked: "Then what works do you have?"

Tian Zhuangzhuang said embarrassedly: "This is our first work. After filming this, we will have works."

Cui Xiaoqin said: "Although we don't have works, our photographer has works. Zhang Yimou from the photography department once participated in *Cow and Cow 2*. This movie is very popular recently."

Actually, it couldn't be called very popular; it was considered average to above average. But it had an excellent reputation in the critical circle. Famous film critic Mr. Zhong Dianfei even wrote an article specifically praising this movie, and Wei Ming had also watched it once with Zhu Lin.

"Eh, isn't that Zhang Yimou? Old Zhang, come over, come over." Xie Xiaojing pulled over Zhang Yimou, who looked like an old farmer. With the popularity of *Cow and Cow 2*, Zhang Yimou, who had his name on the end credits, could be considered to have stepped into the film industry with one foot. He was the person with the most film experience in the class.

This time, the directing department was filming a graduation short film, and Zhang Yimou was the first photographer determined. In addition, there were two others, Lü Le and Hou Yong.

What a coincidence, Zhang Yimou also remembered Zhu Lin. The time he filmed the wedding scene, there was a woman on each side who was prettier than the bride—one was the famous actor Comrade Gong Xue, and the other was this Comrade Zhu Lin.

Hearing that they wanted to find Zhu Lin as the female lead, Zhang Yimou hurriedly expressed his affirmation. This face was very photogenic and could withstand tests from various angles.

Being praised by them, Zhu Lin didn't get carried away but asked: "Is there a script? I want to see the script first."

Tian Zhuangzhuang told her: "We have already invited Wang Anyi to create the movie script, and it will be delivered to you as soon as possible."

"That's good." Zhu Lin thought about making a decision after seeing the script.

That day, she stayed at Tuanjiehu and told Ma Xiaowei about this matter.

Never expected that Tian Zhuangzhuang and the others would actually find Sister Lin, a student in the advanced class. He felt that it didn't matter to act a little. Tian Zhuangzhuang and the others now were definitely immature, and the things they filmed were barely watchable. But these 78-level directors, photographers, and art designers would occupy a large part of the film circle's ecological niche in the future. Getting familiar with them had many benefits.

Of course, without them, there was still himself. Wei Ming had been helping her keep an eye on the new film information of major film studios across the country.

And it was just a small short film; it wouldn't take much time.

Wei Ming let her make the decision herself. Meeting her here today was to tell her that he was going to Hangzhou next week.

"This year's Hundred Flowers Award and the newly opened Golden Rooster Award are held in Hangzhou. As a nominee, I was invited to participate and might have to go for a week."

Zhu Lin was very sorry that she wasn't invited. *The Traitor* was also in the award period, but the quality was average and it was directly ignored. Sigh, West Lake must be very beautiful, right?

It was Gong Xue's *Good Things Come After Hardships* that had some presence, and *Herdsmen* was a big favorite for the award. Gong Xue was invited by the organizing committee to participate, but because the filming of *Mama, Love Me Once Again* had reached the most critical moment, she decisively refused, just wanting to focus on filming these last few scenes well.

"Hundred Flowers Award~" Zhu Lin's tone was full of envy. She had no hope, so she just had to see if Little Xue could win the award. The *Popular Cinema* she bought had all had the voting slips cast, and she chose Wei Ming, Gong Xue, and *Herdsmen*.

Before Wei Ming set off for Hangzhou, this issue of *Science Fiction World* was released. The circulation of this magazine was only about 10,000 now, which couldn't cover the costs, and it relied entirely on allocations from above to live.

For the sake of sales, the editor-in-chief decisively printed the big characters "Wei Shenme's New Work *Jurassic Park*" on the cover.

And in this era where book and magazine covers were all about simplicity, they also put the illustration of a Tyrannosaurus Rex with its bloody mouth wide open, drawn by Liu Rulong, on the cover, thereby attracting readers.

Considering the quality of this novel by Wei Shenme, the first printing of this issue of *Science Fiction World* reached 20,000 copies.

Although many adults didn't really read Wei Shenme's novels, they had basically all heard of this name. The fame of strongly occupying the Western children's book market was too great, and his *Toothless Tiger* and *If I Were Wu Song* had also been broadcast on TV and in movie theaters.

26-year-old Zhang Guoli this year was an actor and announcer for the Chengdu Railway Art Troupe. His wife, Luo Xiuchun, was a drama actor for the Sichuan People's Art Theater.

Although he had lived in Chengdu for many years, his life experience was very rich, far beyond Chengdu. Born in Tianjin, grew up in Beijing, then went to Guizhou to be a railway worker. Because his Mandarin was standard, he was selected by the Railway Art Troupe to be an announcer.

But he wasn't willing to just be an announcer, so he desperately armed himself with knowledge. When he had nothing to do, he liked to read more books, watch more movies, and make more friends.

Today he strolled to Xinhua Bookstore and saw a magazine with a dinosaur on the cover. Usually, he probably wouldn't read this kind of magazine, but recently there had been many reports about the discovery of dinosaur fossils in Zigong.

Now Sichuan had two major crazes: one was the dinosaur craze, and the other was the special ability craze. The first special ability child discovered and reported extensively was also from Sichuan.

So Zhang Guoli picked it up casually, and only then noticed the author "Wei Shenme."

"Isn't this person writing fairy tales? Why is he writing science fiction?"

Driven by curiosity, Zhang Guoli picked up the magazine and flipped through it, and then he was deeply immersed in it.

Written well, written very comfortably. He was worthy of being a famous writer whose influence permeated overseas. Even the scientific knowledge written wasn't obscure, explained simply, and good at using metaphors, allowing people with his cultural level to understand it.

And in the eyes of veteran science fiction readers, the resurrection of dinosaurs wasn't new, but in his eyes, it was simply an amazing concept. This person could really think, and even made a park.

"If there were this park, I would definitely go to visit, as long as it's not too expensive." Zhang Guoli said happily.

"Comrade, hello, I'll buy this magazine!"

At first, *Science Fiction World* was mainly distributed offline in the Sichuan-Chongqing area. People outside could only subscribe through the post office.

YQ City No. 1 Middle School, 18-year-old graduating student Liu Cixin had just passed the college entrance examination preliminary test and began to prepare for the college entrance examination in July, racing against time. His mother was a primary school Chinese teacher and attached great importance to education.

However, today he received a package from the post office, sent by the editorial department of Sichuan *Science Fiction Literature*.

Liu Cixin said "Oh my," forgetting to cancel it!

He had subscribed to *Science Fiction World* for half a year this year, but this magazine was becoming less and less interesting, and the college entrance examination was coming soon. He estimated that he wouldn't subscribe to it again after the college entrance examination.

Forget it, since it's here, let's take a look.

After finishing his homework at night, he tore open the package and saw "Wei Shenme" and the big dinosaur on the cover...

(Seeking double monthly tickets! There will be a big update tonight!)

(End of chapter)