A widower's entertainment

Chapter 346 [If Love Has a Destiny] (Please Subscribe)
Xinghua Hutong, Beijing.

Lin Youcheng didn't particularly care about winning the Best Screenplay Award at the Cannes Film Festival. He felt that if it were a different jury president, they might have given him the Grand Jury Prize, but not necessarily the Best Screenplay Award.

This is partly because director Polanski took an unconventional approach and caught this special wave.

Regardless of the film festival, awards are often not solely based on the work itself, the judges' preferences, or the public relations efforts behind the scenes.

This is why Lin Youcheng didn't make any bold statements about winning the Best Screenplay awards at all three major film festivals.

Lin Youcheng's award has garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. Both the film and television industries in China clearly desire to collaborate with screenwriter Lin Youcheng. However, the courtyard house in Xinghua Hutong remains largely unchanged.

After all, Lin Youcheng had already won international literary awards, and the children in the courtyard wouldn't care if their father won awards.

The child's life continued as usual, the only change being the added care and attention from Xie Shuhua, his mother.

"The moon travels through clouds like white lotus flowers, the evening breeze carries joyful songs, we sit beside the tall haystacks, listening to Mother tell stories of the past..."

Lin Youcheng listened to Lin Zhaohuan playing the harmonica in the courtyard. The tune was "Listen to Mom Tell Stories of the Past." Lin Zhaole, who was standing next to him, also sang along to the song.

It must be said that classic songs are always beautiful no matter when, just like classic literary works and films, which are true art.

"Listen to Mom Tell Stories of the Past" is undoubtedly such a song. In 1957, Guan Hua returned to his hometown and lived there for a long time. He had many different feelings. He saw a rural night scene with a bright moon in the sky and a group of children sitting around a tall haystack, listening to their mother tell stories of the past. He then wrote the lyrics.

Later, after Guan Hua returned to Beijing, he called Qu Xixian and said he had written lyrics for a song for the children. When Qu Xixian took a look, she realized it didn't seem like lyrics, but rather like a narrative prose poem. She had to study it repeatedly, searching for inspiration. Gradually, she was moved by the sincere emotions and simple imagery between the lines, and she set this prose-like poem to music.

“I think Zhao Huan can learn piano or other instruments later. She is very talented.”

Listening to Lin Zhaohuan's harmonica playing, Xie Shuhua couldn't help but admire her greatly, saying, "I didn't expect her harmonica playing to be so good now."

Lin Youcheng nodded. It was clear that his daughter, Lin Zhaohuan, had been seriously learning to play the harmonica that she had asked for as a gift. He couldn't help but say, "That's good. It's good to cultivate her interests."

Clearly, Lin Youcheng was simply thinking about cultivating Lin Zhaohuan's interests and hobbies, and had no intention of letting Lin Zhaohuan pursue a career in music. Of course, if Lin Zhaohuan really had musical talent, that would be a different story.

As for Lin Zhaole?
Well, compared to Lin Zhaohuan's harmonica playing, Lin Zhaole's singing was quite a stark contrast, or rather, quite tragic.

Xie Shuhua said with a smile, "Huanhuan, she really is very talented."

Hearing Lin Youcheng and Xie Shuhua's conversation, Song Ma couldn't help but smile and say, "Youcheng, I think Zhaohuan's talent comes from you. You sing very well too."

Lin Youcheng was slightly taken aback, and couldn't remember when he had ever sung a song.

Song Ma said with a smile, "Didn't you sing those two lines before, something about loving Zuo Lan?"

Lin Youcheng suddenly remembered that Zheng Xiaolong had come to him and asked him to write another spy-themed script, and that's when he started thinking about this issue.

Later, he produced the spy thriller "Lurking," and at that time he hummed a romantic song he had heard before, "Deep Sea."

Lin Youcheng was quite surprised to find that Song Ma had actually heard him humming those few lines at that time.

Upon hearing Song Ma's words, Xie Shuhua's eyes lit up with delight, and she eagerly asked, "What song? What song is 'Love Left Blue'? Youcheng, could you sing it?"

Is it Zuo Lan from the TV series "Lurking"?

Xie Shuhua naturally knew that Zuo Lan was a character in Lin Youcheng's novel "Lurking".

Clearly, Xie Shuhua is now very much looking forward to the great writer Lin Youcheng singing.

Lin Youcheng smiled and waved his hand, saying, "I can't do it, I was just humming a few lines offhand."

However, it was obvious that Xie Shuhua still wanted to hear it.

Lin Youcheng hummed a few lines of the song, "I also want to walk from Chongqing to Yan'an, I also want to hug Yu Nong and crash into Daishan, I also want to return to Tianjin Station on the Haihe River, I also want to dream of Zuo Lan..."

Although Lin Youcheng's singing talent is similar to Lin Zhaole's, Xie Shuhua found Lin Youcheng's lyrics quite interesting, like a straightforward and naked song.

Of course, this seems to be just Lin Youcheng humming casually.

Xie Shuhua realized she hadn't heard this song before either. It was obvious that the lyrics were written by Lin Youcheng for the story of "Lurking." "Youcheng, your singing voice is similar to Zhaole's, but I think you can still write lyrics."

"And the melody you're humming seems pretty good too."

Xie Shuhua naturally knew that some writers and poets were also lyricists, such as Li Shutong's "Farewell," which was actually a poem.

In addition, Mo Yan, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature, was invited to write lyrics for the large-scale documentary "Masters of a Century". The lyrics for the documentary were written by Mo Yan.

At that time, Mr. Yang Jingdao, the chief planner of the documentary, asked Mo Yan to write lyrics for the documentary "Masters of a Century". Mo Yan felt that it was not a difficult task, so he agreed. However, he later thought that it was too difficult to write. Because it involves various categories of art, such as music, drama, literature, and calligraphy, it was not easy for him to write six lines of lyrics that could summarize the struggles and creative footprints of so many art categories and so many masters throughout their lives.

I reluctantly wrote eight lines afterward, feeling I couldn't compress it any further. These eight lines are: Witnessing the tremendous changes in the land and the vicissitudes of time, experiencing struggle, exploration, sorrow, and hesitation. Seeing the mighty tide of history, seeing the long and winding road of life, using passion to paint a magnificent picture, using the heart to sing a glorious chapter, boundless love, the times create masters and giants.

When it was broadcast, because the length of the documentary's theme song was limited, the eight lines of lyrics were reduced to five. The line "to depict a magnificent picture with passion and to sing a glorious chapter with the heart" was removed, as was the last line, leaving only five lines.

Of course, that's for later.

Lin Youcheng never thought about writing lyrics for anyone, and no one would ask him for help. Although he had a lot of classic song lyrics in his head, he didn't need them.

However, if he were to develop musical talent like his daughter Lin Zhaohuan in the future, he might be willing to write lyrics for her.

Of course, this idea only flashed through Lin Youcheng's mind.

Lin Youcheng looked at Xie Shuhua and said with a smile, "I'll pass. I'll just focus on writing my novel."

Xie Shuhua had only said it casually, but upon hearing Lin Youcheng's words, she couldn't help but ask, "So, do you have any plans for your next novel?"

"I see that Director Zhang has been eagerly awaiting your next manuscript."

Lin Youcheng looked at Lin Zhaohuan and listened to the harmonica Lin Zhaohuan was playing. As the music began, he thought of the song about "Lurking" that he had just heard. Suddenly, he remembered a very classic movie with a song of the same name.

If Love Has a Destiny!
The story flashed through Lin Youcheng's mind, as did the song of that musical poet—

When that star appears on the horizon, do you know how much I miss you? How many loves can only be expressed from afar, like moonlight spilling onto the sea? In our youth, we believed that lovers could be together forever...

This song was written by a music poet based on the theme song of the movie "If Love Has a Destiny". It is a classic song and a classic love movie.

The movie is actually adapted from the novel "Rain Shower". It mainly tells the story of college student Yin Zixi who accidentally finds the diary left by her mother Song Zhuxi and relives her mother's first love story.

The film was met with enthusiastic response upon its release, earning a nomination for Best Asian Film at the Hong Kong Film Awards and the Huabiao Film Awards for Outstanding Dubbed Film. "The Classic" has been hailed by experts as one of the 21 most moving films in the world, achieving considerable success in terms of critical acclaim, quality, and commercial success. It has also been remade in other countries.

Lin Youcheng pondered this story, fully aware of its poignant nature. It recounted how Yin Zixi and Xiujing, university students at the same institution, both harbored secret crushes on Shangmin, a member of the drama club. The more outgoing Xiujing asked Yin Zixi to write love letters for Shangmin. Yin Zixi poured out her feelings for Shangmin without reservation, but was forced to write Xiujing's name on them. Shangmin was deeply moved after reading the letters, but gradually became attracted to Yin Zixi. Whenever Yin Zixi encountered him, she felt extremely uncomfortable and even guilty, but the more she tried to avoid him, the closer fate seemed to draw them together.

While tidying her room one day, Yoon Ji-hee accidentally discovered a mysterious box filled with memories of her mother's first love. In the summer of 1968, Joon-ha spent his summer vacation at his uncle's house in the countryside. He met Song Joo-hee and fell in love with her at first sight. Song Joo-hee came from a prestigious family and was raised with strict discipline. One day, Song Joo-hee secretly asked Joon-ha to take her to see the village's haunted house. They had an unforgettable day, but a sudden storm blew their boat away. Song Joo-hee also injured her foot on the way, so Joon-ha had to carry her back on his back, walking around the lake until late. After causing this trouble, Song Joo-hee was immediately sent back to Seoul, parting ways with Joon-ha without saying goodbye, only leaving a necklace around his neck. Joon-ha spent the rest of the summer vacation with a heavy heart.

After summer vacation, Jun-ha returns to Seoul for classes. His classmate Tae-soo asks him to write a love letter to a girl, who happens to be Song Joo-hee. Jun-ha doesn't confess his summer romance to Tae-soo, but reluctantly complies with his friend's request. Song Joo-hee and Jun-ha meet again because of Tae-soo, and Jun-ha romantically confesses his feelings to her under a streetlamp. They get together. Tae-soo tells Jun-ha that he thinks he's fallen for Song Joo-hee and confesses to her as well. Because of Tae-soo and Song Joo-hee's parents, Jun-ha and Song Joo-hee are too far apart. Song Joo-hee breaks up with him. But Jun-ha tries hard to stay together. He finally tells Tae-soo about his feelings for Song Joo-hee and their story. Tae-soo doesn't say anything, but tells Jun-ha not to let his father see the necklace he wears, because it was a gift he gave to Song Joo-hee.

During winter break, the two began exchanging love letters under Tae-soo's name. Unfortunately, one letter was returned to Tae-soo's father, who beat him severely. When school started again, Tae-soo attempted suicide by hanging himself to allow the two to be together. His suicide attempt failed, and Song Joo-hee went to visit Tae-soo, where she encountered Joon-ha. After speaking to Tae-soo, she noticed that where Joon-ha had been standing, only a necklace remained hanging from the doorknob. Song Joo-hee rushed downstairs, only to see an army marching off to war. At the parade, Song Joo-hee encountered Tae-soo again, and the two went to the train station to find Joon-ha. They finally found him, but he turned away, refusing to look at Song Joo-hee. Finally, the train was about to depart, and he ran to the door. Song Joo-hee followed the train, giving the necklace back to Joon-ha.

Jun-ha participated in the Vietnam War. During a evacuation under enemy bombing, just as they reached the rescue helicopter, he discovered his necklace had fallen on the road. He ran back to retrieve it, rescuing a straggling comrade in the process. Just as they were about to reach safety, he was struck down by a bomb. Years passed quickly, and upon his return, Jun-ha met Song Joo-hee at a restaurant. Jun-ha told Song Joo-hee he was married. During their conversation, Song Joo-hee was shocked to discover that Jun-ha had gone blind, and tears streamed down her face, unseen by Jun-ha. He fled in panic, only to fall to the ground. After learning of Jun-ha's marriage, Song Joo-hee married Tae-soo and had a daughter—Yoon Ji-hee. Jun-ha soon passed away, instructing that Song Joo-hee scatter his ashes in the river that held their memories. They also told Song Joo-hee that Jun-ha had actually married after her and had a son. Joo-hee looked into the distance, tears streaming down her face, yet smiling.

After Yoon Ji-hee finished telling her mother's story, Sang-min, who was standing next to her, couldn't hold back his tears. With red eyes, he took off a necklace from his neck—the very necklace that Song Joo-hee had given to Joon-ha back then. The two of them smiled.

Lin Youcheng thought the story was quite touching, and it wouldn't be too complicated to adapt it into a novel. He felt that such a pure love story might bring tears to the eyes of countless readers, just like "Under the Hawthorn Tree" did back then.

This author, a heartbreaker, never forgot to ignite the flame of love even after marriage.

I've got an idea—

"If love is destined."

Xie Shuhua paused slightly upon hearing the name, looked at Lin Youcheng with a gaze that seemed to meet, as if something was amiss.

(End of this chapter)