A widower's entertainment

Chapter 347 [The Love Between Parents] (Please Subscribe)
Xinghua Hutong, Beijing.

Xie Shuhua looked at Lin Youcheng and couldn't help but say, "Youcheng, the title of your story, 'If Love Has a Destiny,' sounds quite extraordinary."

Lin Youcheng smiled. The original movie "If Love Has a Destiny" was adapted from the novel "Rain Shower". Naturally, Lin Youcheng would not use "Rain Shower" as the title. The name "If Love Has a Destiny" is more poetic.

Of course, "If Love Has a Destiny" also has another name: "You Can't Help But Believe in Fate".

The name itself implies that relationships require fate; fate is destiny, arrangement, predestination, and destiny. This story revolves tightly around the concept of "fate."

Both relationships span two generations and involve love triangles. The relationship between the mother, Joo-hee, and Joon-ha is the main storyline, which is evident in both the length and weight of the plot. The story of Ji-hee and Sang-min is limited to watching a play at the theater, exchanging gifts, running in the rain, and finally getting together. The main value of this part is that it resolves the biggest mystery of the story: Sang-min is Joon-ha's son. After experiencing the tragic love story of the previous generation, their next generation is brought together by fate.

Of course, regardless of the name, Lin Youcheng was well aware of the special feature of the story "If Love Has a Destiny," which was that the depiction and writing of love was beautiful and poetic, like a fresh and elegant description, where everything was simple and beautiful.

When Xie Shuhua heard Lin Youcheng mention the title of the novel, "If Love Has a Destiny," she felt that the title was particularly profound and subtly poetic.

Clearly, Xie Shuhua was right; this novel is indeed a love story that reads like poetry.

This story contains words that are as beautiful as poetry—

When the sun shines on the sea, I miss you.

When the hazy moonlight shines on the spring, I miss you.

Open your ears, and when you can hear your heartbeat, the person you love is loving you too.

When you close your eyes and a slight smile appears on your lips, the person you love is also loving you.

Xie Shuhua looked at Lin Youcheng and asked, "Youcheng, what's the story like?"

"Could you tell me about it?"

Xie Shuhua would naturally ask Lin Youcheng about the plot of his novel "If Love Has a Destiny," and it could be said that Xie Shuhua, his bedmate, would become the first reader of Lin Youcheng's novel.

Being in a prime position means getting the moon first, which is faster and closer than getting to a magazine editor.

Lin Youcheng naturally didn't keep anything from Xie Shuhua, so he told her the story of "If Love Has a Destiny".

Xie Shuhua was deeply moved. At the end of the story, the young man listening to his lover recount his parents' story suddenly burst into tears. Without saying a word, he silently took out a pendant from his clothes. This pendant was the one his mother had given to his lover years ago, and the whole truth was revealed.

"It's not easy!"

"Youcheng, your story is truly touching!"

Xie Shuhua was pleasantly surprised as she listened to Lin Youcheng's story. She was amazed that Lin Youcheng could come up with such a moving story, especially since the design of the characters' relationships in the novel truly possessed the formal beauty of poetry.

After all, it's rare for an author to design it this way, juxtaposing the relationships between characters in the present timeline with those in the past timeline, meaning that if there are lovers and friends in the present timeline, there are similar relationships in the past timeline.

The relationships between the characters across time and space correspond to each other, which to some extent seems to echo the beautiful and poetic title of the film, "If Love Has a Destiny".

Obviously, this is why Lin Youcheng thought of this story. Besides the song of the same name reminding him of the story, the more important reason is that the story is truly beautiful.

Although it is now the 1990s, the poetic 1980s are not far away, and such a pure love story is also suitable for the early 1990s.

It's important to understand that the separation and reunion depicted in "The Classic" are predestined, and it's also predestined that the original version became a classic of pure love films. Just as its name suggests, everything is predestined.

After all, we are not in the information and entertainment era of the future, so we will not deliberately praise a pure love story like "If Love Has a Destiny" which is easily labeled as "fake", "designed" or "melodramatic". Even the 21st-century film "Under the Hawthorn Tree" caused a tearful frenzy when it was released, which obviously touched people's hearts with love itself.

Lin Youcheng is well aware that the reasons why stories like "If Love Has a Destiny" are moving or memorable are multifaceted. As a film, it doesn't possess any particularly sophisticated techniques in terms of cinematography, background music, plot settings, or story design. The quirky and melodramatic romance dramas are not even special. Yet, the story quietly touches many people and immerses them in a comfortable feeling, making them want to keep watching. The most important reason is love itself.

Love itself is the most touching thing.

Lin Youcheng and Xie Shuhua exchanged and discussed the love stories of these two generations. It was clear that they both had a good understanding of how to narrate the love stories of these two generations, which was quite special.

However, it is obvious that Lin Youcheng, an author who has won the Hugo Award, the highest honor in science fiction literature, is absolutely adept at writing about the interweaving of past and present time. After all, several of Lin Youcheng's works have the interweaving of present and past time. For example, his previous novel "Love Letter" interweaves past memories with present stories, and "Atonement" also has a more different sense of time and space, interweaving fiction and reality.

However, it is clear that Lin Youcheng and Xie Shuhua are also very aware that the two generations in "If Love Has a Destiny" will be more independent.

Now, Lin Youcheng needs to carefully consider how to rewrite the two love stories and how to express the emotional experiences of two generations.

The more Xie Shuhua thought about it, the more she felt that Lin Youcheng's story was just too wonderful!
Although it interweaves present and past timelines, it is completely different from "Love Letter".

Xie Shuhua, who previously worked as an editor at Novel Monthly, was naturally well aware that Lin Youcheng's idea for "If Love Has a Destiny" was quite unique.

But this alone amazed Xie Shuhua. She genuinely felt that the design, though seemingly simple, was incredibly stunning and moving.

Of course, Lin Youcheng has described such a touching love story more than once.

Writing such a pure and beautiful love story again, different from "The Reader" and "Atonement," is still wonderful.

Because this is a pure and beautiful love story between those two generations.

Lin Youcheng began revising the manuscript of "If Love Has a Destiny," while the children in the courtyard kept quiet, not so as not to disturb Lin Youcheng, but so as not to disturb Lin Zhaoqing.

With the high school entrance exam approaching, Lin Zhaoqing, a ninth-grade student, is undoubtedly the most nervous person in the courtyard.

Fortunately, with his older sister Lin Zhaoxi occasionally giving him lessons, and Xie Shuhua, a graduate of Yenching University, tutoring him, his academic performance has improved.

Of course, whether Lin Zhaoqing can get into Yenching University High School like Lin Zhaoxi depends on whether he has a stroke of good luck and performs exceptionally well.

Because Lin Zhaoqing was preparing for the high school entrance exam, Lin Zhaole and the others naturally wouldn't bother him to play in the courtyard. Lin Youcheng planned to send the children to learn hobbies and interests as a way to cultivate their talents, but Lin Zhaole and Lin Zhaoman had no interest, or rather, didn't want to learn those things. Lin Youcheng naturally wouldn't force Lin Zhaole and Lin Zhaoman to learn painting or musical instruments; he didn't expect his children to become successful, after all, the inheritance he had left for them didn't require such things.

However, Lin Zhaohuan is indeed learning piano and vocal music from a teacher.

Most importantly, Lin Zhaohuan seems to really enjoy singing.

As for Lin Zhaomei, she is just as opinionated as Lin Zhaoxi. She didn't think about learning any hobbies, but would occasionally try to take pictures with the point-and-shoot camera that Lin Youcheng gave her.

It must be said that some of Lin Zhaomei's photos are quite decent. Although they don't quite have any composition, they do show some ideas.

This also demonstrates Lin Youcheng's remarkable financial resources; he could afford to spend hundreds of dollars to buy his daughter a camera, send her to piano lessons, and even buy her a separate piano.

"Zhao Mei, does she really want to be a director in the future?"

Xie Shuhua only learned that Lin Zhaoxi wanted to be a doctor and Lin Zhaomei wanted to be a director when she grew up after hearing Lin Youcheng's explanation.

Upon hearing this, Lin Youcheng smiled and said, "Yes, it's not just about wanting to be a director, it's also about wanting to win the Palme d'Or."

"However, no one can say for sure what they say at their age. Zhaoqing once said he wanted to be a scientist."

As Lin Youcheng spoke, he added, "By the way, Zhao Le also wants to be a scientist."

Upon hearing Lin Youcheng's words, Xie Shuhua's lips twitched. Putting aside Lin Zhaole, she felt that it would be difficult for Lin Zhaoqing to become a scientist.

Of course, Xie Shuhua also knew what Lin Youcheng meant by saying that what a child says when they are young is unreliable. She simply said, "I think it would be great if Zhaomei really became a director in the future. She could directly film the stories you wrote."

Lin Youcheng smiled and nodded, indicating that he was not only filming the stories he wrote, but also taking charge of his own film and television company.

Lin Youcheng was talking to Xie Shuhua when Lin Zhaomei brought friends from the Children's Palace to the courtyard to play.

"Dad, Mom, this is my good friend Gao Yuanyuan, who shares the same birthday as me."

Lin Zhaomei smiled and introduced her good friend Gao Yuanyuan to Lin Youcheng and Xie Shuhua.

"Uncle, aunt, hello!"

Lin Youcheng couldn't help but smile when he saw Gao Yuanyuan, who was still a child. He only knew that Lin Zhaoxi had a friend at the Children's Palace who shared the same birthday and was two years younger than Lin Zhaomei. He only found out now that the friend was Gao Yuanyuan.

However, Lin Youcheng didn't pay much attention. In fact, his children would sometimes bring classmates and friends over to play. Lin Youcheng just nodded and didn't say much before letting Lin Zhaomei take Gao Yuanyuan to play.

Xie Shuhua will naturally prepare some snacks to entertain them.

This was Gao Yuanyuan's first time visiting Lin Zhaomei's home. She only learned later that Lin Zhaomei's father had remarried and that Lin Zhaomei now had a stepmother. Gao Yuanyuan was initially worried that Lin Zhaomei would not have a good life at home because of her stepmother, but she did not expect that Lin Zhaomei's stepmother was very beautiful and gentle.

"Zhaomei, your current mother is very good."

As Gao Yuanyuan ate the snacks Xie Shuhua had brought her, she couldn't help but say something.

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhaomei nodded and said, "She's very good, she's very good to all of us."

It was precisely because the children thought Teacher Xie Shuhua was a very good person and treated them, otherwise Lin Zhaomei and the others might have united to oppose their father's remarriage.

Regardless of whether the opposition is useful or not, everyone will definitely express their own opinions and refuse to accept them. Perhaps what follows will be a story of a stepmother dealing with six siblings in a wealthy family feud.

Regardless of whether Xinghua Hutong courtyard houses are considered wealthy families now, at least there are no stories of stepmothers fighting against six stepchildren.

Gao Yuanyuan nodded and said, "Your dad loves you a lot too, he even gave you a camera."

Lin Zhaomei said with a smile, "Of course my dad loves me."

“My dad has always read your dad’s novels, and he even said your dad is a great writer.”

Gao Yuanyuan then mentioned to Lin Zhaomei that her father liked literary works, which was of course because Gao Yuanyuan's family was an intellectual family.

Upon hearing Gao Yuanyuan's words, Lin Zhaomei smiled and nodded, saying, "My dad is a very accomplished writer."

Actually, this wasn't the first time Lin Zhaomei had heard someone say that her father was a very talented writer, so she didn't react particularly strongly to Gao Yuanyuan's words. This was because Lin Zhaomei had always believed that her father was indeed the most remarkable writer.

“Let me tell you, I’ve secretly read the novels my father wrote, and many of the stories in them are about love.”

Lin Zhaomei spoke as if she were sharing a secret with Gao Yuanyuan, saying, "I've heard people say that I've always written romance novels about the love between my dad and my biological mother, but I think my dad loves this mother now."

Gao Yuanyuan felt a little embarrassed listening to Lin Zhaomei's words, thinking that there was no need for them to discuss their parents' love story.

Of course, Gao Yuanyuan said with a smile, "It's good that your parents are treating you well now."

Lin Zhaomei nodded.

Clearly, Lin Youcheng was unaware that his daughter, Lin Zhaomei, had also read his novels, knew that he wrote romance novels, and even talked about their parents' love story. But in Lin Youcheng's view, whether it was the love of the previous generation of parents or the love of the next generation, love itself was equally moving and beautiful.

Who dares to say that their love isn't preordained?
Even for Lin Youcheng and Xie Shuhua, perhaps their love was destined by fate, and it was because of destiny that they had such a poetic love story.

After all, if love is destined, it should be allowed to travel between two lifetimes and continue in a clever way, making people believe in fate.

(End of this chapter)