Huayu: From "Good Fortune Across the Sky" to becoming a top star

As soon as Zhang Yimou gave the order, the area in front of the monitor was instantly crowded with people. Even Liu Haochun squeezed his head in, standing on tiptoe to peek inside.

This really put Zhang Yi in a tough spot.

Despite the swirling sand and dust, he had to force his eyes open. His lips were designed to be dry and cracked, with no saliva at all. The sand kept getting into his mouth, and he couldn't spit it out; he could only swallow it down.

However, just as Jiang Xun said, the effect was tragically heroic, as if he were fighting against fate for his daughter.

On the monitor, Zhang Yi's figure appeared small yet resolute in the vast desert, each step seeming as if he were fighting against fate.

"Pass!" Zhang Yimou's voice was filled with excitement.

This effect is just perfect.

"Xiao Jiang, not bad!" Zhang Yimou turned his head, smiled and patted Jiang Xun's shoulder, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes squeezed together, and he rarely showed a satisfied expression.

"Thank you, Director Zhang." Jiang Xun bowed slightly, neither humble nor arrogant, then paused before continuing, "I feel that the main theme of your film is a love letter to filmmakers, so..."

"Cough cough cough!" Liu Haochun coughed repeatedly before Jiang Xun could finish speaking, while secretly giving him a wink.

Don't you dare read my script and then tell Director Zhang about it the next second!

"Go on," Zhang Yimou said, raising his hand and turning his gaze back to Jiang Xun.

Jiang Xun glanced at Liu Haochun and continued:

"I also saw some news online, I don't know if it's true. In an era when television was not common and information spread slowly, Zhang Jiusheng learned that his daughter's image would be on film, which became his only chance to see her. So he must have gone to great lengths and did everything he could, even if it was raining knives, let alone a sandstorm."

Zhang Yimou nodded slowly, his smile deepening.

Like a flowing stream amidst towering mountains, a true friend is hard to find. This man understands me!

"That's exactly what I meant." Zhang Yimou's tone carried a hint of emotion. "You've seen things very deeply; these are things that only people from our generation could understand."

"I've been showing off my limited skills before an expert," Jiang Xun said modestly, bowing his head.

Liu Haochun, who was standing to the side, breathed a sigh of relief. When no one was looking, he secretly gave Jiang Xun a big thumbs up and then quickly withdrew his hand.

"You seem to be able to write songs too?" Zhang Yimou didn't delve deeper into that topic.

"I know a little bit, it's just for fun."

"Then why don't you try writing a theme song for 'One Second'?"

"I think Tsai Chin's rendition of 'Love Letters to Filmmakers' is quite good."

"It's really good." Zhang Yimou nodded. "I plan to use it as the promotional song for 'One Second.' We're still missing a theme song, and we haven't decided on one yet."

"I can give it a try, but I need to see the script first."

"Great!" Zhang Yimou encouraged. "Young people shouldn't be afraid of failure; they can add their own insights to it."

Liu Haochun, quick-witted and agile, handed his script to Jiang Xun.

Now he won't let it slip.

"Thank you." Jiang Xun took the script.

"You're welcome!"

"Director Zhang, I'll compose the music for you tomorrow." Jiang Xun put away the script, his tone serious.

"No rush, slow and steady wins the race." Zhang Yimou waved his hand, indicating that they could do as they pleased, and then turned back to look at the monitor.

The crew continued filming.

Jiang Xun and Liu Haochun returned to their little corner.

"You scared me to death just now. I thought you were going to let something slip."

"Am I really that unreliable? What about trust between people?"

Liu Haochun pouted: "You're really good at writing songs?"

"I'm bragging to director Zhang Yimou."

Liu Haochun sniffed, looking unhappy.

What's wrong with this person! They have no patience at all! And they love to argue with people!

……

If the filming of scenes in the desert is done quickly, it can be completed within a week.

However, the environment there was so harsh that progress was slow.

The production team booked a hotel for the main creative team; it was the Petroleum Hotel in Dunhuang city.

But Zhang Yimou was too lazy to travel back and forth, so he simply stayed in the crew's RV.

The director stayed, so what else can anyone else say?

On the contrary, those who are not so urgent can go back to the hotel after finishing work at night.

The core creative team all chose to stay and accompany Zhang Yimou, either in a motorhome or in a tent.

Jiang Xun was also allocated a motorhome because of Zhang Yimou's favoritism.

Zhou Dongyu was speechless.

After joining the cast of "One Second", Jiang Xun stopped acting opposite her.

More importantly, she had originally planned to come and leave on the same day, but she was delayed by a day, which disrupted her plans.

The next morning, before it was fully light, the film crew started work.

After Jiang Xun finished washing up and stepped out of the RV, a gust of cold wind hit him in the face, making him shrink his neck.

Liu Haochun woke up very early, probably among the earliest risers.

Today was different from usual; she was especially looking forward to Jiang Xun's song.

As soon as he saw Jiang Xun come out, he immediately ran to greet him.

"Brother Jiang Xun, have you finished writing the song?"

Jiang Xun rubbed his eyes and shrank back: "The temperature difference between day and night is quite large in this desert."

"Hmm, is the song finished?"

"I stayed up all night, and I've finally finished writing it." Jiang Xun yawned and pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from his pocket.

"Let me see! Let me see!" Liu Haochun eagerly stretched out his hand.

Jiang Xun didn't keep her in suspense and handed her the paper.

Liu Haochun took it, unfolded it, and saw that it was a song lyric. The handwriting was messy, but it was still roughly legible.

The lyrics are:

[The sounds of the world suddenly faded away]

The wind kept ringing in my ears

There is always a melody with countless threads

To you, a complete stranger who brushed past me

……

Embrace for another second, and the memory will last a lifetime.

Wanderer and old friend, evening breeze, full moon, wine in the cup

Full Moon Cup of Wine

"The lyrics are really good... but why isn't there a melody?"

Jiang Xun touched his nose and smiled somewhat embarrassedly: "Um... it was too late last night, I didn't have time."

He silently made a decision in his heart.

I must go back and study composition systematically.

He can only read some simple guitar tabs now; he'll need help to write a complete piece.

"Aren't you from the Beijing Dance Academy? You must have studied composition, right?" Jiang Xun asked back.

"It's not related to my major; I studied dance. But I can sing it. You sing it, and I'll give you the sheet music!"

"Singing here?" Jiang Xun looked around. Outside the tent, staff members were coming and going, carrying equipment and setting up tracks, making it quite lively.

"Of course, I sing in front of the director!" Liu Haochun said matter-of-factly.

"Singing a cappella would be so awkward, I haven't even warmed up my voice yet."

"It's okay!" Liu Haochun said, then grabbed his arm and pulled him toward Zhang Yimou.

"Director!" Liu Haochun called out from afar, "Brother Jiang Xun has finished writing the theme song!"

"So fast?" Zhang Yimou turned around, his tone carrying a hint of surprise, as if he felt that this young man was a bit too impatient.

"Yes, Director Zhang, I didn't sleep a wink last night."

"You've worked hard, why don't you sing a song?" Zhang Yimou put down the walkie-talkie and looked at him with great interest.

It was actually quite awkward, but Jiang Xun still cleared his throat and stood up straight.

Liu Haochun was already squatting on the equipment box next to him, with paper and pen ready, ready to take notes at any time.