novelraw Chapter 112 Auspicious Start
Chapter 112 Auspicious Start
Backstage at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai, Zhang Liangying stood in front of the mirror, checking her makeup one last time.
Linda stood behind her, holding a walkie-talkie, her voice slightly shrill with tension:
"Lights in place, sound system finalized, audience begin to enter. Liangying, are you alright?"
The woman in the mirror was wearing her second outfit for the evening: a dark green, modified cheongsam with delicate bead embroidery on the shoulders, which gleamed dimly under the lights.
Her makeup was heavier than at the BJ event, with winged eyeliner and a retro bright red lip.
She was like a drawn sword, sharp and beautiful.
"I'm fine."
Zhang Liangying's voice was very calm.
But Linda noticed that her hands were trembling slightly.
Tonight's concert is more important than the BJ show.
This is Shanghai, a bellwether for the Chinese music market, and also where Wang Zhonglei's influence is most concentrated.
During the afternoon rehearsal, music critics were already peeking in backstage, asking all sorts of tricky questions:
"Is Ms. Zhang's transition to a classical style a way to avoid competition in the mainstream fashion market?"
"Rumors are circulating that you are deeply involved with 'Bodyguards and Assassins.' Is this a business arrangement?"
Zhang Liangying did not answer any of them.
She simply stood on the stage, singing "Returning Boat" over and over again, until her voice was hoarse and her eyes were red.
There are still fifteen minutes left before I go on the field.
My phone vibrated; it was a message from Li Jun:
"I'm in the audience. Don't be afraid, go ahead and sing."
Zhang Liangying looked at the short message, took a deep breath, and her fingers slowly stopped trembling.
She remembered what Li Jun had said to her three days earlier before he left Beijing.
That evening, in the living room of his apartment, the two sat facing each other on the sofa, with a pot of tea that had gone cold between them.
"Wang Zhonglei will definitely cause trouble at the Shanghai event."
Li Jun said.
"But remember, no matter what happens, the stage is yours."
"What if he causes trouble like he did in Beijing?"
"Then sing louder."
Li Jun looked at her.
"Use your voice to drown out all the noise."
His gaze was firm, but Zhang Liangying noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the new stubble on his chin.
For the past two weeks, he has been even more exhausted than she has been, flying back and forth between Hong Kong and Beijing, dealing with Wang Zhonglei's open and covert attacks, and also preparing for the start of filming.
"Xiaojun."
She said softly.
"If I'm just saying if the film was implicated because of me."
"There is no such 'if'."
Li Jun interrupted her.
"A movie is a movie, and you are you. But you are both people I want to protect."
These words were so direct that Zhang Liangying's heart skipped a beat.
"What about Tang Yan?"
She asked the question she had always wanted to ask.
"You and her..."
Li Jun remained silent for a long time.
The neon lights outside the window reflected on his face, flickering on and off.
"Her and I are a thing of the past."
He said with deep emotion.
"With you, it's both now and in the future."
These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples to spread outwards.
Zhang Liangying looked at him, then suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with tears:
"You know, sometimes I really hate myself, hate myself for having to meet you at this time, in this industry."
Do you hate it?
"hatred."
She nodded.
"But if I could do it all over again, I would still choose to meet you."
Zhang Liangying is love-obsessed, but she understands a lot.
Li Jun reached out and took her hand.
Neither of them spoke again; they simply sat quietly, listening to the sounds of traffic outside the window and the beating of each other's hearts.
At that moment, Zhang Liangying felt that even if there were mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, she would dare to brave them.
Because someone will hold her hand.
"Five minutes!"
The stage manager's voice came through the walkie-talkie, interrupting Zhang Liangying's recollection.
She stood up, the hem of her cheongsam flowing like water.
Linda helped her adjust her in-ear monitor, her fingers touching her cheek; it was icy cold.
"Beautiful."
Linda said softly.
"Remember, you're here to sing."
Nothing else matters.
"I know."
Zhang Liangying nodded.
"Linda, if I wait later..."
There are no "ifs".
Linda gripped her shoulders.
"You'll sing very well, just like you've always done."
The passageway doors opened, and stage lights and sounds poured in.
Zhang Liangying closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, her eyes were clear.
She walked onto the stage.
The cheers of ten thousand spectators crashed over us like waves.
The stage lights were as bright as day, and she could see the sea of heads below the stage and countless raised phone screens.
She began to speak when the first song started.
The sound was like a key, unlocking the entire venue.
Meanwhile, in Kwun Tong, Hong Kong.
The opening ceremony for "Bodyguards and Assassins" is proceeding in an orderly manner amidst chaos.
The reason it's described as chaotic is because fate is not cooperating.
The rain started pouring down at six in the morning.
The opening ceremony stage, originally planned to be set up at the training base, was temporarily moved to the factory building.
The red backdrop was battered by rain, its edges curled up.
The paint over the numbers "1905" is slowly spreading.
But the order was there because Li Jun was standing there.
He was dressed in a simple black shirt and trousers, standing in front of the makeshift stage, looking at the actors, staff, and media reporters below.
Rain pounded against the tin roof of the factory, creating a rapid, drum-like sound.
"Everyone."
He spoke, and his voice carried throughout the space through the microphone.
"Thank you all for coming despite the heavy rain."
I was going to say something auspicious, but then I thought better of it; making movies has never been an auspicious thing.
Some people in the audience laughed, but the laughter was quickly swallowed up by the sound of rain.
"The movie 'Bodyguards and Assassins' tells the story of a group of ordinary people in Hong Kong in 1905, and their choices amidst the torrent of history."
Li Jun continued.
"We are standing here today, making a choice: what attitude to take and what kind of film to make."
He paused, his gaze sweeping across the audience.
Nicholas Tse stood in the front row, wearing the black shorts from the movie, his hair was shaved very short, and his eyes were calm.
Lin Jiadong stood beside him, nervously rubbing his hands.
Zhang Ziyi hasn't joined the production team yet, but her flower basket is placed in the most conspicuous position.
"I can't guarantee this movie will be a success."
Li Jun spoke very directly.
"But I assure you that everyone here will do their utmost to accomplish this."
He raised the incense in his hand and bowed to the camera in front of him.
This is a tradition of the opening ceremony, to pay homage to heaven and earth, to the ancestral masters, and to the film.
Everyone bowed in response.
The ceremony is complete.
Media reporters swarmed around, their flashes filling the dimly lit factory with light.
"Director Li and director Wang Zhonglei's 'Storm 1905' also started filming yesterday and released its first trailer."
Do you think the two films will be competitors?
"Director Li, I heard that Ms. Zhang Liangying will be singing the movie theme song at her concert in Shanghai tonight."
Does this signify a deep integration of film and concert?
"Mr. Nicholas Tse, after the recent media storm, did you take on this film in an effort to rebuild your image?"
The questions came like bullets. Li Jun deflected them one by one:
"The film market needs healthy competition."
"Ms. Zhang Liangying is an outstanding musician, and our collaboration is based on artistic compatibility."
Nicholas Tse's answer was even simpler:
"I only consider the role when I accept a role."
Having finally escaped the media, Li Jun walked to a corner of the factory.
Kent Chan was waiting there, holding a tablet computer.
"Good luck with your startup."