Huayu: This director is so eager to improve.

Chapter 43 "The Nameless Man"

Once inside, Qi Yue pointed to the chair next to the piano.

"sit."

Li Qing sat down as instructed and gently placed the lunchbox on a clean corner of the table.

The room was a bit messy, but the mess was orderly.

Qi Yue found the editing table, quickly operated it a few times, and closed several windows, making the light in the room seem softer.

He then walked back, leaned against the edge of the worktable, and his gaze fell on the insulated lunchbox that Li Qing had brought.

"That guy, Vanadium, always makes a fuss over nothing."

He shook his head, his tone revealing neither helplessness nor anything else.

"Brother Fan was worried about you too," Li Qing said softly. "Director Qi, haven't you been getting much rest lately? I heard you playing the piano outside the door just now."

Qi Yue's gaze shifted from the lunchbox to her face, lingering for a moment. Her slightly tired face, however, held a hint of excitement.

"Yeah, while I was doing post-production, I also wrote the ending theme song for 'White Night'."

He paused, seemingly considering his options.

"A song that might require you and Teacher Pan to complete together."

"That melody from just now... was it?"

"A part," Qi Yue walked to the electronic piano and casually pressed a few chords, which was the main melody fragment that Li Qing had just heard outside the door.

Soothing and profound, it carries a resilient spirit that runs throughout, a spirit that belongs to ordinary people.

"The lyrics and music framework are ready; it'll be called 'The Nameless Man'."

The short piece he played once again captivated Li Qing's attention.

The melody is so evocative; in just a few bars, you can almost see countless silent figures adrift in the currents of fate.

"This...this feels amazing."

Li Qing sincerely said, "I immediately felt immense pressure."

"But Teacher Pan's voice tells such a story, I... can I handle it? Won't I be too inexperienced?"

Qi Yue stopped pointing and turned to look at her.

"Your voice is clean, which is an advantage and also the underlying tone of the character 'Zhou Shutong' in 'White Night'. You don't need to imitate that kind of vicissitudes; just use your 'cleanliness' to echo the heaviness in Teacher Pan's voice. Just like in the play, Zhou Shutong, a newcomer, uses his perspective to touch the darkness carried by the Guan Hongfeng brothers."

He paused, walked to the editing screen, and pulled up a rough cut of "White Nights".

These are images of Zhou Shutong at the ruins, enduring discomfort as she diligently observed and recorded the scene.

"Look, this is the feeling you're looking for. Fear, but not backing down; awkwardness, but persistence. Bring this feeling into your song."

Looking at her own face on the screen, Li Qing suddenly gained a more concrete understanding of this kind of song. It was a narrative poem for all ordinary people who silently move forward in life and fate but have never given up.

"I...I want to try." She took a deep breath, her eyes hardening.

Qi Yue nodded almost imperceptibly. "Let's eat first. After we finish, I'll give you the main melody and tentative lyrics for your part."

He brought up the topic of music, and Li Qing quickly got up to open the window for him. The aroma of food immediately wafted out.

Qi Yue paused for a moment when he saw the food inside, which looked fresh and was arranged carefully, before picking up his chopsticks.

Li Qing sat opposite him, watching him eat, and the emptiness in her heart seemed to be slowly filled by something.

He remembered writing a song for her, and it was such an important song.

"Not bad," Qi Yue commented after finishing his meal. Then he wiped his hands, pulled a piece of paper covered with writing and musical notes from the worktable, and handed it to her.

Li Qing took it and her eyes were immediately drawn to the lyrics.

That wasn't the complete part; it was just a few segments labeled "female voice."

[Female voice]

"I am someone who left the small town."

People who have eaten while crying and laughing

They are travelers on the road, and people who support their families.

It's a silent scene set against an urban backdrop...

[joint/female voice alone]

"I just want to touch it with my own hands."

Every moment of bending over

The leftover, soaked footprints

Is it worth it...?

The lyrics are extremely simple, yet they are like a dull knife, slowly cutting away the surface of life to reveal the subtle and real pain and perseverance that every ordinary person experiences.

Just looking at it brought a bittersweet warmth to Li Qing's eyes.

This is about Zhou Shutong, but it doesn't seem to be entirely true.

It depicts the lives of all young people like her who leave their hometowns, venture out on their own, and struggle to find their place in a vast city.

"This word..." Her voice choked slightly.

"I made some minor adjustments to the original lyrics based on the plot and character settings," Qi Yue said calmly. "Let's try the melody."

He returned to the piano and began playing the verse and prelude to her part.

The melody is not complicated, but it perfectly matches the feel of the lyrics. The ups and downs express the feeling of a tiny but undying glimmer of light.

Li Qing followed the piano, looked at the lyrics, and sang softly.

The first time, there was a bit of awkwardness, but the emotions were already naturally revealed.

The second time, she closed her eyes, recalling her loneliness as she came to Beijing alone to act, was rejected at auditions, and was swindled out of all her savings, leaving her helpless as she squatted outside the police station...

Those memories belonging to "Li Qing" resonated remarkably with the lyrics.

Her voice was clear, but it was no longer just clear; it was infused with a resilience that had been honed.

When she sang, "Every moment I bend over, the wet footprints I leave behind, is it worth it?" her voice trembled slightly at the end.

Qi Yue listened quietly, his fingers gently accompanying him on the piano keys.

After she finished singing that short section, the room fell into a brief silence.

"Can."

He finally uttered those two words, which relieved Li Qing's anxiety and brought her immense joy.

"If the emotion is right, some technical details, such as breath control and the handling of a few vocal transitions, are a little flawed. That's okay, I'll have a vocal coach guide you through them. As for Teacher Pan, I'll send him the demo, and we'll arrange for you to practice together when he returns to Beijing."

He stood up and stretched his stiff neck.

"The finale of 'White Night' needs a song like this, that speaks plainly and tells the stories of ordinary people. If you sing it well, the audience will remember not only Zhou Shutong, but also every 'nameless person' in this song."

Li Qing gripped the paper filled with musical notes and lyrics tightly and nodded vigorously.

"Director Qi, I will do my best."

"Mm," Qi Yue responded, his gaze sweeping over the empty lunchbox.

"The food was good. In the future... don't listen to your brother's nonsense. When I'm busy, I'll order takeout myself."

He abruptly changed the subject, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips.

"However, if it's on the way, it's fine to bring some soup occasionally; it's better than takeout."

Li Qing was taken aback at first, then her cheeks flushed slightly, but her heart felt as warm and comforted as if it had been soothed by that bowl of pear soup.

"Okay, Director Qi!"