"Hello everyone, my name is Zhang Qingyun, and I play the Second Boss in 'A Chinese Odyssey'."
He was still the same young man, his appearance unchanged.
However, the sharp, aggressive aura he once possessed had been reined in, making him appear less impetuous and more reserved.
Having experienced great ups and downs, Zhang Qingyun's mindset was now very peaceful.
"Hiss... Brother Ma, it's really him!"
"When I saw the cast list, I thought it was a different person with the same name. I didn't expect Zhang Qingyun to actually join the Jiangnan team."
"This is big news. Chen Zhe took over Zhang Qingyun's fans. Now that Zhang Qingyun is making a comeback, will Chen Zhe's fans return?"
"His personality has changed a lot. Brother Ma has really grown!"
Although Zhang Qingyun's name was on the cast list during the earlier promotion, many people had assumed it was a case of mistaken identity. Seeing him in person now, everyone was astonished.
After all, Zhang Qingyun and Jiangnan were enemies back then. For him to join the Jiangnan team now was truly dreamlike!
As everyone was discussing, a cheer suddenly erupted from the venue!
Director Gu Qianqian walked onto the stage arm-in-arm with Su Yu, with Jiang Xiao'e on Su Yu's other side, also holding his arm.
"Hello everyone, I am Gu Qianqian, the director of 'A Chinese Odyssey'."
"Hello everyone, I am Ting Yu, the producer of the theme song for 'A Chinese Odyssey'."
After Mo Yan retired from writing, Su Yu was undoubtedly the number one figure in the Chinese music scene, and perhaps even the entire entertainment industry.
In such a position, he was the absolute focus wherever he went.
Instantly, reporters and major media outlets turned their cameras on him, flashes strobing rapidly.
However, the protagonist of the day was the crew of 'A Chinese Odyssey'. If Guang Nian Entertainment hadn't initiated the proceedings, he wouldn't have gone on stage. So, after a brief self-introduction, he led Gu Qianqian to the staff area to sit down.
Jiang Xiao'e remained on stage.
"I am singer Jiang Xiao'e. Thank you all for supporting the premiere of 'A Chinese Odyssey'. Next, I will bring you the theme song 'A Love Before Time'!"
With the strong support of Su Yu in "The King of Love Songs," she had now become one of the hottest new generation female singers, second only to Lin Yanyu.
The current Jiang Xiao'e had long shed her youthful shyness. She no longer felt bashful on stage. With graceful poise, she bowed slightly to the audience and then looked at the staff member responsible for playing the backing track.
On the big screen.
The promotional video for "A Chinese Odyssey" appeared.
The music began.
The song information followed.
A Love Before Time
Sung by: Jiang Xiao'e
Lyrics: Ting Yu
Music: Ting Yu
The prelude began.
The melancholic melody gradually quieted the once noisy venue.
"In the past, the present, has gone, and will not come again,
Red leaves, long buried, in the dust,
Beginnings and endings, never change,
You in the sky, wandering, beyond the white clouds..."
Jiang Xiao'e's opening in Yue language surprised many people present.
No one had expected the song to be in Yue language!
And, wasn't this supposed to be a comedy film?
Why did the theme song sound a bit off?
"I have a bad feeling..."
"We've been tricked. Judging by the style of this theme song, Old Thief definitely won't have a happy ending!"
"Originally, the song was called 'A Love Before Time,' and I thought it would be a very romantic love story, but the theme song sounds a bit off!"
"Here it comes, this familiar feeling. I'm actually a little excited, can you believe it!"
It wasn't entirely the audience's fault for being sensitive. After all, the nickname "Jiangnan Old Thief" implied that he wouldn't purely write good plots. Even his comedies didn't have perfect endings.
Zhang Chi chased his dream and flew towards the sea that didn't exist, and Ning Caichen ultimately did not end up with Nie Xiaoqian.
In the melancholic atmosphere of the theme song, many viewers familiar with Jiangnan sensed something was amiss.
Is Old Thief going to start "cutting" again??
"Sea of suffering, churns love and hate,
In the world, destiny cannot be escaped,
Lovers, yet unable, to get close,
Or should I believe, it is fate..."
This song was simple, with no flashy arrangements or stunning high notes.
Often, the most important aspect of such songs was the emotional interpretation, moving the audience through singing.
The reason why "A Love Before Time" became a classic in Su Yu's previous life, and why even countless remakes of "A Chinese Odyssey" still used this theme song,
was largely due to the most iconic line in the film.
And in this song, the chorus melody was a major tearjerker!
As Jiang Xiao'e sang, that ethereal and sorrowful feeling resonated in everyone's minds.
"Lover, after departure, forever, will not come again,
Silent, sitting alone, gazing, beyond the mortal world,
Flowers may wither, but they will bloom again,
A love before time, faintly, beyond the white clouds..."
When she sang the second verse.
Mo Yan and his group of old friends showed expressions of enjoyment.
The more accomplished the producer, the more they understood how rare such simple, unpretentious arrangements were.
They even regretted not going to Shuangqing City to watch the live performance and instead buying tickets to watch the premiere broadcast in a cinema in Kyoto.
"I originally came to listen to the theme song, but after listening to it, I suddenly became very interested in the movie!"
Mo Yan didn't like watching movies before, but after retiring, he and Zhao Yan planned to catch up on all the experiences they had missed. They often went on dates, shopped, and watched movies.
One of the reasons he came to support Su Yu this time was to accompany Zhao Yan to watch the movie.
"Jiangnan's films and television dramas all receive rave reviews, so it's definitely worth watching," Zhao Yan said with a smile.
Mo Yan glanced at Su Yu at the corner of the stage near the camera and nodded with a half-smile.
Jiangnan was indeed formidable, otherwise, he wouldn't be known as "Little Ting Yu" in the film and television district.
"Sea of suffering, churns love and hate,
In the world, destiny cannot be escaped..."
When the chorus played for the last time.
The promotional video on the big screen suddenly dimmed.
Cinemas across the country also entered darkness. Two seconds later, as the music gradually faded, the movie "A Chinese Odyssey" officially began!
A dark night in the desert!
The scene between Guanyin Bodhisattva and Sun Wukong!
"Sun Wukong, you beast!"
"You promised the Tathagata Buddha to escort your master, Tang Sanzang, to obtain scriptures, but instead you colluded with the Bull Demon King to eat your master..."
The opening plot immediately bewildered the audience!
What is this?
Sun Wukong colluded with the Bull Demon King to eat Tang Monk??
Are you kidding me!!
Such astonishment even caused a low murmur in the cinema.
In fact, on Su Yu's previous life Earth, "A Chinese Odyssey" did not achieve great success at the beginning. The box office was dismal, and the reviews were overwhelmingly negative.
At that time, many people felt they couldn't understand it and found it nonsensical.
However, after a period of dormancy, the film suddenly became popular, something even the creative team didn't anticipate.
In reality, the fundamental reason for the poor performance of the film was not that these two films were too bad. The main consumer group at that time was people from the 1960s and 70s, and in their minds, Journey to the West was the orthodox version. They simply couldn't accept the parody of this classic.
But after the 1980s, people preferred fast-paced culture. As that generation grew up, "A Chinese Odyssey" naturally became their classic.
Su Yu's daring to film this arguably subversive movie on Planet Blue was because this was the best era!
...
"A Love Before Time" Original singer: Lowell Lo, Lyrics: Thomas Lee, Music: Lowell Lo