"Boss, Miss Liu just called."
During the break after the midday rehearsal, Anna handed over the phone and said.
Link wiped the sweat off his neck and called Chris Liu, who was on the other side of the world, and asked if she had been sleeping?
Chris said she hadn’t slept, had just finished her late-night snack, was cooling off in the yard, and asked when his concert in Huaxia was starting?
Link said he would be in Huaxia next week.
This tour would first go to the Southeast Asia region for about 18 shows before reaching the Huaxia region. He asked Chris Liu how the new song he had sent her last time was coming along?
To cater to the audience in the Huaxia region, he had prepared four songs in Mandarin and Cantonese, including classic old songs and original Mandarin songs, in collaboration with bands and artists like beyond, Wakin Chau, Faye Wong, and Chris Liu.
Apart from beyond and Chris Liu, other supporting singers and warm-up performers were arranged by Universal Records. Link had the right to choose; when Universal Records sent over the list and information about the singers, he picked a few with good reputation and strong abilities.
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Chris Liu said she had been practicing singing these past few months and was doing quite well. She added that it was her vocal coach who said so, not just her bragging.
Link asked her if she could sing a bit.
"Sing now? I’m not prepared and don’t have the accompaniment."
Chris Liu said somewhat nervously.
"No need to prepare, just casually sing a few lines. Your voice is beautiful; I believe it will sound very nice."
Link encouraged.
"Alright! Give me a minute."
The phone was quiet for more than ten seconds, then Chris Liu asked, should she sing in English or Chinese?
Link asked her to sing in Chinese first.
"Oh!"
Then a sweet voice came through the phone:
When you are old, your hair has turned white
Your sleep heavy
When you are old, and can no longer walk
Napping by the fireside, reminiscing your youth
How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty, with love false or true
"Link, how was it?"
Chris Liu asked after singing a couple of lines.
"Fantastic, Chris, with your talent, you could absolutely be a singer."
"Ha, don’t flatter me, I’m not that amazing."
"Really good, Chris, you’re so beautiful, and your singing is lovely, the only thing missing is confidence. If you were a bit more confident and less nervous, you would sing even better."
"Really? I believe you now. This song is beautifully written, both the melody and the lyrics are great, did you write it?"
"I was involved, but I didn’t write it entirely."
This song’s lyrics were adapted from the poem "When You Are Old" by the Irish poet William Butler Yeats, later set to music and performed by the singer Zhao Zhao, becoming a fairly well-known Mandarin song.
After discovering this poem, Link composed a melody and handed it to Universal Records, who then passed it to their musicians at the Huaxia branch to translate into smooth-sounding Chinese lyrics.
"You’re amazing. My mom heard this song and said it was very nice, even said it was a pity to let me sing it; she always picks on me when I sing it, which is really annoying."
Chris Liu said.
"How can your mom say that? You are already doing very well, much better than your peers. She should praise you more often rather than criticize. Do you want me to talk to her?"
"Ah? Never mind, she’s just like that, likes to nag me when she’s got nothing else to do, meant no harm. We shouldn’t take it to heart. Can you really come to Huaxia in August?"
"I really can! There won’t be any more delays this time."
The original plan was to have the concert in Huaxia in June, but it was postponed for two months due to an unexpected setback.
"Chris, in just over ten days, I’ll get to meet you. I’m very excited. How about you?"
"Me too! When you get here, I can treat you to lots and lots of delicious food. This time I’ll host and you’ll pay, because last time you tricked me by saying you were broke," Chris said, her voice sweet and lively.
"No problem!"
As Link was about to speak, he heard Chris Liu exclaim from the other end, ’Mom, when did you get here?’ and ’Link, we’ll talk later.’
A few minutes later, Chris Liu sent a message.
"Oh no, my mom overheard our entire conversation, and she’s really mad now."
"Is it serious? Should I explain to her?"
"No need, we often do this. Sometimes she gets mad and won’t talk to me, and sometimes I get mad and won’t talk to her either. It’s never too serious."
"Interesting, the way you and your mom interact is like sisters."
"Yes, but she says you’re a playboy and thinks I shouldn’t contact you on my own. She worries that I might be deceived by you."
"I’m not a playboy at all. It’s the media that’s framing me just like they framed MJ for child molestation, portrayed Madonna as a prostitute, and promoted Britney Spears and Lady Gaga as neurotic. In the eyes of the media, no popular singer is normal because it helps them sell their news products."
"Yes, paparazzi are the worst."
After exchanging a few more messages, Chris Liu said her mom was urging her to go to sleep soon, so they ended their private chat.
Link continued with his rehearsal.
Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
After rehearsal ended past four in the afternoon. Link and Dadalio went out to eat together. The horror movie "Shadow of Death," in which she starred, released last week, performed modestly at the box office due to a summer full of blockbuster releases.
Dadalio had been looking for new scripts recently, but her striking looks and too pretty face made her an unlikely choice for supporting roles opposite other female actors, and most of the scripts she received were for thrillers and erotic films.
"Haven’t you found a suitable role yet?"
In a Spanish restaurant on Fifth Avenue in the Upper East Side, Link asked Dadalio, who was opposite him, while eating an Iberian ham platter.
Dadalio wore a white strapless long dress with dense black wavy curls spilled over her shoulders. Her big eyes and a perky nose made her even more beautiful and delicate than a Barbie doll. With her figure, she stood out as a top beauty even in the film industry filled with beautiful women.
Yet she hadn’t made it big, which was somewhat odd.
"No, still looking at scripts."
Dadalio brushed a strand of hair from her ear, holding a spoon in her hand, she carefully tucked her hair behind her ear and gracefully fed herself with the spoon and fork, her movements both cute and elegant.
"Yanni, there’s a role in my music video that would be perfect for you. Do you want to make a cameo?"
"Not coming, you’re so popular, there must be lots of girls wanting to play in your MV, you surely don’t lack actors, right?"
Dadalio smiled.
Link smiled lightly. In the past, women who played roles in his music videos had all become famous, including stars like Emma Stone and the black model Jordan Dun. Each time he shot a music video, it attracted the attention of actresses, and this time was no different.
"But you’re the most suitable."
"Still, no thanks. I feel pretty good about where I am now. If there’s a suitable role, I’ll take it. If not, I’ll just keep looking. I never really thought about becoming a big star,"
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Dadalio insisted.
Link nodded, glanced at her beautiful eyes. "Yanni, we’re friends. I’d like to do something for you. Is there anything you’d like me to do?"
After a thought, Dadalio chuckled, "I like running with you, playing tennis, chatting, listening to you sing. If you have time, I would like to see you more often, can we?"
"Of course!"
Link gently reached out and tenderly stroked her smooth cheek. "Yanni, you’re so beautiful. If I had a palace made of gold, I would let you live in it, hidden from everyone else, except for me."
"That would be imprisonment, my dad wouldn’t let you off,"
Dadalio blinked and chuckled.
"Yes, almost forgot about your super tough dad."
Link chuckled lightly, discussing his plans for the coming weeks with Dadalio. He would be starting a world tour next week, which meant he couldn’t be with her for about two months. He apologized, but after the tour, they would have more time together.
Dadalio quietly watched him, reached across the table, and took his hand, her face full of deep affection.
Link paused to look into her lovely eyes. As their gazes met, they both stood up, held hands, and left the restaurant.
The waiter, thinking they were leaving without paying, was about to call for attention when he noticed two U.S. dollars bills on the table, more than sufficient to cover the meal and a tip.
As soon as Link and Dadalio got into the car, they eagerly kissed each other.
Dadalio’s thin silk dress was nearly torn to shreds by his rough hands.
The interior of the Ferrari gradually became constrained.
Worried about being caught by paparazzi, they only fooled around in the car for a little over ten minutes. On Dadalio’s suggestion, he drove to her newly rented apartment in Brisbane.
Unfortunately, their bad luck continued, as they encountered Dadalio’s lawyer mother there.
They were kissing as they walked into the apartment, kicked the door shut, and just as something lovely was about to happen, they turned around to see a woman in a business suit sitting on the couch.
"Mom?"
Dadalio anxiously called out as she adjusted her skirt.
Link looked at Dadalio, then at the serious-looking lady, and thought to himself that this date was probably ruined.
—
The next day, Link boarded the plane with an unresolved anger, starting a new round of the world tour.