In the recording studio of Tianxiang in Hong Kong, Chen Yijie sat at the piano, eyes closed, playing. He was dressed casually—perhaps influenced by Yang Yi's habits—in shorts and slippers, a far cry from his usual concert image.
But maybe playing "Long Time No See" required exactly that kind of casualness, not asking the audience to focus on his appearance, but to close their eyes and listen quietly.
"Holding the photo you gave me, on that familiar street..." His deep voice carried a intoxicating melancholy, bringing the song to life in a way that tugged at the heartstrings.
"Ah, it's a shame this is a Mandarin song." A cool-looking man in a jacket and cowboy hat shook his head regretfully, speaking to Chen Yijie, who was still savoring the song after finishing.
He was the music producer for Chen Yijie's new album and the deputy director of Tianxiang Music, Teacher Mao Su. A talented lyricist and composer himself, he had made countless singers famous.
"Mandarin songs aren't a problem; I've sung many before," Chen Yijie said.
Mao Su stroked his mustache and smiled. "It's not that I dislike this song. On the contrary, I think it's excellent. But Eason, you need to be clear about your album's positioning. The songs are all in Cantonese, but the lead single is in Mandarin. Could that end up pleasing neither side?"
Chen Yijie's expression turned serious as he realized the issue.
Mao Su continued, "If your album's lead single is a Cantonese song, including a Mandarin track wouldn't be a big problem."
Chen Yijie thought it over carefully but shook his head. "No, choosing another song as the lead single isn't worth the risk."
The other songs simply couldn't compare to this one. Placing "Long Time No See" in a later position would only make it overshadow the rest.
Mao Su, however, had an idea. He clapped his fist into his palm, his eyes brightening beneath the cowboy hat. "Here's what we do: find someone to write Cantonese lyrics for this melody! Use the Cantonese version as the lead single and the Mandarin version as the second lead. That way, we won't have to worry!"
It was a solid plan. Chen Yijie nodded in agreement. Mao Su was already thinking about which master lyricist to approach—Hong Kong had its Four Geniuses, after all...
"I think we could let Mr. Yang try!" Chen Yijie suddenly said.
"Mr. Yang? You mean the songwriter of this piece, Mu Zi'ang?" Mao Su asked in surprise. "Does he know Cantonese?"
"Mu Zi'ang is his stage name. As for Cantonese..." Chen Yijie recalled their conversation that day. Since his Mandarin was passable for casual talk but stumbled during negotiations, he had switched to Cantonese, and Yang Yi had acted as a translator between Mandarin and Cantonese...
"Not only does he know it, he's fluent!" Chen Yijie gave a wry smile. "Mr. Yang speaks Cantonese better than many people in Hong Kong!"
Though Mao Su remained skeptical, Chen Yijie insisted on reaching out to Yang Yi. A phone call later, after some thought, Yang Yi replied, "Alright, give me one night!"
In truth, Yang Yi agreed because this song already had a Cantonese version—and one as polished as the Mandarin original. No joke—Lin Xi had written the lyrics! How could it be anything less?
But Yang Yi didn't want to seem too extraordinary, so he left a one-night gap.
Even so, it was already astonishing enough! Chen Yijie and Mao Su couldn't believe Yang Yi could write Cantonese lyrics in a single night.
Yet the next day, they stared dumbfounded at an email sitting quietly in the inbox. Were these really the completed lyrics?
"Better Not to Meet"? The rhyme scheme confirmed it was indeed Cantonese.
Just from the title, Chen Yijie and Mao Su could feel the weight of the song.
"Give it a try?" Mao Su was still doubtful.
Chen Yijie was serious. "Let's try!"
The lonely piano prelude began.
"Hair dampened, unavoidable..." Chen Yijie, a top-tier singer, studied the printed lyrics for a moment and then sang with the right emotion.
"Hong Kong clings to raindrops Boarding the morning flight, enduring yawns All for a chance to see you..."
Surprisingly good? Mao Su perked up, as if he had found a treasure. He closed his eyes seriously, savoring every note.
"Finding the dusty old shop, can't return to the day we fell in love..."
The lyrics started off relatively plain, slowly brewing into an intoxicating richness. Then came the climax.
"Spirit long tainted, who doesn't change for life?" Chen Yijie used a subtle technique, singing the helplessness in the lyrics as if letting out a soft sigh.
"The more I long to meet, the more I find ten years between us The smiling face I want to see, only in memory..."
By this point, there was no need to test further. It was clear Yang Yi had written exceptional Cantonese lyrics, perhaps even surpassing what the Four Geniuses could achieve.
But now wasn't the time to critique the lyrics.
Mao Su listened with closed eyes, feeling the faint melancholy, the irretrievable despair, the plain yet heart-wrenching sorrow. Unbeknownst to him, tears slipped from behind his sunglasses.
At nearly fifty, still unmarried, he thought of his first love. Though he had been with many women since, those eight years of youth were the most unforgettable.
Yes, the smiling face he wanted to see existed only in memory, her smile like a flower.
"...As if waiting a hundred years, suddenly realizing Even if we meet again Performing maturity..."
What good would meeting do? They'd act naturally, pretending to be calm, asking how the other was doing?
What good would meeting do? She was already another man's wife, no longer the shy girl in his arms.
What good would meeting do? Only more pain and sorrow?
Chen Yijie softly breathed out the final line: "Better not to meet..."
Hmm...
"Teacher Mao! Teacher Mao!" The singing and piano had stopped at some point. Chen Yijie's call snapped Mao Su back to reality.
"Teacher Mao, what do you think of this song? I really like it!" Chen Yijie said excitedly. "It should work as the lead single, right?"
Mao Su discreetly wiped the tear stains beneath his sunglasses, cleared his throat, and said, "Not bad, excellent! If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I'd think it was written by a true Hong Kong native. But Eason, you didn't handle a few parts well..."
A mature man always knows how to hide his emotions well.
After coaching Eason, Mao Su went to Hu Yongxiang's office.
"Ah Su, how's Eason's new album coming along?" Hu Yongxiang, who had a good relationship with Mao Su, poured him tea and asked with a smile.
"No problem. Most of the work is done. After recording the MV and the last two songs, we'll release the album in July!" Mao Su said confidently. "I can't wait to see Eason's new album sell like hotcakes!"
"Oh? That confident?" Hu Yongxiang teased.
"Of course. It's not just confidence in Eason, but also in the songwriter your father recommended! We might even aim for a platinum record!" Mao Su said.
"My father? Oh, you mean that Yang Yi?" Hu Yongxiang had a good memory, despite managing many things.
"That's right! Old Hu, we might have struck gold!" Mao Su took a deep breath. "He's a genius!"
"If possible, I hope the company strengthens its focus on him and signs him before other companies discover Yang Yi, with the best contract..."