Chapter 58: "Pick Up Your Words for Me."

“Wow, I can finally buy it!” Ear King purchased two copies of Zhou Ran’s album the moment it became available for sale.

He opened Zhou Ran’s first album, "Departure," and saw twelve songs inside. Besides “Sunny Day!”, “Melancholy!”, “Dream Chaser’s Heart!”, “A Thousand Degrees!”, “Rice Aroma!”, “The Sea Laughs!”, and “Economy Class!”—songs Zhou Ran had already sung before—there were several new tracks. Apart from the previously announced “Cold Fireworks,” three other fresh songs had been added: “Summer Light Years,” “The Brightest Star in the Night Sky,” and “Faith.”

Ear King glanced over the other songs briefly before immediately playing “Cold Fireworks.” He simply couldn’t wait, as the compelling backstory promised the song itself would be extraordinary.

He took out his treasured headphones, believing their quality would make a difference in the listening experience. As the music began, the opening notes of the guzheng filled his ears. Ear King nodded, appreciating the familiar Chinese style; the use of traditional instruments was as apt as ever.

When the accompaniment faded, Zhou Ran began to sing, his slightly husky voice carrying the melody.

The clamor of prosperity slips into emptiness, withering the world,
Dreams grow cold, circling a lifetime, how many debts of love remain?
If you accept it, waiting for life and death to wither,
Withering in rings upon rings of annual cycles,
How many layers of the pagoda have crumbled, whose soul has been lost?

After just a few lines, Ear King was drawn in completely, feeling the cold and desolate emotion Zhou Ran sought to convey—a sense of lingering affection and longing. He listened, letting the background story and the song blend together in his mind.

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“Rain falls, the old hometown is lush with grass and trees,
I heard you’ve always been alone.
The mottled city gate is entwined with old tree roots,
Echoing on the flagstones is the sound of waiting.
Rain falls, rain falls, the old hometown is lush with grass and trees,
I heard, I heard you still guard the lonely city.
The sound of shepherd’s flute drifts to the wild village,
Destiny takes root, that’s us.
Destiny takes root, that’s us,
In the temple, listening to rain, hoping for eternity.”

When deciding which version of “Cold Fireworks” to sing, Zhou Ran considered three: the original by Jay Chou, Lin Zhixuan’s rendition, and the newest version by Zhou Shen. After much deliberation, Zhou Ran chose Jay Chou’s version, feeling it best captured the bittersweet feeling of love and regret.

By the time the song ended, Ear King’s eyes were unknowingly moist. Even as a grown man, he found himself perfectly immersed in the story, as if he had traveled through time to Zhou Ran’s era, experiencing the heartbreak and the helpless separation caused by war.

“Zhou Ran is truly incredible! The emotions in each song are so rich, and he writes, composes, and sings them all himself.” After regaining his composure, Ear King marveled at Zhou Ran’s extraordinary creative talent.

He checked the credits in the album and, just as he had boldly predicted, every song was attributed to Zhou Ran. Ear King couldn’t help but think—does anyone else make a cent from Zhou Ran’s work? He could easily imagine Zhou Ran handling every instrument himself, becoming a one-man band. “Zhou Ran really is a whole band!”

After finishing “Cold Fireworks,” Ear King didn’t put down his headphones; there were still songs he hadn’t heard. He planned to listen to them all and write a review of Zhou Ran’s album, "Departure."

He randomly picked the song with the longest title, “The Brightest Star in the Night Sky.” (Yes, Ear King was just that casual and whimsical!)

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Can the brightest star in the night sky hear
The loneliness and sighs that linger in the heart of those who gaze up?
Can the brightest star in the night sky recall
The figure that once walked with me, now vanished in the wind?
I pray for a transparent heart,
And eyes that know how to cry.

Just a few lines in, Ear King was struck by surprise—the song had a rock style rarely seen from Zhou Ran. After listening, he realized that “The Brightest Star in the Night Sky” was every bit as good as “Cold Fireworks,” and much like “Dream Chaser’s Heart,” it belonged to the inspirational, uplifting category.

Ear King moved on to the next songs without pause, finding each one brought a fresh experience.

After finishing all twelve tracks, he took a sip of water and wore a look of pure satisfaction. Listening to Zhou Ran’s album felt like a feast—a musical banquet. Every song was strong enough to be someone else’s lead single. “It’s like every song is a main track!”

This wave of songs from Zhou Ran’s album utterly silenced those who claimed his creativity had dried up. Ear King wished he could shout at them: “Is this what you call a washed-up artist? Is this what you call Zhou Ran losing his touch? If your favorite could produce songs like these, would you say they’re finished?”

“Pick up your words—say them again if you dare!”

After listening, Ear King summed it up in two words: “Absolutely brilliant.”

And when he remembered Zhou Ran planned to donate all proceeds from the album to charity, his admiration grew even deeper. He could already imagine the astronomical income the album would bring.