Chapter 1
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What did the 90s have?
For Lin Hao in the past, this question would’ve felt quite unfamiliar. But for him now… let’s say, there were a lot of things that later became routine for him but were big news back then.
For instance, starting May 1, 1995, the country adopted the two-day weekend system, which was great news for everyone. But for the old Lin Hao… well, the idea of 996 (working 9 am-9 pm, 6 days a week) may not have seemed new.
What else?
Lin Hao adjusted his position, lying down in the park. Kids nearby played and laughed fearlessly under the intense June sun, while adults found shade to cool off.
Everyone gathered near the “Universal Video Shop.”
Oh, right—back in this era, renting discs to watch movies and TV shows was popular. From video tapes to VCDs and eventually DVDs, classic films entered thousands of households. They were watching… *Flirting Scholar*?
Nice, a classic.
Speaking of Hong Kong films in the 90s, it was the golden era’s closing chapter. Still, many works familiar to people born in the 80s and 90s emerged.
Oh, and they’re still selling cassette tapes here.
The store was playing Zheng Jun’s *Back to Lhasa*. His album, released last year, was a hit. Since Tang Dynasty’s *A Dream Return to Tang Dynasty* in ’92 and Black Panther’s *Black Panther*, it seemed everyone was caught up in China’s rock craze of the late 80s and 90s.
Of course, the rock legend of the time was still Cui Jian. Lin Hao didn’t fully understand Cui Jian’s influence but had heard a few of his songs and knew his standing.
Yep, Zheng Jun’s song was decent.
If they play *Nothing to My Name*, though, I bet the grandparents will take the kids and leave.
…
Indeed, the older folks didn’t understand rock either. They only sat in the shade to watch over their grandchildren.
Naturally, sitting there, they started chatting. The aunties wouldn’t miss a chance to talk to anyone nearby.
“Young man, let me tell you, I’m not exaggerating here. Zhang’s daughter—she’s a first-rate beauty. If you’re interested, I’ll set up a meeting. I tell you, she works at the paging service—quite impressive…”
The aunt kept talking. She had observed this young man for days, with his fair complexion, tall and lean build, and a handsome face. Sure, he’d been coming here regularly, seemingly with nothing much to do, but he didn’t look like a loafer.
She knew he lived nearby and rode his bike here every day. Occasionally, he’d write something in a neat script with his fountain pen. A scholarly man!
Probably, she thought, a high school teacher on summer break. Zhang’s daughter had high standards, but this young man looked decent and reliable—she’d bet Zhang’s daughter would like him.
And that watch on his wrist—it looked valuable. The aunt was sharp; she remembered her rich son-in-law from the Sun family had flaunted one just like it. But this young man’s watch was even nicer!
Good family background, too!
If she didn’t act now, Aunt Li next door would definitely make her move. This wasn’t the sort of neighborhood where you could wait your turn.
“A lone shadow by the river, an old acquaintance in the world, why must we know each other to meet?”
Then Aunt Li would step in.
…
“A paging service? A beeper?”
Lin Hao squinted his eyes, recalling a distant memory. But more importantly, he thought of how mobile phones were becoming a new trend. Soon, beepers would disappear. Zhang’s daughter would need a new job.
That said…
His dad used to have one of those.
“Exactly! Zhang’s daughter makes a few hundred a month! If you’re interested, Auntie can set you up?” The aunt didn’t know what Lin Hao was thinking and took his surprised look as encouragement. She thought about how she’d brag if she succeeded in matchmaking.
“Thank you, Auntie, but I’m still only seventeen. Legally speaking, you might have to keep looking,” Lin Hao said, smiling as he turned toward a familiar figure approaching in the distance.
“Huh? You’re only seventeen? No wonder I thought you looked a bit young. So you really are…”
She took a closer look. Although he dressed maturely, he did look quite young.
“Really seventeen? What a pity…”
“Yes, Auntie, sorry about that…” Lin Hao didn’t mind, politely excusing himself and greeting the approaching figure.
“Don’t even ask,” said the newcomer.
The young man looked clean but had an air of restlessness. “They’re all a bunch of idiots.”
The aunt quickly left, sighing inwardly. Such a good young man—why was he hanging out with someone like that?
…
Pushing their bikes, Lin Hao and the young man headed home.
“Come on, lower your expectations a bit. Zheng Jun’s blowing up, so of course Red Star Records is promoting him. You’re new, give it time,” Lin Hao said.
“…I can see that they don’t take me seriously,” said the young man, disgruntled.
“What do you expect? You’re treating a few songs like your big break. It takes the right timing, place, and people to get big,” Lin Hao advised.
“Hao, why do you sound like an old man?” Xu Wei stopped, staring at Lin Hao, who was over ten years younger than him but sounded far more mature. “Sometimes, I feel like you’re in your late 20s, and I’m the teenager.”
“Maybe I am.”
Lin Hao stopped as well, looking up at the sky. “Maybe you’re living as an 18-year-old, and I’m older.”
“…I shouldn’t have brought it up,” Xu Wei murmured, thinking of Lin Hao’s family circumstances. His father had died in a car accident earlier that year, leaving him alone in the world.
Lin Hao, a high school senior, had taken it hard and even took a break from school. It was no small matter for anyone, and Xu Wei regretted being so insensitive.
The rebellious, restless spirit of a young rocker in this era was arrogant, impatient, and often overly macho. But Xu Wei wasn’t without redeeming qualities.
He may have been poor, but he saw Lin Hao as a little brother he would take care of in the future. Xu Wei often imagined showing him the big world once he’d made it.
But today, he’d put his foot in his mouth.
So, they walked in silence, which suited Lin Hao just fine.
…
Lin Hao wasn’t always this laid-back.
But when you realize you’ve time-traveled to 1995 into the life of a random high school senior—one who’s drifting through life after his father’s death—how would you react?
And in a time when not even cell phones were common, when pagers were a novelty, what else could you do?
It was boring. Truly boring. For someone used to the constant information flow of the modern world, it was enough to drive you crazy if you didn’t chill out.
In 2020, not looking at your phone for half an hour could feel like being cut off from the world. In 1995, everything was slower. People got their news from newspapers, and TVs weren’t common in every home.
Lin Hao, though, had a house in the capital… and a fair share of properties. His father had been a successful businessman, and even with relatives eyeing the inheritance, the family had managed to hold on.
But he only knew the details of his new life after coming here.
So he cut off old friendships and remained quiet, which his doctor said was normal.
…
“Oh, I forgot it’s Tuesday afternoon!”
Once inside, Xu Wei turned on the TV and started grumbling again. That colorful mess on the screen was a childhood memory for Lin Hao, but now, it was a weekly routine.
“Let’s watch a disc instead.”
VCDs were all the rage, no longer leaving TV as the only option. Xu Wei happily pulled out the new rental. Last year, he’d been flat broke, but now he had access to discs—all thanks to his generous landlord.
After all, they were both musicians.
Though Lin Hao wouldn’t admit it, Xu Wei had once overheard him humming a few lyrics, which had excited him. Xu Wei couldn’t find any other reason Lin Hao would take him in—was it for that one song, *Blue Bird*?
It couldn’t be that. Still, when Lin Hao said he wanted to act instead of sing…
“My acting skills… aren’t bad, or at least I think so,” Lin Hao once said.
Xu Wei couldn’t help but laugh: “Come on, take it easy.”
Acting?
He didn’t know the full story, but he knew the kind of people who got into prestigious schools in Beijing. If Xu Wei’s parents had a son like Lin Hao, they’d have treated him like a prince!
And to think, with a good background and high grades, Lin Hao was planning to act? Just study hard, they’d say—other parents would envy them.