Trash

"Hiding from the demons

pointing at my weakness

Basking in the darkness, I cried again

With tears, pouring down like rain

Breaking down the chains

crossing the borders

Walking past the flames

searing my heart and veins..."

A heartbreakingly slow music composed of dramatic drum and piano sounds that could cause one to feel anxious as the background score, an agonized female voice sang the english words with fluency. The song was appeasing but one could sense the disorder between the music and the lyrics as if the slow sad music was not expressing those beautiful words perfectly. It felt as though something was missing that could bring out the depth of the lyrics.

Li Xiaoyi held her mobile tightly that played a small part of her upcoming single.

"Wow...Senior Li, look at these goosebumps on my hands. Trust me, everyone will be crying after hearing this outstanding song" Wei Li said rubbing her arms as if she really had goosebumps on her skin.

"God...Senior Li has always been my favourite singer. I thought you will not sing anymore since you went abroad. But now you blessed my poor ears with such a great song after two years.." Lin Yu squealed like a fan girl.

"Wei Li...Lin Yu. You girls are too good with words but I'm really worried that my listeners will get disappointed" Li Xiaoyi said modestly but internally she was well pleased and flying high with contentment on hearing the compliments.

She started her career more than five years ago and all her previous songs were sweet melodies on love confessions and ballads on broken relationships. Those classic, heart soothing songs she previously sang could never match upto the edgy songs written based on themes of life, pain, struggles and self love.

Songs based on these topics were more produced by internationally popular singers from the Western countries.

Some male artists within the country who collaborated with foreign singers produced such songs but no female singer from the country released such a song with outspoken lyrics till date.

She was worried as she never released a song based on a sensitive topic of women, their struggling and the hidden stories. She tried to contact many producers but the best piece she could was the present one she played. Moreover, it was her first ever complete english song since the beginning of her career. She was afraid people who loved her previous soft songs that were within a restrictive zone wouldn't accept this work that greatly varies from her past songs.

But this one being in English, it could be receiving globally. She had high hopes on this particular song as this one song's success on an international front would multiply the glory and fame she had and would also show her firm stance as a solo artist in the country where boy bands and girl groups were ruling the present day music world. She's no longer young to rely on her looks to entice the public and needs good content to capture their hearts.

Wei Li and Lin Yu tried their best in flattering Li Xiaoyi until she finally walked away from them to take a phone call. Once Li Xiaoyi left the space, they both started fighting as one was more agitated than other. Both wanted to be in good relationship with Li Xiaoyi but both were irritated with how the other person spoke to Li Xiaoyi and behaved like a pet dog wagging it's tail to the owner.

"You...do you even understand English, you said it's an outstanding song?" Lin Yu scoffed looking at Wei Li.

"Then what about you? Do you know what those lyrics mean? You said your ears are blessed...Hah..What a joke?!" Wei Li scoffed.

"At least, I learnt piano for a few years and had some knowledge about music unlike you who only knows blabbing nonsense without any understanding"

"Oh...great. Someone with music knowledge will not squeal like an idiot after hearing such trash"

"If what you heard was trash, then why did act like you had goosebumps?" 

"I had goosebumps because it sounded like trash, what? You've got some problem with that?!!"

Wei Li and Lin Yu acted like crazy women and calmed down only when their respective assistants dragged them back from getting into a physical fight. 

Wu Jinyan stood behind a wall and looked around like a sneaky cat to locate Li Xiaoyi but didn't find her anywhere. She breathed in relief assuming that Li Xiaoyi was not in the studios amd walked forward.

Noticing the filming crew staff were looking for her, she approached one of the staff member who instantly questioned her "Where were you all this while?"

"Sorry.. I got lost" Wu Jinyan spoke apologetically before hurrying towards the set where the director was patiently waiting for her.

With all the required personnel and artists gathered together, the director immediately explained them the concept and asked for their cooperation to complete the filming within given little time. 

The video would start with a woman who was tired of loneliness, breaking free from the chains she was tied with. Later she escapes from the darkness she was locking in and enters the free world to see the sunlight and colourful sceneries. After leaving the darkness, the woman who came to feel the light, wants to mingle with the public and enjoy all the goodness of being a free bird. She struggles to become friends with the people around her who make fun of her and break her heart. She beomes a lone soul even in the land full of people. Broken inside out, she hates the dark hearted people in the open light and goes back into the same darkness she initially escaped from.

As per the concept given, Wei Li was supposed to be locked with huge metal chains in a dark place with an eerie background. Her part was the simplest as all she had to was struggle free from the chains and run out of the darkness to see the open light. The following portion where the woman enjoys the open world in which Lin Yu acts had to be done outdoors and also requires technical adjustments post filming.

The final part where the woman ends up in the darkness again could be filmed the same time. Hence, Wu Jinyan was given appropriate directions to act for ending scene of the music video.

While Wei Li was acting her part, Wu Jinyan was clothed in a torn dress and given a makeup to display the pale complexion and haggard look resembling the woman who lost all her energy and radiance. Scar marks were added on her hands and feet to emphasize the pain and torment the woman suffered during the time she stayed in the outside world.

Once she was done with her makeup, Wu Jinyan came out to watch the shooting. She was watching silently from a side but on hearing the English lyrics of the song playing in the background that sounded way too familiar to her, she fell in a daze and lost her footing.