Song t.i.tle: 畫心 (Painted Heart)

Music Composer: 藤原育郎 (Ikuro Fujiwara)

Lyrics Composer: 陳少琪 (Keith Chan)

Performed by: 張靚穎 (Jane Zhang)

Published: Oct 20, 2008

Background: "Painted Heart" is the theme song of the Chinese drama, Painted Skin, which is an oriental ancient era romance and magic movie. I haven't actually watched this movie, but the song is beautiful. The term 'painted skin' implies a disguise that transforms a monster into a beauty.

At the very start, there was no vocalise planned, but Jane Zhang added it of her own initiative after seeing the film when she saw that the movie was about the forbidden love between a human and a fox spirit. It exhibited the desire humans had towards the beauty of the world and their fascination for superficial loveliness. The vocalise was intended to express the misgivings, confusion, and sorrow in the hearts of the characters.

I skimmed over some of the wikipedia summary and it seems to be quite a heart-wrenching story…

Original Music Video:

Sung by the same person, but in a quadruplet(?). I personally prefer this version because the quality sounds a lot better to me:

Lyrics:

kàn bù chuān， shì nǐ shī lùo de hún pò

看不穿，是你失落的魂魄

cāi bù tòu， shì nǐ tóng kǒng de yán sè

猜不透，是你瞳孔的顏色

yī zhèn fēng， yī chǎng mèng， ài rú shēng mìng bān mò cè

一陣風，一場夢，愛如生命般莫測

nǐ de xīn， dào dǐ bèi shén me gǔ hùo

你的心，到底被什麼蠱惑

What I can't see through, is your disappointed soul.

What I can't make out, is the color of your eyes.

A gust of wind, a night's dream, love is as hard to predict as life,

What exactly is keeping your heart bewitched?

nǐ de lún kùo zài hēi yè zhī zhōng yān méi

你的輪廓在黑夜之中淹沒

kàn táo huā， kāi chū zěn yàng de jiē gǔo

看桃花，開出怎樣的結果

kàn zhe nǐ， bào zhe wǒ， mù guāng sì yuè sè jì mò

看着你，抱着我，目光似月色寂寞

jìu ràng nǐ， zài bié rén huái lǐ kuài lè

就讓你，在別人懷裡快樂

Your silhouette is drowned by the night.

Look at the peach flowers, what kind of outcome would they reveal?

As I watch you, hug me, my gaze is as still as the moon,

I can only allow you, to find happiness in another's arms.

ài zhe nǐ， xiàng xīn tiào， nán chù mō

愛着你，像心跳，難觸摸

huà zhe nǐ， huà bù chū nǐ de gǔ gé

畫着你，畫不出你的骨骼

jì zhe nǐ de liǎn sè， shì wǒ děng nǐ de zhí zhúo

記着你的臉色，是我等你的執着

nǐ shì wǒ， yī shǒu chàng bù wán de gē

你是我，一首唱不完的歌

Loving you, is as natural as a heartbeat, despite its intangible nature.

When I try to draw you, I'm unable to draw your bones.

I memorize your features, because I can't give up waiting for you.

You're the song, that I can never finish singing.

kàn bù chuān， shì nǐ shī lùo de hún pò

看不穿，是你失落的魂魄

cāi bù tòu， shì nǐ tóng kǒng de yán sè

猜不透，是你瞳孔的顏色

yī zhèn fēng， yī chǎng mèng， ài rú shēng mìng bān mò cè

一陣風，一場夢，愛如生命般莫測

nǐ de xīn， dào dǐ bèi shén me gǔ hùo

你的心，到底被什麼蠱惑

What I can't see through, is your disappointed soul.

What I can't make out, is the color of your eyes.

A gust of wind, a night's dream, love is as hard to predict as life,

What exactly is keeping your heart bewitched?

nǐ de lún kùo zài hēi yè zhī zhōng yān méi

你的輪廓在黑夜之中淹沒

kàn táo huā， kāi chū zěn yàng de jiē gǔo

看桃花，開出怎樣的結果

kàn zhe nǐ， bào zhe wǒ， mù guāng sì yuè sè jì mò

看着你，抱着我，目光似月色寂寞

jìu ràng nǐ， zài bié rén huái lǐ kuài lè

就讓你，在別人懷裡快樂

Your silhouette is drowned by the night.

Look at the peach flowers, what kind of outcome would they reveal?

As I watch you, hug me, my gaze is as still as the moon,

I can only allow you, to find happiness in another's arms.

ài zhe nǐ， xiàng xīn tiào， nán chù mō

愛着你，像心跳，難觸摸

huà zhe nǐ， huà bù chū nǐ de gǔ gé

畫着你，畫不出你的骨骼

jì zhe nǐ de liǎn sè， shì wǒ děng nǐ de zhí zhúo

記着你的臉色，是我等你的執着

nǐ shì wǒ， yī shǒu chàng bù wán de gē

你是我，一首唱不完的歌

Loving you, is as natural as a heartbeat, despite its intangible nature.

When I try to draw you, I'm unable to draw your bones.

I memorize your features, because I can't give up waiting for you.

You're the song, that I can never finish singing.

nǐ de lún kùo zài hēi yè zhī zhōng yān méi

你的輪廓在黑夜之中淹沒

kàn táo huā， kāi chū zěn yàng de jiē gǔo

看桃花，開出怎樣的結果

kàn zhe nǐ， bào zhe wǒ， mù guāng sì yuè sè jì mò

看着你，抱着我，目光似月色寂寞

jìu ràng nǐ， zài bié rén huái lǐ kuài lè

就讓你，在別人懷裡快樂

Your silhouette is drowned by the night.

Look at the peach flowers, what kind of outcome would they reveal?

As I watch you, hug me, my gaze is as still as the moon,

I can only allow you, to find happiness in another's arms.

ài zhe nǐ， xiàng xīn tiào， nán chù mō

愛着你，像心跳，難觸摸

huà zhe nǐ， huà bù chū nǐ de gǔ gé

畫着你，畫不出你的骨骼

jì zhe nǐ de liǎn sè， shì wǒ děng nǐ de zhí zhúo

記着你的臉色，是我等你的執着

wǒ de xīn， zhǐ yuàn wéi nǐ ér gē shě

我的心，只願爲你而割捨

Loving you, is as natural as a heartbeat, despite its intangible nature.

When I try to draw you, I'm unable to draw your bones.

I memorize your features, because I can't give up waiting for you.

You are the only one, I'm willing to part with (cut out) my heart for.

Happy reading~

Chapter 200: You Should Wash Them

The next day, Phoenix came over to notify the school doctor uncle and Ning Shu to prepare to leave.

The school doctor uncle was still the one driving. The rest of the group were already waiting in the car. They looked like they were in very bad moods.

One of the reasons why Wolf still hadn't tried to kill the school doctor uncle was because they couldn't drive the car. They couldn't figure out how to start it at all. In addition, they were worried about the bomb the school doctor had talked about.

There was no need to explain how annoyed Wolf was to see the school doctor uncle and Ning Shu. When facing them, he would always look at them with disdain and lofty contempt, as if he was being oh so merciful in letting them live.

Ning Shu ignored Wolf's contemptful looks and skillfully chose to be deaf to Spider's mocking. Her skin had really grown a lot thicker.

They encountered many more zombies before they finally reached the city.

The group pa.s.sed through the city and discovered that it was filled with zombies. There was not a single human in sight. They were originally planning to gather more supplies, but when they looked, they found that all the supermarkets were pretty much empty.

It gave them a very bad feeling. Ning Shu was wondering if the nation had already collapsed. Had the humans already moved to different bases?

h.e.l.l, who was she supposed to hand the gene essence to if the nation was gone?

Ning Shu became extremely depressed.

It was already late in the night. The group found a small apartment to stay in. There were some  zombies wandering in the corridors but it didn't take long to deal with them.

Ning Shu twisted a faucet. Although water did come out, she wasn't sure if it was drinkable. In the end, she decided not to drink it. The virus had already wrecked the world to the point that even water sources had become polluted.

Ning Shu looked towards the school doctor uncle. This guy seriously was a force of destruction!

"Uncle," shouted Ning Shu.

The school doctor uncle glanced at Ning Shu. "What is it?"

Ning Shu grabbed the school doctor uncle's hand and tried earnestly to persuade him. "Uncle, you should f-ing just give up on Phoenix. Let's run. There are a lot of abandoned cars in the city so Wolf doesn't need you anymore."

Didn't he notice that Wolf had been looking at them with murderous intent ever since they had arrived in the city?

Even though the situation was already like this, the uncle still wanted Phoenix.

The school doctor uncle lowered his eyes to glance at Ning Shu's hands, then pulled his hand out of her grasp with disdain. "Your hands are so dirty. You should wash them."

Ning Shu wailed, "Uncle…"

#comment: "In addition, they were worried about the bomb the school doctor had talked about." And that's why I shouldn't be a special agent. I completely forgot that there was a bomb even though I translated that line like… a week ago? Maybe I still have hope, it's only been like three days in the story… I think.

Happy reading~

Chapter 201: Another Lower Cla.s.s Person

The thing that made Ning Shu the most speechless was the fact that she was speaking very seriously to the uncle about a very important matter, yet he was always reacting like this. It was infuriating!

"Uncle ah…" cried Ning Shu helplessly. "I'm about to die from vexation you know!"

The school doctor uncle propped up his chin as he looked at Ning Shu. As he took in her scrunched up expression, he said indolently, "I really don't know what you're always so vexed about. Girl, can't you just be content?"

Ning Shu: …

The f.u.c.k? He was even looking down on her!?

Ha. Ha. Ha…

The group continued forward and finally found a base where humans were gathered. There were a lot of people crowded around the base entrance. It was a very moving sight after such a long journey.

Ning Shu followed after the school doctor uncle and waited at the entrance to enter the base. The first thing she was going to do when she got into the base was shower!

Wolf and Phoenix were lined up in front. The base registrar had a very arrogant att.i.tude towards everyone. When it was Wolf's turn, he asked, "What's your name? How old are you? Have you awakened a special ability?"

Wolf didn't say anything and just made lightning appear on his hand. Crackling noises resounded as he stood there in a cool manner.

"Lightning ability, you actually have a lightning type ability!" The registrar stood up in shock to get a better look at Wolf's ability. His expression immediately turned respectful and he asked, "May I ask what's your name? This way it'll be easier for the base to arrange a place for you to stay."

Everyone around looked at Wolf with envy and jealousy. Those with special abilities got better supplies and their quality of housing was also better.

Those who didn't awaken special abilities were treated as lower cla.s.s people. Their lives were very difficult and they had no choice but to do the dirty work in the base.

"Wolf, twenty-eight years old, lightning type ability," replied Wolf mildly in a very aloof manner.

Following that was Phoenix. Her ice type ability also caused a sensation and she smoothly got a room key. Then there was Spider with his wood type ability. After he get his room key, he turned around and made a throat-slitting motion towards Ning Shu.

Ning Shu glanced at Spider. She had no idea how she had offended this guy for him to hate her so much.

When it came to the school doctor uncle's turn, Ning Shu paid close attention since she had been curious about the school doctor uncle's name for a long time. The registrar looked at the school doctor uncle and asked, "What's your name and what's your ability?"

"Psycho," replied the school doctor uncle.

"Pfff… cough cough." Ning Shu had to hammer her chest to breathe. Was it really alright to give his code name so openly?

The registrar clearly didn't know about anyone named 'psycho.' When he heard this name, he just looked at the uncle coldly and said, "I'm talking about your name. Your name is Psycho?"

"En," responded the school doctor uncle with a straight face.

"What's your ability?"

The school doctor shook his head. "I don't have one."

"Those without abilities are lower cla.s.s people," said the registrar indifferently.

Ning Shu had been waiting next to the school doctor uncle this entire time, so when her turn came, she immediately said, "Daisy, no special ability."

The registrar shook his head in disappointment. "Another lower cla.s.s person."

Ning Shu: …