Zhuang Yujie

A: My day starts with hitting snooze. Once the alarm goes off, I basically sleep as long as I can and set my departure time just right. Then I check LINE to see what I need to take care of at work that day. Luckily, I live close to work now, so my mornings are not poetic in the slightest. (Haha)

A: Near CTS, the studio (Banqiao), and live houses.

1. A popular vegetarian restaurant in Yansan Night Market, near Daqiaotou Station. The vegetarian ba-wan and tofu-skin noodles are highly recommended.

2. Tic Tac Cafe (踢他咖啡) — I recommend the cocoa espresso: chocolate paired with a shot of espresso makes for a sweet treat that’s sure to wake you up. They also have melon milk tea, with a subtle melon flavor and rich milky aroma. You might want to add some sugar or ask for a little honey.
   
   Fan page:www.facebook.com/tictaccaf

A: Rehearse with the band and make music; watch movies and TV series. Recently, I watched a German series called *Dark*—it was so good!! I feel that European and American aesthetics are quite different, and their approaches to storytelling differ as well. Germany also has a strong philosophical tradition, so the show has real depth, and its storylines are thought-provoking.

A: Turning 30 feels like a turning point in my growth—a kind of coming-of-age ritual!

I’d been at CTS for a long time then, and had wondered whether I should change jobs and try a different environment. Around that time, The Tic Tac was planning to release an album, so I thought maybe I should take the opportunity to seriously pursue something. As for whether you have to give certain things up to fulfill your dreams, not really. Whether you have a job or not, if there’s something you want to do, you can still go for it.

I have a lot of friends around me who create music while also working hard at their jobs. Have they given up on their dreams? They just haven’t announced to the world, “I’m going to do this.” And because my profession is considered a pretty good job by many people, when I step away from the anchor desk, everyone magnifies it. I’m really not that great; what’s great is “sticking with one thing and doing it well for a lifetime.” Dreams aren’t out of reach—it just comes down to whether you “want to.”

A: From a listening perspective, music is much like a mirror, because you can’t deceive it. Your feelings and mood in the moment are reflected in the music you choose. One interesting thing is that when chatting with friends, you can analyze their preferences and behavior based on the types of music they choose. When creating music, a person’s personality comes through in the arrangement and the way they perform. You see, “it’s a mirror.”

A: “Love in the Time of Cholera” tells the story of a love triangle spanning more than half a century. After finishing it, I felt like the heroine was me (laughs). Another thing I took away from it is that, even more so in turbulent times and circumstances beyond your control, if you’re willing to keep doing what you want to do, that in itself is romantic. It’s a really good book—I wanted to start reading it all over again as soon as I finished. I once heard that novelists set a kind of threshold: once you cross it, you can quickly immerse yourself in the world they create. I’m not sure if it’s because I’ve read some of his other works, but while reading this book, it was easy to understand the story he wanted to tell.

A: Taiwan is convenient and full of warmth. It’s a place with a high degree of inclusivity and freedom, which is very appealing to me. In a way, I’d say it’s quite prosperous; people are just so used to it that they don’t really appreciate it.

When it comes to safety, it’s perfectly safe to walk alone on the streets in the early hours of the morning. In other countries, that would be very dangerous. Taiwan has 24-hour convenience stores, fast-food restaurants, beauty stores, and supermarkets, as well as night markets packed with all kinds of street food. Taiwan is wonderful!

A: Rather than saying it’s something I look forward to, I’d say it’s one of my standards for accommodations. When choosing a place to stay, I pay particular attention to the bathroom. It should be bright and spacious, and having a separate shower and toilet area is a bonus!

A: I pass by Chezri pretty often, usually on my way to pick up a late-night snack (laughs). Every time I go by, I can’t help peeking inside. It’s bright and clean, with a touch of stylish design. The front desk staff were so thoughtful—when I checked in, they even handed me a glass of water. I was amazed!

I highly recommend the bathroom—it’s spacious and gets great natural light, so I think the ladies will love it. The marble countertop is gorgeous too; I took several Instagram-worthy photos (laughs).