A narcotics officer takes center stage

The musical artists had reservations when they were asked to stage the true story of a narcotics officer. But after actually meeting the heroes, they were deeply moved and agreed.

"I get too immersed in every production I work on," chief producer Li Dun says.

"Now, indeed, I have sunken into the story. In fact, the whole team has."

The musical, Reborn, jointly presented by the Ministry of Public Security and Tencent Pictures, is currently under production by Halolive Musical. It aims to raise awareness of narcotics officers and their families, who support their cause behind the scenes.

The story begins in 2005, when narcotics officer Luo Jinyong and his wife, Luo Yingzhen, went on vacation. During the trip, Luo Jinyong spotted three men suspected of drug trafficking. They attacked him when he revealed he was a cop.

With the help of passers-by, one of them was apprehended. He was in possession of illegal drugs at the time.

The encounter left Luo Jinyong in a coma.

Although expert doctors said there was little possibility he'd wake up, Luo Yingzhen kept looking after him meticulously. She wrote more than 600 love letters to him.

After 20 months, Luo Jinyong miraculously awoke in 2007 and has since been slowly regaining his physical abilities.

The musical's director and writer, Zhou Ke, says she had reservations that it may create a stereotypical image of the self-sacrificing woman.

But after she saw the couple and learned of their stories before the incident, Zhou found that Luo Yingzhen is actually a free-spirited woman who loves reading, longs for romance and speaks candidly.

Their relationship is also based on mutual support.

"While we might assume that Luo Jinyong is the one who can't live without his wife, I was deeply moved when she told me that she also can't live without her husband," Zhou says.

"She said she sometimes felt she couldn't carry on living when he was in a coma. Writing love letters day and night made her feel that he was still there, keeping her company, giving her the courage to face everyday life."

Li says that upon visiting the couple, he felt a personal responsibility to tell their heroic story authentically.

"They're both heroes. They complete each other," he says.

"We must approach the story with sincerity and walk into the deepest depths of human nature. The true story itself is so touching. So, we must preserve it and tell it in a genuine way."

The production team consists of experienced musical artists from home and abroad.

"For the dance part only, we have several internationally recognized choreographers. Our team is constantly in a frenetic state, changing and improving the details. Everybody is stimulated and motivated by the story. We must do it right," Li says.

Since the couple lived in Yunnan province, the front line of China's fight against drug trafficking, before the incident, the production also incorporates regional characteristics, such as ethnic music and dance.

Reborn has postponed its premiere in Beijing to September because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. A tour of 100 performances in major cities around China is planned to take place in the next few years.

In the meantime, the crew is continuing to raise awareness about narcotics officers who conceal their identities to combat drugs.

On June 26, the musical will launch an online campaign, entitled "My Mosaic Father", using comics to honor narcotics officers' work and highlight the importance of drug prohibition.

The musical also plans to establish a fund with sponsorship, advertising revenue and a portion of box-office earnings to support the lives of police officers' families and their children's education.