A narcotics officer takes center stage

"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.