Chapter 18: Unexpected Surprise

Zhou Huimin stood beside the piano, her fingertips lightly tapping the keys, while Leslie Cheung stood by her side; the two were rehearsing "Silence is Gold."

"Ah Min, the vibrato on this line could be a bit softer," Leslie Cheung instructed softly. "Yes, just like that. Hold back the emotion a little."

Zhou Huimin nodded and sang it again: "In the unseen, it was long ago destined whether you are rich or poor..."

Leslie Cheung smiled with satisfaction: "Very good. Sing it like this tomorrow."

Li Keqin and Sam Hui were adjusting the microphones.

"Brother Sam, should we lower the key for 'Walking the Road of Life' a bit more tomorrow?" Li Keqin asked.

Sam Hui waved his hand: "No need. The original key is fine; your vocal range is perfectly no problem."

He patted Li Keqin's shoulder: "Rest assured, with me here, tomorrow is secure."

Xiang Qian paced back and forth anxiously, his phone pressed to his ear: "Sister Mei, is there really no way to spare some time?... Alright, I understand."

After hanging up the phone, he sighed. Anita Mui had a sudden engagement and could not serve as his guest singer.

"This is trouble now..."

Just as he was worrying, a burst of hearty laughter came from the end of the corridor. Xiang Qian looked up and immediately widened his eyes—

Jackie Chan was striding forward with several staff members, seemingly just finishing a film promotion.

Xiang Qian took a deep breath, jogged over, and blocked Jackie Chan's path, bowing deeply first: "Brother Jackie Chan, hello!"

Jackie Chan was startled by this sudden move but quickly recognized Xiang Qian: "Eh? Aren't you that... Wu Xiang Qian?"

"Yes, it's me!" Xiang Qian nodded hurriedly. "Brother Jackie Chan, I have an unreasonable request..."

Jackie Chan looked him over with interest: "Tell me and let me hear?"

Xiang Qian was direct: "I want to ask you to be my guest singer for the finals!"

"Me?" Jackie Chan pointed at himself and laughed heartily. "Little brother, you've got the wrong person, right? Who doesn't know I sing off-key!"

Xiang Qian, however, looked serious: "Brother Jackie Chan, although singing is not your forte, your stage charisma is unmatched! What the audience loves to see is your true nature!"

Jackie Chan stroked his chin: "You kid certainly know how to talk..."

"But..." Jackie Chan suddenly grinned cunningly, "I have a condition."

Xiang Qian nodded immediately: "Speak!"

"Write me a song," Jackie Chan winked, "one that will become famous on every street and alley the moment it's heard!"

Xiang Qian's eyes lit up: "No problem! How about 'A Man Should Strengthen Himself'?"

Jackie Chan was stunned: "Did you just make that up?"

Xiang Qian smiled mysteriously: "It was tailored specifically for you long ago; I just didn't expect to meet you today."

Jackie Chan became interested: "Sing it for me to hear?"

Xiang Qian cleared his throat and began to hum: "Proud spirit, proud laughter over ten thousand waves; hot blood, hotter than the red sun..."

Before he had even sung two lines, Jackie Chan clapped his hand on the table in admiration: "Great! I want this song!"

He threw an arm around Xiang Qian's shoulder: "Let's go, straight to the rehearsal room; let's finalize tomorrow's song too!"

Looking at the sheet music, Jackie Chan frowned: "'Fok Yuen Gap'? I've never sung this song."

Xiang Qian handed him a bottle of mineral water: "It's very simple. I'll sing the verses, and you handle the chorus and the martial arts performance part."

"Martial arts performance?" Jackie Chan's eyes lit up. "I'm good at that!"

Xiang Qian smiled: "Exactly! You sing while fighting; it will absolutely shock the whole audience!"

Jackie Chan tried it out with great enthusiasm: "Huo, Huo, Huo, Huo, Huo, Huo, Huo, Huo..."

"Perfect!" Xiang Qian gave a thumbs up. "Just like that!"

At two in the morning, the rehearsal room was still brightly lit.

A staff member yawned: "Brother Long, do you want to rest..."

"Rest what!" Jackie Chan was full of energy. "Do it again!"

He turned to Xiang Qian and said: "Little brother, your big brother either doesn't do it, or if he does, he does it to the best!"

Xiang Qian nodded, moved: "With those words from you, tomorrow we will definitely blow the whole venue away!"

Early the next morning, Zhou Huimin met Xiang Qian in the dressing room and asked in surprise: "Why are your eyes so red?"

Xiang Qian gulped down some coffee: "Practiced all night with Brother Jackie Chan."

Just then, Jackie Chan pushed the door open, full of spirit: "Good morning, little brother. Who is this?"

"My girlfriend," Xiang Qian said, smiling at Zhou Huimin. "Big brother, how is the preparation?"

Jackie Chan looked at Xiang Qian with an expression of understanding, then patted Xiang Qian's shoulder: "Rest assured, today your big brother definitely won't lose face for you!"

Zhou Huimin, blushing, asked curiously: "What song are you going to sing?"

Jackie Chan winked mysteriously: "Secret! I'll give you a surprise later!"

Li Keqin saw Jackie Chan and was so surprised his jaw dropped: "Brother Long? How did you..."

Sam Hui was also quite surprised: "Ah Long, are you crossing over?"

Jackie Chan laughed heartily: "Here to support the young people!"

Leslie Cheung walked over and said meaningfully to Xiang Qian: "You kid always manage to give people surprises."