Chapter 330: He Still Has a Big Move!

Seeing the beauty, Chen Baixiang smiled faintly and began to sing, directing his voice toward her.

Danny appeared, and Zhou Huimin's female classmates immediately peeked from the edge of the stage.

Ah Min saw him and recalled that day's chance encounter with Ah Ming and the couple atop Tai Ping Shan—Danny must have been looking right at her.

Tan Yonglin and the others also watched him closely; before the Wynners disbanded, Chen Baixiang had frequently stepped in as a backup for the band, so Tan Yonglin and Zhong Zentao and the rest treated him well, and they all felt this song was perfect for Danny.

"Grief lingers, sorrow won't fade / Why is my heart so empty? / Love is gone, all is lost / Bitter hatred cannot be erased…"

Wei Ming felt slightly embarrassed, for the melody of this song was originally composed by Chen Baixiang himself; performing it felt like using his own creation to bestow a favor upon him.

Still, for the sake of stage impact, Wei Ming decided to choose this one of Chen Baixiang's most important works.

The song's melancholic Chinese aesthetic blended perfectly with Chen Baixiang's clear, narrative-rich voice, layering emotions of sorrow, bitterness, and determination with a restrained yet explosive power.

The young audience, especially the female viewers, upon hearing "Love and loyalty are lost, affection is gone / Yet why do I still love you?", immediately clutched their chests, screaming "Ah! Ah! Ah!"—they couldn't take it.

Teenage viewers watching on TV had their hearts melted, frantically pulling out notebooks to copy the lyrics.

In a Hong Kong affluent neighborhood, sixteen-year-old Chan Wai Yin copied the lyrics while humming along; after hearing it just once, she sang it remarkably well.

But her face held no smile—her parents had said this concert was meaningless, just singing red songs, so they hadn't bought her a ticket.

Now everyone had heard it—this concert was utterly groundbreaking—and even her parents regretted it, yet all they could do was huddle before their tiny TV.

After "Pian Pian Xi Huan Ni," the youth erupted in thunderous applause, enthusiastically supportive—even the older dignitaries found themselves accepting this pop rhythm.

Several wealthy young women began bidding, showing clear admiration for Danny, especially Ma Qingwei's sister Ma Jingyi and the daughter of the boat tycoon, whose competition grew fierce.

Li Zhi watched the wealthy girls vying over a male singer and sneered inwardly—of course it's my Master Wei's songs that are superior.

And Lingling always stays so calm—sitting in the VIP section for so long without a word—could it be she didn't bring enough money?

"Three million!" After several rounds of bidding, the third daughter of the Bao family shouted "Three million," and the elders held back—this was likely the ceiling; Li Xiaotian was about to strike the gavel.

But at that moment, a young man suddenly called out: "Wait! Wait!"

Miss He turned around—it was Xu Jinheng. Was he also going to donate?

Xu Jinheng raised one finger: "Ten million."

Zhen Ni, who had just taken a sip to moisten her throat, nearly spat out the water—there was still a master!

Her previous bid of 5. million had been the highest; now it had reached eight digits—today was truly interesting.

The branch director manually calculated the total and widened his eyes in delight—just from wealthy donors, donations had already hit thirty million—what a surprise!

Li Zhi was also astonished—who was this young lord? So extravagantly reckless.

In truth, everyone was surprised: Xu Shipwang's descendant certainly wasn't poor, but Xu Jinheng was merely the old man's grandson—not even the eldest son—could he really mobilize so much money?

Seeing himself become the center of attention, Xu Jinheng beamed proudly, then slowly said: "Don't misunderstand—I'm bidding on behalf of someone else, but rest assured, my Uncle He won't renege."

Hearing it was Mr. He, everyone understood—no wonder such a grand gesture.

Immediately afterward, Xu Jinheng requested another Chen Baixiang song: "Nian Qin En."

"Nian Qin En" was Chen Baixiang's new song from two months prior, one of his most important works—a tribute to parental love.

Wei Ming smiled wryly inside—how ironic, they picked this song.

"Long night emptiness stirs memories / Bright moon shines, I think of Mother / Parents' love, gentle as green moon / How can I not grieve, how can I not weep…" After completing the song with complex emotions, Chen Baixiang bowed deeply.

Then Chen Baixiang and Chen You took the stage in turn; due to lower popularity, together they raised only 1. million, with Chen You slightly higher.

But both delivered strong entertainment value, especially Le Ge Chen Baixiang—the actor who played Zhu Zhishan in "The Bachelor's Dream"—they should've had him join the hosting team from the start.

Wei Ming had written for him "Wo Zhi Le," effectively his personal theme song, though some lyrics were outdated and revised; henceforth, Le Ge could launch a concert on this one song alone.

As for Four-Eyes Daochang Chen You, the band's drummer, singing wasn't his strength—Wei Ming gave him "Wu Lai," a far superior piece to "Wo Zhi Le."

Listening to the song, Zheng Zhongji in the backstage felt stirred—he had to admit, Chen You didn't sing as well as the future Zheng Zhongji, but his own adaptation added self-mockery and humor, making it a personal signature.

Liu Luanxiong snatched up the rights for just 800, 00, giving himself and his fan factory a sudden surge of fame.

Even several female stars gave him extra glances; the hefty Liu felt delighted—could he develop something further with any of them?

The concert was now halfway through; the next performer was unusual—unannounced beforehand, and unfamiliar to Hong Kong audiences: Taiwan's Chen Peter. People might recognize his songs, but not his face.

Even the branch staff assisting the concert didn't know Wei Ming had invited a Taiwanese singer—this significance was monumental!

Wei Ming knew what they were thinking—he'd have to remind them later not to publicize this widely; the more the mainland promoted it, the harder Chen Peter's return to Taiwan would be.

But Chen Peter, having come, had no intention of hiding—he didn't ask Wei Ming to write him a new song, nor did he sing his own; instead, he performed Faye Wong's Mandarin song "I Am a Chinese."

"Silence isn't cowardice / Endurance isn't numbness / Confucian tradition guides our steps / Eight years of arduous resistance prove our indomitable spirit…"

Faye Wong held immense status in Taiwan, second only to Deng Lijun; this song was written for her by her master Liu Jiachang, devoid of ideology, acceptable in both Taiwan and the mainland; later, Zhang Mingmin also sang it, making it a hit and winning Hong Kong's Top Ten Chinese Golden Melody Award.

But performing this song on this stage still carried risk—in the era of political repression, forced interpretations could lead to conviction.

In a small shop in Kowloon, nineteen-year-old Chow Sing-chi and his friend Leon Lai watched the TVB broadcast; several others nearby, all lacking TVs at home, listened too.

After the past hour's songs, Chow Sing-chi and several middle-aged men began singing along—this song had high popularity in Hong Kong; later, Chow would perform it at TVB's anniversary gala.

When the camera panned to Run Run Shaw, Chow paused and said to Leon Lai beside him: "Ah Wai, next year I'm applying to TVB's training class—I want to be an actor. What do you think?"

"Sure, I support you."

Chow added: "Why don't you come with me? Look at your good looks—second only to mine—you might get picked too."

The shop clerk Leon Lai: "Ah, me? Later, later. Just listen to the song~"

But the song had ended—now came the thrilling fundraising showdown.

Every VIP here had lived through the War of Resistance; none had escaped the humiliation of Japanese invaders—the Kadoorie family had even blown up their own power station to deny electricity to the Japanese.

So when "eight years of resistance" was mentioned, everyone was fired up.

But the first bid wasn't from the elders—it was Wei Lingling: "Two million."

To everyone, this elegant, intelligent woman was unknown, yet striking—just moments ago, several wealthy heirs had tried flirting with her.

Wang Mingquan quickly introduced this "Langning Toy Factory" owner, Miss Wei Lingling.

Everyone was more astonished—just a toy factory owner? How much profit could a toy factory make?

Wei Lingling intended only to support her fellow Taiwanese; when the Bureau of Information's Director Song saw her name on the donation, he'd know who was backing Chen Peter.

She thought two million would suffice, but then a man named Michael Kadoorie bid three million, followed by Ho's three and a half million, then Qiu Degen's four and a half million—then silence.

This exceeded the budget, but Wei Lingling was determined to win—she shouted: "Six million."

Such boldness—how could anyone believe she was merely the head of a tiny toy factory? Tonight, everyone would remember Langning Toy Factory—though no one knew what kind of toys it made.

Six million—Wei Lingling won this round, then requested another Chen Peter classic: "Ali Baba," adding a light touch to the concert.

Wang Mingquan: "Next up is Kwan Cheng Kit, performing 'Ten Thousand Rivers and Mountains.' Ah Ming says he drew inspiration from Xiao Feng. Coincidentally, TVB is about to film 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes,' and Uncle Shaw has already reserved this song as its theme."

Run Run Shaw smiled faintly—using momentum for promotion? I can do that too.

Kwan Cheng Kit was a heavyweight in early Cantonese pop history—he sang the theme song of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber."

Wei Ming wasn't sure of his style, so he directly gave him next year's Kwan Cheng Kit signature song, and promised Uncle Shaw the rights as theme music.

Jin Yong was delighted too: This kid really is my fan—these lyrics are perfect!

"Ten thousand rivers and mountains stretch wide / Who fears the wind's fury, the rain's rush? / Heroic spirit swallows thunder and lightning / Draining frost-laced cups, snow-filled goblets / Alone I scale peaks, cross distant shores / How many trials does life hold?"

Huang Zhan watching on TV said: "Brilliantly written—and stylistically diverse, spanning Mandarin, English, Cantonese, and Minnan! I'm a genius—he's a celestial being!"

Wei Ming: Don't praise me—it was your own writing.

This time, Uncle Shaw was generous—he won the bid with three million, leaving Fong Yihua sighing.

Then Wang Mingquan smiled: "Kwan Cheng Kit sang 'Ten Thousand Rivers and Mountains.' Funny—I have a song too, 'Ten Thousand Rivers and Mountains Are Love'…"

Instantly, music began—the audience gasped in delight—Ah Jie was going to sing!

Though she'd rehearsed it many times, Ah Min still leaned forward, listening intently.

Wang Mingquan was from Shanghai, raised in her grandmother's home there; at nine, her Hong Kong parents brought her over—she switched effortlessly between Cantonese and Shanghainese, and even studied Japanese. In Hong Kong's entertainment circle, she was a rarity—hosting, singing, acting—all mastered. Last year's "The Dream of the Capital's Spring," she sang every theme and insert song, already possessing multiple musical classics.

Now, "Ten Thousand Rivers and Mountains Are Love" would become the brightest jewel in her musical legacy.

"Don't say green hills block the view / Wind blows fierce, rain falls hard / White clouds passing peaks still carry emotion / Don't say water changes endlessly…"

This song was truly excellent—Run Run Shaw instantly fell in love again—then Fong Yihua reminded him: "Six Brother, funny thing—Du Qifeng is writing a script called 'Ten Thousand Rivers and Mountains Are Love'!"

"Oh?" Run Run Shaw immediately said, "Have Ah Jie play the lead in that script."

"I understand. And the song?"

Run Run Shaw sighed: "Raise your paddle later."

No one expected Uncle Shaw to grow even more determined—he won this song with 4. million.

Even though he didn't donate, he could've asked Wei Ming for the song—he'd have given it, and even buying it wouldn't cost much—but donating 4. million would make the future drama a talking point, perfect for promotion.

Ten thousand rivers and mountains are love—don't look at ATV's chances.

In just a few minutes, Uncle Shaw had donated 7. million—second only to Mr. He tonight.

Among these wealthy men, Uncle Shaw's fortune couldn't compare to property tycoons or financiers—but swept up in the moment, basking in everyone's respect, he suddenly entertained the thought of claiming the top donation tonight.

After Wang Mingquan resumed hosting, the other host Li Xiaotian stopped doing his job—he wanted to sing a duet with his girlfriend.

His girlfriend was Kwan Kuk Ying, only twenty-three, famous for the hit "Crazy Tide," composed by the Hui-Wong duo, and also an actress, always playing minor roles.

Her boyfriend Li Xiaotian feared she'd be overwhelmed, so he joined too, adapting it into a duet, hoping the bosses would donate more and keep her from finishing last.

The song's title alone revealed its meaning: "Blessing."

"Wandering through the forest, facing rain / Wetting the ends of my hair / Whispering softly as the path grows weary / Leaning gently on the grass beside the clear spring~"

After "Blessing," Run Run Shaw had won three in a row, with donations reaching a staggering 10. million—the highest in the hall.

Wei Ming glanced at the smiling, chubby Li Xiaotian and guessed he was about to switch jobs.

Following "Blessing" came Lam Tsz Sang—he also sang "The True Man," a song Wei Ming had written for him seven years in advance; "Blessing" was also the signature song of Lam's wife, Yip Chien Man.

The concert had lasted over two hours—the audience was growing weary—then Lam Tsz Sang's voice boomed: "Success or failure, try your best / If you have ambition, never fear delay / Who cares if no one notices? / Achievement comes from true ability / Be a true man…"—instantly reviving the crowd.

This man had boundless energy—even decades later, he'd still sing with such vigor; no wonder he married a wife ten years younger.

Below the stage, Liu Dehua already knew he'd soon collaborate with this man on "The Runaway." Watching the radiant Lam Tsz Sang, Liu Dehua suddenly developed a strong interest in singing.

Zheng Yutong, who had competed without winning a single song, finally secured this one with 5. million—Wei Ming had once bought gold from his family's Chow Tai Fook.

As for him being surnamed Zheng, Zhou Physician is surnamed Zhou because this property came from his wife's family—could this not be considered a reversal of the concubinage son's fate?

Zhong Zentao, who had been dozing off backstage, was revived by Lin Zixiang's singing, while Tan Yonglin quickly replenished his coffee to stay alert.

Both were excited; they had originally thought raising several hundred thousand from each person would be impressive, but Zhang Mingmin set the bar so high that donations afterward soared by millions at a time—only Chen You and Ah Le fell short, failing to reach one million.

They felt confident they could outperform the two before them, yet still hoped to raise even higher amounts, for the prestige it would bring—like Danny, who somehow still looked gloomy despite raising ten million.

Next came Zhong Zentao, stepping onto the stage in a stylish jacket, exuding charm and poise.

But this song turned out unexpectedly tender, titled "Let Everything Go with the Wind"—this Wei Ming had directly purchased the rights from PolyGram Japan and penned the lyrics himself.

One major reason for the prevalence of Cantonese covers is PolyGram's vast international catalog; with a little money, one could acquire such an excellent melody, whereas composing an original was far more arduous.

"Wind within wind, cold wind in heart / Blows away dreams / Before matters are resolved, they vanish / Now comes a thousand aches…"

With Zhong Zentao's distinctive voice, the audience was drawn into his story.

In truth, Zhong Zentao was the original lead singer of the Wynners, but his later career faltered—when people mentioned the Wynners, they now thought of Principal Tan.

This song showcased his personal artistry, performed with remarkable precision.

Xia Meng paired this song with the bittersweet ending of "Mistaken Seven Days of Love"—it fit perfectly; this Xiao Wei was truly gifted!

Qiu Degen won this round; seeing only a few songs left and knowing he had come solely to donate, he felt he must contribute something—so he bid 3. million, a surprisingly high sum.

Perhaps other tycoons thought the same, so competition grew fiercer afterward.

Following Zhong Zentao was Tan Yonglin, placed in this slot as a clear sign of high regard.

He was now PolyGram's most heavily promoted artist, with boss Zheng Donghan watching his performance closely.

Many songs celebrate friendship, with several titled "Friend," yet Tan Yonglin's stood out as especially moving.

Tan Yonglin stepped on stage and first said: "Thank you, my friend Ah Ming."

Wei Ming smiled, thanking Aizawa Hiroaki—he had once again changed a melody's nationality.

"Starry lights drift / Alongside you / Strangers once / Hearts draw near / Sincerely, silently, we treat each other / Life is but a dream / Friends are like mist / True companions are rare / Through countless storms…"

It was a slow song, yet no one could ignore its power; ordinary audience members and business magnates alike had friends—some turned into enemies, others stood by till the end.

Another song that stirred memories, evoking certain people, certain moments.

Tan Yonglin poured all his emotion into the performance, striving to move every listener.

In the end, the tycoons did not disappoint him; Li Zhaoji and Feng Jingxi, old friends, competed fiercely—Li Zhaoji ultimately won with 4. million.

Then the three hosts stepped on stage together, solemnly ushering on the closing act.

She was—Xu Xiaofeng!

Rumors claimed Xu Xiaofeng was Tang Shengming's daughter, but Wei Ming found no trace of this while writing "The Right Path of Humanity Is Vast Change"—yet there was no doubt: Xu Xiaofeng was Hong Kong's most formidable female singer today.

Recently she had released another smash hit, "The Season of the Wind," and this time Wei Ming had written her an uplifting song aimed squarely at the tycoons.

"I don't know if there's an end beyond that horizon / Only that lost time will never return / Each tear accompanies each dream / Unnoticed, they all slip away…"

The queen of the music industry opened her mouth, and the audience was instantly captivated; the camera cut to the VIP seats—Li Jiacheng nodded slightly, Run Run Shaw listened intently, Henry Fok pondered deeply, Li Zhaoji and Feng Jingxi whispered to each other.

According to the previously announced lineup, Xu Xiaofeng was meant to be the final performer—she would close the show, followed by a group duet to end it.

Thus, her song selection sparked the fiercest bidding, starting at two million and climbing all the way to eight million.

Then Li Jiacheng smiled faintly: "Eleven million."

This was not only the highest single donation of the night, but also the highest individual donation, surpassing Sir Run Run's 10. million.

You could ask Run Run to bid another two or three million to compete—he might accept it—but asking him to spend eleven million in one go, over twenty million in a single day? Unless the Queen of England herself came on stage to sing for him, he would never do it.

So Run Run stepped back—eleven million stood as the night's top donation, and the title of Charity Star of the Night went to Li Jiacheng.

Since the media dubbed him "Hong Kong's Superman," he had become the publicly recognized richest man in Hong Kong, with a fortune exceeding ten billion—spending eleven million was truly befitting his status.

Then Super Li chose "The Season of the Wind," and Xu Xiaofeng sang it again, drawing thunderous applause.

While the audience was still awake, the three hosts and Wei Ming stepped on stage together.

This was Wei Ming's first official stage appearance; television viewers saw clearly—he was indeed handsome, especially standing beside Li Xiaotian.

Wei Ming held up a sheet of paper: "This lists tonight's total donations: seventy-two million nine hundred thousand. The cash in the donation boxes has not yet been counted. On behalf of the disaster-stricken people of Sichuan, I thank all viewers and all bosses!"

Saying this, Wei Ming and the three others bowed deeply in gratitude.

He continued: "Originally, the next item was a group duet—but one of my friends has just flown in from abroad, specially to support our charity concert. Let us welcome tonight's surprise guest: the renowned British female singer, Sarah Brightman, whose voice echoed at the British Prince's wedding!"

Li Jiacheng instinctively clutched his wallet, thinking: Damn it, he's got another trick up his sleeve!

…

(End of Chapter)