Huayu: Starting from joining the mainstream entertainment industry in 96

Chapter 190, Section 188: Zhe Zhi

May 29, 1998, around 5 p.m.

Dajun drove his unassuming black Audi smoothly through the traffic.

In the back row, Wang Sheng leaned back in his chair, his gaze casually sweeping across the street scene outside the window.

Cecilia Cheung sat on the other side, looking slightly reserved, with her hands folded on her knees and her fingertips slightly clenched, revealing a hint of nervousness and anticipation.

She stole a glance at Wang Sheng beside her. He looked calm, as if he were just making a perfectly ordinary dinner invitation.

This calmed her pounding heart a little.

The car eventually stopped on a relatively quiet street in Haiding District, at the same newly opened, stylishly decorated Hong Kong-style tea restaurant.

Warm yellow light shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the simple signboard at the entrance.

"arrive."

As Wang Sheng spoke, he was the first to push open the door and get out of the car.

Cecilia Cheung followed them downstairs, and when she looked up and saw the restaurant's Hong Kong style, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, which then turned into a warm feeling.

She hadn't expected Wang Sheng to bring her to a place like this; it was clearly to cater to her tastes.

This unintentional act of thoughtfulness warmed her heart.

"Mr. Wang, you also like eating at Hong Kong-style tea restaurants?" she couldn't help but ask in Mandarin with a Cantonese accent, her tone filled with surprise.

"Hmm, the taste here is pretty authentic," Wang Sheng replied casually, leading her into the restaurant.

I've been here several times with Li Xiaoran, and the food is indeed delicious.

The familiar soft lighting and the languid melodies of old Cantonese songs immediately come to mind.

Wang Sheng seemed to know the place well, and went straight to a quieter booth located inside.

After we were seated, a waiter wearing a retro plaid vest handed us the menu.

Cecilia Cheung flipped through the menu and saw those familiar dish names: shrimp dumplings, siu mai, stir-fried beef noodles, pineapple buns, Hong Kong-style milk tea...

The portions at Hong Kong-style tea restaurants are usually small, so you can order several dishes to try.

Looking at the dazzling array of dishes on the menu, she impulsively pointed to the pictures and ordered several items.

"Shrimp dumplings, honey-glazed char siu buns, satay tripe, XO sauce stir-fried radish cake, flaky egg tarts... and a glass of iced lemon tea, no dessert." She ordered in a light and cheerful tone, with the excitement of a young girl.

Wang Sheng only ordered a bowl of signature wonton noodles and a glass of salted lemon soda.

After ordering, the waiter collected the menu and left.

Only two people remained in the small booth, and the air suddenly became somewhat quiet.

Cecilia Cheung held the hot water cup in front of her with both hands, her fingertips tracing the inside of the cup, unsure of what to say.

Wang Sheng wasn't a talkative person; he simply leaned back in his chair, calmly looking at her, as if waiting for her to speak.

This silence made Cecilia Cheung a little uneasy, and she tried hard to find a topic to talk about.

Wang Sheng seemed to sense her unease. After a moment's hesitation, he broke the silence, his tone carrying a hint of natural approval: "Compared to when I first met you in Hong Kong, you're much more radiant now, and even more pure and beautiful. Your Mandarin is also much more standard now; you've made great progress."

Upon hearing this direct praise, Cecilia Cheung was taken aback for a moment, then her cheeks flushed red. She shyly raised her hand to touch her cheek, her eyes sparkling.
"It's all thanks to Mr. Wang for taking care of me and giving me so many opportunities. My career is going smoothly, I don't have to worry about making a living anymore, and I don't have to be afraid of being chased by debt collectors. Naturally, I feel relaxed and cheerful!"

Her words were sincere and direct, making no attempt to hide her gratitude towards Wang Sheng, or the change in mindset brought about by her career success.

Indeed, compared to the somewhat bewildered and stubborn young girl in the Hong Kong Island nightclubs, Cecilia Cheung today, nurtured by the spotlight and careful packaging, has shed some of her naivety and gained the radiance and confidence of a star, making her mixed-race beauty even more dazzling.

At this moment, the waiters began to serve the dishes. Small and exquisite steamers and plates were placed one after another on the small table, and the aroma of the food filled the air, instantly dispelling the slight awkwardness from before.

"Come on, try it and see if it tastes authentic." Wang Sheng picked up his chopsticks and gestured.

"Okay!" Cecilia Cheung replied with a smile, picked up her chopsticks, and eagerly took a bite of a crystal-clear shrimp dumpling. The sweet and savory juice burst in her mouth, and she squinted her eyes in satisfaction: "Mmm! Delicious!"

With delicious food in front of them, the atmosphere immediately became lively.

While enjoying the flavors of her hometown, Cecilia Cheung chattered away about the fun she had while filming and the events she had attended, her Mandarin interspersed with vivid Cantonese vocabulary, creating a very joyful atmosphere.

Wang Sheng mostly just listened, occasionally nodding or giving a brief response, but the atmosphere was exceptionally harmonious.

Seeing Cecilia Cheung enjoying her meal with a smile on her face, Wang Sheng couldn't help but feel that he had indeed chosen the right restaurant.

Soon, most of the snacks and side dishes on the table were devoured.

Zhang Bozhi put down her chopsticks with satisfaction, picked up her iced lemon tea and took a big gulp. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she looked up at Wang Sheng with a tender gaze, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible shyness and seriousness:
“Wang Sheng, actually… yesterday was my eighteenth birthday.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng paused slightly in his hand holding the salted lemonade and looked up at her.

The girl's face was flushed, and her eyes were clear yet filled with a certain expectation.

He paused, then said calmly:

"Happy birthday."

Those four simple words made Cecilia Cheung's smile even brighter.

She pointed to the cozy restaurant, then to the empty plates and bowls on the table, smiling sweetly:

"I really like this birthday present. It was so nice to have dinner with you, Mr. Wang." The atmosphere had become somewhat awkward at this point.

Seeing the undisguised joy and dependence in her eyes, Wang Sheng understood and smiled faintly, agreeing with her words: "I'm glad you like it."

Upon receiving his tacit response, Cecilia Cheung seemed encouraged.

She glanced at the completely dark, neon-lit night outside the window, then turned her head and, with a hint of coquettishness, asked cautiously:

"Mr. Wang, could you grant me one more small wish?"

Looking at her expectant yet fearful expression, Wang Sheng nodded slightly: "Okay, go ahead."

“I want to see Titanic!” Cecilia Cheung said immediately, her tone full of longing: “These past few months, I’ve heard people talking about it all the time, I’m so tired of it! But I’ve been busy filming and haven’t had a chance to see it. I really want to know what kind of movie can make the whole world go crazy.”

This request is reasonable.

Without hesitation, Wang Sheng nodded in agreement: "Okay."

He called the waiter to settle the bill, then said to Cecilia Cheung, "Let's go, we should still be able to buy tickets now."

……

Compared to the frenzy when Li Xiaoran dragged him to see the movie a little over a month ago, tickets for "Titanic" are now much easier to buy, even though the movie is still extremely popular.

Dajun drove them to a nearby, fairly large cinema.

Wang Sheng asked Dajun to buy two tickets for the next show, and the seats were pretty good.

Entering the theater, the occupancy rate was still 80-90%, demonstrating the enduring appeal of this phenomenal film.

I found a seat, the lights dimmed, and the familiar opening theme music began to play.

This was Wang Sheng's second time watching it, and he was more at peace with it, viewing it with a more critical and reflective attitude.

For Cecilia Cheung, it was her first time.

When the Titanic appeared on the screen, she couldn't help but gasp in amazement.

When the classic scene of Jack and Rose spreading their arms to welcome the sea breeze at the bow of the ship appeared, her eyes sparkled with longing.

As the plot unfolded, she became completely immersed in the story of love and disaster that transcended class boundaries, her emotions rising and falling with the protagonist's joys and sorrows.

However, when the film reaches that famous "Rose scene"—the part where Jack draws Rose's sketch...

There seemed to be some faint gasps and awkward coughs in the theater.

Zhang Bozhi felt a sudden "boom," as if all the blood rushed to her head, and her cheeks, ears, and neck instantly became burning hot.

She could clearly hear her heart pounding wildly, each beat striking her eardrums.

The daring images on the screen intertwined with a vague sense of anticipation and tension deep within her, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

In the darkness, she felt an unprecedented sense of panic and unease.

Almost subconsciously, her hand groped on the armrest of the seat, and then, with a slight tremor, gently but firmly covered the back of Wang Sheng's hand that was on the armrest.

Wang Sheng's hand twitched slightly, but he did not pull it away.

Cecilia Cheung's palms were slightly sweaty, warm and soft.

She held it tightly, as if it were the only piece of driftwood in the vast ocean.

Wang Sheng could feel the slight tremor in her fingertips and the tense warmth emanating from them.

He turned his head and, in the dim light of the theater, saw her with her eyes tightly closed, her long eyelashes trembling violently, her cheeks as red as ripe apples. Her shy yet bold appearance possessed a breathtaking allure.

During the tragic shipwreck scene in the second half of the film, Cecilia Cheung almost cried throughout the entire movie. She held onto Wang Sheng's hand tightly and didn't let go until the end credits rolled and the lights came back on. Only then did she suddenly let go like a startled deer, hurriedly lowering her head to wipe away her tears, unable to look at Wang Sheng.

Wang Sheng didn't say anything, he just handed over a tissue.

As she stepped out of the cinema, the night breeze helped the heat on Cecilia Cheung's face subside slightly, but her heart was still racing.

She stole a glance at Wang Sheng beside her, who looked perfectly normal. The courage she had mustered in the movie theater seemed to have dissipated a bit, leaving only a deep sense of shyness and an inexplicable anticipation.

"It's getting late, shall I take you home?" Wang Sheng glanced at his watch and said.

Upon hearing this, Cecilia Cheung panicked and blurted out, "I...I don't want to go back to the hostel!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake, her cheeks flushed again, and she quickly lowered her head, adding in a voice barely above a whisper, "I...I'm scared to live alone..."

Wang Sheng stopped, his deep gaze falling on her lowered head, and remained silent for a few seconds.

This silence made Cecilia Cheung's heart leap into her throat.

Then, she heard him speak in a calm, unwavering voice to the army at the front:
"Go to the Wangfujing Hotel."

Wangfujing Hotel offers accommodation.

These words, falling on Cecilia Cheung's ears, were like a pardon, or a spell to open a new world. They made her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, suddenly sink, only to be overwhelmed by an even stronger wave—a wave of tension, fear, shyness, and a desperate, anticipation that felt like burning one's boats.

I heard it's quite painful.

(End of this chapter)