Huayu97: Starting with Wu Song Fighting the Tiger

After a long day of running around, the three of them were so tired that their legs were shaking when they got back to the guesthouse. Grandma Chen had prepared ginger tea to help them get rid of the sea odor. The three of them drank two big bowls of it and didn't even have the energy to say any pleasantries. They went back to their rooms and fell asleep immediately.

As soon as Sister Zhu touched the bed, she started snoring softly. In her dream, she was swimming with Liu Xiang on the beach, twisting her waist like a water snake.

Fish Leong held the seashell bag she had picked up during the day, a faint smile curving her lips, her dream filled with the image of Liu Xiang helping her carry the bag.

Liu Xiang was sleeping the most soundly. The images of the beach during the day kept replaying in his mind: the feeling of touching each other in the waves, the delicate skin under his palm, and the two completely different figures, which completely disrupted his dream.

In my dream, it was still the late night on Batu Ferringhi Beach. There were no more voices during the day, only the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. The moonlight gilded the white sand with silver frost, making the rocks stand out clearly.

The surroundings were filled with the tranquility unique to dreams, a vast emptiness devoid of others. Liu Xiang walked barefoot on the cool, fine sand, feeling the chill penetrate to his very core. Against this backdrop of interwoven silver light and shadow, he suddenly spotted Liang Jingru and Sister Azhu, like two paintings of contrasting styles, standing quietly beside the rocks not far away.

Liang Jingru was still wearing that pure white swimsuit. Under the cool moonlight, her skin seemed to be carved from the finest mutton fat jade, so white that it was almost transparent.

She lowered her head slightly, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyes, her brows and eyes filled with an inescapable timidity and an indescribable shyness, like a frightened fawn.

Sister Zhu, on the other hand, was completely different. A vibrant red dress clung to her energetic body, and her honey-like skin shimmered with a healthy and alluring glow under the moonlight. A playful smile played on her lips, and her eyes, bold and bright, met Liu Xiang's gaze without any attempt to hide it. Her flamboyant confidence seemed to ignite the night.

Their gazes met on him as if they were physical objects, the beams of light flowing in their eyes so direct and intense that they almost burned through the veil of this dream.

Liang Jingru unconsciously twisted the corner of her skirt with her slender fingers, her toes lightly rubbing against the sand, moving very slowly toward him with a hesitant and tentative motion.

When her slightly trembling fingertips, carrying a hint of coolness under the moonlight, inadvertently brushed against Liu Xiang's arm like a feather, her undisguised emotion instantly melted away.

At the same time, Sister Ah-Zhu, with a straightforwardness like the sea breeze and the unique sweet aroma of ginger syrup, walked briskly and directly toward him without any hesitation.

Her voice rose slightly at the end, as if hooked: "The beach at night is much more interesting than during the day."

"How could they all disappear in an instant?" Liu Xiang suddenly opened her eyes. The sky outside the window was already slightly bright, the morning mist had not yet dissipated, and the room was filled with the coolness of a Penang morning.

He subconsciously touched his forehead, which was covered in a thin layer of sweat. He thought about his time with the two of them during the day, and his heart felt restless and confused.

He got up quietly, afraid of waking Liang Jingru next door. While washing up, he looked at his reddened ears in the mirror and was still annoyed. Meanwhile, the fragments of his dream kept replaying in his mind, and the more he thought about it, the more confused he became.

When he finished tidying up and came downstairs, Grandma Chen was frying Malay pancakes, and the aroma filled the yard. Sister Azhu was already setting the table with great energy. When she saw him come down, her eyes lit up and she looked just like the charming girl in his dream. Liu Xiang's heart skipped a beat and he quickly looked away.

Not long after, the door to the next room opened. The moment she saw Liu Xiang, her cheeks flushed. She hadn't forgotten their encounter at the bathroom door and in the waves. Her eyes darted around as she whispered, "Good morning, Brother Liu Xiang."

Liu Xiang coughed lightly and forced a smile, replying, "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, it's good." Liang Jingru nodded, her ear tips even turning pink, and she didn't dare to look him in the eye.

Seeing the two of them like this, Sister Zhu knew exactly what was going on. She teased them, "Look at you two, like shy little kids. It's nothing, you just hugged in the sea yesterday."

Upon hearing this, both women blushed even more. Liu Xiang scratched her head awkwardly, while Liang Jingru lowered her head and fidgeted with her skirt, almost burying her ears in her collar. Granny Chen smiled and tried to smooth things over, saying, "A-Zhu, don't tease them. Eat your pancakes quickly, they won't taste good if they get cold."

After breakfast, Fish Leong remembered her business and said to Liu Xiang with bright eyes, "Brother Liu Xiang, the singing competition is this afternoon at the Lido Hotel by the sea. It's a local Penang event, not very big, just something to test the waters."

Liu Xiang immediately became serious and nodded, saying, "That's great! I definitely have to go. I'll go with you and cheer you on."

Sister Zhu chimed in, "I know the Lido Hotel well; it's right by the beach. I'll take you there on my motorcycle; I promise it won't waste your time!"

Speaking of the Lido Hotel, it was quite well-known in Penang in the late 1990s. Located by the sea, it was a top choice for local weddings and sporting events. Although it couldn't compare to the star-rated hotels in Kuala Lumpur, it was clean, bright, and full of Southeast Asian charm. At 2 p.m., Sister Ah Zhu set off on her motorcycle on time. The afternoon sun in Penang was just right, the bougainvillea on the shophouse was in full bloom, and old-fashioned cars drove by slowly.

In less than twenty minutes, we arrived at the Lido Hotel. A red banner with the words "Penang First Mandarin Singing Competition" hung at the entrance. The lettering was a bit faded. There were two long tables next to it, and several staff members wearing white shirts were holding registration forms. They were all from the local TV station, carrying heavy old-fashioned cameras with a thin layer of dust on the lenses. They were clearly products of that era.

There weren't many contestants, only about twenty, mostly local Chinese, with a few overseas Chinese. They were all dressed differently, some in fashionable bell-bottoms, others in simple cloth skirts, nervously inquiring about each other's situations.

Fish Leong gripped Liu Xiang's arm and whispered, "Brother Liu Xiang, I'm a little nervous. The equipment looks so simple."

Liu Xiang patted the back of her hand and said firmly, "It's normal to be nervous. Don't panic. You sing well, better than all of them. Just do what you practice and relax."

Sister Ah-Zhu chimed in, "That's right! Jing-Ru has such a beautiful voice, she'll definitely win. Once she advances, I'll treat you to nasi lemak!"

Fish Leong nodded, took a deep breath, and went to register. The staff member was a middle-aged man who spoke Mandarin with a Taiwanese accent. After registering her, he gave her a number—number 18—and said with a smile, "Don't be nervous, young lady. The stage is in the banquet hall on the second floor. The equipment is simple, with an old-fashioned sound system that can play backing tracks. If you don't want accompaniment, you can sing a cappella."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xiang understood. This competition was indeed simple, without even professional accompaniment; it relied entirely on the contestants' talent. He accompanied Liang Jingru backstage to wait for her turn. The backstage area was the hotel's lounge, furnished with a few chairs. The contestants were all practicing their voices diligently, some singing a few lines a cappella, others humming tunes to their personal music players.

In those days, Walkmans were still a rarity, and a silver Sony Walkman could attract a lot of envious glances.

Liang Jingru found a corner to sit down, closed her eyes and adjusted her breathing. Liu Xiang stayed by her side, holding her water glass and reminding her to drink some water to soothe her throat from time to time.

Sister Azhu chatted with the staff on the side, inquiring about the competition rules. When she returned to Liu Xiang, she said, "The rules are simple. There are only three judges, all of whom are local music teachers. In the first round, you sing a song. If you pass the first half, you can advance. Once you advance, you can quickly compete in the second round."