Huayu97: Starting with Wu Song Fighting the Tiger

"Really?" Li Tiansheng's eyes lit up. "Our Brother Long is coming too?"

"That's right, we boarded the ship yesterday!" Fatty Wang patted his chest. "However, we'll have to wait until the opening ceremony to officially meet everyone."

Liu Xiang's heart skipped a beat. Brother Long, Li Binbin, Zhang Xueyou? These were all top stars in Hong Kong's entertainment industry in the 1990s. Brother Long's martial arts films were wildly popular across Asia, and his drunken boxing style was simply divine; Li Binbin's beauty made her the dream girl of countless men, and her acting skills were also first-rate; Zhang Xueyou's songs were played everywhere, and anyone could hum a line and someone would immediately follow along.

"I didn't expect to be able to invite so many big names," Liu Xiang said, touching her nose with a hint of admiration in her voice.

"Absolutely!" Fatty Wang grinned, his eyes narrowing into slits. "We've really gone all out this time! Brother Long's appearance fee is enough for an ordinary person to earn for a lifetime, but it's worth it. With them around, the attention this competition will definitely be high! The whole thing will be broadcast live, Hong Kong Satellite TV will send a special team to film it, and several TV stations in Southeast Asia will also broadcast it simultaneously."

"If Mr. Liu can excel in the competition, his fame will soar all the way to Southeast Asia!"

As they talked, they arrived at the outdoor swimming pool at the stern of the ship. The pool was even larger than it appeared from a distance, with crystal-clear water. A row of lounge chairs and parasols were placed along the poolside, and several guests in swimsuits were playing and splashing around. Next to the pool was the venue for the martial arts performance competition: a platform covered with a red carpet and surrounded by golden railings, with several huge "GG" signs standing nearby.

The signs were printed with the words "Haojiang Star Cup Martial Arts Performance Competition" and the names of several sponsors. Liu Xiang immediately spotted Su Wanyi's jewelry brand, and her heart skipped a beat.

"How is it, Mr. Liu?" Fatty Wang approached Liu Xiang.

He smiled obsequiously, "Are you satisfied with the venue? We specially hired the best construction team. The height and width of the platform are all based on professional competition standards, so it will definitely not affect your performance."

The sunlight shone brightly on the red carpet, and he could already imagine that three days later, the place would be packed with audiences, flashbulbs would be going off non-stop, and he would stand on the stage and use his skills to win a standing ovation and secure his place.

"That's good, thank you for your trouble." Liu Xiang nodded.

"No trouble at all," Fatty Wang said, rubbing his hands together and gleaming with shrewdness in his eyes. "Come on, I'll take you to the ballroom. The welcome banquet will be held there tonight. By the way, the banquet is a buffet with a live band. If the two directors are interested, they can even go dancing."

The ballroom, located on the second floor of the deck, was even more luxurious than the swimming pool. The floor was so smooth it reflected your image. A ring of velvet sofas surrounded the ballroom, with fresh flowers and fruit on the coffee tables beside them, along with several bottles of decanted red wine. On stage, the band was tuning their instruments; the musicians, dressed in tuxedos, looked very professional.

"The banquet will officially begin at 7 p.m. sharp." Fatty Wang pointed to the center of the ballroom. "All the guests will be here then. The two directors will be able to see many old friends. Mr. Liu can also get to know more people. Many of these guests are big names who invest in Hong Kong and Taiwan films. If you can catch their eye, you won't have to worry about not having any roles to play in the future."

Liu Xiang smiled and nodded: "Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Wang."

Emerging from the dance hall, Fatty Wang led the three down the corridor. On either side were rows of guest rooms, their doors made of solid wood, intricately carved with patterns, and their room numbers gleaming in gold under the lights. The corridor was quiet, save for the occasional sounds of voices coming from the rooms and waiters pushing food carts past.

"All three of you have rooms on this floor, all ocean-view suites." Fatty Wang then took out three room keys and handed them to the three men. "Director Cheng is in 3086, Director Li is in 3087, and Mr. Liu is in 3088. They're all next door, so it's convenient to visit each other. Each room has a balcony with a view of the sea. Please rest for a bit, and I'll have a waiter come and call you at six o'clock tonight."

The three of them took the room key and thanked each other. Liu Xiang swiped the key to open the door, and a faint scent of sandalwood wafted in, mixed with the salty smell of the sea breeze, which smelled quite pleasant.

The room was bigger than he had imagined, with a living room, bedroom, and bathroom.

The sofa in the living room is made of genuine leather and feels soft to the touch.

There is an oil painting on the wall depicting the black sand beach in Macau, with a touch of abstract style.

The large bed in the bedroom was big enough for three people to lie down, and the bedding was made of silk, which felt smooth to the touch.

What pleased Liu Xiang the most was that there really was a balcony outside the bedroom.

He pushed open the glass door and stepped onto the balcony. A sea breeze rushed in, whipping his hair wildly. The balcony wasn't large, furnished with a wicker chair and a small tea table. He sat in the chair, gazing at the distant sea. The distant pier grew smaller and smaller, like a miniature toy model, with a few small fishing boats swaying slowly on the surface, resembling a few leaves.

In the evening, the door to the next room opened. Li Tiansheng came over to him: "Hey Liu, what are you doing? Hurry up and change your clothes! The banquet tonight is a great opportunity; all those wealthy businessmen and directors will be there. Get to know more people."

Liu Xiang smiled and said, "Okay, I'll be right out."

He turned and went into the room, opening the wardrobe. Several suits hung inside, all prepared in advance by Fatty Wang; the fabric was excellent, the cut perfect, and they looked very fitting. Liu Xiang picked out a black suit, put it on, and looked at herself in the mirror. The man in the mirror had sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, a straight and well-defined nose, and a confident smile on his lips.

Liu Xiang pushed open the door and walked out. The sound of the three people's footsteps echoed in the corridor, sounding particularly clear.

"Young Liu," Cheng Xiaodong suddenly spoke, his voice lowered, "Fatty Wang just told me that the prize for the champion of this competition is 500,000, and it seems that Su Wanyi is also on the ship!"

Liu Xiang paused. Su Wanyi had arrived too? And what about the 500,000 yuan bonus? In the 1990s, 500,000 yuan was enough to buy a decent house in mainland China.

"Understood." Liu Xiang smiled, her tone quite relaxed. "We'll deal with whatever comes our way."

Cheng Xiaodong patted him on the shoulder but didn't say anything more. The two walked to the end of the corridor and pushed open the door to the ballroom ahead.

The setting sun dyed the sea a golden-red. In the distance, a few fiery clouds drifted across the sky, dazzlingly red as if they had been set ablaze. The cruise ship slowly sailed towards Malaysia in the South Seas, leaving a long white trail in the seawater at its stern, like a white ribbon floating on the azure surface.

The banquet bells rang softly in the afterglow of the setting sun. Their melodious chimes echoed throughout the cruise ship, and the deck gradually filled with guests, men and women in elegant attire chatting and laughing while sipping champagne. The sound of a band playing from the stage, melodious and cheerful, officially opened the grand banquet.