Kyoto Kris Hotel.
Old Wang, along with Jack Ma and others, booked a large private room here, which offered both dining and KTV. Old Wang had also reserved the presidential suite at this hotel.
"Old Wang, Teacher Ma wants to spar with you over singing, why don't you put him in his place in front of everyone?" Jiang Quanshui said, half-reclined on the sofa, looking at Old Wang.
"Yeah, he always acts like he's some great singer. I've been annoyed by him for a long time. Old Wang, I support you too," Penguin Ma chimed in, egging him on.
Old Wang was also a man who loved to sing. Hearing their instigation, he became interested.
He looked at Jack Ma and said, "Teacher Ma, shall we have a couple of songs?"
"Come on, Old Wang, you go first. I need to send a message to CEO Lei. He said he'd come after dinner, I'll send him the location," Jack Ma replied.
In singing competitions, he never backed down from anyone.
Upon hearing this, Old Wang quietly selected "Xihai Qingge." Unlike Jack Ma, Old Wang preferred to sing older songs, especially those with high notes. He believed this was the way to truly express his life.
Jack Ma, on the other hand, was passionate about rock music. His favorite songs were by Beyond, which he would sing with self-indulgent enthusiasm in his broken Cantonese.
As the music began, Old Wang held the microphone, closed his eyes, swayed back and forth, and tapped his foot lightly on the floor.
"Since you left, all tenderness has been lost, waiting on this snowy mountain path, long and winding, hearing the cold wind whistle still, as far as the eye can see, the wind cuts my face like a knife."
"Good."
Penguin Ma shouted and stood up, applauding.
"Did your hyperactive disorder act up again? You scared me to death!" Jiang Quanshui flinched from Penguin Ma's sudden shout.
Meanwhile, Dula Bide, sitting in a corner, slightly lifted his eyelids before closing them again to rest.
Old Wang sang the emotional parts of the song with his deep voice, creating a unique charm.
Watching Penguin Ma's shouts, Old Wang sang with even more vigor. During the song's climax, Old Wang clenched one hand into a fist, lowered his head, and paced, fueling himself with energy.
"Remember you promised me you wouldn't let me lose track of you, but you flew away like the migratory birds returning south. Love is like a kite with a broken string."
...
...
*Clap, clap, clap...*
Penguin Ma applauded with all his might.
It was as if he had sung the song himself. The better Old Wang performed, the happier Penguin Ma became.
"Haha... Old Wang, you're completely outclassing Jack Ma!" Penguin Ma laughed, greatly excited.
"Low-key, low-key," Old Wang waved his hand dismissively.
"Old Wang, you can't hit those high notes, you're not good enough," Jack Ma jabbed.
"If you can do it, you do it," Penguin Ma retorted.
"I don't argue with children," Jack Ma said casually.
Penguin Ma: ...
After Old Wang finished, Jack Ma sang. They went back and forth, thoroughly enjoying themselves, unable to determine a clear winner.
Their throats were nearly parched when Lei Ming arrived.
"CEO Lei, you look in good spirits lately," Jack Ma quipped as Lei Ming walked in.
"Greetings, distinguished gentlemen," Lei Ming greeted them with a smile.
Lei Ming's personality was actually most similar to Penguin Ma's. Both were refined and never smiled casually.
Lei Ming was still wearing a suit for his outing, his hair neatly combed in a side part, slightly longer.
"CEO Lei, long time no see," Jiang Quanshui stood up to greet him.
"Why have you all suddenly teamed up in Kyoto? Are you participating in some major event?" Lei Ming asked with a smile.
Lei Ming had been in Kyoto for many years, building his Mi Group step by step. He was a formidable figure.
He had only started building his commercial empire in his forties, so success had little to do with age; the key was to have one's own dream.
"Teacher Ma is right, one must have dreams; what if they come true someday?"
"We came to visit you," Jack Ma joked.
"Mr. Ma, please don't tease me. You're all so busy, how could you have time to visit me?" Lei Ming smiled kindly.
At this moment, Lei Ming's gaze fell upon Dula Bide, who was resting with his eyes closed in the corner. He asked softly, "Who is this foreigner?"
"Oh, him. Dula Bide. You should thank him; he helped with your company's matters in Country A," Jack Ma said, glancing at Dula Bide.
*Hiss...*
Lei Ming gasped.
He knew that anyone who could be with Jack Ma and the others must be extraordinary, but he never imagined this person was the renowned Duke Dula Bide.
"What's with him lying there like that? Is he drunk?"
Due to the singing duel between Jack Ma and Old Wang earlier, the room lights were dimmed. Moreover, Lei Ming rarely paid attention to Dula Bide, so he hadn't recognized him.
Lei Ming exclaimed in surprise, "Duke Peter is drunk?"
"Drunk? He's faking being dead. Old Peter, get up," Jiang Quanshui called out.
Jiang Quanshui's tone once again shocked Lei Ming. "Are we that awesome now? We can yell at figures like this?"
Dula Bide slowly opened his eyes then, looking at Jiang Quanshui and scolding, "Keep yelling! Don't you let me rest?"
"Duke Peter, hello. I am Lei Ming, Chairman of Mi Company. Thank you for your assistance with the matters in Country A," Lei Ming said, taking two steps forward and extending his hand to shake Dula Bide's.
Dula Bide shook hands with Lei Ming and said, "A small matter, not worth mentioning."
Although it was a small matter to Dula Bide, it was a monumental one for Lei Ming. Lei Ming smiled and said, "I'll arrange a dinner for you tomorrow. Please do me the honor, Duke Peter."
"Uh... ask them. Wherever they go, I go," Dula Bide was bewildered by Lei Ming's enthusiastic approach.
This was his first time experiencing such warmth from a Chinese person. Previously, they had all been barking orders at him.
Lei Ming was taken aback. "Why would he follow them?"
"Alright, we'll see. If nothing comes up, I'll give you the opportunity at noon tomorrow," Jack Ma intervened.
"Okay, then," Lei Ming said, completely clueless.
"What's going on with Duke Peter? Why do I feel something's off? He seems like your subordinate," Lei Ming, being close to Jack Ma, asked quietly.
"Not at all, we're all the same," Jack Ma replied.
"The same?"
Lei Ming couldn't understand how they were the same.
Lei Ming was filled with doubt.
In reality, what Jack Ma meant by "the same" was different from Lei Ming's understanding. It meant they were all sycophants, and no one commanded the other.
"Lin'er is here. My son just sent me a message. They're downstairs now. I'm done singing," Old Wang suddenly threw down the microphone and ran to the door, turning on all the lights.
Dula Bide, who had been sitting in the corner, suddenly stood up, brushed off his clothes, and straightened himself.
The others also put down what they were doing, as if welcoming a high-ranking official.
Lei Ming was dumbfounded.
"Who is Lin'er?"
--
Author's Notes:
Can you guess what the four characters 饭桶板凳 (fàntǒng bǎndèng - literally "rice bucket stool") mean?