Hong Kong superstar Sammi Cheng celebrated her 54th birthday on Aug 19 by keeping things simple – but an unexpected encounter at a cha chaan teng (Hong Kong-style diner) made the day memorable.
Cheng had already begun celebrating her birthday with friends in the days leading up to Aug 19. However, on her actual birthday, she chose to spend some quiet time with her husband, singer Andy Hui.
Sharing moments from the day on Instagram, Cheng revealed that she had stopped by a cha chaan teng to buy lemon tea when she happened to spot iconic singer-actor Wan Kwong enjoying afternoon tea with his wife.
She immediately went over to say hello.
Cheng admitted it was her first time meeting Wan, who is also known as Jackson Wan Kwong and famously as the “Temple Street Prince”.
The singer-actress shared that the encounter brought back memories of a lengthy YouTube interview she had watched in which Wan opened up about his life, experiences and personal struggles, including how he eventually gave up gambling.
Cheng said she was deeply moved by his story.
“Indeed, everyone has their own story. And sometimes those stories can be incredibly inspiring and touching,” she wrote.
For Cheng, seeing Wan and his wife leisurely enjoying afternoon tea also offered a reminder of what happiness can look like in its simplest form.
“Sometimes, we really don’t need much in life – two cups of milk tea, two flaky egg tarts, and an extra thick-egg sandwich…” she wrote.
Cheng ended her post with lyrics from Wan’s song Dear Myself: “Counting the little stars, counting every planet, how grateful I am to be here, looking up at the sky filled with stars. In this journey, people come and go, while seasons are the thief of time. How many tears, laughter, cheers and rounds of applause have we witnessed…”
"Dear myself, at 54, counting my blessings and giving thanks to Heavenly Father."
