It wasn’t clear when exactly Mui and Cheung met for the first time, but in 1982, Mui won TVB’s first singing competition, the New Talent Singing Awards, and was signed to local record company Capital Artists. Cheung was a fellow label mate and the two had joint overseas tours at the beginning of their careers.

Mui and Cheung worked together on a few films too, including romantic comedy Behind the Yellow Line from their early days and Who’s the Woman, Who’s the Man from 1996, but it’s the classic Rouge from 1988 that’s talked about most.

According to local legend, director Stanley Kwan Kam-pang revealed that the role of Chan Chen-pang, played by Cheung, was supposed to go to another actor, but it was Mui who suggested Cheung to the filming crew. As the two actors were under different companies at that time, Mui had to work on an extra film with Cheung’s management company to make Rouge happen.

Meet the 6 Hong Kong icons on China’s reality TV show, Call Me By Fire

On stage, their performances were amplified by their close friendship and chemistry, and their actions were easily in sync even without much rehearsal.

They only released two duet songs officially, the first one titled Fate in 1984 and Glamour Forever in 2001, but clips of Mui and Cheung singing and dancing together in various TV performances and concerts over the years can easily be found online.

In fact, the two often made guest appearances in each other’s concerts at the Hong Kong Coliseum, despite their busy schedules. It started when Cheung had his first solo concert there in 1985, and fans believe that he insisted on having Mui as a guest to his management company, giving her a preview of the holy grail of local singers before having her own gigs there.

Who are Stephen Chow’s most famous ‘Sing Girls’, and where are they now?

The two last performed together in Mui’s concert in 2002. Cheung was said to be suffering from depression and stomach issues at the time, yet it did not stop him from showing up and delivering an epic performance with Mui. The diva was seen telling her concert audience that Cheung was her best friend in showbiz – as close as family.

Needless to say, when Cheung committed suicide in 2003, it had a huge impact on Mui. It was reported that she didn’t leave home for days, where she cried and chanted Buddhist mantras.

Today, fans often reminisce about the close relationship between Mui and Cheung, as much as the legends themselves.