Step by Step

Jeffrey Ngai navigates life's surprises one step at a time.

- Asaph Low

Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get." In the tapestry of life, some threads shimmer with certainty and others vanish into the realm of the unknown. Some credit life's great moments to lady luck - some to fate - while others manifest it through hard work and determination. Whatever life takes us on, it has little ways of surprising us. From the quiet simplicity of childhood days spent chasing butterflies in meadows to the bustling chaos of adulthood's urban landscapes, each chapter of life unfolds like a new flavour - some sweet, others bitter.

Reality becomes clearer as we age life is about adapting and embracing the unknown rather than the simplistic linear progression towards our childhood dreams. For Jeffrey Ngai, his brush with stardom came rather unexpectedly - or even reluctantly, if you will. Look up some of his past interviews, and there is a common narrative - he had resisted joining the entertainment industry due to certain negative preconceived notions. "I think I will have my coffee shop if I don't choose to develop my career as a singer and actor," shares the Hong Kong actor and singer.

However, as life would have it, Ngai eventually dipped his toes in ViuTV's reality show - Be a Better Man - in 2020. His popularity grew as he endeared himself to the hearts of many, leading him to appear in Be On Game afterwards. The cascading effect grew momentum as one opportunity led to the next. A support role in the drama In Geek We Trust ultimately led to a main role in i.Swim alongside Edan Lui from Hong Kong boy band Mirror. By then, Ngai was seen as one of Hong Kong's rising names as he began his upward trajectory in the entertainment industry. A pivot into singing further cemented that status as he launched his debut single- The First Fan - in 2023.