Hong Kong variety show: Hung Hing, are you contributing to society?

"No, I can't accept such an expensive gift." Ruan Mei insisted, "Your money didn't come from thin air, and you should be careful with the money you make from stocks."

Looking at her serious expression, Lin Yaodong knew that she was genuinely thinking of him.

Ruan Mei is like that; frugality has become an ingrained habit in her, not only for herself but also for those she cares about.

After a brief standoff, Lin Yaodong finally relented: "How about this, let's look at some other things, pick one you like that's reasonably priced, okay?"

Ruan Mei then nodded.

Before leaving, Lin Yaodong quietly instructed the saleswoman to pack up the identical dress from the VIP section and deliver it to his residence.

Ruan Meilian was unwilling to even go to the VIP area.

Although the two dresses are identical, their prices are worlds apart.

The dress that Lin Yaodong wanted was from the VIP section.

They visited several more stores, and finally, in a mid-range brand store, Ruan Mei chose a light pink shirt and a pair of khaki trousers, which cost less than a thousand yuan in total.

She then paid for a pair of leather shoes for Lin Yaodong herself, saying that she had noticed his old shoes were a bit worn.

"You give me clothes, I'll give you shoes, that's fair," Ruan Mei said earnestly.

Lin Yaodong accepted it with a smile.

He knew that this was Ruan Mei's way of expressing her feelings—not taking advantage of others, but giving and receiving.

After shopping, the two had a light meal at the mall's food court.

Ruan Mei insisted that she should treat everyone to the meal, and Lin Yaodong did not object.

During the meal, Ruan Mei talked about interesting things that happened at the hospital where she worked, and Lin Yaodong listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a word or two.

For Lin Yaodong, these peaceful and warm moments were a rare opportunity to relax.

The struggles within the community, the planning of businesses, the election for parliament... all these pressures seemed to temporarily dissipate around Nguyen Mai.

However, the peace was soon shattered.

Lin Yaodong's phone rang. He glanced at it; it was an unfamiliar number.

"Hello, is this Lin Yaodong?" A middle-aged man's voice came from the other end of the phone, his tone stiff.

"it's me."

"I am He Yong from Changyi Society."

Lin Yaodong's smile faded slightly, but his tone remained calm: "Brother 19, what can I do for you?"

He Yong, on the other end of the phone, clearly hadn't expected Lin Yaodong to react this way.

According to the conventions of the underworld, when people from two different gangs talk on the phone, especially if there is a possibility of conflict, the atmosphere is usually tense.

But Lin Yaodong's voice sounded like he was greeting an ordinary friend.

"Shall we talk?" He Yong asked tentatively.

Lin Yaodong did not answer immediately; he glanced at Ruan Mei sitting opposite him.

She was taking small bites of the wonton noodles in her bowl, but her ears were clearly listening to his phone conversation.

"Okay, 8 PM, Causeway Bay, Kowloon Cafe." Lin Yaodong gave the time and place.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone, as if the person was weighing their options: "Okay."

The call has ended.

Ruan Mei looked up, her eyes filled with concern: "Who is it?"

"It's about work," Lin Yaodong said briefly, not wanting her to worry.

Ruan Mei said "Oh" and didn't ask any further questions.

She had long known that Lin Yaodong was surrounded by many glamorous women.

She wasn't the type of woman who would pry into things, especially when it came to Lin Yaodong's affairs; she always gave him enough trust and space.

But Lin Yaodong could see a hint of unease in her eyes.

"Don't worry, it's just a normal business negotiation," he reassured her, placing a shrimp dumpling in Ruan Mei's bowl. "I'll take you home after you finish eating."

7:50 p.m., Kowloon Cafe, Causeway Bay.

This is an old-fashioned tea restaurant with simple decor, but it's very popular.

It was the leisurely time after dinner, and the shop was full of neighbors. Some were drinking milk tea and chatting, while others were eating pineapple buns and reading newspapers. A Cantonese movie was playing on the TV, creating a lively and friendly atmosphere.

When Lin Yaodong pushed open the door and entered, almost everyone looked at him.

"Ah Dong!"

Good evening, Dong Ge!

"Ah Dong, have you eaten yet? I still have half a plate of stir-fried beef noodles here..."

Amidst the greetings, Lin Yaodong smiled and nodded in response, exchanging a few pleasantries with those he knew.

His high reputation in Causeway Bay is evident from this.

This is not only because he is the head of Hung Hing, but also because of the practical things he has done for the neighborhood over the years—repairing roads, installing lights, solving leaks, sponsoring impoverished students... Everyone remembers every single one of these things.

Ah Kang peeked out from behind the counter, saw Lin Yaodong, and immediately smiled: "Brother Dong, the usual spot?"

Lin Yaodong nodded, his gaze sweeping across the store.

In the corner, a man wearing a baseball cap sat alone with a cup of cold milk tea in front of him. The brim of his cap was pulled low, obscuring his face.

Nine-Dragon—also an acquaintance of Lin Yaodong—walked over and whispered, "Brother Dong, that person has been waiting for you for half an hour. He said he came to see you."

"I know." Lin Yaodong patted Nine-Dragon on the shoulder and walked towards the corner.

Ah Kang and Nine-Tattooed Dragon exchanged a glance behind the counter, and both of them became more vigilant.

Although Lam Yiu-tung is safe in Causeway Bay, his special status makes it always better to be cautious.

He Yong raised his head, his eyes under the brim of his hat carefully scrutinizing the man in front of him.

Lin Yaodong was younger than he had imagined, looking no more than thirty years old. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, a well-pressed shirt and suit pants, and had a refined demeanor, more like a lawyer or teacher than the renowned Hung Hing gang leader.

Damn, he's even more handsome than I was when I was young...

But He Yong wouldn't be fooled by Lin Yaodong's gentle appearance—a man who could rise from a small-time hoodlum to a local leader in just a few years, and now even run for district councilor, was no ordinary person.

"Brother 19?" Lin Yaodong asked calmly.

He Yong took off his hat, revealing a slightly tired face.

Having been involved in the organization for over twenty years, I climbed my way up from the lowest rank of Blue Lantern to the position of leader, witnessing countless storms.

But the sweeping this afternoon still put him under unprecedented pressure.

"Lin Yaodong, I think you know why I came to see you." He Yong got straight to the point, without beating around the bush.

Lin Yaodong didn't reply immediately, but turned his head and said, "Kang, a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea, please."

He Yong narrowed his eyes, sensing Lin Yaodong's disrespect.

He was at least the leader of a triad, while Lin Yaodong was just a branch leader of Hung Hing in Mong Kok.

He should have gone directly to Hung Hing leader Chiang Tin-sang to demand an explanation.

However, considering that they were a small group, they were worried that if they approached Jiang Tiansheng and he ignored them, they would lose even more face, so they didn't go.

Fortunately, when they found Lin Yaodong's contact information and called him, Lin Yaodong answered and agreed to come out and talk.

Lin Yaodong then turned around and asked, "Are you here to demand an explanation?"

"Shouldn't we be?" He Yong's voice rose slightly. "You colluded with the police to raid our Changyi Society's territory, breaking the rules of the underworld. We've lost at least a million this time, not even counting the bail fees for our underlings and the subsequent repercussions."

His voice was quite loud, attracting the attention of several tables of guests.

Several longtime neighbors turned around and looked at He Yong warily.