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

Shortly after Chen Yongren left, in the Ni family study.

Ni Yongxiao stood alone by the window, gazing at the dark night sky.

He held in his hand a small print of a photo that had just been developed; it was tonight's "family portrait."

His gaze slowly swept over each face in the photo, finally settling on Han Chen's smiling, chubby face.

He stared at it for a long time, then picked up the lighter on the table.

pat.

Flames leaped up, licking a corner of the photograph.

The firelight illuminated Ni Yongxiao's cold face, and his eyes behind his glasses were devoid of any warmth.

"Stains always need to be wiped clean..." he muttered to himself.

The flames spread rapidly, engulfing Han Chen's face, then Gandhi's, Black Ghost's, Guo Hua's, and Wen Zheng's faces, and then everyone else... In the end, only he himself, his mother, his wife and daughters, his sister, and... Chen Yongren, whose expression was stiff at the edge.

At 10 p.m., Chan Wing-yan returned to Mong Kok. Instead of going back to his rented room, he went directly to the Hung Hing branch, which is the property management company.

The lights were still on in Lin Yaodong's office.

"Brother Dong." Chen Yongren knocked on the door and went in.

Lin Yaodong was standing in front of the huge map of Hong Kong Island, his finger slowly tracing the Tsim Sha Tsui area.

Hearing the voice, he turned around with a smile on his face: "Ah Ren, you're back. How was the Ni family banquet? Did you eat your fill? I asked the kitchen to save some late-night snacks for you."

"No need, Brother Dong, I've already eaten." Chen Yongren felt a warmth in his heart, but the thought of Ni Yongxiao's recruitment made him somewhat uneasy.

Lin Yaodong walked behind the huge mahogany desk and sat down, gesturing to the chair opposite him: "Sit down. How did your chat with your older brother go?"

Chen Yongren sat down, carefully choosing his words: "Ni Yongxiao...he...seems to really want me to go back. He even said I'm always welcome at home."

Lin Yaodong nodded, not surprised.

He picked up the purple clay teapot on the table, poured a cup of tea for himself and Chen Yongren, and said slowly, "Ni Yongxiao is a smart man and someone who values ​​family. You have the blood of the Ni family flowing in your veins, and that is your biggest bargaining chip."

He wanted to cleanse the Ni family's name, but he and his old ministers alone couldn't do it; he needed more "clean" and trustworthy people from his own circle. "You're perfect."

Chen Yongren frowned: "Brother Dong, I don't want to go back to the Ni family. I feel... it's too complicated there, and I'm not suited for it."

He was practically saying that every family in the family was a drug dealer.

He didn't want to live that kind of backstabbing life anymore.

Lin Yaodong took a sip of tea, looked at Chen Yongren with a deep gaze: "Aren, I asked you to come here because there's something I want to discuss with you."

"Dong-ge, you say it."

Lin Yaodong leaned forward slightly, placed his hands on the table, and said in a calm tone, yet with an undeniable force: "Aren, I want you... to go back to the Ni family."

Chen Yongren looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with astonishment and confusion: "Brother Dong? Why? I...I didn't want to..."

Lin Yaodong raised his hand, signaling him to calm down: "It's not really about going back to work for him. It's about going back to keep an eye on the Ni family and Ni Yongxiao for me."

Chen Yongren was stunned: "Brother Dong, you mean...?"

"An undercover agent." Lin Yaodong uttered two words softly, his gaze sharp as a knife. "I want you to go back to the Ni family, gain Ni Yongxiao's trust, and become a member of the Ni family."

Then, tell me all his moves, his plans to launder his money, his clandestine businesses, especially... I think he's going to deal with Guohua, Gandhi, and those people next. When you get back, find a way to tell me all the specific arrangements.”

Chen Yongren was struck dumb, staring blankly at Lin Yaodong.

An undercover agent? Going back to the Ni family to infiltrate their ranks? To spy on his own elder brother?

"Brother Dong, this...I..." He was in a state of utter confusion.

He had just escaped the undercover identity assigned to him by the police, and now Lin Yaodong wants him to go undercover again...

How should I choose?

But in truth, he knew what kind of people the Ni family were at their core... what kind of person Ni Yongxiao was... he had already made up his mind.

Moreover, he was not very resistant to Lin Yaodong's request.

Seeing Chen Yongren's struggling expression, Lin Yaodong's tone softened, carrying a hint of deeper meaning: "Ah Ren, I know this is difficult. But you need to think it through. Who is Ni Yongxiao?"

He is the biggest bookmaker in Tsim Sha Tsui. How much blood is on his hands, and how many families have he ruined?

His so-called whitewashing is nothing more than handing over the dirty work to others while he hides behind the scenes to continue making money.

He can target Guohua and Gandhi today, and he can target anyone tomorrow, including Han Chen, and even... you, if he sees you as a threat.

Chen Yongren's face turned pale.

He recalled Ni Yongxiao's gentle yet unfathomable smile under the banquet pavilion, the greedy looks in Gandhi's eyes when they heard about "sharing the business," and the subtle excitement in Han Chen's eyes after his private conversation with Ni Yongxiao...

That home, that older brother, was far more dangerous and cruel than he had imagined.

"The Ni family is a sinking ship," Lin Yaodong said in a deep and powerful voice.

Lin Yaodong stared into Chen Yongren's eyes. "This is also an opportunity. An opportunity for you to truly see the Ni family, to see Ni Yongxiao, and to see yourself clearly."

As long as the Ni family exists, your identity will always be tainted... Don't you want to control your own destiny instead of being forever controlled by others?

Chen Yongren knew all this without Lin Yaodong having to say it.

"As long as you completely sever ties with the Ni family, you can take control of your own destiny..."

Chen Yongren was startled.

"Take control of your own destiny..." This sentence struck a chord deep within him.

"Brother Dong," Chen Yongren's voice was a little hoarse, "I... what do I need to do?"

Lin Yaodong knew that Chen Yongren had made his decision.

A smile spread across his face—a smile that blended relief and trust.

"You don't need to do anything special. You just need to promise Ni Yongxiao that you'll go back to the Ni family to help. Use your intelligence and caution to gain his trust..."

Normally, just do what you're supposed to do, like the real second young master of the Ni family. Just pass on any information you have to me when it matters most.

Lin Yaodong paused, his tone becoming extremely serious, "Aren, this matter is very dangerous. Ni Yongxiao is no ordinary person; once he discovers..."

Therefore, you must be extremely careful. We should minimize direct contact. I will arrange for someone to meet with you in the safest way possible.

He stood up, walked over to Chen Yongren, and patted him on the shoulder: "Yan, this path isn't easy. But things are turbulent in Hong Kong right now, 1997 is approaching, and the Ni family wants to launder their money and go global..."

All forces are reshuffling... Our company is inevitably affected; no one can remain unscathed..."

The company absolutely cannot have anything go wrong... Chen Yongren raised his head and looked at Lin Yaodong's trusting and expectant gaze.

He remembered his mother's tears before she died, and the alienation and coldness he felt in the Ni family...

Only in the company under Lin Yaodong did he feel warmth.

After a long while, he took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, and nodded heavily.

"Brother Dong, I...I'll do it."

Lin Yaodong smiled, this time a genuine smile from the heart.

He patted Chen Yongren's shoulder firmly: "Good! Ah Ren, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. Remember, you're not alone. Be careful in everything, safety first."