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

Two days later.

Lin Yaodong received another call from Jiang Tiansheng and went to No. 19 Hongshan Villa District to keep the appointment.

Jiang Tiansheng's tone on the phone was no different from usual, but Lin Yaodong keenly sensed a subtle probing.

He knew that the rumors circulating in the martial arts world these past two days must have reached Jiang Tiansheng's ears as well.

Gunfight at Tsuen Wan Harbour View Plaza, arrest of drug dealer Wang Kun...

Rumors circulated that Lin Yaodong was involved in the gunfight.

After all, Wang Kun, the only surviving witness, was handed over to the police by Lin Yaodong.

Moreover, Lam Yiu-tung's territory in Mong Kok is only a little over two kilometers away from the scene of the incident at Tsuen Wan Harbour View Plaza.

It was still that understated black Bentley, and driver Jiang Xin drove smoothly through the slightly congested streets of Hong Kong Island.

Lin Yaodong sat in the back seat, closing his eyes to rest, but his mind was rapidly processing various pieces of information.

He knew exactly what kind of person Chiang Tin-sang was—appearing amiable on the surface, concerned with his image, and striving to lead Hung Hing towards "corporatization" and "formalization," but deep down he still had the mindset of a triad boss, and weighing pros and cons was his instinct.

This meeting will definitely not be just a simple exchange of pleasantries.

The car drove into the quiet Hongshan villa area, where luxury houses were scattered among the green trees.

Villa No. 19 soon came into view, and the wrought iron gate slowly opened.

Lin Yaodong got out of the car and straightened his well-tailored gray suit to make sure there were no wrinkles.

He has always paid attention to his appearance, which is not only a habit but also a posture—a posture that is completely different from those gangsters with a strong sense of江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the underworld or gangsters).

The butler led the way.

Lin Yaodong did not stop walking, but his gaze had already swept over the sofa area in the living room.

Sure enough, a beautiful figure was lounging lazily on the velvet sofa.

Fang Ting wore a light purple silk loungewear dress today, which made her skin look even whiter. Her calves were beautifully curved under the skirt, and her toes, painted with bright red nail polish, sank into the soft wool carpet.

She was flipping through a fashion magazine when she heard the noise. She immediately raised her charming peach blossom eyes, her gaze hooked as she stared straight at Lin Yaodong, a meaningful smile playing on her lips.

Clearly, she knew Lin Yaodong was coming and was deliberately waiting here.

"Ah Dong~~~" The voice was soft and gentle, with the last syllable drawn out.

Lin Yaodong sighed inwardly, but his face remained impassive, even displaying a perfectly measured distance and politeness as he nodded slightly: "Sister-in-law... good morning..."

Without pausing, they headed straight for the spiral staircase leading to the second floor.

He could feel the gaze following him from behind, and the owner of that gaze seemed to want to devour him whole.

Rumors are on the back.

The second floor is mostly Jiang Tiansheng's private space, complete with a gym, study, and collection room.

Before even approaching the gym, I could hear the rhythmic clanging of barbell plates and slightly heavy breathing coming from inside.

Lin Yaodong knocked on the door and then pushed it open.

Jiang Tiansheng, shirtless and wearing only athletic shorts, was lifting a sizable barbell from his chest over his head. The muscles in his arms and back were bulging, and sweat dripped down his lean body.

Maintaining such a physique at nearly fifty years old is a testament to his self-discipline.

Unfortunately, it's all bark and no bite... its lower body is no longer effective.

Seeing Lin Yaodong enter, Jiang Tiansheng slowly put the barbell back on the rack with a muffled thud.

He picked up the white towel draped beside him and wiped the sweat from his face and chest before turning around with his usual gentle smile on his face.

"Ah Dong, you're here." The voice was calm, revealing no emotion.

"Mr. Jiang." Lin Yaodong walked closer, keeping a step's distance, his attitude respectful but not humble.

Jiang Tiansheng draped a towel around his neck, walked to the side, picked up two bottles of imported Evian mineral water, and handed one to Lin Yaodong.

"Sit down." He leaned against the equipment next to him, unscrewed the bottle cap, and took a big gulp.

A brief silence.

The gym had a faint smell of sweat and rubber mats.

"Congratulations!" Jiang Tiansheng suddenly spoke, breaking the silence, his smile deepening.

"I think you're a shoo-in for Causeway Bay District Councillor this time! You've been nominated by local residents, you've handled police-community relations well, and even some Justices of the Peace have a very good impression of you."

These words made Lin Yaodong even more puzzled.

Two days ago, when he came here to collect the fees, Jiang Tiansheng did not mention a word about running for councilor, as if he did not care at all.

Now, however, they bring it up proactively, and even use words like "congratulations."

Is it a genuine congratulation, or is there a hidden meaning?

Is it envy, or fear?

For the leader of Hung Hing, the imminent acquisition of a legitimate political identity should be a good thing... but for Chiang Tin-sang...

Lin Yaodong suppressed his emotions and put on a humble, even slightly shy smile, without any aggression: "Mr. Jiang, you flatter me. Until the very last moment of the vote, no one dares to say they're guaranteed to win. I'm just doing my best for the neighborhood, and I'm grateful for everyone's high regard."

His words were impeccable, clearly stating his attitude, pointing out the underlying issues, and maintaining a humble demeanor.

Jiang Tiansheng looked at Lin Yaodong with deep eyes, as if trying to read something from his face.

He sighed, with a hint of reminiscence and regret: "Sigh, I tried this path before... to clean up my act, get a legitimate identity. But... I didn't succeed."

He shook his head. "The timing wasn't right back then. My name, Jiang Tiansheng, was still too 'famous' among the foreigners. They wanted to make money, but they were also afraid of trouble. Besides, back then, they weren't as eager as they are now to make one last crazy rush before leaving."

Lin Yaodong listened quietly, knowing that Jiang Tiansheng was telling the truth.

In the early 1990s, as the issue of the 1997 handover gradually became clear, the senior officials of the British colonial government were restless, with many foreign officials harboring the mentality of "making enough money before leaving."

Many previously strict rules and censorships have been relaxed; as long as the money is right, many things become "negotiable."

This is precisely the window of opportunity that Lin Yaodong can seize.

While he was in Causeway Bay, he adhered to a long-term "people-friendly" strategy due to the system—delivering rice and oil, comforting the elderly and widows, donating money to help students, and cooperating with the police to maintain community security.

These seemingly "silly" behaviors, even ridiculed by his fellow students as "pretentious," ultimately became the solid foundation for him to gain the support of his neighbors and be included in the nomination list at the crucial moment.

Reputation takes time to build.

Lin Yaodong caught the hint of envy and a touch of sourness in Jiang Tiansheng's tone.

But he pretended not to notice.

"I'm all sweaty and sticky... I'm going to take a shower. Ah Dong, have a seat for a bit. We'll talk in the study later." Jiang Tiansheng ended the conversation, patted Lin Yaodong's shoulder, the pressure neither too light nor too heavy.

"Please go ahead, Mr. Jiang." Lin Yaodong smiled and watched him walk towards the bathroom that connected to the master bedroom.

Lin Yaodong was the only one left in the gym.

He walked to the window and looked down at the meticulously manicured garden.

Jiang Tiansheng's life appears glamorous on the surface, but in reality, he walks on thin ice.

They wanted to maintain Hung Hing's status and enormous profits in the underworld, but also longed to shed their triad background and join the upper class.

This contradiction has permeated all of Jiang Tiansheng's decisions over the years.

Lin Yaodong seems to be walking a path that Jiang Tiansheng wanted to take but failed to follow.

Under normal circumstances, it would be easiest for him to take the lead in changing Hung Hing... but in the end, what would Chiang Tin-sang, the leader, amount to...?

Wouldn't this make Jiang Tiansheng feel uneasy, or even... threatened?