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

Tomorrow is an important day for Lin Yaodong – his film company's first movie, "Wolf Fang," will premiere.

This is not just about the success or failure of a film, but also a crucial step in his attempt to steer some of his businesses toward a more legitimate purpose and to clean up his past.

After having his men see Xiao Fu off, he planned to go to the film company to check on the final preparations, ensuring that every aspect of the premiere went smoothly.

Just as he picked up his coat, preparing to go out.

Someone called.

Lin Yaodong glanced at the caller ID, where four words were displayed: Matchmaker Granny.

A helpless, bitter smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

This note has its origin.

Since he bought the tenement building, the elderly woman who lives alone, whose children are far away overseas, has treated her new landlord as her own son. She has been particularly enthusiastic about arranging his marriage, introducing him to six "daughters of his extended family" so much that Lin Yaodong had to label her as such.

Upon answering the phone, Lin Yaodong's voice remained polite: "Hello, Grandma?"

An elderly woman's voice, tinged with urgency and exaggeration, came from the other end of the phone: "Hello, Ah Dong, it's me!"

Lin Yaodong: "Grandma, what's the matter?"

The matchmaker claimed on the phone that she had accidentally twisted her ankle at the entrance of the tenement building where Lin Yaodong lived and was unable to move. She specifically asked Lin Yaodong to come downstairs to help her.

Lin Yaodong understood that this excuse was not very clever, and that the real intention was probably not what it seemed.

He could almost guess that what awaited him downstairs was likely another chance encounter with a young girl.

But he didn't point it out, simply replying, "Coming right away."

After hanging up the phone, Lin Yaodong straightened his shirt collar.

The apartment building where he lives has a unique layout.

His room was in the middle, with the rooms on the left and right sides empty. At the ends of the corridors on both sides, next to the stairwell, lived his two most trusted henchmen, Xiao Fu and Gao Jin.

Most of the residents on the upper and lower floors were his underlings; only the rooms on other floors were actually rented to ordinary tenants.

This arrangement reflects his caution after years of navigating the underworld, or rather, his deep-seated fear of death.

He would even rotate between several empty rooms to prevent anyone from figuring out his routine and getting killed in his sleep.

Sure enough, as soon as he opened the door, walked down the quiet corridor, and reached the door of the room near the stairwell, the door opened with a click.

It was Gao Jin.

"Dong-ge, are we going out?"

Lin Yaodong waved his hand casually, "Yeah, Grandma's looking for me. She's downstairs at the main entrance. She said she twisted her ankle. It's nothing serious, you don't need to come."

Gao Jin didn't say much, just nodded silently, and then naturally followed half a step behind Lin Yaodong.

This is his duty, and also his habit.

He never relaxed his vigilance regarding Lin Yaodong's safety, no matter how close the location or how seemingly trivial the matter.

The two walked down the dimly lit stairs one after the other.

Upon arriving at the main entrance on the first floor, the scene was exactly as Lin Yaodong had predicted.

The matchmaker was standing there perfectly fine, her back to the door, chatting animatedly with a young girl who also had her back to them, without the slightest sign of having sprained her ankle.

The girl was slender, wearing a light-colored baseball cap, revealing a neat black ponytail at the back of her head. She wore a simple white shirt, well-fitting blue jeans, and clean white sneakers, dressed simply yet exuding youthful energy.

Although you can't see her face directly, she gives off a clean and neat feeling.

Lin Yaodong thought to himself, "As expected." He was already used to these old neighbors, especially the elderly men and women living alone, trying all sorts of ways to introduce him to potential partners.

No wonder, in the eyes of the neighbors, Lin Yaodong is young and promising, with a decent appearance, and he is polite and caring towards the elderly. He is simply the perfect candidate for a "son-in-law".

Those with daughters would introduce their daughters to others, and those without daughters would bring along eligible girls from their relatives, as if they were afraid that this good young man might run away one day.

"Grandma," Lin Yaodong called out.

Upon hearing the voice, the matchmaker turned around immediately, her face beaming with a warm smile: "Ah Dong, you've come! Come here quickly, let me tell you something..."

She walked over briskly, grabbed Lin Yaodong's arm, and led him a few steps away, completely forgetting what she had said on the phone about "twisting her ankle".

She lowered her voice and pointed to the girl's back: "Look, that girl is called Xiaomei. I don't know how she saw the rental ad I posted a few years ago and called me."

I've sold you the whole building, so why would I need to pay rent?

I thought to myself, "Aren't there several empty rooms on your floor? They're just gathering dust, why not rent them out and collect some rent?"

Lin Yaodong raised an eyebrow slightly. Had he guessed wrong this time?

The old lady was there to introduce tenants, not to arrange a blind date?

He quickly calculated in his mind.

Those empty rooms were a safety buffer he had deliberately set aside; he never intended to rent them out to outsiders.

Allowing a strange woman to move in would undoubtedly increase the risk and disrupt his carefully constructed security setup.

He hesitated, trying to find a suitable reason to politely decline.

After all, safety comes first.

However, the matchmaker didn't give him a chance to refuse. Seeing that he didn't object immediately, she assumed that he had agreed.

He quickly turned around and waved to the girl: "Xiaomei, come here quickly, this is the landlord I told you about, Lin Yaodong, Ah Dong. Let me tell you, Ah Dong is a really good person. If you want to find a safe and peaceful place to live, renting Ah Dong's house is definitely the right choice!"

At that moment, the girl named Xiaomei turned around upon hearing the sound.

Just as she turned around, lifted the brim of her hat, and fully revealed her face, Lin Yaodong, who was usually calm and composed, had his pupils contract slightly, almost imperceptibly.

She had an exquisitely beautiful oval face, skin as white as snow, eyebrows and eyes as beautiful as a painting, and a pair of eyes as clear as mountain spring water, carrying a touch of innocent naivety and timid curiosity.

This face is strikingly similar to Vivian Chow, the once wildly popular "Jade Girl" icon of the 1990s, but more vibrant and youthful than her on-screen persona, possessing an indescribable, pitiful, and delicate charm.

It's not Vivian Chow... Yes, it's Ruan Mei from the classic Hong Kong drama "The Greed of Man"!

That frugal, kind, optimistic and strong "little Jew" who suffers from heart disease!

The face before him was clearly that of Vivian Chow as Ruan Mei at the age of 23, standing vividly in front of him.

So pure... so immaculate... so tender... as if it would burst with moisture if you just pinched it.

In an instant, fragments of memories about the character Ruan Mei flooded Lin Yaodong's mind—her frugality, her kindness, her devotion to love, and that heartbreaking ending...

Lin Yaodong's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, his direct and focused scrutiny causing the already shy Ruan Mei to blush instantly. She hurriedly lowered her head, avoiding his eyes, her voice barely audible, tinged with obvious nervousness:

"Hello... Mr. Lin, my name is Ruan Mei. The old lady said... said you have a house for rent here..." She unconsciously clutched the hem of her clothes, revealing her inner unease.

Before she arrived, the old lady did mention to her that the landlord had some "underworld connections," but she strongly assured her that he was a good person.