Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

The twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month.

As the Lunar New Year approaches, the entire city of Hong Kong is enveloped in a festive red atmosphere.

The skyscrapers on both sides of Victoria Harbour were adorned with huge Lunar New Year decorations, and the festive tune of "The God of Wealth Arrives" drifted through the streets and alleys. Seafood shops and gold shops were crowded with housewives shopping for the New Year.

Just yesterday, a Gulfstream business jet bearing the Lubbers emblem pierced the sky and landed at Kai Tak Airport.

Sofia is back.

After dealing with the tedious and bloody affairs of the Italian family, this female Mafia godfather didn't even have time to adjust to the time difference before flying back to Hong Kong Island. At that moment, in the Lu family villa in Yau Yat Tsuen, Ruan Mei was holding Sophia's hand, excitedly teaching her how to make glutinous rice balls and paste paper-cut window decorations. The two women with very different personalities created a warm, home-like atmosphere in this mansion.

On the night before Lunar New Year's Eve, another grand feast was being held in the banquet hall of the Wan Chai Grand Hotel.

[Scene from Jiahe Group's Annual Meeting]

A huge banner was hung above the stage.

This is Golden Harvest's first annual meeting since its establishment. Although the company has not been established for long, thanks to its frenzied plundering in the stock market, its huge profits in the film and television industry, and the rise of its luxury goods companies, Golden Harvest has become an emerging force that cannot be ignored in Hong Kong's business community.

Inside the banquet hall, the lights were dazzling, and the atmosphere was filled with the fragrance of fine clothes and elegant figures.

Dozens of round tables were covered with red tablecloths and filled with employees from the Jiahe Group. There were elites from the finance department dressed in suits, key members of Jiahe's security team in uniform, and college student techies from the newly established game development department.

Everyone clinked glasses and exchanged toasts, their faces beaming with genuine smiles—because just before entering, each of them had received an incredibly generous "lucky money" gift.

"Next, please welcome Mr. Tian Yangsheng, General Manager of Jiahe Security, to perform a piece from 'The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber' for us!"

As the host gave an enthusiastic introduction, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Tian Yangsheng, dressed in a crisp black Zhongshan suit, walked onto the stage expressionlessly. His face, which was usually cold and aloof, as if he were always ready to draw his sword, remained completely calm.

He gripped the microphone as if it were a gun.

"Love is like a net... trapping countless heroes..."

A deep, husky voice, unexpectedly in tune, began to sing.

Tian Yangsheng maintained a stern face throughout, coldly surveying the audience as he sang this heroic song. This stark contrast made Ahua and Wuying in the audience laugh so hard they almost crawled under the table, but the other unsuspecting employees thought the general manager was incredibly cool.

The atmosphere then became even more lively.

Zeng Jianqiao and Cheng Yiyan, these two usually refined scoundrels, were drunk at this moment and actually rushed onto the stage with their arms around each other's shoulders.

"Ali! Alibaba! Alibaba is a happy young man~"

The two swayed their hips and sang Lin Zixiang's recently released disco hit "Alibaba." Cheng Yiyan even tied his tie around his forehead, while Zeng Jianqiao used two wine bottles as maracas, instantly turning the entire banquet hall into a sea of ​​revelry.

on the main table.

Lu Chen, dressed in a well-tailored dark gray velvet suit, held a glass of champagne and watched the chaotic scene on stage with a smile on his lips.

Sitting to his left was the "Overlord Flower," who had dressed up especially for the evening.

Instead of her usual stiff business suit, she wore a black backless evening gown. Her long hair was styled in an updo, revealing her slender neck and delicate collarbones. With light makeup and red lips, she exuded a deadly sexiness amidst her cool elegance.

"Secretary Hu, you look beautiful tonight," Lu Chen said, turning to the side and letting his gaze sweep unabashedly over her bare back. "This dress is a good choice; it shows off your figure and is also convenient for... movement."

The woman stiffened, feeling the man's burning gaze, and her ears instantly turned red.

"Mr. Lu, you flatter me," she said, trying to remain calm, her hand gripping the wine glass tightly. "It's the company's annual party; I can't dress too shabbily and embarrass the boss."

"How could it be embarrassing?" Lu Chen leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear. "You're the most beautiful... secretary I've ever seen. Looking at you, I don't even want to watch the performance on stage anymore."

This blatant flirting made Ba Wanghua's heart race and she felt like she was sitting on pins and needles.

She was a professionally trained undercover agent, capable of remaining calm under criminal interrogation and handling gunfire with ease. But faced with Lu Chen's combination of sweet talk and ruthless tactics, she found her defenses crumbling little by little.

"Mr. Lu, please have some self-respect." The domineering woman bit her lip, trying to put on a stern posture to hide her inner panic.

"Boss!" a gentle voice suddenly interrupted.

A beautiful woman with a striking and elegant appearance, wearing a white off-shoulder dress and large eyes, walked over carrying a wine glass—it was Laura from Garreau's design department.

"Oh dear, I wanted to toast the boss, but there were too many people and I couldn't squeeze in." Laura completely ignored the domineering flower next to her and walked directly to Lu Chen's other side. Half of her body was almost pressed against Lu Chen's body. Her captivating eyes were filled with undisguised admiration and love.

"Lola," Lu Chen turned around, naturally taking the wine glass Laura handed him, a charming smile on his face, "You've been working hard lately. I've seen the new Garreau designs, and I really like some of your ideas."

"That's because the boss provided excellent guidance. By the way, boss, I have a few new ideas. I'd like to use a postmodern minimalist style. What do you think?"

"Oh? Postmodern?" Lu Chen immediately turned his head, a look of interest on his face, completely ignoring the domineering flower who had just been teasing him.

"Come, sit down and let's talk in detail." Lu Chen pointed to the empty seat next to him.

Laura sat down, and the two of them, heads close together, began to have a lively discussion about interior design, artistic taste, and even the fashion week in Gaul.

The woman sitting next to him, holding a wine glass, froze.

As she watched Lu Chen and Laura chatting and laughing, and seeing Laura's delicate profile and the occasional little touches on Lu Chen's arm, a sudden, indescribable bitterness welled up in her heart.

That feeling is like when you were a child and your favorite toy was suddenly taken away by another child.

Disappointment, grievance, and a strange sense of resentment.

"Hmph, vixen."

The tyrant cursed inwardly. She looked down at herself. She had dressed up nicely and had just been praising herself for being beautiful. How could she have been so easily seduced by that "big-eyed girl"?

Men really are all big jerks!

The more Ba Wanghua thought about it, the angrier she became. In a fit of pique, she downed the glass of red wine in one gulp. The icy liquid slid down her throat, but it couldn't extinguish the nameless fire in her heart.

……

The dinner lasted until 11 p.m.

The guests departed, and the commotion subsided.

A biting wind was blowing at the hotel entrance.

"Secretary Hu, where do you live? I'll give you a ride."

Lu Chen put on his coat and stood next to the black Rolls-Royce, looking at the trembling woman standing in the wind.

"No need, Mr. Lu, I'll take a taxi myself..." The tyrant was about to refuse.

"Get in the car," Lu Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable tone of command. "It's too late. This area has been rather unsafe lately. It's not safe for a girl like you to be out alone."

You know things aren't safe? You're the most dangerous person around here!

The woman complained inwardly, but her body betrayed her, and she obediently opened the car door.

Inside the carriage, the heating was on full blast, keeping out the cold outside.

Tian Yangsheng acted as the driver, driving silently.

An eerily quiet atmosphere filled the back seat.

Ba Wanghua leaned against the car window, watching the street scenes rushing by outside, her mind a jumbled mess. One moment she saw Lu Chen teasing her, the next she saw him chatting with Laura, and then she heard her superiors urging her to find evidence.

"What are you thinking about?" Lu Chen suddenly asked, breaking the silence.

"N-nothing...it's nothing." The tyrant was startled and quickly sat up straight.

Lu Chen didn't speak, but simply looked at her quietly. In the dim light of the carriage, his eyes were as deep as a whirlpool.

The woman felt uneasy under his gaze.

What does he want to do?

It's late at night, and there are only the two of them in the car (Tian Yangsheng is automatically ignored). He drank quite a bit at the banquet... Is he going to have sex while drunk?

The tyrant instinctively gripped her handbag, inside which was a miniature self-defense spray. If he dared to do anything rash, I would… I would…

But if he really pounces on me, should I resist? Or... cooperate? After all, I'm an undercover agent; sacrificing a little bit of my virtue for the mission is...

"Pah! Pah! Pah! What are you thinking, you tyrant flower?!"

Just as Ba Wanghua was imagining a ten-thousand-word mini-drama in her mind, her face turned as red as a tomato.

The car slowly came to a stop.

"We've arrived," Tian Yangsheng reminded him. Perhaps because he was going to perform on stage, his tone seemed colder and harsher than usual.

When Ba Wanghua looked out the window, she saw that it was indeed the apartment building she rented.

"Thank you... thank you Mr. Lu for bringing me back." Ba Wanghua breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a strange sense of loss.

He...didn't do anything at all?

"etc."

Just as she placed her hand on the doorknob, preparing to get out of the car, Lu Chen suddenly leaned over and moved closer to her.

coming!

The Queen of Flowers' breath hitched as she watched the handsome face getting closer and closer, her heart rate instantly soaring to 180.

Is he going to kiss me?

it's here?

The Queen of the Night instinctively closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling, her body stiff as a stone, but she did not flinch.

However, the expected warm sensation did not come.

"Click".

A soft sound.

Lu Chen reached over her shoulder and took out a beautifully packaged velvet box from a hidden compartment behind the seat on her side.

"Open your eyes, what are you thinking?" Lu Chen's teasing voice rang out. "Did you think I was going to molest you?"

The Queen Flower suddenly opened her eyes and saw Lu Chen looking at her with a half-smile, holding a small dark blue box in his hand.

The feeling of shame overwhelmed me instantly.

"I...I didn't!" Ba Wanghua's face turned so red it was almost bleeding.

"Take it."

Lu Chen shoved the box into her hand.

"This is..." The Queen of Flowers was stunned.

"Happy birthday, Secretary Hu," Lu Chen's voice softened, no longer the teasing tone of before, but a sincere blessing. "I know tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve, and also your birthday."

The Queen of Flowers was completely stunned.

Her birthday is the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, which is Lunar New Year's Eve.

This is a very awkward day. Because on this day, the whole world is busy celebrating the Lunar New Year, busy with family reunions, and busy eating New Year's Eve dinner. From childhood to adulthood, although her family would celebrate her birthday, it was usually mixed in with the New Year's Eve dinner and done hastily. No one has ever celebrated her birthday specifically, let alone given her a formal gift that is only for her birthday.

Even she herself sometimes forgets when she gets busy.

"How...how did you know?" the Queen of Flowers asked in a trembling voice.

"I'm the boss, of course I've seen the employees' files. And I've noticed you're usually alone, so I guess you probably don't have anyone to celebrate your birthday with. That's why I prepared this for you in advance. Open it and see if you like it."

With trembling hands, Ba Wanghua opened the velvet box.

In the dim light of the carriage, an exquisite platinum necklace lay quietly. The pendant was a uniquely designed four-leaf clover, with a dazzling diamond set in the center.

"this……"

The Queen of Flowers covered her mouth, her eyes instantly welling up with tears.

She had seen this necklace in a fashion magazine last week. She was on duty at the company at the time, and while flipping through the magazine out of boredom, she stared at the necklace for a long time and even subconsciously drew a circle around it with a pen.

She was just envious at the time, because it was a new Cartier model that she couldn't afford with her police salary.

She thought no one would notice that tiny detail.

But Lu Chen noticed it.

This "bad guy," whom she considered an investigation target, whom she viewed as an unscrupulous businessman who bullied her all day, actually noticed a small gesture she made while she was lost in thought, and bought it as a birthday gift for her.

"Do you like it?" Lu Chen asked softly.

"Why..." The domineering flower looked up at Lu Chen, her eyes blurry with tears, "Why are you so good to me? I just..."

I'm just an undercover agent! I'm here to arrest you!

The words stuck in my throat; I just couldn't say them.

"Because you are my employee and my friend," Lu Chen reached out and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his movements incredibly tender. "At Jiahe, no one is ignored, not even you."

After saying that, Lu Chen didn't say anything more, nor did he take the opportunity to make any excessive demands.

He simply opened the car door for her, like a true gentleman.

"Go upstairs, it's cold outside. Get some rest, you have a day off tomorrow, you can sleep in."

The woman, holding the scalding hot box, got off the bus in a daze.

"Good night."

Lu Chen waved to her, and the car window slowly rolled up.

The Rolls-Royce restarted and disappeared into the night.

The "Queen of the Winds" stood downstairs at the apartment building, the cold wind tousling her hair, yet she felt no cold.

She looked down at the necklace in her hand, and at that moment, her defenses crumbled.

Moved, guilty, adoring, responsible... countless emotions intertwined in my heart, like a tangled mess that I couldn't untangle.

"Lu Chen..." she murmured to herself, clutching the box tightly to her chest, as if it were the only warmth she had in this cold city.

Meanwhile, inside the car.

"Boss, is it all done?" Tian Yangsheng glanced at his boss through the rearview mirror.

"Hmm," Lu Chen leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes to rest, and a hunter's smile appeared on his lips as he closed his net. "Drive back to the villa. Amei and Sophia are waiting for me to have a late-night snack."