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

The fifth day of the first lunar month.

The morning sunlight shone through the white gauze curtains and onto the large European-style bed.

Lu Chen opened his eyes, feeling a slight numbness in his arm. To his left was Sophia, who was wrapped around him like an octopus, with one of her long legs casually pressed against his stomach; to his right was Ruan Mei, curled up in a ball, sleeping like a kitten.

These two women with completely different personalities—one a passionate Sicilian queen and the other a gentle younger sister—miraculously achieved a delicate harmony.

Lu Chen carefully withdrew his arm without waking them.

He's been living a rather "debauched" life these past few days. Besides spending time with his two mistresses at the villa, he also makes time to go to Happy Valley to see that dashing Interpol agent and enjoy a different kind of uniform temptation.

Even with kidneys made of iron, I felt a slight soreness.

"call……"

Lu Chen put on his bathrobe, walked to the balcony, stretched, and took a deep breath of the fresh air with a salty smell.

"Woof! Woof woof!"

On the lawn downstairs, two half-grown native dogs—Cola and Sprite—were chasing and playing with each other. After a few months of feeding, the two little guys had shed their thinness when they first arrived, their fur was shiny, and they were agile. When they saw their owner appear on the balcony, they immediately wagged their tails excitedly and made whimpering sounds.

Lu Chen smiled as he went downstairs and played frisbee with the two dogs for a while, working up a light sweat.

After breakfast, the two women got up, washed, and dressed.

Sofia wore a bright red Chinese cheongsam. Although she had a Western face, the cheongsam gave her a unique exotic charm, perfectly highlighting her curvaceous figure. Ruan Mei wore a pink cashmere coat, looking delicate and lovely.

"Let's go visit our neighbors for the New Year."

Lu Chen waved his hand, and his bodyguard Tian Yangsheng, carrying large and small bags of gifts, led the group to the villa next door.

The family living next door is the Piao family (from the movie series "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad World").

"Oh my! Mr. Lu! Mrs. Lu... uh, both Mrs. Lu! Congratulations on your fortune! Congratulations on your fortune!"

As soon as the door opened, Uncle Piao, dressed in a Tang suit and beaming with joy, came out to greet us. Behind him, Aunt Piao, who had gained weight, was also smiling broadly.

"Uncle Piao, Aunt Piao, Happy New Year."

Lu Chen smiled and cupped his hands in greeting, gesturing for Tian Yangsheng to present the gift, saying, "It's just a small token of my appreciation."

"Oh dear, you're here anyway, why did you bring anything... Wow! What's this?"

Uncle Piao was polite in words, but his hands honestly took the long, rectangular box. When he opened it, his eyes widened instantly.

"This...this is Daiwa's limited edition carbon fiber surf rod?! And this Shimano reel?!"

As a seasoned angler, Uncle Piao immediately recognized the value of this equipment set. This whole set would easily cost tens of thousands of yuan!

"Lu Sheng, this is too precious!" Uncle Piao stroked the fishing rod with great affection, his mouth practically watering.

"A fine sword is a gift for a hero," Lu Chen said with a smile.

On the other side, Aunt Piao and her three daughters also unwrapped their gifts.

"Wow! Garreau's new limited edition bag! And this evening gown! Oh my god!"

The eldest daughter, Daidi, and the second daughter, Laidi, squealed with excitement as they looked at the exquisite packaging box in their hands. As representatives of Hong Kong women in the new economy, they had always dreamed of owning a Garreau bag, and today their dream had come true!

"Thank you, Brother Lu! Thank you, Sister-in-law!" The two daughters hugged the gifts tightly, especially Lai Di, whose little face was flushed and whose eyes were shining as she looked at Lu Chen.

Aunt Piao, holding a top-of-the-line mahjong set, was laughing so hard her makeup was almost falling off: "Oh, Mr. Lu, you're too kind. I can't accept such an expense..."

The happiest person was none other than the youngest daughter, Zhaodi.

When several bodyguards carried a brand-new King Kong arcade machine, decorated with red festive stickers, into the living room, Xiao Zhaodi jumped three feet high.

"Arcade game! It's Donkey Kong! It really is Donkey Kong!"

Zhao Di circled the machine several times, her face flushed with excitement. "Now I'm so cool! I'm going to make all my classmates line up at my house! I can be the leader of the kids!"

Seeing the family's genuine happiness, Lu Chen also felt relaxed and happy.

"Come, come, Mr. Lu, this is also a small token of our appreciation."

Uncle Piao wasn't an ignorant person, and he quickly took out two bottles of red wine that he had been treasuring for a long time from the wine cabinet. "This is Earl de Gaulle wine. I asked someone to bring it back from Europe. I haven't been able to bear to drink it."

In addition, Aunt Piao gave Sophia and Ruan Mei two thick red envelopes. After chatting for more than an hour at Uncle Piao's house, listening to Aunt Piao talk about everyday gossip, and feeling this long-lost atmosphere of everyday life, Lu Chen felt that this was the true taste of the New Year.

After leaving Uncle Piao's house, Lu Chen did not remain idle.

For the rising stars of Hong Kong's business community, the Lunar New Year is the perfect time to connect with others and build networks.

At 10 a.m., Lu Chen drove to another mansion in Deep Water Bay, which was Sir Guo's residence. On the previous "Fortune Maru" ship, Lu Chen saved Sir Guo's life and left a deep impression on him. The two became close friends despite their age difference.

At the Guo family home, Lu Chen received a high-level reception. The two chatted for half an hour in the study about the real estate and financial situation. With his forward-thinking vision and superb intelligence, Lu Chen's analysis of the future political and economic situation of Hong Kong Island made Sir Guo nod frequently in agreement.

In the following hours, Lu Chen visited several wealthy people he had met on the ship without stopping.

As for his friends overseas, such as some Datuks in Southeast Asia and representatives of conglomerates in Japan, Lu Chen also made overseas calls to them one by one.

A keen understanding of human relationships is the essence of literature.

In this society where personal connections matter, a close-knit network of relationships is often more powerful than money alone.

……

4:30 PM.

A black Rolls-Royce slowly drove into a super mansion in Deep Water Bay.

This place is nestled between mountains and the sea, boasting excellent feng shui.

The security personnel at the entrance had clearly been notified in advance, and immediately saluted and let the car pass after seeing the license plate number.

This is the mansion of the world's shipping magnate, Mr. Bao.

If the previous visits were merely to maintain relationships, then today's stop is the most important part of Lu Chen's itinerary.

"Brother Lu! Happy New Year!"

As soon as the car came to a stop, the sprightly shipowner Bao actually stood at the main building entrance to greet him. This was an extremely high honor for a junior.

"Mr. Bao, Happy New Year! How could I trouble you to come and greet me personally?" Lu Chen quickly stepped forward and shook hands with Mr. Bao.

"Hey, you're a big shot in Hong Kong's business world now, you deserve it, you deserve it!" The shipping magnate laughed heartily, pulling Lu Chen's hand and leading him inside. "Come on, to the study. I called you here today not only to offer New Year's greetings, but also because someone else wants to see you."

"Oh?" Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat, and he vaguely guessed what it was.

Following the shipping magnate through the luxurious living room, we arrived at the study on the second floor, which had a wide view and was decorated with calligraphy and paintings.

Push open the door.

A faint aroma of cigars wafted over.

On the sofa in the study sat an elderly man, thin and gaunt, but with exceptionally resolute eyes. He wore a simple Zhongshan suit and held a copy of the Ta Kung Pao newspaper in his hand. The composure and authority that emanated from his very being made it difficult for anyone to look him directly in the eye.

Huo Yingdong was a red capitalist who risked his life to transport supplies to the mainland during the Korean War and never bowed down despite being suppressed by the Hong Kong British government for decades.

Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat. He quickly took two steps forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Hello, Elder Huo. I am Lu Chen, and I wish you a Happy New Year."

Old Huo put down his newspaper, his worldly-wise eyes scanning Lu Chen up and down, a rare smile appearing on his face: "Bao Sheng often mentions you to me, saying that the courage and boldness you've shown in the business world recently are no less than ours back then. Seeing you today, it's clear that your reputation is well-deserved."

"Mr. Huo is too kind; it was just luck."

The aroma of tea wafted through the air, creating a somewhat solemn atmosphere in the study.

"Little Lu," Old Master Huo spoke first, his voice not loud but powerful, "I heard you started a security company in Mong Kok, recruited all those gangsters, led them onto the right path and established rules, and even demanded—that they never get involved with drugs?"

Old Huo's eyes sharpened.

"Yes," Lu Chen said solemnly, "The Opium War is a national humiliation. I, Lu Chen, do not consider myself a saint, but I am still a descendant of the Yellow Emperor. As long as I am on my territory, I will never allow such things to poison my compatriots."

"Well said! No wonder Old Bao speaks so highly of you," Old Huo said, his eyes full of admiration. "Just for those words, I, Huo Yingdong, consider you a friend!"

He turned to look at Bao Chuanwang: "Old Bao, this young man may come from humble beginnings, but he has a tough backbone and a loyal heart."

The shipping magnate smiled and got to the point: "Little Lu, the reason I called you here today is actually to hear your opinion on something."

Over the next hour, the three of them gradually shifted their conversation from business to a deeper level.

Although the current situation is very delicate, with Sino-British negotiations about to begin and people in Hong Kong feeling uneasy, three businessmen of different ages displayed a surprising tacit understanding in this small study.

The shipping magnate spoke of his passion for the mainland and his confidence in the future.

Huo Yingdong spoke about the mainland's reform and opening up, the construction of the White Swan Hotel, and his firm belief in Hong Kong's return to China.

Lu Chen, on the other hand, used his foresight into the course of history to offer extremely accurate and unique insights into the international situation and economic trends without revealing any secrets.

"British capital will inevitably withdraw, and Chinese capital will inevitably rise!" Lu Chen said decisively. "The future Hong Kong Island will be a Hong Kong Island backed by the mainland. Whoever can see this trend will be invincible."

These words struck a chord with Huo Yingdong.

He looked at Lu Chen, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.

"Brother Lu," Huo Yingdong suddenly changed his form of address, "I'll be going to the capital soon. Would you be interested in coming along?"

This is a signal.

A signal that you've been accepted into the inner circle.

Lu Chen took a deep breath and nodded solemnly: "That is indeed my wish, I dare not ask."

"Hahahaha! Good!" Bao, the shipping magnate, laughed loudly from the side. "Let's drink tea instead of wine!"

Three teacups gently clinked together in mid-air.

In the following years, the names Huo Yingdong, Bao Chuanwang, and Lu Chen frequently appeared in major projects related to China's reform and opening up. From the White Swan Lake in Guangzhou to universities in Ningbo, and industrial parks scattered along the coast.

They are not only business tycoons in Hong Kong Island, but also role models who are revered as "patriotic businessmen" in the North.

Of course, that's a story for another time.

At this moment, Lu Chen was sitting in the car on his way home, looking at the dazzling lights of Victoria Harbour outside the window, and a surge of pride welled up in his heart.

The triads may dominate, and the business world may vie for supremacy, but it all revolves within the confines of Hong Kong Island.

The real journey lies on that vast red land, on that Chinese dragon about to take flight.

"Boss, you seem to be in a good mood?" Tian Yangsheng asked.

"Yes," Lu Chen smiled, his eyes reflecting the starry sky, "because I have found a true path to immortality."