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

Along the coastal highway in Stanley, the sea breeze, carrying a salty and damp smell, whistles past.

"boom--!!!"

With a roar like an engine tearing through the air, a silver sports car streaked across the winding coastline like a bolt of lightning.

Porsche 930 Turbo.

This is the famous "widow maker" in the Porsche family, and a synonym for speed and violence in this era. The huge whale tail wing, the wide rear wheel arches, and the unique roar of the typhoon-cooled horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine make it look like a silver beast lurking on the asphalt road.

This car was Lu Chen's first major purchase after receiving the money. What boy doesn't dream of owning a sports car? He didn't choose a Ferrari or a Lamborghini, but instead went to great lengths to acquire this car, the same model driven by a certain silver-haired assassin (Gin). Understated, ruthless, and deadly.

A deep, furious roar of an engine shattered the tranquility of the coastal highway.

In the driver's seat, Lu Chen gripped the steering wheel with one hand, feeling the vibrations from the horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine behind him. He had spent a fortune on this car, not just for his own enjoyment, but also to enhance his future image.

"Boss, this car...it's awesome!"

Sitting in the passenger seat, Little Ma had a cigarette between his fingers but dared not smoke it, afraid of soiling the brand-new interior. He stroked the leather dashboard, his eyes shining brighter than the sunlight outside the window.

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

"I love it! What man wouldn't love a beast like this?" Little Ma chuckled. "Unlike Brother Hao, who prefers Rolls-Royces, I much prefer these sports cars—they're really powerful!"

"Don't worry," Lu Chen stepped on the gas, and the car's speed increased again. "As long as you handle things well, I'll give you one for the New Year."

"Alright! Boss, just you wait and see!"

The car executed a beautiful drift and came to a smooth stop outside the gates of Stanley Prison.

The prison guard at the door was about to come up and reprimand him, but when he saw the priceless sports car and the well-dressed, powerful young man who stepped out of it, he swallowed the profanity that was on the tip of his tongue.

In this colonial era, respecting clothes before respecting people was an ironclad rule.

Lu Chen got out of the car and straightened his suit.

"Let's go, Mark. Let's go see your older brother."

……

Visiting room.

The old saying "money makes the world go round" was a golden rule in Hong Kong in 81.

After Lu Chen slipped a thick wad of US dollars to the foreign prison guard on duty, the originally half-hour visitation time was extended to "anytime," and a special meeting room without surveillance was arranged for him.

The door opened.

The air in the visiting room was heavy and oppressive.

Across a long table, Song Zihao, dressed in a brown prison uniform with his hair cut very short, had a pale and dull expression on his face, a result of long-term imprisonment.

Three years.

The once spirited Hao Ge now looks like an honest, middle-aged man.

When the iron gate opened and Lu Chen and Brother Ma walked in, a ripple finally appeared in Song Zihao's lifeless eyes.

"pony……"

Song Zihao's voice trembled slightly, as if he couldn't believe his eyes.

Little Ma turned around and took off his sunglasses. His eyes instantly reddened, but he held back his tears, straightened his back, and gave a bright smile.

"Brother Hao!"

Little Ma walked over with a limp, his injured leg standing out starkly at that moment.

Looking at Little Ma's leg, Song Zihao's eyes were filled with guilt and heartache.

"Brother Hao, I...I've come to see you." Little Ma's voice was trembling.

"You lazy bum, why haven't you come for so long?" Song Zihao scolded, but his tone was full of concern. "I thought something had happened to you outside."

In truth, Song Zihao knew the answer. Xiao Ma didn't come not because he didn't want to, but because he was unwilling to. Rumors from the underworld had already reached the prison—Xiao Ma had his leg broken and was kicked out of the company for avenging him.

"I..." Little Ma choked up for a moment, then subconsciously looked at Lu Chen beside him, "I'm working for a new boss now, and I'm doing quite well. Brother Hao, this is my new boss, Mr. Lu."

Song Zihao then turned his gaze to Lu Chen.

He sized up the young man. Young, handsome, with the composure of someone in a position of authority, and also an... indescribable aura of danger.

"Mr. Song, I've long admired you."

Lu Chen smiled and extended his hand, without any airs. "Mark often mentions you, saying you're the most loyal and righteous big brother in the underworld, and also the best boss."

Song Zihao hesitated for a moment, then reached out and shook hands. The hand was dry and strong.

"Mr. Lu, you're too kind." Song Zihao chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I'm just prisoner number 9527 now. My reputation in the underworld is long gone."

"sit."

Lu Chen waved his hand, and the two prison guards who were standing next to him immediately understood and withdrew, even thoughtfully closing the heavy soundproof door.

That's the power of money.

Only three people remained in the room. Lu Chen took out a pack of cigarettes, tossed one to Song Zihao, and lit one for himself.

"Mr. Song, I don't like beating around the bush."

Lu Chen exhaled a smoke ring and got straight to the point, "I'm here today to pick you up from prison. Also, I'd like to ask you to come out of retirement and work for me."

Song Zihao paused for a moment, his hand holding the cigarette still.

He glanced at Xiao Ma, whose face was full of expectation, then looked at Lu Chen, and slowly shook his head.

"Mr. Lu, thank you for your kindness. But I appreciate it."

Song Zihao placed the cigarette on the table without lighting it. "I've thought a lot while I was in there. The old days, all that fighting and killing, were really tiring. I just want to finish my sentence, go out and offer incense to my dad, and then ask for A-Jie's forgiveness. I want to find a decent job, whether it's carrying bricks or delivering goods, as long as it's stable."

"I'm quitting this job."

These four words were spoken with absolute certainty.

Little Ma, standing nearby, became anxious: "Brother Hao! What nonsense are you talking about? How can you go and do odd jobs? You're a man destined for great things! Besides, that bastard Cheng is now shitting on our heads, are you just going to swallow this insult?"

"pony!"

Song Zihao interrupted Xiao Ma with a low shout, "When will this cycle of revenge end? If Cheng wants to be the boss, let him be. I don't want to fight for it anymore."

"Brother Hao!" Little Ma stomped his feet in anger, but there was nothing he could do.

Lu Chen was not surprised by this scene. Song Zihao was now only focused on atoning for his sins.

"Mr. Song, I understand that you want to back out."

Lu Chen flicked his cigarette ash, his tone eerily calm, "But now that you've jumped into this quagmire of the martial world, do you think you can climb ashore cleanly? It's not that easy."

"Your brother, Song Zijie, is a policeman. Because of your criminal record as a triad boss, he's suffered a lot of ostracism in the police force these past few years. He can't get promoted, and even his merits are suppressed. Do you think you can make up for it by driving a taxi and doing odd jobs after you get out of prison?"

Song Zihao's expression changed; this was a question he had been trying to avoid.

"besides."

Lu Chen leaned forward, his eyes fixed on Song Zihao. "You think society will give you a chance just because you want to be a good person? With a criminal record, which reputable company would dare hire you? If you drive a taxi, will your old enemies and current police officers let you off the hook? They'll be watching you every day, checking your car, and harassing your family."

"In this world, without money or power, the so-called 'being a good person' is nothing more than self-comfort for the incompetent."

Song Zihao fell silent. His fists were clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his flesh.

"And..." Lu Chen's voice suddenly lowered, "Do you think your arrest in Taiwan three years ago was an accident? Do you think Ah Cheng just got lucky to take your place?"

Song Zihao suddenly raised his head: "What do you mean?"

Stop hypnotizing yourself.

Lu Chen sneered, "Think about it, the location and time of that transaction were top secret. Why would the Taiwanese police have laid an ambush beforehand? If it really was the buyer who tipped them off, why was Ah Cheng unharmed in the gunfight, and instead of being punished, he was quickly promoted? Why was Little Ma injured and quickly marginalized? It's obvious the company was purging your faction..."

Little Ma was stunned as he listened from the side: "Boss, you mean... Ah Cheng betrayed Brother Hao to get ahead?"

"It's not just Acheng."

Lu Chen dropped the bombshell, "Back then, A-Cheng was just a driver. How did he get the guts and ability to sell you out so thoroughly? The one who really wanted you dead wasn't A-Cheng, but your boss—Mr. Yao." Upon hearing this name, Song Zihao's pupils contracted sharply. Mr. Yao was the Hong Kong boss of a counterfeit money syndicate, and he had been instrumental in Song Zihao's rise to power.

"Do you really think Mr. Yao trusts you that much?"

Lu Chen revealed the shocking secret from the plot: "Actually, Mr. Yao had long felt that your achievements overshadowed his, making him uneasy in his position. Moreover, you are too loyal and principled, and you have always been unwilling to let the company lose customers... Therefore, that deal was a scheme orchestrated by Mr. Yao and Acheng!"

"There's only one goal—to send you to prison so that Ah Cheng can rightfully take over!"

"impossible!!"

Song Zihao suddenly stood up, slamming his hands heavily on the table, his eyes bloodshot. "It was Uncle Yao who introduced me to this profession! He would never harm me!"

"Nothing is impossible." Lu Chen looked at him calmly. "In these three years, has Mr. Yao visited you even once? Has he hired a lawyer for you? Has he taken care of your family? No. Because in his eyes, you've already been discarded."

Song Zihao seemed to have all his strength drained away, and slumped back into his chair.

Memories flooded back like a tide.

Indeed. In the past three years, not a single person from the group has come to visit him. Even his father's murder was very likely orchestrated by A-Cheng.

"Brother Hao... if it's true..." Little Ma's eyes reddened, filled with murderous intent, "Those bastards, I'll tear them to pieces!"

The flames of revenge were reignited in Song Zihao's lifeless eyes.

That was the anger of being betrayed, the resentment of being fooled.

"Mr. Lu."

Song Zihao raised his head, his voice hoarse yet carrying a long-lost murderous intent, "Why are you telling me all this? What do you want from me?"

"I need your skills. I want to start a company, and I have some money that I can't keep secret... I need someone knowledgeable to help me clean it up. Mark, talk to me about this. You're the best in all of Hong Kong."

"I'll do it with you."

Without any hesitation, Song Zihao's eyes were firm. "But I have two conditions."

"you say."

"First, I won't go for the fan club."

"Don't worry," Lu Chen smiled. "My business may be a bit shady, but it's definitely not the lowlife kind. We deal in capital, in finance, a hundred times more sophisticated than those shady characters, and I hate drugs the most..."

"Secondly," Song Zihao glanced at Xiao Ma, "I want to take back everything that belongs to me and Xiao Ma. I want Ah Cheng and Mr. Yao to pay the price."

"make a deal."

Lu Chen extended his hand at the opportune moment, his voice full of allure, "I can help you take back everything that belongs to you, including your dignity and the justice that Uncle Yao owes you. Most importantly, I have a way to get your brother to forgive you."

"How can I forgive him?" Song Zihao suddenly looked up.

"Let him earn merit, promote him, and let him personally arrest the real criminals—Acheng and Mr. Yao," Lu Chen said with a smile. "What better 'pledge of allegiance' than this? When you personally hand over your former criminal gang to him as a reward, he will understand your good intentions."

Song Zihao looked at Lu Chen.

After a long while, he took a deep breath, reached out, and firmly grasped Lu Chen's hand.

Although the hand was somewhat rough, it was still strong.

"Mr. Lu, if what you're saying is true... I, Song Zihao, am willing to sell my life to you."

"make a deal."

As their hands clasped tightly together, the crisp system notification sound echoed in Lu Chen's mind once again.

【Ding--】

[Key plot character detected: Song Zihao]

[Checking in at "A Better Tomorrow"]

[Check-in successful!]

[Reward: +1 Free Attribute Points]

Lu Chen secretly calculated in his mind that now that his strength was replenished and his intelligence was sufficient, the recent travels had made him clearly feel that his body was not up to par. Especially with this kind of high-intensity mental battles combined with constant travel, physical strength was key. In this world that had become particularly wild due to its integration with Hong Kong films, a man not only needed to be able to fight, but also needed to have stamina, so he decided to increase his [physical strength].

In an instant, it was as if parched land had received a refreshing rain, and a cool and lingering energy instantly nourished Lu Chen's internal organs. The lingering chest tightness caused by long hours of staying up late vanished instantly, each breath became deep and powerful, and his heartbeat was steady as a bell.

Stamina: Lv3 (Full of Energy)

[Evaluation: Congratulations! You've completely overcome your "sub-health" state. Your cardiopulmonary function and muscle endurance have significantly improved; you can now run five kilometers in one go without getting out of breath. Whether it's all-night business planning or high-intensity street chases, you now have the resources for a "war of attrition." Even when facing the most demanding little devil, you're ready to fight.]

Lu Chen exhaled a breath of stale air, feeling refreshed and invigorated, as if he could easily run a half marathon.

"Mr. Lu, what should I do now..." Song Zihao glanced at his prison uniform, somewhat helplessly.

"Wait for my good news."

Lu Chen stood up, straightened his suit, and a confident smile appeared on his lips. "At the latest, next week, you will walk out of this door with your head held high. Mark and I will pick you up then."

……

Half an hour later.

Hong Kong Island, the headquarters building of the Correctional Services Department.

This is a building full of British colonial style, with towering columns and intricate carvings that highlight the majesty of power.

The air conditioning was blasting in the director's office on the top floor.

A blond, blue-eyed, overweight foreigner was sitting behind a desk, holding a cigar, his small eyes gleaming with greed.

He was Commissioner Charlie, a man who held the power of parole, sentence reduction, and life and death over prisoners in all of Hong Kong's prisons.

"Mr. Lu, I know you are Zeng's (Zeng Cambridge's) friend."

Charlie, speaking in broken Cantonese and with a perfunctory attitude, said, "But Song Zihao is a serious offender, and he still has six months left on his sentence. Early release? No, no, no, that's against the rules. The Governor will be unhappy."

Without saying a word, he took an envelope from his pocket and gently placed it on the gleaming mahogany table in front of Charlie.

"Chief Charlie, I heard you haven't been having much luck at the Happy Valley racecourse lately?"

Lu Chen smiled and said in fluent London English, "Perfect timing, I have a little bit of 'good luck' here, I hope it can help you change your luck."

Charlie raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised by the young man's fluent English. He glanced at the envelope, his fingers discreetly lifting a corner.

Inside was a HSBC cash check.

Anonymous.

The number above is 1000,000.

One million Hong Kong dollars!

"As far as I know, Song Zihao has been behaving excellently in prison, and... he hasn't been feeling well lately. He has a serious stomach ailment that could be life-threatening if he doesn't receive medical treatment outside of prison in time. As the Correctional Services Department, isn't granting his parole application out of humanitarian concern a manifestation of the benevolence of the British Empire?"

Charlie's Adam's apple bobbed violently. He quickly sealed the envelope and then expertly swept it into the drawer.

"Cough cough."

Charlie cleared his throat and put on a serious and compassionate expression.

"Since Mr. Lu says so... I think my previous information may have been wrong. Indeed, our Correctional Services Department has always attached great importance to the health rights of prisoners. If Mr. Song is really that ill, then we really cannot sit idly by."

He picked up the phone on the table and gave instructions into the phone:

"This is Charlie. Retrieve the file of Sung Tze-ho, inmate number 9527 at Stanley Prison. Arrange a comprehensive medical examination for him... Yes, focus on his stomach. If he meets the requirements, process his medical parole as soon as possible. I need to see the results by next Monday."

After hanging up the phone, Charlie stood up, walked around the desk, and warmly shook Lu Chen's hand.

"Mr. Lu, you are truly a kind-hearted gentleman. It is his honor to have had a friend like you."

"It's an honor for you, Chief Charlie."

Lu Chen smiled and shook hands in return, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes. "I hope we'll have more opportunities to 'cooperate' in the future."

I walked out of the Correctional Services Department building.

The sunlight was blinding.

Brother Ma took a deep breath and looked at the young man beside him who had handled everything so easily with a few words. His awe for him was beyond measure.

"Boss, one million... just to let Brother Hao out six months earlier?" Little Ma still felt a pang of regret.

"Mark, you must remember this."

Lu Chen put on sunglasses and walked towards the silver Porsche. "In this world, problems that can be solved with money aren't really problems. The sooner Brother Hao gets out, the sooner we can start planning. This million is buying time, and it's worth it."

"Let's go."

Lu Chen opened the car door. "Go back and make some preparations. Next Monday, we'll throw a grand welcome-back banquet for Brother Hao."

"Okay!"