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

Sham Shui Po, Yau Yat Tsuen, a hillside villa area.

This is a rare oasis of tranquility in the bustling Kowloon Peninsula, free from the crowds and noise of Sham Shui Po, and the remoteness of the Mid-Levels. Low-density villas are nestled under lush phoenix trees, their red bricks and white walls exuding an elegance reminiscent of the 1920s and 30s.

Lu Chen stood on the railing of the second-floor terrace, a glass of chilled whiskey in his hand, looking down at the truck that had just come to a stop. A three-story white detached villa stood there, its wrought-iron gate wide open. The frangipani trees in the yard were in full bloom, their delicate fragrance neutralizing the lingering smell of damp earth after the rain.

This is Lu Chen's new home.

However, it wasn't bought, but rented. After receiving that huge sum of money, Lu Chen didn't rush to buy a top-tier luxury mansion in Repulse Bay or Deep Water Bay. It wasn't that he couldn't afford it, but rather that it wasn't necessary. Right now, Golden Harvest needed the money, and there was no need to spend it on personal enjoyment so early. Moreover, in this chaotic era, revealing the extravagance of the wealthy too early would only attract unnecessary trouble.

So he rented this fully furnished villa through an agency. It was completely furnished with appliances and decorated in a European style, just finished by the previous owner, making it spacious and bright.

The villa's first-floor hall was filled with laughter and chatter. The long dining table, which could easily seat twelve people, was laden with freshly delivered roast goose, suckling pig, seafood, and several cases of chilled Blue Girl beer.

There were no outsiders, only Lu Chen and Long Juanfeng, Xin Yi, and Chen Luojun, who had just come from the walled city to attend the housewarming party.

This is a family dinner for "our own people".

"Wow! Brother Lu, your house is so luxurious!"

Xin Yi, like a monkey entering a grand garden, touched and looked around, finally collapsing onto the Italian leather sofa, letting out a comfortable groan, "This sofa is much more comfortable than that rock-hard barber chair in Brother Long's shop!"

"If you like it, move in." Lu Chen picked up a piece of roast goose leg and put it in his bowl, smiling. "Anyway, this house is big, with plenty of rooms. If you'd like, one floor is enough for each of you."

"That won't do." Xin waved his hand, his eyes filled with longing, but his tone was firm. "I have to guard the stronghold. Wherever the boss is, that's where I am. Besides, my place is a feng shui treasure. This mansion is nice, but I'm not used to sleeping on a soft bed. I'm afraid I'll break my back."

Tornado leaned back on the sofa, holding a cup of warm tea in his hand. Ever since Lu Chen had spoken to him, he had been "controlled" by Xin Yi and Chen Luojun. His smoking was strictly controlled, and he drank less alcohol.

He looked at the group of young people with eyes full of affection.

"Chenzi, you handled this matter beautifully."

Tornado put down his teacup, took out a brand-new ID card from his pocket, and handed it to Chen Luojun, who was engrossed in eating mutton.

"Luo Jun, this is yours."

Chen Luojun was taken aback, quickly wiped his hands, and took the card.

In the photo, his eyes are still resolute, but he has lost some of the fierceness he had when he first arrived.

The name field reads: Luo Jun.

There is no one with the surname Chen.

"Luo Jun?" Chen Luo Jun looked at the name, then turned to Long Juanfeng with some confusion. "Brother Long, this..."

"This is Ah Chen's idea." Tornado glanced at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "Luo Jun, I know you want to find your roots and know who your father is. But I can only tell you that you can't know right now, not only to protect you, but also to protect Brother Long and the stronghold. I will tell you when the time is right..."

This was the result of Lu Chen and Tornado's discussion. The grudges of the previous generation were a mess, and there was no need for the next generation to bear the burden. Rather than causing trouble by trying to acknowledge their ancestors, it was better to cut ties with the past and start afresh.

"'Luo' is your root, 'Jun' is your life." Lu Chen pointed to the ID card. "From today onwards, you are Luo Jun. There is no past, only the future. This ID card is real, and I have had the records meticulously prepared. Even if the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau investigates, you will only be an ordinary immigrant from the mainland."

Chen Luojun looked at Lu Chen's serious expression, then glanced at Tornado. Though he was simple-minded, he wasn't stupid. He could sense that these two powerful figures were protecting him.

"Okay, Brother Chen, I believe you." Chen Luojun nodded emphatically, carefully putting his ID card away. "From now on, my name will be Luojun. Thank you, Brother Chen, thank you, Brother Long."

"No need to thank me, it's all in the drink!"

Xin raised his glass and clinked it against Luo Jun's. "With your ID card, you're a proper Hong Kong Island citizen now. What are your plans? You can't keep delivering gas cylinders forever, can you? Those things might build strength, but they're not a good career path."

When the future was mentioned, Luo Jun's eyes lit up.

He put down his glass and scratched his head somewhat sheepishly: "I'm thinking of... opening a boxing gym."

"A boxing gym?" Lu Chen raised an eyebrow. "Good idea."

"Yes," Chen Luojun said seriously, "I was on the martial arts team when I was in Foshan. I had no choice but to come here to fight in underground boxing matches. Actually, I don't like fighting, but I like practicing boxing. I want to teach people how to improve their health, not how to kill. And... I see many kids in the walled city being bullied when they go out to do odd jobs. I want to teach them boxing so that at least they can protect themselves and not be bullied."

"That's ambitious!"

Tornado nodded approvingly. "That's the right way. Opening a boxing gym is better than joining a gang. But opening a gym requires space, equipment, and a license..."

"Money is no problem," Lu Chen interrupted directly. "Jun'er, the six million you have (four million was deducted for money laundering) is enough for you to open the best boxing gym in Hong Kong. Where do you want to open it?"

"Let's go somewhere near the Walled City, or at least in the Kowloon area," Chen Luojun thought for a moment. "I want to be closer to everyone."

"Then Kowloon will do," Lu Chen decided. "Tomorrow I'll have a real estate agent look out for shops for you. Remember, buy it, don't rent it. Only with permanent property can you have lasting peace of mind."

"Xin Yi, what about you?" Lu Chen turned to look at the handsome young man who was playing with a butterfly knife.

Xin tossed his bangs, revealing his signature mischievous grin: "Me? I don't want to teach boxing, it's too tiring. I want to open a nightclub."

"nightclub?"

"Yeah, right. You see, everyone's under so much pressure in life, we need a place to relax, right?" Shin-il gestured, "Let's set up a big place, with drinks, music, and dancing. I can be the boss, I can get up whenever I want, how awesome is that?"

"Nightclubs?" Tornado frowned. "Those kinds of places require connections. Can you handle that?"

He then mentioned wanting to use his connections to help him out.

"Don't worry, boss, I've got it all figured out. We'll choose the location in that kid Twelfth Young Master's territory." Xin Yi chuckled. "Twelfth Young Master is Tiger Brother's godson, and we're really close. Opening a shop in his territory saves us the protection money, and we can look out for each other. If anyone dares to cause trouble, I won't even need to lift a finger; Twelfth Young Master can chop them out of there."

Twelve Young Master is also a character in the movie "Kowloon Walled City". He is a loyal friend and is considered one of the twin stars of this generation of young people.

"You've got a quick mind." Lu Chen laughed. "Alright, since you have Twelfth Young Master protecting you, this business is doable. Ask me for the start-up capital, but there's one thing: don't get involved with drugs, and don't force anyone into prostitution."

"That's a must! I believe that even though he's a scoundrel, he still has his principles!"

Everyone was dreaming about the future, and the air was filled with a joyful atmosphere.

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

The atmosphere was warm and inviting. This feeling gave Lu Chen, the transmigrator, a sense of belonging and a true sense of belonging to this world.

However, as Lu Chen watched Tornado listening to the two younger men boasting with a smile, a heavy weight remained on his mind.

He noticed that although Tornado had been laughing all night, she would unconsciously press her chest from time to time, and when she was eating mutton earlier, she clearly frowned several times because of the greasiness, and even secretly suppressed a cough.

Can't delay any longer.

"Brother Long."

Lu Chen suddenly put down his wine glass. The sound wasn't loud, but it made Xin Yi and Chen Luojun, who were playing a drinking game, stop.

"Hmm?" Tornado looked at him. "What's wrong?"

"We've had enough to drink. Since everyone's here, there's something I'd like to say." Lu Chen's expression was so serious it was almost frightening.

"What's wrong, Chen? Why are you so serious?" Xin Yi also put away his playful smile.

"Brother Long, don't go back to the walled city this afternoon." Lu Chen stared into Tornado's eyes. "I've already contacted the best pulmonologist at St. Teresa's Hospital for you. Wait until they open this afternoon and get a full checkup."

Tornado paused for a moment, then waved his hand and forced a smile, "What's there to investigate? I'm perfectly healthy, it's just an old ailment, bronchitis..."

"Whether it's bronchitis or not, you know it in your heart." Lu Chen didn't give him a chance to evade the question, directly cutting to the chase, "Have you been coughing up blood more and more frequently these past few months? Have you been in so much pain at night that you can't sleep?"

"What?!"

Chen Luojun suddenly stood up, his face changing drastically. "Brother Long, you...you're sick?"

He had always thought that Tornado was invincible, the guardian deity of the walled city. He never imagined that this always smiling middle-aged man would fall ill.

Xin Yi's face also darkened. He had actually noticed that Long Juanfeng's health was deteriorating, but Long Juanfeng kept saying it was a relapse of an old injury, so he didn't dare to ask any more questions. Now, hearing Lu Chen say this, his unease instantly intensified.

"I..." Tornado looked at the three young people's concerned eyes, opened his mouth, wanted to explain, but found that his throat was blocked.

"Brother Long!" Chen Luojun cried out anxiously, his eyes reddening. "Go investigate! Go now! I have money, I have tons of money, we'll pay any price for treatment!"

"Yeah, boss! Even if it means closing my nightclub, I'll cure your illness!" Shinichi grabbed Tornado's arm, his voice trembling, "Boss, don't scare me."

Looking at the three young men's concerned yet frightened eyes, Tornado gave a wry smile and waved his hand: "It's nothing, just an old ailment. There's something growing on my lung, the doctor said it's..."

"What it is doesn't matter," Lu Chen said, emphasizing each word. "What matters is that you must go to the hospital now. Immediately, right now."

Lu Chen gave Xin Yi and Chen Luojun a wink.

"I've offended the big boss!"

Without saying a word, Xin Yi and Chen Luojun grabbed Long Juanfeng's arms from the left and right, and dragged him out the door with a half-push and half-lift motion.

"Hey, hey, hey! Put me down! I can walk by myself!" Tornado said, both amused and exasperated. "I haven't finished eating yet..."

"What are you talking about! Let's go to the hospital for a nutritious meal!" Lu Chen grabbed his car keys. "Come on, my car's outside."

"Hey! You bunch of bastards! You've gone too far! I haven't even had a drink yet... Let me go!"

Although Tornado was cursing, he didn't really resist. Perhaps deep down, faced with the children's concern, he also had a sliver of desire to live.

……

St. Teresa's Hospital, VIP ward.

The corridor was quiet, with only the smell of disinfectant in the air.

Lu Chen, Xin Yi, and Chen Luojun sat on a bench in the corridor, none of them speaking. Luojun held his head in his hands, his body trembling slightly. Xin Yi leaned against the wall, turning the lighter in his hand over and over again, but he couldn't get it to light.

The series of examinations they had just undergone felt like a trial, tormenting their nerves.

Finally, the office door opened.

The chief physician, wearing a white coat, came out with several X-ray films in his hand.

The three of them sprang to their feet and surrounded him.

"Doctor, how is it?" Lu Chen asked.

The doctor took off his glasses, rubbed his temples, glanced at the three aggressive young men, and said calmly, "The patient has been diagnosed with a lung tumor."

"boom!"

Luo Jun felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded in his mind; he swayed and almost fell. Xin Yi's face turned deathly pale instantly.

"However..." the doctor changed the subject, "I have good news."

"What good news?!" Xin grabbed the doctor's arm with such force that the doctor frowned.

"Let go!" Lu Chen slapped Xin Yi's hand away, signaling the doctor to continue.

"Although the location of the tumor was somewhat tricky, as it was compressing the bronchus and causing him to have difficulty breathing and cough up blood, after a biopsy and imaging analysis, it was determined to be a benign tumor."

benign!

These two words are even more appealing than the 120 million mentioned earlier!

Luo Jun plopped down on the ground, panting heavily, tears streaming down his face. Xin Yi's legs went weak, and he leaned against the wall, grinning foolishly.

"But," the doctor added another twist, making everyone's hearts leap into their throats.

"Although it's benign, it's very large and needs to be surgically removed as soon as possible. But the patient's health is too poor. He's a long-term smoker, and in the past... he seems to have suffered a lot of internal injuries, and his cardiopulmonary function is very weak. If we force him to have surgery now, he might not survive the operation."

"Then what should we do?" Lu Chen asked calmly.

"Recuperation," the doctor prescribed. "You must be hospitalized first. Quit smoking, quit drinking, use medication, and receive nutritional support. It will take at least a month to raise all your health indicators. Only after your body functions have recovered can we schedule surgery."

"Okay." Lu Chen made a decisive decision. "We'll treat him. Money is not a problem. We'll use the best medicine and the best ward."

"Don't worry, we'll do our best." The doctor nodded.

……

In the ward.

Tornado, with an IV drip attached, was asleep. Perhaps because he knew the outcome, or perhaps because of the company of these young people, he slept peacefully, a rare relaxation spreading across his weathered face.

Looking at that pale but calm face, Lu Chen gently closed the door and gestured for everyone to talk in the hallway.

"Did you hear what the doctor said?"

Lu Chen looked at Xin Yi and Chen Luojun, his eyes becoming unusually sharp. "From today onwards, Brother Long is a protected species. He's not allowed to get involved in any of the messy affairs in the walled city—haircuts, rent collection, dispute mediation. Let him focus on recovering in the hospital."

"Don't worry, Chen!" Xin wiped away his tears, his eyes resolute. "I'll close the barbershop as soon as I get back! Anyone who dares to bother Brother Long, I'll chop them up!"

"besides."

Lu Chen walked to the window, looked at the dark night outside, and a chilling murderous intent flashed in his eyes.

"The doctor said that Brother Long cannot get angry, cannot get upset, and must not be frightened."

"However, as long as the big boss and Wang Jiu are alive, Brother Long can never truly be at ease. The big boss has always coveted the Walled City, and that mad dog Wang Jiu could bite someone at any time. If they find out that Brother Long is in the hospital, these guys will definitely take advantage of the situation."

"If Brother Long has to worry about the Walled City while he's in the hospital, how can the surgery be performed?"

Chen Luojun clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking: "Brother Lu, you mean...?"

"I want to give Brother Long a gift before he has his surgery."

"What gift?" Luo Jun asked.

Lu Chen smiled slightly, a smile that appeared particularly chilling under the hospital's stark white lights.

"I want the boss and Wang Jiu dead."

Xin Yi and Luo Jun's pupils contracted sharply. Xin Yi and Chen Luo Jun exchanged a glance, and the killing intent in their eyes surged instantly.

They might have had reservations before, given the immense power of the big boss. But now, for Tornado's life, for the man who had given them so much, they were willing to do anything.

Most importantly, they believed in Lu Chen.

"Chen, what do you suggest we do?" Xin asked through gritted teeth. "Should we bring those shotguns?"

"Don't rush, Xin Yi," Lu Chen reassured the eager Xin Yi. He noticed that the boy was showing signs of turning into the reckless Chen Luojun. "Go back and keep an eye on the big boss. We need to get the big boss and Wang Jiu moving first before we can reap the benefits..."

Outside the window, the darkness before dawn was thick.

A hunt targeting Hong Kong's triad bosses has quietly begun.