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

The walls of Stanley Prison are very high, so high that they seem to isolate all the joys and sorrows of this world.

But when the heavy iron door slowly opened with the hiss of the hydraulic pump, the sunlight outside was still so dazzling that it made one want to cry.

A middle-aged man wearing a cheap jacket and carrying an old canvas bag walked out. He subconsciously raised his hand to shield his eyes from the glaring sunlight and took a deep breath of the fresh air.

Song Zihao.

Two and a half years in prison had softened his once sharp eyes, making them more reserved and profound. He glanced back at the gray fortress that had imprisoned him for a thousand days and nights, feeling no lingering attachment, only resolute determination.

A familiar and excited shout broke the tranquility of the coastline.

Song Zihao looked up and saw two men standing next to the Porsche 930 that sped by like lightning.

One of them was Lu Chen, who remained calm and composed, leaning against the car door and nodding to him with a smile.

The other one is Mark.

Xiao Ma threw away his crutch. Although his walking posture was still a little unnatural, he was able to put both feet on the ground and even "run" over, albeit with a limp.

"pony!"

Song Zihao threw down his bag, opened his arms, and hugged his brother who rushed over tightly. The bittersweet feeling of reunion after experiencing life and death and being down on his luck melted into the forceful patting.

"Your leg..." Song Zihao released Mark and immediately looked at his left leg.

"The boss paid for it, replaced it with the best titanium alloy frame, and even hired a German specialist. The surgery is scheduled for next month, so don't worry," Mark patted his thigh, smiling broadly, though tears welled in his eyes. "Although I can't do a roundhouse kick like before, walking, driving, and even running a few steps are no problem! Hao-ge, I've been waiting for you for so long!"

"Good! Good!" Song Zihao patted Xiao Ma on the back, feeling the long-lost vitality in his brother, and his eyes also welled up with tears. "It's good that you're okay, it's good that you're okay."

At this moment, Lu Chen leaned against the car door, watching this scene with a smile. He did not go forward to disturb the reunion of these two brothers who had been through thick and thin together. Only after the two had calmed down a bit did he step forward and hand Song Zihao a cigar.

"Mr. Song, welcome back to the human world."

Song Zihao took the cigar, looking at Lu Chen with eyes full of gratitude and respect. He knew that he was able to stand here eight months early entirely thanks to this young man before him.

"Mr. Lu, I am deeply grateful and cannot express my thanks." Song Zihao said solemnly, "I swear, boss, as long as you avenge me, my life, Song Zihao's life, will be at the beck and call of Jiahe Group."

"You flatter me." Lu Chen lit his cigar for him. "Get in the car. The first thing you should do is take a shower to get rid of the bad luck."

……

Peninsula Hotel, top-floor suite.

The steam rising from the bathroom washed away the dust from two and a half years of iron bars, and seemed to wash away the bad luck brought by that prison uniform.

When Song Zihao changed into the bespoke suit Lu Chen had prepared for him, got his hair cut again, and sat down at the table covered with a clean white tablecloth and filled with delicacies, the once-powerful "Brother Hao" finally returned halfway.

The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a dazzling view of Victoria Harbour. The table is laden with shark fin, abalone, and bird's nest.

"Come on, this toast to Brother Hao's newfound freedom!"

Lu Chen raised his glass of red wine.

"Toast to Brother Hao!" Mark raised his glass, his hand trembling with excitement.

"Thank you." Song Zihao downed the drink in one gulp. The spicy and mellow liquid flowed down his throat, awakening his long-dormant taste buds and ambition.

After a hearty meal and drinks.

Lu Chen waved away the waiter, leaving only three people in the private room.

He took a key out of his pocket, placed it on the rotating table, and spun it in front of Song Zihao.

"What is this?" Song Zihao was taken aback.

"A serviced apartment in Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui," Lu Chen said casually. "Two thousand square feet, fully furnished. I've already had it bought, and it's registered in your name. That will be your home from now on."

"Mr. Lu, this..." Song Zihao was about to decline.

"Don't rush to refuse. This will also be your base in the future," Lu Chen lowered his voice. "There's a specially made safe in that apartment. Only I know the combination, but I'll tell you now."

Lu Chen leaned closer to Song Zihao, recited a string of numbers, and then said meaningfully, "There's some of my 'secret stash' there. About... five hundred million."

"Pfft—cough cough cough!"

Mark, who was drinking, vomited it all out and coughed violently.

Song Zihao's hand trembled slightly, and a few drops of red wine spilled from his glass.

Five hundred million! In cash!

"Mr. Lu, you mean..." Song Zihao looked at Lu Chen in disbelief.

"That's right." Lu Chen said calmly, as if he were talking about five hundred yuan. "Some of this money came from illegitimate sources. The first thing I want you to do is to use your previous connections and channels to launder this money, then give me half and inject the other half into Jiahe Group's accounts."

"Mr. Lu...aren't you afraid I'll run off with the money?" Song Zihao asked, his voice slightly hoarse as he looked at the key.

"Mark asked me the same question," Lu Chen smiled, cutting the steak on his plate. "My answer was the same: I'm never wrong about people. I trust Mark, so naturally I trust you too."

Entrusting 500 million yuan in cash and one's life to someone who has just been released from prison requires immense courage and trust.

Song Zihao took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He looked at the key as if it were a heavy military order.

"Mr. Lu, I have to tell you the truth," Song Zihao said seriously. "I've just come out of prison, and many of my old channels have either been cut off or controlled by Acheng. Now I can only contact some old connections, such as underground banks in Southeast Asia or junket operators in Macau. In that case... the losses will be huge."

How big?

"At least 30%." Song Zihao said somewhat ashamedly, "That means, after laundering 500 million, we might only have 350 million left."

"Thirty percent..." Lu Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the table, pondering for a moment.

This is indeed higher than expected. But it's still 10% cheaper than getting it from a tornado.

"It's alright." Lu Chen raised his head, his eyes resolute. "Thirty percent for now, thirty percent for now. What I need is speed and safety. As long as the money can be returned to its original value, I can afford this lesson."

"However..." Lu Chen changed the subject, "This is only temporary. Brother Hao, I need you to build your own team as soon as possible. Whether it's a trading company or, as I mentioned before, luxury goods money laundering, I need you to reduce these losses again within a year."

"no problem!"

Song Zihao nodded emphatically, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "Give me time, and I'm confident I can rebuild the network from the previous one. At that point, I can conservatively reduce the cost to 20%, or even lower!"

"Alright! It's settled then." Lu Chen raised his glass. "Then this matter is entirely in your hands. Xiao Ma will be responsible for your safety. Anyone who dares to touch you, make them disappear."

Mark grinned, revealing a set of white teeth: "Don't worry, boss. Now, anyone who wants to mess with Brother Hao will have to ask me about the gun I have first."

Lu Chen raised his glass. "Come on, to our money empire, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The meal was a pleasure for both the host and guests.

After finishing his meal, Song Zihao's mood dipped slightly. He looked out the window at Victoria Harbour and remained silent for a moment.

"Mr. Lu, I'd like to... go see my father."

That was the deepest pain in his heart. He was imprisoned three years ago and didn't even get to see his father one last time, not to mention that his father's death was very likely related to him.

"Of course." Lu Chen nodded. "The car is downstairs, you can drive there."

The three of them went downstairs.

At the hotel entrance, besides the silver Porsche 930, there was also a brand-new dark blue Mazda 929 sedan parked next to it.

While it wasn't considered a top-tier luxury car at the time, it was definitely a respectable mid-to-high-end sedan—understated, comfortable, and reliable.

"Brother Hao, this car is for you guys to use as a mode of transportation."

Seeing Mark's slightly surprised expression, Lu Chen chuckled and teased, "Don't look down on it because it's a Mazda. I know you guys used to drive Mercedes and Rolls-Royces. But we're just starting out, so it's not good to be too flashy. This car may not be the most impressive, but it's practical, handles well, has a rotary engine, and is fast."

"Mazda?" Little Ma's eyes lit up. "This car is great! I love it. I wanted to buy one back in Taiwan!"

Song Zihao looked at the car, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

House, car, funds, trust.

This young boss had thought of everything for him, arranging everything meticulously. This feeling of being valued rekindled the warmth in his long-cooled heart.

"Mr. Lu, thank you."

Song Zihao didn't say much; all his unspoken words were summed up in those two words.

"Go ahead." Lu Chen patted his shoulder. "I know where you want to go. Go and sweep your uncle's grave, and tell him you're back."

Song Zihao nodded and got into the driver's seat. Little Ma also climbed into the passenger seat; he was going to accompany his older brother.

Watching the blue sports car disappear into the traffic, Lu Chen stood by the roadside and lit a cigarette.

With its key partners finally back in place, and money laundering channels now open, Jiahe Group's financial lifeline is finally about to start pumping blood.

……

When we got back to the villa, the sun was almost setting.

As soon as Lu Chen parked his car in the garage, he heard a noisy moving noise coming from next door.

"Ouch! Be gentle! That vase is part of a feng shui arrangement! Breaking it will bring three years of bad luck!"

"Dai Di! Lai Di! Zhao Di! You three, don't just stand there like idiots, hurry up and move that mahogany chair inside!"

Uncle Piao was standing at the door, directing the movers. Although he was covered in sweat, the joy of moving into his new home was undeniable.

Lu Chen smiled, shook his head, and got out of the car.

Congratulations on your new home!

Hearing the voice, Uncle Piao turned around and saw Lu Chen. He immediately grinned from ear to ear: "Oh! Neighbor! You're back so early? Come in, come in, just finished moving in, come in and have a cup of tea!"

Lu Chen didn't refuse, and casually took two bottles of red wine he had bought from the hotel from the car and went over.

"This is just a small token of my appreciation. I wish Uncle Piao and his family all the best in moving into their new home."

"Wow! This wine looks really expensive!"

Mrs. Piao's eyes lit up. She snatched the label and looked at it. Although she couldn't read French, she recognized the name. "Lafite? Oh, you're too kind! By the way, handsome, may I ask your name?"

"My surname is Lu, Lu Chen." Lu Chen took out a business card and handed it over. It was a gold-embossed business card from Jiahe International, with the title "Executive Director" printed on it.

"Wow! An executive director!" Mrs. Piao took the business card, her eyes lighting up. "Golden Harvest International... sounds like such a prestigious company! Mr. Lu is young and promising, and you're not married yet, are you? My daughter Lai Di doesn't have a boyfriend either..."

"Mom!" The second sister, Lai Di, blushed deeply and quickly pulled her mother away.

"Mr. Lu, please don't mind her gossiping, I'm just a woman." Uncle Piao chuckled, offering Lu Chen a cigarette. "Please come in, please come in!"

Stepping into the villa, although it wasn't completely finished yet, one could already see the family's "unique taste." A set of Chinese mahogany furniture was crammed into the European-style decor, and a cross-stitch of "Harmony in the family brings prosperity" hung on the wall, creating a humorous and eclectic mix.

"Lu Sheng, please take a seat!"

Uncle Piao wiped his sweat, plopped down on the sofa, and exclaimed, "Wow, this is the life of the rich! Back in my day, I lived in that tiny public housing unit of a few hundred square feet, there wasn't even room to turn around. Now, this living room is so big you could play football in it!"

Lu Chen smiled, sat down, and accepted the tea brought by the maid: "Uncle Piao, I wonder where you've made your fortune?"

"Hehe, it's all luck, just luck!"

Although Uncle Piao was modest, he couldn't hold back his urge to confide. After all, you can't announce winning the lottery to the whole world, but talking about it with this seemingly friendly and wealthier neighbor was not only safe but also satisfied his vanity.

"Actually, I won't hide it from you, Lu Sheng."

Uncle Piao lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "This time it really is a blessing from our ancestors, we won the jackpot! Twenty million! I've never seen so many zeros in my life!"

"Twenty million? That's great news!" Lu Chen feigned surprise and cupped his hands in greeting. "It seems Uncle Piao won't have to worry about the future."

"Yes, yes!" Sister Piao chimed in from the side, "We plan to buy this house first, then save some dowry for our three daughters, and the rest of the money..."

At this point, Uncle Piao suddenly sighed, revealing a "I know a lot about money management" expression: "I can't just sit around and do nothing with the remaining money. My brother, who's a manager at a bank, told me that money will depreciate if it's not invested. He suggested I deposit all my money in their bank, and he'll trade foreign exchange for me... The interest rates are shockingly high! I can earn over a hundred a year."

"I'm planning to deposit the money tomorrow," Uncle Piao said with anticipation. "With this interest, I won't need to work anymore; I can travel the world just from the interest!"

He looked at the family's hopeful faces and sighed inwardly. If they hadn't met him, this family would have fallen from heaven to hell tomorrow.

"Uncle Piao".

Lu Chen's tone suddenly became somewhat serious, "As a friend and a neighbor, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."

"Huh? Lu Sheng, what's going on?" Uncle Piao was taken aback, sensing that the atmosphere was a bit off.

"I work in investment, so I know a little about the financial industry." Lu Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the table, carefully choosing his words. "In this industry, there's an ironclad rule: high returns are often accompanied by high risks."

"A 20% interest rate... to be honest, that's beyond the profitability of a normal bank. Unless they're engaging in extremely high-risk speculation, or... they simply don't intend to honor the agreement."

"Mr. Lu, do you mean... there's something wrong with Hang Seng Bank?"

"I didn't say that." Lu Chen waved his hand, not ruling out the possibility of a definitive answer. "After all, it's an established bank. But, as the saying goes, better safe than sorry."

He looked into Uncle Piao's eyes and said, "My advice is, don't put all your eggs in one basket."

"It's best not to deposit all of this money into HSBC. You can divide it into half, or two-thirds, and deposit it into a large bank like HSBC or Standard Chartered. Even if the interest rate is lower, it's safer."

"If you want to try your luck with the high interest rate, you can deposit the remaining small amount into Hang Seng Bank. That way, even if... I mean, if something goes wrong there, your large sum will still be there, and your life won't be affected."

"This is called risk hedging."

Lu Chen didn't directly say "Hengfeng is going to go bankrupt," as that would be too alarming and too likely to cause trouble. He chose the most objective and easily accepted financial advice.

Uncle Piao frowned after hearing this. Although he was greedy, he was still a veteran of the television industry, having worked there for decades, and he had basic logic. Lu Chen's words were reasonable and well-founded, and the "20% interest" was indeed a bit too high for him to be sure.

"Dad, I think Brother Lu is right."

The eldest daughter, Daidi, who hadn't spoken until now, suddenly said, "That Uncle Zun doesn't usually interact with us much, but this time he's suddenly being so enthusiastic, insisting that we deposit all our money. I feel like something's off."

"Yes," Sister Piao nodded, "Anyway, we have plenty of money, so it's not a hassle to store it separately. If Hengfeng really does have some kind of 'winter melon tofu' stuff, we won't be left starving."

Looking at his family's reactions and then at Lu Chen's honest expression, Uncle Piao finally nodded.

"Okay! I'll listen to Lu Sheng!"

Uncle Piao slapped his thigh. "I'm going to deposit the money tomorrow. Ten million in HSBC, nine million in Hang Seng! Just like Mr. Lu said, don't put all your eggs in one basket!"

Lu Chen smiled.

"Uncle Piao, I hope you don't mind me talking too much." As long as Uncle Piao listens, this tragedy can be largely avoided. As for the remaining nine million... let's just consider it a lesson for Uncle Piao. Anyway, for him now, ten million is enough to live comfortably.

"Come on in! Let's have some tea first! Have a wonderful evening!"

Uncle Piao has resolved his inner conflict and returned to his optimistic self.

The night outside the window was gentle, and Lu Chen looked at this happy family and felt a little emotional.

In the world of Hong Kong variety shows, filled with killing and scheming, having such a warm and welcoming neighbor is perhaps a rare blessing.