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

In the corridor of the administrative office area, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Lu Chen's question, "What happened?" was delivered in a calm tone, neither too loud nor too soft, yet it carried an air of authority that had long held a superior position, instantly silencing all the surrounding noise.

He stopped and looked through the crowd, his gaze landing on the girl who had her back to him and whose shoulders were trembling slightly.

Although it was just a back view, her slender figure, which seemed as if a gust of wind could blow her over, her long black hair that was casually tied behind her head like a waterfall, and the floral dress she was wearing, which was washed to a pale color and had pilling cuffs but was still ironed neatly, all exuded a stubbornness that made people feel sorry for her.

The girl slowly turned around.

At that moment, Lu Chen's breath hitched slightly.

It was a face of ethereal beauty. There was no heavy makeup as was common in Hong Kong at the time, not even a touch of lipstick; she was completely bare-faced, yet breathtakingly beautiful. Her skin was fair and delicate, but with a sickly pallor, as if from long-term malnutrition, like the most exquisite yet most fragile porcelain doll in a shop window.

Especially her eyes, large and bright, were red and brimming with tears from the injustice she had just suffered, like a pool of autumn water dampened by rain, about to fall, looking pitiful and touching.

At this moment, Ruan Mei still had tear stains on her face, her nose was red, and she was tightly clutching the fine ticket in her hand. Her aggrieved and afraid-to-argue expression instantly struck a soft spot in Lu Chen's heart, stirring up a ripple he had never felt before.

"Chairman Lu... Chairman Lu!"

The supervisor standing opposite Ruan Mei turned green with rage.

He saw that Director Huang behind Lu Chen was staring at him with a dark face and eyes that looked like he wanted to eat him alive, and he immediately felt dizzy.

It's over! It's all over!

The supervisor inwardly groaned. The new boss was on his first inspection tour, and he'd made things difficult for a young girl over a few dozen yuan, even making her cry. In the new boss's eyes, wouldn't he appear as a bullying, heartless tyrant?

"Um... Mr. Lu, please let me explain..." The manager stammered, cold sweat streaming down his receding hairline. "It's not what you see, I..."

"Mr. Lu, it's not the supervisor's fault, it's my fault!"

Just when the supervisor thought he was about to be used as an example to deter others, a clear but somewhat anxious voice suddenly rang out.

Ruan Mei.

This girl, who looked as delicate as a little white rabbit, actually took a step forward at the crucial moment and stood in front of the supervisor who had just been so stern and impartial towards her.

She hastily wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand, raised her head, and although her big eyes still held fear of the important person, they also showed a more honest and straightforward attitude.

"Chairman Lu... no, boss!" Ruan Mei bowed nervously, her movements a little stiff. "This isn't the supervisor's fault; I was late."

She sniffed, lowered her head somewhat embarrassed, and nervously twisted the hem of her clothes with both hands: "Today... I was a minute late because of something at home. The supervisor deducted my full attendance bonus according to the factory's regulations, which is only right. It was me... I was too attached to that fifty yuan, so I pestered the supervisor to plead for leniency. The supervisor was just following the rules, and I was being unreasonable and disrupting the office order."

After saying that, she bowed deeply again, her voice barely audible, "I'm sorry, I've embarrassed the company."

The corridor was quiet.

Factory Director Huang was stunned, Cheng Yiyan raised an eyebrow, and Lu Chen also showed an expression of great interest.

The supervisor stared wide-eyed at the thin figure blocking his way, his heart filled with mixed emotions. In this era where everyone is only concerned with their own business and only wants to shirk responsibility when something goes wrong, he never expected this young woman to be so loyal at a crucial moment, taking all the blame upon herself.

Lu Chen quietly looked at the girl in front of him who had her head down.

Even though she was terrified and her legs were trembling slightly, she still forced herself to stand up and defend her supervisor and the person who had fined her.

This kind of simple, kind, and even slightly naive sense of responsibility is as precious as a giant panda in this materialistic and deceitful world.

The admiration in Lu Chen's eyes deepened.

"very good."

Lu Chen finally spoke, a gentle smile curving his lips.

He first looked at the supervisor, who was almost exhausted, and nodded: "You did the right thing. A country has its laws, and a family has its rules. A factory with hundreds of people would be in chaos without rules. Showing no favoritism on matters of principle is the greatest responsibility you can show to the company. What's your name?"

The supervisor was flattered and almost knelt down: "Reporting...reporting to Chairman Lu, my name is Zhang Dayong, and I am the supervisor of the second administrative team."

"Manager Zhang, not bad. Keep it up." Lu Chen casually praised him, but for Manager Zhang, it was practically a get-out-of-jail-free card and a harbinger of promotion.

Then, Lu Chen's gaze fell back on Ruan Mei.

He didn't speak to his subordinates in a condescending manner, but instead softened his tone slightly, even adding a hint of gentleness to his voice.

"Your name is Ruan Mei?"

"Ah? Yes...yes." Ruan Mei looked up, somewhat flattered, seemingly surprised that the big boss knew her name.

"Crying like this over fifty yuan?" Lu Chen pointed to the crumpled traffic ticket in her hand and asked with a half-smile, "Are you short of money?"

Ruan Mei was taken aback. She hadn't expected the big boss to ask such a direct question.

In this materialistic society, most girls are vain, and even if they are penniless, they will still put on a glamorous facade in public. Admitting that they are short of money seems to be a shameful thing.

But Ruan Mei did not dodge.

She raised her head, her clear, large eyes looking directly at Lu Chen, and answered honestly, "Yes. I'm very short of money."

Ruan Mei nodded honestly, answering crisply and without feeling ashamed at all.

"My family... isn't well-off." Ruan Mei pursed her lips, her voice soft yet firm. "My parents left when I was very young, and my grandmother raised me. She's old and in poor health, often needing to see a doctor and take medicine. I don't want her to suffer so much. I want to save more money for her retirement, so she can live in a better house and go to a better hospital when she's sick..."

At this point, Ruan Mei's eyes dimmed for a moment, but quickly brightened again, revealing her longing for life.

"And...and prices are rising so fast these days. Rent is going up, utility bills are going up, even eggs at the market have gone up by two cents. I have to save money. I need to save as much as I can while I'm young, for my grandma's medical treatment, and...and for my own coffin."

When she said the words "coffin money," she stuck out her tongue, seemingly feeling that it was unlucky to say this in front of a big boss, and two red clouds instantly appeared on her cheeks.

Lu Chen looked at her.

She's a young girl in the prime of her youth, who should be discussing which clothes are nice and which desserts are delicious, but all she can think about are vegetable prices, medical bills, and money for her coffin.

This excessive maturity and understanding is heartbreaking.

Lu Chen's heart sank slightly when she mentioned "coffin money." He knew it was because of her family's hereditary heart disease, a Damocles' sword hanging over Ruan Mei's head.

"So that's how it is."

Lu Chen nodded thoughtfully, then turned to look at Director Huang, who was standing to the side with a big smile on his face.

"Old Huang."

"Yes, Mr. Lu, what are your orders?" Factory Manager Huang immediately came forward.

"Starting tomorrow, Ruan Mei will no longer be working as a clerk in the administration department," Lu Chen said calmly.

The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere at the scene instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Ruan Mei's previously rosy face turned deathly pale in an instant, completely devoid of color. Her eyes widened as she stared at Lu Chen in disbelief, her body swaying as she nearly lost her balance.

No longer needing to be a clerk?

Is this... being fired?

Was it because I was late? Or because I made a scene in the hallway and embarrassed the company?

"Chairman Lu...Chairman Lu..." Ruan Mei's voice trembled with tears, which welled up in her eyes again. "I...I can change! I'll never be late again! Please don't fire me...I really need this job, I can't live without income..."

Manager Zhang, who was standing nearby, couldn't bear to watch any longer and felt sorry for her. This young girl had just helped him out of a predicament, but now she was losing her job because of it; it was too tragic.

He steeled himself and took a step forward, wanting to plead for Ruan Mei: "Chairman Lu, Ruan Mei is actually very conscientious at work and never makes mistakes. This was truly an accident..."

However, before Manager Zhang could finish speaking, and before Ruan Mei's tears could fall again, Lu Chen suddenly waved his hand, interrupting them.

"Who said I was going to fire her?"

Lu Chen looked at Ruan Mei's dejected expression and felt both amused and helpless.

This girl values ​​money more than life itself and work more than anything else.

"Not expelled?" Ruan Mei was stunned, tears welling up in her eyes, staring blankly at Lu Chen. "Then...then what is it..."

"I'm going to promote you."

Lu Chen had his hands in his suit trouser pockets, his expression indifferent, as if he were talking about a trivial matter.

"Given that Jiahe Group has just acquired a textile factory, there are many business matters that need to be coordinated between the head office and this location. I need a meticulous, responsible person who is familiar with the factory's situation to serve as a 'temporary liaison.'"

Lu Chen pointed at Ruan Mei, "I think you're a good fit. Starting tomorrow, you'll be directly responsible to me. Your job will be to coordinate the flow of documents and the verification of reports between the head office and the factory, and you'll report directly to me."

"what?"

Ruan Mei opened her mouth wide, completely stunned.

From a junior clerk to a special liaison officer for the head office? That's quite a leap!

"But...but I don't understand..." Ruan Mei subconsciously shrank back, her face full of hesitation and unease. "I'm just a Form 5 graduate, I've never seen much of the world. Going to the head office...it must be full of elites, I'm afraid I won't do well. And...and it's in Central, so far from my home, the transportation costs alone will be so much higher..."

Hearing her still calculating the fare, Cheng Yiyan and Zeng Jianqiao almost burst out laughing. This girl is really obsessed with money, but she's not annoying; in fact, she's kind of cute.

Lu Chen smiled too.

He knew this girl's weaknesses all too well. Talking to her about ideals, the future, or career planning was like casting pearls before swine. But talking to her about money was a sure thing.

"Miss Ruan Mei." Lu Chen suddenly took a step forward, getting a little closer to her.

Ruan Mei was so frightened that she was like a startled little quail and dared not move.

"Considering the long distance to the head office and the increased workload," Lu Chen said, waving a long, slender finger in front of her. "The company will reimburse your transportation expenses, and your monthly salary will be increased by one thousand yuan from your current base."

"Whoosh—!"

It sounded as if I had heard some kind of switch being turned on.

Ruan Mei's previously hesitant eyes instantly lit up, as bright as two 100-watt light bulbs! All the hesitation, fear, and worry within them were completely purified by the brilliance of money!

Her small mouth opened slightly, and the organ in her mind called "calculator" began to work frantically.

My original salary was 1,800, and with an additional 1,000, that's 2,800!

What does this mean? It means I can buy lots more discounted eggs every month! It means I won't have to worry about Grandma's medical expenses anymore! It means that if I save for another two years, I can buy a bigger house!

Unfamiliar environment, worldly experience, fear... all of these are insignificant compared to this huge sum of one thousand yuan!

"I'll do it!"

Ruan Mei practically shouted it out, afraid that Lu Chen would change his mind and take back the thousand yuan. She nodded her head like a chicken pecking at rice, her face no longer showing any of the grievances or hesitation from before, her eyes crinkling with laughter, revealing a pair of cute little tiger teeth.

"Don't worry, boss! I'm not afraid of the distance! I'm not afraid of being tired! I'll definitely work hard! I'm even willing to walk to work!"

Looking at her greedy yet adorable appearance, Lu Chen couldn't help but chuckle.

"Alright, I told you I'd reimburse you, you don't need to walk. Report to the Golden Harvest Building in Central at nine o'clock sharp tomorrow morning. Being late will result in a deduction from your pay."

"Yes, sir!"

……

The inspection concluded as the sun began to set.

The black Mercedes-Benz S-Class slowly drove out of the somewhat dilapidated Kwun Tong Industrial Zone and merged into the traffic heading towards the Cross-Harbour Tunnel.

Inside the carriage, the air conditioning was on full blast, keeping out the outside heat.

Lu Chen sat in the back seat, eyes closed, resting, but a faint smile lingered on his lips. His mind was filled with the image of Ruan Mei's eyes lighting up at the mention of extra money, like a squirrel laden with pine cones, satisfied yet wary.

"Cough cough."

Zeng Jianqiao, sitting in the passenger seat, finally couldn't hold back any longer. He turned around and glanced at Lu Chen with a mocking look on his face.

"Brother Lu, something's not right," Zeng Jianqiao winked. "I've known you for so long, and this is the first time I've seen you so 'merciful.' That young lady... she's pretty, but does she deserve for you, the big boss, to personally arrange work for her? And even give her a 1,000 yuan raise?"

Cheng Yiyan, who was driving, glanced at the rearview mirror and chimed in with a gossipy look, "Yeah, boss. Back in the workshop, so many female workers were staring at you, and you didn't even lift your eyelids. But when you got to the office area and saw Ruan Mei, you were completely captivated? Could it be... you've fallen for her?"

The two of them were speaking in unison, clearly treating Lu Chen as the kind of domineering CEO who falls for a Cinderella.

Normally, Lu Chen's only focus is making money; he's like a heartless money-making machine. His unusual behavior today clearly indicates that his true intentions lie elsewhere.

Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes, neither refuting nor admitting, but simply smiled noncommittally.

"What? Is it wrong for me to be considerate of my employees and help the company find talent?"

"Alright, alright! That's great!" Zeng Jianqiao chuckled. "But Brother Lu, that girl seems naive, don't ruin her life! If you really like her and want to be serious, then we brothers will definitely support you. Should I find out more about her tomorrow? Or... create some opportunities?"

"No need." Lu Chen waved his hand, his gaze turning to the fleeting street scene outside the window.

He was actually making plans in his mind.

According to the plot of "The Greed of Man", Fong Chin-bo should still be sleeping under the bridge, or just beginning his aimless apprenticeship.

Did Ruan Mei and Fang Zhanbo meet?

If they already know each other, or even have a foundation of feelings, then although Lu Chen might feel some regret, he would only respect and offer his blessings, and would never do anything as despicable as stealing someone else's love.

But if...

Lu Chen recalled Ruan Mei's clear, bright eyes, and how she argued so hard for fifty yuan and how she saved money for her grandmother.

If they haven't met yet, or haven't even started.

So why make such a good girl go through the kind of torment described in the original story?

Since fate brought him here and allowed him to meet her.

"Perhaps some of the scripts can be revised."

Lu Chen murmured softly, a gentle smile appearing on his face.

Zeng Jianqiao and Cheng Yiyan, who were sitting in front, exchanged a glance and both saw the understanding in each other's eyes.

"Well, it seems our boss is serious this time," Cheng Yiyan muttered to himself.

"That's great news!" Zeng Jianqiao rubbed his hands excitedly. "Brother Lu, don't worry, when that young lady reports for duty tomorrow, I'll definitely make sure she's well taken care of! I'll make sure she feels the 'warmth' of the Jiahe family, and I'll also create more opportunities for her to report to you, the boss!"

"Don't do anything reckless." Lu Chen snapped out of his thoughts, glared at the two guys, but there wasn't much reproach in his tone. "Keep it professional. She may love money, but she has a strong sense of self-respect. Don't scare her away."

"Haha, Ah Yan, look at this! It's not even a hint of anything's going on yet, and you're already feeling sorry for them!"

The Mercedes-Benz drove smoothly on the cross-sea bridge, the setting sun turning the sea surface into a golden red.

For Lu Chen, today was not only about acquiring a textile factory, but more importantly, it was about discovering a rare glimmer of hope in this somewhat cold and cruel world.

See you tomorrow, little Jew.