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

Time is a silent pair of scissors, cutting through the days and nights of Central. In the blink of an eye, a month has passed.

The lights at Jiahe International's headquarters have been on almost every night for the past month. In the fashion design department, the group of recent graduates who used to only know how to recite from textbooks have finally started to understand things under Lu Chen's "cramming" style of instilling advanced aesthetics.

"The cut of this trench coat is alright, the shoulder line treatment is kind of right."

Lu Chen held a design sketch in his hand and nodded, a rare occurrence for him. The sketch depicted a minimalist camel-colored trench coat, abandoning the currently popular wide shoulder pads in favor of a dropped shoulder design with smooth lines—understated, cool, and full of texture.

The young designer standing opposite him was so excited he almost cried. Heaven knows what they had been through in the past month! Chairman Lu's eye was as sharp as a scanner; any superfluous decoration or any discordant color scheme would be ruthlessly rejected and made to start over.

"But..." Lu Chen changed the subject, sighed, "Why add this metal button to the collar? To make it look more expensive? It's completely unnecessary! Remember, true elegance is understated, not something that's outwardly displayed."

He picked up a pen, scribbled twice, and crossed out the metal buckle, replacing it with a concealed placket design.

"Take it and revise it."

"Yes, Chairman Lu!" The designer was overjoyed and ran off with the blueprints in hand.

Watching the young man's busy figure, Lu Chen rubbed his temples and leaned back in his chair.

As Garreau's first ready-to-wear collection, these are barely passable. But this month has also exposed a serious problem: these designers are incredibly incompetent!

Although the designers had received training and could barely keep up with his train of thought, they were only at the level of "imitation." They were excellent executors, essentially "drawing tools"—Lu Chen would give them a concept, and they could refine the details. But to expect them to independently design a work that would amaze the world?

Difficult. Extremely difficult.

In design, 99% effort is no match for 1% talent.

"It seems we need to put the search for a 'genius designer' on the agenda."

Several names flashed through Lu Chen's mind, but the timing wasn't right for any of them. He not only wanted to make money, but also to build a fashion empire. Relying solely on himself as the "brain" would eventually kill him.

……

Back in the chairman's office, Lu Chen had just sat down when the secure phone on the desk rang.

It's Song Zihao.

"Boss, it's all done." On the other end of the phone, Song Zihao's voice sounded tired, but more excited. "The final payment just arrived. After deducting 30% for losses, it's a total of 350 million, all laundered and deposited into the company's offshore account."

"Well done, Brother Hao." Lu Chen's lips curled up. "Give the brothers a few days off, and give each of them a bonus. For the next month, your task is to keep a low profile and try to build up your own channels."

After hanging up the phone, Lu Chen glanced at the financial statements on his hand.

Roughly estimating, the profits from shorting Hang Seng Bank, the sporadic gains in the stock market during this period, and the continuous investment from Zeng Jianqiao due to his optimism about the company's prospects, even though a significant amount of funds were withdrawn during the Garreau construction, Jiahe International's current working capital has reached an astonishing 600 million!

At this point in 1981, six hundred million in liquid assets was considered a luxury, so he planned to make a big move.

"Old Cheng!" Lu Chen pressed the intercom on the table. "Come to my office."

Less than half a minute later, Cheng Yiyan pushed open the door and entered. He had been extremely busy for the past month, keeping an eye on the restructuring of the textile factory while also keeping an eye on several "monster stocks" for Lu Chen in the stock market. He had lost weight, but his eyes were frighteningly bright.

"Boss, has the money arrived?" As soon as Cheng Yiyan entered the room, he keenly sensed the presence of money.

"We've arrived." Lu Chen pushed a slip of paper with numbers written on it over. "Our ammunition depot is full."

Cheng Yiyan stared at the number, his breathing quickening. He rubbed his hands together. "Boss, it's such a waste to have so much money sitting in the account. Have you set your sights on some lucrative opportunity again?"

"It's not fat." Lu Chen stood up, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and looked across Victoria Harbour towards the bustling Tsim Sha Tsui pier.

"It's a whale."

Lu Chen turned around and said, word by word, "I authorize you to use 300 million yuan, and more can follow, to target a stock—Wharf Holdings."

"Wharf Holdings?!"

Cheng Yiyan was taken aback, his glasses nearly falling off. "Boss, that's Jardine Matheson's lifeblood! And the fighting here has been fierce lately; going in would be like fighting the foreigners with bayonets!"

Lu Chen was intimately familiar with this period of history.

Wharf Holdings, one of the most core British-owned enterprises on Hong Kong Island, controls the docks, warehouses, shopping malls, and hotels in the prime Tsim Sha Tsui area. In Hong Kong's business community, Jardine Matheson is known as the "King of Trading Companies," and Wharf Holdings is the brightest jewel in their crown.

In the original timeline of the 80s, it was the peak of the struggle between Chinese and British conglomerates for control of Hong Kong, with Wharf Holdings being a prime example. To acquire Wharf Holdings, the shipping magnate Paul Chau engaged in a thrilling battle with Jardine Matheson. Throughout the year, the two sides relentlessly clashed, pouring huge sums of money into the fight for control of Wharf Holdings!

In the original historical trajectory, the key figure who truly determined the outcome of this battle was "Li Huanggua".

While the two sides were locked in a stalemate, Li Huanggua quietly acquired approximately 2000 million shares of Wharf Holdings on the secondary market. By the time Jardine Matheson realized what was happening, Li Huanggua had become a third-party force capable of influencing the course of the battle. In the end, Li Huanggua sold his shares to Bao Shuping, not only making a fortune but also securing Bao Shuping's support for his takeover of Hutchison Whampoa, thus achieving legendary status in one fell swoop.

Perhaps due to the convergence of multiple Hong Kong business worlds, the wheels of history have deviated in the details. While the overall direction remains constant, the key moments are vastly different. Take the Kowloon Wharf battle as an example; this business war, which should have ended in 81, has only just begun. Therefore, he plans to hijack the deal; he wants to replace Lee Cuang-huang and become the "kingmaker" who decides the outcome.

And... it's not just about making money.

Lu Chen gazed at the Union Jack fluttering outside the window, a cold glint in his eyes. As a time traveler, now that he had arrived in this era, he would never allow those arrogant foreigners to continue to bully and oppress on Chinese soil.

Bao, the shipping magnate, was a renowned patriotic businessman. Helping him acquire Kowloon Wharf was like helping Chinese capital plant a flag in Hong Kong. This was not just a business deal, but also a matter of national sentiment.

"Boss, you mean..." Cheng Yiyan's heart pounded as she looked into Lu Chen's ambitious eyes, "We...we want to get in too?"

Lu Chen walked back to the table, dipped his finger in water, and drew three circles on the table.

"The situation at Wharf Holdings is very delicate right now. The richest Chinese man, the shipping magnate, has already acquired a lot of shares and is determined to get his hands on this port. This is the first time that Chinese capital has launched an attack on a core British asset."

"And Jardine Matheson's 'Simon the Boss' (Newbie), although arrogant, also sensed the danger and was desperately increasing his holdings in an attempt to maintain control."

Lu Chen pointed to the blank circle in the middle: "Right now, the two sides are like two bulls locked in a fierce struggle, reaching the most crucial moment. Whoever gains even a little more strength can overpower the other."

"You mean..." Cheng Yiyan's eyes changed, "We're going to become that 'other woman'?"

"That's right." Lu Chen's eyes gleamed with a hunter's eye. "From what I can tell, Li Huanggua has also been secretly accumulating Wharf Holdings shares recently. He wants to be the 'key player.' But he's too cautious and hasn't been accumulating them fast enough."

"I want you to replace Li Huanggua and be the one to break this deadlock."

Lu Chen's orders were ruthless and precise: "Split into hundreds of accounts, like ants carrying grains, and quietly acquire Wharf Holdings shares on the secondary market. Don't attract Jardine Matheson's attention, and don't let the shipping magnate discover it. We need to quietly acquire enough leverage to influence the situation—at least 10%."

"When the two sides reach a stalemate and the fighting gets heated..." Lu Chen clenched his fist, "the stocks we hold are the atomic bomb that will decide the outcome. At that point, whether we sell them to the shipping magnate to help him achieve victory for Chinese capital, or force Jardine Matheson to buy them back at a high price, the initiative will be in our hands."

"After this battle, Golden Harvest's assets will at least double."

Cheng Yiyan was filled with fervor. This was the life he wanted! This was what financial tycoons should be doing! Going head-to-head with foreign firms, becoming the behind-the-scenes force that shapes history!

"Don't worry, boss!" Cheng Yiyan's face flushed with excitement. "I'm an expert at this! I'll make sure those foreigners never know who stabbed them in the back until they die!"

"Go. Remember, be quick, but also steady."

Watching Cheng Yiyan's excited departure, Lu Chen gently exhaled a smoke ring.

Three to four hundred million would not only generate a huge profit and deal a heavy blow to foreign capital, but also earn a tremendous favor for the future shipping magnate. No matter how you look at it, this deal is worthwhile.

……

After dealing with the major events in the capital market, Lu Chen checked his watch.

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

It's time to deal with things on the business side.

The brand story of "Garreau" is almost complete—a legendary tale of a descendant of a French royal tailor who was exiled to Southeast Asia and "discovered" by the Golden Harvest Group. Next comes the most crucial element: site selection.

For top luxury brands, the location of their stores is their image.

If you open a shop in Sham Shui Po, even if your clothes are made of gold, people will only think they're cheap street vendor goods. But if you open a shop in The Landmark in Central, even if you're selling rags, people will think it's art.

Lu Chen pressed the call bell on his desk.

"Amei, come in for a moment."

A few seconds later, the office door was pushed open.

Ruan Mei, dressed in a dark blue business suit, hurriedly walked in.

Over the past month, Ruan Mei's role has changed from "temporary liaison" to the protagonist's special assistant. Although Lu Chen hasn't actually given her any substantial work, she can't sit still. She keeps the office spotless and even remembers Lu Chen's tea preferences and cigar brands clearly, making her quite like a housekeeper.

Even more noteworthy is that, thanks to Lu Chen's financial resources (mainly by fully reimbursing her tuition), she has obtained her driver's license. Although it's just barely passing, at least she can legally drive on the road now.

"Chairman Lu, did you call me?" Ruan Mei asked, hiding the rag behind her back and blinking her big eyes.

"Stop wiping, you'll scrub the table raw." Lu Chen laughed as he stood up, picked up his car keys, and said, "Get ready, we're going out for a bit."

"Huh? Where to?"

"Go spend the money."

"Huh?" Upon hearing these three words, Ruan Mei's face instantly contorted in distress.

After all, for her, spending money was more painful than cutting off a piece of her own flesh. Even though it wasn't her money that was being spent, she still felt sorry for Lu Chen.

"Mr. Lu, what are you buying this time?"

"You drive," Lu Chen tossed her the car keys. "This time we're going to the most expensive shop on Hong Kong Island."

"The...the most expensive?" Ruan Mei hurriedly caught the keys, feeling their weight in her hands. "How expensive?"

"Probably... a few hundred thousand a month in rent," Lu Chen said casually.

"Hundreds of thousands?!" Ruan Mei's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets; she felt like her little brain couldn't keep up. "Robbery! That's enough to buy two apartments in Sham Shui Po..."

Although she knew the company was about to launch a high-end clothing brand, hearing about the monthly rent of hundreds of thousands made Ruan Mei feel like her worldview was collapsing. The most expensive clothes she had ever bought in her life were the work uniform Lu Chen had bought for her, which only cost a few hundred yuan. She simply couldn't imagine that kind of scene.

"Alright, stop feeling bad. It's not your money you're spending." Lu Chen pushed her shoulder and led her outside. "Besides, you were the one driving this time. Let me see if you bought that driver's license."

……

Half an hour later, in the most central area of ​​Central.

Lu Chen's Porsche 930 moved slowly through the traffic like a snail.

In the passenger seat, Lu Chen rubbed his temples helplessly.

"Ah Mei, the speed limit on this road is 50, not 15. At that speed, the bikes next to you are about to overtake you."

In the driver's seat, Ruan Mei gripped the steering wheel tightly with both hands, her body stiff as a board, her eyes wide open, staring at the road ahead.

"Mr. Lu... Mr. Lu, I was just trying to save fuel!" Ruan Mei argued confidently. "The instructor said that driving at a constant speed saves the most fuel! Besides, driving fast wastes brake pads, and that costs money!"

"..." Lu Chen was speechless.

Damn, it saves fuel! Now he knows how Ruan Mei got her driver's license. Maintaining that snail-paced, steady speed is something most people can't do.

"And this car is too expensive..." Ruan Mei muttered softly, "If it gets even a scratch, I couldn't afford to pay for it even if I sold myself."

"The company will cover the damages, you don't need to pay." Lu Chen sighed. "Speed ​​up! The light's about to turn green!"

After a flurry of frantic maneuvers, the car finally came to a stop in front of a magnificent building.

The Landmark.

This is the most exclusive luxury shopping mall on Hong Kong Island and a landmark in Central. It's a rare place to find all the top international brands like LV, Dior, and Chanel. Those who walk inside are either socialites and wealthy women or financial tycoons.

Lu Chen got out of the car with Ruan Mei and handed the car keys to the valet.

"Chairman Lu, this...this place feels so expensive." Ruan Mei looked at the magnificent golden gate in front of her and subconsciously shrank her neck. She felt that the word "poor" was written all over her body and that she didn't belong here.

"Be confident." Lu Chen reached out and naturally straightened her slightly crooked collar. "You're the special assistant of Jiahe Group. You represent Jiahe's reputation. Even if you only have one dollar in your pocket, you should walk with the air of a billionaire."

Lu Chen's voice was gentle yet powerful, carrying a reassuring strength.

Ruan Mei looked up at him, and looking into those deep, confident eyes, the panic in her heart miraculously subsided.

"Yes!" She nodded vigorously, took a deep breath, and straightened her chest.

Although her heart was still bleeding (she had just received a parking tip of fifty dollars! Fifty dollars!), on the surface, she tried her best to appear as if she were someone who had "seen the world".

"Let's go, let's pick out where we'll open our 'Garreau' in the future."

Lu Chen strode forward, leading Ruan Mei into this dazzling, money-filled maze.