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

The stage at La Scala was so brightly lit that it was almost blinding.

Lu Chen stood in front of the microphone, his hand tightly gripping the exquisitely designed "Golden Needle" trophy, which symbolized the ultimate dream of countless designers. The golden light shone on his young and handsome face, making him appear exceptionally spirited.

Meanwhile, below the stage, flashes went off wildly, and the sound of camera shutters filled the air, as if trying to freeze this moment forever.

Those European media outlets that once looked down on "Golden Harvest," a brand from Hong Kong Island, are now like sharks that have smelled blood, scrambling to capture every micro-expression of this rising star from the East.

Before today, no one believed that Asia could produce such a stunning work, but reality gave everyone a resounding slap in the face—Sofia's closing fashion show not only captivated Antonio, but also everyone present.

Behind-the-scenes manipulation? Absolutely not. Even the most critical fashion critics, after seeing the "Dark Forest" outfit and Sofia's interpretation, could only fall silent in amazement.

Lu Chen adjusted the microphone slightly, his gaze sweeping across the sea of ​​people below the stage, finally settling on the two girls in the first row who were looking at him excitedly.

Ruan Mei's face was flushed, and her eyes were full of admiration; Sophia was still breathing slightly, and her azure eyes were glistening with tears that had not yet faded.

"Grazie (Thank you)."

Lu Chen began his speech with a standard Italian phrase, which drew good-natured applause from the audience. He then switched back to fluent English.

"Many people say that Hong Kong Island is a fashion desert, where there is only cheap OEM and soulless plagiarism. But today, this trophy proves that art has no borders and beauty has no prejudice."

Lu Chen's gaze swept across the judges' panel, lingering on the little old man for a second.

"Thank you to Chairman Rossi and all the judges for their fairness, thank you to my team, and thank you to every staff member of Golden Harvest. Of course, the person I want to thank the most is my muse—Ms. Sophia."

Lu Chen pointed to Sofia in the audience.

The spotlight instantly shone on her. Sofia paused for a moment, then rose to her feet amidst applause and gracefully curtsied. At that moment, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

"Finally, I want to say..." Lu Chen raised the trophy, a confident smile playing on his lips, "This is just the first step for Golden Harvest. In the future, we will show the world more miracles from the East."

The applause was thunderous and lasted for a long time.

……

The celebratory dinner following the awards ceremony was held at a top restaurant in Milan's famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.

This is the real arena of fame and fortune.

Champagne towers were piled higher than people, and caviar was piled up on long tables as if it were free. Amidst the elegant attire and swaying lights, glasses clinked and toasts were exchanged, and behind every polite greeting lay a potential deal worth millions.

As the absolute protagonist of the night, Lu Chen naturally became the target of everyone's pursuit.

"Mr. Lu, I am a representative of the LVMH Group. Would you have the honor of discussing investment matters with me?"

"Mr. Lu, I'm the editor-in-chief of Vogue. We'd like to reserve the cover for Garreau next month..."

"Mr. Lu..."

Countless business cards were handed out like snowflakes. Those luxury brand executives and fashion moguls who were usually high and mighty were now all smiling, trying to get a share of the prize from this newly crowned "Golden Needle Award" winner.

Lu Chen moved through the crowd with ease.

He wore a polite smile, neither appearing flattered nor arrogant. He skillfully navigated the situation, accepting business cards and spouting impeccable official platitudes, temporarily shelving each potential collaboration and keeping the others in suspense.

Not far from him, Sofia was acting as his protector.

Not knowing Italian and only a few simple English phrases, Ruan Mei seemed somewhat awkward in this situation. Sofia held her hand the whole time, helping her fend off unwanted advances and occasionally translating the conversations of those around them in a low voice.

"That old woman in red said your skin is very good and asked what skincare products you use," Sophia chuckled softly.

"Really?" Ruan Mei's eyes lit up. "It's just face cream, the kind that costs a few dollars a bottle. Do you want some? I'll get you a bottle later!"

Looking at Ruan Mei's innocent and carefree appearance, Sofia's eyes softened.

After spending these past few days together, she had grown to love this simple and kind-hearted Eastern girl. Besides, if it weren't for Ruan Mei, she would still be hiding on the streets from loan sharks, and wouldn't have the opportunity to stand here receiving everyone's praise.

Just then, the crowd automatically parted to make way.

Antonio Rossi walked over with a wine glass in his hand. The usually stern-faced chairman now wore a gentle smile.

"Mr. Rossi," Lu Chen greeted him, raising his glass in a gesture of greeting.

"Young man, you did it." Antonio looked at Lu Chen with a hint of emotion in his eyes. "To be honest, I didn't have high hopes for you before the game started, but you surprised me. That girl, and that dress, were perfect."

"It is your fairness that has made this perfect," Lu Chen said humbly, raising a glass to the old man. "Without your persistence, the Golden Needle Award might still be empty."

"Hmph, stop flattering me." Although Antonio said this, the smile lines at the corners of his eyes betrayed him. "If you have any new works in the future, remember to send them to me as soon as possible. Don't let your talent be buried by the stench of money."

"Definitely." Lu Chen solemnly promised, "Garreau will always pursue a balance between art and commerce."

The old man and the young man chatted happily, and those around them, seeing this, were even more determined to curry favor with Lu Chen. Someone who could gain the favor of Antonio, the "godfather of fashion," would undoubtedly have a smooth path ahead in the European fashion world.

……

at the same time.

In an old manor located on the banks of the Tiber River, the night was deep, with only a few dim lights flickering in the wind.

This is a typical Baroque-style castle, and the main bedroom is filled with a strong smell of medicine and old wood.

An old man, emaciated and frail, was half-lying on a huge four-poster bed. His face was ashen, his eyes were sunken, and each breath he took was as labored as a bellows.

He was Count Lubbers. Once a spirited Italian nobleman, he was now just a dying man awaiting death.

The television across from the bed was replaying news about tonight's Milan Fashion Week.

"...The dark horse from the East...the Muse Sophia..."

The image freezes on the moment when Sofia, wearing the "Dark Forest" gown, arrogantly turns her head at the end of the runway.

"Cough cough cough!..."

The count suddenly coughed violently, his withered fingers trembling as he pointed at the television screen, a hoarse roar emanating from his throat.

"Gloria...no...that's not right..."

"So alike...so very alike..."

His withered, bony fingers trembled as he pointed at the screen, his voice hoarse and excited, "Those eyebrows...that expression...it's exactly the same as Gloria when she was young..."

"Cough cough cough!!"

The violent coughing almost made him faint.

Hearing the commotion, the old butler who had been waiting at the door rushed in, skillfully patted his back to help him catch his breath, and brought him warm water.

"Sir! Are you alright? Should we call a doctor?"

"No...no doctor..." Count Lubers pushed away his water glass, gripping the butler's hand so tightly his nails almost dug into his flesh. "Watch...watch TV! That girl! That girl named Sophia!"

The butler turned to look at the television in confusion, and then froze.

As an old man who had served the Lubbers family for forty years, he certainly recognized that face—the poor maid Gloria who had once been kicked out of the house.

"Investigate!" Count Lubus breathed heavily, a glint of hope flashing in his eyes. "Use the entire family network! Investigate this girl! I need to know everything about her! Especially... especially who her mother is!"

"Master, you suspect..." the butler asked cautiously.

"Not doubt! It's certainty!" Count Lubers' voice, though weak, carried an undeniable authority. "That's my bloodline... my last bloodline in this world..."

He was a womanizer throughout his life, but he never had any children. As his illness worsened, his nephews and nieces from collateral branches of the family eyed his estate like vultures, which filled him with immense heartache and fear.

He didn't want to hand over his family's century-old legacy to those ungrateful wretches who were just waiting for him to die.

If... if that child were still alive...

"Go! Contact Milan immediately! I need the phone number of the owner of Jiahe Group! I need to speak to him right now!"

"Yes, sir!"

……

Milan, late at night.

The hustle and bustle has faded away.

When Lu Chen returned to the Four Seasons Hotel with the two girls, it was already 2 a.m.

All three of them were exhausted. Ruan Mei, in particular, had eaten too much and was sprawled on the sofa, rubbing her stomach without any regard for appearances.

Sofia was still too excited to catch her breath. She took off her high heels and walked barefoot on the expensive carpet, holding the heavy gold needle trophy in her hand and stroking it with great affection.

"Boss, we really won..." Sophia murmured to herself, as if she were still dreaming. "It feels like a dream."

"This is just the beginning."

Lu Chen took off his suit jacket and tossed it onto the back of the chair. Then he walked to the safe and skillfully entered the password.

"Click".

The safe was opened.

Lu Chen took out a brown paper bag from inside.

"Sophia, come here." Lu Chen beckoned.

Sophia put down the trophy and walked over, somewhat puzzled. "What's wrong, Boss? Are you handing out bonuses?"

All she could think about now was that $500,000. With that money, she could pay off the loan sharks, get her mother medical treatment, and maybe even redeem the house.

Something more important than the bonus.

Lu Chen handed her the paper bag. "Open it and take a look."

Sofia took the paper bag, feeling its lightness. She hesitated for a moment before opening the seal and pulling out a few thin sheets of paper.

The first one is an IOU.

It bore her crooked signature and the number that had haunted her nightmares countless times—two billion lira.

But now, this IOU is stamped with a bright red seal – “Settled in full”.

She looked up at Lu Chen in disbelief, her lips trembling as she couldn't utter a word.

"This...this is..."

"I've paid off your high-interest loans for you." Lu Chen said calmly, as if he had only done a trivial thing. "From today onwards, you no longer owe anyone a single penny. You are free."

Sofia's tears welled up instantly.

She didn't wipe away the tears, but simply let them fall onto the IOU.

She opened the second envelope with trembling hands.

It was a red property certificate. It represented the small, dilapidated apartment in Chinatown that she had mortgaged to pay for her mother's medical treatment, an apartment filled with memories but which she had painfully given up.

"I've redeemed the house too." Lu Chen looked at her gently. "After your mother is discharged from the hospital, she needs a home to return to, doesn't she?"

"Wow--!"

Sofia could no longer control herself. She hugged the documents tightly to her chest and, like a child who had been wronged and finally found someone to rely on, suddenly threw herself into Lu Chen's arms.

"Thank you... thank you so much... sob sob sob..."

She cried her heart out, crying without any regard for her image. It was the release of pent-up grievances and fear that had been suppressed for so long.

Lu Chen gently patted her back, letting her tears soak his shirt.

On the sofa nearby, Ruan Mei, who had been rubbing her stomach, froze upon seeing this scene.

Looking at the two people embracing tightly, and at Sofia's unreserved dependence, she suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

The feeling was like a cabbage that you had painstakingly raised being suddenly rooted up by another pig—even though the cabbage wasn't originally hers, she was the one who had taken in the pig!

"snort……"

Ruan Mei pouted, turned her head away with a hint of jealousy, and muttered softly, "I also wish someone could help me redeem my house... even though I don't have a house yet..."

However, seeing Sophia crying so sadly, Ruan Mei's kindness prevailed again. She knew how much Sophia had suffered before, and now that she was finally free, she was genuinely happy for Sophia.

"Fine, fine, I'll let you hug me for a little while, since you're in such a sorry state. Just for a little while!" Ruan Mei silently drew a circle in her mind.

Just as the atmosphere in the room was warm and touching, filled with joyful happiness.

"Ring ring—"

The vintage telephone in the living room suddenly rang shrilly.

It shattered all the beauty and sorrow.

Lu Chen gently pushed Sophia away, gave her a reassuring look, then walked to the desk and picked up the receiver.

"Hello, who is this?"

A series of static noises came from the other end of the phone, followed by an old, weak voice, yet carrying the authority of someone who had long held a high position.

That voice carried a decadent aristocratic air, yet was also tinged with urgent anxiety.

"Hello Mr. Lu... I am Lubers."

The old man's voice trembled; it was the last flicker of life before it was extinguished.

"Lubbers of the Lubbers family."