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

It was late at night in the presidential suite of the Four Seasons Hotel.

This phone call from Rome was like a rusty saw, slowly sawing open a wound that had been sealed for twenty years.

"Count Lubers..." Lu Chen spoke calmly into the microphone, but his eyes became unfathomable. "I've long admired your name, but what brings you here so late at night?"

On the other end of the phone, Count Lubers seemed to be struggling to calm his breathing, his aged voice tinged with urgent probing: "Mr. Luber, I apologize for disturbing you. I saw tonight's news... I wanted to ask, the closing model for your brand's fashion show, Miss Sophia... where is she from? Is her mother... named Gloria?"

Lu Chen held the receiver, glanced at Sophia who looked nervous beside him, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"Count, this seems to be my employee's privacy," Lu Chen said calmly. "She's a rough gem I stumbled upon on the streets of Milan. What? Is the Lubers family also looking to enter the modeling world?"

"Yes! It's related! Cough cough cough..." Lubers coughed excitedly, and you could even hear the butler patting his back.

After a long silence, the old man's voice rang out again, carrying a dying despair and a hint of... the resolute determination to face reality.

"Mr. Lu, could you... turn on speakerphone? I think Miss Sophia should be right next to you."

Lu Chen looked at Sophia.

Sofia bit her lip hard, her azure eyes churning with turbulent emotions. She knew the name; though she hadn't been born yet, her mother had cursed and cried out this name countless times during her madness.

She took a deep breath and nodded stiffly at Lu Chen.

Lu Chen pressed the speakerphone button.

"You can speak now."

"Sophia...child...is that you? I am...I am your father."

"boom--!"

Although she was mentally prepared, Sofia still felt as if a thunderbolt had exploded in her mind when the man uttered that name.

She trembled all over, her hands gripping the sofa armrests tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force. She bit her lip hard, trying not to make a sound, but tears streamed down her face like a broken string of pearls.

"If you don't say anything... I'll take that as a yes."

Lupus seemed to have found the answer in that silence. He sighed, his voice filled with regret and desolation.

"Back then, I was a bastard, a beast. For the sake of my family's honor, for that damned face, I hurt Gloria and abandoned you and your daughter... I am a sinner, God is punishing me, and I am suffering from illness every day..."

"That's what you deserve!" Sofia's tears welled up, and she trembled all over. "What's the use of saying all this now? Do you know how we've lived these past twenty years? Do you know how Mom went insane? She's in a mental hospital now... And you? You're enjoying wealth and luxury in your castle!"

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." Lubers' voice grew increasingly hoarse. "I know I don't deserve forgiveness. I'm dying, Sophia. The doctor says I only have a few days left."

"But I can't die like this."

"I have no other children. You are my only bloodline in this world."

"If I die, the Lubbers family's centuries-old legacy and countless riches will fall into the hands of that greedy brother, Mundell. He doesn't deserve it! He's a spendthrift, a vampire!"

"Sophia, come back. If you come back, all of this is yours. You can use this money to treat your mother's illness, let her stay in the best hospital, and give her the best life... Please, give me a chance to atone for my sins..."

"I don't care!" Sofia screamed hysterically. "I don't want to see you. Go to hell with your filthy money!"

"You... cough cough cough! cough cough cough!..."

Suddenly, a violent, alarming cough came from the other end of the phone, followed by a chaotic commotion.

"Sir! Sir! Call a doctor! Oxygen! Quickly!"

The other end of the phone was chaotic, with the beeping of various instruments and the cacophony of voices.

A few minutes later, a calm but apologetic male voice answered the phone.

"Mr. Lu, I am Giovanni, Earl Lubbers' butler."

The butler's voice was low and somber. "I'm very sorry, Master was too agitated and suffered a heart attack. The doctors are currently trying to save him. Tonight... I'm afraid we won't be able to continue our conversation."

"However, the master specifically instructed before he fell into a coma..."

The butler paused, his tone becoming extremely solemn. "Whether Miss Sophia is willing to admit it or not, she is the only direct descendant of the Lubbers family. The master hopes... hopes to leave the family inheritance to her. Otherwise, it will all fall into the hands of Lord Mundell—the master's own brother."

"Tomorrow morning, I will take the earliest flight to Milan to explain everything to Miss Sophia in person. Goodbye."

The phone hangs up.

The room fell into a deathly silence.

Sophia seemed to have all her strength drained away, collapsing onto the sofa, covering her face with her hands, and letting out suppressed sobs. Ruan Mei quickly sat down beside her, gently hugging her and patting her back like she was comforting a child, her own eyes red-rimmed.

Lu Chen didn't speak. He walked to the window, lit a cigarette, and quietly watched the dazzling blue night view.

He did not try to persuade Sofia to forgive him.

Don't advise others to be kind if you haven't experienced their suffering. Lupus's actions ruined Gloria's life and Sophia's childhood. This kind of hatred cannot be erased by simply saying "I'm going to die."

After a while, the crying gradually turned into sobbing.

Lu Chen walked over, handed the water glass to Ruan Mei, then squatted down and looked directly into Sophia's red and swollen eyes.

"Did you vent your anger? Do you feel better now?" Lu Chen's voice was calm, devoid of cheap sympathy, only displaying rational concern.

Sofia sniffed, nodded, and then shook her head.

"Mr. Lu...am I...am I being too harsh? Although he's a bastard, he seems to be...dying soon." Sophia's voice was a little hoarse.

"Excessive?" Lu Chen sneered. "Compared to what he did twenty years ago, what's a few words of criticism? Even if you were to unplug his oxygen tube right now, I wouldn't think it's excessive."

Sophia was stunned; she hadn't expected Lu Chen to say that.

Lu Chen's voice was calm and objective: "If I were you, I would even want to spit on his grave."

Sophia looked up at Lu Chen with her red and swollen eyes.

"But Sophia," Lu Chen changed the subject, "he's the one who wronged you, not you who wronged him. You hate him, but you shouldn't choose to run away and let him give away what rightfully belonged to you to someone else."

"Think about it, if you don't go back, those things that should have belonged to you and your mother will end up in that Mundell's hands. Will that Mundell be grateful to you? No, he'll take the money and just laugh at you and your mother for being foolish, laughing at all the hardships you've endured over the past twenty years, only to end up with nothing."

Sofia was stunned.

"You should take back everything that is rightfully yours."

Lu Chen walked up to her, squatted down, and looked directly into her eyes.

"Take his money, treat your mother's illness, and put her in a sanatorium like a palace. Use his power to make yourself the most honored woman in the world, and make all those who have bullied you kneel at your feet. That's what revenge is."

"Take back what's rightfully yours, then stand before his tombstone and tell him: I took your money, but I still don't forgive you. That's what it means to feel better."

Ruan Mei chimed in, "Yes, Sister Sophia. Chairman Lu is right! Why not take the money from bad people? Let's do good deeds, help more people, and make that wicked old man furious!"

As Sophia listened to Lu Chen's words, her previously confused gaze gradually cleared.

Yes.

Why should we let that bastard uncle get away with this?

Why give such a cheap price to the Lubbers family?!

"I understand." Sofia gritted her teeth, a fierce glint in her eyes. "I'm going back. I'm going to take back everything that's rightfully mine!"

Lu Chen smiled.

"That's right. Get a good night's sleep tonight. Tomorrow is the real negotiation."

……

This night is destined to be sleepless.

Ruan Mei hugged her small pillow and snuggled into Sofia's bed. The two girls huddled together, and Ruan Mei awkwardly comforted Sofia in her broken English mixed with Cantonese.

"It's alright, with Chairman Lu here, there's nothing to be afraid of. He's the best; he's not even afraid of loan sharks..."

"Hmm..." Sophia held Ruan Mei in her arms, listening to her rambling voice, and her heart miraculously calmed down.

……

The next morning.

The sun was still shining brightly in Milan, but the atmosphere in the Four Seasons Hotel's reception room was somewhat solemn.

An elderly man dressed in an elegant tailcoat, with his hair neatly combed, was standing in front of Lu Chen and Sophia.

He is Lubbers' butler, Giovanni.

He looked exhausted, clearly having flown here overnight on a private jet, but his manners remained impeccable.

"Miss Sophia, Mr. Lu." Giovanni bowed deeply, holding the bow for a full ten seconds.

"On behalf of the master, I extend my sincerest apologies to you."

After standing up, Giovanni looked at the girl before him who resembled Gloria in her youth, his eyes filled with complex emotions and kindness. He had also worked with that kind girl back then, and as a servant, he was powerless to stop what had happened, a situation that had tormented him for many years.

"After last night's emergency treatment, the old man is out of danger, but the doctor said... he really doesn't have much time left."

Giovanni took a thick document out of his briefcase.

"This is the draft will that the old man had his lawyers prepare overnight, along with a list of the family's assets."

He handed the documents to Sofia with both hands.

"The master said he doesn't dare ask for your forgiveness. He just wants to hand these things over to you. If you're unwilling to go to Rome to see him, he'll sign them and have the lawyer notarize them directly. But... the transfer of family assets is complicated, especially with your uncle Mundell, who's always eyeing them covetously. Without your personal involvement, many assets may not be able to be transferred smoothly."

Sophia didn't take the document, but looked at Lu Chen instead.

Lu Chen nodded slightly.

Sofia took a deep breath and opened the list.

Her hand trembled at just the first page.

Three historic buildings in the heart of Rome, a resort estate in Sardinia, a winery in Sicily… and a long list of zeros in bank accounts.

But what truly caught Sofia's attention was a line of text in the middle of the document.

[15% stake in Prada Group (largest individual shareholder)]

Sofia's heart skipped a beat.

Prada!

Even newcomers to the fashion world know about this Italian brand.

Although Prada is still in the early stages of Miuccia Prada's reforms and has not yet reached its peak, it remains one of the top luxury groups in Italy and even the world.

The Lubbers family is actually Prada's major financial backer?!

Sebastian seemed to sense Sophia's hesitation and added softly, "Miss, I know you're currently working in the fashion industry with Mr. Lubers. The Lubers family not only holds shares in Prada but is also the behind-the-scenes owners of several top fabric factories in Italy. Once you return to the family, these resources... you can allocate them at will."

This sentence became the final straw that broke the camel's back.

Sofia suddenly raised her head and looked at Lu Chen.

Her eyes no longer held confusion, but rather a firm resolve.

She thought of Lu Chen's anxiety when he was trying to find models for her, his unwavering determination to help her pay off her debts, and the encouragement he gave her on the catwalk.

"I want to help you too," Sofia said to herself. "I don't want to be just a pretty face. I want to be a woman who can stand by your side and truly help you."

"The Earl has only one request... that is to legally block Lord Mondale's right to inherit."

At this point, a hint of disgust flashed in Giovanni's eyes. "Lord Mondale... he's a greedy and unscrupulous man. If the family falls into his hands, it's truly over."

After a long silence, she took a deep breath, looked at Giovanni, and said coldly, "Fine, I'll go back."

Giovanni was overjoyed: "Really?! That's wonderful! Master will definitely..."

"Wait," Sophia interrupted him, her voice cold and hard. "I'll help him deal with my cheap uncle, but not for him. I'm going to take back what belongs to me and my mother. Tell that old man not to expect me to call him father, and not to expect me to forgive him. I'm just going to... collect debts."

Giovanni paused for a moment, then lowered his head with a wry smile: "I understand. The master said it's what he deserves. As long as you go back, even if you just scold him, he'll be very happy."

"Give me two days," Sofia said. "I still have some work to take care of. And... I need some time to mentally prepare myself."

"No problem! No problem!" Sebastian nodded repeatedly. "Two days from now, the family's private jet will be waiting for you at Milan Airport."

……

The atmosphere in the room did not become more relaxed after the butler left.

Sofia sat on the sofa. Although she had just inherited a fortune of hundreds of millions, she did not look happy; on the contrary, she seemed rather sullen.

"What's wrong? Still thinking about your mother?" Lu Chen walked over and sat down next to her.

"Hmm." Sophia lowered her head. "Every time I think of him, I'm reminded of my mother in the mental hospital... Mr. Lu, tell me, am I a bad woman? For money, I even bowed down to my enemy."

"Silly girl." Lu Chen ruffled her hair. "This isn't bowing down, this is revenge. And it's not just you who needs it; your mother needs this money even more for treatment. I'm not trying to profit from your suffering, but to tell you that this is the compensation you deserve."

"Hmm..." Sophia quietly enjoyed Lu Chen's head pat, and her emotions gradually calmed down.

"But what you need to be concerned about now is..." Lu Chen's expression turned serious, "Your uncle, Mondale. You heard what the butler said earlier; he's definitely not someone to be trifled with."

"In movies... well, in my opinion, these kinds of family feuds over inheritance are often more brutal than gang warfare."

Lu Chen stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the light blue street outside.

"This trip back to Rome will definitely not be smooth sailing. Mondale won't just let his easy goal slip away. He will definitely make a move, and he might even ambush you on the way."

"What should we do?" Ruan Mei asked worriedly, gripping Sophia's hand. "Isn't Sophia in great danger?"

"There's no escaping it." A glint of shrewdness flashed in Lu Chen's eyes. "So before we set off, we need to make some preparations!"

"Ah Sheng," Lu Chen called out.

Tian Yangsheng, who had been waiting at the door, walked in.

"We'll increase security this week. I reckon that Mondale will receive the news soon and might send assassins to Milan."

"Understood." Tian Yangsheng nodded, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes. "Anyone who dares to come will be killed, and no one will be buried."

"Also, any news from A-Yi?"

Tian Yangsheng nodded: "I just received the news. Those three people have been found."

Lu Chen smiled.

"Excellent!"

"Let's go meet the 'Food Truck' trio."

"With them and the seven sons of God, even if I were to take the Pope's crown off and kick it like a ball during this trip to Rome, no one would dare to say a word against it."