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

Central, Golden Harvest International Headquarters, Top Floor Office.

The morning sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows onto the mahogany desk, making a "new ornament" placed on the corner of the desk shine brightly, even a little dazzlingly.

It was a cabbage made of pure gold.

The craftsmanship isn't top-tier art; it exudes a vulgarity typical of nouveau riche. But its strength lies in its sheer weight—a full five kilograms of pure gold, with every vein of the leaf clearly engraved, and a jade cricket perched on the stem, symbolizing "abundant wealth."

This was delivered personally by Wu Rensong's personal lawyer early this morning.

There was no accompanying letter, but anyone who's been around in the underworld knows this is called "money to buy one's life" or "hush money."

"Heh, this old lad is quite sensible."

Cheng Yiyan stood in front of the table, looking at the golden cabbage with a hint of smug satisfaction on his face. "It is said that Wu Rensong fell seriously ill after that day and even canceled the horse racing activities these days, claiming that he went to Switzerland for recuperation."

Lu Chen sat in the boss's chair, flipping through today's schedule without even lifting his eyelids.

"Just accept it. Since they've given you a gift, let's just let this matter drop."

Lu Chen's tone was calm, as if the horrifying "horse head incident" that night had nothing to do with him. "Send it to the security company as a 'trophy' for the brothers to display."

"Yes, boss."

Cheng Yiyan nodded, a hint of awe flashing in his eyes.

Although the media has been relatively calm these past two days, rumors about the young boss of Golden Harvest have been circulating wildly in Hong Kong's underworld.

As everyone knows, there is a newly emerging tycoon who not only thrives in the stock market but also employs ruthless methods that are appalling. Wu Rensong, a once arrogant and domineering real estate developer, was beheaded and his beloved horse was stuffed into his bed after he touched an empty car.

This unreasonable and vindictive style caused all the forces that had been eyeing Jiahe, this lucrative prize, to instantly back down.

This is the effect Lu Chen wanted.

Wolves roam thousands of miles to eat meat. Since we've established ourselves in the dog-eat-dog world of Hong Kong variety shows, we must have the words "don't mess with us" etched on our foreheads.

"Alright, the matters of the martial world are settled. Now it's time to talk business."

Lu Chen closed his schedule, stood up, and straightened his well-tailored dark gray suit. In an instant, he transformed from the ruthless behind-the-scenes godfather back into a debonair business tycoon.

"Let's go, Lao Cheng, the guests are almost here at Landmark Plaza."

……

10:00 AM, Landmark Plaza, Central.

As Hong Kong Island's premier luxury shopping mall, Landmark stands out today.

Garreau’s first global flagship store will open today.

There were no noisy lion dance troupes, no deafening firecrackers, and even the gossip magazine reporters with their long lenses and microphones were kept out of sight.

There was only a neatly laid-out black velvet carpet on the scene, flanked by Jiahe security personnel, each 1.85 meters tall and dressed in sharp uniforms. The air was filled with a faint, woody scent, like a forest after the rain—the signature fragrance of the Garreau brand, "Night."

Although there was no media frenzy, the lineup of luxury cars parked at the entrance of the plaza was enough to shock the entire island of Hong Kong.

Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Maybach... it was practically a top-tier luxury car exhibition.

"Lu Sheng! Congratulations!"

A stretch Lincoln limousine opened its door, and Sir Guo Yingzhong, with his gray hair but vigorous spirit, stepped out under the escort of bodyguards, extending his hand to Lu Chen from afar.

"Sir Guo, it is truly an honor for Jiahe to have you take time out of your busy schedule to come here in person." Lu Chen greeted him with a smile, his handshake being just the right firmness.

"Oh, Mr. Lu, you're too kind!" Guo Yingzhong patted Lu Chen's hand and said in a low voice, "I told you on the Fuguiwan ship that you are my savior and a close friend despite our age difference. How could I not come to your store's opening? Not only did I come, but look—"

Following Sir Guo's gaze, Lu Chen saw a group of familiar faces.

Dato' Lee, Mr. Wu, and even several other managers of British-owned trading companies who rarely appeared in public. Most of these people were survivors who had experienced life and death on the Fu Gui Wan that night.

That ordeal unexpectedly became Lu Chen's most solid foundation of connections. This group of wealthy people, who controlled half of Hong Kong Island, came not only to show their support but also to "repay a debt of gratitude" and "stand up for him."

"The ribbon-cutting ceremony begins!"

As the emcee announced, Lu Chen stood in the center, with Sir Guo and Dato' Lee on his left and right respectively. The golden scissors in their hands fell, and the black ribbons fluttered down.

There was thunderous applause.

The doors of the Garreau flagship store slowly slid open to both sides.

The moment this group of worldly-wise tycoons and socialites, who had been to Parisian Milan countless times, stepped into the store, everyone fell silent for a second.

Shocked.

In the late 80s, an era that championed opulence, crystal chandeliers, and elaborate Baroque styles, Garreau's interior design was a breath of fresh air from the future, or rather, a visual stunner.

The large areas of blank space make you feel as if you are in a modern art museum.

The walls are made of high-quality micro-cement gray, and the floor is made of a single piece of seamless Italian imported marble.

The store doesn't have those densely packed, suffocating shelves. Each garment is displayed like a rare treasure, hanging on a separate brass rack, with spotlights above it that have been precisely calculated for color temperature, showcasing the texture and luster of the fabric to the fullest.

"This...this is so beautiful."

A wealthy young woman, dressed in the latest Chanel collection, couldn't help but cover her mouth, her eyes sparkling. "This is even more beautiful than any of the old boutiques I've been to in Paris!"

Before they could even react, a dozen salespeople in specially made uniforms greeted them with smiles.

These salespeople are a "special forces" unit personally selected and trained by Lu Chen. The men are handsome and the women are beautiful, and their uniforms are custom-made by the Garreau design team. They are tailored to fit perfectly and have excellent quality. Just by standing there, they convey the brand's professionalism.

"Welcome to Garreau, Mrs. Guo, this way please."

A tall, well-dressed saleswoman approached Mrs. Guo, bowed slightly, and smiled politely. She was neither overly enthusiastic nor cold, maintaining a comfortable social distance.

"This is our main collection for this season, the 'Dark Forest' series, along with matching handbags designed by our Chairman Lu himself."

The saleswoman, wearing white gloves, gently took a crocodile skin handbag from the display case.

It was an extremely uniquely designed bag with strong lines and an exquisite clasp. The leather's luster flowed under the light, exuding a captivating nobility.

"This handbag's design is inspired by the travel trunks of the nobility in the last century, but we've made it lightweight." The salesperson's voice was soft and pleasant, as if telling a story. "Moreover, there are only three pieces of this color of crocodile skin in the world, and it will never be reproduced. This one is the only one in Hong Kong, and Mr. Lu specially requested that it be reserved for you as a gift."

The only one in Hong Kong.

These four words were like a potent poison, instantly penetrating Madam Guo's psychological defenses.

For women of their social class, buying things is no longer about practicality, but about "exclusivity," about having something "others don't have." And this bag's design is indeed outstanding; Mrs. Guo has already been lovingly stroking it.

"How could I let Mr. Lu spend so much? I'll cover it all," Mrs. Guo said, her tone both reserved and assertive.

"This... HK$288,000." The salesperson glanced at the store manager, and after receiving approval, smiled and quoted a figure that was considered astronomical in this era.

Upon hearing this, the eyes of several wealthy women who had followed suit twitched slightly.

HK$280,000? In Hong Kong Island today, that's enough to buy a small apartment of about 1,000 square feet in Kowloon!

But Madam Guo merely raised an eyebrow slightly.

expensive?

Expensive is good!

If it's not expensive, how can it reflect her status as Mrs. Guo? If it's not expensive, how can it distinguish her from the wives of those nouveau riche?

"Wrap it up," Madam Guo said calmly, her tone carrying an air of extravagant wealth.

"Mrs. Guo, you have excellent taste." The salesperson maintained her elegant smile, not showing much emotion despite the huge transaction. "Also, these lambskin high heels are designed to match this bag. Would you like to try them on? The leather is so soft, it feels like walking on clouds."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the shop.

"Sir Guo, gentlemen, this way please."

With a smile, Cheng Yiyan led Guo Yingzhong and the others to a secluded area deep inside the shop—the men's lounge.

This place is practically a small English club.

Leather sofas, a top-of-the-line cigar cooler, and an entire wall of fine whiskies and champagne.

"Here..." Sir Guo's eyes lit up, and the fatigue from accompanying his wife shopping earlier vanished.

"This is a waiting area specially prepared for all the gentlemen." Cheng Yiyan handed over a Cuban cigar and lit it for Sir Guo. "Our Chairman Lu said that accompanying ladies shopping is hard work, and the gentlemen deserve the best reward. You can have a drink and chat here, and once the ladies have made their selections, they can simply sign the papers."

"Hahaha! This Lu Chen really understands men so well!" Dato' Lee took the champagne and leaned back comfortably on the sofa. "When I used to go shopping at LV with my wife, the sales staff would just take us to the rest area to wait. They were never as considerate as Mr. Lu."

What Dato' Lee didn't know was that Lu Chen had learned these things from LV in the future, but simply copied them ahead of time.

The lounge was filled with laughter and chatter, while the printer outside the cash register kept whirring.

This advanced service concept is simply a game-changer in this day and age.

The ladies were on a shopping spree, while the husbands were smoking and drinking.

Garreau's debut was not only a victory for the product, but also a victory for service and experience.

Within half an hour of opening, the store's inventory was almost completely sold out. The staff were prepared for this situation and thoughtfully provided a beautiful shopping catalog for the ladies to choose from. The company would arrange the finished products as soon as possible and provide home delivery.

As a result, those high-end ready-to-wear clothes priced at around 100,000 yuan, leather bags priced at 200,000 yuan, and handmade shoes priced at 100,000 yuan were snapped up by these wealthy wives and young ladies as if they were free cabbages.

As Mrs. Guo, carrying five or six shopping bags, was about to leave with satisfaction, the store manager—a capable-looking woman—came over with a black and gold card in her hands.

"Mrs. Guo, thank you for your support of Garreau. This is a 'Supreme VIP Card' specially prepared for you by Chairman Lu, number HK001."

The card wasn't made of ordinary plastic, but rather of a special black metal. It felt heavy in my hand, and the character "Guo" was printed on it in gold foil.

Mrs. Guo took the card, weighed it in her hand, and casually asked, "Mr. Lu, you're very thoughtful, but what's the use of this?"

"Mrs. Guo," the store manager explained with a smile, his tone radiating confidence, "this card signifies that you can enjoy exceptional service at Garreau. With this card, you can enjoy private VIP lounge access at any of our flagship stores, priority preview and reservation rights for any new products, and more..."

The store manager lowered his voice slightly and said mysteriously, "From now on, only VIPs holding this card will be eligible to purchase certain extremely rare limited editions or styles that require urgent restocking."

Mrs. Guo was initially somewhat dismissive, but her eyes lit up after hearing the shop manager's description.

Discounts? That's something only ordinary people care about.

What she wanted was this specialness, this sense of prestige that set her apart from ordinary people!

However, at this moment, Mrs. Guo was not yet fully aware of the power of this card. In the not-too-distant future, when Garreau became popular all over Asia and countless socialites were unable to purchase a classic bag, Mrs. Guo would always be able to sit in a secluded VIP room, drinking top-quality champagne, and watching the store manager respectfully present her with the style that was sold out throughout Hong Kong, all with the help of this card number HK001.

At that moment, her status in high society was elevated once again because of this card. This wasn't just a card; it was clearly the ultimate expression of vanity in the world of fame and fortune.

……

Night falls.

The Peninsula Hotel's banquet hall on the Victoria Harbour waterfront was brightly lit.

This was a celebratory banquet held internally by Jiahe.

The young designers from the design team, the senior executives of the garment factory, and the core members of Jiahe headquarters gathered together, the air filled with the aroma of champagne and the scent of victory.

"Cheers!"

As Lu Chen raised his glass, the entire venue erupted in cheers.

Although the specific sales figures for today have not yet been tallied, just looking at the frenzied shopping spree during the day, everyone knows that Jiahe has won again.

And it was a huge win.

"Boss, this is amazing today!"

Cheng Yiyan, her face flushed and slightly tipsy, leaned close to Lu Chen. "The manager from Landmark Plaza just called me. They asked if we wanted to expand our lease, and they can give us priority in leasing the unit next door!"

"Need not."

Lu Chen swirled the wine in his glass, gazing at the night view outside the window, his eyes clear and calm. "The current shop size is just right. Expanding it prematurely would clash with the decorating style, and besides..."

He turned around, looked at the huge world map behind him, and gently traced his finger across it.

"The market on Hong Kong Island is simply too small."

Lu Chen's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of several core executives around him: "Pass the word down that the preparation teams for the Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay branches should speed up their progress. I want to see them open within a month. Now that we've fired the first shot, we must strike while the iron is hot and completely capture the hearts of Hong Kong Island's high-end fashion scene."

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.

"in addition……"

Lu Chen's finger slid across the map, finally stopping at two locations—Tokyo and Singapore.

"Old Cheng, I've already reached an agreement with Dato' Lee and Mr. Matsushita overseas," Lu Chen's eyes gleamed with ambition. "Six months. I'll give you six months. In six months, I want Garreau's flag flying high in Ginza, Tokyo, and Orchard Road, Singapore!"

"I want all of Asia to know that top-tier luxury goods are no longer something only Europeans can make."

"We at Jiahe can do it too, and we can do it even better."

"Cheers!"

"Cheers——!!!"