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

The rain in Chongqing seems to never end.

At this time, it was 6 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time, but 8,000 kilometers away on Hong Kong Island, it was 2 p.m., when the sun was at its strongest.

A black Rolls-Royce Phantom was driving smoothly along the main road of Central. The air conditioning inside the car was excellent, keeping out the sweltering heat outside that could melt the asphalt.

Lu Chen leaned back in the soft leather seat, holding the brick-like "big brother" mobile phone in his hand. His usually shrewd and cold eyes were now filled with a rare tenderness.

"...So the doctor said that the data this time is very good. The ventricular wall thickness has returned to a safe range. After two more courses of treatment, although I can't do strenuous exercise like an athlete, I can live a normal life without any problems."

On the other end of the phone, Ruan Mei's voice carried an undisguised lightness, along with her signature rambling, "Oh, Mr. Lu, you have no idea how expensive that British doctor is! Every checkup costs several hundred pounds, which is several thousand Hong Kong dollars! Every time I see the bill, my heart skips a beat. I suspect the doctor didn't cure me..."

Hearing this familiar complaint, Lu Chen couldn't help but chuckle: "Alright, health is the foundation of everything. Trading a little money for your good health is a very profitable deal, and you don't even have to pay it back—"

"No way!" Ruan Mei immediately became anxious on the other end of the phone, her voice soft yet stubborn. "Even close brothers have to keep clear accounts. Although... although you're the boss, I can't just spend your money for nothing. I've written it all down in my little notebook, and I'll slowly work my way back to pay you back later."

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen's smile deepened.

"Okay, pay it back slowly," Lu Chen said gently, his tone tinged with affection. "When can you come back for treatment?"

"Hehehe, I bought a plane ticket for tomorrow afternoon! The doctor said I can fly!" Ruan Mei's voice instantly rose eight octaves; her excitement could be felt even through the phone. "I should arrive at Kai Tak Airport around the afternoon after tomorrow. When I get back, I want to drink the dessert you took me to last time, and I also want... I also want to see..."

Halfway through her sentence, Ruan Mei suddenly stopped, seemingly realizing that she had almost blurted out something embarrassing, and quickly changed her words: "I also want to see everyone in the company. I wonder if you've spent any money recklessly while I was away."

Lu Chen didn't expose her little scheme. He simply looked at the bustling night view outside the window and said softly, "Okay, I've already arranged the hospital for you. It's either the top-tier VIP ward at Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital or the cardiology department at Queen Mary Hospital. You can choose whichever you prefer. I'll pick you up when you land."

"Hmm..." The voice on the other end of the phone became barely audible, tinged with a sweet shyness, "Then... then I won't disturb your work anymore, be careful not to overwork yourself."

For the past two weeks, despite being halfway around the world, their nightly transoceanic phone calls have never stopped. From initial reports on the patients' conditions, to later casual conversations about family matters, and then to the ambiguous atmosphere that occasionally lingers in silence. That thin veil between them has become so thin that a single breath could break it.

Ruan Mei held the phone, standing in front of the window of the Foggy City apartment, looking at the gloomy rain and fog outside, her cheeks feeling a little hot.

Actually, she had a huge secret she hadn't told Lu Chen.

About Sofia, about that absurd yet steadfast promise made in Rome.

"Okay, I'll wait for you to come back." Lu Chen's voice was deep and magnetic. "When you get back, I have something to tell you."

"Hmm... I also have something to tell you." Ruan Mei's heart skipped a beat, and a sweet smile curved her lips.

After hanging up the phone, Lu Chen looked at the mobile phone in his hand, a smile lingering on his lips.

For him, in this Hong Kong variety show world full of killing and scheming, Ruan Mei was like the only safe haven, a place where he could relax and feel the beauty of human life after his hands were covered in blood.

"Boss, we've arrived."

The voice from the front row, emphasizing health and wellness, pulled Lu Chen back from his thoughts of romance.

Lu Chen looked up and gazed through the bulletproof glass at the majestic building outside the car window—the Chinese Building.

In this era, before the establishment of the now-famous Cheung Kong Group, this was Li Huanggua's headquarters.

Lu Chen took a deep breath, his gentle expression instantly vanishing, replaced by the calm and sharpness of a commercial predator.

Put aside your personal feelings for now; what lies ahead is a real battle.

……

The top floor of the Chinese Building.

The decor here is completely different from Lu Chen's Garreau. If Lu Chen pursues minimalism and art, then this place emphasizes traditional feng shui and tranquility.

Behind the large mahogany desk hangs a magnificent painting, "Ten Thousand Miles of the Yangtze River".

A middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses and a simple dark blue suit stood in front of the painting, holding a cup of tea in his hand, his expression calm and serene.

Li Chengjia, nicknamed Li Huanggua and Li Chaoren.

A legendary figure who rose to prominence in Hong Kong's business world during this era, from the "King of Plastic Flowers" to a real estate tycoon, every step he took was in step with the pulse of the times.

"Mr. Li, Mr. Lu has arrived." The secretary knocked on the door and entered, reporting respectfully.

Li Chengjia turned around, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes behind his glasses, and put on his signature, warm smile: "Please come in."

A moment later, Lu Chen walked into the office that was crucial in determining the direction of the Hong Kong stock market.

"Mr. Li, I have long admired your name." Lu Chen walked over with neither humility nor arrogance, and sat down opposite Li Chengjia. "I am Lu Chen, and I apologize for disturbing you by visiting today."

"Not at all, Mr. Lu, you're too kind."

Li Chengjia grasped Lu Chen's hand with a moderate grip, but his eyes were secretly sizing up this young man who had recently caused quite a stir in Hong Kong. "Hong Kong Island now belongs to you young people. I've heard about the grand opening of Garreau. Sales exceeded ten million in a single day, and even my wife is clamoring to get a membership card. Mr. Lu, you're truly a force to be reckoned with."

"It's just a small stunt, nothing more than showing off my limited skills in front of Mr. Li," Lu Chen said with a modest smile.

The two took their seats as host and guest, and the secretary served them top-quality Pu'er tea.

After a round of pointless business flattery and pleasantries, Li Chengjia put down his teacup and looked at Lu Chen with a half-smile: "Mr. Lu, you're a very busy man. You've come all this way to see this old man for more than just tea and catching up, haven't you? If you have any requests, please feel free to ask."

They're all ancient foxes; there's no need to play the ghost story game.

Lu Chen nodded, leaned forward slightly, and looked directly at Li Chengjia: "Mr. Li is a man of few words, so I'll get straight to the point. I'm here today for the Wharf Holdings shares you hold."

Upon hearing those three words, Li Chengjia's smile remained unchanged, and he didn't even blink; he maintained his calm and composed demeanor.

"Oh? Wharf Holdings?" Li Chengjia gently stroked the rim of his teacup with his fingers. "This has been a hot potato lately. The shipping magnate and Jardine Matheson are locked in a fierce battle, and the stock price is like a rollercoaster. What, Mr. Lu, are you also interested in this mess?"

"It's not just that I'm interested, I'm already involved."

Lu Chen said calmly, "Let's not beat around the bush. In the past three months, besides Bao Shipping Magnates and Jardine Matheson, there has been another group of funds accumulating Wharf Holdings shares on the secondary market. Although they've been doing it discreetly, I believe they can't hide it from Mr. Li."

Li Chengjia looked at Lu Chen and suddenly laughed: "So that 'mystery buyer' was you. Cheng Yiyan of Jiahe? No, it should be your doing, Lu Chen."

As the man at the top of this business empire, Li Chengjia's intelligence network is naturally not to be underestimated. Although Cheng Yiyan's methods are professional, the fact that he could acquire millions of shares in such a short time would inevitably leave traces.

"Six million shares."

Lu Chen held up six fingers, his tone calm, "I currently hold six million shares of Wharf Holdings' circulating stock. The cost price is around HK$25, and the total cost is less than HK$200 million."

Li Chengjia's pupils contracted slightly.

Six million shares!

This is no small sum. Although Wharf Holdings has a large total share capital, most of the shares are concentrated in the hands of Jardine Matheson and the shipping magnate, leaving relatively few shares circulating in the market. Lu Chen's ability to quietly acquire six million shares, becoming the fourth largest shareholder after Jardine Matheson, the shipping magnate, and Li Chengjia, demonstrates his financial strength and trading skills, which are enough to impress him.

"Lu Sheng, you've got some skills." Li Chengjia closed the file, his tone becoming more serious. "You've quietly become a key figure in this game. So, Lu Sheng, you came to see me today because..."

"I want to buy the shares Mr. Li holds," Lu Chen said, finally revealing his true intentions as he looked at Li Chengjia. "Mr. Li, I know you also hold a considerable number of Wharf Holdings shares. Although there aren't many rumors circulating, based on my calculations, you've been quietly accumulating shares since last year, and you should now have around ten million shares, right?"

In the original historical trajectory, Li Chengjia secretly accumulated approximately 20 million shares of Wharf Holdings, which he then sold to the shipping magnate, thus triggering the famous "Wharf Holdings Battle." In return, he acquired Hutchison Whampoa shares from HSBC, completing the remarkable feat of a small company swallowing a large one.

However, in this Hong Kong variety show world, due to Lu Chen's actions, Jiahe snatched up a significant number of shares in the secondary market, causing Li Chengjia's current holdings to shrink by half, conservatively to only ten million shares.

With his trump card exposed, Li Chengjia's smile finally faded a bit.

He picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea, his movements still composed, but his mind was already racing.

"Since Mr. Lu has investigated so thoroughly, then I won't hide anything from you."

Li Chengjia blew on the tea foam and said calmly, "That's right, I do have ten million shares. The current share price is 36 yuan, more than double what I bought them for. Moreover, I'm optimistic that this battle will continue to escalate. The shipping magnate is determined to take over, and Jardine Matheson will never let go. The share price will not only stay at 36, but it's only a matter of time before it breaks through 46 yuan. Why would I sell to you now?"

This is purely a business logic.

Hoarding and speculating, waiting for the right price to rise. Li Chengjia was not a philanthropist; he was a businessman, and in retrospect, a very shrewd and greedy one. Therefore, he was acutely aware of the value of his ten million shares—a stake of nuclear weapon magnitude.

"Because I have a reason why Mr. Li can't refuse."

Lu Chen seemed to have anticipated Li Chengjia's words. Instead of trying to persuade him, he leaned back in his chair, his eyes gleaming with a confident sense of control.

"Mr. Li, Wharf Holdings is good, but it's a battle of titans. You currently hold ten million shares, which seems like a hot commodity, but you're actually sandwiched between two giants. You can't afford to offend either the shipping magnate or Jardine Matheson too much. Selling to the Bao family would offend the British; selling to Jardine Matheson would seem like you're disregarding the feelings of the Chinese."

Lu Chen's words were full of concern for Li Chengjia, "But selling to me is different. I am an 'outsider' and a 'bad guy.' You can claim to the outside world that this transaction is a normal business cash-out, or even that I forced you to buy and sell."

Li Chengjia smiled noncommittally: "Mr. Lu, you jest. I, Li, have been in business for so many years, I can handle this kind of pressure, unless—"

He looked at Lu Chen, his eyes sharp as knives: "Can you give me a more valuable bargaining chip?"

Lu Chen smiled slightly and gestured for Tian Yangyi to take out another document that had been prepared in advance, which he gently pushed in front of Li Chengjia.

When Li Chengjia turned to the first page, this business tycoon, who had always remained calm even in the face of a collapsing mountain, finally changed his expression.

His hand even trembled slightly with excitement.

"Mr. Li, I know you have always wanted to internationalize Cheung Kong Holdings, especially since you have long coveted Whampoa."

Lu Chen's voice was deep and seductive, "I also know that you've been racking your brains lately about how to get on board with HSBC's big boss, because without HSBC's approval and financial support, it's simply a pipe dream to swallow Hutchison Whampoa."

Li Chengjia could no longer maintain his calm demeanor; his eyes flashed with a mixture of ferocity and shock as he stared at Lu Chen.

The acquisition of Hutchison Whampoa was his deepest strategic secret, known only to a very few close confidants. And how to deal with HSBC's chairman, Michael Sandberg, was indeed his biggest obstacle. How could this young man know so much about it?!

"There is a proposal in this document."

Lu Chen pointed to the documents on the table, his eyes sharp, "As long as you transfer those ten million shares of Wharf Holdings to me, I will not only buy them at a premium of HK$39, but also..."

"I will give you a key to open the HSBC vault, and an opportunity for Cheung Kong Holdings to swallow Hutchison Whampoa whole."

Li Chengjia stared at the document, his breathing slightly rapid.

He had lived half his life and seen countless arrogant young people, but he had never seen one like Lu Chen, who seemed to have opened his eyes to the heavens, and whose every word precisely pierced his most desired weakness.

This will be a huge gamble.

But Li Chengjia had a gut feeling that the offer this young man was making was something he might not be able to refuse.

"Lu Sheng, you've played a very big game here."

Li Chengjia slowly reached out and placed his hand on the document.

Lu Chen smiled slightly and made a "please" gesture.

"You can take a look first. I have plenty of time; I'll wait for you to make a decision."