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

In the smoke-filled office, the air seemed to freeze.

Zeng Jianqiao's newly lit cigar froze in mid-air. After listening to Lu Chen's analysis, he felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water, and even his fingertips were trembling slightly.

"You're saying...this is a setup?"

Zeng Jianqiao's voice was dry, as if it were being squeezed from deep in his throat, "You mean... that bastard Wu Rensong, was in cahoots with my second uncle?"

Lu Chen leaned back on the sofa, casually flicking his cigarette ash, but his eyes were as sharp as a scalpel, precisely dissecting the corpse called "business conspiracy".

"Manager Zeng, you are a smart man, but you can't see things clearly because you're in the thick of it."

"Three million, what a wonderful number." Lu Chen's lips curled into a mocking smile. "You owed the bank almost three and a half million, including principal and interest. If he offered two million, you definitely wouldn't sell, because selling would be a death sentence; if he offered more than three million, you'd be out of trouble, but then how would your second uncle laugh at you? How would he suppress the third branch of the family?"

"Only three million."

Lu Chen held up three fingers and shook them. "I'll make you lose a lot of money, cripple you, and make you lose face in front of the family, proving that you're a spendthrift. But I'll also make you put out the bank's fire, survive by the skin of your teeth, and obediently hand over the power of the branch company to become a good-for-nothing young master who collects a monthly salary."

"Bang!"

Zeng Jianqiao was so angry that he smashed the teacup on the table to the ground, shards flying everywhere.

"Those bastards from the second branch! In order to suppress our third branch, they actually colluded with outsiders to frame me!" Zeng Jianqiao gritted his teeth. Although he was a playboy in the family, he was not stupid. Once Lu Chen broke through this barrier, all the details that he couldn't understand before suddenly made sense.

"Secondly," Lu Chen held up his second finger, "as far as I know, Wu Rensong, that old fox, is very well-informed. The government does indeed intend to develop Yuen Long recently, but the specific planning route has not yet been determined. Even Wu Rensong's insiders in the Planning Bureau are unsure whether the land on Golden Street is within the red line."

"So, he wants to use you as a buffer."

Lu Chen turned around, his gaze fixed intently on Zeng Jianqiao. "Three million isn't a loss for him. If the development plan doesn't reach Jin Street, he'll just consider it land hoarding; if the plan does reach it... even if it's just a sliver, the land's value will increase tenfold! At that point, he'll use your blood to stain his official hat and plume!"

"Bang!"

Zeng Jianqiao suddenly smashed the expensive crystal ashtray on the ground, scattering glass shards everywhere.

"Damn it! This is outrageous! They all think I'm a fool!"

Zeng Jianqiao's eyes were bloodshot, and his chest heaved violently. He had initially thought he was being schemed against by his second uncle because of his greed, but now he realized that he had been made a fool of from the very beginning.

Lu Chen didn't offer any words of comfort, but quietly waited for Zeng Jianqiao to vent. After all, his painstaking analysis of the situation for Zeng Jianqiao wasn't just to showcase his abilities, but also to clearly tell him that he was already caught in the middle and that he needed Lu Chen's help to extricate himself.

After venting his anger, Zeng Jianqiao's gaze towards Lu Chen had completely changed.

If before it was a desperate measure, a last-ditch effort, now it's utter admiration. This young man seems to have a pair of divine eyes, seeing clearly the schemes lurking in the shadows.

"Lu...Lu Sheng!" Zeng Jianqiao changed his form of address, his tone urgent, "Then what should I do? Just go and expose them?"

"Exposing them? Only children do that."

Lu Chen put away the lighter, stood up, walked over to Zeng Jianqiao, and helped him straighten his crooked tie.

"What we have to do is play along with them and see this play continue. But this time, the script has to be mine."

Lu Chen held up three fingers, his eyes becoming deep and cunning.

Lu Chen tapped his fingers lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound. "Wu Rensong's biggest weakness is not greed, but 'suspicion.' He's too smart, so he's overly confident in his own judgment. So, if you give him just a little clue, he'll conjure up a whole drama in his mind."

"Next, you have three things to do."

"First, from now on, cut off all contact with Wu Rensong. If he doesn't contact you, ignore him; if he does, have your secretary say you're in a meeting, busy, or meeting with important guests. In short, ignore him."

Zeng Jianqiao was taken aback: "Leave him hanging? What if he runs away?"

"He won't run away. The more unattainable something is, the more suspicious he becomes."

"Second," Lu Chen continued, "you need to subtly reveal to Wu Rensong through your secretary or driver that you're in a good mood lately because you've received reliable inside information that the land will soon be included in the government's planning."

"The third, and most crucial, step."

A sly glint flashed in Lu Chen's eyes. "I heard you have a card game this weekend, with your second uncle?"

"Yes, a small family gathering every Friday night."

"Very good." Lu Chen snapped his fingers. "At the card table, you have to lose. Lose badly, but even when you're losing money, you have to maintain a happy attitude, and then privately thank your second uncle properly."

"Thank him?" Zeng Jianqiao looked completely bewildered.

"Yes, thank him for forcing you to buy that land back then." Lu Chen imitated Zeng Jianqiao's tone, saying smugly, "You should tell him that a mysterious big buyer has his eye on that land and has already offered twelve million to buy it all!"

Twelve million!

Zeng Jianqiao gasped, "Lu Sheng, isn't this a bit too much?"

"Not big, not big at all." Lu Chen stood up and straightened his suit. "Only this price can make that old fox Wu Rensong really uneasy."

【Ding--】

[Key plot character detected: Zeng Jianqiao]

[Checking in at "Goldfinger"]

[Check-in successful!]

[Reward: +1 Free Attribute Points]

The system notification sounded like heavenly music. Lu Chen chose to allocate the points to Intelligence. As the allocation was successful, that cool, refreshing current surged through the depths of his brain once again. The already clear world became even more transparent in his eyes.

[Intelligence: Lv6 (Strategic Planning)]

[Evaluation: Your thinking has transcended the ordinary. You can sense the impending financial crisis from the smallest news snippets and weave countless complex clues into a vast, intricate web. Now, you can finally be a player.]

……

After leaving Tsang's Properties, Lu Chen didn't idle around. He took Cheng Yiyan directly to the most luxurious Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Central. They booked a deluxe suite with floor-to-ceiling windows (it had two rooms and two beds), which cost HK$3,000 per night. However, Tsang Chiao-chi paid the full amount for a week's stay, so Lu Chen felt at ease staying there.

When Cheng Yiyan stepped into the opulent suite, she felt a little lightheaded. The floor was covered with a thick wool carpet that reached above her ankles, and outside the window was the dazzling night view of Victoria Harbour.

"Lu, Mr. Lu, isn't this too much of a waste?" Cheng Yiyan rubbed his hands together, he had never stayed in such a nice place in his life.

"It's for work." Lu Chen tossed his suit jacket onto the sofa and loosened his tie. "Since we're going to play the role of a mysterious tycoon, we need the right attire. You'll be staying here for the next few days; this is also your workplace."

After speaking, Lu Chen took out a blank drawing and a set of professional drawing tools from his briefcase and slammed them on the table.

"Engineer Cheng, it's time for you to put your skills to good use."

"What should I draw?" Cheng Yiyan picked up the drawing pen, and his professional engineer demeanor instantly returned.

"Draw a draft of the Northwest New Territories transport plan from 1981." Lu Chen snapped his fingers. "We're not sleeping tonight. We're going to draw a subway line for Yuen Long's Golden Street that will never be completed, but will look absolutely real."

Cheng Yiyan's hand trembled, and ink almost dripped onto the paper.

"Forgery of official documents?! That's a serious crime!"

"Who said it was an official document? It doesn't have an official seal or specify its source..." Lu Chen turned around, smiling like a fox. "This is just a concept drawing from our 'internal discussion.' If others insist on taking it seriously, that's their business. What does it have to do with us?"

"Besides, this diagram isn't for you, nor is it for me. It's for Wu Rensong, that 'mole.'"

Lu Chen put down his wine glass, walked to the telephone, and dialed a number.

That number led to Kowloon Walled City, to that underground intelligence network known only to him.

"Hello, is this Brother Long? It's me, Chen."

The calm voice of Tornado came from the other end of the phone, with the crisp sound of mahjong tiles clashing in the background.

"Hey Chen, what brings you to Central? Thinking of your brother?"

"I have a business deal I'd like to do for Brother Long," Lu Chen said bluntly. "I want to buy some information. Wu Rensong of Siasun Group has an inside man in the Land Planning Bureau. I want to know who this person is and what their weaknesses are. The sooner the better."

"This information doesn't come cheap."

"Fifty thousand," Lu Chen said calmly. "Cash. I can have it delivered to the walled city tonight."

There was a three-second silence on the other end of the phone. Fifty thousand yuan for a name—that's an astonishing amount.

"Deal. I'll get back to you in half a day."

After hanging up the phone, Lu Chen turned around and looked at Cheng Yiyan, who was still working hard, and waved the checkbook in his hand.

"See, this is how money is spent. Only money that is spent becomes a resource."

……

After making arrangements for Cheng Yiyan, Lu Chen secretly went to a teahouse on the outskirts of Central under the cover of night.

Tornado indeed had a wide network of connections, and with money paving the way, the intelligence was quickly delivered to Lu Chen.

The mole, nicknamed "Gambling King," was a low-level employee in the planning bureau's archives. He was addicted to gambling and had a mountain of high-interest debt.

In a private room at the teahouse, Lu Chen met this middle-aged man who was covered in sweat and whose eyes were darting around.

Without any further ado, Lu Chen pushed 50,000 yuan in cash in front of him.

"Brother Qiang, right? Use this money to pay the interest."

Ah Qiang's eyes were practically glowing as he looked at the stack of money. He reached out to grab it, but Lu Chen stopped him.

"Don't rush, here's the money. Do me a small favor."

Lu Chen pulled a photo out of his pocket. It was a photo of the "subway planning sketch" that Cheng Yiyan had just drawn. To make it look realistic, it was deliberately taken in a slightly blurry way, and the background was still under dim lighting.

"I know you're Wu Rensong's man." Lu Chen's voice was soft, but carried an undeniable air of authority. "Tomorrow, I want you to complain to him about how the bureau is working on some top-secret New Territories plan and the subway, and how exhausting it is. Then, get him to buy this photo, and you can do whatever you want with the money."

"It's...it's that simple?" Ah-Qiang was stunned. He had originally thought he was to steal the real documents, after all, he was being driven crazy by debt collectors, and he didn't care about the risks; he was willing to do anything as long as he was paid.

"It's that simple. Remember to act convincingly. As for how much to charge Wu Rensong, that's up to you, and I won't take a single penny from this..."

Lu Chen released his grip. "After it's done, there'll be another 50,000."

Ah Qiang swallowed hard, grabbed the money, and stuffed it into his pocket: "Don't worry, boss! I'm good at acting! This photo... hey, it looks really convincing!"

……

Cheng Yiyan was wearing a bathrobe, standing by the window watching the bustling traffic below, holding a glass of expensive brandy in his hand. Although his posture was still a bit stiff, he had already begun to enjoy the pleasure that money brought him.

"Mr. Lu, this wine is really good. It's much better than what I drank in Southeast Asia."

Lu Chen was sitting on the sofa, flipping through today's newspaper. Hearing this, he replied without looking up:

"You'll drink this kind of wine until you throw up. But for now, put your glass down."

"What's wrong?"

"Mr. Zeng will probably call soon, so let's prepare accordingly."

Meanwhile, the situation outside, just as Lu Chen had predicted, began to escalate.

Siasun Group, Chairman's Office.

Wu Rensong paced anxiously in front of the French windows, his hands behind his back.

"You mean, that brat Zeng Jianqiao hasn't answered my calls for three days?" Wu Rensong suddenly turned around and stared at the secretary in front of him.

"Yes, boss. Every time I call, they say they're in a meeting or seeing a client," the secretary replied cautiously.

"Meeting guests? What kind of guests?" Wu Rensong frowned, his shrewd little eyes full of doubt. "His lousy company is about to go bankrupt, what kind of guests could he possibly have?"

Just then, the phone on the table rang.

It was a call from Zeng Jianqiao's second uncle.

"Hey? Old Wu! This is incredible!" Second Uncle's voice boomed on the other end of the line, "Last night at cards, that kid went crazy! He lost over ten thousand without batting an eye! Afterwards, he even toasted me, saying he was thanking me for forcing him to buy land!"

"What?" Wu Rensong's heart skipped a beat. "What did he say?"

"He said... a mysterious big boss has his eye on that piece of land of his and offered twelve million! He said he heard... he's heard there's going to be a subway line over there!"

"Twelve million?!" Wu Rensong's voice changed.

After hanging up the phone, Wu Rensong felt his heart pounding wildly.

If Zeng Jianqiao himself were bragging, he would never believe it. But Zeng Jianqiao's unusual attitude these past few days, coupled with that blurry planning map photo that "gambling bastard" sold him...

On that map, the red dotted line definitely passes through the location of "Golden Street", and next to it is clearly written "R3 Reserved Station"!

All the clues match up!

The government is going to build a subway! Zeng Jianqiao somehow got wind of this and now feels confident enough to try and go it alone!

"Damn it! I knew that piece of land was haunted!"

Wu Rensong slammed his hand on the table. "Who is that mysterious buyer? Have you found out?"

The secretary quickly handed over an investigation report: "We found it. A few days ago, a man who arrived in a Rolls-Royce (actually a taxi, but embellished), dressed like a wealthy young master from Southeast Asia, visited the Zeng family branch with a senior engineer. They stayed for the entire afternoon!"

"A wealthy family from Southeast Asia...no wonder..."

Wu Rensong bit his nails and paced back and forth in the office.

Hot money from Southeast Asia has been pouring into Hong Kong lately; those people have the best connections and are the most generous spenders. If it really was a Southeast Asian consortium that snatched the deal, then my three million offer is a complete joke!

If this land really has a subway station, its value will increase at least fivefold! It's worth at least 20 million!

"Boss, what should we do? Should we raise the price?" the secretary asked.

"A price increase?"

Wu Rensong stopped in his tracks, a struggle known as "cunning" appearing on his thin face.

He believed it to be 70%.

But that's only 70%.

Having navigated the business world for so many years, his instinctive caution prevented him from immediately losing his head.

"What if...it's that spoiled brat teaming up with someone else to impersonate me?"

Wu Rensong squinted, his fingers unconsciously tracing patterns on the table.

"That rich kid from Southeast Asia...it was too sudden. And that planning map...it was too coincidental."

Wu Rensong suddenly raised his head, deciding to test the waters himself: "I'm going to meet that so-called 'Young Master of Southeast Asia' in person. If he's a fake, I'll make him regret it; if he's the real deal..."

He licked his lips, revealing a greedy smile.

"Then don't blame me for snatching the food from the tiger's mouth!"

……

In a hotel suite.

Lu Chen was standing by the window, holding a glass of red wine, looking down at the bustling Central district.

The phone rang. It was Zeng Jianqiao calling.

"Lu Sheng! Amazing! Absolutely amazing!"

Zeng Jianqiao's voice trembled with excitement, "That old bastard Wu Rensong just called me personally! He was so polite, and even invited me to dinner! But I did as you said and refused! I told him I was going to the horse racing club with Mr. Lu tonight!"

Lu Chen smiled and gently swirled his wine glass.

"Well done. He's getting impatient."

"But it seems he hasn't completely taken the bait yet. From the tone of his voice, he's still testing the waters to find out more about my 'mystery buyer.'"

"That's normal. If he believed it so easily, he wouldn't be called a cunning and shrewd person."

Lu Chen tilted his head back and downed the wine in his glass in one gulp, his eyes flashing with the cold light of a hunter seeing his prey about to fall into his trap.

"He wants to test me? Then give him the chance."

Lu Chen hung up the phone and glanced back at Cheng Yiyan, who was lying on the table, grinning foolishly at the fake map.

"Engineer Cheng, stop looking. Tidy yourself up and change into your most expensive outfit."

"Where to, boss?" Cheng Yiyan looked up blankly.

"Go to the horse racing club."

Lu Chen straightened his tie, his smile growing even wider.

"Tonight, we're going to perform the final climax of this play for that Boss Wu."