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

Time flies like an arrow.

The gunfight on Lantau Island that shocked Hong Kong gradually subsided into casual conversation as Eiji Tsukamoto's ashes were laid to rest and Chen Jun (Bourbon) was promoted.

The pace of life on Hong Kong Island is so fast that no one will keep remembering the dead.

For the next two weeks, Lu Chen enjoyed a rare period of "leisure".

There were no swords drawn, no deceit or treachery.

During the day, he is the owner of the Golden Harvest Group and the Garreau brand. He sits in his spacious office in Central, drinking coffee or tea while listening to his subordinates report on their work.

Garreau's second and third branches on Hong Kong Island have opened, located in Times Square in Causeway Bay and Harbour City in Tsim Sha Tsui respectively. Despite having already experienced the Landmark frenzy, these two stores still saw explosive sales after opening.

Meanwhile, preparations for the two flagship stores in Singapore and East Asia are nearing completion. In particular, Lu Chen specially approved a huge sum of money for the East Asia Ginza store, demanding that it be luxurious and high-profile, so that those Japanese people could feel the fashion shock from Hong Kong Island.

As for DOA...

Since the "Gold Heist" in Rome, Lu Chen has sent Song Zihao and Xiao Ma, this golden duo, to Europe. Their mission is singular: to launder the 140 tons of smelted gold into legitimate funds through various underground channels, art auctions, and offshore trade.

This is a long process, expected to take at least two years. During these two years, Sung Chi-ho and Mark Gor are destined to become "frequent flyers," constantly traveling between Europe and Hong Kong Island.

And the "drinkhouse"...

Since his famous battle on Lantau Island, where he wiped out all the assassins in Hong Kong and the Tsukamoto Group, the name "Drinkhouse" has become legendary in the underworld. Countless powerful figures and retired veterans eager to rise to the top are scrambling to get in.

Lu Chen didn't refuse, but he also didn't accept indiscriminately. He put his fourth brother in charge of the screening, currently only recruiting peripheral intelligence personnel and logistics staff. As for the core "codename members," he maintained a policy of "better to have none than to have bad ones."

As for Nguyen Van, ever since that night when she was "recruited," this counterfeit queen has demonstrated astonishing work efficiency.

Lu Chen, using her "God's-eye view," located the genius painter Li Wen, who was originally meant for her, ahead of time and sent him to Lamma Island. The two geniuses working together created an explosive chemical reaction, resulting in incredibly high work efficiency. Furthermore, with the color-changing ink and acid-free paper that Lu Chen had found in advance based on the plot, everything was now ready except for one crucial element—the gravure printing machine capable of producing unique embossed textures.

Life went on in this routine.

Every afternoon, without fail, Lu Chen would go to the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital to accompany Ruan Mei. Evenings were his private time. He would train hard at Luo Jun's boxing gym, honing his fighting skills, or chat with Sofia in Rome via transoceanic phone about the High Table meeting's preparations, and perhaps even flirt with her to pass the time.

Before we knew it, it was winter of 1981.

Although it doesn't snow in Hong Kong in winter, the damp and chilly air still makes people want to wrap themselves up in their coats. Pedestrians on the street have changed into winter clothes, and the sea breeze in Victoria Harbour carries a touch of desolation.

……

Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, intensive care unit.

At three o'clock in the afternoon, sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows and fell warmly on the hospital bed.

Lu Chen pushed open the door, carrying Ruan Mei's favorite beef offal and egg tarts.

"Amei, look what I brought you... um?"

Before he could finish speaking, Lu Chen froze.

At this time of day, Ruan Mei would usually be knitting by the headboard or studying accounting textbooks. Since becoming Lu Chen's woman, Ruan Mei has been very aware of the risks, not wanting to be a hothouse flower or a burden. Therefore, she has been actively improving herself, preparing for the accounting exam, and striving to become Lu Chen's asset as soon as possible.

But today, she did none of those things, and two unusually fuzzy little bumps had appeared on her hospital bed. Ruan Mei was sitting cross-legged on the bed, her back to the door, carefully protecting something, and making "shh" sounds.

"What are you hiding?"

Lu Chen walked over with a smile, put down what he was holding, and asked, "Did you secretly eat something raw or cold again behind my back?"

No! No!

Ruan Mei was startled and quickly turned around, trying to cover what was behind her with the blanket. But her flustered eyes and flushed face had already given her away.

"Woof~"

"Awoo~"

Just then, two childish cries came from under the covers.

Immediately afterwards, two fluffy little heads poked out from under the blanket.

Those were two Chinese pine trees. One was a small black dog with two yellow spots above its eyes, commonly known as "four-eyed gold-plated dog," which looked quite chubby. The other was pure white except for the tips of its ears, which were a bit yellow, making it look like a glutinous rice ball; it was a white pine tree.

The two puppies looked to be only three months old, and they were staring at Lu Chen, this uninvited guest, with their big, wet eyes.

"dog?"

Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, looking at Ruan Mei, "Where did this come from?"

Seeing that she could no longer hide it, Ruan Mei could only lower her head like a schoolchild who had done something wrong, twisting the hem of her clothes with her fingers, and humming softly, "I...I picked it up at the entrance of the hospital."

"Their mother was hit and killed by a car while crossing the road... I saw them huddled next to the trash can, trembling, and the security guard was about to chase them away, so I... I secretly brought them home."

At this point, Ruan Mei looked up at Lu Chen expectantly and asked, "Chen, I know you don't like the house being dirty, and these aren't any rare breeds... but, but could you let me keep them? I'll keep it clean and won't cause you any trouble..."

In Ruan Mei's mind, rich people like to keep purebred foreign dogs that cost tens of thousands of yuan, while this kind of local dog is not presentable, and she is afraid that Lu Chen will look down on it.

Seeing her cautious and fearful expression, Lu Chen couldn't help but laugh.

Her kindness was always so pure and so heartbreaking.

"You..."

Lu Chen sighed, walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to stroke the restless little head with its four glasses and gold trim. The little guy wasn't shy at all, sticking out its pink tongue to lick Lu Chen's fingers.

"You're all dirty, haven't you taken a shower yet?" Lu Chen said with a deliberately stern face.

"I...I just wiped them down!" Ruan Mei quickly explained, "And the nurse checked them for me, they're very healthy, just a little thin."

"It's possible to raise one."

Lu Chen changed the subject, a mischievous smile playing on his lips, "However, our house isn't a shelter. If you want them to come in, you'll have to pay a 'lodging fee'."

"Huh?" Ruan Mei was taken aback. "How...how much?"

"It's free."

Lu Chen leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe. "I need someone."

"Let's try something new when we get home tonight."

Lu Chen's voice was deep and magnetic, "The one I saw in that magazine last time..."

boom!

Ruan Mei's face instantly turned bright red, like a ripe apple. She knew exactly what Lu Chen was talking about; that place… it was too embarrassing!

She bit her lip, looked at the two hungry puppies in her arms, and then at Lu Chen with a mischievous grin.

I'll do anything for my dog!

"Okay...okay..."

Ruan Mei's voice was barely audible as she buried her face in Lu Chen's chest, blushing, "But...but only once..."

"make a deal."

Lu Chen laughed and gave her a big kiss on the cheek.

"Let's give them names," Lu Chen said, looking at the two puppies.

"What's the black one called..." Ruan Mei thought for a moment, "Wangcai?"

"That's so outdated."

Lu Chen shook his head. "The black one, with its tiger-like shape, will be called 'Cola.' The white one, with its refreshing taste, will be called 'Sprite.'"

"Cola? Sprite?"

Ruan Mei's eyes lit up. "That sounds great! From now on, you two will be called Coke and Sprite!"

"Woof!"

Seemingly understanding its name, the black dog (Cola) barked happily, and the white dog (Sprite) wagged its tail in response.

……

evening.

A black Rolls-Royce drove into the villa in Another Village.

The house instantly became lively with the arrival of two new little lives.

Ruan Mei's grandmother (Li Chunlan) was overjoyed to see the two puppies. The old lady loved things with a homey feel to them and immediately went to the kitchen to cook chicken for them.

The once quiet villa instantly became lively with the arrival of these two little ones.

Cola was an energetic troublemaker who started running around the house as soon as she entered, chasing after people's heels; Sprite, on the other hand, was a quiet little lady who followed closely behind Ruan Mei like a little white tail.

Ruan Mei took Coke and Sprite to take a shower, while Lu Chen sat on the sofa and made an overseas call to Sofia, who was in Rome.

Night falls.

In the bedroom, the soft, inviting light was turned on.

"Amei, isn't it time to keep your promise?"

Lu Chen came out of the bathroom, looked at Ruan Mei who was pretending to be asleep under the covers, and smiled as he lifted the covers.

"Um... I haven't had Coke and Sprite yet..." Ruan Mei tried to find an excuse.

"They're sleeping soundly downstairs."

Lu Chen leaned down and silenced her with a kiss.

That night, the cold wind howled outside the window, but the room was filled with the warmth of spring.

Although shy, Ruan Mei kept her promise and cooperated with Lu Chen to unlock the new map. In Lu Chen's arms, she was like a pool of melting water, gentle to the extreme.

……

The next morning.

The sun was shining brightly; it was a rare and beautiful day.

Lu Chen sat in the restaurant eating breakfast, feeling refreshed, with two clean, well-fed puppies lying at his feet.

Cola was struggling with Lu Chen's slippers, while Sprite was quietly sleeping at Ruan Mei's feet.

"Ring ring—"

The encrypted phone on the table suddenly rang.

Lu Chen picked up the phone, and his fourth brother's somewhat excited voice came through.

"Boss! Good news!"

"Speak," Lu Chen said, taking a sip of his coffee.

"The wind brought the seeds."