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

Deep Water Bay, the private villa of the shipping magnate.

A gentle sea breeze carried the rich aroma of cigars and the soy sauce fragrance of baijiu (Chinese liquor) through the air halfway up the mountain. The main lights in the living room weren't on; only a few vintage floor lamps cast a warm yellow glow, casting long shadows of the four men.

"That was exhilarating! Let's raise a toast!" The shipping magnate, his face flushed, raised his crystal glass and laughed at the three people present. "This past week, seeing those usually arrogant foreigners looking so pathetic, even that old fox Newbee had to bow his head and concede, all the pent-up frustration I've accumulated over the past few years has been released in these last few days!"

"This is all thanks to Lu!" Mr. Fok Ying-tung sat on the sofa, a cigar between his fingers, his eyes full of admiration. "Especially that maneuver in public opinion, it was a stroke of genius. He went straight to the big issue of public privacy, then to basic human rights, forcing London to reluctantly execute him. Brilliant, truly brilliant."

Lu Chen smiled and raised his glass, saying humbly, "Mr. Huo, you flatter me. I just feel that the reason we Chinese have suffered losses in the past is because we are too honest, only knowing how to bury ourselves in business, but forgetting to speak up."

"That's right!" Old Huo nodded, his expression turning serious. "This incident has made me realize that if we don't occupy the battleground of public opinion, the enemy will. We used to think that as long as we had money, land, and ships, that would be enough, but this time, Lu Xiaoyou taught us a lesson with ATV. A pen and a camera lens can sometimes be as powerful as an atomic bomb."

The shipping magnate nodded in deep agreement: "It seems that we need to invest more in this field in the future, and we can't let those foreigners' newspapers distort the truth every day."

"Mr. Lu, I'd like to propose a toast to you as well," Li Shutang, who had been sitting rather reservedly to the side, stood up. He was dressed in civilian clothes, but his back was still ramrod straight, a mark etched into his bones by his years of military and police service.

"If it weren't for your and your two senior colleagues' strategic planning, I, Li Shutang, would have remained a chief superintendent for life, and would never have been able to rise to the position of assistant commissioner!" Li Shutang said sincerely, "I will never forget this kindness and support."

"Li Sir, you flatter me," Lu Chen stood up and clinked glasses with him. "You are the backbone of the Chinese police force. You deserve this position. We promoted you because we hope that the police force in the future can truly serve the people of Hong Kong Island, instead of being the henchmen of the colonizers."

"Rest assured!" Li Shutang downed his drink in one gulp, his eyes resolute. "As long as I'm in office, there will absolutely be no more 'special operations' targeting Chinese capital within the police force. I will also clean up the mess left by Richard."

That night, the four men clinked their glasses together.

An expanded and closer "red alliance" has officially taken shape.

In the business world, there's Bao the Shipping King and Lu Chen; in the political world, there's Old Huo; in the police force, there's Li Shutang; and then there's Lu Chen's control over the media and underground order.

An invisible net has quietly covered the entire Hong Kong Island.

……

One o'clock in the morning.

Lu Chen bid farewell to his three allies and boarded the bulletproof Mercedes on his way back.

"Boss, are we going back to Youyicun?" Tian Yangsheng, who was driving, asked.

Lu Chen rubbed his slightly throbbing temples, feeling the effects of the alcohol rising, but his mind was still clear.

"No, to Tsim Sha Tsui, the Marco Polo Hotel."

In order to prevent retaliation from Richard's remaining followers or extremists from the Jardine Matheson Group, Lu Chen arranged for the "Overlord Flower" to stay at the Marco Polo Hotel, owned by the shipping magnate, and assigned the most elite Jiahe Security to protect her around the clock.

After all, she was the key witness in bringing down Richard, and there was no room for error.

"Yes."

The wheels rolled over the wet asphalt road and sped towards Tsim Sha Tsui.

Marco Polo Hotel, Presidential Suite.

In front of the huge floor-to-ceiling window, Hu Huizhong, wearing a white silk bathrobe and holding a glass of red wine, was staring blankly at the night view of Victoria Harbour outside the window.

Even late at night, Hong Kong Island remains brightly lit.

But her state of mind was completely different from a few days ago.

Just yesterday, she officially submitted her resignation. Although with Lu Chen and Li Shutang protecting her, her future in the police force was bright, but after the Richard incident, she was completely disillusioned with the foreign-controlled government.

More importantly, she did something that was a major taboo in the police force—she went undercover and betrayed them.

Even if it was for the sake of justice, she was already an outcast in the unspoken rules of the disciplined forces. Her colleagues looked at her with not only awe, but also distance and wariness.

Instead of struggling in that quagmire, it's better to jump out completely.

"Click".

She turned around when she heard the door open.

Having shed her police uniform and that cold facade, her long hair now falls casually over her shoulders, she exudes less of a heroic air and more of a charming and languid air.

"You're back?"

Her voice was soft, with a hint of barely perceptible dependence.

"Yes, I'm back."

Lu Chen took off his coat and tossed it onto the sofa. He walked over and gently wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "What are you thinking about?"

"Thinking...who am I?"

Hu Huizhong didn't struggle; instead, she nestled into that warm embrace. Looking at their reflections in the windowpane, her eyes were somewhat unfocused. "I'm not a police officer anymore," she thought, "I don't even have a proper job..."

"Was your resignation letter approved?"

"Yes, it's approved. Inspector Li signed it personally, and he even reserved all my retirement pension and benefits."

Hu Huizhong raised her head, her eyes filled with a mixture of confusion and relief: "Achen, I'm unemployed now."

"Don't worry," Lu Chen said with a smile, pinching her nose and pulling her to sit down on the sofa in front of the French windows. "You'll be my little secretary, and also take care of my... personal security."

"Personal security?" Hu Huizhong blushed and spat. "I think you'd say personal nanny. Who doesn't know you have a freakish expert like Tian Yangsheng by your side? You don't need me to protect you!"

"That's different," Lu Chen's hand began to wander under the hem of the bathrobe, his palm touching the silky skin, his eyes becoming somewhat burning. "Some 'dangers' can only be resolved by you, like... right now."

Feeling the large hand roaming around her waist, even probing into more dangerous areas, Hu Huizhong's body trembled slightly, and her cheeks instantly flushed red.

In the past, for the sake of her undercover mission, she could only swallow her anger and let Lu Chen take advantage of her.

But now, she is no longer that undercover agent who was controlled by others.

A competitive spirit suddenly rose from the bottom of her heart.

"Hmph, trying to take advantage of me?" Hu Huizhong raised an eyebrow, her eyes gleaming. "I used to be angry but dared not speak out, but now I've resigned and am free. If you want to touch me, you'd better see if you have the ability!"

Before she could finish speaking, Hu Huizhong suddenly made her move.

Her left hand shot out like lightning, grabbing Lu Chen's wrist as he was acting up, while her right hand slashed at Lu Chen's elbow joint, and her body suddenly twisted.

The standard small grappling technique – "Golden Thread Wrapping the Wrist"!

This move is quick, accurate, and ruthless; it was her specialty when she was in police academy. Even a strong man would instantly lose his ability to resist once he was subdued.

"Oh? Trying to murder your husband?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Lu Chen's eyes, but more than that, he was amused.

Instead of resisting, he followed Hu Huizhong's force, and with a strange twist of his wrist, he grabbed Hu Huizhong's hand and pinned her tiger's mouth.

"Click!"

Hu Huizhong felt an irresistible force coming at her, and her grappling was instantly broken. Instead, Lu Chen twisted her arm in the opposite direction.

"How is that possible?!"

Hu Huizhong was terrified.

She knew Lu Chen was skilled, having trained at a boxing gym, and was certainly not just a show-off, but she never expected his reaction and strength to be so terrifying.

"Are you convinced now?"

"I refuse to accept this!"

When the stubbornness of the domineering flower flared up, she used her flexibility to lean back and raise her long legs sharply, clamping them around Lu Chen's neck like a pair of scissors.

Deadly scissor kick!

"Great legwork."

Lu Chen sighed in admiration, then advanced instead of retreating. He blocked the fierce kick with one hand, and with a sudden thrust of his body, he pinned Hu Huizhong directly onto the large leather sofa.

"Hmm!"

Hu Huizhong felt as if a mountain was pressing down on her. No matter how she struggled or used her jujitsu skills, Lu Chen neutralized them all with absolute strength and even more exquisite moves.

The two rolled around and tangled on the sofa.

The sash of the bathrobe came undone in the struggle, exposing large areas of snow-white skin to the air.

This hand-to-hand combat style of sparring quickly lost its original flavor.

What started as labored breathing turned into rapid, labored breathing.

What was originally a blocking arm turned into a tight embrace.

"Let...let me go..."

Hu Huizhong's face was so red it looked like it was about to bleed. Her hands were held above her head by Lu Chen's single hand, making her look extremely alluring.

"Weren't you being quite fierce just now, Inspector Hu?"

Lu Chen looked down at her, his eyes filled with aggression. "What? Not resisting now?"

"You...you cheated...you're too strong..." Hu Huizhong bit her lip, her eyes glazed over, her body as limp as a puddle of water.

"On the battlefield, strength is truth; in bed..." Lu Chen lowered his head, his lips brushing against her earlobe, his warm breath spraying onto the nape of her neck, "...men are truth."

"boom--"

Hu Huizhong felt as if the last string in her mind had snapped.

At this moment, she was no longer the valiant and fierce woman, but simply a little woman yearning to be conquered.

"Ah Chen...love me..."

She took the initiative to lift her head and kiss those lips that haunted her dreams.

This kiss was like a thunderbolt igniting a fire in the earth.

Lu Chen no longer stood on ceremony, picked her up and strode towards the soft bed in the bedroom.

The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the two intertwined bodies.

Outside the window is the bustling Victoria Harbour, while inside is a room filled with enchanting springtime scenery.

That night, the Queen of the Night finally shed all her armor and bloomed in her most beautiful colors beneath Lu Chen.

As for who wins and who loses in the end?

You can tell just by listening to the sounds that rise and fall.