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

January 16, 1982, early morning.

Hong Kong Island, Mid-Levels, Tregunter Court.

Golden sunlight streamed through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, spilling onto the disheveled, pure white wool carpet. The air still carried the lingering scents of last night's revelry and the afterglow of expensive perfume.

On the large, soft European-style bed, Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes.

What came into view was a face that could express both joy and anger, and was incomparably beautiful.

Autumn Embankment.

At this moment, she was curled up in Lu Chen's arms like a lazy Persian cat. Her long, thick, black hair was casually scattered on the pillow, with a few strands clinging to her fair cheeks, exuding a breathtaking allure. The blanket had slipped halfway down, revealing her 42-inch legs, long enough to drive any man in Hong Kong crazy.

With the hit TV series "My Date with a Vampire" on ATV, Qiu Di, who played the female lead "Ma Xiaoling", became the most sought-after goddess in Hong Kong overnight.

That image of an exorcist wearing a miniskirt, greedy and domineering, is simply a heartbreaker.

Last night, this rising star invited Lu Chen to the newly transferred luxury apartment to her name to "discuss the script." As the owner, and fulfilling his responsibility to guide the actors, Lu Chen naturally accepted without hesitation. However, in the end, they didn't discuss the script much, but their exploration of human biomechanics went on for an entire night.

"woke up?"

Lu Chen reached out and gently stroked her smooth, jade-like shoulder.

"Um……"

Qiu Di let out a soft moan, her eyelashes fluttering as she slowly opened her captivating peach blossom eyes. Seeing Lu Chen gazing at her, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she clung to him like an octopus, her voice hoarse and coquettish from just waking up:

"Boss...you were too rough last night, my back is still sore."

"Don't you like it?" Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, his large hand sliding down her waistline.

"I like it... I like it no matter what, as long as it's a boss."

Qiu Di's eyes were alluring as she offered a kiss. She was a smart woman, knowing that everything she had now—her fame, status, and this multi-million dollar mansion—was given to her by the man before her.

In Hong Kong's entertainment industry, to become famous, you need not only good looks, but also powerful connections. And Lu Chen is the city's biggest power behind that. Moreover, Qiu Di has genuinely fallen in love with this man who is both wicked and gentle.

After a brief moment of tenderness, Lu Chen got up and got out of bed.

"Are you satisfied with this house?" Lu Chen asked as he put on his clothes.

"Satisfied! Extremely satisfied!"

Qiu Di sat up, wrapped in a sheet, gazing at the expansive view of Victoria Harbour outside the window, her eyes filled with stars. "I never dared to dream of living in the Mid-Levels before. Thank you, boss! I will work hard to earn money to repay the company!"

"Working hard in acting is the greatest reward for the company," Lu Chen said, tying his tie and turning to look at her. "The first season of 'My Date with a Vampire' was very well received, and the company has decided to start filming the second season immediately. You will still be the female lead."

"but……"

Lu Chen changed the subject, pointing to her legs, "Although the audience loves to see your long legs, your action scenes in the first season were still too weak. Just posing and chanting spells isn't enough."

"Starting tomorrow, the company will arrange professional martial arts instructors and gymnastics coaches for you," Lu Chen said firmly. "I want you to have some real martial arts skills before filming for the second season starts. I don't need you to fight as beautifully as female action stars, but at least you need to be able to do backbends, splits, and high kicks smoothly. Can you do that?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" Qiu Di immediately stood up straight, gave a playful salute, and said, "I guarantee I'll complete the mission! I won't let the boss down!"

"very good!"

Lu Chen nodded in satisfaction, took a car key out of his pocket, and handed it to Qiu Di.

"Besides, things haven't been peaceful on Hong Kong Island lately. You've seen what happened at the Cointreau Hotel."

"Here are the keys to the Mercedes downstairs, a gift for you. Also, I've arranged two female bodyguards from DOA for you; you must take them with you when you go out from now on. I don't want anything to happen to my cash cow."

"Wow, a Mercedes! Boss, you're so good to me..."

Ignoring the risk of exposure, Qiu Di rushed over and hugged Lu Chen, planting a hard kiss on his cheek. "Are you coming again tonight? I... I still have a few more of Ma Xiaoling's costumes..."

"Well, sure, I'll give you a practice run tonight..."

Lu Chen patted her shapely buttocks, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

……

9:30 a.m.

Central, Exchange Square.

Unlike the warm and cozy atmosphere of the luxury mansion in Mid-Levels, the Hong Kong stock market, just as Lu Chen had predicted, was experiencing a brutal and bloody storm.

Although the hostage crisis at the Cointreau Hotel was resolved last night and most of the wealthy guests were safe and sound, this could not undo the fact that Hongkong Land Group's reputation had been ruined.

The scene of Newbikin being thrown to his death in public, in particular, left a deep psychological scar on investors.

"The market is open! The market is open!"

As the bell rang, chaos erupted in the trading hall.

"Jungland Group! Sell! Sell everything!"

"Jardine Matheson is going to be sold off too! Quickly!"

On the big screen, the stock prices of Hongkong Land and Jardine Matheson plummeted as soon as the market opened, like kites with broken strings.

Hongkong Land shares plunge 15%!

Jardine Matheson's stock price plummeted by 12%!

"Stay calm! Everyone stay calm!" In the Jardine Matheson headquarters building, Henry Keswick, his eyes bloodshot from a sleepless night, struggled to maintain his composure over the phone. "Use the family fund! Stabilize the market! You must stabilize it! Tell the media the crisis is over! Jardine Matheson is still Jardine Matheson, and Hongkong Land is still Jardine Matheson!"

Last night, after being forced by Lu Chen to sign a humiliating treaty, his hair turned almost white overnight. But he dared not collapse, because today was the real test of life and death.

Henry even used the family's last reserves, frantically placing buy orders the moment the market opened in an attempt to prop up the price.

"As long as we can get through today... as long as everyone believes there's still hope for Jardine Matheson..."

however.

He underestimated Lu Chen's ruthlessness.

It was exactly 10:00 AM.

Just as Henry was desperately pouring money into supporting the stock price, finally managing to stop its decline and keep it hovering around a 10% drop.

Asia Television (ATV) once again interrupted its broadcast with a financial news flash.

There was no gunfight or any bloodshed this time, just a cold, impersonal announcement.

[Breaking News Exclusive: Golden Harvest Group announces that it has officially acquired a 60.1% stake in Hongkong Electric through a share transfer agreement and secondary market purchases, becoming its controlling shareholder! Golden Harvest will hold an extraordinary general meeting the day after tomorrow to reorganize the board of directors of Hongkong Electric!]

"boom--!!"

This news was like a nuclear bomb, detonating directly in the already fragile stock market.

Everyone was stunned.

Hong Kong Electric? The cash cow of Hongkong Land Group? The utility giant that contributes hundreds of millions in profit every year?

It's changed hands?!

Moreover, it's a 60% absolute controlling stake! This means that Hongkong Land Group has completely lost this core asset!

"It's over... Jardine Matheson has been hollowed out!"

Without HK Electric's cash flow, all Hongkong Land is left with are unfinished projects and debt!

"Run! Run faster!"

Panic instantly escalated into a desperate stampede.

The stock price, which had just stabilized, collapsed instantly.

Hongkong Land's decline widened to 30%!

Jardine Matheson's stock price fell by as much as 25%!

In just one hour, a market value of tens of billions of Hong Kong dollars evaporated instantly. Countless investors who followed the trend and bought in lost everything, and the trading hall was filled with cries of despair.

"puff--!!"

In the chairman's office at Jardine Matheson's headquarters.

Looking at the K-line chart plummeting straight down on the screen, Henry Keswick felt a sharp pain in his chest and spat a mouthful of blood onto his desk.

"Lu Chen..."

Henry, his hand trembling, pointed out the direction of the Golden Harvest Building outside the window, then everything went black and he collapsed heavily to the ground.

"Chairman! The Chairman has fainted! Call an ambulance immediately!"

……

3 PM.

Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital, VIP special care ward.

The pungent smell of disinfectant filled the room. Henry Keswick lay on the hospital bed, his face ashen, an IV drip attached to his arm.

After several hours of emergency treatment, he finally woke up.

But the first thing he saw when he woke up was someone who made him even more desperate.

On the sofa in the ward sat a middle-aged man who bore a striking resemblance to him, but was younger and had a more sinister look in his eyes.

He was gracefully peeling an apple, his gold-rimmed glasses reflecting a cold light.

That was his younger brother, Simon Keswick.

Simon, who was originally supposed to be sent to New York to oversee overseas business, suddenly appeared on Hong Kong Island like a ghost.

"Simon?" Henry struggled to sit up, his voice weak. "Why are you back? Cough cough... The company's in chaos right now, you need to go back to New York..."

"I don't need to go anywhere, brother."

Simon stood up, straightened his well-tailored suit, and walked to the bedside. His gaze towards Henry held no brotherly concern, only indifference and a lust for power.

"I came back to clean up the mess you left behind."

Simon took out a document and threw it on Henry's blanket.

"Take a look. This is a resolution just signed by the family trust committee and the board of directors. Given your series of disastrous decisions in the 'HK Electric takeover' and the 'Patrick Hotel crisis,' which resulted in a more than 40% reduction in family assets and severely damaged shareholder interests..."

Simon leaned down and said, word by word:

"The board of directors has unanimously passed a resolution to remove you from your position as chairman of Jardine Matheson and Hongkong Land Group. From this moment forward, I will take over Jardine Matheson."

"What?!" Henry's eyes widened as he stared intently at Simon. "You...you actually conspired with outsiders to frame me?! I'm your own brother!"

"So what if he's my own brother? Even my own father is useless when it comes to profit." Simon sneered. "Just like when you sent me to New York, it was all for the family, wasn't it?"

"You, you, pfft—"

Henry coughed up another mouthful of blood, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted again.

The electrocardiogram monitor emitted a piercing alarm.

Simon glanced indifferently at the doctors and nurses who rushed in in a fluster, then turned and walked out of the ward.

In the corridor, he looked out at Victoria Harbour, his eyes gleaming with ambition.

"Lu Chen...an interesting opponent."

Although Simon was grateful to Lu Chen for sending someone to inform him, it didn't mean he would make peace with the other party.

"Don't worry, Jardine Matheson is in my hands, it won't be as vulnerable as it was in Henry's hands."

……

Central, Golden Harvest International Building.

Lu Chen stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, listening to Cheng Yiyan's report.

"Boss, Simon has succeeded. Henry was so angry that he had to be resuscitated again, and he'll probably spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. As soon as Simon took office, he issued an announcement that he would restructure Hongkong Land's assets and pay interim dividends to shareholders. Hongkong Land's share price has now stopped falling."

"They definitely have some skills."

Lu Chen turned around, holding a glass of red wine. "But it doesn't matter. Although Simon is a smart man, he is more greedy than Henry and more prone to losing his mind."

"Keeping him alive is more useful than keeping Henry. Jardine Matheson, this century-old elephant, has bled dry; it's not time to slaughter it completely yet."

Lu Chen walked to the huge map of Hong Kong Island and planted a red flag firmly in the position of "Hong Kong Island Electric Light".

With Hong Kong Electric in hand, electricity is now within our grasp.

"Next up is the Hong Kong Island phone call!"