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

Monday, January 1983, 1.

Victoria Harbour was shrouded in a thin mist in the early morning, but the public discourse in Hong Kong Island was already boiling over like a pot of oil.

Normally at this time, people would be discussing either last night's horse racing tips or some celebrity's scandal. But today, from the luxury mansions in Mid-Levels to the temporary housing in Sham Shui Po, from the old men in the teahouses to the white-collar workers in the office buildings, everyone was talking about only one name—Ko Tin-lap.

Long queues formed in front of newsstands, and newspapers were snapped up as soon as they were delivered.

The front page of the Oriental Daily News featured a shocking headline in bold black font:

Who is forcing good people into theft? A Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB) accounting director's tearful accusation!

The Sing Tao Daily went even further, accompanying a photo of Ko Tin-lap showing his scars on a television program:

[A disgrace to the police force! When "fighting crime and maintaining order" turns into "forced confessions," are we still safe?]

Even the Hong Kong Economic Journal, which usually focuses solely on finance, published a commentary in a prominent position:

[KMB's share price may suffer a severe blow: Mr. Lui's arrogance and greed may be the final straw that breaks the back of the Lockhart Road Dam.]

As for last night's well-produced and highly anticipated TVB drama, "The Legend of the Condor Heroes"?

Unfortunately, aside from a few comments about "decent ratings" that could be found in a corner of the entertainment section, it was completely drowned out by the flood of information. Compared to this tragic and realistic hero, the story of Guo Jing and Huang Rong seems so pale and powerless.

……

Nine o'clock in the morning.

Kowloon, Lai Chi Kok, Kowloon Motor Bus Headquarters.

The once majestic gate is now a scene of utter devastation.

Dozens of angry citizens, or perhaps thugs eager for a good show, were gathered around the entrance. Although security guards were there to try and stop them, they couldn't stop the "weapons" flying in from all directions.

"Snapped!"

A rotten egg landed precisely on the golden signboard of Kowloon Motor Bus, the yellow yolk dripping down the lettering, making it particularly glaring.

"Boss Lei! A heartless and unscrupulous businessman!"

"Give back people's hard-earned money! You even embezzle money from the dead, aren't you afraid of retribution?!"

"Boycott KMB! Everyone, take minibuses instead! Don't let this bloodsucking company make money!"

Top floor, Chairman's office.

Boss Lei stood behind the curtains, looking down at the agitated crowd below. His face was ashen, and the cigar in his hand had been crushed to pieces.

"Boss... the morning market is open."

The secretary walked in tremblingly, her voice barely audible, "KMB's stock price... fell 8% at the opening. Golden Princess Cinemas is also facing a boycott."

"A mob! A bunch of brainless idiots!" Boss Lei whirled around, sweeping the documents off the table. "That Gao Tianli is a thief! He's a suspect in the case, what's wrong with me firing him?! That's company policy! And they're actually sympathizing with a thief!"

"Boss, reasoning with us is useless now," the department manager said, wiping his sweat. "The whole of Hong Kong is calling us heartless and greedy. And... just now, several major shareholders called, their tone very unpleasant, asking how you plan to handle this."

Boss Lei plopped down on the leather sofa, his chest heaving violently.

He had dominated the business world for decades, always manipulating public opinion, but today he was outmaneuvered by an "honest man."

"ATV... Lu Chen..."

Boss Lei gritted his teeth as he muttered those two names. He knew that Gao Tianli was just a tool; the one who truly wielded the knife was ATV.

"Issue a statement! Say we'll cooperate with the police investigation! If Gao Tianli is innocent, we'll consider...consider humanitarian aid!" Boss Lei had no choice but to back down, but the hatred in his eyes grew stronger. "Once this storm passes, I'll make that Gao Tianli disappear from this world!"

At the same time, Lu Chen was already instructing "Jackal" Cheng Yiyan to launch a massive attack on Kowloon Motor Bus's stock. While Boss Lei was preoccupied with his own problems, he wanted to take a big bite out of the company!

……

At the same time.

West Kowloon Police Station.

Compared to the hustle and bustle of the Kowloon Motor Bus area, this place is a deathly, oppressive silence.

In the interrogation room, Sergeant Chen Sen, who was once arrogant in the Major Crimes Unit, now stood there dejectedly, his service weapon and identification confiscated.

Opposite him sat the police station's highest-ranking officer, a blond, blue-eyed foreign superintendent, and the head of the police force's Public Relations Branch (PPRB).

"Chen! You idiot!"

The foreign superintendent roared in broken Cantonese, slamming a newspaper at Chen Sen's face, "Look what you've done! The whole of Hong Kong knows we're using torture to extract confessions! Even the Governor's House called to inquire!"

"Sir... I was just trying to solve the case..." Chen Sen tried to explain, "And at the time you were also..."

"Bullshit!" The foreign superintendent pointed at Chen Sen's nose. "Stop spouting nonsense! When did I ever give you permission to do this?!"

"But..." Chen Sen's face was grim, and he thought to himself: If you hadn't hinted to me back then, how could I have dared to be so rough... Now that something has happened, you're trying to shift the blame.

"Shut up!" The superintendent waved his hand. "From this moment on, you're suspended. You're no longer needed in the Major Crimes Unit. Go guard the reservoir! Don't let me see your name in the media again! Get out!!"

Chen Sen's face was ashen.

In those days, being transferred to guard a reservoir essentially signaled the end of his police career. Those he had offended before, even the subordinates he had bullied, would henceforth lord it over him.

He knew he was finished.

……

Broadcast Drive, Asia Television.

In contrast to the turbulent waves outside, the general manager's office was filled with the aroma of tea, quiet and peaceful.

Gao Tianli sat on the sofa, his hands gripping his knees tightly, looking very awkward.

He had changed into clean clothes and combed his hair, looking much more energetic. But a trace of disbelief and confusion still lingered in his eyes.

Just now, on his way to the TV station, countless people gave him a thumbs up, and even a complete stranger, an auntie, insisted on giving him several hundred yuan to buy milk powder for her daughter.

This transformation from "a public enemy" to "a national hero" is too fast and too unreal.

"Mr. Gao, have some tea." Huang Xizhao sat opposite him, a gentle smile on his face, completely without the airs of a high-ranking official. "Did you sleep well last night?"

"I...I didn't sleep much," Gao Tianli said honestly. "I kept wondering if all of this was a dream."

"This is not a dream," Huang Xizhao took a document from the drawer and pushed it in front of Gao Tianli. "There's another message I need to tell you, which our boss specifically instructed us to send."

Gao Tianli picked up the document with a puzzled look, and his hand began to tremble after just one glance.

This is a Medical Assistance Agreement.

Party A is a charitable foundation under Golden Harvest, and Party B is Gao Tianli's daughter. The agreement is simple: Golden Harvest will fully cover all medical expenses incurred by Gao Tianli's daughter in the hospital until she recovers, with no upper limit.

"Our boss said that adults' grudges are adults' business, and children are innocent." Huang Xizhao looked at Gao Tianli and said softly, "Mr. Gao, you don't need to worry about the 200,000 yuan medical expenses anymore. No matter what the result of your match today is, ATV will pay for it."

"Thump!"

Gao Tianli suddenly stood up, his knees buckled, and he was about to kneel down before Huang Xizhao.

"Oh! No! No!" Huang Xizhao reacted quickly and helped him up. "Mr. Gao, this is what you deserve. Your courage to stand up and expose those dark secrets is worth far more than a few hundred thousand to ATV."

After helping Gao Tianli sit down again, Huang Xizhao's smile faded, and he adopted a serious tone: "Mr. Gao, let's talk about tonight's match."

You now have two choices.

Huang Xizhao held up one finger: "First, know when to quit while you're ahead. You've already won HK$150,000 in prize money. You can choose to withdraw from the competition. With this money, plus the medical expenses we pay, it'll be enough for you and your daughter to live a stable life."

"Moreover, with your current popularity, I can arrange for you to work in an administrative position in another department, or participate in some talk shows. Although you won't make a fortune, you'll be set for life."

"This is a safe choice. No one will blame you; everyone will only wish you well."

After saying that, Huang Xizhao extended his second finger.

"Second, continue the challenge."

"Tonight at 8:30, question eight. The difficulty will be doubled. If you answer incorrectly, your prize money will be forfeited. Although we will still pay your medical expenses, you will lose this 150,000 yuan in cash."

"Moreover..." Huang Xizhao paused, his eyes becoming deep, "Mr. Gao, you should know that the audience is praising you so highly because of your tragic story and your talent. If you don't perform well tonight, or if you get the first question wrong, the huge sense of disappointment might cause many people to 'unfollow' you, and there might even be rumors that you were just lucky."

"The boss asked me to tell you: ATV will not give you any special treatment or leak the questions. This is a fair game."

"Should you take the money and leave peacefully, or gamble with that million?"

The choice is yours.

The room fell silent.

Only the clock on the wall made a "tick-tock" sound.

Gao Tianli closed his eyes.

The image of Chen Sen's grinning face, Boss Lei's contemptuous gaze, and his wife's unwilling look before she died flashed through his mind.

And then there's that version of myself in the rainy night, picking up a newspaper, trying to reclaim my dignity.

"If I leave now..." Gao Tianli muttered to himself, "I'll just be a pathetic wretch being given charity."

"People sympathize with me because I'm miserable. Because my wife died and I was bullied."

"But I don't want to live my whole life by playing the victim."

Gao Tianli suddenly raised his head.

Those eyes, which were originally cloudy and timid, were now burning with a light called "ambition".

That was the power that an honest man, who had been suppressed for thirty years, unleashed after surviving a desperate situation.

"Mr. Huang."

Gao Tianli's voice, no longer trembling, became exceptionally firm: "I choose option two... I want to continue."

Huang Xizhao was somewhat surprised, but more so, he admired: "Why? That's 150,000, equivalent to five years' worth of your hard-earned salary. What if you lose..."

"So what if I lost?" Gao Tianli laughed nonchalantly. "Anyway, I'm already very satisfied. My daughter's life is saved, so I have no worries."

"I used to think that as long as I was honest and hardworking, I could live a good life. But reality slapped me hard and told me that honesty is useless and talent is useless unless you can stand at the highest point and make everyone look up to you."

Gao Tianli clenched his fist, his nails digging deep into his palm.

"I want that million, not for the money. It's to tell Boss Lei, to tell that policeman, to tell everyone who looks down on me—I, Gao Tianli, am not a dog that only knows how to wag its tail and beg for mercy."

"I have brains, I have skills. This money, I earned it from the very top of the pyramid through my own abilities!"

At this point, Gao Tianli stood up and bowed deeply to Huang Xizhao.

"Thank you, Boss Lu, for giving me this opportunity. I will give it my all tonight."

Looking at the man before him, who seemed to have undergone a complete transformation, a hint of approval flashed in Huang Xizhao's eyes.

Boss Lu was right about him.

This is not just a tragic figure, but also a fighter with great resilience.

This kind of script is the most brilliant.

"it is good."

Huang Xizhao stood up, patted Gao Tianli on the shoulder, and said, "Go back and get some rest and adjust your mindset."

"Tonight at 8:30."

"The whole of Hong Kong is watching you."