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

7:40 a.m.

Room 303, Yu Man Square Building, Kwun Tong.

The air was filled with an extremely strange and suffocating mixture of smells: the smell of gunpowder drifting in from outside the window, the bloody smell on Da Dong and the other two, and the aroma of grease from the plate of roast goose on Ye Guohuan's table.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

He Yaodong remained in the same position as when he landed, gun raised and roaring, but his originally fierce face was now stiff and distorted as if he had swallowed a dead fly.

His brain was frantically shutting down and rebooting.

What the hell is going on?!

In his original script, the house should have housed a shivering family of three, or elderly, weak, women and children who could only scream.

But now, what appeared in the sights of his Black Star pistol were three burly men wearing vests and shorts, with greasy mouths, and carrying AK-47s with extended drum magazines!

"Plainclothes officers?! Undercover?!"

This was the first thought that flashed through Da Dong's mind, but he immediately dismissed the absurd idea.

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

Which Royal Canadian Mounted Police plainclothes officer would wear flip-flops and have a fierce look on his face? Which police officer would be heavily intoxicated while on duty? More importantly, the gun oil smell and murderous aura emanating from those three AK-47s were absolutely incomparable to those .38 rifles used by the regular police force.

That's a "taste" that only those of the same kind, only those who have also been on the edge of a knife, can possess!

"Damn it..."

Ye Guohuan was also completely dumbfounded. The half-chewed piece of roast goose skin in his mouth fell with a "plop" onto the floor covered with sunflower seed shells.

Four eyes meet, six guns, two worlds.

"brother."

Ye Guohuan broke the awkward silence first. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his finger dangerously resting on the trigger of the AK, his voice low but carrying an undeniable ruthlessness: "Are you all blind? This building has hundreds of rooms, why do you have to squeeze into my room?!"

Ye Guohuan was furious. He had been putting on a good act, and had even prepared a deck of cards to stage a "Good Citizen's Fright" performance. But these three unlucky guys broke in through the window and ruined his entire script!

"Brother, it's a misunderstanding, purely a misunderstanding."

Da Dong held his gun high, not daring to put it down. He could only stand awkwardly against the wall, cold sweat and soot mingling and dripping down his forehead. "We were forced into this situation by the cops and had no choice but to run away in a panic. Since we're all in the same boat, let's keep to ourselves. I won't mess with you, and you shouldn't mess with me either."

"Nonsense! Of course I don't want to touch you! Touching you would just bring in the Flying Tigers!"

Ye Guohuan gritted his teeth, pointed the gun barrel towards the door, his tone sinister yet tinged with helplessness: "Get out of here! Before the cops reach this floor, go to another room and cause trouble for someone else! Don't drag me into this!"

"Okay! Let's go right away!"

Da Dong knew that this place was not a good place to stay. These three people in front of him were obviously not good people. If a fight broke out, it would be a lose-lose situation, and in the end, it would benefit the cops outside.

Da Dong gave Ba Zhong and Fei Gu a wink, and the three of them, pressed against the wall, moved backwards very slowly toward the door.

"Squeak..."

Da Dong stretched out a hand and very carefully opened a crack in the security door, preparing to peek out and observe what was happening outside.

however.

Just as he poked his head out...

"Team C, take note! Check the third-floor corridor! Quickly!"

A series of extremely heavy tactical boot footsteps, accompanied by the Flying Tigers' deep tactical commands, rang out less than five meters from the door!

A black bulletproof helmet and the barrel of an MP5 submachine gun were already faintly visible around the corner of the corridor!

"Holy shit..."

Da Dong's heart clenched as if he had been electrocuted. He scrambled back in, slammed the door shut with a bang, and quickly locked it from the inside!

"What's wrong?!" Ye Guohuan was so startled he almost pulled the trigger.

"We can't get out!" Da Dong leaned against the door, panting heavily, his face deathly pale. "The Flying Tigers have already reached the door! The corridor is full of people!"

"You son of a bitch!!" Ye Guohuan jumped up from the sofa in a rage, slamming the roast goose leg he was holding onto the floor. "You brought this guy into my house?! If you want to die, don't drag me down with you!"

Just as Ye Guohuan and his two companions were about to lose control and open fire, the Flying Tigers were closing in from outside.

At this critical moment, Da Dong had a flash of inspiration and came up with a brilliant idea!

He lunged toward the balcony window, but dared not show his face. Instead, he hid behind the curtains and shouted at the top of his lungs toward the people below:

"Listen up, cops outside!!!"

"I have hostages!!!"

"There are three innocent civilians in this house! I have a grenade, and the pin is already off! If you dare to force your way in, I'll take the hostages with me!!"

That shout was so powerful it shook heaven and earth.

Ye Guohuan, A Jin, and A Zhong, who were in the room, were completely dumbfounded when they heard the word "hostage".

Ye Guohuan's eyes widened. He pointed to his nose, then looked at the AK-47 in his hand, and was completely overwhelmed by a sense of utter absurdity.

Huh? Me?

I, the dignified and infamous "AK King" who robbed a gold shop worth over ten million, am being held hostage by you three cripples?!

"Who the hell are you calling a hostage?!" Ye Guohuan lowered his voice, his eyes blazing with fury as he charged forward to kick Da Dong.

"Shh!!" Da Dong grabbed Ye Guohuan's shoulder, his eyes filled with utmost sincerity and anxiety. "Brother! Help me! This is the only way to stop the Flying Tigers! Do you want the police to barge in and discover your true identity, or do you want to cooperate with me in this charade?!"

Ye Guohuan was stunned for a moment.

He also understood the current situation. If the Flying Tigers were to force their way in now, they would definitely expose their identities, and then they would just be keeping Da Dong and the others company.

"You win!"

Ye Guohuan gritted his teeth, put away the AK, and took a deep breath.

To survive, this ruthless actor-turned-bandit has come online.

He cunningly pushed the window open a crack, then cried out into the window in an extremely terrified, extremely miserable voice, a voice worthy of an Academy Award:

"Help!! Officer, help me!!"

"They have guns! And grenades! They're going to kill me! Don't come in! Please don't come in! I don't want to die!!"

Ah Jin and Ah Zhong reacted quickly, immediately joining in with terrified screams: "Help! Don't kill us!"

These piercing screams were instantly amplified throughout Hong Kong by countless cameras and microphones downstairs!

……

"There are hostages?!"

Fang Jiexia, who was frantically directing traffic in the car, heard the cries coming from upstairs and her expression changed instantly.

"Damn it! The worst has happened!" Fang Jiexia grabbed the walkie-talkie and yelled at Team C, who were preparing to breach the door, "Stop the attack! Repeat! Stop the attack! The terrorists have taken hostages! The grenades are already pulled! We absolutely cannot provoke them!"

This is being broadcast live across Hong Kong. If the special police's assault results in the deaths of a family of three innocent civilians, then Fong Kit-ha's career will be completely over, and the image of the police force will be irreparably damaged!

"Team C, retreat! Hold the stairwells and elevator shafts! Negotiation expert! Get the negotiation expert up there quickly, then evacuate the other residents from the building!"

Following Fang Jiexia's order, the Flying Tigers, who were originally ready to break down the door with murderous intent, could only stop their actions in extreme frustration and slowly retreated to the dead corners on both sides of the corridor, forming a standoff.

Hearing the footsteps outside the door fade away, the six men inside the room simultaneously let out a long sigh of relief.

"call……"

Da Dong leaned against the wall, completely exhausted, as if he had just been pulled out of the water.

The crisis has been temporarily averted.

But then, the atmosphere inside the room became tense again.

The six people split into two factions. Although they lowered their gun barrels slightly, their wary gazes still clashed in the air like knives.

awkward.

Extremely awkward.

Two of Hong Kong's most ruthless gangs were crammed into a small, dilapidated house, staring at each other.

"Gurgle..."

In the midst of this deathly silence, someone's stomach, utterly utterly disrespectful, let out a thunderous roar.

All eyes turned to Akin.

A-Jin scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly and glanced at the plate of roast goose on the table, which was only half-eaten and had already cooled down.

"that……"

Ah Jin swallowed hard and asked timidly:

"Gentlemen... we can't fight our way out, and we can't run away either. Everyone... are you hungry?"

"I just happened to buy two roast geese and a braised platter yesterday, and there's still one unopened in the kitchen... Why don't we sit down and have something to eat first?"

This sentence was like a magic key, instantly unlocking the atmosphere.

Ye Guohuan paused for a moment, then glanced at Da Dong and the other two, whose faces were covered in soot and who looked exhausted.

"Hahaha!"

Ye Guohuan suddenly burst into hearty laughter, took out the AK he had hidden behind his back again, and casually tossed it onto the sofa.

"That's true! The world is vast, but eating is the most important thing! Since we're all trapped in the same cage, that's fate! I'm not a petty person!"

Ye Guohuan stood up and waved his hand with great enthusiasm: "Ah Zhong, go to the kitchen and get that roast goose! Also, cook a pot of hot noodle soup! We'll treat these brothers to a meal!"

"Okay!"

Ten minutes later.

In this living room, a scene unfolded that would make the hundreds of police officers downstairs question their very existence.

Six heavily armed thugs, each with a murder record, were sitting around that old, folding table.

Although no one dared to drink anymore in order to stay sober, the plates of oily roast goose and braised beef, as well as the steaming pot of instant noodles, brought a strange warmth to the cold safe house.

"Eat! Don't be shy!" Ye Guohuan tore off a goose leg and tossed it to Da Dong. "Judging by your appearance, you haven't had a proper meal in days, have you?"

Da Dong took the goose leg, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He didn't mince words, wolfing down a few bites; it was the long-lost taste of meat.

"Thanks," Da Dong mumbled.

After a whirlwind of activity, the roast goose was completely devoured, and the atmosphere finally became harmonious, but the burly men were clearly still not full.

"Still not full? Wait a minute!" Ye Guohuan wiped his mouth, still wanting more, stood up, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "I'll cook for you myself! I'll make you some noodles!"

"I'll be your assistant." Da Dong stood up and followed him into the cramped kitchen.

In the kitchen, the stove fire roared.

Ye Guohuan skillfully poured oil into the large iron pot and cracked eggs.

The chopsticks stirred rapidly in the bowl, making a crisp "clattering" sound. The water in the pot boiled, and a few pieces of instant noodles were thrown in, instantly creating a cloud of white foam.

The luncheon meat was cut into thick slices and rolled in the boiling broth, releasing an enticing aroma.

"Bro, judging by your skills and the ruthlessness you showed just now, you must be that guy they were talking about on TV... Da Dong, right?"

While sprinkling pepper into the pot, Ye Guohuan asked casually, "It was all over the newspapers a while ago, I heard you dared to kidnap Huo Zhaotang with just a few men?"

"Yes, it's me."

Da Dong leaned against the stove, holding a carrot he had taken out of the refrigerator.

"I originally wanted to rob a rich guy for some money to spend so I could take the brothers back to our hometown to build a house. But I never expected... I'd lose more than I gained." Da Dong looked at the noodles bubbling in the pot, his tone calm, yet revealing a desolate sense of a hero's downfall. "I got caught by the cops, and then betrayed by my own people. Now I'm in this state, having to hide in your territory. What a joke."

Da Dong's words were completely undisguised, and his frankness made Ye Guohuan think more highly of him.

"What's there to be afraid of!"

Ye Guohuan suddenly tapped the edge of the pot with his chopsticks, making a crisp "clang" sound.

Everyone has their bad days, but as long as you're alive, there's always a chance!

Ye Guohuan turned his head, staring intently at Da Dong: "When you think you've reached the end of the road..."

Da Dong paused for a moment, then the dejection in his eyes vanished, and he nodded heavily: "After the darkest hour comes the dawn!"

"And you guys?" Da Dong asked. "Judging by your equipment and skills, you're not nobody, are you?"

Ye Guohuan grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, and pointed to himself with extreme pride:

"My name is Yip Kwok-fai. We were the ones who committed the big robbery of the jewelry stores on Wu Wah Street and Nathan Road a few days ago."

"A gold shop?" Da Dong was taken aback for a moment, then revealed a solemn expression. "The one who sweeps the streets with AK? I've heard so much about you! No wonder I felt you guys were extraordinary earlier, turns out you've really seen blood."

"Haha, same to you!"

When they introduced themselves, they discovered they were both from Haifeng and Lufeng. The moment their distinctive local accents rang out, the distance between them instantly seemed to shrink.

"When fellow villagers meet, their eyes well up with tears."

Da Dong sighed, looking at the carrot on the cutting board, and suddenly pulled out a sharp little kitchen knife.

"Da da da!"

With a flash of the knife, the carrot was instantly transformed into uniform diced carrot pieces. Da Dong used the flat of the knife to scoop up the diced carrots and pushed them into the bubbling noodle pot.

"Adding some radish makes it sweeter and gives it a better chewy texture."

Ye Guohuan watched the diced radishes tumbling in the spicy soup and suddenly burst into loud laughter.

"Hahaha! Bro, too late!"

"If you put it in now, the radish won't cook through and it'll be tough to chew!"

Da Dong paused for a moment, looking at the half-cooked radish pieces. He understood what Ye Guohuan meant, gave a bitter smile, and his eyes revealed a hint of helplessness and understanding.

"It seems... I shouldn't eat this."

Da Dong put down the kitchen knife in his hand and turned to look at Ye Guohuan.

"I won't touch your gold."

"Although I, Da Dong, am down on my luck, I would never steal money from my own brothers, don't worry," Da Dong paused, then added with a resolute tone, "Besides, I'm the one who lured the cops here this time, I'll take responsibility for my actions. I'll find a way to create chaos in a bit, and then lead my men out to break through, without implicating you."

Upon hearing this, Ye Guohuan, who was stirring noodles, paused in his movements.

He raised his head, looked at Da Dong as if he were a fool, and then smiled with great ease, a smile that carried a sense of clarity and arrogance.

"Implicate them? Brother Da Dong, you're being too naive," Ye Guohuan shook his head, placing his chopsticks on the pot. "You think that just because you rushed out, these cops will just pack up and leave? They'll let this house go?"

"The area outside is completely surrounded, like an iron barrel. There are hundreds of police officers and so many reporters. Even if you die outside, these cops will still come into our room, whether it's for a show or to investigate potential threats!"

Ye Guohuan pointed to his own appearance and said self-deprecatingly, "Our identities can't withstand scrutiny. When they enter the house, if they pay even a little attention, my identity as a ruthless bandit will still be exposed! I'll still get shot!"

"So..." Ye Guohuan stepped forward and patted Da Dong's shoulder forcefully, his eyes resolute. "Stop talking nonsense about being implicated. I guess I'm just unlucky; I didn't check the almanac before I left home. But since we're in this together now, we're all in the same boat! Nobody can escape!"

"The only way to survive is for everyone to help each other and team up to pull off a heist! Otherwise, nobody's leaving this building!"

Looking into Ye Guohuan's fearless eyes, Da Dong felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He knew that Ye Guohuan was giving him a way out, and also a way to survive.

"Alright! We're in this together!" Da Dong nodded emphatically. "Then let's join forces and teach those cops a lesson!"

"That's more like it!"

Ye Guohuan laughed loudly, took out several large soup bowls from the cupboard, and poured steaming hot instant noodles into them while saying with a clatter, "You can have your own bowls and chopsticks!"

"No matter how many cops are out there, at least for now, we're brothers eating from the same pot!"

Ye Guohuan handed the bowl of noodles filled with luncheon meat and eggs to Da Dong: "You can't touch my brother's two portions of money! But I'll share mine with you! There's no reason for our fellow villagers to come all the way to Hong Kong for nothing! With this money, if you can make it out of here, it'll be enough for you to settle down!"

Da Dong looked at the bowl of "cooked instant noodles" in his hand, a dish that only mainlanders could make, with luncheon meat and lots of oil and spice, and his eyes welled up slightly.

He shook his head, a slight smile appearing on his lips.

"Thank you, but no need."

"If I can get out of here smoothly this time... I'll pull off a bigger heist than yours. I'm going to earn back what's rightfully mine in a fair and square way."

"Good, you've got guts!" Ye Guohuan laughed loudly, patting Da Dong on the shoulder. "Then I wish you success this time!"

The steam in the kitchen slowly dissipated, and the two stood side by side in the small kitchen, each holding a bowl of noodles.

There was silence for a moment.

"...Do you think we can get out of here alive this time?" Da Dong suddenly asked in a low voice.

Ye Guohuan did not answer immediately.

He put down his bowl and took out a 1980 edition "Great Wall Coin" issued in mainland China, which is very rare in Hong Kong.

He held the coin to the edge with his thumb, his eyes becoming deep and mysterious.

"It depends on fate."

"Ding!"

With a crisp metallic clang, the coin was launched high into the air, tumbling and shimmering with silver light.

"Snapped!"

Ye Guohuan reached out and grabbed the coin with remarkable precision, pinning it to the back of his hand.

After removing your palm, the reverse side of the coin, with the majestic Great Wall pattern facing upwards, is clearly visible.

"OK!"

Ye Guohuan uttered a single word with unwavering certainty.

Da Dong stared at the coin, paused for a moment, then looked up at Ye Guohuan with a strange expression.

"Bro... next time I suggest you set some rules first... at least tell me which side represents 'yes' and which side represents 'no', okay?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Guohuan grinned, revealing a set of pearly white teeth, exuding an air of lawless arrogance:

"I, Ye Guohuan, never set rules for what I do!"

"Because if I say it's possible, it definitely will!"

"Here you go, friend!"

Ye Guohuan grabbed the coin and slapped it hard into Da Dong's hand.

Then, he picked up the large bowl of steaming hot soup noodles, turned around, strode out of the kitchen, and shouted to his brothers in the living room who were still staring at each other:

"Come on, everyone! Don't just stand there!"

"Everyone, sit down and have something to eat! We're all from the same hometown! Don't be so formal!"

"I've reached an agreement with them all! We're brothers now, eating at the same table together!"

In the kitchen, Da Dong stroked the coin Ye Guohuan had given him, feeling its hard metallic texture, and a long-lost smile appeared on his lips as he followed Ye Guohuan out of the kitchen.

On this day, in a dilapidated tenement building in Kwun Tong.

A ruthless kingpin who robbed gold shops, and a Hong Kong and Guangdong gangster who kidnapped and extorted money.

Two people whose destinies might never have intersected were bound together by a pot of instant noodles and a coin, forging a blood-red bond that they could entrust with their lives.