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

On the narrow, tree-lined path behind the hospital, shards of glass from the Mitsubishi car reflected a blinding light onto the asphalt. Ah Wen, a self-proclaimed veteran of the Hong Kong paparazzi scene, was now frozen in the passenger seat, his mind completely blank.

The dark, gaping barrel of the gun pressed coldly and lifelessly against his temple. The metallic chill seeped into his bones through his skin, choking back all the words he wanted to say in his defense, leaving only a heavy, trembling swallow.

Kidnapping Lu Chen?

The moment this thought flashed through Awen's mind, he almost fainted from fright.

In Hong Kong today, what does the name Lu Chen represent? It represents a towering figure spanning politics, business, police, and the underworld. He is the controller of Golden Harvest, the creator of DragonTech, and the media king who controls ATV and major mainstream newspapers.

According to rumors, this boss Lu was a ruthless character who made his first fortune by going in and out of the Golden Triangle seven times in his early years. His Jiahe Security team consisted entirely of retired special forces soldiers and notorious bandits.

Kidnapping him? That's not just asking for trouble, it's like they're impatient to be reincarnated.

"No, don't shoot... Gentlemen, it's a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding." Ah Wen's face turned deathly pale in an instant, and his lips trembled violently due to extreme fear. He dared not make any unnecessary movements, and could only slowly and shakily raise his hands, palms facing the black-clad bodyguard, to indicate that he was not a threat at all.

"Plop—"

He swallowed again, looking at the man in black beside him. The man was wearing sunglasses, and even through the lenses, Awen could feel the chilling indifference to life.

"Big brother, don't shoot... I mean no harm, we're really not kidnappers." Ah Wen's voice was trembling with tears. As a small-time hustler, he knew best how to distinguish between bluffing and genuine murderous intent. These men in front of him were truly capable of pulling the trigger just because of one wrong move.

"We...we're just journalists, really journalists. I have my credentials in my camera, please, don't shoot."

The lead bodyguard's expression was cold. He glanced at the crumpled press pass Ah Wen handed him out of the corner of his eye, a mocking and cruel smile curving his lips:

"They're quite well-prepared; even the press pass is a convincing forgery. Do they know that many professional kidnappers now impersonate journalists for covert reconnaissance?"

These words struck Awen like a thunderbolt. He broke out in a cold sweat and cried out, "No, it's not fake! You can check, you really can check!"

Ah Feng, standing to the side, was in an even worse state. This young man, barely in his early twenties, was already slumped in the driver's seat, with a suspicious wet stain even seeping from his crotch.

"Whether he's a reporter or not, we'll find out for sure," the bodyguard sneered, his eyes revealing undisguised disgust.

He did not lower his guard because of the other party's pleas for mercy. Instead, he waved his hand behind him and said, "Take him back first, and we'll deal with him after we verify his identity."

Without a word, the two bodyguards dragged Awen and Afeng out of the car like chicks and shoved them into a black minivan that followed them.

"What are you doing? This is illegal detention!"

"We want to call the police! We want to see a lawyer!"

Although the two were still screaming at the top of their lungs, the moment the car door slammed shut, all sound was completely cut off by the soundproof door panel. The streets of Hong Kong remained busy, and apart from the puddle of broken glass on the ground, it was as if nothing had happened.

……

Fifteen minutes later, in a secluded parking lot near the Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital.

Several tactical patrol vehicles belonging to Jiahe Security were parked here. The interiors were spacious and filled with various sophisticated communication equipment and monitoring displays. Tian Yangsheng, carrying two steaming cups of coffee, walked expressionlessly to the two "guests."

Awen and Afeng, who had been threatening to call the police, were now as docile as two quails. They huddled on a narrow bench, surrounded by four burly men in black with their arms crossed. The bulging holsters on each of their waists silently reminded them that this was not a place for the law; this was a place where Jiahe's own rules applied.

"Try it and see how it is. I don't have much to offer you, but have a cup of Blue Mountain coffee. It was a gift from one of my Jamaican subordinates. You might not be able to find this authentic coffee even in the most expensive coffee shops in Central."

Tian Yangsheng leaned back on his workbench, which was filled with electronic tools, his posture casual yet exuding an air of authority. He raised his coffee cup in a gesture of greeting, his tone as calm as if he were catching up with an old friend.

"Th-thank you, thank you, sir." Ah Wen took the coffee cup with trembling hands. The scalding hot porcelain cup made him shrink his fingers, but he dared not put it down and could only hold it tightly as if it were a lifeline.

"Thank you, sir." Ah Feng followed suit, taking a sip with a pale face.

Those of them, the paparazzi, knew very well the extent of Lu Chen's power in Hong Kong. In the past, when they secretly photographed celebrities or wealthy individuals, the most they'd get was a scolding or a lawsuit. But Lu Chen was different; he had ways to quietly make two people disappear into oblivion.

Tian Yangsheng put down his coffee cup, picked up a printed photo bag from the side, and casually tossed it aside, scattering dozens of photos in front of the two of them.

"No need to thank me, because these coffees might be the last two cups you drink in your lives," Tian Yangsheng's voice suddenly turned cold, his eyes slicing across the two men's faces like sharp blades. "We developed the film from your camera. We found dozens of exterior photos of the top floor area of ​​Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital. Not only the entrances and exits, but also the shift changes for security personnel."

He leaned forward slightly, and the intense killing intent emanating from him made the temperature inside the carriage seem to drop several degrees.

"Now, I am absolutely certain that I can prove to the police and the media that you are planning criminal activities against Mr. Lu and his family."

"So, my friends, can one of you tell me what's going on? What are your names? Who are you employed by, or which gang sent you? How far along is your kidnapping plan?"

Upon hearing this, Ah Wen nearly fell off his chair. Looking at the photos, he inwardly cursed himself for his impulsiveness. As a veteran paparazzi, he habitually photographed the surrounding environment to find the best hiding spots; who knew that these professional habits would be seen by Jiahe Security as evidence of "surveillance"!

"No, no... sir, you've really misunderstood!" Ah Feng was so anxious that his face turned red, and cold sweat streamed down his temples.

Awen quickly explained, "We really are reporters! We just wanted to take some photos to sell to the newspaper for a little money; we had absolutely no other purpose. We had no idea that Mr. Lu's family lived inside. If we had known it was him, we wouldn't have dared to stand at the door even if we had ten times the courage!"

Tian Yangsheng frowned slightly as he watched the two of them vying to explain, and gave a soft snort: "Sit down!"

The two who had been baring their teeth and trying to argue were instantly terrified and trembled all over. Like ducks being choked, they obediently sat back down in their original seats, their eyes filled with pleading and fear.

Now, "I ask you questions, and you answer them. Name, place of birth, family members..."

Tian Yangsheng's interrogation was very rhythmic; it was a kind of psychological torture that peeled back layers of an onion, and the two paparazzi offered almost no resistance.

An hour later, in the intensive care unit of Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital.

Ruan Mei was already asleep. Having just given birth, she needed plenty of rest, and she was sleeping soundly with even breathing. Meanwhile, the little one, Lu Qian, who was only one day old, was being held in Lu Chen's arms.

Lu Chen had already taken off his coat and was only wearing a black shirt with the cuffs rolled up. He was holding a small baby bottle, and although his movements were still a little awkward, his eyes were filled with unprecedented tenderness.

"Boss."

Tian Yangsheng tiptoed in and stood three meters away from Lu Chen, his voice very low.

Lu Chen didn't turn around, but gently patted the swaddled baby in his arms and asked calmly, "Have you found out?"

"We've confirmed that those two are indeed journalists, freelancers. They don't have any connections and aren't signed with any major newspapers. They paid HK$20,000 to a middleman for the 'tycoon giving birth' scoop," Tian Yangsheng reported truthfully. "I guess the whistleblower didn't dare offend us, so they scammed these two greenhorns to make money."

"A freelance journalist?" Lu Chen's lips curled into a slight smile, tinged with disdain.

"It doesn't matter."

Lu Chen turned around and put Lu Qian, who had already drunk his fill of milk and was burping adorably, back into the cradle next to Ruan Mei.

To be honest, given his current power and status in Hong Kong, these small fry are simply beneath his notice. Even if these two guys were foolish enough to film something and want to release it? That's just wishful thinking.

Don't think Lu Chen was exaggerating when he told Huang Xizhao about "blocking the news." In Hong Kong today, Lu Chen's ATV is at its core, controlling the most influential television station in Hong Kong, cinemas throughout Hong Kong Island, two newspapers with the highest circulation (ranked among the top three), and the best-selling business magazine in Hong Kong. It's fair to say that Lu Chen is the "King of Media" in Hong Kong today.

As soon as he uttered a single word, no newspaper in Hong Kong would dare to take photos of those two guys, let alone publish a single word.

"Since there's no major problem, there's no need to waste energy on them." Lu Chen closed the planning map in his hand, looked out the window, and said, "Scare them a little, let them understand what the red line is that they can never cross in their lives, and then let them go. If I see them around the Lu family manor or the hospital again, I'll treat it as 'attempted kidnapping'."

"Yes, boss, I'll take care of it right away." Tian Yangsheng nodded in response and then left the room.

……

After some time, I found myself back on that secluded, tree-lined path. The Mitsubishi car was still parked there, but the shards of glass on the windows had been roughly cleaned up.

Awen and Afeng helped each other out of Jiahe Security's vehicle. They were no longer the excited and opportunistic people they had been when they first arrived; they looked as if they had been pulled out of the water, so exhausted that they could barely stand.

A bodyguard tossed the Nikon camera, from which the film had been removed, back into Aven's arms.

"Here's the camera. We've already 'cleaned up' the contents for you." The bodyguard patted Awen's shoulder, the heavy force almost making him kneel down. "Mr. Lu is a magnanimous man, but if there's a next time... you'd really like to see what Jiahe Security's 'internal prison' looks like."

"I won't dare... I absolutely won't dare..." Awen hugged the camera tightly, as if he were hugging a burning fireball rather than a tool for making money.

"Let's go."

With a roar of a black SUV, the Jiahe Security personnel retreated like a receding tide.

Sitting in the Mitsubishi, Ah Feng tried to start the engine on the third try. Looking at his face, covered in dirt and tear stains, in the rearview mirror, he asked in a tearful voice, "Brother Wen, let's not film such exciting movies anymore, okay?"

"Definitely!" Ah Wen spat fiercely, rubbing his throbbing buttocks, and said through gritted teeth, "I, Ah Wen, have been in this underworld for so many years, and this time I've really fallen for it. I'll never do anything this dangerous again. Filming rich people is deadly! Starting tomorrow, we'll specialize in filming those minor TV stars. Even if we have to camp out at Adam Cheng's place, it's better than waiting to die here!"

Ah Feng nodded vigorously, a gesture of genuine agreement from the depths of his soul.