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

Five o'clock in the afternoon, in the suburbs of New York.

The studio was stuffy, like a sauna. The lighting crew had their sleeves rolled up to their elbows, and sweat was streaming down their necks.

The director of this production was a young man who had just switched careers from Broadway. He wore black-rimmed glasses and would wipe his forehead with his pinky finger before each "cut" signal.

Jennifer Connelly stood in front of the camera, giving her male co-star a sad expression.

"I know I'm not good enough for you, but I..."

This is a teen idol film with a ridiculously clichéd plot—a small-town girl meets a big-city boy, misunderstandings, reconciliations, more misunderstandings, and more reconciliations.

She didn't really like the role, but the pay was good, and the production company was a subsidiary of Golden Harvest Media.

"Cut! That's a good take!" the director shouted.

Jennifer immediately stopped crying, took the water bottle from her assistant, unscrewed the cap, and took a sip.

Just then, the girl playing the second female lead walked over, beaming, holding a cup of coffee: "Jennifer, we're going to celebrate at that new jazz bar in Manhattan tonight, do you want to come?"

The girl's name was Emily, a year older than her, with blonde hair and a small dimple when she smiled. She was very friendly to everyone on set, especially to Jennifer.

"I'm not going, I have plans tonight." Jennifer smiled and politely declined.

"Oh, well, that's such a shame. We definitely have to get together next time!"

Emily waved with a smile, but the smile vanished instantly when Jennifer turned around, and a hint of undisguised bitterness flashed in her eyes.

Her assistant leaned over and whispered something, and she waved her hand, signaling her assistant to shut up.

Jennifer didn't notice the tiny scene behind her. But even if she had, she wouldn't have cared—her mind was already wandering across half of New York City, heading straight for Midtown.

I walked briskly out of the photography studio. The RV provided by the company was parked in the gravel parking lot outside. The vehicle had been baking in the sun all day, and although the air conditioner had been turned on early, a lingering, stuffy heat still lingered inside.

Jennifer got into the car, kicked off her high heels, curled her two smooth feet on the soft leather seat, and instructed the driver to head towards Manhattan immediately.

On the coat rack opposite her in the carriage, her assistant had already hung up the evening gown she would be wearing that evening. It was a dark green satin strapless gown with an extremely narrow waistline, and the heavy skirt was delicately embroidered with a circle of understated yet luxurious gold roses along the edge.

She gazed silently at the dress, then rested her head against the cold car window, her lips unconsciously curving into a smile.

She was in an extremely good mood today—because she could finally see that man again.

Come to think of it, it had been six months since we last met. It was at the celebration party for the record-breaking box office of the movie "Jurassic Park," and I, as the second female lead, was also there. However, Lu Chen was surrounded by everyone, and I only chatted with him for a few minutes.

Now that they finally have some time alone together, Jennifer is naturally incredibly excited.

In fact, since signing with Golden Harvest, Jennifer's career has become incredibly smooth.

Last year, her role as the second female lead in "Jurassic Park" gave her a boost in global recognition, and this year, her role as Mathilda in "Léon: The Professional" has further boosted her popularity, making her a minor celebrity in Hollywood.

Despite her talent and beauty, no one in Hollywood dared to make any ill intentions towards her. Just like Emily from earlier, even though she was secretly furious with her, she still treated her with utmost respect and even had to carefully curry favor with her.

Jennifer knew very well that it all came from that man, Lu Chen, who was known as the Emperor of Hollywood.

Of course, she also really enjoyed feeling pampered.

The RV drove smoothly along the road by the Hudson River. Jennifer sat up and began touching up her makeup in the rearview mirror. She removed the heavy makeup from the film crew and applied a light, natural-looking layer. Then, she took off her T-shirt and jeans and carefully changed into her dark green evening gown.

Just as she finished changing her clothes, the setting sun cast its golden light on the Hudson River, bathing the entire carriage in a flowing golden-red glow.

……

Lutèce.

This legendary French restaurant is located on the ground floor of an ordinary brownstone building on East 50th Street.

The storefront was very small, and there wasn't even a sign hanging on it. There was only a brass plaque with the store's name engraved on it, embedded in the stone wall next to the door frame.

However, pushing open that heavy wooden door revealed another world inside.

The walls were covered with handmade glazed tiles imported from Lyon, their glaze gleaming with a warm, aged honey-like sheen in the candlelight. The tablecloths were made of unbleached coarse linen, and the silverware was polished to a shine.

The air is filled with the aroma of buttered onions, beef stewed in Burgundy red wine, and fresh black truffles, a rich but not greasy flavor.

The restaurant was quiet, with fewer than twenty tables, each bathed in candlelight, turning into a small, soft yellow island. The sound of knives and forks clinking against porcelain plates was as light as a feather landing on a wooden board.

The receptionist was a Frenchman, wearing a black three-piece suit with his hair neatly combed back. Since Jennifer had already given prior notice, he simply checked her name and personally led her through the lobby to the second floor.

There were only six tables on the second floor, and a tall figure was already sitting in the window seat.

Lu Chen was looking down at the menu in his hand when he heard approaching footsteps. He looked up, closed the menu, and put it aside.

Seeing Jennifer dressed up, he smiled, stood up, and elegantly pulled out a chair for her.

"Have you been waiting long?" Jennifer sat down, placed her handbag on the small round stool next to her, and nervously smoothed the stray hairs at her temples.

"I just arrived too." Lu Chen sat back down and handed her the exquisite wine list. "We just received a batch of top-quality Sauvignon Blanc from Alsace today. Would you like to try some?"

"Sir, you can place the order for me." Jennifer smiled sweetly and brightly.

She hadn't seen him for six months, and she had so much to say—she wanted to tell him that the sequel to Jurassic Park was already in development, that Léon: The Professional had been nominated for a César Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and that she wanted to tell him all sorts of interesting little stories she'd encountered on set…

But at this moment, sitting face to face with him, looking at the familiar doting smile on his lips, she suddenly felt she didn't want to say anything.

Lu Chen casually ordered a few classic dishes and gestured slightly to the waiter beside him. The waiter immediately stepped forward respectfully, laid the napkins neatly on their laps, and then quietly withdrew.

The first course served was a cold appetizer: chilled oysters with fresh lemon juice, arranged on a round silver platter covered with pristine white crushed ice. The oyster meat was plump and tempting, with slightly curled edges, and it even shrank slightly after being drizzled with the tangy lemon juice.

Next up is the classic French onion soup. A layer of golden-brown, crisp Gruyère cheese floats on top of the soup, crackling when tapped with a spoon. The rich, dark brown broth is meticulously simmered with three different beef stock, each sip carrying the unique, mellow aftertaste of brandy.

The main course was pan-seared foie gras with black truffle sauce. The foie gras had an enticing caramelized crust, while the inside was warm and semi-liquid; as the knife gently pressed down, golden oil seeped out from both ends of the cut. The black truffle sauce was made from freshly grated Périgord truffles, and when poured over the foie gras, it released a captivating aroma of damp earth and oak.

"How's it going filming lately?" Lu Chen asked casually, cutting off a piece of foie gras.

"It's alright, just a bit tedious," Jennifer said, drawing a circle in the air with her finger. "This morning, the director made me run back and forth under a fake maple tree six times, and then this afternoon I had to argue with the male lead in a fake coffee shop. I was fine, but the male lead is obviously a newbie and kept forgetting his position."

"What's the movie called?"

"First Love Equation—just from the name, you can tell it's a terrible movie," Jennifer chuckled to herself. "But considering the high salary and the fact that it was a project from Golden Harvest's own subsidiary, I took the role."

Lu Chen picked up his wine glass and took a sip: "As long as you have fun filming."

"I know," she put down her fork, wiped her mouth with a napkin, "not every role can be as brilliant as Matilda's. But—"

She paused, her eyes shining in the candlelight as she looked at Lu Chen: "I will try my best to portray every character brilliantly. I don't want people to think that Jennifer Connelly is just a pretty face protected by powerful figures."

Lu Chen didn't reply; he just looked at her through the candlelight, his smile deepening.

As dinner drew to a close, Lu Chen made a slight gesture with his right hand.

The waiter, who had been waiting in the shadows at the top of the stairs, understood and silently retreated into the preparation room.

A moment later, when he came out again, he was respectfully holding a dark blue velvet box in both hands.

He gently placed the box beside Jennifer, bowed, and stepped back.

Jennifer took it with a hint of surprise and slowly lifted the lid.

A stunning sapphire necklace rests quietly on a black velvet lining. The centerpiece is an oval-cut Kashmir cornflower blue sapphire with a flawless table that refracts a subtle purplish halo.

Happy 18th birthday.

Jennifer froze, her clear eyes gleaming with disbelief. She reached out her slender fingers and carefully touched the cool edge of the sapphire, then recoiled as if electrocuted.

"This...this is far too valuable."

"Silly girl, no." Lu Chen put down his wine glass, stood up, and walked up behind her. "If you like it, it's worth it."

As he spoke, he picked up the necklace, unfastened the clasp, and wrapped his hands around both sides of her neck.

Jennifer bit her lip, then swept her hair back over her shoulder, revealing the nape of her neck. As he put on the necklace, Lu Chen's fingertips inadvertently brushed against a small patch of skin behind her ear. Jennifer's body trembled slightly, she held her breath, and even her shoulders stiffened slightly.

The necklace was perfectly positioned. The large cornflower blue sapphire hung just in the center of her delicate collarbone, the candlelight illuminating its facets, making it look like an icy blue teardrop set against her snow-white skin.

Jennifer lowered her head and touched the gemstone with her fingers. Then, she suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with deep affection and passion. She reached out and grabbed Lu Chen's tie, pulling him down and pressing her delicate lips to his formidable kiss.

Lu Chen paused for a moment, then placed his hand on the back of her head.

……

As the two stepped out of Lutèce, the streetlights on East 50th Street were already on, and a gentle night breeze dispelled most of the daytime heat.

Lu Chen opened the car door for her. After Jennifer got in, she placed the jewelry box on her lap, slowly stroking the edge of the box with her fingers, and then glanced at him.

"Sir...it seems the water heater in my apartment is broken. Could you please check it for me tonight?"

Lu Chen extended a finger and gently pinched her delicate chin, a meaningful smile playing on his lips:

"My pleasure."

The burgundy Rolls-Royce slowly drove away from East 50th Street, turned onto the bustling Fifth Avenue, and merged into the traffic of Manhattan's evening rush hour.

Outside the window, night was slowly falling in New York, and the spire of the Empire State Building was just beginning to light up with its first warm yellow glow.

Inside the car, the sapphire necklace lay quietly in its jewelry box, its cornflower blue facets breaking down the streetlights outside the window into tiny specks of light that sprinkled onto her fingers.

Silent all night.