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

On Sunday morning, Robinson said.

Golden sunlight streamed through the gaps in the heavy curtains, casting a slanted glow on a corner of the luxurious bed, gently waking Lee Boo-jin from her slumber.

Lee Boo-jin rubbed her sleepy eyes, rolled over somewhat disgruntled, buried her face in the pillow, and lingered in bed for a while before slowly getting up.

She glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table—9:30.

Perhaps this is the advantage of being away from family; you don't have to endure the strict etiquette at home, and you can be a little lazy.

The faint chirping of birds drifted in from outside the window, along with the distant, melodious whistles of ships from the direction of the Hong Kong and Macau ferry terminal. Lee Boo-jin stretched, then slipped on her slippers and went into the bathroom to wash up.

This apartment was bought by her father specifically for her before she enrolled at the University of Hong Kong. It's only about 300 meters from the university, just a few minutes' walk away. The location is excellent, the environment is quiet, and the security is tight. You can even enjoy a panoramic view of the tranquility of the luxury residential area and a corner of Victoria Harbour from the balcony.

Lee Kun-hee only said one sentence on the phone: "Hong Kong Island is not like Seoul. When you're alone abroad, you need to be more comfortable."

Lee Boo-jin did not refuse. She knew her father too well—behind this seemingly meticulous fatherly love and "consideration," there could never be just a simple father-daughter bond.

After washing up and drying her wet hair, Lee Boo-jin pushed open the hidden door on the side of the bedroom, revealing a luxurious walk-in closet that took up an entire wall. A dazzling array of designer clothes were neatly arranged by color and season, resembling a top-tier private haute couture boutique not open to the public.

Today is the birthday party of the young master of the Lu family in Hong Kong Island. As the eldest daughter of the Samsung family in South Korea, Lee Boo-jin naturally received this weighty invitation.

She hummed Aurora's hit single that swept across South Korea this year as she picked out an outfit from the coat rack for the party.

Her fingertips glided over the clothes, but Lee Boo-jin's thoughts drifted away without her realizing it.

It drifted back to that night in Seoul more than a month ago.

……

In early July, the admission letter from Island University of Hong Kong finally arrived at Samsung Mansion in Seoul after a long journey across the ocean.

Lee Boo-jin, holding the thin envelope, knocked on the door and entered Lee Kun-hee's study.

"Father, you've been accepted." She respectfully handed over the envelope with both hands.

Lee Kun-hee took the envelope but didn't open it immediately. He looked at the envelope, which bore the emblem of the University of Hong Kong, for a moment, then fell silent before revealing news that shocked her.

"Fujin, there's something I haven't told my family yet."

"What is it?"

"I've reached an agreement with Mr. Lu of Golden Harvest," Lee Kun-hee said, putting down the envelope and looking at her. "Golden Harvest has now acquired 17% of Samsung Electronics' shares. Lu Chen is now the second-largest shareholder of Samsung Electronics after the Lee family."

Lee Boo-jin was stunned.

Seventeen percent—this figure is outrageously high, even surpassing that of any of Samsung Electronics' founding members. Apart from the Lee family, no one can surpass Golden Harvest.

More importantly, this is Samsung Electronics!

Although Samsung Electronics currently accounts for a very small percentage of Samsung's revenue and has even been in a state of huge losses at one point, it is far from comparable in size and status to established pillars such as Samsung C&T, Samsung Life Insurance, and Samsung Heavy Industries.

But as Lee Kun-hee's beloved daughter, she knew the weight Samsung Electronics held in her father's heart—it was Lee Kun-hee's vision for Samsung's next twenty years.

To this end, Lee Kun-hee even publicly delivered a "Second Founding" declaration that shocked the entire South Korean nation at the 50th anniversary celebration of Samsung's founding, and overruled all objections to forcibly merge Samsung Semiconductor into Samsung Electronics.

How could my father so easily hand over such a crucial core asset to an outsider and give him so many shares?

"Dad, this..." Lee Boo-jin struggled to control her inner turmoil, carefully choosing her words, "Why?"

Lee Kun-hee didn't explain much, only saying calmly, "This deal is already finalized, and you don't need to worry, the Lee family isn't losing out either—Mr. Lu's terms are quite sincere."

Lee Boo-jin remained silent for a while. She was a smart girl and quickly figured out the key point.

"So," she looked up at her father, "you sent me to Hong Kong Island to cultivate a good relationship with the Lu family?"

Lee Kun-hee looked at his daughter and did not deny it.

"That's right," he said. "You need to maintain a good relationship with the Lu family, at the very least... so that your uncle doesn't get the chance."

Lee Boo-jin felt a slight chill and immediately realized the importance of this matter.

It's important to understand that power transitions at Samsung are never smooth sailing. She had witnessed firsthand the decades-long feud between her uncle and father since childhood.

Back then, his eldest uncle, Lee Maeng-hee, was the true crown prince of Samsung. If it weren't for his disastrous decisions and blunders during his "regency" period, which completely broke his grandfather Lee Byung-chul's heart, his father, Lee Kun-hee, would never have had the opportunity to depose the eldest son and establish the younger one to seize power.

However, even after his crushing defeat in the struggle for the throne, Li Mengxi never gave up hope. Over the years, he lay low, waiting, occasionally making a move, never abandoning the idea of ​​turning the tables.

Currently, Jiahe holds 17% of the shares. If my uncle's side manages to acquire them...

She also realized that this trip to Hong Kong Island was actually a form of indirect diplomacy.

Actually, Lee Kun-hee had another thought he didn't say aloud—if Lu Chen had feelings for Lee Boo-jin, they could arrange a marriage between their families.

Unlike Stanley Ho, he didn't feel ashamed that his daughter was a concubine. After all, South Koreans have a distorted concept of hierarchy deep down; they can submit to anyone stronger than themselves without any sense of shame.

Lu Chen was undoubtedly the kind of person so strong that Lu Chen couldn't even muster the thought of resisting him.

Moreover, in Lee Kun-hee's eyes, daughters of chaebol families are born to serve the family's interests through marriage alliances. Sons inherit the family business, daughters consolidate the alliance—this is a rule that has continued for centuries in chaebol families. Given this, why not maximize the benefits directly by marrying into the most powerful family?

Of course, all of this should be done step by step; the most urgent task is to first build a good relationship with Lu Chen.

……

It was with this thought in mind that Lee Kun-hee contacted Lu Chen immediately after Lee Boo-jin arrived in Hong Kong. He explained that his daughter was studying in Hong Kong and was unfamiliar with the place, so he hoped Lu Chen could take care of her.

With this groundwork laid, Lee Boo-jin was able to naturally make contact with Lu Chen.

Over the past month, the two have even called each other several times to talk about life on Hong Kong Island, school courses, and occasionally a few business insights... much better than that guy who looks bold but is actually timid.

Finally, she stopped in front of the coat rack and chose a white shirt and a black skirt. Simple, sophisticated, yet still retaining a touch of feminine grace.

After changing, Lee Boo-jin straightened her collar in front of the mirror, thought for a moment, then took off a pair of small pearl earrings and put them on before nodding in satisfaction.

At exactly four o'clock in the afternoon, the black Mercedes-Benz van sent by Lu Chen stopped downstairs on time. Then, the car smoothly drove through the undersea tunnel and drove up the mountain road along Garden Road.

Lee Boo-jin sat in the back, calmly appreciating the receding mountain scenery outside the window—she was much more composed than some girls who were so nervous their palms sweated when they first climbed the mountain. She even had the leisure to admire the view of Victoria Peak for a moment before glancing down at her phone to check the time.

Finally, the car came to a stop in front of the wrought iron gate of the Lu family manor.

Lee Boo-jin got out of the car, straightened her skirt and collar, and a perfect, appropriate smile instantly appeared on her delicate face.

However, before she could even take a step, a familiar voice suddenly reached her ears:

"Tomijin?"

Lee Boo-jin looked up and saw a girl in a beige dress standing at the door, looking at her with a surprised expression.

She froze on the spot, then blurted out:

"...Myung-hee unnie?"

The afternoon breeze blew between them, carrying the scent of grass and flowers. The fountain's water murmured softly in the wind, like something quietly closing in, or like a story about to begin anew.