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

At nine o'clock in the evening, the lights in front of the manor illuminated the driveway with a warm yellow glow.

Guests emerged in twos and threes, exchanging greetings and saying goodbye at the entrance. Cars with their headlights on slowly drove out of the valley along the gravel driveway of the estate, merging into the traffic of Hong Kong Island in the night.

Stanley Ho was standing at the bottom of the steps, turning his head to talk to his daughter.

"You really aren't coming back to Macau with me?" His tone was slightly surprised. "I have a few relatives to see tomorrow."

"Daddy, I really have something to do here," Ho Chiu-kwan said, wearing a dark gray cashmere coat, her long hair draped over her shoulders, and carrying a small bag. "I have a few projects to follow up on with Shun Tak Holdings, and I'll take advantage of these few days of Chinese New Year to sort out the plans."

Under the arrangement of the gambling king, Pansy Ho has now officially taken on the role of manager of Shun Tak Holdings' Hong Kong Island branch, mainly responsible for related business in Hong Kong Island.

When asked about work-related issues, Stanley Ho didn't press further: "Be careful while you're alone on Hong Kong Island. Call me if anything happens."

"Okay, Daddy, be careful on the road."

She waved her hand, the car door closed, and the black Mercedes slowly drove out of the manor gate. The taillights grew farther and farther away in the night, eventually disappearing around the bend of the mountain road.

He Chao stood there alone, watching until the car lights were completely out of sight, before turning around and walking towards her own car.

On the other side of the manor, Lu Chen was standing next to his car, bending down to talk to Ruan Mei in the back seat.

"Aren't you coming back with us tonight?" Mei asked softly.

"Okay, you take Qianzi and Jima back to rest first," Lu Chen lowered his head slightly and kissed her forehead. "I'll go back tomorrow."

Ruan Mei winked mischievously: "Why go through all that trouble? Just bring them back directly, won't that be enough?"

Lu Chen paused for a moment, then smiled helplessly: "...They probably need a little more time to adjust."

Ruan Mei chuckled, but didn't continue teasing him. She rolled up the car window and told the driver to start the car.

Lu Chen watched the car drive away before bending down to get into another car that Tian Yangsheng had already opened. The black sedan then silently drove out of the manor, merged into the mountain road in the night, and headed towards Wan Chai.

About half an hour later, the car stopped in front of a newly built high-rise apartment building. The main entrance was small, with a brass plaque above the porch bearing the name of the apartment building, simple and understated.

"Boss, we've arrived," Tian Yangsheng said, turning around.

"You've worked hard. There shouldn't be anything else tonight. Go and rest on the first floor." Lu Chen handed the key to another apartment in the complex to Tian Yangsheng.

"clear."

Lu Chen then got out of the car and took the private elevator straight to the top floor.

The corridor was covered with a thick, sound-absorbing dark gray carpet. Lu Chen strolled to the door and pressed the doorbell.

The door was opened almost immediately.

A faint fragrance wafted out from inside the door, and then a figure rushed over and wrapped her arms around his neck.

He Chaoqiong had changed into a comfortable off-white knitted cardigan, her face flushed with a warm glow from anticipation.

She didn't speak, but just leaned against Lu Chen's chest, as if all the anticipation accumulated throughout the entire party that night had been poured into this one embrace.

Lu Chen reached out and put his arm around her waist, placing a light kiss on the top of her head: "Have you been waiting long?"

"It's alright," He Chaoqiong's voice muffled on his shoulder, tinged with a hint of amusement, "I'm keeping track of the time."

That's right, the girl Lu Chen came to "meet" with today was He Chaoqiong.

In fact, the two have been secretly dating for quite some time.

Two years ago, in order to appease tycoon Fok, Stanley Ho sent his youngest daughter, Pansy Ho, to Hong Kong Island. Because she handled the situation well, Pansy Ho naturally began to manage Stanley Ho's business in Hong Kong Island.

When doing business in Hong Kong, it's natural to have to rely on Lu Chen, a tycoon in the city. So, through repeated business collaborations and frequent contact, He Chaoqiong developed a slight admiration for this amazing man; and that admiration, in the daily interactions, turned into an affection that she herself dared not admit.

This feeling remained hidden until three months ago.

That evening, after discussing a collaboration in Lu Chen's office, He Chaoqiong suddenly stopped in her tracks just before leaving.

He Chaoqiong turned around and looked at the man who was lighting a cigarette with his head down. Her heart was pounding. Finally, she couldn't hold back and blurted out what she had kept buried for so long.

She confessed her feelings to him.

And he accepted her confession.

And so, the two of them naturally started dating.

However, at the beginning of their relationship, Josie Ho solemnly discussed one thing with Lu Chen—the relationship would not be made public for the time being.

There are two concerns here.

Firstly, she has her own ambitions. She hopes to one day take over the family business from her father and become the new head of the He family. But if her relationship with Lu Chen is exposed, she will most likely lose her qualification as the "head"—after all, who can trust to hand over the entire family business to an "outsider"?

The second reason is that Lu Chen is "too dazzling." So dazzling that even her own father, the gambling king Stanley Ho, is at Lu Chen's beck and call, let alone herself, Josie Ho. She hopes to first establish herself and gain a foothold before considering going public.

Lu Chen didn't care much about it. His woman was capable and had ideas, so he naturally supported her. He readily agreed and even taught her some business tips, secretly paving the way for her career.

……

The two cuddled on the sofa in the living room for a while. He Chaoqiong rested her chin on his arm and whispered, "You were a little different from usual at the Huo family's today."

"What's different?"

"It's more casual now," she turned to face him, her fingers slowly sliding up his collar, "but... I like it."

Lu Chen looked down at her, his gaze falling on the shimmering light in her eyes under the lamplight.

The next second, Lu Chen's lips curled into a mischievous smile. He reached out and picked her up, carrying her straight to the bedroom. He Chaoqiong wrapped her arms around his neck, a thin blush rising on her face, but she didn't resist at all, only burying her head in his chest.

Two people deeply in love are naturally like dry tinder, ready to ignite at any moment.

……

After a long time, the bedroom fell silent again, with only the soft, orange-yellow light of the wall lamp remaining.

Lu Chen leaned against the headboard, his hand reaching for the bedside table—

Unexpectedly, He Chaoqiong took the initiative, propped herself up and skillfully lit the cigarette for him, then took an ashtray, placed it steadily next to him, and then obediently leaned back into his arms.

Lu Chen took a deep drag of his cigarette, looking at this proud and submissive woman, and felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction. He had to admit, this woman truly knew how to manipulate men.

Just then, the phone on the bedside table suddenly rang with a "ding".

Lu Chen reached for his phone and saw it was a text message from Tian Yangyi. He glanced at it and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

"What's wrong?" Ho Chiu-kwan asked curiously, leaning closer. "You're smiling so happily."

"It's nothing," Lu Chen handed her his phone, his voice carrying an indescribable meaning, "It's just that I can't stand them... They've caused me so much trouble, it's only fair that I give them a taste of their own medicine."

Upon hearing this, He Chaoqiong's eyes immediately lit up: "Really? Then how do you plan to deal with them this time?"

"Well... that's a secret!" Lu Chen smiled mysteriously, put his arm around her waist, pulled her closer, and then looked down at her. "Have you rested enough?"

He Chaoqiong was pulled forward and leaned against his chest with both hands, saying coquettishly, "You have so much energy."

"That depends on who you're with," Lu Chen said.

Before he finished speaking, he mounted his horse.

Under the warm orange light, the shadows of the two people overlapped.