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

Central, Golden Harvest Building.

In the luxurious and spacious top-floor office, sunlight streams in through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a bright, clear area on the dark gray carpet.

Lu Chen sat behind his desk, holding a freshly brewed cup of Pu'er tea, looking down at the sales report that had just been delivered.

Across from him at the desk, Li Tian, ​​president of Golden Harvest Interactive Entertainment, sat upright, his face beaming with barely suppressed excitement.

"Boss, the sales figures for the JF2's first weekend are in," Li Tian cleared his throat, his voice brimming with joy, "Global sales have surpassed one million units!"

"On the first day, 23,000 units were sold in Hong Kong Island, and by Sunday night, local sales on Hong Kong Island had reached nearly 40,000. In the Japanese market, 380,000 units were sold in the first weekend, 410,000 units were sold in the US market, and about 150,000 units were sold in the European market combined."

Li Tian excitedly turned to a page of the report and continued, "More importantly, the game sales ratio is as follows: on average, we sell 3.3 games for every machine sold, especially Super Mario 64 and Pokémon Diamond, which are almost sold out."

Lu Chen nodded, closed the sales presentation, and placed it on the corner of the table: "How's the media feedback?"

"Overwhelmingly positive reviews! Famitsu gave it a score of 38, and Time magazine's technology section dedicated a special report to it, saying that the JF2 is 'redefining home entertainment hardware.' Even several European media outlets that were previously critical of the JFA have all given it positive reviews this time."

Hearing such a sensational result, Lu Chen was not particularly surprised or unsettled.

After all, the previous generation console JF1 had already accumulated a large number of highly loyal players worldwide. Coupled with the leapfrog improvement in the performance of JF2 and the outstanding performance of those launch titles, it is not surprising that it achieved such a "double success" in terms of fame and fortune.

"This report card is very good, but—" Lu Chen put down his teacup and slowly began, "Precisely because it sold so well, there's one thing that will cause trouble."

Li Tian was slightly taken aback: "Boss, you mean...?"

"Production capacity!" Lu Chen's eyes deepened. "Right now, the whole world is scrambling to buy JF2. If our subsequent supply chain and warehouses can't keep up with the rate of consumption, then we'll be in trouble. At that point, those Western media outlets that can't get their hands on the JF2 will probably immediately turn around and accuse us of 'hunger marketing' and 'playing the fool.'"

Lu Chen still vividly remembers the scene when the Longteng mobile phone was first launched and was exploited by unscrupulous people due to limited production capacity.

"Boss, you're right. The production capacity of the Fukagawa factory is indeed a bit tight right now," Li Tian's smile faded slightly. "The main reason is that sales in the first week exploded too quickly. Although the production line is already running overtime, the inventory is being depleted much faster than expected. If sales can maintain this momentum next week, there might really be a temporary shortage."

"Then let's increase production capacity," Lu Chen decisively decided. "In addition to contacting the production base in Shenzhen, remember to ask the logistics department to adjust the delivery plan and prioritize the supply to the Hong Kong Island, East Asia, and New York routes."

Li Tian nodded and quickly jotted down a few notes in his notebook: "I'll make the arrangements this afternoon."

"In addition," Lu Chen added, "tell the suppliers to increase the purchase volume of JF2 components by another 20%. After all, with such a large shipment volume, the pressure on after-sales service will be considerable."

"clear."

After writing down all the instructions Lu Chen gave, Li Tian closed the notebook, bowed slightly to Lu Chen, and quickly walked out of the office.

Lu Chen put down his teacup and was about to pick up the sales report on the table to look at it again when the personal phone on the table suddenly rang.

He glanced at the caller ID—it was Sofia calling.

Lu Chen answered the phone, his voice tinged with laughter: "Sofia, what's up? How's the weather in Italy?"

"Darling~" came Sophia's languid and alluring voice from the other end of the phone, "The weather is quite nice, but I encountered an interesting little problem today."

"Oh?" Lu Chen leaned back in his chair. "What trouble?"

"My patrol caught a petty thief," Sophie said with a nonchalant ease. "He was quite skilled; he broke into my treasure room, but my men spotted him while he was trying to escape. I was planning to throw him into the sea to feed the sharks, but this little thief actually said he knew you."

Lu Chen raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Do you know me?"

"Yes, he's quite famous in Europe..." Sofia paused, as if recalling something, "I think his name is Jackie, the Asian Eagle."

Before Lu Chen could answer, a series of urgent, intermittent shouts came from the other end of the phone, clear despite the distance:

"Boss! Boss! It's me! I'm Jackie, the Eagle you used to hire! Help, boss!"

The voice carried a desperate urgency, and Lu Chen's lips involuntarily curved into a smile as he listened.

"He's still quite energetic."

"Hmm, very energetic." Sophia's voice rang out again, tinged with a hint of mockery. "Should we shut him up?"

"Forget it... don't feed the shark anymore," Lu Chen chuckled and said, "Let's spare his life. I'll have someone come and pick him up later."

"Alright, since Darling has spoken up," Sophia said with a smile, "but he's too noisy. Before your men arrive, I've decided to hang him on the cliff of the castle to let the sea breeze soothe his head."

After hanging up the phone, Lu Chen placed it back on the table, his gaze falling on the Victoria Harbour surface illuminated by the March sun. In the distance, the silhouette of a cargo ship moved slowly across the horizon, like a tiny node in the city's ceaseless breath.

He picked up the internal phone on the table and dialed a number: "Please connect me to Tian Yangyi."