Hong Kong variety show: I wanted to be a lawyer, but I became a big shot.

Meanwhile, Lin Bei brought Mr. Guo, the big water pipe expert, to the nightclub on Portland Street tonight.

Mr. Guo is a prominent figure in Hong Kong's business community. He is in his fifties, dressed in a suit and tie, with his hair neatly combed and his Rolex gold watch gleaming under the lights.

He's the kind of person who doesn't usually frequent places like Portland Street; he thinks it's beneath him.

But Lin Bei invited him this time, so he had to give him face.

The venue was dimly lit, the music was energetic, and the crowd was boisterous.

Girls dressed in various outfits strolled among the crowd. A nurse held a stethoscope and placed it on a guest's chest, a flight attendant pulled a suitcase and walked between the booths, and a policewoman held a toy gun and made a famous shooting gesture.

Every corner offers a different view, and every minute brings new excitement.

Mr. Guo had his arm around a woman with wavy hair in a wedding dress, his hand caressing her waist. He smiled and looked around, nodding repeatedly.

"As expected of you, Abei."

"It's changed so much since I came here a while ago!"

"I remember the last time I came here, it was just a regular nightclub, where the girls just kept you company, drinking and singing."

"Now that it's turned out like this, it's much more interesting than other nightclubs on Hong Kong Island."

He just looked around from the doorway.

The booths and private rooms were fully booked early on, and there were still many people queuing at the door, with the queue stretching all the way to the shop next door.

Such a bustling scene has not been seen in Portland Street, or even the entire Hong Kong Island, for a long time.

With the economic downturn in recent years, the nightlife industry has also shrunk, and many venues are barely managing to stay afloat. Such a scene of long queues is simply unheard of.

Lin Bei picked up his glass, and the whiskey inside shone with an amber luster under the light.

"Mr. Guo, you flatter me."

"Although Nathan Road is not as special as Portland Street in terms of sex industry, it is one of the main roads in Yau Tsim Mong, so the foot traffic is definitely not small."

"We're going to open a new nightclub together over there. I estimate the revenue will be no less than this one."

"In fact, it can only get better, not worse."

The nightclub that Lin Bei is currently running was secured two years ago thanks to Liang Kun's reputation.

However, the big water tap was a low-key tycoon, over fifty years old, cautious in his actions, and almost never appeared at the venue, leaving all operations and management to Lin Bei.

Lin Bein's acquaintance with Mr. Guo was facilitated by that wealthy man.

"Um."

Mr. Guo nodded thoughtfully, picked up his glass and clinked it against Lin Bei's, the ice cubes making a crisp sound as they hit the glass.

"Abei, I have always recognized your abilities."

"When I invest, I never look at the project itself, but at the people who do the work."

"You're intelligent, resourceful, and have strong execution skills; you can get things done anywhere."

He took a sip of his drink and then changed the subject.

"By the way, how's the renovation of the new store going?"

"You said last time that construction had already started."

Just as Lin Bei was about to answer, the door to the private room was pushed open from the outside.

As soon as the heavy soundproof door opened, the music and laughter from inside the venue poured in.

Huo Baoming strode in, his expression somewhat grave. He leaned down beside Lin Bei and whispered something in his ear.

"Brother Bei, the Number Gang and the United Army have arrived, and Hua Fu and A Fa are personally leading their men."

"They didn't openly cause trouble, but they stood in the lobby shouting and yelling in a sarcastic tone, which greatly affected the guests and showed that they had doubts about the safety of our venue."

Lin Bei frowned slightly, thinking to himself.

He'd seen this kind of thing many times; when business was good, envious people would naturally come.

He put down his wine glass and waved to Huo Baoming.

"Go outside and wait for me. Keep things calm and don't let them disturb the other guests."

"Yes."

Huo Baoming nodded, turned and left, the door closing again, shutting out the noise outside.

Mr. Guo swirled the wine in his glass, as if he had just watched a good show, a playful smile on his lips, and teased.

"Hey, it looks like someone's jealous of your booming business."

"They say that competitors are enemies, and that's absolutely true."

Lin Bei smiled, a hint of nonchalance in his expression, and picked up his wine glass.

"With fame comes trouble."

"Mr. Guo, please excuse me for a moment."

"You guys have fun first, I'm going out to take care of something, I'll be right back."

"Tonight's expenses are on me."

He toasted with Mr. Guo and the others, downing the whiskey in one gulp. The whiskey slid down his throat, hot and spicy.

Then he straightened his collar, pushed open the door, and walked out of the private room.

The corridor was dimly lit and covered with a dark red carpet that felt soft and squishy underfoot.

As soon as I stepped out of the private room, a cacophony of noise hit me. I could hear Hua Fu and A Fa shouting arrogantly from a distance.

Hua Fu's voice was shrill and loud, clearly audible even from more than ten meters away, filled with the arrogance of a rogue.

"You open your shop to do business, you welcome customers, why should they have to queue outside?"

"If you don't have a big appetite, don't eat such a large piece of bread!"

"You'll choke to death!"

"At worst, no one'll collect your corpse!"

"that is!"

Ah Fa stood to the side, a cigarette dangling from his lips, leaning against the wall, looking utterly annoyed and telling everyone not to mess with him. He exhaled a thick cloud of smoke, which billowed in the dim light.

He pointed his finger at the lobby manager's nose, spitting almost onto the man's face.

"Is our money rotten?"

"Is there shit on Hong Kong paper?"

"Why should I and my brothers have to stand in line outside?"

"Is this how Hung Hing conducts business?"

The manager, a man in his thirties, wearing a suit and tie, was forced to retreat step by step, his forehead covered in cold sweat, constantly nodding and bowing as he explained.

"Gentlemen, it's really not that we don't want to accommodate you, it's just that we're too crowded tonight. All the private rooms and booths are full. How about tomorrow...?"

"tomorrow?"

"I'm not coming tomorrow!"

Ah Fa wouldn't listen to any explanation, shoved the manager aside, and pointed to the largest booth in the center of the lobby.

"Get that table of guests out of here!"

"Immediately! Right now!"

"I'm sitting right in the middle tonight! Let's see who dares to stop me!"

The guests in the lobby were startled by the scene and turned to look, some of the more timid ones already getting up to pay their bills and leave.

Several uniformed security guards quickly stepped forward and forcibly blocked Ah Fa and Hua Fu and the others who were trying to force their way in.

The atmosphere was as tense as a fully stretched string, ready to snap at any moment.

Lin Bei stood at the exit of the corridor, watching this scene, and the corners of his mouth slowly curled up.

It's said that enemies are destined to meet.

"Who am I talking about?"

"So it's you two little punks!"