Although the two of them had spoken on the phone before, this was the first time Luke and Chen Long met in person.
True to his famously friendly nature, Chen Long didn't give Luke even a second of awkward silence. Ignoring the handshake Luke offered, he pulled him into a big, enthusiastic hug.
Right then, Luke remembered—Brother Chen Long had this habit: the classic "hug and cheek kiss" combo. It was just how he showed affection. And it wasn't something he reserved only for women—men got the same treatment.
Not wanting a wet mark on his face, Luke subtly hugged him back and then quickly stepped away.
Chen Long looked surprised for half a second, then burst out laughing. "Welcome to Hong Kong! I finally get to meet you in person."
Luke smiled politely. "It's great to meet you too, Brother Chen Long. Where's Sister Ziyu? I didn't expect you to come pick me up yourself."
"She's got a scene to shoot tonight," Chen Long said. "So I told her not to worry—I'd come get you myself."
"Sorry to trouble you."
"If it were anyone else, I'd say something polite like, 'Oh, it's no trouble.' But for you? Trouble is what I'm hoping for! I want you to bother me more often—if you didn't, I'd be disappointed."
Luke couldn't quite figure out why Chen Long was being so warm and welcoming.
Sure, Luke had been rising fast in popularity lately, but compared to Chen Long—an international superstar and living legend—the difference was massive. It could take Luke years, maybe decades, to reach that level of fame and influence.
And it wasn't just talk. Chen Long once boldly said, "Name a place anywhere in the world, and I'll find someone who can take care of you there."
He wasn't exaggerating. When filming Kung Fu Yoga, Chen Long once ran into trouble finding luxury cars for a scene. Hearing about it, the Prince of Dubai immediately lent him dozens of his own cars—free of charge.
And when one of the cars got damaged during filming, the prince didn't ask for compensation—he bought another identical one for Chen Long to finish the shoot, just to avoid continuity issues on camera.
By comparison, even Fast & Furious 7, a globally famous franchise, got flat-out rejected when its director asked the same prince for a loaner car.
Stories like that weren't rare for Chen Long—they happened all the time.
So why was a global megastar treating him, a rising actor, with this much warmth?
"Since you're being so kind, Brother Chen Long, I'll accept your hospitality," Luke said with a modest smile.
"That's more like it!" Chen Long grinned. "When I found out you bought your own economy ticket instead of flying business like Ziyu arranged, I already felt bad about it.
"Tell you what—while you're filming here in Hong Kong, stay at my place. I've got a house in Kowloon Tong that's empty right now. You can live there."
Luke couldn't help feeling impressed.
Usually, when someone wanted to show respect to a guest, they'd book a five-star hotel suite—maybe a $10,000-a-night presidential suite. That would be more than enough to show sincerity.
But Chen Long offering his own home? That was personal—it showed genuine closeness, not formality.
And he'd even picked the perfect place.
Someone like Chen Long definitely owned multiple properties in Hong Kong. But instead of putting Luke in a mansion up on The Peak—a neighborhood filled with billionaires and high society types that could make anyone feel out of place—he chose Kowloon Tong, an upscale yet more relaxed area.
It was thoughtful.
Still, the kindness felt heavy. Unprovoked generosity always did.
But refusing would seem distant, maybe even disrespectful. So Luke simply smiled. "I'll follow your lead, Brother Chen Long."
"That's the spirit! It's getting late, so I'll drive you over myself. Tomorrow I'll throw you a welcome dinner.
"Oh, by the way, is there any Hong Kong actress you want to meet? I can invite her over."
Chen Long flashed a grin that every man would understand.
Luke chuckled awkwardly. "Thanks, but I'll pass. The film schedule's tight, and I'd rather stay focused."
He knew that kind of thing was common in the industry—but it wasn't his style.
Chen Long nodded, not pushing further, and the two of them headed out.
The next morning.
♪ Because love is love, emotions don't need to be generous... ♪
His alarm tone—classic early 2000s Hong Kong pop.
Luke reached out, shut it off, and sat up right away.
It was 7 a.m. He'd only slept for about six hours, but he felt fully recharged.
He wasn't here for vacation—he was here to work. Today he'd be joining the set of Rush Hour 2 to meet with Chen Long and discuss his cameo role. Being late would be a bad look.
The minor injuries he'd gotten a few days ago had mostly healed, so whether it was a quick appearance or a short fight scene, he was ready.
His room was on the second floor of the villa. When he pulled back the curtains, a small bamboo grove came into view—lush, green, and elegantly placed to provide both beauty and privacy.
In a city where even a 1,000-square-foot apartment was considered "luxury," a villa like this—several acres in a prime location—was nothing short of insane wealth.
When Luke came downstairs, breakfast was already laid out in the dining room.
There was a Western spread—toast, bacon, milk—and a full Hong Kong breakfast with rice rolls, shrimp dumplings, and congee.
The butler clearly didn't want to assume his guest's preferences, so he'd prepared both.
Luke still leaned toward -style food. Though his parents were gone, he'd grown up with a traditional palate—too much Western food always upset his stomach.
He finished breakfast quickly, wiping the plate clean.
Then he quietly slipped two butter knives into his jacket pockets.
Hong Kong wasn't as dangerous as movies made it seem, but a little self-defense never hurt.
Just then, the sharp click-clack of heels approached. The dining room door opened, and a woman in a fitted black suit walked in.
She had sparkling almond-shaped eyes that curved like crescent moons when she smiled.
And it wasn't just her face—her figure was graceful, her features fine and delicate. But what truly stood out was the air she carried: gentle, yet with a touch of confidence and defiance.
She was born for the big screen, with that kind of cold, elegant aura that couldn't be faked.
"Sorry I didn't come pick you up last night," she said with a soft smile. "You're not mad at me, are you?"
"How could I be, Sister Ziyu? You've always been so kind to me," Luke replied.
Zhang Ziyu frowned slightly, teasing, "You make me sound like an old lady when you call me that."
"Well, you've been looking out for me since we first worked together," he said earnestly. "And lately you've gone out of your way to introduce me to Brother Chen Long. I really appreciate it."
"Oh, so you do know I care about you? Then why do you keep worrying me?"
She reached for a napkin from the table, then gently dabbed at the corner of his mouth.
Whether or not there was actually anything there—well, that didn't matter.
The gesture itself said enough.