The Infernal Affairs series comprises three films.
Infernal Affairs 1 tells the story of Liu Jianming and Chen Yongren, who are moles for the police and the triad respectively. After an intense struggle, both decide to find their own paths.
Infernal Affairs 2 depicts the death of Hong Kong magnate Ni Kun, Ni Yongxiao's confrontation with the police, and the frequent infiltration of the Ni family by undercover agents.
Infernal Affairs 3 follows Liu Jianming after he kills Chen Yongren, as he attempts to connect with Chen Yongren's psychiatrist to understand his past. In the process of understanding Chen Yongren's past, Liu Jianming develops a split personality that manifests as Chen Yongren.
However, the viewing order of these three films according to their timeline has some discrepancies.
If you were to watch them based on the plot, you should first watch the second film, then the first, and finally the third.
This is roughly the chronological order.
Furthermore, Infernal Affairs 2 features a cast composed almost entirely of Hong Kong actors.
Among them are Eric Tsang, Shawn Yue, Anthony Wong, Carina Lau, and Hu Jun, among others.
A day later, after a simple commencement ceremony for Infernal Affairs 2, filming of the main scenes began immediately.
The scenes scheduled for today are all night shoots.
The segment Su Han is to film is roughly as follows: Ni Yongxiao's biological father, Ni Kun, has died, and he needs to notify his younger brother, Chen Yongren, to return home to pay respects to his deceased father. However, Chen Yongren is currently a police officer and is unwilling to acknowledge his father or go with his elder brother.
This scene is witnessed by Officer Lu, played by Hu Jun, who is driving by. He gets out of the car to question what is happening.
Then, Ni Yongxiao gets out of the car and delivers a speech.
The plot roughly unfolds like this.
"All crew members, prepare!"
"3, 2, 1!"
"Action!"
"Go!"
"It has nothing to do with me! I don't want to know!"
"Go! You get going!"
Chen Yongren forcefully pushes Rocky away.
A police car drives up and parks by the roadside.
Officer Lu Ka-chiang gets out of the car: "Hey, Rocky! What are you doing?!"
"My father just passed away."
The camera shifts, focusing on Ni Yongxiao, played by Su Han.
Su Han is wearing a white, fitted shirt with a striped tie and brown suit pants, his hair slicked back.
He exits the car with his hands in his pockets, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, perfectly embodying the refined yet villainous character.
As soon as he appears, the two directors' eyes light up, and their attention is immediately drawn to him.
Ni Yongxiao stands under the dim streetlights, saying faintly: "He instructed that if he were to pass, all his children should be notified."
"Sorry to disturb you."
Su Han delivers this line with a weary tone, perfectly portraying the grief and helplessness of Ni Yongxiao, who has just lost his father. His acting is precisely on point.
"Cut!"
"Clap clap clap!"
The two directors applaud enthusiastically, very satisfied with Su Han's performance.
"Good, really good."
"I didn't expect you to speak Cantonese, and so authentically. Well done."
Praised by the two directors, Su Han smiles somewhat shyly: "I know a little."
"Very good, keep up the good work!"
Hong Kong in the old days was a chaotic place.
At that time, the Ni family was the most powerful in Hong Kong, with four lieutenants under them.
After Ni Kun's death, these four lieutenants harbored their own ambitions and no longer wished to be subordinate to the Ni family.
Tonight, all four bosses were supposed to pay tribute to the Ni family. Ni Yongxiao made a few phone calls, and without much effort, he successfully controlled these four lieutenants, truly ascending to become the new leader.
"Alright! Continue filming!"
Directors Mak and Lau were engrossed in the filming and eager to continue.
The next scene to be filmed is of the Ni family's four lieutenants sitting in a dai pai dong, having a hot pot supper, and receiving calls from Ni Yongxiao one after another, threatening them to pay.
Pang Tai is sitting with the four lieutenants, enjoying his meal and watching the drama unfold.
At this time, Pang Tai is still aligned with Ni Yongxiao, keeping an eye on the four lieutenants for him.
Dai pai dong is similar to hot pot, where ingredients are cooked in broth, but dai pai dong is generally lighter, without red oil or the like in the broth.
"Hey, Blackie. What are you watching on TV? Eat your food!"
"Uncle Kun is dead, I'm checking the news on TV."
"Man-chi, did you do this?"
"If I had done it, with my big mouth, everyone would know by now. Ask Kwok-wah and Kan-dee."
"When Uncle Kun died, I was in Macau negotiating business. Everyone knows his children will blame me."
"I, Kan-dee, am not afraid. His eldest son is a doctor, the youngest is idle. His daughter was married off early. Now only the second son is looking after his business. If they go too far, I'll deal with them anytime."
Ni Kun is dead, and the Ni family has no one in charge. Only Ni Yongxiao has stepped forward.
Ni Yongxiao has just returned from abroad and is a distinguished graduate.
The four lieutenants do not take Ni Yongxiao seriously and are waiting for this moment to rebel against the Ni family.
"Today is the fourteenth, everyone has to pay money to the Ni family."
"I'm the youngest here, so I'll say the unpleasant words first. Starting this month, I'm not paying Uncle Kun's money anymore. What do you three bosses think?"
Immediately, the three lieutenants exchange glances, nodding to each other, having already reached an agreement in their hearts not to pay the Ni family and to rebel against them tonight.
While they were enjoying their meal, a young subordinate rushed in with a brick phone and handed it to Kwok-wah.
Kwok-wah yelled at the subordinate after receiving the brick phone: "I already said I have nothing to say, why are you still looking for me?"
After scolding the subordinate, he picks up the brick phone with a smile: "What is it, Ah-ho?"
"Kwok-wah."
"I know you've been negotiating casino business in Macau recently. I've already reached an agreement with the higher-ups. Are you interested in working on it together?"
The scene shifts to another setting.
Under the dim yellow light, Ni Yongxiao, dressed in a black suit, sits on a sofa and calmly makes a phone call.
"Uncle Kun is dead, I have no interest in anything."
"That's true, you're not just in Macau for business. I know you're having a good time with Kan-dee's wife."
Ni Yongxiao speaks with composure and calmness throughout, as if everything is under his control.
Upon hearing this, Kwok-wah subconsciously glances at Kan-dee, feeling guilty and flustered.
Caught in Ni Yongxiao's trap, he can no longer sit still.
After taking a frustrated gulp of wine, he looks at the other three lieutenants: "I'm sorry, I can't let go of my casino business in Macau. I'm leaving now."
The other three lieutenants watch Kwok-wah leave in confusion.
The police, upon receiving the wind, become very tense and rush to the dai pai dong.
Next, Kan-dee receives a call from Ni Yongxiao.
"Mr. Ni, I don't know why Kwok-wah is paying you. In any case, I won't negotiate."
"I didn't plan to negotiate with you."
"Ask Blackie to take the phone."
Kan-dee hands the phone to Blackie.
"Hello, Blackie. I don't know why he's calling me and then handing the phone to you."
Blackie, drinking his wine, freezes and looks at Kan-dee guiltily.
"Ah-ho. What Kan-dee said, I said too. If he doesn't pay, I won't pay either."
The screen cuts back to Ni Yongxiao.
He is still sitting on the sofa calmly, making a phone call.
"I heard you've been closely associating with Kan-dee recently. You also handled a batch of goods together, but that batch was hijacked. You both lost millions, right?"
Hearing this, Blackie grits his teeth.
"But fortunately, I found it back in your warehouse. Shall I hand it over to Kan-dee's people now?"
After speaking, Ni Yongxiao hangs up the phone, decisively.
It is through this phone call that the four lieutenants under the Ni family obediently fall back in line and remain under Ni Yongxiao's control.