Chapter 3: It’s Showtime!
The live stream chat had already exploded, with comments flooding the screen.
“Damn, those moves are slick! Any magicians here who can explain how he did that?”
“Forget magic—the Pursuit Team is here! They’re searching floor by floor and about to reach this one!”
“I just saw Zhou Tai stealing a car and making a run for it. Why is this guy still flirting?”
“Who knows? Maybe he’s given up.”
On the dance floor, couples swayed to the mellow music.
Chen Feng led Zhou Wanning to the center, their bodies intertwining as they moved gracefully. Though not breathtaking, their dance was undeniably elegant.
Feeling his warm breath against her, Zhou Wanning’s cheeks flushed.
Unfortunately, the moment of tranquility was soon shattered by a sudden commotion.
Before anyone in the rooftop bar could react, the music cut off abruptly. The ambient lights dimmed, replaced by harsh overhead lighting that turned the dim space as bright as day.
A few hot-tempered patrons opened their mouths to curse, only to freeze when the hotel manager burst in with a group of burly men.
“Pursuit Team here to apprehend a fugitive! Civilians, step aside!”
“A fugitive?”
“Who’s the fugitive?”
“Oh my god, there’s a criminal here!”
Panic erupted instantly, the crowd dissolving into chaos.
Lin Chuanxiong, the middle-aged leader of the Pursuit Team, frowned.
No wonder countries worldwide had collaborated on this program—modern people were too comfortable, utterly lacking basic crisis response skills.
“All civilians, move to the east wall! Crouch down, hands on your heads, and line up in a row!”
His booming voice cut through the noise. The quicker-witted immediately obeyed, rushing to the east wall, while the rest hurried to follow—as if delaying even a second would leave them at the fugitive’s mercy.
Zhou Wanning, still on the dance floor, tried to pull Chen Feng away. But after two tugs, he remained unmoved. Confused, she looked up at him.
“Why aren’t you—”
“Chen Feng! There’s nowhere left to run! Surrender now!”
Lin Chuanxiong’s shout drowned out her words.
The content of his message made her eyes widen in disbelief.
A chill ran down her spine as she stared at the handsome face before her, the cold spreading through her entire body.
“Y-you… you’re the fugitive?”
Her lips trembled with fear.
In that instant, her mind conjured images of high-profile, good-looking criminals from novels—like the “Jade-Faced Bomber”...
No, wait, the “Jade-Faced Killer.”
Since this was the Pursuit Team’s first operation, the show’s host, Xixi, had tagged along with a cameraman.
“Viewers, just under half an hour into the program, our Pursuit Team has already cornered the first fugitive at the hotel rooftop. However, it appears the fugitive has taken a hostage and is making a last stand. Out of concern for the hostage’s safety, the team is holding back for now. What happens next? Stay tuned!”
As Xixi finished, the camera panned toward Chen Feng.
With the host’s live coverage, the number of viewers in Chen Feng’s stream skyrocketed, soon surpassing 50,000.
“What a shame. Finally, a good-looking guy in District 3, and he’s about to get caught in less than half an hour.”
“Just bad luck—starting right next to the Pursuit Bureau’s hotel.”
“Game over for him…”
Lin Chuanxiong shouted again, “Chen Feng! Give up! You can’t escape!”
Meanwhile, the dozen or so Pursuit Team members fanned out, poised to surround him.
“You should… surrender,” Zhou Wanning mustered the courage to say.
She didn’t know why someone as young as Chen Feng had become a fugitive, but something told her he wouldn’t hurt her…
Right?
She hesitantly looked up, meeting Chen Feng’s calm gaze.
Her heart raced, but before she could react, Chen Feng dropped to one knee and gently kissed the back of her left hand.
“I hope this beautiful night hasn’t left you with unpleasant memories.”
His gentle voice carried to everyone present.
Zhou Wanning stared at him, stunned, her mind blank.
“Bro’s still flirting at a time like this?! And with such a beauty—my envy is off the charts!”
“I’m calling it now—if this guy goes into live-stream sales after the show, he’ll make a fortune.”
“Agreed!”
“Support!”
Lin Chuanxiong had no time for such distractions.
Spotting Chen Feng’s movement, the seasoned investigator seized the opportunity and barked, “Go!”
No further words were needed.
The Pursuit Team members rushed forward as one.
Zhou Wanning’s chest tightened inexplicably—she felt a pang of reluctance, as if she didn’t want Chen Feng caught.
But her feelings didn’t matter now.
The team closed in fast, the nearest member even brushing Chen Feng’s sleeve.
Just as everyone thought his capture was inevitable—
Everything changed.
Chen Feng’s body split apart in an instant.
Poof!
A cloud of white smoke erupted.
The next second, Chen Feng vanished, replaced by a flurry of white doves scattering in all directions.
“What the—? Where’d he go?!”
“Holy—! What kind of magic is this?!”
“Is this even real?!”
The Pursuit Team members froze, exchanging bewildered glances.
“Over there!”
Someone shouted.
All eyes snapped toward the direction—
A figure in white stood atop the nearby wall.
Impeccably dressed in a white suit, a four-leaf clover-shaped pendant, a monocle over his right eye, and a medieval-style white top hat, his cape billowed in the wind.
The uncovered parts of his face still bore Chen Feng’s unmistakable features.
Bathed in moonlight, he seemed like the only person in the world at that moment.
Chen Feng’s lips curled into a faint smile.
“Ladies and gentlemen!”
“It’s showtime!”
As he spoke, the dispersed doves swarmed back, alighting on him one by one until he was completely concealed.
By the time the Pursuit Team snapped out of their daze and charged forward, the startled doves took flight again—
Leaving nothing behind but empty air.
…
Ladies and gentlemen, could you kindly give us a free reminder to update?
Let me explain the issue with the live streams:
There are ten contestants per district, meaning ten exclusive live streams, plus the host's live stream, making a total of eleven.