Ou Yu finally remembered the matter of the public bounties. No wonder Xiao Fen had told him to split up and act alone during the day—the two of them together made too obvious a target.
This was such a scam.
Others only had bounties in the tens of thousands, but Xiao Fen’s alone was worth several people combined. Anyone with a bit of skill could deduce their location from the spots shown in the livestream, factor in the delay, and figure out exactly where they were right now.
And Xiao Fen had performed the best yesterday, so the Program Crew gave him the biggest bounty. The audience wouldn’t find it strange.
This was blatant targeting of Xiao Fen, meant to eliminate him as soon as possible.
Ou Yu couldn’t think of any reason why the Program Crew would do this. Xiao Fen had performed well in the warm-up and even brought them millions in traffic.
“It must be that livestream variety show…” The uncle slapped his forehead. The words were right on the tip of his tongue, but in his excitement, he forgot them.
Ou Yu swallowed. When the uncle looked over, he guiltily lowered his head, hid behind Xiao Fen, secretly grabbed his hand, and got ready to bolt back down the alley they’d come from, dragging the guy with him.
The uncle’s eyes grew even more certain, excitement shining so brightly he couldn’t hide it.
“Xiao Fen, right?” Xiao Fen impatiently rolled his eyes. He kept chewing, swallowed the last bite of sausage, tossed the thin stick toward the base of the wall, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then rubbed it on his clothes.
The uncle froze at his uncouth actions.
“It’s all that damn show. At least ten people mistook me for that little celebrity today. If I really were him, would you even get a shot at the money?”
The uncle stammered for a while, then thought, yeah, that made sense. City A had twenty million people—how could he possibly run into him like that?
He never believed he had luck that good.
As a wanted criminal with a huge bounty, shouldn’t he look tense and nervous, ready to bolt the second someone recognized him?
The uncle gave an awkward smile. “Wrong person. Sorry.” Then he suspiciously eyed the figure behind him.
Film Emperor Ou Yu was way more famous than some guy. Posters of him were everywhere on the streets—anyone would recognize that face.
“Since you got it wrong, let go already.” Xiao Fen yanked Ou Yu’s hand free from his own and rubbed the red mark on his wrist.
Xiao Fen saw that Ou Yu looked calm, but his lowered head and averted body betrayed his unease.
He stepped in front of Ou Yu, tilted his face up close, and pretended to lean in for a kiss. “He’s not letting go of me. What are you shy about?”
“You!” Even without shyness, Ou Yu’s face flushed a little. He laughed helplessly.
That teasing, mischievous grin made him look so punchable.
But he couldn’t muster any real annoyance.
Pomegranate-red lips were right there, his breath carrying the charred scent of grilled sausage. Up close, there was also a sweet creaminess.
He must not have eaten enough earlier and gotten hungry again.
Seeing Xiao Fen in a playful mood, Ou Yu lowered his head and pretended to kiss back, their lips almost touching—but Xiao Fen showed no sign of pulling away.
If you don’t dodge, I’m going to turn this fake act real. His eyes signaled.
Bring it if you dare. Xiao Fen shot back a challenging look, stoking the fire in him.
Ou Yu increasingly felt this guy needed to be put in his place.
Someone ought to grind down that arrogant edge and straighten him out.
Their noses drew closer, tips brushing lightly. The crisp woody scent of cliff cypress mixed with body heat wafted over, and Ou Yu’s breathing grew hot and urgent.
Suddenly, they both turned. The uncle from earlier had left.
“You can let go now.” Xiao Fen’s voice rang out.
Ou Yu realized his hand had somehow wrapped around Xiao Fen’s waist, pulling him close.
He quickly let go, stepped back, and rubbed his nose.
A trace of that cool, bitter fragrance lingered on his fingertip.
“No wonder so many people like the Film Emperor. I’m almost convinced by your acting skills.” Xiao Fen said admiringly.
“Your reactions were quick too.”
The two traded compliments casually. Ou Yu’s eyes darted, and he spotted a Pursuit Team squad speeding toward them on bikes.
Xiao Fen rummaged through the pile of food he’d just bought, deciding which to grace next.
Suddenly, he sensed something, set down the flatbread, and started to turn—just as Ou Yu grabbed him and bolted.
“Run!”
“My flatbread!!!” It hit the ground.
As they ran, Bai Zhu and the others spotted them in the crowd. Bikes were much faster than running, closing the gap in no time.
“Stop!”
“These are criminals! Grab them!”
The shout drew eyes from all around.
Chinese people weren’t short on hot-blooded justice. Even without knowing about the bounties, plenty were willing to help catch criminals. Many were already itching to block their path.
“This way.”
Xiao Fen shoved aside a guy about to get on his bike, snatched the keys. “Get on!”
“Is this okay?” Ou Yu was stunned.
They were just playing criminals, not real ones.
“The Program Crew will reimburse it.” Seeing his hesitation, Xiao Fen just yanked him onto the bike.
【This guy seems super experienced at crime. Zero guilt.】
【You can tell he does shady stuff all the time.】
【Compared to him, Ouyou’s just a good boy.】
A few uniformed Vice Squad Officers with batons flanked them from both sides. A white sedan screeched to a halt, blocking their path.
Under perfectly ironed trousers, polished leather shoes hit the ground. Long legs unfolded as Fang Si Ting stepped out.
He wore a pure black suit, black shirt, black tie, black shoes. As he exited, his distinct-knuckled fingers steadily and swiftly buttoned his jacket.
A calm hunter, finally making his unhurried appearance after toying enough with his prey.
At that moment, Xiao Fen thought Fang Si Ting looked like a black cat.
Single-note in color, dull and unexpressive, yet elegant, mysterious, aloof, brimming with dangerous justice.
Tension thickened in a ten-meter radius.
A hot-blooded passerby leaped from the side, leg flying out to kick the rider off the e-bike.
Cheers and screams erupted around them.
Xiao Fen saw it coming, jumped off, rolled twice on the ground, and started to rise—when Fang Si Ting’s fist whistled in.
He flipped away just in time, but the glancing blow to his waist sent stabbing pain through him.
Such overwhelming power.
Before he could clutch it, another leg came sweeping fiercely.
Xiao Fen cursed under his breath, blocked with his arm, grabbed the leg, and twisted. Fang Si Ting spun with the momentum, landed, and followed with a sweeping low kick.
Bone-cracking agony shot through him. He stumbled, and a black shadow pounced, suffocating pressure closing in.
【So strong! Why so brutal wuwuwuwu! Don’t do this to Fen Treasure!】
【Too savage! It’s a total one-sided beatdown!】
【You thought Xiao was hot shit yesterday with some tricks? Real men go head-on. Look, the sissy shows his true colors right away.】
【You try it then. Can you even take one hit?】
In the nick of time, Xiao Fen endured the pain, rolled away, sprang up, turned his hands to fists, legs powering forward. He swiftly repelled the closing Vice Squad Officers, eyes scanning for escape.
【See? Brother Fen’s close-quarters combat is killer too. He can go toe-to-toe with Fox Hunt Commando Team members.】
【Brother Fen lacks raw power but wins with agility. Fang Yama switches offense-defense fluidly, big frame makes his moves sweeping and dominant, tons of real combat experience. Different styles, both masterful.】
Fang Si Ting stayed composed. As the officers fell back, he spun into a kick, foot arcing toward Xiao Fen’s head.
Hard to imagine someone his size moving so nimbly.
Xiao Fen’s gaze turned icy. He gritted his teeth, slid into a kneeling backbend to dodge, then closed in with a spinning kick to reposition, elbow striking for Fang Si Ting’s jaw. In the brief gap as they parted, he rushed forward, leaped, and drove a knee up.
Fang Si Ting blocked at his chest, palm slashing toward Xiao Fen’s left ribs. Luckily, Xiao Fen’s body was flexible; he barely evaded the full force but still ached bitterly.
This money was hard-earned.
All because of this Cold-Faced Freak.
Their four hands locked. Fang Si Ting had been fully focused on blocking leg strikes with his feet when suddenly Xiao Fen looked up, baring teeth in a furious glare.
Fox-like eyes wide and round, brandy-colored pupils clear and bright.
He blanked for a second, baffled.
In that split instant, his gut took a knee strike, followed by a combo that slammed him to the ground.
Ruthless, no mercy.
With the crowd’s righteous fervor rising, Xiao Fen dared not linger. He swept a leg, toed up a bag of food from the ground, tossed it at Fang Si Ting, grabbed Ou Yu, and dove into an alley.
Fang Si Ting leaped aside, dodged, and charged in after.
Ten minutes later, he emerged from the other end. His calm eyes scanned left and right.
No one.
Gone.
He glanced at the back of his hand, eyes narrowing.
The defined, powerful knuckles bore faint traces of Xiao Fen’s blood.
He pulled a neatly folded handkerchief from his suit pocket, wiped his hand clean, refolded it meticulously, and tucked it away.
++
Two hours later.
Ou Yu trailed Xiao Fen, eyes warily scanning around.
The rundown neighborhood from the ’30s had yellowed exteriors spotted with white mold. Inner walls had cracked, peeling putty; outer areas stayed perpetually damp from rain, turning black and green. The path between buildings was potholed—good thing it hadn’t rained lately—but walls and ground bore mystery liquids with a piss stench and the vomit-inducing rot of fermented dead rats. A short distance away sat an unidentifiable mushy pile that made him dizzy and nauseous.
“Little Fen, where exactly are we going? Do you have relatives here?”
“Almost there.”
His phone buzzed. Ou Yu eyed the glowing screen, face thoughtful.
“Who’s that?”
“Boss Lu,” Ou Yu said softly. “He’s settling at a friend’s place—someone he met by chance, a life-and-death brother. Even if the Vice Squad Officers trace social networks, they won’t find it. Safe for the full seven days there.”
“Life-and-death brother? I trust the Pythagorean theorem more.” Xiao Fen tilted his head. Ou Yu handed him the phone. The chat showed Lu Jin’s latest message: a map location.
He tapped it open. “Fancy neighborhood, even a villa. Since he invited you…”
“I’m not going.” Right in front of him, Ou Yu’s fingers flew across the screen with a refusal, then pocketed the phone.
He hadn’t joined this show to huddle scared in some safehouse for seven boring days.
Ten minutes later, Xiao Fen rubbed his ribs and stopped at the base of a building.
Overcast day, windy.
Few lights shone between the structures, but an open door ahead leaked faint clamor.
A dog barked madly somewhere distant.
On the splintered threshold sat a plump auntie cracking melon seeds while watching a drama on her phone. Spotting strangers, she stood enthusiastically. “Where you from? Cigarettes or booze?”
An awkward silence fell.
Ou Yu’s expression cracked a bit; he regretted it for a second.
Xiao Fen started inside, but Ou Yu blocked him.
Ou Yu shook his head disapprovingly. He’d never been here, but he knew it wasn’t a good place.
“Why are we here?”
“To make money.” Xiao Fen gave him a reassuring smile and naturally stepped over the threshold.
“A pack of Liqun. Hu Juan said your smokes are the most authentic, so I brought a friend today.”
The auntie paused, then looked them over and remembered. “Hu Juan brought you by to show your face a few times before, right?”
“Yeah, a little over a month ago.”
She tossed him a soft pack of Liqun and a lighter, squeezing out from behind the dusty counter and shelves.
Xiao Fen tore open the pack, pocketed it, and motioned Ou Yu to follow.
The auntie unlocked a door. Two burly men stood inside. She murmured to them. They eyed the pair hostilely but stepped aside.
“Have fun, you two bosses.” The auntie welcomed them inside, then went out and locked the peeling green door.
Inside was another world.
The venue spanned about four or five hundred square meters, with dozens of tables set up and stairs in the corner, suggesting more than one floor. The ground was littered with cigarette butts, and the air was thick with cheap, pungent cigarette smoke and sweat, stinging Ou Yu’s eyes so he could barely keep them open.
A crowd surrounded every table—some watching the action, others clutching cards, with miscellaneous fifty- and hundred-yuan bills scattered on the surfaces. Their bloodshot eyes burned with ferocity.
【What is this place? It looks so dirty and chaotic.】
【Underground casino, you city folks really have no clue.】
【City A still has places like this?】
【Head to the urban villages, the most remote and rundown spots. Lots of these underground private setups, super hidden. That auntie’s little shop out front is just the front—normal people think it’s for selling stuff, but insiders know the real deal. No idea what Xiao Fen’s doing here, though.】
“These people aren’t to be trifled with. Be careful not to get taken advantage of,” Ou Yu frowned.
“Who gets taken advantage of is still up in the air.” Xiao Fen headed straight for one of the tables.
Ou Yu shook his head and followed helplessly.
If Xiao Fen wanted to play, he could only keep an eye on things to make sure he didn’t get bullied.
The people around were all from the city’s underbelly—bare-chested migrant workers, plainly dressed ordinary folk. Young ones, old ones, weathered, dejected, excited, despairing, ruthless—they formed hundreds of unfamiliar faces in all shapes and sizes.
“Oh, it’s Big Star Xiao! Welcome, welcome. How come you didn’t come with Hu Juan this time?” A skinny guy nearby clearly recognized him.
【No way, Xiao Fen knows people like this? Eye-opening.】
【Didn’t the lady boss just say he came here with that Hu guy before?】
【Turns out he’s a regular. The best part of this show is how real it is. A celebrity like this—even if there’s no record—can’t have this bad image. Should get banned.】
【Looks so well-behaved, but plays hard. Told you he wasn’t a good guy, and you didn’t believe it. Now we see—he’s a gambling addict. Someone online said he owes a ton of money; looks like it’s true.】
【Which good Samaritan can report this to the authorities?】
【Look, look—this is the idol you chase around calling Fen Treasure. Fans, I almost feel bad laughing at you.】
【Unfollowed on the spot. Thanks.】
In the control room, Bureau Chief Wu stood up and angrily jabbed a finger at the screen.
“Did you even brief the guests on the guidelines beforehand? A place like this is somewhere they should go? This can air? It’ll spread so much bad influence!”
Old Master Lu wiped his sweat and stood up shakily. “We’ll shut down Xiao Fen’s live stream chat right away.”
“Shut it down now?” Bureau Chief Wu snapped. “Won’t that make us look guilty? What were you doing before!”
“Bureau Chief Wu, don’t get mad, don’t get mad.” The old master instructed, “Station head, have Xiao Fen’s personal info on my desk by tomorrow morning.”
“Once this episode ends—ban him, terminate the contract, make him pay damages. I’ll sue him until he’s got nowhere to turn!” Bureau Chief Wu pointed at Xiao Fen on the screen.
