Chapter 49: Haven’t You Two Dated? Why Are You So In Sync?
by 全麥面包Chapter 49: Haven't You Two Dated? Why Are You So In Sync?
"The City Hunter" reached unprecedented heights of popularity after just one day of filming.
Especially when someone edited a video from the thief's perspective and posted it on Weibo, it exploded like a landmine,
sending related hashtags straight to the top of the trending list by midnight:
#BrotherLiAndBrotherXiaoAreTooCoolFeelsLikeABloodyStreetBattle#
#LuoXiaohongWhipsStonesToPiecesWithHerBareHands#
#ShiHuayiAndZhouNanAreTooProfessionalAtSettingBombsHaveTheyDoneThisBefore?#
#YuanFengCanActuallyCounterSurveillanceAndSnipeHeads?#
#WhoAreTheyReally?TheHuntersMetTheirMatch?#
Comments flooded in from night owls, excitedly typing away.
"Actually, the hunters didn't show their full strength; there was a dead weight who kept popping up!"
"During the confrontation at the detention center yesterday, if Lu Yuanhang hadn't caused an internal conflict, they wouldn't have lost so quickly!"
"Tomorrow is the city-wide capture, right? I heard there will be close combat, with all the high-frequency cameramen mobilized. It's going to be thrilling!"
"I haven't been this excited in a long time. This isn't just a variety show; it's a peak showdown!"
Despite "The City Hunter" having been popular for a while, no previous filming had surpassed the first season's hype.
Unexpectedly, it became a hot topic again due to the thieves' overwhelming presence,
with the influx of attention surpassing even that of the first season!
Logically, the director should be overjoyed, given that in today's entertainment industry, popularity is king.
As long as they maintain the top spot in ratings, would there be any shortage of soft advertisements and sponsorships?
Yet, he remained grim-faced, constantly hanging up phone calls.
His assistant approached, "Director, it's past midnight, and you're still getting calls from advertisers?!"
"Damn, it's never been this crazy before," the director said with an indescribable expression. "And they're all looking for those thieves!"
"Can I agree to them?!"
"Isn't this promoting bad behavior?!"
The assistant sighed, "Why don't we just turn off our phones?"
"I wish I could," the director suddenly became agitated, "but can I afford to offend the advertisers?!"
He threw his phone onto the bed, "Let's agree to the most troublesome one for now."
"Who is it?" the assistant curiously leaned over.
"The Huo sisters, have you heard of them?"
The assistant was stunned, "You mean the 'mothers of the entertainment industry'? The ones who almost control all the dirt on A-list stars and force them into dating shows?"
The director nodded reluctantly.
The assistant blinked, "What kind of ad is it?"
"Engagement rings," the director looked utterly defeated, "and they want romantic scenes."
The assistant gaped, "The only female guest among the thieves doesn't seem like the type to date! She just downed fifteen bottles of beer!"
Who would dare date her with such a monstrous drinking capacity?!
"Not a woman," the director's face fell, "the princess has designated a couple."
The assistant: ...
Designated?!
How does this feel like a personal agenda?!
Could it be that they're paying to ship a couple?!
"Jian Li and Huo Xiao."
After revealing the answer, the director buried his head under the pillow, trying to escape the miserable reality.
Why couldn't they choose anyone else but the two hardest to deal with?!
What if they get angry and wreak havoc during the show?!
Forget it, let's sleep. Tomorrow's problems can wait until tomorrow!
The director slipped into bed and soon fell asleep.
Only to wake up screaming in a nightmare, "Brother Li, spare my life—"
———
After breakfast, Jian Li began studying the scenic area map.
The four undercover agents gathered around, "Are we splitting up again this time?"
"I estimate," Jian Li frowned slightly, "the director will arrange for one-on-one surveillance. When we actually meet, it'll come down to hand-to-hand combat. Don't use firearms in the city center; it's easy to cause accidental injuries."
"That's for sure," Yuan Feng hadn't finished eating yet, stuffing a bun into his mouth, speaking indistinctly, "Our task is to ensure the safety of the citizens."
Before he could finish, everyone turned their heads towards him.
Yuan Feng realized something was off and hurriedly said, "Sorry, it's a professional habit!"
Huo Xiao looked down at him from above, "What profession?"
Yuan Feng, "... Damn! Exposed!"
"I—"
"He's a new-generation professional idol," Jian Li didn't even look up to help him out, "he needs to maintain a good image."
"Right, right, right!" Yuan Feng quickly finished stuffing the remaining bun, "That's exactly it!"
"There are four exits in the scenic area," Jian Li pointed on the unfolded map, "choose your directions, let's head out directly."
"North!"
"I want North!"
Shi Huayi and Zhou Nan spoke simultaneously.
Jian Li nodded, "Alright, you two take North."
Yuan Feng suddenly squinted his eyes, "Hiss—"
"You two have an issue!"
Shi Huayi and Zhou Nan stiffened, then feigned a relaxed tone, "What issue?"
"Care to elaborate?"
"Aren't you two dating? How else would you be so in sync?" Yuan Feng suddenly chuckled, "Just messing with you guys, how can boys date boys!"
Shi Huayi and Zhou Nan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, both awkwardly laughing,
"Exactly, how can guys date guys..."
"What's going on in your head?!"
Before they could finish teasing, the director's assistant suddenly approached, looking pleased, "Brother Li, Brother Xiao, congratulations, advertisers are already interested after just starting filming."
"What kind of advertisement?" Jian Li lifted his eyelids, glancing over nonchalantly.
Usually, receiving an advertisement offer during a variety show indicates great success,
even top-tier stars would get a little excited hearing such news.
But Jian Li showed no emotional fluctuation, appearing indifferent.
The assistant felt even more uncertain, "It's... a pretty ordinary diamond ring ad, just show it to the camera during filming."
"Why do you need two people?" Jian Li furrowed his brows, sensing a hint of conspiracy.
"B-because you and Brother Xiao are the most popular, the brand specifically requested it. Brother Li, your agent has already signed the contract. If you don't cooperate, there will be compensation fees."
The assistant stuttered through his explanation.
"..."
Always threatening with compensation fees!
Jian Li rolled his eyes, "Fine, give it to me, I'll put it on."
The assistant hurriedly handed it over, "Later, wear the earpiece and follow the director's instructions to display the plot."
Jian Li nodded, glanced at the diamond ring, thinking it looked nice but wasn't very valuable.
With gold prices soaring, wouldn't it be better to wear that?
"Let's go."
The criminal team walked out of the safe base, agile and swift, disappearing around the corner in an instant.
Jian Li and Huo Xiao chose the same direction for the scenic area exit to facilitate the advertisement filming.
Just as they were about to blend into the crowd and find a more hidden spot,
the director's voice came through the earpiece,
"Within ten minutes, find a suitable location to display the diamond ring and... share a passionate kiss."
Jian Li's leg, which had just stepped forward, froze mid-air, his overly handsome features began to distort,
Damn!
We're escaping!
You want us to share a passionate kiss,
Are you insane?!
I’m having a hard time liking the ML in this novel, since everything he does comes across as harassment, even if only to a lesser degree. The protagonist has said that he doesn’t like men, and even if that’s a lie, it’s pretty obvious that he’s indirectly rejecting the ML on multiple occasions, even while treating him kindly. Honestly, as a woman, it’s uncomfortable for me to read, but I’m sticking with it simply because I like the other characters. I just hope the situation doesn’t get worse.