Did you two used to date? How else are you so in sync?

After just one day of filming, City Hunter had reached an unprecedented level of popularity.

Especially after someone edited together the secretly filmed footage from the fugitives' perspective that evening, dropping it onto social media like a land mine.

The related hashtags shot straight to the top of the trending list in the early hours.

#BrotherLiAndHuoXiaoAreSoHotMajorBulletInTheHeadVibes#

#LuoXiaohongWieldsASoftWhipAndSmashesBouldersBarehanded#

#ShiHuayiAndZhouNanAreWayTooGoodAtPlantingBombsHaveTheyDoneThisBefore?!#

#LittleYuanFengActuallyKnowsCounterSurveillanceAndSniperHeadshots?#

#WhoExactlyAreTheyHunterHasMetItsMatch?!#

The comments were full of night owls excitedly pounding away at their keyboards.

[Honestly, Hunter never got to show its full strength. Mostly because they had dead weight who kept popping up to cause trouble!]

[During yesterday's showdown at the Detention Center, they wouldn't have gone down without a fight if Lu Yuanhang hadn't started the infighting!]

[Tomorrow's the citywide manhunt, right?! Apparently there'll be hand-to-hand combat, and all the camera operators for the individual feeds will be out there. It's going to be intense!]

[I haven't been this excited in ages. How is this a variety show? This is an ultimate showdown!]

Although City Hunter had been popular for a long time, none of its shoots had ever surpassed the buzz surrounding its first season.

No one had expected it to make headlines again because the fugitives were so damn badass.

The surge of attention came hard and fast, showing signs of surpassing even its original peak!

By all rights, the director should have been too happy to sleep. After all, attention was king in the entertainment industry these days.

As long as the show held firmly onto the top ratings spot, how could he possibly lack product placements and investors eager to check in?!

Yet his face remained clouded with worry as he kept ending calls.

His assistant came over. "Director, it's past midnight. Advertisers are still calling you?!"

"Fuck, it's never been this popular before." The director's expression was indescribable. "And every damn one of them wants those fugitives!"

"How can I agree to that?!"

"Wouldn't that be setting a bad example?!"

His assistant sighed. "Why don't we just turn your phone off?"

"I fucking wish!" The director suddenly grew agitated. "But do I dare offend the advertisers?!"

As he spoke, he tossed his phone onto the bed. "Let's agree to the one we can least afford to mess with first!"

"Who?" His assistant leaned over curiously.

"You've heard of the three Huo sisters, right?"

His assistant looked stunned. "The three princesses of the Huo Corporation, known as the mothers of the entertainment industry? The ones who have dirt on practically every A-list celebrity and force them onto dating shows?!"

The director pursed his lips and nodded.

His assistant blinked. "Wh-what kind of ad?"

"Matching diamond rings." The director looked as though he had lost the will to live. "And they want footage of them showing off their love."

His assistant's mouth fell open. "There's only one female guest among the fugitives, and... she really doesn't look like the dating type?!"

She had just chugged fifteen bottles of beer.

With that insane alcohol tolerance, who would dare date her?!

"It's not the woman." The director's face sagged. "The three princesses specified a pairing."

His assistant: ...

Specified?!

Why did that sound suspiciously like they were sneaking in their own agenda?!

Were they paying to indulge their ship?!

"Jian Li and Huo Xiao."

After revealing the answer, the director buried his head beneath his pillow like an ostrich, trying to escape his miserable reality.

Of all the people they could have picked, why those two impossible bastards?!

What if they pissed those two off and they went on another rampage through the show?!

Whatever. Sleep first. Tomorrow's problems could wait until tomorrow!

The director slipped under the covers and soon drifted off.

Then he woke from a nightmare with a scream. "Brother Li, spare my life-"

After breakfast, Jian Li began studying a map of the Scenic Area.

The four undercover operatives gathered around. "Are we splitting up again this time?"

"My guess is..." Jian Li's brows drew together slightly. "The director will assign someone to tail each of us. Once we actually run into them, it'll be hand-to-hand combat. Don't use guns in busy areas. We could accidentally hit bystanders."

"Of course." Yuan Feng still hadn't finished eating. He stuffed a bun into his mouth, his words muffled. "Our mission is to ensure the public's safety."

Before he had even finished speaking, everyone else turned toward him.

Realizing his mistake, Yuan Feng hurriedly said, "Sorry, force of habit from work!"

Huo Xiao looked down at him. "What do you do for work?"

Yuan Feng: "..." Fuck! I've blown my cover!

"I-"

"He's a professional idol of the new generation," Jian Li said without even looking up, rescuing him. "He needs to cultivate an upstanding, wholesome public image."

"Right, right, right!" Yuan Feng hurriedly stuffed the rest of his bun into his mouth. "Exactly!"

"The Scenic Area has four exits." Jian Li tapped the map spread out in front of him. "Pick your directions, then we'll head straight out."

"North!"

"I want north!"

Shi Huayi and Zhou Nan spoke at the same time.

Jian Li nodded. "Fine. You two take north."

Yuan Feng suddenly narrowed his eyes. "Hmm-"

"There's something going on with you two!"

Shi Huayi and Zhou Nan's expressions tightened before they adopted deliberately casual tones. "What's going on?"

"Care to elaborate?"

"Did you two used to date? How else are you so in sync?" Yuan Feng suddenly chuckled. "Just messing with you. How could two guys date?"

Shi Huayi and Zhou Nan secretly breathed sighs of relief, then laughed awkwardly in unison.

"Exactly. How could a guy date another guy..."

"What the hell goes on in that head of yours?!"

Before they could finish teasing him, the director's assistant suddenly approached with an ingratiating expression. "Brother Li, Huo Xiao, congratulations! You've only just started filming, and an advertiser already wants you."

"What kind of ad?" Jian Li raised his eyes and glanced over indifferently.

Normally, receiving an advertising offer during a variety show was a sign that someone was becoming a huge hit.

Even an A-list celebrity would have been a little excited to hear the news.

But Jian Li showed no emotional response at all. He looked utterly unconcerned.

The director's assistant immediately felt even less confident. "It's just... a pretty ordinary diamond ring ad. You only need to show it to the camera during filming."

"Then why do you need two people?" Jian Li frowned slightly, catching a whiff of a conspiracy.

"B-because you and Huo Xiao are the most popular. The brand specifically requested you. Brother Li, your manager has already signed the contract. If you don't cooperate, you'll have to pay damages."

The assistant stammered his way through the explanation.

"..."

Always holding breach-of-contract penalties over my head!

Jian Li rolled his eyes. "Fine. Give it here. I'll put it on."

The assistant hurriedly handed it over. "Once you have your earpiece in, just follow the director's instructions and act out the scene."

Jian Li nodded and glanced at the diamond ring. Pretty nice-looking, but it won't hold its value.

Gold prices were soaring these days. Why not wear something made of that instead?

"Let's go."

The fugitives left the safe house, moving swiftly and nimbly, and vanished around the street corner in moments.

To make filming the ad easier, Jian Li and Huo Xiao chose the same exit from the Scenic Area.

Just as they were about to slip into the crowd and find somewhere better concealed,

the director's voice suddenly came through their earpieces.

"Please find a suitable spot within ten minutes, show off the diamond rings, and... share a passionate kiss."

The leg Jian Li had just stepped forward with froze in midair, and his outrageously handsome features began to twist.

Fuck!

We're on the run!

And you want me to share a passionate kiss?

Are you some kind of pervert?!