Are you out of your mind? Making us kiss in the street?!

The atmosphere in the secluded alley turned awkward for a few seconds. Jian Li stiffly turned back, his cheeks faintly red as he looked at Huo Xiao. "D-did you hear that?!"

Huo Xiao nodded. "Share a passionate kiss within ten minutes."

Before he had even finished speaking, the livestream chat went wild.

[Aaaaaah-I didn't mishear that, did I?! The stage mission is actually a kiss?! This is so damn exciting, I need emergency heart medication!]

[Now this is a show that delivers! They can even feed us sweet moments in an elimination game?! Just turn it into a dating show already!]

[Ten minutes?! I can't even wait one! Kiss right now-]

[Director, you know how to pull in viewers. The fans have already spread the word, and the masses are on their way!]

[Get ready to capture it, preferably as a GIF so we can watch it over and over. Don't worry about me being single. Please bury me in all that lovey-dovey sweetness!]

[...]

Comments blanketed the screen, and the livestream's viewer count soared.

But the two men on camera were still staring at each other, showing no sign of putting their lips to work.

Finally, Jian Li couldn't help asking, "How much is the contract termination fee?"

Huo Xiao curved his lips. "Isn't your little brother still in school? Aren't you worried the creditors will go looking for him?"

Jian Li narrowed his eyes. "Hitting me where it hurts?"

Huo Xiao shook his head. "Just reminding you."

Jian Li rolled his eyes. ...Did you have to make that reminder so pointed?!

Huo Xiao suddenly leaned forward, bringing his lips to Jian Li's ear without warning.

Jian Li instantly went rigid, seized by a flustered panic that left him at a loss.

No way, no way.

Is he going to force a kiss on me?!

Should I punch him or slap him?!

As his thoughts ran wild, a cool, clear voice reached his ear, mingling with a fir-like scent and leaving him even more dazed.

"Have you learned how to fake a kiss with camera angles?"

Jian Li froze for a moment. "F-fake a kiss?"

Before he could react, Huo Xiao had already raised his arms, cupped his sharply defined face, and dipped his head toward him.

Holy shit.

He's just going straight in for a kiss?

Without even a warning?

Is he messing with me?!

The camera operator following them jolted in surprise and hurriedly zoomed in, first focusing on their matching diamond rings before shifting to where the two men were pressed intimately together.

But everything happened too quickly. Before he could capture the best shot, the fugitives had already pulled apart.

Although they had completed the mission so easily, Jian Li's heart was still pounding like a drum, as if it might leap right out of his throat.

He forced himself to look calm. "Thanks, man."

An actor through and through. That camera-angle trick really works. Even I almost fell for it.

Yet a small, indescribable sense of disappointment lingered in his chest...

"Brother Li? What are you two doing here?" Yuan Feng had already run past, but he doubled back. "Didn't you say we'd finish in half an hour?"

"Huh?" Suddenly noticing something off, he hurried closer. "Why's your face so red? Are you feverish?"

"Horny?!" Jian Li suddenly exploded. "You're the horny one! Your whole family's horny!"

After cursing him out, he darted out of the alley, with Huo Xiao close behind.

Only Yuan Feng and the camera operator for his individual feed remained, standing there questioning their lives.

"Did I... just get yelled at?!"

[Drop the question mark. You definitely got yelled at! Haha, poor guy!]

[That's what you get for interrupting their moment, hehe!]

[Little Yuan Feng is so adorable. I want to take him home!]

[Waaah, we didn't see the kiss. Now we have to imagine the rest!]

[Don't worry, everyone! We'll get our sweet moments! As long as we stay strong in our shipping hearts!]

By the time they passed through the bustling downtown area, Jian Li had calmed down considerably.

He bought a random cap and put it on, pulling the brim low and leaving only his lean jawline visible to the camera.

Huo Xiao did the same. His looks were just as striking, and even with every effort to conceal them, he still stood out from the crowd.

Especially as the two strode swiftly side by side, they looked radiant and perfectly matched.

The fans in the livestream went wild over the pairing, but the vendors lining the street had no interest in admiring them.

Having learned their lesson yesterday, they had grown even more vigilant.

They feared that a single careless mistake would cost them their jobs as extras.

So as soon as Jian Li and Huo Xiao passed, they quickly relayed the information over their radios. "The number one and number two wanted fugitives are heading toward the west exit! Please send officers to support us immediately!"

"Copy," Chen Yifan said gravely. "Officers are already stationed at the west exit."

He put away his radio and turned to ask Xu Qi, "Who's at the west exit?"

"Let me check their locations." Xu Qi opened the tablet. "Numbers five and six."

Then he jerked his head up. "Holy shit, it's Lu Siqi and his idiot brother!"

"Should we send backup?"

Chen Yifan frowned. "Who can we send? The others aren't easy to deal with either!"

"If we use our weakest pair against their strongest, we might still have a fighting chance."

[That's our captain, calm and smart. Today's citywide manhunt is going to be incredibly difficult. There's no way they can hold every exit!]

[I feel bad for the Hunter team. Not only are their opponents strong, but they're also saddled with useless teammates!]

[This is the best option. Besides, for some reason, the thought of Jian Li beating the crap out of Lu Yuanhang gets me excited!]

[Same here!]

After receiving the Informant's report, Lu Siqi looked grim.

Lu Yuanhang, however, was unusually animated. "Bro, I remember you're a ninth-degree black belt in taekwondo. Handling trash like Jian Li shouldn't be a problem!"

"Then you'll handle Huo Xiao?" Lu Siqi shot him a sidelong glance.

Lu Yuanhang's expression froze. "H-Huo Xiao... Doesn't Brother Xiao have a business relationship with our family? He definitely won't go hard on us. It'll just be for show, right?"

"Have you forgotten how Jian Li fought at the Lu Family home?" Lu Yuanhang added, "Even I couldn't hold him off."

Lu Yuanhang pouted. "Bro, you were going easy on him! You can't hold back this time."

"People who don't behave need to be taught a lesson!"

Lu Siqi pressed his lips together and was about to say something when two figures suddenly bore down on them from across the way.

"Well, if it isn't the scumbag brothers." Jian Li curled his lips. "Did the production team arrange this on purpose? The director really is good to me."

Behind the monitor, the director thought, No, absolutely not.

These two brothers volunteered. There was nothing we could do.

"Jian Li, don't get too cocky. Backup will be here any second." Lu Yuanhang planted his hands on his hips. "You'll be crying soon enough!"

"Crying?" With one hand in his pocket, Jian Li slowly advanced. "Someone will definitely be crying."

"You signed a life-and-death waiver before coming on this show, right?"

"If you didn't, you'd better fill one out."

Suddenly frightened by his manner, Lu Yuanhang hurriedly backed away. "Wait! Don't come any closer!"

Jian Li flashed a deadly smile. "Do you think it's still early enough to call for help?"