Today was a leisurely day.
At least, that was what Gan Tongtong, the operations manager of Feiyun Live Streaming platform, thought.
Because the TV station was hosting a parkour competition, there were exceptionally few people watching the live streaming today. She could take a breather every now and then to play with her phone and even pinched her boss' television set to watch the competition's live broadcast.
"Damn! Why is transmission cut off all of a sudden!"
Gan Tongtong jumped up from her chair in a fit of anger. She strode on her block heels towards the television set, and slapped the appliance twice with her soft tender palm!
How dare these black and white static noise show up to steal the show just when it was time for Number 18 to show his amazing skills!
Gan Tongtong gritted her teeth in frustration and pouted in resignation. "The television signal is so unreliable. If only they had given us the broadcasting rights up front!"
Feiyun Live Streaming platform was not considered the largest live-streaming platform in Xilin City.
However, they had risen to prominence in the live streaming industry in the past two years! They were miles ahead of their compatriots from the same period!
Gan Tongtong paced around the room angrily. Suddenly, an image appeared on the television.
She looked towards the television set eagerly but realized that it was only an advertisement. Instantly, like a frosted eggplant, she deflated and collapsed on the table listlessly.
The soundproofing in the room was not good. The audio system in the live-streaming studio next door was very loud. Singing and jumping could be heard coming from there, as if demolition work was taking place there.
The aggravating music tugged at Gan Tongtong's heartstrings. She felt as if there were thousands of ants crawling around her heart, causing an unbearably itchy sensation that she couldn't scratch.
Gan Tongtong held her head in distress. "How is Number 18 doing now? I want to watch his 'Suspended in the Air' act so badly!"
"Why is the production team's efficiency so low? They still have not recovered from this breakdown yet!"
She hugged her head and wailed. She wished she could personally go to the production team's premises to check on the situation.
Suddenly, a buzzing sound could be heard from near the window.
Gan Tongtong looked up and saw a small pitch black drone flying towards her from outside.
She watched the little guy hover around the room curiously. Seemingly not able to find anyone else in the room, it flew back to her.
Then, the drone shook twice and a small piece of paper fell from it.
"Prankster?" Perplexed, Gan Tongtong picked up the note and unfolded it.
On that slip of paper about the length of a fingertip were written eight words, "Live stream of death, seeking collaboration."
Below these words was a tiny inscription, "18."
Those two sensitive numbers instantly caught Gan Tongtong's attention. "Isn't this too much of a coincidence!"
Just when Number 18 Chen Yeliang's live broadcast had been truncated, a death live-stream seeking collaboration coincidentally came knocking on her door, similarly inscribed with the number 18!
Gan Tongtong's keen intuition told her that the owner of this drone was someone extraordinary!
The drone hovering in the air seemed to be able to read her thoughts. With a "Pop", a USB connector popped out from the side of the drone.
With a doubtful look, Gan Tongtong tried attaching the connector to the television.
The screen flashed once and the advertisement was replaced by another image.
The moment she saw the scene on the screen, Gan Tongtong's eyes widened in shock as she covered her mouth and took two steps back involuntarily.
On the screen was Number 18 Chen Yeliang's competition venue, and it was an exclusive follow-up live stream!
She saw Chen Yeliang standing upright on the beam like a pine tree. The turbulent winds did nothing to diminish his dashing good looks. Right beside him stood Number 1 and Number 2. She could not make out what they were busy with.
Gan Tongtong couldn't believe that such good fortune would simply fall onto her lap. She fired up her social media app and entered the discussion forum entitled [Number 18 Chen Yeliang].
The comments section was full of complaints and even curses at the production team. Many people were asking about the follow-up to Chen Yeliang's act, and they were all as anxious as her.
"Oh my god!" Unable to contain herself, Gan Tongtong cried out excitedly.
She breathlessly circled around the table twice but still felt overwhelmed by excitement. She rushed to the television set and hugged its 72-inch wide screen, planting a firm kiss on the part of the screen when Chen Yeliang was shown standing.
"Baby, you kept me waiting for so long!"
Her red lipstick marks were imprinted squarely on that part of the screen showing Chen Yeliang's face. She pursed her lips shyly and looked at him lovingly.
Just then, a mocking voice came from the door.
"Mwah, baby, you kept me waiting for so long!"
Gan Tongtong turned around and saw a big group of people crowding at the doorway of the office, like a horde of starving students waiting for dinnertime.
Furthermore, all of them had lewd smiles on their faces as they pouted their lips in mocking imitation of her!
"What are you guys doing!" Embarrassed, Gan Tongtong yelled at them in fury.
"You shouted so loudly that we could not help coming over for a look." The technical department's Li winked at her and said, "Ms. Gan, are you kissing your idol?"
Gan Tongtong rolled her eyes at him, sweeping her beautiful eyes across the television screen. "I'm kissing the God of Wealth!"
"Is that so? Let us partake in the good fortune too." Once Li entered, the other employees followed suit.
Soon, the small office was brimming with people, jostling eagerly in front of the television set, trying to catch a glimpse of the legendary God of Wealth.
A girl sporting black-framed glasses held her eyewear for a clearer look of the footage. What she saw made her jaws drop in shock.
"Ms. Gan, this… How did you get hold of it?"
Although they couldn't watch the live broadcast because someone else pinched the television set, the news of the Parkour Competition had gone wildly viral online! It was impossible to not know anything about it!
"Didn't you say that the transmission has been cut? Ms. Gan, how did you get this follow-up live stream?"
"My god, if we live stream this, we will make a killing!"
"But… if the production team sues us, we will go bankrupt!"
The employees were both shocked and worried, but when they thought about how massively popular the show was, they almost drooled.
"What's there to be afraid of!" Gan Tongtong waved her hand. "I've already made up my mind. Connect to our system immediately and live-stream the final competition!"
Knowing that the employees would be worried, she waved the note in her hand.
"Although this doesn't really count as authorization, it is still requested by someone. The main responsibility still lay with the person who wrote this note!"
Moreover, even if they were sued, with the exclusive live stream, they would have been compensated many times over. No matter how one looked at it, it was not a money-losing deal.
Gan Tongtong was overjoyed. She grabbed the drone and pushed aside the staff blocking her way. She ran to the live-stream studio next door and turned off the loud annoying music.
She spoke into the live-stream camera, "My dear friends, all of you must be tired of watching the young ladies dance. Let's watch something exciting!"
After that, she immediately connected the camera to the drone's transmission without any regard for her bewildered viewers!
The footage of the top floor of Metropolis Building 1 appeared in everyone's view once again. The news of the live stream on the web spread like a virus.
The viewers did not care why they had to change viewing channels for no reason. They only knew that they could continue watching again!
Netizens quickly flooded into the live stream thread. In the short span of just ten minutes, the original 30,000 viewers online instantly skyrocketed to 500,000!
The big jump in viewership almost paralyzed the server. Li from the technical department hurriedly returned to his station to provide additional support to the server that was on the verge of collapse.
In the live stream, Xiong Chang did not notice the black drone in the corner. He was still waiting dumbly for Qiu Pengpai to bring his phone up.
After which, he very diligently pointed the cell phone camera at Chen Yeliang.
"Number 18, you can begin!"
Chen Yeliang beamed and said, "I'm counting on you guys then."
The parkour production team were swarmed with work. The staff rushed around the main control room non-stop, but they could not find the reason for the interruption in transmission.
The general manager was sweating profusely and grabbed the shoulders of the production manager in a panic.
"You go upstairs right now and get 18 to rest for a while. We'll start again when we are back on air!"
"If the finale act can be successfully broadcast, we will definitely be able to salvage this show from the broadcast disaster!"
The manager nodded gravely and with clenched fists, said, "Don't worry, I'll go right away!"
He had barely finished speaking before darting towards the elevator as if a pair of wings had sprouted on his back.
Once out of sight, he turned around, made sure that no one was watching him before turning towards the massage room at the end of the corridor.
The manager thought spitefully, "The money given by the Brotherhood is equivalent to ten years of my salary. Help you get hold of Number 18? Dream on!"
It was crowded enough upstairs. He wasn't dumb enough to go up and add to the overcrowding.
The manager's previously anxious expression evaporated and he traipsed sprightly into the massage room while humming a tune.
Unbeknownst to the production team, what they had assumed to be a top-secret scene was currently being widely circulated online.
The drone concealed in the corner was currently focused on Chen Yeliang and Xiong Chang.
In the footage, Xiong Chang's cell phone showed a black screen. He was not recording for Chen Yeliang at all.
Chen Yeliang did not seem to have noticed it at all. With his head lowered, he located a suitable spot to place his hands on the edge of the beam.
The drone then zoomed in on Chen Yeliang's hands which were supporting his body.
The beam was as smooth as new. Even the edges had been rounded off in a polished arc.
Chen Yeliang's entire body was suspended in the air by the strength of his ten fingers!
Just simply watching the program was enough to send the viewers' hearts racing, yet Chen Yeliang was able to keep a straight face. He even looked downwards to the foot of the building.
Below his feet was a bustling commercial street. Endless stream of cars moved like ants. Just one look could make one dizzy.
Xiong Chang was waiting for this moment!
Looking very pleased with himself, he put the cell phone back into his pocket and squatted down in front of Chen Yeliang.
Chen Yeliang pretended to be puzzled and asked him, "Why aren't you recording anymore?"
Xiong Chang laughed out loud on hearing his query. "What do you want me to record? Record how horribly you die? There's no need for me to do that. When you drop down and turn into meat paste, someone will naturally record your tragic end and post it online!"
While Xiong Chang was gloating, Qiu Pengpai came over to join in the ribbing. He squatted in front of Chen Yeliang and jabbed the gripping fingers.
Right now, Chen Yeliang was trapped. In their eyes, he was like a thousand pound weight hanging on a thin thread. At the slightest application of pressure, the weight would smash heavily onto the ground!
"What are you guys trying to do? You want to kill me over a competition?" Chen Yeliang said in a panic stricken voice. "I don't even know you guys!"
He was thinking of luring the Brotherhood out from behind the scenes in front of the camera.
However, Xiong Chang did not fall for it. He gloated over Chen Yeliang's look of despair and lightly placed his foot on Chen Yeliang's hand.
"Go down and ask the King of Hell! Remember this in your next life, don't show off!"
At this moment in the live-stream studio, Gan Tongtong's expression changed drastically.
Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that a crime would be broadcast publicly on a live stream!
When Chen Yeliang was threatened with death, the barrage of comments on the live streaming channel exploded!
"What the hell! They really want to kill 18!"
"In broad daylight and in clear view too, they have totally no regard for the law!"
"I've already called the police. I hope Number 18 can hold on!"
"Who knows the contact details of the production team? Get them to hurry up and save him!"
Gan Tongtong stared at the rapidly flashing comments and felt her limbs turn cold.
When faced with something bad, subconsciously people's gut reaction was to avoid it as far as possible. Now that someone was passively live-streaming a potential murder, Gan Tongtong trembled as she grabbed the data cable, wanting to terminate this scene.
Just as she was feeling conflicted, Xiong Chang jumped up in the scene and stamped viciously on Chen Yeliang's hand!
Dong!
A dull sound rang out from the steel beam. A numbing sensation spread up from his feet to the base of Xiong Chang's thigh.
He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "This sensation, did I miss his hand?"
Looking down, he saw Chen Yeliang blowing on his right hand with a pained expression while hanging in the air with only one hand!
Qiu Pengpai was stunned. He stood there with his eyes wide open.
Xiong Chang had made a show of stamping on the hand but still missed. Overwhelmed with embarrassment, he flew into a rage and slapped Qiu Pengpai.
"What are you waiting for! Are you waiting for him to climb up!"
Qiu Pengpai nodded repeatedly and raised his leg to stamp on Chen Yeliang's other hand!
Chen Yeliang reacted quickly. He pulled back his left hand and changed to his right hand to grab onto the beam seamlessly. He did not fall off!
"I'll make you grab!" Xiong Chang joined in the stamping.
Both of them stepped on Chen Yeliang's hands at the same time! They were determined to send him to hell with their next step!
Chen Yeliang gave a slight smile. Then using his left hand as a pivot, he swiveled through the air and his right hand followed through, shifting his body to one side!
This series of moves was executed in a smooth and flowing manner. The perfection was comparable to the choreography in kung fu movies!
When the viewers logged into the live stream channel saw this, they were all dumbfounded!
"He swiveled around! He swiveled around!"
"This is too thrilling. Is Number 18 a professional stuntman?"
"The rate of his breathing did not even change. The two monkeys above have already turned red with anger!"
"He has really managed to hold on! The rescue team should hurry up!"
The voices of worry were replaced by cheers and encouragement for Chen Yeliang's exhilarating performance.
On the other hand, the police immediately mobilized their officers when they received the call. Among those who rushed to Metropolis Building 1, was Officer Zhao.
Back to the top of the building.
The redness on the faces of Xiong Chang and Qiu Pengpai had turned the color of pig liver as they held their waists trying to catch their breath.
Chen Yeliang was like the reincarnation of Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle. Other than not being able to climb up, he was able to do anything on the beam and could dodge them faster than their stamping feet.
"You f*cking… Just you f*cking wait! If I don't kill… If I don't kill you, my surname is not Xiong!"
"Hurry up then, don't delay the competition." Chen Yeliang said in a calm and composed manner.
Xiong Chang was absolutely furious! He forced Qiu Pengpai down into a kneeling position on the beam. He waved his finger at Qiu Pengpai's nose and threatened. "Don't let him dodge again, or else I'll kill you!"
Using Qiu Pengpai as an obstacle, Xiong Chang reduced the length of the beam into a very short section.
Then, he laid himself flat and used both hands and feet to force Chen Yeliang towards the beam-column junction.
As he hammered away furiously at Chen Yeliang's hands, he cursed, "Die! Die! Let's see how long you can hang on."
Chen Yeliang was getting less and less room to move. As Xiong Chang planned, he had been forced into a corner.
Seeing that Chen Yeliang had run out of options, Xiong Chang laughed proudly. "Hahahaha! You're doomed!"
Chen Yeliang raised his attractive eyebrows and pointed to something behind them.
Xiong Chang had become complacent and wasn't afraid that he would play any tricks. He turned around and immediately broke out in cold sweat.
A small drone hovered behind the two men like a phantom. The intricate camera lens was continually adjusting to the different viewing angles.
Xiong Chang had no time to inquire where the drone had come from, but he knew that what he had just done had all been recorded.
He immediately stooped down to grab Chen Yeliang's arm and tried to pull him up. After all, murder and attempted murder were two different criminal offenses.
However, Chen Yeliang gave a slight smile and the two hands that had gripped like steel pincers till now unexpectedly released their grip and he fell off!
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