The next morning, at 6 AM, Guo Tao, the Chief Director of Global Manhunt: The Final Heist, had already arrived at the Production Team's command center.
He had poured his heart and soul into this show and couldn't afford it to fail.
Returning home the previous night, he couldn't sleep soundly, constantly fearing some unexpected emergency might occur in the middle of the night.
Although night staff were on duty to notify him immediately of any issues, Guo Tao remained anxious.
As a live-streamed reality show, broadcasts would only halt under extraordinary circumstances, such as yesterday's encounter with a real crime. Even in the early morning hours, staff monitored the live stream.
However, once contestants and Expert Team members entered their rooms, the live feed typically cut off, leaving the camera focused on the room's entrance. The Production Team prioritized protecting the participants' privacy.
Fortunately, the night passed without incident. Guo Tao grabbed a quick breakfast and hurried back to the command center.
"Good morning, Director Guo!"
"Good morning, everyone."
After greeting the night shift crew, Guo Tao settled back into his director's chair.
The assistant director, who had stayed with the Production Team overnight, rushed over to report on the previous night's events:
"Director Guo, as per your instructions, we focused primarily on Contestant Cifera. After finishing her late-night snack and returning to her room, she didn't leave again. We can confirm she didn't sneak out.
"Contestant Night Shadow stayed at the hourly hotel last night, and there were no unusual incidents there either.
"As for the Pursuit Team, everything remained normal."
"Good," Guo Tao nodded, then stood up and addressed everyone:
"You've all worked hard. Once the morning shift arrives, go get some proper rest. We'll need your continued dedication tonight."
"Thank you for your concern, Director Guo. It's our duty."
"Excellent! If we all work together, we'll have no trouble making this show a success. The year-end bonuses will surely make for a prosperous New Year!"
After giving the team a motivational pep talk, Guo Tao turned his attention to the monitor displaying Cifera's camera feed, a satisfied expression spreading across his face.
Truth be told, before the show premiered, Night Shadow had been the contestant he'd focused on most. As the grandson of a legendary thief, he brought significant hype to the program.
To further highlight Night Shadow's prowess, Guo Tao had even deliberately included several "decorative" contestants among the initial ten participants.
Cifera was one of those "decorative" contestants.
He never imagined that Cifera, whom he'd dismissed as mere eye candy, was actually a hidden powerhouse.
Single-handedly, she had carried nearly all the explosive moments of the first day's broadcasts. Compared to her, Night Shadow was reduced to a clown in the eyes of many viewers.
After just one day on the air, Cifera had become an instant sensation in China, a viral sensation already drawing tens of millions of views.
In addition to the Police Force and tech companies vying to recruit her, numerous film and television directors were eager to cast her in their projects. Not to mention the countless businesses clamoring for her endorsement in advertisements.
Guo Tao, naturally, didn't want to see such a ratings-boosting treasure eliminated so quickly.
Much of his insomnia the previous night stemmed from his fear that Cifera might do something reckless.
When the netizen "Little Ya" proposed that terrifying idea yesterday, Guo Tao nearly fell off his chair.
He knew it was absurd. Unless someone wanted to be immediately eliminated, no sane person would ever choose such a course.
But the problem was Cifera herself. Guo Tao couldn't fathom her.
Her behavior completely contradicted her personal profile, meaning that whatever Cifera might do next remained a complete mystery.
As a result, Guo Tao always felt a nagging premonition, fearing that Cifera would indeed do as Little Ya predicted—wait for the arrest warrant to be issued before making a forced escape, only to be eliminated by the Pursuit Team in such a simple and straightforward manner.
To be honest, if such a scenario actually unfolded, Guo Tao felt he might literally vomit blood on the spot.
My dear Cifera, please, for my sake, just behave yourself! Don't do anything rash! Wake up early and run away obediently...
Guo Tao silently prayed in his heart.
Just then, he saw the door to Cifera's room swing open on the monitor.
His heart skipped a beat—startled!
But not with fear; this was the startle of pleasant surprise.
Waking up this early? She must be planning to make her escape! Guo Tao thought.
Clever kitty, well done!
However, just as Guo Tao popped the champagne cork, he saw Cifera enter the base's kitchen, rummaging through drawers and cabinets. She didn't look like she was about to leave.
Could she be trying to steal something before leaving? But why the kitchen?
If Cifera were caught stealing, there would be no need to wait for a warrant—the Pursuit Team could arrest her on the spot.
The risk was far too great! If she was going to commit a crime, she should at least leave first!
Guo Tao's thoughts echoed those of many viewers who had woken up early to watch the live stream.
Unlike Guo Tao, who worried Cifera might cause trouble, these viewers were terrified of missing her next move. That's why they had risen before dawn to tune in.
Now that they saw Cifera taking action, they felt vindicated in their foresight.
[Could Cifera be planning to steal all the kitchen supplies, leaving the Pursuit Team hungry and unable to catch her?]
[Your idea isn't bad, but sadly, Cifera lacks a dimensional storage bag.]
[Exactly! Look at how well-stocked this kitchen is, how could Cifera possibly carry it all away by herself?]
[Speaking of which, Cifera wouldn't be foolish enough to steal from the Pursuit Team at this moment, would she? If she's caught, it's game over.]
[Why not? Didn't they say the warrant wouldn't be issued until 9 AM? Doesn't that mean Cifera is still officially a member of the Pursuit Team right now?]
[That's one way to look at it, but let's keep things separate. If you leave quietly, the Pursuit Team will pretend they only discovered you were the mole at 9 a.m. But if you start stealing openly, they can't just ignore it. After all, everything you steal counts as Wealth Points—they can't let you get away with that for free!]
[I bet the Production Team's director is freaking out right now. If Cifera gets eliminated like this, he'll probably cough up blood.]
[True. Yesterday, the internet was buzzing with news about the show, and almost all of it revolved around Cifera. Losing such a massive crowd-puller will undoubtedly cost them a ton of viewers.]
[Don't worry, guys. Cifera's no fool. I'll bet you a pack of spicy instant noodles she's preparing a final breakfast for the Pursuit Team as a farewell gift.]
[Haha, "the final breakfast"! That's actually quite fitting, considering the circumstances.]
[Quick, everyone! The guy earlier was right—Cifera really is making breakfast!]
On screen, Cifera opened the refrigerator, taking out fresh eggs, milk, and bacon. She then retrieved a bag of flour and some seasonings from the cabinet.
First, she cracked the eggs into a large bowl and gently whisked them, her movements graceful and rhythmic.
Next, she poured flour into another bowl, added the right amount of water, and began kneading the dough. Under her hands, the dough gradually took shape, becoming smooth and elastic.
Her movements flowed seamlessly from one step to the next, each action unhurried and deliberate. She looked nothing like someone preparing to flee in haste; rather, she seemed like a dedicated cook earnestly preparing breakfast.
"Looks like she's really just making breakfast," Guo Tao murmured, watching the footage and letting out a sigh of relief. Yet lingering doubts remained:
"What exactly is she up to? Is this really just a farewell?"
Unlike Guo Tao's skepticism, the live stream audience had long been captivated by Cifera's breakfast preparation, showering her with praise for her culinary skills.
[Wow, Cat's cooking skills are amazing! Her movements are so practiced!]
[Save me! Her cat ears twitch in rhythm with her kneading—so adorable!]
[Trickery, crime-solving, and now cooking too? What a perfect cat-like girlfriend!]
[A woman who's as comfortable in the kitchen as she is in the ballroom! Ahhh, Cifera is my ideal type! I want to marry her so bad!]
[I've moved into the Civil Affairs Bureau! Cifera, marry me immediately!]
[To all you creeps upstairs eyeing my wife, say no more—draw your swords!]
Cifera was completely unaware of the fierce competition raging in the Bullet Comments over who would become her husband.
Right now, she was focused on rolling out the dough into thin pancakes, then frying bacon and eggs in a skillet. The kitchen instantly filled with an irresistible aroma.
Once the bacon and eggs were cooked, she placed them on the pancakes, drizzled some sauce over them, and a delicious breakfast wrap was complete.
But she wasn't done yet.
She arranged the breakfast wrap on a delicate plate, then took out some fruit from the refrigerator, cut it into small pieces, and arranged them around the wrap as garnish.
Finally, she picked up a glass of milk and gently set it beside the plate.
After finishing, she gazed at her masterpiece with satisfaction, smiled slightly, and murmured to herself:
"Hmm, this is decent. I'll stick to this standard."