Liu Shanhe's words hung in the air, but Lei Gang didn't immediately respond. He lowered his head, clenching his fists, lost in thought.
Liu Shanhe didn't press him, silently waiting for "him" to accept the reality of his defeat.
A strange hush fell over the scene.
As dedicated Cat Fans, Liu Ruyan and Li Zhanting shared similar feelings: overwhelming shock and a hint of disappointment.
Liu Ruyan frowned slightly, her fingers twisting together unconsciously.
Could it be true that Little Cifera, the ingenious and radiant Little Cat Cat, had been exposed in such a humiliating manner?
Disguised as Lei Gang? The plan was bold, but the execution was so... careless?
Had she broken their promise tonight?
On the other side, Li Zhanting took a deep breath, his expression complex.
He admired Cifera's talent, but now, faced with "irrefutable evidence," he had to accept her defeat.
So, miracles really don't last forever, do they?
Meanwhile, among the Expert Team members:
Zhang Hong grinned widely and slapped Feng Chiyu on the shoulder, his voice laced with disappointment:
"Damn it! I thought I'd be the one to personally catch Cifera and avenge my door-crushing humiliation, but Nie Bing beat me to it!"
"Ugh! You're going to break my shoulder one of these days with those slaps!"
Feng Chiyu rubbed his shoulder where Zhang Hong had slapped him. "Why don't you ask Old Liu for a chance to personally handcuff Cifera? That's as good as catching her yourself, right?"
"But seriously, posing as a security chief to steal jewels? Cifera's ambition is truly enormous. Too bad her cover was blown so early."
A hint of regret lingered in his voice, as if the game had ended prematurely. Deep down, he'd been hoping for another Parkour showdown with Cifera.
Wang Lei, meanwhile, let out a quiet sigh of relief, his expression radiating satisfaction that the truth had finally come to light. He discreetly stretched his stiff legs after standing for so long. He couldn't be happier about Cifera's capture—finally, he wouldn't have to deal with that mischievous troublemaker any longer.
In the live stream, reactions were sharply divided. Cat Fans mourned their idol's downfall, while Pursuit Team fans erupted in cheers:
[Cifera lost?! My faith has crumbled! Waaah~]
[Goddess Nie Bing is incredible! (voice cracking) She went straight for the throat, using her technical skills to utterly crush Cifera's schemes!]
[Old Liu: Cifera, learn your lesson! — That line was brutal! It must have stung Cifera deeply.]
[Even though I feel bad for Cifera, the evidence is airtight this time. The projector and the female reporter's testimony—it's a double knockout!]
[Pursuit Team fans are strutting! Serves you Cat Fans right for bragging every day! Look who's backfired now!]
[ig Pecs's face turned green! Poor thing~ But I can't stop laughing! Ha ha ha! ! !]
[Laugh all you want! Cifera did her best. It's just a game show anyway. She can even build something as amazing as that projector—her future is absolutely bright!]
In the studio, host Qiu Qiu, a self-proclaimed Cat Fan, couldn't hide her disappointment as she read the Bullet Comments on the live stream. Her voice trembled slightly:
"I never imagined... I never imagined Cifera would choose such a high-risk, high-reward strategy by impersonating Minister Lei. And I certainly never expected Police Officer Nie Bing to uncover the truth with such precision, presenting irrefutable evidence..."
"It seems even the cleverest cats can slip up sometimes, Inspector Nie. What do you think?"
Although Qiu Qiu acknowledged Cifera's defeat, her gaze toward Nie Junfeng carried both a plea for help and a hint of lingering defiance.
In this desperate situation, perhaps their only hope lay in once again praying that the Poison Milk of the man before her could somehow revive Cifera!
Having worked with Host Qiu Qiu for some time, Nie Junfeng immediately understood her intentions.
She wants me to use my Poison Milk in reverse to save Cifera, doesn't she?
This put him in a difficult position. On one hand, he admired Cifera as a prodigious talent; on the other, she was his own daughter...
Logically, he should support his daughter. But helping her would mean contradicting Old Liu, and only by doing so could the Poison Milk's power be reversed to aid her.
Yet, at this critical moment, forcing a contradiction would appear unprofessional and make his intentions too obvious...
Moreover, as a seasoned commentary guest, how could he possibly allow viewers to believe he genuinely believed in such mystical nonsense as the Poison Milk?
No, I have to speak frankly!
Having made up his mind, Nie Junfeng's face showed undisguised surprise, his voice filled with profound admiration:
"This truly exceeded my expectations. As netizens often say, I've once again 'poison milked' it.
"I initially thought Contestant Cifera would exploit the chaos at Starry to pull off a vanishing act and pursue her true objective.
"But she actually chose such a daring, even audacious plan. Hindsight being 20/20, it certainly aligns with her consistently unpredictable style.
"However, Old Liu was right: her youth and arrogance led her to underestimate Police Officer Nie Bing's remarkable technological advancements and the Pursuit Team's overall vigilance.
"This failure might actually be a blessing in disguise for her, forcing her to deeply understand the boundaries and risks of deception.
"And as one viewer pointed out, this is ultimately just a show. Even if Contestant Cifera loses, the undeniable fact remains that she has showcased extraordinary talent in various fields.
"To be honest, if she's eliminated, I hope the Production Team invites her to the studio as a special guest. I'd really love to have a proper conversation with her and share her learning insights with young people across the country..."
Just as Nie Junfeng was about to continue speaking, a new development shook the press conference. Lei Gang finally erupted, and with explosive force!
"Innocent! I'm the real Lei Gang! You've all been completely fooled by Cifera!"
Lei Gang threw his head back, clutching his hair, and roared like a caged beast's final lament—his voice overflowing with the anguish of betrayal and righteous fury. He lunged forward, attempting to grab Liu Shanhe by the shoulders, but Zhang Hong and Feng Chiyu instantly rushed to restrain him.
"Let go of me! Let go! I'm Lei Gang! I haven't broken any laws! What right do you have to arrest me?!"
"It's alright, release her for now," Liu Shanhe instructed.
Seeing Cifera's incredibly convincing performance, Liu Shanhe couldn't help but admire her.
This girl, Cifera... her acting is Oscar-worthy! No, she might even sweep both Best Actor and Best Actress awards—a historic first!
Upon hearing Liu Shanhe's words, Zhang Hong and Feng Chiyu immediately complied, exchanging knowing glances as they released Lei Gang.
Bro, Cifera's disguise skills are off the charts! He feels like a real, muscle-bound dude!
Once freed, Lei Gang calmed down somewhat.
He had just remembered more ways to prove his identity, but his desperation had made him overly agitated.
Lei Gang turned to Liu Shanhe, his face earnest. "I can tell you everything I did today! Where I went! Who I met! Go check! You'll find it all verified!"
Hearing Lei Gang's words, Liu Shanhe shook his head, his gaze steady but unwavering. "Cifera, that won't work. With your hacking ability, you've undoubtedly already monitored Minister Lei's every move. You could perfectly replicate that information. This proves nothing about whether you're actually Cifera."
Lei Gang's eyes reddened at Liu Shanhe's response. Losing his temper again, he pointed fiercely toward the door. "Then come with me! We'll go to the Starry Light vault! It's secured with a dual-layer lock—password and biometric authentication! Only I know the complete opening sequence and dynamic secret! I'll open it right now! Would that finally satisfy you?!"
With that, Lei Gang lunged forward, as if about to burst out of the room.
Hearing this, Liu Shanhe's face instead revealed a knowing smile, as if confirming his suspicions. He flatly refused. "Absolutely not! That's precisely the core of your plan! How could we let you near Starry Light? Who knows if you haven't already stolen the opening sequence through some technological means? If you open it, there's no telling what might happen."
"Zhang Hong! Feng Chiyu!"
At Liu Shanhe's command, Zhang Hong and Feng Chiyu surged forward like tigers unleashed, instantly flanking Lei Gang and firmly restraining him as he tried to break free.
Liu Shanhe personally stepped forward, swiftly slapping a pair of gleaming handcuffs onto Lei Gang's wrists with a crisp "click." This left Zhang Hong, who hadn't even had time to demand, "Let me cuff him!" feeling like his testicles had just been crushed.
"Then the DNA test! Yes! Take me to the hospital for a DNA test! That can't be faked, can it?!" Despite being handcuffed, Lei Gang continued his futile protests.
Liu Shanhe gazed at the subdued "Lei Gang," his voice weary yet resolute:
"...There's no need for such complications. DNA testing takes time—don't think you can stall for an opportunity.
"You know we have a more efficient and direct method of verification: arresting you, Contestant Cifera.
"Once the Production Team confirms your successful arrest, the truth will be revealed."
Liu Shanhe's words reminded everyone of the most efficient and quickest method of confirmation—one they had overlooked.
However, the live stream audience knew that the Production Team had long since lost track of Cifera. If even the Production Team couldn't confirm whether this Lei Gang was actually Cifera, how could they verify the arrest to the Pursuit Team?
This is awkward, Old Liu!