"So she didn't disappear earlier! She went outside to the glass wall!"
"But how did she get out there? There's no exit!"
"Could she really be using magic, able to phase through walls?!"
"Or is it still just a projection?!"
"But the Starry Light was definitely taken away! How do you explain that?!"
"My brain's about to explode! This is too much to handle!"
"Wait, you're still hung up on those details? We're hundreds of meters in the air! It's incredibly dangerous for Cifera to be standing on the edge like that!"
"Cifera! Stop fooling around and get back to the center right now!"
Whether in the studio or the live stream chat, the initial shock quickly turned into anxiety and fear. At this moment, both Cat Fans and Cat Haters alike prayed nothing would happen to Cifera.
Behind the Scenes
Chief Director Guo Tao had been celebrating Cifera's god-tier performance, which had brought the show unprecedented success. He was internally shouting, "Cifera, you're a legend!"
Seeing Cifera take such a dangerous action, he was so terrified he nearly fainted.
He frantically issued urgent directives, demanding that every possible means be used to contact Cifera immediately and stop her from doing anything reckless. Her personal safety must be the top priority!
In the broadcast studio, Host Qiu Qiu's face was deathly pale, her entire body numb.
It felt as though she were reliving the moment Cifera had backflipped off the second-floor balcony of the Pursuit Team's base.
Nie Junfeng could no longer stand by and watch. He rushed backstage, hoping the production crew could help him contact Cifera and persuade the omnipotent super-genius not to play with fire and self-destruct.
This wasn't just about Cifera's safety; it was about ensuring that China didn't lose one of its future absolute leaders!
At the venue, Liu Ruyan could no longer sit still either.
She had been thrilled and excited that Cifera had kept her appointment and obtained the Starry Light in such a miraculous way.
But now, seeing Cifera put herself in such danger, even her unwavering faith in Cifera's abilities couldn't keep her calm.
She rushed toward Liu Shanhe, the most experienced legendary Criminal Investigator in the Pursuit Team, now her only hope.
When she reached him, Cifera's acquaintances from the Pursuit Team—Nie Bing, Lin Zhiyuan, Zhang Hong, Feng Chiyu, and Wang Lei—had all instinctively gathered around this "backbone" of the group.
"Old Liu! Please! You have to stop Little Cifera from doing something foolish!" Liu Ruyan pleaded, completely shedding her facade as Starry's major shareholder and transforming into a mother desperate for her daughter's safety.
"Chairman Liu! Calm down. I trust Cifera won't act rashly, and Old Liu and the others won't let her either!" Li Zhanting hurried over and steadied the agitated Liu Ruyan.
In this emergency, Li Zhanting, the undercover Cat Fan, abandoned all pretense and blurted out "Cifera."
Liu Shanhe glanced at Liu Ruyan, his face ashen, but didn't respond immediately.
The other Expert Team members had already voiced similar concerns, especially Little Bingbing. Though she tried to appear strong, her inner turmoil mirrored Liu Ruyan's panic.
Why wouldn't I want to rush up there and stop Cifera immediately...?
But the rooftop of the Starry Headquarters had no access points whatsoever. Maintenance and cleaning crews were usually brought up by helicopter.
If I can't even reach her, how can I stop her?
At that moment, he finally realized what he had overlooked!
He had mistakenly believed the dome of the venue was a "natural barrier," the least vulnerable area.
But Cifera had exploited this very assumption, choosing precisely this route for her attack.
Though he couldn't fathom how Cifera had reached the rooftop, Liu Shanhe had a rough idea of how she had just stolen the Starry Light.
But this wasn't the time for such speculation. Capturing her could wait; first, he had to ensure Cifera's safety.
"Everyone, stay calm," Liu Shanhe urged. "As President Li said, Cifera isn't the type to act recklessly—though I admit, she often appears to be impulsive, ha ha..."
Clearly, Liu Shanhe was deliberately trying to ease the tense atmosphere. He abruptly shifted his tone, his voice turning grave:
"Although we can't directly stop her right now, we still need to do what we can—
"Zhang Hong, contact the Air Rescue Team and get them here immediately.
"Lin Zhiyuan, inform the Production Team to use every means necessary to contact Cifera. They can even threaten to disqualify her to force her to abandon this reckless stunt.
"The rest of you—no matter how you do it—divert Cifera's attention and keep her in a safe position as long as possible."
Before Liu Shanhe could finish speaking, Cifera's response suddenly blared through the venue's speakers:
"Hehe, I'm touched by your concern, but this kitty wants to tell you—
"For the Kitty Phantom Thief, nothing in this world is impossible, meow~!"
With that, Cifera, standing on the rooftop, flashed an impossibly radiant smile at Liu Shanhe and the others below.
Then, amidst countless terrified screams, she took a few running steps forward and leaped!
Like a bird freed from its cage, or a graceful feline plummeting through the air, her body unfurled in mid-air!
"No—!!!"
Countless people closed their eyes in horror, expecting to witness a tragedy.
But in the next instant, the anticipated high-speed fall never materialized.
Without warning, a pair of pure white, magical wings, like those of an angel, instantly unfurled behind her!
Controlling the wings, she deftly spun in the air, stabilizing her position.
At that moment, Cifera resembled a true black-and-white flying cat soaring through the night sky!
She even had time to turn back and wave vigorously toward the auction hall, where the speakers broadcast her final farewell:
"This is truly goodbye~ I hope you enjoyed the opening performance of the auction!"
Then, adjusting her course, she harnessed the night wind and glided toward the distant city's dazzling sea of lights. Her figure grew smaller and smaller, until it merged with the darkness and vanished completely.
The Starry Auction hall fell into an absolute silence that lasted nearly ten seconds.
This wasn't an awkward silence, but the stunned stillness that follows overwhelming shock, a brief mental shutdown from information overload.
It was as if the souls of everyone present had been carried away by that moon-striding, wind-riding flying cat, leaving only empty shells behind.
The next moment...
BOOM! ! !
A roar erupted, more ferocious and fervent than any before, like a long-dormant volcano finally erupting, instantly engulfing the entire Starry Penthouse auditorium!
"Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!"
"Cifera!!!!!"
"She's flying! She's really flying!!!"
"Waaah! That scared me to death, and then she just blew me away!"
"Am I dreaming?! Someone pinch me!!!"
"Magic! This has to be magic! Science can't explain this!"
"No! This is magic—skill—technique! You call it magic because you haven't figured it out yet! Ha ha ha!"
"Cifera! You're my god! The omnipotent God of Deception! You twist the world's logic and turn it into your ultimate power!"
The applause surged like a tsunami, wave upon wave, mingling with ecstatic whistles, shouts, and stomping feet, threatening to shatter the entire glass dome!
People leaped from their seats, waving their arms wildly, desperate to unleash the indescribable excitement and admiration surging within them.
Whether they were fans of Cifera or not, whether they had hoped for her success or not, everyone in that moment was utterly captivated by this performance that defied imagination, bordering on the divine!
This had transcended the realm of mere variety shows; it was a "God-Deceiving Performance" destined to be etched in history!