57: Chapter 57 Countdown Resets to Zero!

Fahd's wrist trembled.

A drop of boiling red chili oil fell from the tip of his sandalwood chopsticks, landing on the ivory tablecloth and spreading into a glaring red stain.

He stared fixedly at the slip of paper.

He stood up abruptly.

The heavy, high-backed solid wood chair slid back half a foot, emitting a dull, thudding sound as it scraped against the carpet.

The few people at the main table all turned their heads in unison. Deputy Prime Minister Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, furrowed his brows.

"I'm going to hurry up the next course."

He spoke in Arabic, his speed extremely fast.

Before his voice had even faded, Fahd had already turned and headed toward the side door. His strides were massive, the hem of his gold-trimmed formal wear whipping up a gust of wind. Two personal bodyguards followed immediately.

Li Li remained in his seat.

He scooped up his phone from the table with his left hand and placed it face down, pressing it directly onto the tablecloth.

His thumb pressed down on the volume-down button on the side.

He held it for three seconds.

Mute.

The livestream, with its thirty million viewers, instantly turned into a silent black hole.

The bullet comments paused for a second.

Then, they exploded at ten times the speed, almost crashing the server.

[What the f*ck?! What's going on?!]

[Black screen? Did the power go out?]

[Did Brother Li pull the network cable? Or did his phone fall into the Hotpot?]

[I just saw Prince Fahd's expression change before he ran off. Did something happen?!]

[Don't scare us, the person above! This is a state banquet! There's a 055 destroyer watching outside, who would dare cause trouble here?]

[It's over, it's over. I have a feeling like I'm watching the prelude to a horror movie.]

Outside the venue.

Director Pei Zhao stared at the main screen of the 3x3 grid on the monitor that had suddenly gone black, the Buddhist prayer beads in his hand stopping mid-rotation.

"Switch to the backup camera!"

"Director Pei, there are no backup cameras in the core area. We're relying entirely on Li Li's phone!"

Director Pei Zhao bit down and crushed half a mint.

"Contact Fahd's assistant immediately and ask what's happening at the main table."

Inside the venue.

Li Li ignored the completely chaotic livestream.

He tilted his body slightly to the right.

Jiang Rumu was using her chopsticks to pick up a slice of lotus root.

Li Li reached his right hand under the tablecloth and gripped Jiang Rumu's left wrist.

Jiang Rumu's back stiffened, and the chopsticks in her right hand froze in mid-air. The lotus root slice fell back into the celadon plate.

Li Li pressed his thumb against the knuckles on the back of her hand twice.

"Don't turn your head."

His voice was extremely low, drowned out entirely by the sound of the boiling Hotpot base. Only the two of them could hear it.

Jiang Rumu didn't move.

"Listen well," Li Li said, his speaking speed extremely fast. "Leave this table immediately and go find Shen Jue and the others. No matter what happens later, absolutely do not stay with the core Ala Country royal family."

Jiang Rumu gripped him back, her nails digging into the web of his thumb.

"What happened?"

"I don't know. If the situation becomes chaotic and everyone gets separated, run straight outside and go to the Chinese Embassy in Abu Dhabi," Li Li continued, giving instructions. "Remember, Chinese people are not their target. As long as you don't resist blindly, no one will touch you."

Jiang Rumu put down her chopsticks, her breathing rhythm completely disrupted.

"How do you know?"

"Someone is warning me," Li Li said, turning his left wrist slightly. "And I've discovered something."

He glanced at the watch face on his left wrist.

19:56.

"Now," Li Li released her hand. "Stand up, take your glass, go to Shen Jue's table, and just say the main table is too stressful and you want to find someone to chat with."

Jiang Rumu didn't move.

She grabbed Li Li's wrist again, her grip surprisingly strong.

"What about you?"

"I have to stay," Li Li looked at the boiling red chili oil pot in front of him. "I ruined Israel's submarine plan. I'm most likely a VIP target."

Jiang Rumu held her breath.

She stared at Li Li.

"Li Li Zai Mu."

She enunciated the four characters heavily.

Li Li was stunned.

"What?"

"The CP name netizens just gave us," Jiang Rumu's fingers tightened further. "The name hasn't even become famous yet. You can't die."

Li Li looked at her.

He patted the back of her hand.

"Don't panic, basic operation."

Jiang Rumu let go and stood up.

She picked up the crystal glass in front of her, her wine-red skirt sweeping across the carpet.

She walked straight toward the ordinary seats on the periphery.

Many gazes in the banquet hall followed her. That 1.4 million LV haute couture dress, with its hem flowing as she moved, was extremely eye-catching.

Shen Jue was frantically scrolling through Weibo on his phone. When he looked up and saw Jiang Rumu walking over, his hand trembled, and he almost threw his phone into the clear broth Hotpot in front of him.

"Mu, Sister Mu?"

"The main table is too suffocating." Jiang Rumu pulled out the empty chair next to him and sat down. "Borrowing a seat."

Cen Ye moved to the side.

"Sit wherever. Where's Brother Li?"

"He's enjoying his meal." Jiang Rumu held her water glass, her gaze sweeping over the crowd and locking firmly onto the direction of the main table.

At the next table.

Gu Zeyan snorted coldly.

"What? Couldn't climb the high branch and got kicked down?"

Yin Ruoying tugged on his sleeve from the side.

Jiang Rumu didn't even turn her head; she picked up a clean side plate.

"Shut up."

Two words, crisp and clean.

Gu Zeyan's face turned green, and he slammed the silver fork in his hand onto the plate.

Clang.

Main table.

Li Li sat in his original seat, his gaze sweeping across the entire banquet hall.

At the entrance of the eastern corridor, two plainclothes officers in black suits had appeared, their right hands kept tucked inside their jackets.

Below the ceiling vent, the indicator light of the infrared detector was blinking at an increased frequency.

Floral area.

Delia was still standing there.

She put down the scissors in her hand, picked up a brass watering can, and sprayed water on the white roses.

The water mist refracted tiny fragments of light under the lamps.

Her stance had changed.

Previously, she was facing the main table from the side; now, she was facing it directly.

Her left foot pulled back slightly by half a step.

This was a combat readiness stance, ready to strike at any moment.

Li Li withdrew his gaze.

Fahd had returned.

He walked over with large strides, pulled out his chair, and sat down.

Two buttons on the collar of his gold-trimmed formal wear were undone, and a fine layer of sweat covered his forehead.

The two nodded at each other without any unnecessary movements.

Fahd placed his left hand under the tablecloth and slowly moved it toward Li Li.

A cold, heavy object with a metallic texture was pressed into Li Li's palm.

Li Li's fingers traced the metal texture.

Slide. Anti-slip texture. Trigger guard.

glock 17.

Fully loaded, 17 rounds of 9mm Parabellum ammunition.

"Do you know how to use it?" Fahd lowered his voice.

"Yes."

Li Li's thumb brushed over the safety; he pushed the gun into the inside pocket of his suit, the grip pressing against his ribs.

"Security has been raised to the highest level," Fahd picked up his water glass. "All exits are locked down. Not even a fly can get out."

Li Li didn't respond.

Time ticked away, second by second.

19:58.

Li Li rested his left hand on his thigh, his index finger tapping his knee silently.

Once.

Twice.

19:59.

Li Li flipped over the muted phone, but switched the lens to the rear camera to show the entire hall to the viewers.

Fahd, sitting beside him, saw his Adam's apple bob violently.

20:00.

The twenty-four Swarovski crystal chandeliers on the ceiling of the banquet hall.

Went out simultaneously.