Villain? No, I'll catch up with the protagonist after passing the civil service exam.

Xiao Huohuo's face turned from red to white, then from white to green, under the threat of the "evidence bag," and finally froze on an extremely distorted fake smile.

He didn't dare let Lu Jingyan carry his bag again.

That look was terrifying. For a moment, he even felt as if he had been stuffed into that transparent bag and sealed with tape.

"Good...very good."

Xiao Huohuo gritted her teeth, pushed through the crowd surrounded by bodyguards, and stormed into the dressing room, shouting angrily, "We'll see!"

The following morning, at the Provincial Public Security Department's Special Police Training Base.

The live broadcast of "Following the Police on Patrol" started on time amidst the noise.

As an S+ level variety show of the year, the production team certainly spared no expense. Dozens of high-definition cameras were set up in various corners of the training ground, drones hovered in the air, and huge crane cameras looked down on the entire field like monsters.

As soon as the live stream started, the number of online viewers instantly exceeded 20 million.

On the screen, a dense barrage of comments surged in like a flood, all uniformly displaying the red support text of "Fire Army".

[Fly bravely, Fire! May your companions always be with you!]

[Looking forward to seeing my brother in uniform! He's the toughest guy ever!]

[I heard that Officer Lu is coming too? Hmph, he's definitely just trying to ride on our coattails. I'm taking our brother with me, no thanks!]

Amidst a chorus of enthusiastic shouts, Xiao Huohuo made his entrance.

He was wearing a police uniform that had been specially "modified" by a top designer.

His waist was cinched, and his trousers were changed to slim-fitting cropped trousers, revealing a section of meticulously maintained ankles. The most outrageous thing was his face. In order to fit the "tough guy" theme, the makeup artist gave him an extremely exquisite "battle-damaged makeup" - a band-aid on his forehead and a light layer of shadow on his cheeks, making him look both decadent and affectionate.

He posed for the main camera, giving a salute, his eyes both melancholic and resolute, with a hint of indifference and mockery on his lips.

"Aaaaaah! Brother, kill me!"

"He's so handsome! What an absolutely stunning battle-worn beauty!"

"This is what a police officer should look like! So cool!"

The barrage of comments instantly reached a fever pitch, with gift effects filling the entire screen.

Just then, a series of deep, rhythmic footsteps came from the entrance of the training ground.

That was the heart-stopping sound of leather boots hitting the concrete.

The camera instinctively turned away.

There were no filters, no lighting, and not even any unnecessary actions.

Lu Jingyan walked at the front, followed by Zhao Tiezhu and Su Xiaoxiao.

They wore unaltered dark blue training uniforms, tactical belts cinching their muscular waists, and trousers tucked into heavy combat boots. Lu Jingyan wasn't wearing makeup, and his face was expressionless, but the chilling aura he exuded from years of frontline law enforcement sent shivers down one's spine even through the screen.

If Xiao Huohuo is a beautifully decorated plastic sword, then Lu Jingyan is a steel knife that has just been pulled from the blood and is not yet sheathed.

This stark contrast caused the previously frantic barrage of comments to momentarily freeze.

[This... Although I'm a fan of Huo Huo, why do I find that Officer Lu a little... a little scary?]

[Now that's what police officers should be like, right? Huo Huo's outfit looks like she's going to a fashion show!]

[Shut upstairs! That's fashion! Don't you even know what fashion is?!]

"Captain Lu, dressed like that, will this kid even be able to run during the physical fitness test later?"

Zhao Tiezhu followed behind, looking at Xiao Huohuo's pants that were so tight they looked like they were about to burst, and couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "I'm afraid his pants will rip in the crotch if he squats down."

"That's someone else's 'battle armor'."

Lu Jingyan kept his eyes straight ahead, his voice cold, "Don't hold back later, train him to the standards of a new recruit."

"Alright!" Zhao Tiezhu grinned, revealing a set of gleaming white teeth.

All assembled.

The director, holding a megaphone, shouted, "Ladies and gentlemen, to showcase the hardcore prowess of our special investigation team, the first segment is a physical fitness test! A five-kilometer weighted cross-country run, let's begin!"

"Five kilometers?"

Xiao Huohuo was stunned for a moment. He thought that "patrol" meant sitting in a police car for a drive and taking some cool photos.

"What's wrong, Mr. Xiao? Are you having difficulties?"

Lu Jingyan turned his head and looked at him with a half-smile, "If you're not feeling well, you can go over and have some tea. This kind of high-intensity training is really not suitable for... actors."

"Who says I'm in trouble!"

Xiao Huohuo was provoked by that look, and that inexplicable competitive spirit surged up again. How could he say no in front of tens of millions of fans?

"I work out every day! Five kilometers is nothing! It's just a warm-up!"

He puffed out his chest, trying to look strong. "Come on! Let's put on some weights!"

Zhao Tiezhu didn't stand on ceremony and simply tossed him a backpack.

"Twenty kilograms, standard configuration."

Xiao Huohuo caught the backpack and almost knelt down from the weight. He staggered a couple of steps, barely managing to stand, and his foundation was caked up because he had pressed too hard.

"Set off!"

With the sound of a whistle, the special investigation team members charged out like cheetahs.

Lu Jingyan ran in the lead, his steps steady and his breathing even, as if the twenty kilograms of weight did not exist on his body.

And Xiao Huohuo...

He felt like his lungs were going to explode after running just 200 meters.

The fitted "modified police uniform" became his biggest burden, making it hard for him to breathe. The heavy backpack made his spine ache, and the platform boots he had worn to look cool had given him blisters.

"Huff... huff..."

Xiao Huohuo's face was deathly pale, and sweat streamed down his cheeks, washing away his carefully applied "battle-damaged makeup" and leaving streaks of black marks, making him look utterly ridiculous.

"Cut! Cut!"

He couldn't hold on any longer, stopped, waved to the production crew, and shouted breathlessly, "Stop! I need to touch up my makeup! Sweat is getting into my eyes!"

The live stream camera honestly recorded this scene.

Lu Jingyan, who was running ahead, stopped, turned around, and coldly looked at the top star who was tilting his head back while the makeup artist wiped his sweat.

"Mr. Xiao."

Lu Jingyan's voice blared through the loudspeakers, "This is a training ground, not a fashion show. Do you think criminals will wait for you to finish touching up your makeup before they run away?"

"You..." Xiao Huohuo was speechless with anger, pointing to his face, "I'm a celebrity! My image is very important! What if I get a tan?"

"If you're worried about getting a tan, don't wear this skin."

Lu Jingyan pointed to the police badge on his body, "This uniform is for sweating and bleeding, not for you to pose for photos."

In the live chat, casual viewers finally couldn't hold back anymore.

Well said! That was so satisfying!

[Isn't Xiao Huohuo being a bit too dramatic? She needs to touch up her makeup after just a few steps?]

[This is what they call a tough guy? He can't even handle a weighted run; he's not even as good as policewoman Su Xiaoxiao!]

Xiao Huohuo's face turned a deep purplish-red, and he was about to explode and stop recording.

Just then, a piercing alarm suddenly blared throughout the entire training base.

"Waaaaah—waaaah—"

That was the first-level emergency response signal from the special investigation team.

Su Xiaoxiao threw down her bottled water and quickly grabbed her communication terminal: "Team Leader Lu! Command center reports! A large-scale brawl has broken out at the 'Nightfall' KTV in our jurisdiction. Some people are armed, there is a lot of blood at the scene, and it is suspected to be a gang-related incident!"

Lu Jingyan's expression changed instantly.

That languor and mockery vanished in an instant, replaced by a sharp edge like a blade being drawn from its sheath.

"Everyone has it!"

He shouted so loudly that his voice drowned out the alarm.

"Stop training! Grab your gear! One car, two cars, follow me! Tiezhu, lead three cars and flank the back gate!"

"yes!"

The special investigation team members instantly entered combat mode, their movements so fast that they were just afterimages.

As Lu Jingyan rushed onto the bomb disposal vehicle, he glanced back at Xiao Huohuo and the production crew, who were still standing there in a daze.

"Weren't you going to film real patrols?"

He opened the car door, a cold smile curving his lips.

"Now, it's really here."

"Do you dare to keep up?"

Xiao Huohuo watched the police cars speeding away, his legs trembling slightly. He wanted to build a public image, but he never intended to actually risk his life!

But at that moment, the live stream camera was fixed on him.

Tens of millions of eyes are watching.

If he backs down now, tomorrow's trending topic will be "Xiao Huohuo deserts his post," and his tough-guy image will be completely destroyed.

"Who...who wouldn't dare!"

Xiao Huohuo gritted his teeth and roared at his manager, "Get in the car! Follow me! I don't believe he'd actually dare to take me to my death! It's definitely all an act!"

He reluctantly climbed into the film crew's vehicle.

But what he didn't know was that this time, there was no script.

Only the bloody reality remains.