Chapter 5

Chapter 5: The Angry Bird Goes Viral

Xia Yang's entire body went rigid as the words sank in.

It's live.

His mind blanked for a second before a single thought crashed through the chaos—

Oh, shit.

The weight of the situation hit him like a brick. He had just cursed out his kidnappers. On a live broadcast.

Slowly, cautiously, Xia Yang turned his gaze toward the person who had spoken.

Their eyes met.

For a moment, the world around them faded into silence.

The man standing across the room exuded an aura of cold authority, his sharp features accentuated by the clothes he wore. His jet-black hair was slightly tousled, as if he had casually run his fingers through it moments ago. But what caught Xia Yang's attention the most were his eyes—deep, piercing, and unwavering.

Xia Yang's breath hitched.

The man, too, seemed momentarily stunned, his brows slightly furrowed as if trying to place where he had seen Xia Yang before. The tension between them crackled like a live wire, an unspoken recognition lingering in the air.

Neither of them moved.

Neither of them spoke.

They simply stared at each other, caught in a moment that neither had expected.

But outside their little bubble of bewilderment, the world was far from silent.

In the span of mere minutes, social media had exploded.

[Weibo Trending #1: Angry Bird Jumps Off Balcony LIVE?!]

— User 1: WHO IS THIS CHAOTIC MAN??? The way he cursed out his kidnappers ON CAMERA and then casually asked to be edited out—ICONIC.

— User 2: LMAO he really just flipped midair, landed, twisted his ankle, and then sat down like a retired old man. This is peak unbothered energy.

— User 3: THE MOMENT HE REALIZED IT'S LIVE??? I have ascended.

— User 4: Did anyone else notice how Long just STARED at him?? What is happening here?? Do they know each other???

[Attached Clip: Angry Bird Descends from the Heavens.mp4]

(Views: 1.2M | Likes: 900K | Comments: 320K)

The clip was already making rounds at lightning speed. People were rewatching the way Xia Yang's entire soul left his body when he heard it was a live broadcast. GIFs of his dramatic expressions were spreading like wildfire, and someone had already photoshopped tiny red wings onto his back, dubbing him the Angry Bird of Showbiz.

Xia Yang, oblivious to his rising internet fame, was still locked in a stare-off with the mysterious man.

His heart thumped once. Twice.

Something about him felt… familiar.