Xiaolan was still on stage!

Hector was a retired Marine, and Klaus said he was the hotel’s security chief who lost his job due to his superior’s involvement… What hotel could it be? Was it the Wilson Hotel?

Zhou Cheng had no time to investigate further.

He only knew that Xiaolan was still on stage, so close to that childishly boastful Harold!

Zhou Cheng’s position was near the fourth zone that Daniel had earlier asked Nancy to check – the buffet area.

The food hadn’t been set out yet, but hotel staff had started preparing the dining area. Once the awards ceremony finished, they could move to the next phase. Zhou Cheng had nothing in his hands, so he grabbed a dinner knife and rushed toward the stage.

Harold and Xiao Lan were speaking in low voices. The reporters were thinking about writing gossip news, and there was chaos on stage from Lyle’s scene. The entire awards platform was in an uproar, and no one noticed Hector.

Hector’s hand emerged from his jacket – the dark barrel of a gun that Zhou Cheng couldn’t mistake.

“Wife, get down!” Zhou Cheng shouted at the top of his lungs, too far away to reach her through the crowd of students and reporters.

Among all the English speakers, his familiar hometown accent stood out starkly.

Xiao Lan looked up to see Zhou Cheng running toward them. Hearing the shout to “get down,” she instinctively yelled, “Get down! Daisy, Lyle, all of you get down!”

As she shouted, she dropped to the stage floor.

The reporters were dumbfounded – what was happening?

Harold grew alert and bent his body slightly.

“Bang—”

Hector’s gun barrel erupted, a bullet grazing Harold’s scalp. If he hadn’t crouched down, that bullet would have been aimed straight at his chest.

“Ah!!!”

“Help—”

One gunshot completely terrified everyone. Now Xiao Lan’s prone position wasn’t funny anymore, as everyone was screaming and covering their heads.

The reporters couldn’t even hold their cameras steady.

Just moments ago they had complained about lacking a headline – now this bombshell was too much to handle. There was an assassin in the venue, someone was shooting!

Bullets were blind – though targeting Harold, who knew who might get hit!

Yes, Harold – this was an attempt on Harold Wilson’s life. What a huge story!!!

Having missed his first shot, Hector fired repeatedly, pursuing Harold. Harold rolled across the stage as Hector fired without careful aim, one shot missing while another hit Harold’s leg.

The stray bullet struck just 20 centimeters from Xiao Lan, the ejected shell nearly hitting her face. Xiao Lan was almost driven mad with fear!

Harold only had two bodyguards, who finally rushed onto the stage to protect their Boss during this interval.

Harold pushed one bodyguard, “Go save her!”

Save who?

Naturally, Miss Xia!

The Boss had truly lost his mind – how could they spare manpower to save others at a time like this? That was Miss Xia, not Mrs. Wilson!

The bodyguard remained unmoved – one protected Harold while the other fired back at Hector.

The crowd was too dense, risking harm to innocents.

The bodyguard showed restraint, while Hector seemed to target only Harold. Otherwise, those people scattering across the stage would have been easy targets for Hector to take out in one sweep!

Zhou Cheng made a running leap over someone’s chair, throwing the dinner knife!

Xiaolan was still on stage, Xiaolan was in danger – this was all Zhou Cheng could think about.

He threw the knife without mercy, having no concern for the life of a madman like Hector. In this situation, no one’s life was as precious as Xiaolan’s, even Zhou Cheng’s safety came second!

This knife targeted Hector’s heart.

Though the dinner knife was dull, Zhou Cheng’s strength was great. Throwing in anger, Zhou Cheng intended to take Hector’s life!

But to Zhou Cheng’s surprise, while the knife struck Hector’s back, it didn’t disable him – the knife remained lodged in his back. Damn it, Hector was wearing a bulletproof vest!

Hector had turned around.

He was seeing red with rage.

Though he didn’t seem to recognize Zhou Cheng, anyone stopping him was Harold’s lackey.

Hector raised his gun without hesitation to shoot. Zhou Cheng dropped low, sweeping Hector’s legs.

Zhou Cheng had drawn Hector’s attention!

Harold’s bodyguard seized the chance to fire twice but missed.

This only enraged Hector further – he returned fire, hitting the bodyguard in the abdomen. The bodyguard wasn’t wearing a bulletproof vest and fell immediately, his fate uncertain.

Zhou Cheng’s kick landed on Hector’s ankle, making him fall. His elbow was already moving to strike Hector’s temple.

After this heavy blow, Hector finally showed signs of pain.

“Run!”

“Yes, run!”

“Everyone please evacuate in an orderly manner!”

Daniel was about to break down.

Their professional internship was ruined – the venue was destroyed by a suddenly appearing assassin.

The internship was secondary to the safety of so many people.

Was there only one assassin?

Daniel didn’t dare think further, he could only use Zhou Cheng’s engagement of the assassin as a chance to evacuate people.

His reaction was already very quick and composed – if a Hotel Management professor were present, they couldn’t justify giving Daniel anything less than an A+.

The bodyguard needed to get Harold out first, with more security personnel arriving – this killer wouldn’t escape. Now they had to ensure the Boss’s safety.

Harold pulled at Xiao Lan, “Come on, let’s leave this place.”

Xiao Lan shook off his hand: “If Zhou Cheng isn’t leaving, I’m not leaving either!”

Nonsense – following Harold would likely lead to a quicker death. This assassin was after Harold, who knew if others were waiting outside the venue.

Xiao Lan’s action was harsh but undoubtedly the most rational.

Harold couldn’t help but laugh bitterly – this woman was truly heartless, not cute at all.

Xiao Lan wasn’t joking – she planned to find a hiding place rather than run out with Daisy and the others. Just then, she heard groaning from the judges’ seats.

Bad news – those judges were sitting on stage.

Someone had been hit by a stray bullet.

Xiao Lan crawled over to the judges’ area. Behind the tablecloth, Professor Lipton’s abdomen was bleeding, with Professor McCarthy pressing both hands on Lipton’s wound.

Professor Lipton was the unfortunate one.

Professor McCarthy was cold in manner but kind at heart, choosing to help his colleague instead of fleeing, not fearing the killer might fire again and hit him too.

“Professor Lipton’s been shot!”

As Xiao Lan poked her head out, Richard and his group had just run out when Lyle suddenly braked and turned back, screaming, “Professor McCarthy, I’m coming to save you—”

McCarthy nearly cursed out loud – he was perfectly fine, what was there to save?

But with Lyle’s return, Richard came running back too. Xiao Lan grabbed someone’s random coat to press against Professor Lipton’s wound, everyone’s hands trembling…

“Run this way!”

Ning Xue appeared from somewhere to direct Xiao Lan’s group.

Most people had fled the venue. Xiao Lan and Ning Xue, along with McCarthy, while Lyle and Richard carried Professor Lipton, ran toward the exit.

With the area cleared, there was no more risk to innocents.

The hotel’s security finally rushed in. Harold stood at the doorway as his bodyguard aimed at Hector’s head, ready to shoot, but Harold pushed the gun down:

“No, you might hit someone else.”

Hit who? Zhou Cheng, was still fighting with Hector.

If he were truly ruthless, firing a few random shots now would eliminate a love rival, but Harold still showed some conscience – truly remarkable.

—In the venue, Zhou Cheng caught a glimpse of Xiao Lan supporting the professor as they nearly reached the entrance. Finally, without concern, he delivered a fierce strike that knocked Hector’s gun from his hand!