The stage lights converged on Dong Xuebing, standing confidently at the podium.
The audience, who had just moments ago seen Secretary Dong fall into the lake with their own eyes, collectively gasped. Their first reaction was disbelief—this is impossible. They had watched him plunge into the water, the splash unmistakable. And yet, in just two seconds, he was, appearing several hundred meters away at the podium. What the heck? The speed, the seamlessness—this magic trick was beyond anything they’d ever seen. If his earlier performance had surpassed the similar act showcased at last year’s Spring Festival Gala, this finale completely blew it out of the water. It wasn’t even in the same league.
Compare it to Liu Qian’s famous magic from the Gala: it involved extensive preparation, hidden screens, lengthy buildup, playing the piano as a distraction, and finally, the trick’s conclusion. But this? Jiaolin County’s act had no visible setup, buildup, or curtains—just a sudden, inexplicable teleportation.
The audience was stunned into silence for a few seconds.
Then, as if a dam had burst, thunderous applause erupted, sweeping through the venue like a tidal wave. The sound roared so powerfully that it felt like it could split the sky.
Everyone had the same thought: Damn. This is magic. This is real magic. Compared to Secretary Dong’s act, all the magic tricks they’d seen before were amateurish and laughable.
“Wow, that was amazing!”
The energy in the venue and front of TVs everywhere exploded.
Jiaolin County’s officials, however, were left wiping cold sweat off their brows. They thought it was an accident when Secretary Dong fell into the water. Some were on the verge of a heart attack. But just two seconds later, he appeared where no one expected him to be—completely dry, with his suit still neatly pressed, not a trace of water anywhere. Only then did they realize they had been duped. It was all part of his performance.
Meng Hanmei let out a bitter laugh as she slumped back into her seat. “He scared the life out of me.”
Beside her, Sun Changzhi wiped his forehead and muttered, “Same here. My heart’s still racing.”
But the more startling the performance, the more impactful the effect. The roaring applause and cheers from the audience below said it all. Even Chen Ying’s earlier appearance hadn’t garnered this level of excitement.
Backstage, the celebrities exchanged bewildered looks.
“No idea. I can’t figure it out at all.”
“Well, you’re not supposed to understand—otherwise, it wouldn’t be magic.”
“All I know now is that our performances will be tough acts to follow. Jiaolin County’s opening act was just too stunning. The audience won't forgive us if we slip up even a little.”
The stars broke into wry smiles. They knew there was no slacking off tonight.
Onstage, the applause gradually died down.
The female host wiped the sweat from her brow, laughing. “Secretary Dong, you almost gave us a heart attack! Look at me—I’m sweating buckets.”
Dong Xuebing wiped at his forehead, too. “Same here. It scared me to death! It is a good thing our county has advanced space technology. Otherwise, I really would’ve fallen into the lake.”
The host chuckled. “This is a live broadcast, Secretary Dong.”
Dong Xuebing gave her a sidelong glance. “What do you mean by that? What’s with that look? Are you doubting our technology?”
“You’re exaggerating!”
The audience jeered playfully, egging him on.
One of the onlookers called out with a good-natured laugh, “Move the table aside and lift it! There must be a hidden mechanism in there.”
Dong Xuebing pointed directly at the speaker. “It was you. I saw you. Don’t try to hide. Fine, fine, I’ve got a fiery temper—let’s lift it and see!”
The female host raised an eyebrow with mock skepticism. “You’re sure about that?”
Dong Xuebing hesitated. “Wait... maybe we shouldn’t.”
Her impeccable comedic timing matched his perfectly. “I wouldn’t know—this wasn’t my setup,” she said, throwing him an exaggeratedly sly glance.
Dong Xuebing glanced at the table, his eyes darting mischievously as he thought things through. Then he leaned toward the host, using his hand to shield their conversation, and whispered, “Are you sure the mechanism inside won’t get exposed?”
However, the microphone was right beside him. Though he tried to whisper, his words were transmitted through the speakers.
“Don’t whisper secrets!”
“We heard everything!”
“Afraid to lift the table, huh?”
“There’s something fishy inside!”
“The host is obviously in on it!”
The crowd burst into laughter, finding the whole scene utterly hilarious. This wasn’t just a magic act but a full-blown comedy routine mixed with magic.
Amid the laughter and teasing, Dong Xuebing, now visibly sweating and playing up the drama, finally made his way over to the table. With exaggerated hesitation, he moved the table aside.
The ground underneath was empty—no mechanisms, secrets, nothing.
“Check the inside of the table!”
“Yeah, flip it over!”
Dong Xuebing flipped the table toward the audience and lifted the cloth covering it at their urging—still nothing. The table was empty.
Dong Xuebing, pretending to be just as surprised, straightened up confidently, puffed out his chest, and declared smugly, “See? Look closely—no mechanisms, huh? Hahaha!”
The male host finally managed to get a word in. “That was an incredible magic trick!”
Dong Xuebing turned to him, blinking innocently. “Magic trick? What magic trick? This is the technological prowess of Jiaolin County’s space research! It’s science, not magic!”
The audience burst out laughing again.
Seizing the moment, Dong Xuebing turned to the rows of investors seated toward the front. With a serious expression, he addressed them, “Everyone just witnessed what happened, right? I told you before—Jiaolin County is a great place to invest! Some of you doubted me, but now you believe me, don’t you? Look at our tech projects! I’m not exaggerating—this is space technology, spatial transfer! I think this fully demonstrates the advanced level of our county’s research. So, if any of you are interested in collaborating on these projects, get in touch with our investment office immediately! This is your chance to break into the space industry—don’t miss out!”
The investors were laughing so hard they could barely breathe.
Some female executives were doubled over, tears streaming as they leaned against their knees in laughter.
Though the performance had officially ended, Dong Xuebing had cleverly used humor to tie everything back to the event's theme—Jiaolin County’s Investment and Culture Festival.
The magic was brilliant.
The atmosphere was electric.
And in the end, he seamlessly brought the focus back to the event’s core purpose: attracting investment.
To everyone watching, Dong Xuebing’s performance was nothing short of perfect. There wasn’t a single flaw to be found. It was dazzling, masterfully executed, and, most importantly, deeply meaningful. After all, Dong Xuebing wasn’t just an entertainer—he was Jiaolin County’s Party Secretary, the top official. His involvement lent an extraordinary significance to this Investment and Culture Festival.