Chapter 037 Narrow Paths for Fated Rivals

At last, Tuesday night arrived.

The famed Chinese Theatre in Hollywood was ablaze with neon lights, its forecourt teeming with a sea of people—tourists drawn from afar, curious onlookers, bustling television crews, and police officers maintaining order, not without a few muttered complaints about the overwhelming crowd.

The feverish excitement of the night had been sparked by the recent sensation in magic: the viral magician known as Lecon Lee, or as Americans preferred to call him, Lecon Lee—a magician of Chinese descent, who was about to perform a feat of predicting the future right outside the Chinese Theatre.

The theater itself, with its pagoda-like structure, boasted a massive dragon emblazoned on its facade and was flanked by Ming Dynasty stone lions—an iconic Hollywood landmark. It had hosted countless blockbuster premieres and many Academy Awards ceremonies until the event moved to the neighboring Kodak Theatre in 2001.

“Tonight, the excitement at the Chinese Theatre reminds me of the Oscars in their prime. I wonder, can you feel this energy through your screens?” NBC had dispatched their most telegenic female reporter for a live broadcast. She informed the eager viewers that Lecon Lee’s magic would begin in ten minutes.

As she bantered with the show’s host, quirky passersby vied for their moment of fame, pulling outrageous faces behind her. Meanwhile, the backstage ratings data suggested viewership was climbing—this impromptu live special was proving to be a shrewd move for the network.

Both the on-site and home audiences waited with bated breath for Lecon Lee’s appearance—the viral magician who had taken the internet by storm.

Inside the theater, he was making his preparations, donning the custom-made magician’s robe he had spent so much effort perfecting. Daisy and Sandra flitted around him, fussing over his attire. Naturally, they wouldn’t miss the chance to be present; after all, it was the perfect opportunity to vie for his attention.

Just then, Mike approached with a mischievous grin. “Guess who I saw outside?”

“James Bond?” Lecon replied offhandedly.

“Hardly! But this is someone who draws even more attention—your old rival, Daniel Cooper from the Exposé Group, is here!”

Lecon raised his brows in surprise. “Oh? He really dared to show up?”

Mike pulled out his phone. “Look, second row in the crowd, white baseball cap, trying to keep a low profile. He’s here all right—maybe he just can’t let it go.”

“Luther isn’t worth our time,” Lecon mused, then paused. “But since he’s here, why not add a little more excitement to the show?”

After a quick discussion, Mike gave a sly thumbs-up. “He’s in for a disaster—crossing you is never wise!”

At that moment, a staff member poked their head in. “Mr. Lee, are you ready?”

“Anytime,” Lecon replied.

He rose, and those around him instinctively stepped aside to let the star take the stage.

The television cameras turned to the theater entrance, where his two alluring assistants—Daisy and Sandra, dressed as enchanting sorceresses—flashed beguiling smiles at the lens, then swung the great doors open.

Lecon emerged in his black robe.

A roar of cheers erupted—many in the crowd were devoted fans who had waited for hours just to see the magician in person. Lecon waved to the assembly, drawing even louder applause, before addressing them:

“Tonight, we are all gathered here. I want to ask you—do you believe the future can be predicted?”

The crowd responded in a cacophony of “yes” and “no,” interspersed with exuberant cries of “I love you!” from his fans.

Lecon tried to maintain a solemn air, but the fans’ fervor made him smile. “It doesn’t matter whether you believe or not, because tonight—we will reveal the answer!”

“I will travel through time, glimpse the future, and write down the winning numbers for the Super Millions lottery on this paper. When the draw is announced, we’ll invite everyone here to verify the result together!”

“And now!”

Lecon spread his arms wide—and his entire body suddenly rose, both feet leaving the ground!

The crowd erupted into wild shrieks and applause.

Head held high, eyes closed, Lecon basked in the adulation. It was his signature levitation act, but the first time he had performed it in such a public setting. Even though he hovered only about a meter off the ground, it was enough to leave the audience in sheer disbelief.

Among them was Daniel Cooper, who, after being repeatedly bested by Lecon’s magic, now watched with hawk-like intensity, hoping to spot any clue that might expose the secret. Watching with the naked eye was always more reliable than a camera, but under the stage lights of the night, discerning the mechanism was all but impossible.

Lecon’s levitation didn’t last long—after all, it was not the main event. He gradually descended, opened his eyes, and declared with conviction:

“I have seen the future!”

“Now, I need a piece of paper and a pen!”

His assistant Daisy, playing the part of the beautiful magician’s aide, handed them over. The paper was thick enough that he could hold it facing himself and scribble the numbers quickly.

The rules for Super Millions were much like those of the double-color ball lottery: five regular numbers plus one special number—a combination that had produced jackpots of hundreds of millions, even over a billion dollars.

Necks craned throughout the crowd as everyone strained for a glimpse. Even the glamorous female reporter joked to the camera, “I wish I could see the numbers and buy a ticket myself!” which drew laughter from the audience.

Truth be told, that was exactly what everyone was thinking.

Lecon himself had the same thought—but alas, it could not be. He scribbled a random set of numbers on the paper, then folded it once, then again, right in front of the audience.

The numbers now concealed within the thick paper, he announced, “To prove this winning combination will not be switched, I need someone to sign their name across it.”

A forest of hands shot into the air.

Lecon scanned the crowd with a smile, stepping forward.

“Pick me, darling!” a fervent female fan called, leaping and waving.

Lecon laughed, but instead of choosing her, his pointing finger landed on a man in a white baseball cap.

“You, sir! Please come up!”

Daniel Cooper was caught off guard, but when he appeared before the cameras, the crowd took a moment to process the situation. Lecon studied him intently, then feigned surprise, “Daniel Cooper? Is that you?”

A stir rippled through the audience as more people, prompted by Lecon’s cue, recognized him—infamous in the magic world, a core member of the Exposé Group, and Lecon’s recent archrival in a million-dollar wager.

On NBC’s live feed, the tension between the two was palpable—a classic confrontation between adversaries.

Cooper hesitated, realizing he’d been set up, but he didn’t storm off. This was his chance to get close to the secret of the trick, perhaps to catch Lecon in a mistake and reclaim his dignity.

So he composed himself and faced the camera. “Yes, I am Daniel Cooper. I never expected to be chosen tonight, but I’m more than happy to witness how this trick is performed!”