Chapter 003: Commanding the Entire Scene

As night deepened, the bar began to bustle with life. Nestled on Sunset Boulevard, right at the heart of Hollywood, it lay just east of the famed Beverly Hills. This neighborhood was dotted with bars, clubs, and upscale restaurants, one of the few places where the nights shimmered with color.

Wealthy old-timers from the affluent districts, celebrities, and socialites out for a good time flocked here, eager to indulge in their nocturnal pleasures and unleash themselves as VIPs in elite nightclubs.

At the Blackjack Bar, a line of tall, strikingly beautiful waitresses was already in position. They navigated the crowd with trays in hand, enduring the searing gazes of men, and in the midst of laughter and merriment, snatched tips from them mercilessly.

Li Lekang stood in the passage near the stage, quietly observing the scene.

The bar’s performance was about to begin. The band had already taken the stage, the tattooed lead singer with her smoky voice cradling a guitar, expertly strumming an introduction as she poured out life’s reflections or rebellious cynicism.

If nothing else, the quality was truly impressive. But considering this was Hollywood, the entertainment capital of the world, where crowds surged at the pyramid’s peak, talent here was as common as stray dogs.

“Li! You’re up next!”

The band’s half-hour warm-up was over, and Judy’s assistant came to inform him it was time to go on stage.

Li Lekang donned his magician’s tuxedo and rose to follow the assistant out of the lounge.

It was his first time performing here. Seeing the well-dressed crowd below, he couldn’t help but feel a bit nervous. Yet, in his previous life, he’d endured plenty of public criticism at company meetings, and his spirit was strong.

He took a deep breath and smiled, “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s an honor to stand here tonight. I’d like to perform a card trick for you.”

As he spoke, Li Lekang reached into his pocket, but frowned and patted himself in search of something.

Judy, watching from the side, felt her heart leap—had he forgotten his props?

Though not all the guests were watching the stage at this moment, at least half had their attention focused on him. Facing so many, Li Lekang smiled.

“Apologies, a minor mishap. I need to borrow a napkin from this lovely lady in the front row. OK, thank you for your generosity!”

He borrowed a napkin from a guest, and with a casual flick, it transformed into a deck of cards in his hand. This close-up trick stunned the couple at the table.

Li Lekang showed the cards to the audience, and Judy finally relaxed—this rascal!

His talent for performance was impressive; he’d even fooled her.

With this dazzling opener, more eyes turned to Li Lekang. His solo show had begun!

He invited another guest from the front to pick a card and sign it.

Then, before everyone’s eyes, he tore the card into pieces, tossed them into his mouth, chewed a bit, and suddenly began to cough, as if choking.

“Quick, give me an empty glass!”

He took an empty glass from a passing waitress, and with a shake, it was suddenly filled with mineral water. He gulped down two mouthfuls and finally patted his chest, swallowing.

The audience was now fully captivated.

Li Lekang handed the remaining cards to a nearby table for inspection, letting them confirm the absence of the signed Seven of Diamonds.

“Because I just ate it—nearly choked me,” he said.

A ripple of laughter swept through the crowd.

Li Lekang scanned the room; now every eye was fixed on him. The stage nerves had vanished, replaced by a sense of command and the thrill of attention.

“Can you believe,” he said, “that through a magical method, I’ve transferred it to my phone?”

He took out his phone, facing the audience, and opened the photo gallery.

The first image was the Seven of Diamonds, bearing the guest’s signature.

The guest, astonished, exclaimed, “That’s my signature, no doubt! Oh! I swear, I’m not in cahoots with him!”

Laughter erupted again. Some believed, others suspected a stooge, but the marvel of the moment prevailed.

“It’s in the phone, but I need to find a way to retrieve it.”

Li Lekang pondered, then pressed his palm to the screen and swiped sharply to the right. The signed Seven of Diamonds appeared in his hand!

Gasps and exclamations filled the room. Li Lekang handed the card to the gentleman, “Please press it under your plate—it’s a bit mischievous, don’t let it run away.”

The guest complied eagerly, joined by a crowd of curious onlookers peering over.

“Oh no!” Li Lekang suddenly exclaimed.

“You didn’t cover it properly—it’s gone!”

The guest lifted the plate to find the card vanished, replaced by a napkin.

“What?”

“How did he do that?”

These folks—company executives or wealthy retirees—were now so captivated they forgot their drinks.

Even Judy, usually composed and arms crossed, couldn’t resist curiosity and leaned in for a closer look, until her assistant reminded her, “Time’s almost up, ma’am.”

“Let him continue,” Judy said without hesitation. “Look at the crowd—if we switch acts now, the guests will revolt!”

In truth, the bar had lost control of the evening’s program.

Li Lekang’s string of magic tricks, spontaneous and unpredictable, could go on endlessly if he wished—after all, it was all sleight of hand, limited only by his magical energy.

But since these tricks consumed little, he could theoretically perform for three days and nights.

And since Judy promised extra pay for longer performances, he was determined to fleece her for every penny!

Li Lekang’s magic continued.

The mischievous Seven of Diamonds darted about, even appearing in the wallet of a gentleman in the middle. Opening it, the man was baffled, then laughed, “I suppose I don’t need to prove I’m not a stooge, right?”

The crowd roared with laughter.

“Mike, I trust you don’t have to!”

“Great trick! Can you turn the cards into money?”

Li Lekang didn’t recognize him, but judging by the crowd’s reaction, the man was somewhat famous—unlikely to be planted for an unknown magician.

Since he was well-known, Li Lekang improvised, “If you hand me a one-dollar bill, I can turn it into two.”

Mike promptly pulled out a dollar. Li Lekang took it with his left hand, passed it to his right, and returned two one-dollar bills.

Mike, holding his wallet, paused, then pulled out a five-dollar bill, “Can you do it again?”

Li Lekang repeated the process, handing back two fives.

Smooth and seamless.

Mike applauded, but seeing the magician linger, he suddenly got mischievous, emptying his wallet, “I’ve got a thousand dollars here—if you can—”

Li Lekang took the cash, passed it between hands, pressed them together, then opened them—empty.

Mike was dumbfounded. Li Lekang raised his hands to show the audience, then joked, “Sorry, sir, you shouldn’t test a man’s heart with money!”

Laughter exploded. Applause thundered, and even distant patrons stood to catch a glimpse, not wanting to miss a moment.

Judy, without realizing it, had squeezed into the crowd herself. As the bar’s event manager, she’d even forgotten the singer waiting backstage for twenty minutes!

But nobody cared now. They wanted magic—wanted to witness the enchanting process and this magician who conjured endless possibilities.

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