East Capital Center, the pedestrian street in the commercial district.
Neon signs flicker alternately, casting multicolored halos on the smooth asphalt road.
The traffic lights at the intersection change, and groups of pedestrians carrying shopping bags cross the zebra crossing.
Streetside shops blast loud pop music, with long queues outside the milk tea shop.
The weekend street is a bustling sea of people, and the heat wave hits directly.
The massive LCD screen above the intersection was originally broadcasting a perfume ad featuring a popular female star.
Suddenly, the picture stutters.
With a burst of short static, the perfume ad vanishes, replaced by the news studio of East Capital TV Station.
Before the pedestrians on the street can react, the live broadcast shifts again.
A man wearing a dark casual suit and gold-rimmed glasses appears in the center of the screen.
He adjusts his collar, a smile hanging at the corner of his mouth, and says to the camera:
