Chapter 7

Chapter 7

When we reached the entrance to the secret base, Xiao Chengyu told me that, to preserve the mystery, he needed to blindfold me before taking me inside.

I resisted a little, but I didn’t want to expose the real reason I’d come, so I could only grit my teeth and agree.

In the darkness, Xiao Chengyu held my hand and led me forward.

My phone kept vibrating in my pocket. I knew it was Siri warning me about something.

But at this moment, there was no way I could take out my phone and check, so I grew more and more tense.

“We’re here.”

As Xiao Chengyu spoke, he untied the cloth covering my eyes, and I found myself standing in an enormous space.

All around me were mirrored screens, giving the whole place a futuristic feel.

But I had no interest in marveling at how spectacular Xiao Chengyu’s setup was. All I could think about was what Siri had sent me.

“Come on. Sit here. The surprise is about to begin.”

Xiao Chengyu pointed at the chair behind me, which looked like a massage chair.

“Ow.” I was so nervous I couldn’t think of any other way out, so I resorted to the worst excuse possible and clutched my stomach.

“What’s wrong?”

“My period started today. I need to use the bathroom…” I pinched my stomach hard, trying to make my pain look as convincing as possible.

“It’s this way. Come with me.” Xiao Chengyu supported me like a perfect gentleman and led me to the bathroom.

The moment I got inside, I immediately took out my phone to check.

There was no signal at all, and the screen was filled with messages from Siri.

“Something seems off. This place appears to have a lot of firewalls installed.”

“If I hide in your phone and go in with you, I’ll be detected.”

“Stop now. You can’t go any farther inside!”

“Stop now!”

“Stop now!”

…

“Siri, are you still there?” I asked in a low voice.

There was no response.

“Are you okay?” Xiao Chengyu knocked on the door.

In that moment, despair washed over me.

When I came out of the bathroom, my expression didn’t look good.

Fortunately, Xiao Chengyu thought I was only feeling unwell because of my period. He even thoughtfully made me a cup of brown sugar water.

“Chengyu, how about we do this another day? I really don’t feel well.”

I sat in that chair, trying to get Xiao Chengyu to let me leave.

After all, without Siri, I was like a headless fly. Against Xiao Chengyu, I simply didn’t have the strength to do anything.

“It’s fine. Maybe once you see my surprise, you’ll feel better.”

As Xiao Chengyu spoke, he smiled, and a chill ran down my spine.

“Okay.” This was Xiao Chengyu’s territory, after all. I didn’t dare resist in any way. I could only stall for time and slowly think of another plan.

Soon, images began to play on the screens around us.

Using the changing of the four seasons and a glasses-free 3D display, Xiao Chengyu expressed that his love for me had never changed.

The scenery was beautiful, so immersive it felt like I was really there, but I had no heart to appreciate it. My mind was filled with thoughts of how to escape.

“Do you like it?” Xiao Chengyu asked me.

I put on a fake smile and nodded. “I do. You put a lot of thought into it.”

“Then are you willing to be my girlfriend? I promise I’ll treat you well for the rest of my life.”

I had no choice, so I nodded again and said, “Okay.”

“Do you mean that?” Xiao Chengyu pressed.

“Of course. You’re much better than Xu Yihe.” Afraid of giving myself away, I answered without thinking.

“Oh, really?” Xiao Chengyu’s smile suddenly vanished. He took out a phone and turned the screen toward me. “But that’s not what it says here.”

On the screen was a line graph. I couldn’t really understand it, but I recognized the words on it.

-“Lie Value: 99.9%”