Dimensional Store: Welcome to the Apocalypse Apartment - Chapter 143

Chapter 143

As the day’s filming for the dating show concluded, Wu Ming emerged as the only participant genuinely pursuing a romance. Away from the cameras, he was fervently wooing Lin Xiaomei, never missing an opportunity to be alone with her.

Outside the window, the sea of stars unfolded like a vast, slow-moving scroll-quiet and romantic.

Wu Ming spoke with a bashful expression. “I’ve never touched a human’s hand before.”

“Mm.” Lin Xiaomei lowered her head shyly. “Aside from my Keeper, I haven’t had much contact with other Aliens either.”

Wu Ming was so excited he could barely control the expressions on his Skin Suit. His voice was tense with nerves. “Then… if we meet again after the show, would you give me another chance to ask you out?”

“I…” Lin Xiaomei fiddled with her fingers, her cheeks flushed crimson. Before she could give an answer, Wu Ming’s work phone began to ring.

Wu Ming immediately hung up, waiting for Lin Xiaomei’s response. His heart was thumping wildly; the taste of romance was making him a bit lightheaded.

“I…” Lin Xiaomei was naturally reserved and began to stammer, unable to immediately voice her thoughts.

In truth, she quite liked Wu Ming.

From his Skin Suit to his job and his personality, she was very satisfied. She intended to properly thank her cousin when she returned.

The phone rang again.

The answer that had been on the tip of Lin Xiaomei’s tongue was swallowed back down. She said helplessly, “Officer Wu, maybe you should answer that first.”

Wu Ming had always been something of a workaholic, but right now, he found work utterly loathsome for interrupting his pursuit of love.

He answered the call, his chest tight with suppressed frustration. He was like a pressurized powder keg; a single spark would set him off.

“Hello! Make it quick! We police officers have off-duty hours too!”

The call was from Gu Huaiwei.

She had to report another missing person case.

Upon hearing Gu Huaiwei’s voice, the bravado Wu Ming had just summoned vanished without a trace. He was like a frog that had puffed out its throat only to deflate with a couple of weak croaks.

“Oh, it’s Miss Gu. I was a bit busy just now, so my tone was a little sharp. I’m sorry.” After listening to Gu Huaiwei explain the situation, Wu Ming’s expression instantly turned solemn. “What? Miss He is missing? I’ll head over right now.”

Gu Huaiwei was currently sitting in the co-pilot seat of the Biological Spaceship, heading back with Zhou Chuanning.

Lin She was riding with them, while He Xueyi and Bai Miemie were looking after the other guests.

“Lin She, keep the camera rolling.”

“Should I keep the livestream going?”

“No need. Just record everything from here on out.”

Gu Huaiwei wasn’t going to let these accidents delay the upgrade of the Oasis Matchmaking Agency. Even a disappearance had to be filmed. As for whether it could be broadcasted, that would depend on the post-production editing and the progress of the case.

She composed herself and, with a face full of concern, spoke to the camera about He Jiarui’s disappearance.

Zhou Chuanning drove the spaceship in silence, listening to Gu Huaiwei’s performative speech.

The guests participating in this filming session were all staying in a villa provided by the production crew.

The first person to notice He Jiarui was missing was Lu Beijiu, who had gone to ask her out for a late-night snack.

After filming ended, He Jiarui had returned to her room in a foul mood.

In the evenings, Lu Beijiu liked to have some beer and skewers-a very human hobby. He had planned to find a few people to join him.

Since Gu Huaiwei and Lin Xiaomei were both away, he went to call for He Jiarui.

As it turned out, He Jiarui wasn’t in her room.

Not only that, but she wasn’t answering her phone either.
He realized something was wrong and immediately notified Gu Huaiwei and Zhou Chuanning.

Gu Huaiwei inspected He Jiarui’s room; there were no signs of a struggle at the scene.

She tried calling her phone, but no one answered.

Zhou Chuanning was in contact with his colleagues. He told Gu Huaiwei that He Jiarui had not returned to Chen Liuxiang’s manor, nor had she gone back to where Ji Xuan used to live.

She was nowhere to be found at any of her usual haunts.

A grown woman had vanished into thin air without a trace.

This would delay tomorrow’s filming schedule.

While the police searched the vicinity, Gu Huaiwei sat on a lounge chair in the lobby. Wrapped in a thin blanket, she didn’t sleep, choosing instead to wait for updates on the search.

Since it involved the disappearance of a young human, the case fell under the category of a major incident. Zhou Chuanning and Wu Ming returned to the station overnight to file a report and coordinate the search with other officers.

Lu Beijiu remained at the shop. He walked over carrying beer and grilled skewers, offering them to Gu Huaiwei. “Just sitting here waiting isn’t going to help. Eat something first.”

“I don’t eat late-night snacks.”

“Oh.” Lu Beijiu didn’t push the matter.

He stuffed a steaming lamb skewer, freshly grilled and dusted with cumin, into his mouth. Washing it down with a swig of ice-cold beer, he felt exceptionally refreshed.

Gu Huaiwei suddenly remembered the shortage of footage for tomorrow.

She turned her head and said to Lu Beijiu, “Wait a moment. Ask me again.”

Lu Beijiu paused, his hand holding a skewer halfway to his mouth.

“Uh… do you want some?”

Gu Huaiwei gestured for Lin She to turn the camera toward them. A practiced, superficial smile appeared on her usually cold face.

Still wearing the black lace gloves she hadn’t taken off since the daytime, she pulled out two napkins, gripped a skewer, and took two elegant bites.

Originally, Gu Huaiwei hadn’t planned on giving herself much screen time; interacting too much with the other guests would overshadow them.

However, there was a high probability the police wouldn’t find He Jiarui tonight. With one person missing for tomorrow’s shoot, she needed this footage to fill the gap, using the recorded material to supplement the broadcast.

“You don’t need to pretend like that. Is this game of make-believe fun?” Lu Beijiu’s strong fingers crushed the empty beer can before he tossed it accurately into a distant trash bin.

“This is called being in ‘business mode’,” Gu Huaiwei said, waving a hand at Lin She to signal him to stop recording this part.

“I prefer you when you’re not in business mode.” Lu Beijiu tilted his head to look at her. “I once knew a woman who was a lot like you. She also ran a similar shop, though she wasn’t as good at business as you are.”

Gu Huaiwei knew he was talking about her sister, but she remained silent.

“Did you know her?” Lu Beijiu leaned back, resting his hands behind his head. “She didn’t just look like you; she even had the same name. Seeing you made me wonder-did she return after losing all her memories, or are you walking this world wearing her face?”

“And what about you? Who are you, exactly?” Facing Lu Beijiu’s blunt interrogation, Gu Huaiwei adjusted the frames of her glasses. “Zhou Chuanning’s former Bonding partner? A human kept by Chen Liuxiang? Or perhaps a member of the Dawn Alliance?”

The air grew thick with silent tension.

“Miss Gu, you certainly know a lot. It seems I underestimated you.” Lu Beijiu’s relaxed muscles suddenly tensed up.