Dimensional Store: Welcome to the Apocalypse Apartment - Chapter 147

Chapter 147

Gu Huaiwei stepped forward and crouched down. She looked into He Jiarui’s eyes. Her eyeballs were intact with no visible injuries, but they were dull-like glass marbles filmed over with gauze.

“Who is it… Don’t hurt me…” He Jiarui sounded flustered when she heard the voice.

“Don’t be afraid. I’m getting you out.”

“Miss Gu?”

“Yeah. It’s me.”

On the way down, Gu Huaiwei had already searched the area around the abandoned factory, but she hadn’t found any suspicious attacker.

She used a dagger to pry open the outer lock and helped He Jiarui out.

“Do you know who attacked you and locked you in here?”

He Jiarui shook her head, her whole body trembling. “Light… I want light…”

She had a bit of claustrophobia, and with her vision drastically reduced, she was like a young deer shivering in the rain-pure anxiety.

Gu Huaiwei could only hold her hand and soothe her.

“I’m here. It’s night right now, and the basement lighting is bad.

You’re safe. Try to think-slowly-who attacked you and locked you here?”

Clutching Gu Huaiwei’s warm hand, He Jiarui’s frantic heart finally steadied enough to find some strength.

She gulped in a few breaths and spoke in broken phrases. “After I went back to my room, someone knocked me out… I… I don’t know who did it. When I woke up, I was already here, and I couldn’t see anymore.”

“Alright. Let’s go back first.” This wasn’t the place to talk. Gu Huaiwei could tell He Jiarui wouldn’t be able to give a coherent account anytime soon, so she decided to get her out of here.

He Jiarui wasn’t completely blind-her eyesight had simply plummeted. She could only make out extremely vague shadows.

Gu Huaiwei had the little handcart she used for hauling goods stored inside her Jade Bracelet. It was perfect for moving a person at a time like this.

She helped He Jiarui sit on the cart.

He Jiarui buried her face in her knees. She was wearing thin clothes and looked utterly miserable. Gu Huaiwei took out a wool coat and draped it over her shoulders, then handed her a Magnetic Beverage.

“Miss Gu… have I gotten ugly?”

Like a pampered flower, after just a few hours without the nourishment of Magnetic Value, her hair had already started to turn dry and dull, and her skin was beginning to lose moisture.

“As long as you’re alive and unharmed, that’s already a blessing in a disaster.” Gu Huaiwei didn’t answer directly.

He Jiarui immediately started sobbing.

She hadn’t replenished herself with a Magnetic Beverage in time-there had to be signs of aging already.

She couldn’t bear the thought of what she might look like if she got ugly.

To her, it was nothing short of a catastrophe.

Gu Huaiwei pushed the cart as she led the fragile, shaken He Jiarui out. The moment they stepped out of the abandoned building, harsh lights flashed around them, and multiple flashlight beams locked onto Gu Huaiwei.

Zhou Chuanning led his colleagues as they emerged from all sides, faces taut, forming an airtight ring. Dark gun barrels pointed straight at her.

“Hands up! Put down the hostage!” Zhou Chuanning had come here after receiving information about a kidnapper’s exchange.

“Officer Zhou, it’s me.” Gu Huaiwei raised her hands first.

Zhou Chuanning recognized her. A brief blankness flickered across his face, then he gave an apologetic order for his men to lower their guns and not act rashly.

“Miss Gu, why are you here?” He strode up quickly.

“Rescuing my client and special guest.”

Gu Huaiwei had recorded everything from start to finish, so this small misunderstanding was easy to clear up.

Of course, she also took the opportunity to emphasize the professionalism of the Oasis Matchmaking Agency on camera: even if a guest ran into an unexpected incident, the Oasis Matchmaking Agency would do everything possible to ensure the client’s safety.

With the police helping, everything afterward went far more smoothly. They arranged for a professional psychologist to counsel He Jiarui, and Ji Xuan hurried over as well to comfort her.

The dating show’s filming schedule was only delayed for half a day before getting back on track.
Due to the unexpected turn of events, coupled with Gu Huaiwei recording the hostage rescue and the addition of exclusive interviews with Ji Xuan and Chen Liuxiang, the number of live viewers surged.

Gu Huaiwei successfully reached her goal of 100,000 concurrent viewers.

Chen Liuxiang spent Magnetic Value to hire the best medical team for He Jiarui.

In the end, He Jiarui chose to return to Ji Xuan’s side.

Gu Huaiwei couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

She watched as He Jiarui, eyes wrapped in gauze, fell into a peaceful sleep in Ji Xuan’s arms. As Ji Xuan tenderly stroked the white hairs quietly sprouting near He Jiarui’s ears, Gu Huaiwei pushed her suspicions to the back of her mind.

It was possible that Ji Xuan had intentionally orchestrated He Jiarui’s kidnapping. He could have used He Jiarui’s blood to leave a Contract Ring mark on the windowsill, pointing the finger at Chen Liuxiang, before joining the police to rescue He Jiarui and ultimately winning her back.

It was also possible that Chen Liuxiang felt He Jiarui was becoming too demanding and troublesome. She could have used He Jiarui’s blood to leave a Newborn Ring mark on the windowsill to frame Ji Xuan. If He Jiarui had withered away during the kidnapping, Chen Liuxiang could have walked away from the relationship without any moral burden.

Regardless of who it was, the police investigation concluded that the culprit had committed suicide.

The kidnapper confessed to the crime and even took responsibility for the incident where He Jiarui was held hostage several years ago.

With the dust settled, He Jiarui remained trapped in an invisible web, clutching what she believed to be honey. She didn’t seek the truth; instead, she savored this fleeting sweetness, allowing her life to return to a semblance of tranquility.

Online, fans were obsessed with the “sweet” couple.

After finishing his report at the station, Zhou Chuanning arrived at the Oasis Matchmaking Agency to drink tea and chat with Gu Huaiwei.

“Even if it’s a script for a variety show, did you have to arrange a tragic ending for us?”

“We already have Wu Ming and Lin Xiaomei representing the pure romance style, and Ji Xuan and He Jiarui showing a love-hate entanglement that ends in marriage. As far as the internet is concerned, this show has provided enough ‘after-service.’ There’s no need for us to keep playing the role of contract lovers.” Gu Huaiwei took a sip of the slightly bitter tea and gestured for Zhou Chuanning to try some.

A large sum of Gold Coins had been settled into her Paradise Card, so Gu Huaiwei no longer had to be frugal when buying things.

This Silver Needle tea was quite expensive; the leaves were shaped like needles and as white as snow.

The batch Mu Lingxi had helped her source was supposedly top-tier stock not available on the open market. However, to Gu Huaiwei, it didn’t taste much different from any other tea.

Zhou Chuanning took a small sip. As an Alien, he was unable to appreciate the delicate fragrance of human food.

He set the teacup down after just one taste. “You really don’t give me even a glimmer of hope, do you?”

Zhou Chuanning always felt that the way Gu Huaiwei looked at him was incredibly indifferent. Beneath her professional, business-like smile lay something exceptionally cold.

It was as if she was absolutely certain that there was no chance for them.

No matter what he did or how much time passed, he couldn’t seem to move her.

“Regarding the undercover matter, I promised you that I will contact you once the time is right.” Gu Huaiwei drained her tea in one gulp.

As for anything else, there was no need to speak further.

She would leave sooner or later; at that time, Zhou Chuanning would naturally give up.

After the dating show concluded, the Oasis Matchmaking Agency received its share of the live broadcast profits from the TV station.

[Oasis Matchmaking Agency: Four-Star]

[Congratulations, Shopkeeper, for completing the Phase 3 Dating Show Live Mission. You have received 500,000 Magnetic Value from the variety show profits. This upgrade will consume 100,000 Magnetic Value.]

[Current areas available for paid unlock: Oasis Matchmaking Agency Chain Stores (0/10)]

[Next Phase Sales Mission Unlocked: Within one year, establish ten branch stores in ten different cities. Build large-scale influence in the local dating markets to achieve a branding effect.]

[Remaining Magnetic Value: 495,920 points.]