Chapter 41 Cooperation

When Gu Huai returned to the store, his carefree expression had completely disappeared, replaced by a serious demeanor as if he had a mission to accomplish.

He walked over to Huo Yanzhi and Ruan Yao in a few steps and cleared his throat.

"I just checked the list and found that something is missing."

Ruan Yao looked up. "What is that?"

"It's a custom-made 'Star and Moon' themed glass ornament, a limited edition, that was supposed to be delivered this afternoon, but I looked around and couldn't find it."

Gu Huai said with great seriousness, "That's the face of the business, losing it would be a real problem."

Huo Yanzhi's brow twitched slightly.

Ruan Yao immediately put the incense in her hand aside.

"I didn't notice it either. Could it have been put in the warehouse?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Gu Huai slapped his thigh. "Very likely! The workers were afraid of damaging it, so they stored it directly inside. Miss Ruan, you know the store best, could you please take us to the warehouse?"

"Okay." Ruan Yao agreed without thinking.

Gu Huai then turned to Huo Yanzhi and put his arm around his shoulder with a friendly expression.

"Yanzhi, you help look for it too. You have sharp eyes, maybe it's hidden in some nook or cranny."

Huo Yanzhi's gaze lingered on Ruan Yao for a moment.

The three of them walked together toward the storage room at the back of the store.

The storage room was small and filled with various unopened material boxes and decorations, leaving only a narrow passageway.

The lights were the most ordinary incandescent bulbs, dimly lit, and the air was filled with the smell of cardboard boxes and wood.

"It should be in here. You two look for it. I'll go outside and urge the cleaners." Gu Huai pushed the two into the storage room, then slipped away in a flash.

Without much thought, Ruan Yao began to carefully search through the rows of shelves.

Huo Yanzhi silently flipped through the pages on the other side.

In the cramped space, only the soft breathing of the two people and the rustling sound of turning over objects could be heard.

The atmosphere started to change again.

"Found it!" Ruan Yao's eyes lit up. "It should be that one."

She stood on tiptoe and pointed to a wooden crate with a foreign logo printed on it on the top shelf.

The shelves were very high; even with her arms outstretched, Ruan Yao could only barely touch the edge of the boxes with her fingertips.

She tried to jump, but still couldn't reach it, so she turned around and looked for a ladder.

As soon as she turned around, she bumped into a strong embrace.

Just as she was about to find a stool to step on, a shadow loomed over her from behind.

Huo Yanzhi stopped behind her, his warm chest almost touching her back.

He didn't say anything, but simply stretched out his long arm, easily reaching over her head, and took the heavy wooden box down with one hand.

Throughout the entire process, his body completely enveloped her in his arms.

Ruan Yao froze instantly, forgetting even to breathe.

She could clearly feel the steady heartbeat from his chest, the breeze from his arm brushing past her ear, and the woody scent that made her uneasy, all of which enveloped her completely.

Ruan Yao's heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of her throat. Her mind went blank, and all her senses were occupied by the presence of the man behind her.

Huo Yanzhi took the heavy wooden box off with one hand and held it steadily in his arms.

He lowered his eyes and could see that the girl's small, delicate ears were so red they were almost bleeding, and her long eyelashes were trembling nervously.

Just as he was about to take a step back—

"Snap!"

A crisp click of the lock echoed loudly in the quiet storage room.

The door was locked.

Immediately afterward, Gu Huai shouted in a panic from outside the door: "Oh no! What's wrong with this door! It seems to be an old spring lock that has sprung up by itself! Don't panic, I'll go find the key!"

The shouts faded into the distance and eventually disappeared completely.

The storage room fell silent once again.

Outside the store, night had already fallen.

Gu Huai whistled and walked out of the building with light steps.

Under a streetlamp not far away, Ruan Sheng was leaning against his flashy sports car. The last worker who had finished work had just said goodbye to him and left on his electric scooter.

Gu Huai walked over and exchanged a glance with Ruan Sheng.

Ruan Sheng raised an eyebrow at him and gave him an "OK" sign.

"Done." Gu Huai mouthed to him.

"That's a pretty cunning trick of yours, but I like it." Ruan Sheng lowered his voice, his face beaming with barely suppressed laughter.

Gu Huai raised his chin smugly and straightened his crooked tie: "That's right. This is called creating opportunities."

"But if we really lock them inside, how will we handle the situation later?" Ruan Sheng was still a little worried.

"Don't worry." Gu Huai patted his shoulder and waved his phone. "I've already messaged Qin Feng to come and rescue you. In the meantime, they'll definitely have enough time to do something."

"Reliable." Ruan Sheng gave Gu Huai a thumbs up. "The most affectionate man in Xicheng, you handled this matter perfectly."

Gu Huai put his arm around his shoulder, laughing like a cat that had just stolen some fish.

"Same here, the most handsome man in Chaoyang. Come on, let me treat you to a drink, consider it an apology."

Ruan Sheng pursed his lips, but did not refuse.

Inside the storage room, after a brief moment of surprise, Ruan Yao finally realized what was happening.

She walked to the door, turned the doorknob, but it wouldn't budge.

"Hey! Is anyone home? The door is locked!" she called out twice and patted the door.

The only response she received was the empty echo and the steady breathing of the man beside her.

Ruan Yao stopped what she was doing, and the guilty yet exaggerated expression on Gu Huai's face when he slipped away flashed through her mind.

She understood.

This was not an accident at all.

A slight smile crept onto her lips as she slowly turned to look at the man who had remained remarkably calm throughout.

Huo Yanzhi was holding the wooden box, standing quietly in the dim light, his face showing no surprise or anxiety, as if being locked up here was the most normal thing in the world.

"Why aren't you in a hurry at all?" Ruan Yao walked up to him.

The man's face was expressionless: "There's no use in being anxious."

"You knew all along that Gu Huai was up to something, didn't you?" The girl's voice carried a certainty.

Huo Yanzhi neither admitted nor denied it, only uttering a few words: "He has always been like this."

This answer is equivalent to a default.

The bubbles in Ruan Yao's heart started to rise again, and the smile on her lips widened.

"Then why did you come in with me?" She took another step forward, almost touching him, and looked up at him with her small face. "Huo Yanzhi, admit it, you also want to be alone with me."

The girl's eyes shone brightly in the dim light, like they held shattered starlight.

Huo Yanzhi avoided her intense gaze, placed the wooden box in his arms on the shelf next to him with a soft thud.

"I'm just here to check the materials." He tried to cover something up with a businesslike tone.

“An excuse.” Ruan Yao walked around to his side, blocking his way, and softly repeated what she had said in the hospital.

She extended her index finger and, just like last time, gently poked his strong arm.

"I don't believe you." Ruan Yao grew bolder and bolder, leaning forward slightly, her warm breath almost brushing against his neck. "Look me in the eyes and say it."

Huo Yanzhi froze for a moment, and his fingers, which were placed at his side, curled up almost imperceptibly.

Seeing his expression, Ruan Yao stopped pressuring him, but her smile deepened.

She found Huo Yanzhi somewhat endearing.

“Huo Yanzhi,” Ruan Yao’s voice softened, “last time at the hospital, I told you I liked you. You never answered me.”

She lowered her eyes, a hint of anticipation in them.

"Now that there's no one else here, can you tell me your answer?"