What to do if I've locked myself in a book! - Chapter 41

【Qianqian, I’m here—waiting for you.】

Seeing Bai Yiyan’s message, a huge weight lifted from Ling Qianqian’s chest. Less than ten minutes had passed—he must have rushed over as fast as he could.

After replying quickly, she placed her hand on the restroom doorknob, took a deep breath, twisted the lock, and pushed the door open.

Silver was still on the sofa, his hands moving deftly like an accordion as he played with a deck of cards. His fingers were incredibly agile, controlling dozens of cards to rise and fall precisely as he wished—like a magic trick that made her dizzy just watching.

When he saw Ling Qianqian emerge hesitantly from the restroom, Silver gave her a generous smile—but as before, it held no warmth, sending a shiver down her spine.

No matter how charming this man was, he was no good.

The thought of being with him all night and then waking up to him inside her left her numb with disgust.

This bastard wore a human face but did animalistic things—she really wanted to slap him before leaving.

She glanced at the closed office door. If she sprinted for it now, he could catch her in just a few steps from the sofa. She needed to first move casually to the cabinet near the door while he wasn’t paying attention, then make a run for it.

Plotting her escape, she walked nervously toward him.

Silver watched her with interest, seeming to see through her unspoken plan without letting on.

“Come on—draw a card, see what luck has in store for you today.” He gathered the deck in his palm, pressed it to the coffee table, and slid them into a neat fan shape.

Soft classical music still filled the room. She glanced at the blood orange drink and three cards lying on the table, then at the fanned-out deck. Biting her lower lip, she clutched her skirt nervously as she walked to sit across from him, forcing a smile. “…You know how to read fortunes?”

“I don’t,” he lifted his gaze to meet her flustered face, curving his lips. “But my intuition is always spot-on. Pick one—let’s see if I’m right.”

She swallowed hard. Despite her anger, she knew he was far stronger than her. If he restrained her at this close distance, she’d have no way to fight back.

She subtly shifted her position toward the door, then bent down to draw a card from the fan, laying it face-up on the pile.

The Ace of Hearts.

“How’s my luck?”

“The Ace of Hearts,” Silver picked up the card with exaggerated care, holding it between his fingers and bringing it to his lips. His eyes drifted to her abdomen as he smiled. “Just as cute as the red heart above your navel.”

“Wh… cough…”

A wave of cold dread washed over her, and she instinctively covered her stomach. Her wool dress was completely opaque—did he have x-ray vision?

Besides, hadn’t she traveled back to before he assaulted her last night? How could he know about the hickey Bai Yiyan had left above her navel?

“Don’t be nervous—just a joke,” he shuffled the card back into the deck and snapped his fingers playfully. “I’ve already figured it out—your luck tonight… is very good.”

He drew out the words “very good” deliberately, like a boss who knew something she didn’t—filling her with deep unease.

Bai Yiyan was waiting downstairs—she had to seize her chance.

“Then I’ll take your word for it.”

Ling Qianqian took a tentative step back toward the door. “I have something urgent—I need to go.”

“Of course. The door isn’t locked. I won’t see you out.”

Silver smiled as he watched her leave, not even bothering to stand up from the sofa.

“Until we meet again.”

Click—the sound of the office door closing drowned out Silver’s final words, and Ling Qianqian didn’t hear them.

Thump-thump—

She clutched her chest, gasping for breath.

The noise from the DJ dance floor downstairs matched her racing heart—thundering and deafening.

It was that easy?

Ling Qianqian found it hard to believe.

There was no time to think—she ran down the stairs in huge strides, pushed through the dance floor, and ignored the bartender’s questioning look as she rushed outside.

Wheezing—

She finally burst out of the bar, too anxious to grab an umbrella. All she wanted was to reach Bai Yiyan—only seeing him would calm her down.

The rain poured relentlessly—cold drops stung her skin like needles as she stepped out. She glanced up at the sign above the door: the blue lettering of BLUEBERRY glowed in the rain.

Ling Qianqian ran along the street through the downpour. Just one more turn, and she’d see Bai Yiyan across the road.

Pedestrians hurried past, a sea of colorful umbrellas that felt oppressive to look at.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that while the street and shops looked the same, something was off—familiar yet somehow different.

She finally rounded the corner and stopped at a red light. Cars zoomed past, splashing through puddles as rain blurred her vision. Shivering, she wiped the water from her eyes and scanned the opposite sidewalk for Bai Yiyan—only to spot a tall man holding a black umbrella staring straight at her.

The rain was too heavy and the streetlights too dim, with cars and people everywhere—she couldn’t see clearly, but his silhouette felt painfully familiar.

She never could have guessed the man was Ji Shi.

Even Ji Shi couldn’t believe his eyes.

After noticing the strange shift in writing style in his laptop at home, he’d known something was wrong and decided to return to BLUEBERRY.

And now, across the road, he saw Ling Qianqian standing alone in the rain.

His heart nearly leaped out of his throat as he confirmed it was really her!

Ji Shi tossed aside his umbrella and, ignoring the red light, sprinted toward her with long strides.

At first glance, she saw a man in a short-sleeve shirt running through the rain. Then, a second look—she thought she recognized him.

Was that Cheng Ye running toward her?

The umbrella was blown onto the road and crushed instantly by a speeding car. A line of vehicles roared past, blocking her view—and when they cleared, the man was gone.

Just then, the light turned green. She crossed the street with the crowd and saw Bai Yiyan walking toward her.