Run away? Not exactly. Zhang Yuning had come here of her own accord, whether it was a trap or not, she was ready to accept it.
Chi Nian’s captivating smile made Zhang Yuning recall countless intimate details from their time in bed. Memories so intoxicating they were almost frightening.
She shook off the thoughts, refusing to let Chi Nian’s emotional manipulation shackle her. Chi Nian was clearly experienced whether
it was mutual desire or calculated seduction, what happened had happened.
At most, she’d take a little responsibility.
“How long would I be your bodyguard?”
“Three months.” Chi Nian answered without hesitation, as if she had already planned it.
“Deal.” Zhang Yuning agreed readily.
The corners of Chi Nian’s lips curled into a longer smile, her lowered gaze pure and enchanting. She seemed genuinely happy.
Slowly adjusting her bra strap, she turned her back and raised a brow. “Help me fasten it.”
Zhang Yuning didn’t refuse, pulling the sides of the bra before pausing. “Which hook?”
“You’ve touched it before, figure it out yourself.”
Zhang Yuning froze in embarrassment, lips parting without a sound. This version of Chi Nian was just as teasing as she had been in bed.
Chi Nian seemed to savor the moment, tilting her head slightly, her sharp jawline on full display as her smile hovered between
restraint and amusement. “For three months, you must stay by my side at all times. Do well, and I’ll set you free.”
“Fine.”
“First, find a way out.” Chi Nian straightened, adjusting her straps herself. Her tone remained steady; calm and unflappable, a stark contrast to the lively, cheerful heiress seen on TV.
Escaping was the priority. Zhang Yuning knew they couldn’t stay long once the trap was sprung, they’d only alert the enemy.
She quickly got out of bed, half-naked, clothes scattered on the floor—evidence of their earlier urgency. She could hardly believe
she had been so eager to participate.
Chi Nian remained seated, watching as if admiring a rare treasure, her gaze never leaving as Zhang Yuning dressed piece by piece.
Zhang Yuning ignored the intense scrutiny. Standing at 172 cm, her shoulder-length hair streaked with smoky gray highlights, she
had dressed practically for her nighttime infiltration of the Chi estate. A fitted black jacket over a casual tank top, slim-fit
pants tucked into ankle boots; her androgynous charm exuded effortless cool.
Thankfully, her backpack was still here. If they were escaping, she needed to move fast. She tied her hair half-up, slipped on her
fingerless gloves out of habit, and scanned the surroundings carefully.
The place was bizarre, an open layout with almost no partitions. Though she had arrived at night, the room was bright as day, the
ceiling mimicking a simulated sky. The garden in the distance looked both real and illusory.
Most importantly, the room was clearly enclosed by glass, yet there was no visible door. Whether there were surveillance cameras
was unclear. Zhang Yuning pulled out a scanner from her bag, preparing for their escape.
She searched for an exit, tapping walls and checking corners. Meanwhile, Chi Nian had slipped into a red halter dress. Smooth silk
satin with a deep V-neck and off-shoulder design, the draped neckline hinting at pale curves. The fitted mermaid silhouette
resembled an evening gown, accentuating her hourglass figure to breathtaking effect.
A flash of red entered Zhang Yuning’s field of vision. Unable to resist, she looked up to see Chi Nian sitting on the edge of the
bed with her legs crossed, lazy strands of long hair cascading over her chest where her collarbones peeked through. She smoothed
her hair, half draped behind her, half falling forward.
“Are you seriously dressed like this while running for your life?” Zhang Yuning didn’t look up as she squatted, fiddling with her
toolkit. Chi Nian didn’t answer immediately, but soon the red figure stepped into view.
“A luxurious cage deserves a noble beast, don’t you think?” Her words seemed self-deprecating as she crouched down too, the curve
of her cleavage particularly eye-catching.
Zhang Yuning’s accidental glance made her heart skip a beat. The memory of its softness and texture was unforgettable. Yet Chi Nian’s words carried weight, leaving no room for rebuttal.
“Fair point. No matter how lavish, any place meant to confine someone is still a cage.”
Chi Nian smiled without responding, then asked earnestly, “Any leads?”
“There must be robots here. Your Chi family pioneers AI and tech R&D, which explains this house.” She waved a detector around. It
reacted, but couldn’t pinpoint surveillance locations.
Zhang Yuning’s brows furrowed in thought, unaware that Chi Nian was watching her intently, soft eyes glowing with something like
deep infatuation.
“There are robots, just not in this room.”
“How do you usually leave?” Zhang Yuning asked the key question. If Chi Nian was confined here, she’d need to exit for meals. The
garden and golf course weren’t just decor. Such high-end imprisonment suggested either lingering mercy or ulterior motives from Chi
Jing.
“Me? I walk out.”
“Huh?”
“Open door.”
The house system recognized Chi Nian’s voice and keywords. The left glass wall emitted blue light, projecting a holographic
keyboard with transparent, tactile buttons and operational guides before sliding open.
Zhang Yuning knew Liuli Island’s tech was advanced and that the Chi family spearheaded it, but this house exceeded expectations and
she’d been played.
“You could leave anytime, yet you toyed with me?” Angry, she packed her antique equipment and stormed out without looking back.
Chi Nian followed, still smiling, and coaxed, “Don’t be mad. I meant leaving the entire property.”
Zhang Yuning stayed silent, unwilling to engage, feeling like Chi Nian’s joke.
“I don’t know how we got in, but getting out depends on you.” Chi Nian’s calm tone contrasted with her alluring, icy demeanor in
that outfit.
True, exiting this bedroom posed new challenges. Zhang Yuning’s temper cooled, sensing Chi Nian’s subtle guidance.
Chi Nian pressed, “If we find the main control panel, could we hack the security?”
“Worth trying.” Zhang Yuning had Chi Nian activate all voice-controlled interfaces for analysis, understanding preceded cracking.
Chi Nian complied, fully cooperating with Zhang Yuning’s system reconnaissance.
Many high-tech devices rely on programming and complex formulas. The intricate calculations and precision instruments were a bit
overwhelming for her as an IT novice. After all, she was a self-taught IT enthusiast, driven purely by interest—far from being a
professional expert.
But she had to try. No matter how meticulous the plan or system, there would always be vulnerabilities; it just took time to find
them.
Zhang Yuning was deeply intrigued. Under different circumstances, she would have lingered much longer. This place was like a
technology museum, filled with AI projections, touch-sensitive controls, everything cutting-edge.
“Strange, these are all sub-controllers. Where’s the main control panel?” Zhang Yuning frowned, glancing helplessly at Chi Nian,
who merely shook her head before looking at the wall clock and saying calmly, “It’s two o’clock.”
“Don’t rush me. Rushing won’t help.” Zhang Yuning assumed she was hinting at the time, but Chi Nian only smiled without responding,
as if that hadn’t been her intention.
If they could get in, they could get out. There was no way a door couldn’t be found.
Zhang Yuning moved to the kitchen interface, where a robot was charging, inactive. Supposedly, it usually handled cooking, laundry,
drying, and cleaning. Technology had advanced to the point where AI replaced human labor whether that was progress or a tragedy for
humanity remained unclear.
After tinkering for about half an hour, Zhang Yuning had mastered all the smart switches and functions, including the robot’s
operations. Throughout this, Chi Nian kept checking the time. Was she counting down or waiting for something?
After a while, Chi Nian finally looked away, picking up her expensive brown designer bag as if ready to leave at any moment.
Seeing this, Zhang Yuning said, “I haven’t found the door yet, and you’re already planning to go?”
After a brief silence, Chi Nian replied solemnly, “What you see now is only what this house wants you to see. Technology is just a
self-deceiving trick.”
Zhang Yuning paused, staring at her blankly. Chi Nian gave a meaningful smile before slinging her bag over her shoulder and walking
toward the garden.
The words sounded cryptic, yet they plunged Zhang Yuning into deep thought. Was there a hidden message in them, some crucial clue?
If this was truly artificial intelligence, could it really surpass human intellect? To control the entire house’s systems, there
had to be a complete, complex AI framework meaning the main system could only be. Zhang Yuning’s gaze sharpened, landing on the
charging robot.
The robot was entirely white, designed to mimic human height and weight. With a layer of synthetic skin, it would be
indistinguishable from a real person.
Zhang Yuning walked over and accessed its control system, first keeping it in standby mode to avoid interference while she worked.
Sure enough, a hidden door in the garden slid open, revealing an elevator that could take them straight to the first floor with a
preset command.
Chi Nian, who had been amusing herself with a parrot in a garden cage, turned when the door opened. Smiling at Zhang Yuning, she
said, “Seems like choosing you to protect me was the right decision.” As if everything had gone exactly as expected—no surprise, no
excitement.
“Only because Miss Chi guided me well,” Zhang Yuning replied deliberately, sensing that Chi Nian had intentionally dropped hints.
She probably knew the way out all along.
Maybe she was leading her step by step. Zhang Yuning decided to play along just to see what other tricks Chi Nian had up her
sleeve.
Chi Nian suppressed a smile and stood sideways by the door. With her makeup done, she was a perfect match for the mermaid dress—
long gown, flowing hair, and a designer handbag slung over her arm, resembling a runway model. When she smiled, she was like a
butterfly emerging from a sea of flowers, mysterious and alluring.
Even though every bit of Chi Nian’s beauty was etched into her heart, Zhang Yuning remained indifferent. She finished packing her
things and walked to the door, only to find the parrot Chi Nian had been teasing earlier lying on its back, eyes rolled back.
“The bird’s dead,” Zhang Yuning informed her, puzzled by the parrot’s unusual silence.
“A caged bird finds more freedom in death than in life,” Chi Nian replied calmly.
“Then why were you teasing it earlier? What was the point?”
“No point. I just felt like it.” With that defiant remark, Chi Nian strode into the elevator lobby.