The thought that he might have been in this laboratory before, and not just once, sent an inexplicable wave of panic through Shi Xinxin.
She quickly stepped forward, "Senior Brother, what exactly are you hiding from me?"
Yan Hao didn't answer, his gaze warily fixed on the front left.
Shi Xinxin noticed his gaze and followed it, her pupils widening slightly.
—The wall to their front left was clearly moving, slowly.
Countless images flashed through her mind at that moment. Shi Xinxin suddenly looked up, her eyes meeting Yan Hao's at the exact same time.
In the dim light of their flashlights, they saw the confirmed look in each other's eyes.
The next moment, before Shi Xinxin could even pull Sheng Chenjin back, he grabbed her and pulled her towards him. Her vision went black, and then she was enveloped in Sheng Chenjin's embrace, his strong chest against her.
His speed was so swift that Shi Xinxin barely had time to react.
His sandalwood scent filled her nostrils, wave after wave, uncontrollably. Though she knew the situation was hardly appropriate, Shi Xinxin's face flushed uncontrollably.
In the brief moment of her daze, Sheng Chenjin had already shielded her and retreated to a corner.
Yan Hao stood in the opposite corner, facing them.
All three of them focused their attention on the wall in front of the adjacent corner.
The wall moved for a moment, as if the person behind it was trying to see if anyone was inside. Through the slightly opened gap, they observed the situation within.
However, the people inside waited in the darkness, and the person outside didn't observe anything.
Thus, Shi Xinxin heard the person outside continue to push the wall.
Shi Xinxin felt a surge of anxiety, thinking the intruder might be Old Feng, or his people. Various scenarios played out in her mind.
*Bang—*
The sound of the wall being fully pushed open interrupted Shi Xinxin. She looked over with icy eyes, and without the slightest hesitation, she took the crystal hairpin from her hair and thrust it forward.
Unprepared for her swift decision, Sheng Chenjin immediately followed her, his attention fixed on the opponent's movements.
Shi Xinxin, without a moment's pause, fiercely jabbed at the person before her with the object in her hand. Even though her vision was plunged into darkness, the anger in her eyes was enough for her to feel as though she could pierce the very air in front of her.
"Ah!"
As if taken by surprise by the sudden attack, the other party shrieked instinctively and scrambled to dodge Shi Xinxin's hairpin.
Shi Xinxin, however, suddenly stopped. She recognized the voice in the scream.
"Yinxue?" she uttered slowly, incredulously.
Even though she knew it was unlikely to encounter her in this place, Shi Xinxin couldn't dismiss the fact that the voice before her sounded exactly like Yinxue.
The other party also seemed surprised to see Shi Xinxin. After a moment of stunned silence, they nodded in a way that Shi Xinxin could see.
"Yes, you… aren't you Xinxin?"
Shi Xinxin's thoughts momentarily froze. She instinctively retorted, "What are you doing here?"
Having confirmed that the person before her was Shi Xinxin, Yinxue fell silent.
Her mind raced at that moment. Then, she slowly got up from the ground, brushing off the dust.
"I haven't asked you yet, Xinxin. How did you end up here?" her tone, devoid of its usual cheerfulness, was subdued.
Not understanding Yinxue's purpose for being there, nor her identity, Shi Xinxin didn't tell her.
Receiving only silence, Yinxue sighed softly and said calmly, "I don't know how I got here either. I just wanted to find a place to take photos, and I stumbled upon this place."
"Photos?" Shi Xinxin clearly didn't believe this reason.
If Yinxue wanted to take photos, she could have gone anywhere. Even a green screen and some post-production editing would be more realistic than this dilapidated place.
Therefore, Shi Xinxin's lips thinned slightly, realizing that Yinxue's identity and intentions were likely not simple.
This pharmacy had always been hidden by Old Feng, even she hadn't discovered it. How had Yinxue found it?
Shi Xinxin's eyes gradually darkened.
"Why don't you tell us how you found the mechanism for this wall?"
Into the silent air, Sheng Chenjin's voice cut in, casual and calm.
Hearing his voice, Yinxue clearly froze.
She brought up her flashlight and shone it forward, only to see three people standing clearly before her.
"You all…" Yinxue's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you all find this place?"
There was someone among them she didn't recognize, but looking at the silhouette of this silent man, Yinxue's hand holding the flashlight tightened slightly. She had a vague feeling she'd seen this man somewhere before.
Under the beam of the flashlight, Shi Xinxin examined Yinxue carefully. She wore casual clothes, her hair tied back in a low ponytail, looking neat and tidy.
It seemed she had come to this pharmacy with a purpose.
Sensing Shi Xinxin's wary gaze, Yinxue sighed helplessly.
"I didn't expect to run into you all here, but believe me, I have no ill intentions."
Shi Xinxin immediately followed up, "Then tell me, what exactly are you here for?"
Yinxue pursed her lips and remained silent.
Her attitude was exactly the same as before. Shi Xinxin understood; ever since they met, Yinxue had been evasive, talking in circles without getting to the point.
What was she hiding?
Sheng Chenjin glanced at Yinxue, seeing the hesitation and faint fear on her face. He suddenly spoke, "You came here because of the human experimentation, didn't you?"
Hearing those four words, etched deeply into her very being, Yinxue's hands trembled. The flashlight slipped from her grasp and rolled into a corner.
Her legs gave way, and she collapsed straight to the ground.
In the darkness, Shi Xinxin didn't notice the same expression on Yan Hao's face.
She seized the opportunity to take out her phone. Seeing Yinxue kneeling on the ground in a disheveled state, she couldn't bear it and helped her up.
Shi Xinxin's gaze was sincere and intense, fixed on the trembling Yinxue. "What is it? Tell me."
Yinxue's face was ashen, devoid of color. She kept shaking her head, her tongue seemingly tied, unable to articulate a coherent sound.
Shi Xinxin gently pulled her into an embrace, using a soothing tone, even though the topic they were discussing was something she also feared.
"It's alright. Everything is in the past now. Those things happened a long time ago. They won't happen again," Shi Xinxin said softly.
She reached out and patted Yinxue's frail shoulders, speaking in a hushed voice, unsure if her words would help.
Slowly, Yinxue seemed to sense the external comfort. The fear on her face lessened, and her thoughts gradually returned to normal.
"You… how did you know about the human experimentation?" she asked, looking at Sheng Chenjin.