(Tears streaming down, Old Lai is so moved. The second day my new book reached the 11th spot on the new book chart, which has far exceeded my expectations. Thank you to all the old friends for your affection and support!)
While waiting for the elevator, Huang Ying heard footsteps coming from behind. She quickly turned around to look at the dim corridor behind her that was dark after the lights were turned off.
"Who is it? Li Yan?"
...
No one answered, only the sound of footsteps, which made Huang Ying start to feel uneasy. Although it was said that nothing supernatural had ever happened in the whole building, and there was no rumor of a lone female employee being harassed by a pervert while working late, when the whole floor quieted down and she was the only one left, it was hard not to let her imagination run wild.
"Don't... go... ah... wait... wait... for me..."
The slightly husky, deep voice was getting closer. Not to mention, Li Yan, no one in the entire business department had ever heard this voice, and Huang Ying immediately became tense, quickly turning to press any other elevator buttons.
Fortunately, the elevator she started waiting for was already coming down from above, nineteen, eighteen... almost there.
"Don't... get... in... the... elevator... it's... full..."
The voice was already behind her. Huang Ying was so scared she didn't dare to look back, worried that the elevator was really full, standing with a group of ghostly-faced "people."
With a ding, the elevator door opened in a flash, and Huang Ying rushed in. There were people inside, but it wasn't full. Once inside, she shrunk to the back.
People coming down from above saw her tense demeanor and suspiciously looked outside, seeing someone else swiftly following in, eyes fixed on him.
"Is he harassing you?"
Hearing a cold voice, Huang Ying looked around blankly, only to realize that the person inside the elevator was President Zhang Yurong! The person who followed in was Li Yan, standing awkwardly.
"No, just kidding." Li Yan explained briefly, then said to Huang Ying, "I said I'd wait for you to get off work, just went to smoke a cigarette. There's no ghost!"
Knowing it was Li Yan, Huang Ying exhaled, patted her chest, was about to say something, but then noticed the president was there, quickly adopting a serious demeanor, earnestly replied, "Hello, Ms. Zhang, he didn't harass me, we were working overtime together, just fooling around."
Zhang Yurong said nothing further, her eyes sweeping over them, then focusing on the elevator.
If a company employee happens to ride the elevator with Zhang Yurong, they would be extremely nervous and wish to arrive quickly. Li Yan, however, felt less pressure, but he was somewhat embarrassed after joking with a girl and claiming to wait for someone after work in front of his wife.
Eight.
Seven.
The elevator floor numbers changed, suddenly jolting, followed by a massive shake, lights flickering incessantly, until stopping, becoming pitch black.
After a gasp of shock, Huang Ying softly cried, "How did this happen? Did the elevator break?"
"Don't be afraid, just a minor malfunction, we're not very high up." Li Yan comforted briefly, reaching out to press the alarm bell, only to touch a jade hand, as Zhang Yurong had pressed the bell first.
Huang Ying, thinking of her need to rush to the hospital, was more anxious than fearful, murmuring, "What to do, how long will it take..."
Zhang Yurong immediately withdrew her hand, then took out her phone and dialed, calling for an urgent repair.
Li Yan also took out his phone, turning on the light to brighten the inside a bit.
After the anxiety passed, Huang Ying realized they weren't safe yet, the dangerous environment instinctively making her move closer to Li Yan, tugging his sleeve and asking, "Li Yan, we won't die, right..."
"Of course not."
Li Yan could feel Zhang Yurong watching him, her gaze wasn't jealous or angry, but... indifferent! Because their relationship was vastly different from others, hard to describe.
Huang Ying couldn't possibly associate the two of them, the lofty president, she just needed to maintain reverence, while Li Yan was a familiar colleague, naturally closer to him in such an environment.
"...Li Yan...what did you just say...?"
"Say what?" Seeing her voice tremble slightly, Li Yan was puzzled.
"You said...don't enter the elevator...it's full...could it be..." Huang Ying stuttered, the light from the phone couldn't banish all darkness, the flickering added to the horror movie ambiance.
Left speechless, Li Yan simply placed the phone under his chin, shedding light upwards on his face, then rolled his eyes, "If there were ghosts, I'll scare them away first!"
"Ah..." Seeing his look, Huang Ying bowed her head against his arm, not daring to look.
After the accident, the calmly pressing the bell, calling to notify the engineering repair personnel, Zhang Yurong snorted coldly at this moment. Li Yan didn't know if she was scared or thought that his joke was childish, or felt Huang Ying's behavior was excessive.
He didn't ask. Even though Huang Ying was afraid and a little embarrassed, she quickly shifted aside, still holding on to his sleeve and standing beside him.
Whether in surprise, tension, or fear, it was only temporary. Once the elevator stopped moving, it quickly turned into anxiety. The cramped space and uncertain wait made people restless. Fortunately, it wasn't during rush-hour, with only three people, while Li Yan remained calm and Zhang Yurong was more composed, leaving only Huang Ying, anxious about getting to the hospital.
Actually, the rescue personnel didn't make them wait too long, because the president was trapped inside, all aspects were expedited. After a dozen minutes, light finally appeared.
"Is everyone alright?" An engineer shone inside with a flashlight, seeing only three people standing safely, reassured. "We will pry it open, it will still require maintenance later, let's get you pulled out first!"
Not exactly at floor level, the pried elevator door was just over two feet wide, and more than a head high.
Seeing the extended hands, Zhang Yurong replied indifferently, "Stand back, I can climb up myself!"
The engineer above thought he had a chance to hold the beautiful president's hand, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, unexpectedly she suggested climbing herself. Her words were not to be contradicted, so he dared not say anything, only stepping back and using the flashlight to shine on the elevator door.
Zhang Yurong adjusted her bag, then tiptoed, reaching over the deck with her hand, giving a strong pull upwards.
Seeing her struggle, Li Yan walked over, crouched and embraced her, then lifted her upwards.
Zhang Yurong's delicate body stiffened, but she didn't cry out, only struggled a bit.
Li Yan thought mischievously, refusing to let other men touch you is good, but I'm your man; touching you shouldn't matter, right? Seeing her not cooperating, he whispered, "Your skirt might tear if you exert force, you'll be embarrassed if that happens!"
Hearing this, Zhang Yurong paused momentarily, then had no choice but to cooperate with his help in climbing up.
After lifting her, seeing the space wasn't big enough, still a bit short, Li Yan simply held her leg with one hand and supported her with the other, then forcefully pushed her up.
In this way, she quickly ascended, crawling on all fours, and from below, the rear view at the poor lighting created more imaginative and evocative scenarios. Images flashed through Li Yan's mind, the remarkable elasticity he just felt.
With Zhang Yurong out, Li Yan looked at Huang Ying.
The most anxious, Huang Ying, wanted to go out immediately, but seeing the elegant image of the lady president, estimated she would have to rely on Li Yan's help or let strangers outside pull her up.
After a brief hesitation, blushing, Huang Ying walked over. "I'll climb up by myself..."
Li Yan understood her intent, but looking at her fragile appearance, even less capable than Zhang Yurong, wouldn't reach. He had to repeat his method, crouching, embracing Huang Ying, lifting her up and forcefully pushing her out.