"Stop exaggerating, Yuan," I said while blushing.
He chuckled and said, "Okay, okay, I won't make you blush harder anymore, otherwise we'll just end up standing here only."
I smiled, and then he opened the door of the car for me like a proper gentleman, as he always did. I got inside the car, and he also sat on the driving seat and started the car. While driving, he asked me, "So first we have to go to the escape room, right?"
I nodded and said, "Yes, and after that we'll eat in a restaurant, and our today's date will end with the sweetness of ice cream."
He smiled and said, "Okay, as you wish."
After a span of 35 minutes, we reached our location, and he stopped the car outside the escape room.
"I think you should wear your mask here, otherwise before entering the escape room many people will scream or get fainted by seeing Xu Yuan roaming here outside the escape room."
He smiled and said, "Yes, you're right," and he took out his mask and wore it on his face. "Done, let's go," he said.
We both got out of the car. While entering the escape room, he asked me, "Is this the scary escape room?"
I smiled and said, "Are you afraid of scary things, Mr. Yuan?"
"What do you think about me, hm? Your boyfriend is strong. I'm just asking—if you'll get scared, then we'll skip it," he said.
"No, no. I was the one who chose this, so how could I get scared? I am interested in scary things. I mean, I also watch many scary movies. It's interesting. Let's go inside."
Then we reached the counter where the person standing there asked me, "Ma'am, tell me which escape you choose. There are many options. One is the mysterious one, the second is the jungle adventure, and the third one is the haunted one."
"I'll go with the haunted one," I said in one go.
The person gave us the passcode to enter the escape room, and I paid the amount. Yuan was about to stop me, but I said, "Isn't this date on me?" I asked him.
"Yes, but we can—" He was about to say something, but I stopped him midway and said while looking straight into his eyes, "Today you just enjoy your girlfriend's treat, Mr. Yuan."
He giggled and said, "First, stop showing me these puppy eyes."
I smiled and said, "Why? Is it your weakness?"
"Everything about you is my strength, not weakness. But surely, your puppy eyes make me able to do anything," he said.
Then I made the payment through WeChat, and we both submitted our bags and phones outside before entering the escape room.
"Okay then, let's get inside," I said to him.
He nodded, and then we both entered the room.
It was quite dark inside. There were flashy red lights all over, and a spooky sound was playing in the background. We entered slowly with short, small steps. Suddenly, a thunder sound came. I got a little scared and clutched his shirt sleeve a bit too tightly.
He lowered his head to reach my ear and said, "What happened, you silly girl? Are you scared? Aren't you the one who said you grew up watching horror movies and enjoyed them?"
I looked at him angrily and said, "Yuan, you can't leave a single chance to tease me, isn't it too obvious?"
"Of course. How could I, when you are so worth teasing?" he said.
"Can't you see your little bunny is a little bit scared?" I said in flow, without realising.
"Wait, what did you just say? Come again," he said.
I hit his arm lightly and said, "First straighten your posture, otherwise you'll end up having this half-bent posture for your whole life."
"What should I do? It's not my fault. My girl is too short. I can't help it," he said, looking down at me.
"What are you looking at?" I asked him.
"Nothing. Just seeing that usually girls wear high-heel sandals when they go on a date with their boyfriend, but here is my silly girl who wears shoes. Quite impressive," he said.
I chuckled and said, "Because I like it when you bend down yourself to reach my eye level to meet my eyes."
"Which C-drama did you watch?" he asked.
"Of course, yours only. Whose else could it be?" I said while smiling.
Then we moved further. The creepy sound began to grow louder, and then there was a sound of footsteps approaching, like someone was coming. Suddenly, everything became dark. The red flashy lights also turned off. Now the room was completely dark.
"Don't move. I've got you. Don't go anywhere, silly girl," he said to me.
"Yuan, relax. I think you're scared more than me," I said.
"Yes, I am. I am scared for you," he said, his tone quite worried.
Then the light came on, and I found the first clue written on a paper chit. It said, Find me, with a drawing of a door.
There were two doors in front of us. I exhaled sharply and said, "Yuan, you go to the left door and I'll go to the right door."
But he held my wrist.
"What, Yuan?" I asked.
"No one is stealing your girlfriend here. Relax," I said to reassure him.
"But why do I feel so—" he said.
I was literally enjoying this feeling of Yuan being so protective about me. Yesterday it all felt like a dream, but today, at this moment, I was living a dream I had never imagined I could live. I thought all this silently while looking at Yuan.
Then I smiled, pushed him towards the left door, and ran inside the right door.
Meanwhile, Yuan joined the clues inside his room. It was written that he had to complete the puzzle of the witch's face to get a key to exit. He immediately started solving the puzzle. After a span of 15 minutes, he completed it. Beneath the wall, there was a key. He grabbed it immediately and came out of the escape room.
The escape room had ended. He came out all alone.
He was shocked. "What is this? Where is she?"
He immediately went to the counter and asked, "Excuse me, I went inside your escape room—the scary one," he pointed at the poster. "But my partner hasn't come out."
The counter person smiled and said, "Sorry, sir. The person who gave you the passes has gone. His duty got over and the shift has changed. I can't help you. But many times this happens—one person comes out earlier. Maybe your partner is still finding clues. Just wait for some time, sir."
He closed his eyes tightly, scratched his head, and sat outside the escape room door, saying to himself, Where are you, little bunny? I hope you are safe. What if you got scared and fainted? No, no, it can't be.
He stood up again and asked the counter person, "Can I go inside again to help my partner?"
The person smiled and said, "Sir, firstly it's not allowed. Secondly, even if you go inside, you can't help your partner. Your partner is already in the mid-level of solving the puzzle. Just wait."
Yuan sat down again with his head resting on his knees, whispering like a prayer, "Please come soon, silly girl. Please come soon. I swear if you don't come out in ten minutes, I'll break this door."
Ten minutes passed.
Yuan's head was still down when a voice made him lift it.
"Yuan?"