CHAPTER 143: CHAPTER 143: HIS STRATEGY SUCCEEDED

Juliana quickly rushed to the window, attempting to open it to call for help outside.

However, as her fingertips just touched the window frame, a cold mechanical female voice suddenly sounded in the room: "Performance malfunction, safety isolation activated."

This smart experience pavilion was a perfect replica of a high-end residential four-bedroom two-living-room setup. All walls, doors, and windows were built physically. Jared Langley was willing to spend money. Once the safety isolation was activated, breaking through from the inside was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

She turned around, her gaze falling on Elias Langley, her tone tinged with blame and impatience, "Why did you follow me in here?"

Elias glanced at his signal-less phone, and said indifferently, "This is Langley Family’s territory. Letting you fall into a pit alone would make me a very negligent host, wouldn’t it?"

Juliana was slightly startled, but quickly collected herself, muttering under her breath "You choose the strangest times to act like the host," and then went to check the control box.

"The main control panel is completely dead, and all exits are locked. But if people outside notice we’re trapped, they should come to rescue us quickly, right?"

She looked at him with uncertainty.

Elias calmly glanced at her, "When Jared contacts the experts and they rush over here to find the fault... if we’re lucky, we might get to enjoy the sunrise together."

As soon as he finished speaking, a strong wind suddenly blew from the air conditioner vent.

Juliana was standing right under the vent; as soon as she exclaimed "It’s so hot," Elias had already pulled her in front of him.

The indoor temperature suddenly soared.

Elias took off his jacket, loosened his tie, his gaze becoming dark and deep.

"We can’t see the sunrise, but spending time with you isn’t bad either."

He was still joking at a time like this.

Juliana anxiously looked around.

Elias watched her reaction, the corners of his lips forming a cold yet seductive arc, "I came in with you, so this time you’re not the dumbest one."

Whether it was the stifling indoor air or his words being too heated, Juliana’s heart was uncontrollably stirred.

She hurriedly suppressed her chaotic thoughts, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and said seriously, "I’ve seen the design plans. To simulate a power outage scenario, all smart systems are connected to a backup battery. As long as we cause a small short circuit, and you still have the strength to kick the door, we can get out."

Elias panted slightly, "Then you better hurry; once my body water evaporates completely, I won’t even have the strength to carry you, let alone kick the door."

Under usual circumstances, Juliana would definitely be allergic to his teasing words, but in this situation, it effectively eased her anxiety.

She found a metal strip and pried open the control panel, revealing complex circuitry and a compact backup battery pack inside.

She discovered a manual pressure release and maintenance interface on the battery pack, but its location was tricky; it required one hand to reach in and a lot of strength to unscrew it.

She tried several times, sweat soaking her temples, but still couldn’t succeed.

"You show me how, I’ll do it."

Elias rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward, taking the metal piece from her hand.

Juliana succinctly told him the operational essentials as Elias reached in.

Perhaps because he was unfamiliar, the metal scraped his fingers on the battery, blood gushing out.

"How could you be so careless?"

Juliana grabbed his hand; almost instinctively, she lowered her head to suck the dirty blood off his finger and spat it to the side.

Concentrating too much, she didn’t realize her lightweight clothes had long been soaked through with sweat, sticking wetly to her skin and faintly exposing the outline beneath.

The man’s gaze darkened slightly, yet he maintained a calm tone, "Last night in the bar, I wasn’t there to find women."

Juliana’s hands paused slightly, her gaze still focusing on his fingers, but she softly responded, "I know, always follow your heart no matter the time."

Hearing this, the dark color in Elias’s eyes thickened significantly.

However, given the urgent situation, it was no time for a heart-to-heart.

He withdrew his finger from her hand, laughing playfully, "Right now, my wish is to get out immediately."

He turned around and reached back in without delay.

"Be careful with your wound."

Elias cheerfully said, "It’s fine, your saliva has already stopped the bleeding."

The heat had reached a level where even the clothes sticking to the body felt scorching.

The man’s wet shirt clung to him tightly, clearly outlining the taut and powerful lines of his chest and arms.

Admittedly, his stratagem had succeeded.

Juliana’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

Meanwhile, outside at the venue.

The contacted experts wouldn’t arrive for at least another hour, and Jared was striving to keep control.

Stella counted the time, reckoning that the two inside were already too hot to bear. She anxiously approached Evan, not avoiding the fact that several other company presidents were present.

"Brother," her voice was clear, just audible for those around to hear, "About ten minutes ago, I think I saw sister-in-law going into the experience pavilion with Mr. Langley, but they haven’t come out yet... could something have happened to them?"

This statement triggered a wave of speculation.

The mysterious Mr. Langley had resided in Kingsford for years, always acting low-key with no scandals, let alone being involved with someone from the Grant Family.

The company presidents exchanged glances, their expressions inquisitive.

Evan’s expression darkened slightly, about to speak, when Stella suddenly spotted Jared not far away and quickly approached him.

"President Langley! My sister-in-law and your uncle..."

Jared’s smile was polite, interrupting her words, "Sorry, I don’t know your sister-in-law."

Stella insisted, "I’m Evan’s sister and also her secretary. I just saw it with my own eyes..."

Jared interrupted her again, his smile unchanged but his voice clearly reaching the ears of those around.

"Isn’t Evan’s woman you, the ’sister’ and secretary? Everyone in Kenton knows about the Grant Family’s ’anecdote.’ Which ’sister-in-law’ are you looking for now?"

His words elicited hidden laughter from those nearby.

Stella felt extremely embarrassed, yet unwilling to miss this chance to ruin Juliana’s reputation.

"President Langley, now is not the time for jokes, what if something really happened to them?"

Before Jared could respond, Evan intervened, taking over, "How can you question the safety of President Langley’s place?"

Stella could tell Eva was defending Juliana. Her mind raced, trying to think of a way to lead everyone to the experience pavilion, when she heard a loud "boom" from the pavilion direction...

She immediately seized the opportunity, "What are they doing inside?"

Jared’s expression turned cold, "I invited Director Jacobs to check the battery module for me. What’s wrong with my uncle accompanying her as the host?"

"Even so, everyone is concerned. How about we all go have a look?"

Stella encouraged everyone to head toward the experience pavilion.

She was walking the fastest, and just as she turned the corner, she unexpectedly bumped into someone coming her way.