Chapter 75 - 71: Darkness Falls, Unconsciousness

"Hello? Why did you take so long to answer the phone?"

"You’re at home right now, right?"

"My boyfriend and I bought a lot of food, all your favorite snacks."

"We’re just downstairs from your place. Aren’t you coming down to get us?"

After pressing the answer button, that familiar voice of her best friend came through.

In the past, Zhao Lili loved her best friend’s voice, crisp as a oriole’s song.

But at this moment, she felt a chill creeping from the base of her spine to the top of her head.

The fans in the live stream also heard her best friend’s words.

"That master’s predictions were all true!"

"No way! We’ve met Lili’s best friend before. How could she possibly want to harm Lili?"

"Drawing a tiger is easy, drawing its bones is hard. You can know a person’s face but not their heart!"

"Just call the police already! God knows what these two shameless people might do!"

"Lili, I’ve already called the police for you. Whatever you do, don’t open the door!"

"You’re really making a mountain out of a molehill! Lili’s streaming the whole time, I don’t believe anyone would dare to harm her!"

"Making a mountain out of a molehill? It’s called caution!"

"What if they just shut off the live stream the moment they get in and kidnap Lili?"

"That’s so hilarious! Have you watched too many movies?"

"Say what you want, but I’ve helped Lili by calling the police."

Meanwhile, Zhao Lili didn’t know what to say.

Her heart was pounding heavily at this moment.

She had experienced such a rapid heartbeat before, when she got scammed in an online romance.

But then, it was excitement and thrill.

Now, it was terror, fear, and unease.

"Hello? Are you still there?"

"Why aren’t you saying anything?"

Zhao Lili’s long silence made her best friend quite puzzled.

"Um, um..."

"My relatives are visiting today, I’m not feeling well."

"You should go home first. Let’s get together some other time..."

Zhao Lili forced herself to find a more or less suitable excuse.

"Not feeling well? Then I should definitely come up and see you."

"I’m coming up now..."

Her best friend seemed to misunderstand Zhao Lili’s refusal, insisting on coming up.

Zhao Lili was dumbfounded.

For a moment, she didn’t know what to do.

She glanced at the live chat; her fans were urging her to call the police.

"Right... I need to call the police..."

Zhao Lili hurriedly dialed the emergency number.

At the same time, there was a knock on her door.

"Thankfully, I’ve alerted the police!"

"I should be safe now, right?"

"Then let’s see why you want to harm me!"

Zhao Lili took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and opened her door.

"I’ve been knocking forever, why did it take so long for you to open?"

Her best friend, acting as usual, walked straight into the living room.

"Oh, and here’s some milk tea I got just for you."

"Didn’t you mention the new milk tea shop downstairs? You haven’t had a chance to try it yet, right?"

"Here, it’s from that new place. See how it tastes?"

Her best friend rummaged through a pile of snacks and handed Zhao Lili a warm cup of milk tea.

"We waited in line for nearly half an hour to get it."

"Go on, give it a try!"

Her best friend’s boyfriend also encouraged with a smile.

Zhao Lili looked at her best friend, and then at her boyfriend.

Their reactions were completely normal, showing no signs of guilt.

She grew more confused. Could the master have been wrong, and her best friend really meant her no harm?

Despite her deep suspicions, she cautiously checked the milk tea.

The packaging was perfectly intact, no signs of tampering.

She poked the straw into the tea, took a small sip, and tasted the rich milk flavor, nothing like non-dairy creamer.

"How is it? Tastes good, right?"

Her best friend asked with a smile.

Zhao Lili hadn’t turned off her computer and was still streaming.

The fans, through the camera, watched everything unfold in the living room.

"What did I say? A friendship of almost ten years, how could she harm Lili?"

"Exactly, they just came to deliver some milk tea and snacks. Why make it sound so serious?"

"And those who called the police? Feeling embarrassed now?"

"Wait, something’s not right. Why does her best friend’s smile seem a bit odd?"

"You’ve already decided she would harm Lili; of course, her smile seems odd to you."

"When someone’s told there’s a thief on the bus, everyone seems like a thief."

"Something’s not right! Look, that guy’s taking something out of his pocket!"

"Is that... a handkerchief?"

"Lili, get out of there..."

As the fans discussed, Zhao Lili had just put the milk tea down, slightly relaxing her guard.

Just when she was about to speak her thoughts on the drink, she suddenly sensed someone moving behind her.

Before she could turn around, a cloth was pressed firmly over her face.

Instantly, she detected a peculiar, pungent smell, with a slight sweetness mixed in.

And then... there was nothing.

Her vision went dark as she lost consciousness.

The fans watching were completely stunned.

"Damn! That master was damn accurate!"

"How is this possible? A friendship of ten years?"

"Why not? Even relatives can stab you in the back; why not friends?"

"Why aren’t the cops here yet? This is killing me!"

"Those who said she wouldn’t harm Lili, dare to step forward now?"

"I just want to ask, didn’t Lili use her brain? The master warned her repeatedly, but she still didn’t believe him!"

"This silly girl, not as smart as a donkey!"

"Hope the cops get there soon!"

"I’m calling them again to hurry them up..."

The fans, seeing Zhao Lili knocked out by the man, were anxious beyond measure.

Meanwhile, the best friend spoke up, "This... this isn’t right, is it?"

"What do you mean not right?"

"Don’t forget, I’ve got stuff on you too!"

"Come help me move her already!"

"Tonight, I want to taste this rich, top-tier influencer..."

The man licked his lips, looking lecherous.

"And don’t forget to record it!"

"In case she tries to make a fuss!"

Saying that, the man took out his phone, started recording.

This sight infuriated the fans, who wished they could jump in and beat the shameless pair.

"Bastards! They’re not human!"

"They’re recording this? Planning to keep Lili under control!"

"People are cruel, you can’t even trust your friends."

"Cops, get in there quick. Don’t let them succeed!"

"I don’t want to see Lili get humiliated..."

Just as the best friend and her boyfriend were about to carry Zhao Lili into the bedroom, the door was suddenly kicked open from outside...