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Chapter 563: Chapter 563 He then has a reason to ask for the money for the DVD player.
After choking on water just now, Fu Yiheng took a while to recover. Looking at the walking figure of Si Chen ahead, he couldn’t resist saying, "Doctor Si, you wouldn’t purposely withhold help when I was in danger just to save money on the DVD player, would you?"
Without turning his head, Si Chen replied solemnly, "Not a bad idea."
Fu Yiheng choked on his words and inwardly swore at his own rashness.
As dusk approached and their walking speed on the water slowed down, thankfully Si Chen had thought of bringing a flashlight with him when they started off. Even in the dark, they wouldn’t lose their way.
After the experience of the house collapse, Fu Yiheng dared not roam around arbitrary buildings – he didn’t even dare get too close to any of the structures. On their way, they rescued some people trapped inside the buildings, but unfortunately they hadn’t come across Tong Yao yet. 𝖓𝔬𝔳𝔭𝔲𝔟.𝖈𝖔𝔪
As night fell, Fu Yiheng was so hungry that his stomach was rumbling. Just as he was about to speak to Si Chen, his foot slipped on empty air and he fell directly downwards. However, having quick reflexes, Fu Yiheng managed to stop his fall by spreading his arms and catching the rim of the opening.
After gulping down several mouthfuls of dirty water, Fu Yiheng was now thoroughly disoriented. This was it for him; he had stepped right into a sewage drain. If he were to be washed away, even the King of Heaven wouldn’t be able to save him.
This was really the end for him. That bastard Si Chen probably hadn’t even noticed he was missing yet. By the time he walked a few more steps and realized his absence, where would he know to find him?
This time, the money for the DVD player would certainly be saved for Si Chen.
Just when Fu Yiheng was in despair, he suddenly felt a pair of large hands on his shoulder. Before he could react, he had already been pulled up by Si Chen. After coughing violently for a while and being dragged several steps forward by Si Chen, Fu Yiheng gradually started to recover.
"Damn, I’m alive again."
Ever since he set foot abroad, languages native to his home country, once forsaken, now surged up in his excitement.
Truth be told, he was genuinely surprised that Si Chen had noticed his absence so quickly and had even managed to save him. If he said he wasn’t moved, that would be a lie, "Doctor Si, never mind the money for the DVD player. I’ll send you a new one later, so that you can take it back home to your wife to watch."
Si Chen, not having found Tong Yao, was nowhere in the mood for jokes, "If you wish to survive, be careful where you step. The downpour is heavy, the city’s sewer openings might be uncovered by now."
Upon hearing this, Fu Yiheng shivered and blurted out, "Tong Yao wouldn’t fall into it, would she? She’s so skinny, she wouldn’t be able to block the mouth of the sewer."
His babbling earned him a cold stare from Si Chen, which immediately shut him up.
Si Chen pursed his lips, his face sullen and stern. With so many sewer openings in the city, he was also very concerned about Tong Yao possibly stepping into one accidentally. If that were the case, the situation would be unimaginable.
Under such conditions, not only natural calamities posed a threat, but man-made ones too. At times, the true nature of humans could be even more frightening than natural disasters.
For two attractive young ladies, being abroad could be a highly dangerous situation.
As darkness fell, Fu Yiheng became more cautious. Having nearly drowned twice, he chose to hold onto Si Chen’s clothes, following him like a young girl. This way, even if he stumbled on a sewer opening again, he wouldn’t have to fear.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally reached the entrance of a bridge, which was crowded with people. They met not only Diana there but also Zhou Minyue.
Seeing Si Chen and Fu Yiheng, both of them were obviously pleased. After they arrived there, they looked all around the bridge but found neither Fu Yiheng nor Si Chen, so they guessed that the duo might have gone to find Tong Yao.
But now, seeing only Si Chen and Fu Yiheng, Zhou Minyue was brimming with curiosity, "Doctor Si, didn’t you go looking for Tong Yao? Why have only the two of you come?"
Fu Yiheng was about to ask if they had seen Tong Yao when he heard her words. His heart sank as he glanced at Si Chen. Seeing Si Chen’s face become even colder, he questioned, "Didn’t the two of you run into Tong Yao on the bridge?"
Zhou Minyue shook her head, definitively saying, "Tong Yao is not on the bridge."
When she had been looking for Si Chen earlier, she had checked everyone on the bridge and was quite certain that Tong Yao was not among them.
Although Tong Yao had managed to settle any thoughts Zhou Minyue might have had about taking Si Chen away, seeing Si Chen still stirred emotions in her. Knowing she would feel somewhat more secure hanging out with her fellow countrymen in a foreign land, she had gone looking for Si Chen after arriving at the bridge, but to no avail.
At these words, Fu Yiheng took another look at Si Chen only to find him already turning around to continue his search on the bridge. After a moment’s hesitation, Fu Yiheng hurriedly followed along.
Zhou Minyue also pursued them. Diana wanted to join as well, but a friend by her side dissuaded her, suggesting that she stay put and not venture into reckless movements. Hesitant, Diana refrained from further following.
Si Chen was rushing about for his wife’s sake. What was her reason for following?
Si Chen, holding a flashlight, had covered the entire bridge back and forth twice and asked a few people along the way. Eventually, a foreign woman told him that they had headed towards the Mall.
Si Chen’s brows furrowed at the news. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Fu Yiheng also noticed the peril; the underground parking at places like malls could be incredibly risky when flooded. The underground parking lot at the mall was massive and the current quite strong; if someone were to be swept away, it would be nearly as dangerous as falling into a manhole, a matter of life and death.
Seeing Si Chen’s gloomy expression, Fu Yiheng tried to comfort him, "Dr. Si, don’t worry too much. As I see it, Tong Yao is quite clever. Guo Jinnian too, he’s as strong as a young man. Maybe they are hiding somewhere safe."
The city was vast and had many safe places. Most people would stay put at home and not venture out. As long as their homes were stable enough, it would be much more comfortable for them to stay indoors than to be out here.
Si Chen took a deep breath and asked one last time about the place where Tong Yao was last seen before saying to Fu Yiheng, "You should stay here. I’m going to find them."
Knowing Tong Yao was missing, Si Chen could never rest easy here. Although hesitant, Fu Yiheng decided not to dither further and said seriously, "I think I’ll join you! Though I may not be of great assistance, having one more person along is still better. If anything happens, there’ll be someone to help. If you stumble onto a manhole, for instance, I might be able to pull you out."
That way, he would have an excuse to ask for his DVD player money again.
Si Chen just gave a nod of acknowledgment and kept moving forward. Hurrying to follow, Fu Yiheng stepped on a few people’s feet in the process thanks to their hasty stride.
Zhou Minyue wobbled as she tried to keep pace with them. When they arrived at the mouth of the bridge, she instinctively stopped. Si Chen was on a mission to find his wife; she had no reason to follow and face the ensuing risks.
Glancing sideways, she noticed Diana sitting still, not moving. She found an empty spot along the bridge where she could lean against, and she watched as the light from Si Chen’s flashlight grew more and more distant. Her mind was filled with all sorts of emotions.
Having spent almost a year with Si Chen, she had never seen him care so deeply about anyone. Tong Yao was right. If she managed to win Si Chen over, Zhou Minyue would be living each day in fear of losing him to someone else, and she would never know a moment of peace.
