Chapter 319: I Don't Want to Die
The actress's eyes scanned her surroundings. Suddenly, she seemed to spot something. "Look! Is that a mark over here?"
The other two hurried over. "It really is. It looks like someone carved it with a knife, and it's fresh. Could it be the person who saved us?"
"I don't care anymore. Let's go. We'll follow the direction of this mark. Maybe it's the path down the mountain!"
"Even if it isn't, as long as we keep heading downhill, we're bound to find a way out!"
The three exchanged a look, all agreeing with this plan, and began their descent.
「In the cave.」
Light dispelled the darkness.
The black-robed figures returned to their original appearances.
But before they could even speak, a massive sound suddenly resounded!
BOOM!
The ground trembled violently!
Debris even began to fall from the ceiling!
Darkness descended once more. This time, however, the crowd was not calm, but terrified.
"What's going on? Is it an earthquake?"
"I smell something… This… it smells like a bomb!"
"How could there be a bomb here? Run! I don't want to die!"
A crowd of people scrambled madly for the exit.
They were all renowned figures in Dragon Country, either wealthy or powerful. How could they possibly resign themselves to dying here?
Xiao Ye didn't follow the chaotic crowd. Instead, he ran toward a room deeper inside.
He had planted the "bomb"—the device stuck to the bottom of the electrical box.
'Although this little gadget seems powerful, it's really just meant to scare people.'
The electrical box was destroyed, meaning the power couldn't be restored anytime soon. Combined with the "bomb," no one would dare remain.
Xiao Ye took this opportunity to enter the room.
He switched on his flashlight, located the transparent jar that had most intrigued him, and left with it in tow.
「One hour later.」
Xiao Ye was in a Xiao Family car.
However, he didn't head home. Instead, he had the car turn around and go to a laboratory owned by the Xiao Family.
Every major family had its own laboratory for research into the human body and biology.
'After all, for every wealthy person, the greatest pursuit in life is immortality!'
Xiao Ye didn't know what other families' labs were like, but the Xiao Family's was one in name only.
Though supposedly for researching immortality, it was mostly used for biomedical studies.
The breakthroughs produced here ended up as either a new drug or simply a health supplement under the Xiao Family brand.
It was Chinese New Year's Eve, so the entire lab had been temporarily shut down. Only a faint blue glow remained.
Xiao Ye placed the item in a biological safety cabinet before leaving.
「The Xiao Family Estate.」
Everyone was busy preparing dinner.
For the annual Spring Festival, it was a rare occasion for them to cook themselves.
Xiao Ye's absence allowed them to be much more boisterous and relaxed, unlike their usual restraint.
CLICK.
The door opened.
"Patriarch, you've returned."
"Patriarch, do you want to make dumplings with us?"
"No, you all carry on. I have matters to attend to."
Xiao Ye said simply, then headed straight for his study.
Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief and went back to their boisterous dumpling-making.
Xiao Ye didn't appear again until dinner. After eating, he went back to his study, not having said a single word to Lin Chuyue the entire time.
「Meanwhile, in Jiangcheng.」
The Lin Family home was also festively decorated, but the vast, old mansion felt desolate and empty.
Most of the Lin Family members had been exiled by Lin Aoshan due to recent events.
The servants and butler had also gone home to celebrate with their own families.
If Chu Yan weren't there, she would likely be all alone today.
Lin Chuyue felt an inexplicable chill. She looked at Chu Yan, a bit sheepishly. "Today is Chinese New Year's Eve, a time for family reunions. Are you sure you don't have to go home?"
"Don't worry, I won't do anything drastic. Why don't... you go home?"
"No need." Chu Yan was busy making dumplings. "What are you spacing out for? Get over here and help!"
"I'll be honest with you. Other than my little brother, I couldn't care less about anyone in the Chu Family. Celebrating the New Year means nothing to me."
"I used to spend this time running myself ragged for the whole extended family. It's a rare treat for me to have a quiet holiday."
Lin Chuyue quickly came over to help, and said sincerely, "Thank you."
Having spent some time with her, Chu Yan had discovered that Lin Chuyue was genuinely a good person.
She responded with her own sincerity. "Don't mention it. If you can help me finish wrapping these dumplings, I'll be eternally grateful."
Just then, the doorbell rang.
'Who would be visiting on New Year's Eve?'
Lin Chuyue walked curiously to the door. A delivery driver was standing outside. "Miss Lin, your delivery!"
"On Chinese New Year's Eve... people are still delivering?"
The delivery driver gave a simple, good-natured smile. "I'm only delivering this one order today."
The person who placed the order had offered ten thousand yuan just to pick up an item from a specific location and deliver it to the Lin Family. 'It's practically free money!'
He'd snatched the order with the fastest reflexes of his life. 'Countless other drivers must be green with envy.'
Lin Chuyue took the delivery, still baffled.
In her hand was a small, perfectly square box.
When she opened it, she was surprised to find only a single slip of paper inside. On it was a line of bold, flamboyant script!
"At midnight, look out the window."
Lin Chuyue recognized at a glance that this was Xiao Ye's handwriting.
Her heart instantly began to race, but she quickly forced it to calm.
'He's not my man anymore.'
Chu Yan came over curiously. "Who sent it to you?"
"Xiao Ye." Lin Chuyue put the paper strip back into the box. "It's nothing. Let's get back to the dumplings."
「New Year's Eve.」
The entire Dragon Country was a scene of jubilation.
Countless fireworks and firecrackers thundered across the sky.
Anyone watching from the sky would have witnessed a magnificent and breathtaking spectacle.
As midnight struck.
Lin Chuyue still couldn't help but look out the window.
Suddenly, countless fireworks bloomed before her eyes.
These fireworks were utterly different from all the others—they were spectacular, and they were all in her favorite colors.
Lin Chuyue covered her mouth, her heart a mix of touched and bitter feelings.
'Thank you, Xiao Ye,' she thought silently.
The people of Jiangcheng saw them too and rushed to raise their phones.
"Oh my god, who set off these fireworks? They're unbelievably beautiful."
"Judging by the location, it must be coming from the Lin Family estate. As expected of Jiangcheng's top family, those fireworks must have cost a fortune!"
"I have to record all of this!"
That night, some celebrated, while others lay awake.
Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, it was the first day of the Lunar New Year.
The festive atmosphere, far from diminishing, grew even stronger.
Households began preparing to visit relatives, and the streets filled with cars.
「On a mountain in the Imperial City.」
A group of people had arrived at a place that should have been deserted.
Wearing bomb disposal suits, they cautiously entered the stone chamber.
After a careful inspection, they finally confirmed there were no bombs inside.
"Interior clear."
"Exterior clear."
A tall man waved his hand. "Alright, you can go now."