Chapter 21

Hui River is situated at the border of the suburban areas of Suicheng and Ningcheng, where the terrain on both sides varies in elevation. The first stop of the evacuation plan was to cross the Hui River and reach the outskirts of Ningcheng.

The waters of the Hui River had always been calm in this area, and since this flood had not affected the riverbanks, previous evacuations had been carried out without incident.

No one could have anticipated that the Hui River dam would suddenly collapse.

A dam breach is different from a dam break. A breach refers to the formation of a gap in the dam, whereas a break signifies the entire structure collapsing, with the flood defenses utterly destroyed. The floodwaters surged forward with overwhelming force, unstoppable and devastating.

In the footage, torrents of deep brown water roared like a galloping army, breaking through the dam, sweeping away soil and riverside trees, and cascading downward with relentless fury.

The once-calm Hui River had transformed into a roaring sea of waves. The riverbanks were entirely submerged, the few standing houses were completely destroyed, and the evacuation boats operating on the river were overturned.

From the moment the air-raid sirens sounded, to the sight of floodwaters roaring in from one side of the river, to the boats capsizing and plunging into the icy water, only a matter of seconds passed.

The ferocious waves surged, swallowing everything in their path. No matter how the people in the water struggled, they could not escape the icy grasp of suffocation.

There was no time to react, no chance to escape.

The footage included aerial shots and clips captured by residents in higher-elevation buildings farther from the river.

Even through the screen, one could feel the wrath and terror of nature.

In the library where evacuees had gathered, people gradually stopped what they were doing. Nearly everyone was glued to their phones, anxiously refreshing the latest news about the Hui River dam.

Amid the crowd, stifled sobs and sighs began to emerge.

Before this storm, when everyone was still living their ordinary lives, such disaster news might have caught their attention momentarily.

But back then, the busyness of daily life and the peaceful urban atmosphere would have quickly diluted their grief.

They might have felt sympathy or melancholy, and some would have extended a helping hand, donating a small contribution through a platform. But they would not have felt the immense fear and sorrow they did now.

This storm changed everything.

Now, they were in the midst of the disaster. This upheaval, so close to them, made them feel the pain on a visceral level.

Suicheng outskirts, Hui River, Ningcheng outskirts—these places were all part of their evacuation route. Some had friends who were on those very boats today.

And now, those friends had been swept into the icy, terrifying waves, their fates unknown.

In such a massive and tumultuous flood, even wearing a life jacket meant a slim chance of survival.

Yao Ruoyun, Li Tong, and Xun Huiming stared blankly at their phones, a chilling sense of dread creeping up from their feet.

They were so close—so close to being on those boats themselves. The realization of having narrowly escaped death left them trembling with fear. The more timid ones shook so badly that they nearly dropped their phones.

Lu Zheng held his phone in one hand and tightly gripped Lu Ce’s shoulder with the other.

They had arrived late and had not boarded those boats, but they had considered evacuating with their classmates. Thankfully, that didn’t happen. In fact, their delay had indirectly disrupted their classmates’ original evacuation plans.

He couldn’t help but wonder: if they hadn’t come to Suida and had instead joined the rescue team or taken another friend’s boat to a different shelter, would his classmates have been caught in this disaster today?

At this thought, he glanced at Shu Fu by the window. She was also looking at her phone, her brows furrowed, her expression tense.

Come to think of it, if Shu Fu hadn’t contacted him earlier, saying there was a boat and insisting they come to Suida, he and his brother would have been unlikely to come here.

She had mentioned she came to Suida to look for someone, but after two days, he hadn’t seen her find anyone.

So—was there really someone she was looking for here?

An improbable, even absurd thought crossed his mind. He wanted to ask, but he didn’t know how to begin. He even felt that his suspicions were too far-fetched, too irrational.

Shu Fu could sense Lu Zheng’s gaze and hesitation, but since he didn’t speak, she pretended not to notice.

Some matters were elusive, and even she couldn’t fully understand the intricacies. She could only follow her instincts, carry out her tasks, and wait quietly.

Not long after, the silver bracelet on her wrist—visible only to her—vibrated gently.

The task… was complete?

---

**

[“Mission completed: Check in at Suida University’s west campus library within six days. Reward: 15% progress on Level 2 Raft; bonus progress: 15%; prize wheel spins: 5 (current raft progress: 100%).”]

[“Congratulations! Your raft has been upgraded to Level 2!”]

[“Check Level 2 raft features in the ‘Unsinkable Drifting Island Home.’”]

Sure enough, with several associated characters involved this time, the progress bar surged, even reaching Level 2 directly.

The raft wasn’t convenient to deploy right now, so she took out a small drifting bottle instead.

When the “Never-Sinking Floating Island Cabin” was first activated, the text displayed on the drift bottle was different. Sure enough, now that the raft had been upgraded to level 2, the text on the bottle also changed:

[“Never-Sinking Floating Island Cabin” has been activated. “Raft” Level: 2
Floating Island Cabin Size: 40 square meters; Navigation Mode: Directed Drift; Daily Usage Time Limit: 12 hours.]

Shu Fu’s attention was immediately drawn to the 12-hour usage limit. A wave of immense joy swept over her. She had hoped that after upgrading, the time limit might double from five to ten hours. But now, it had increased by an extra two hours beyond her expectations!

A full 12 hours—a solid half-day—meant she could sleep peacefully or hide in the floating island cabin during emergencies to escape danger.

The navigation mode also changed; based on the description, it seemed she could now control the direction.

The cabin size had increased from 10 square meters to 40 square meters. She wondered if the raft had grown larger overall or if the internal compressed space had expanded.

Her mind wandered to the special “Unlimited Power Card” she had won from a previous lottery, which provided 24 hours of unlimited usage. That card was applicable to a level 2 raft. Now that the raft had been upgraded, would there be even more surprises awaiting her?

Shu Fu was brimming with curiosity, eager to release the raft and explore the cabin immediately. But now was clearly not the right time.

Even though her mission at the library was complete and she could technically leave, she couldn’t just jump into the water and release the raft under everyone’s watchful eyes.

Moreover, if possible, she wanted to try leaving Suicheng through conventional means.

Previously, she was unable to leave due to being unable to pass through the outskirts of the city. But now, with rescue boats as a means of transportation, she might be able to leave successfully.

---

The rescue efforts at the Hui River dam continued into the night. Public attention to the incident remained high. By noon, additional rescue helicopters had arrived and continued searching for survivors.

The Suicheng rescue teams recalled some of their motorboats, redirecting them back into the city to assist with evacuations.

The planned phased evacuation from Suicheng was thrown into disarray by the dam’s breach. Boats heading toward Hui River had to halt, forcing many evacuees scheduled to leave in the morning to remain at their original shelters.

By the afternoon, more evacuees from within the city arrived at these shelters, causing a surge in population and overcrowding like never before.

The library, with its multiple floors and spacious interior, wasn’t as crowded as some other shelters, but it grew noisier and more chaotic as more evacuees arrived. With fewer rescue personnel available and more evacuees needing assistance, Yao Ruoyun and her group had no time to dwell on their fears or sadness and instead dove back into logistical work.

Shu Fu and Lu Zheng also joined in to help with the relief efforts.

The group worked silently, their busyness replacing the fear brought on by the Hui River dam breach. In the evenings, when things quieted down, they gathered to play cards, share a bottle of candy, or a small bag of dried fruits and vegetables.

Shu Fu was always generous with such small snacks. She made it a habit to share anything that was non-perishable and compact.

---

By the next morning, the evacuation route northwest of Suicheng was finally restored. However, due to the dam breach, the water level on both banks of the Hui River had risen dramatically. Low-lying areas that were previously slightly flooded were now completely submerged.

The floodwaters showed no signs of receding even after an entire day and night. The riverbanks and nearby flooded areas had merged into one, with heavy rain continuing and water levels rising. Since yesterday, many survivors were still unaccounted for, and their chances of survival were increasingly slim.

Among all the grim news, the only silver lining was that with the rising water levels, evacuees departing from Suicheng shelters could now travel by boat directly across the Hui River to Ningcheng’s outskirts without switching modes of transportation multiple times.

This time, Lu Zheng, Yao Ruoyun, and the other classmates were scheduled to leave on the same boat in the morning of the ninth day.

Shu Fu, however, didn’t join the main group. She insisted on staying behind, citing the need to wait for someone, and was assigned to leave on the evening of the tenth day—among the last group from Sui University and one of the final batches of evacuees from Suicheng as a whole.

Even if unforeseen circumstances arose, her evacuation would not be delayed past that night.

The timing was perfect for Shu Fu. With the current weather, it would be completely dark by evening. Once on the boat, she planned to position herself near the water and, if necessary, slip away under the cover of night.

This was a premeditated move, although she hadn’t anticipated forming new friendships so quickly, only to face parting with them so soon.

Yao Ruoyun had tried to persuade her to leave with them, offering to stay behind as well. But this time, Shu Fu was firm. She reasoned that Yao Ruoyun had already stayed too long in the library and needed to think about her parents and her own safety instead of waiting any longer.

Unable to sway Shu Fu, Yao Ruoyun hugged her and said goodbye, reminding her to send a message as soon as she was safe and settled.

Shu Fu smiled and nodded, handing an unopened box of disposable underwear to Yao Ruoyun. Her backpack was already full, so she couldn’t offer much more.

This parting gift of underwear successfully made Yao Ruoyun laugh, though it also brought a tinge of emotion to her expression. “For you to insist on waiting here alone, you must really care about that person, right?”

Beside her, Lu Zheng looked up at Shu Fu as well.

Yao Ruoyun hurriedly clarified that Lu Zheng had mentioned it casually. He said Shu Fu had come here to find someone and had her own plans, so they shouldn’t pressure her to leave with them. The rest was all Yao Ruoyun’s own imagination.

“…” Shu Fu was speechless, but she decided to let the misunderstanding slide. It was easier that way.

On the morning of the ninth day, Shu Fu still woke up early. Even though she wasn’t boarding the boat, she planned to see them off.

Since everyone was leaving, she packed up her belongings neatly into her backpack to take with her.

Lu Ce, who hadn’t spoken much to her the previous day, seemed a little down after learning she wouldn’t be leaving with them. As he lined up with his things, he kept his head down, playing with the tabby cat nestled in his arms.

He had taken care of the cat for a few days and discovered it was very clean, never making a mess, and generally quiet and well-behaved. He had already decided to take it with him back to Pincheng.

At the moment, the tabby was tucked into the front of his backpack, its head sticking out. Lu Ce’s warm body heat soothed it. After a brief initial struggle, it settled down, tilting its little head and looking pitifully at Shu Fu with its beautiful blue eyes.

Shu Fu reached out and gently tapped its furry head with her finger. Her words seemed to be directed at both Lu Ce and the cat: “Lu Ce will be a good owner.”

Yao Ruoyun and her mother, Hua Qiong, stood beside Shu Fu, carefully reminding her that she would be spending the night alone and needed to stay vigilant. Although there were rescue personnel around, the space was vast, the crowd chaotic, and she was a lone young woman—she had to be extra cautious.

Xun Huiming, overhearing this, turned back and said, “Don’t worry. I’ve already talked to my uncle. He’s also staying until around this time tomorrow, so he’ll help keep an eye on her.”

After speaking, he noticed Yao Ruoyun looking at him and raised his eyebrows with a grin. “What? Shu Fu is my friend too. Even though we haven’t known each other long, we’ve volunteered together and played cards. That counts for something.”

Yao Ruoyun was amused by his expression and sincerely thanked him.

Shu Fu nodded as well and expressed her gratitude.

Hua Qiong chimed in with praise, “What a thoughtful young man.”

Xun Huiming scratched his head in slight embarrassment and turned back to continue waiting in line.

Shu Fu chatted with the others for a while longer, casually mentioning Shacheng. She used the same narrative she’d shared with Chen Fa and the others, saying she might settle in Shacheng after this and went on to praise the city extensively.

Beside her, Lu Ce suddenly asked, “So you’re not coming back to Suicheng after this?”

“Hmm? I thought you weren’t going to talk to me at all today,” Shu Fu teased, reaching out to pat his head. “It depends, but I really want to go to Shacheng. If I get the chance, I might stay there long-term.”

Lu Ce murmured an acknowledgment and lowered his head again. A moment later, as he played with the cat, something round was stuffed into his hand. Looking down, he realized it was a full can of chocolate candies, heavy in his palm.

His throat tightened, and he understood—it was a parting gift.

Shu Fu’s voice followed: “Your brother has my WeChat. You can always contact me if you need to.”

“Okay.”

“When someone gives you a gift, shouldn’t you say thank you?” Lu Zheng asked with a small shake of his head, a hint of exasperation in his tone.

“Thank you, Sister Fu Fu,” Lu Ce said quietly.

Lu Zheng sighed softly. Although he had told Yao Ruoyun not to pressure Shu Fu, saying she had her own plans, he had secretly hoped they could all leave together.

If she could come with them to Pincheng, it would be ideal. That was their hometown, where they had a house, and she wouldn’t have to squeeze into a shelter with strangers. Once Suicheng recovered, they could all return together.

But he also knew Shu Fu might look easygoing, but that was just her appearance.

She had a face that was sweet and pure, with striking black-and-white eyes, delicate features, and dimples when she smiled—a face that made people feel safe and drawn to her, like a first love.

Yet, she was incredibly decisive. Once she made up her mind, there was no changing it.

After a moment of hesitation, Lu Zheng finally said, “If you ever come to Pincheng, make sure to give us a call.”

“Of course,” Shu Fu replied quickly. Then, with a serious expression, she added, “Or you can come visit me in Shacheng.”

Lu Zheng chuckled, “Got it.”

Beside him, another hand reached out to ruffle Lu Ce’s hair. Yao Ruoyun’s hearty laugh rang out, “Hey, don’t look so gloomy, boy. Who knows? We might all be back in Suicheng in a few days. Let’s meet up for karaoke then!”

Hearing the mention of karaoke, a chubby boy at the back of the line perked up and leaned forward, “Let’s go somewhere with food! Book a private room so we can eat, play cards, and sing all at once!”

“Didn’t you say you were hoping this holiday would last until winter break? Why are you already thinking about going back?”

The conversation struck a chord, and the group broke into cheerful chatter.

“But when will the water finally recede?”

“Shouldn’t we ask when this rain will stop first?”

…

At around 9 a.m., Shu Fu stood on the library building’s platform, wearing a raincoat and carrying her backpack, waving goodbye to the people on the boat.

In just a few days, even though this area was elevated, the platform’s steps had been completely submerged, and water surrounded everything. The library, perched on high ground, now looked like a small island.

The speedboat ferry quickly disappeared into the rain, leaving Shu Fu’s world quiet once more. She turned and stepped through the puddles on the platform, heading back inside the library.

**

The next day, in preparation for the evening, she took some time in the afternoon to visit the restroom. Inside a stall, she took off her fleece jacket, thermal undergarments, and underwear, and changed into a cold-resistant wetsuit.

This wetsuit was a two-piece front-zip design, with fasteners at the crotch to secure the top. It was convenient to wear and, without the diving hood, its neckline rested just below her neck. With a waterproof jacket zipped up over it, it was fully concealed.

Shu Fu was afraid of both the cold and the damp, so wearing this would make being in the water much more bearable.

Around 4 p.m., Cheng Yu came to find her again. She had spent the previous night in a café repurposed as a rest area for the rescue team. The café was large, divided into various sections by bookshelves, with long tables, chairs, sofas, and even a small bar.

The rescue team had irregular breaks, so they had designated the café as their rest zone.

Cheng Yu, noting the rules, had arranged for Shu Fu to stay there for just one night, emphasizing that it wouldn’t disrupt their regulations.

Shu Fu noticed that Cheng Yu’s tone was gentler when speaking to her now, with more care and concern in his words.

After a brief moment of thought, she understood why. If she and the other two hadn’t joined their classmate’s group, the dam breach on the sixth morning might have taken Xun Huiming’s life.

Even though others might see it as a mere coincidence, some people would remember the result if it was positive.

People like Yao Ruoyun, Lu Zheng, and even Cheng Yu.

Now, as the final boarding was about to begin, Cheng Yu came to her, suggesting they temporarily adjust the arrangements so she could board his boat instead. Since this was the last batch of evacuees, there were still some unoccupied spots on certain vessels.

Shu Fu thanked him for the kind offer but declined, saying she’d board as originally planned. After all, she was just one person, and any shelter would do.

Cheng Yu, though willing to help, respected her decision when he saw how insistent she was. Her response made him glance at her several times before softly asking, “You’re still on your own?”

Shu Fu nodded.

He hesitated as if he wanted to say more, but then, in an even gentler tone, offered her some advice and exchanged phone numbers with her. “During the evacuation, I might be busy, but call me directly if you need anything.”

“Okay, thank you.” Shu Fu understood his small misunderstanding but didn’t bother clarifying since it spared her from unnecessary explanations.

**

The evacuation fleet consisted of a variety of vessels, including two-story ferries, sightseeing yachts, and fishing boats. Most were shallow-draft with one or two decks and were equipped with canopies.

However, many of these canopies lacked walls, making them ineffective against the wind and rain. Still, most people had gotten used to wearing raincoats and were content to endure a little longer, knowing they’d soon reach solid ground.

Everyone donned life jackets, wore their backpacks on their fronts, and covered everything with raincoats.

The raincoats were oversized and designed to be quickly removed in case of an emergency. In the worst-case scenario, the backpack could also be discarded, leaving the life jacket as the primary flotation device. As long as they didn’t encounter a powerful flood current, their chances of survival were decent.

While boarding the vessels via speedboats, many couldn’t help but recall those who had perished during the dam breach two days earlier. The unlucky timing of the disaster was lamented yet again.

Despite nearly everyone wearing life jackets or holding flotation devices, the worst had still happened.

As Shu Fu was among the last batch of evacuees from Suida University, the rescue team’s work to relocate their supplies was happening simultaneously. The boarding process was slow and dragged on until past 6 p.m.

She eventually boarded a sightseeing yacht—not the private type, but a larger, two-deck rectangular vessel meant for group tours.

The lower deck housed an indoor cabin with three rows of seats on each side, while the upper deck was a flat viewing platform. Originally uncovered, the platform had been hastily fitted with waterproof tarps to serve as makeshift walls and a roof. Still, rainwater leaked in through various gaps, but it was better than nothing.

While it wasn’t mandatory to leave the indoor seats for the elderly or children, many families instinctively gathered there. Some people refrained from competing for the seats, while others couldn’t stand the unfairness when older evacuees placed their belongings on multiple seats to reserve them for family members.

Some opted to find other spots, but others, unwilling to let it slide, firmly took the unoccupied seats next to them.

The person occupying multiple seats angrily spoke up, but the one who sat down ignored them entirely. The rescue team had clearly stated that anyone could take an unoccupied seat; no one had said seats could be reserved. As long as the seat was empty, anyone could sit down—no one cared whose seat it supposedly was.

One side sat in stony silence, ignoring the commotion, while the other side angrily scolded them. The argument quickly drew the attention of the rescue team, and since the seat-hoarders had no real justification, they had no choice but to back down.

In just the brief process of boarding, one could catch a glimpse of the many faces of humanity.

Shu Fu shook her head, pulled the brim of her raincoat lower, and went straight to the upper deck.

The boat wasn’t fast and, after departing, it soon lagged behind the others.

Ahead were other evacuation vessels traveling together. Since the suburban waterways were prone to grounding, the boats maintained a single-file formation instead of moving side by side.

The surroundings were vast and desolate. What should have been green open spaces were now entirely submerged, forming a watery expanse. Under the cover of night, the view stretched out in eerie darkness, the rippling waves making it feel as if they were sailing across an endless sea.

Occasionally, tall trees, originally rooted on land, appeared in view. But in the dim light of the boat, their gnarled branches were barely visible—shadowy and distorted, resembling grotesque creatures standing silently in the black water, staring back at the travelers without a word.

It was around dinnertime, and most of the evacuees on the boat hadn’t eaten yet, having spent a long time queuing to board. Those in the cabin pulled out snacks like biscuits or bread from their backpacks to stave off their hunger.

Those on the upper deck, as long as they found a spot sheltered from the rain, did the same—chewing on bread as a quick meal.

Shu Fu, however, felt a tinge of nervousness. She planned to follow the boat as it crossed Suicheng’s invisible barrier, so her appetite was entirely absent.

After a while, seeing that no one around was paying attention to her, she quietly descended the stairs to the lower deck.

This sightseeing yacht had a restroom located at the rear of the lower deck. Under the current circumstances, it was unlikely anyone would use it, as it was close to the water and separated from the cabin. Combined with the dim lighting on the boat, it made for a discreet spot she had identified earlier.

She reached for her left wrist and activated her wristband’s storage function. The cool, silver-soft metallic glove encased her fingers, allowing her to quickly store her backpack into the wristband’s spatial compartment.

The surrounding darkness made it impossible to determine where exactly they were in Suicheng’s outskirts. After the flooding, landmarks were unrecognizable. She only knew the boat had traveled a significant distance—farther, it seemed, than her previous attempts to leave on her own.

The sound of water crashing against the hull grew louder, and the surface began to ripple with increasing turbulence. She leaned forward and, at the edge of the darkness ahead, spotted faint glimmers of city lights.

Her eyes widened in realization. She knew where they were!

They were nearing Hui River. The faint lights belonged to the Ningcheng suburban evacuation shelter.

Shu Fu’s heart surged with excitement—had she really managed to escape successfully?

Just as the thrill of anticipation bubbled up inside her, the distant city lights suddenly twisted and distorted. Like a normal TV screen disrupted by waves of static, the lights warped into strange and surreal shapes, becoming unnervingly unreal.