Chapter 21: Someone in the Mall

Hearing Lin Buwan’s words, the girl’s face grew even more unsightly. She retreated two steps, hiding behind others, her head lowered, lost in her own thoughts.

The other two, a man and a woman, appeared to be of different ages—the man a bit younger, the woman somewhat older. Realizing there was no hostility from Lin Buwan’s group, they too relaxed a little. After exchanging glances, the man stepped forward. “Hello, I’m the manager of this mall. May I ask how you managed to get in?”

His words sounded rather unfriendly, and perhaps realizing this, he hurried to explain himself. “Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not interrogating you. I just wanted to know, since you’re able to get in, does that mean the waters below have receded?”

Lin Buwan stood up, just in time to see the beam of the flashlight in Wei Qu’s hand illuminating the man’s chest. Only then did she notice that all three of them wore identical uniforms, with name badges pinned to their chests. The man who spoke was named Pan Yunpeng; the older woman behind him was Xu Yu, and the girl who had dropped the knife was called Ruan Yi.

Lin Buwan lingered on Ruan Yi’s badge, noticing her position was listed as "intern," and her interest vanished instantly.

“The water hasn’t receded. We came from above,” Wei Qu said, pointing upward.

Pan Yunpeng looked completely confused; he had no idea there was a passage from the rooftop to the outside.

After some exchange, it became clear that the three of them had been trapped here. When the typhoon struck, they had just been inspecting various systems in the mall. They thought it would be a minor storm, nothing to worry about. Who could have predicted the floodwaters would drive them all the way upstairs?

Fortunately, there was food and water in the mall, or they might have starved without anyone knowing.

After hearing their ordeal, Lin Buwan felt that Ruan Yi had simply gotten her comeuppance, while the other two were simply unlucky. But then again, it was a case of fortune within misfortune. If they hadn’t been trapped here, they might not have survived at all.

“Since there’s no threat, let’s go,” Lin Buwan said, glancing at the time. They had already been delayed long enough; it was time to leave.

Wei Qu looked at her, a little puzzled by her sudden coldness, but he wasn’t one to ask questions. He nodded and was about to leave with her.

“Wait!” Pan Yunpeng called out, wanting to ask if he could go with them. He was worried about the situation at home.

Just then, Hua Xiao’s voice rang out from outside. “I’m over here!” Lin Buwan raised her voice in reply, ignoring whatever Pan Yunpeng wanted to say, and dragged Wei Qu away without a backward glance.

Pan Yunpeng and Xu Yu exchanged uncertain looks. “Sister Xu, should we go out and ask what’s going on?” Pan Yunpeng was undecided.

“I’m not sure… There are more people outside. Would it be appropriate for us to go?” Xu Yu, though not higher in rank than Pan Yunpeng, was an old hand and had more life experience.

Pan Yunpeng respected her, especially since he likely owed her his life—without her, he might have drowned days ago. So he was willing to consult with her now.

“But we can’t just stay here forever,” Pan Yunpeng said, frowning.

Xu Yu was tempted as well. She missed her children at home and wished Lin Buwan would take her along. Yet she was cautious, wary that Lin Buwan’s group might have ill intentions.

After some hesitation, they decided to go out and ask.

When Lin Buwan and the others returned outside, they found Hua Xiao and Yu Su anxiously pacing the mall corridor. Seeing her, Hua Xiao breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over.

“Where did you go? We were about to lose our minds looking for you. You didn’t even answer when we called.”

“We ran into three people inside and didn’t hear you,” Lin Buwan explained simply.

“You met three people?” Hua Xiao was startled. Then, hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw three figures appear behind Lin Buwan.

“There really are others?” she said, fearfully shrinking closer to Yu Su and eyeing Pan Yunpeng’s group warily.

“Um…” Pan Yunpeng began awkwardly. Hua Xiao’s palpable fear made him feel self-conscious. He’d only been trapped for a few days—surely he wasn’t that horrifying?

“What is it?” Lin Buwan asked impatiently, glancing back.

“We wanted to ask if we could leave with you,” Pan Yunpeng said directly. He was perceptive enough to sense Lin Buwan’s irritation and saw no point in beating around the bush.

“You want to leave with us?” Lin Buwan let out a derisive laugh.

“Yes. We have no idea what’s happened to our families, and we can’t get out below. We’ve been trapped so long, and we’re worried about everyone at home,” Xu Yu explained gently, stepping forward. Her demeanor softened Lin Buwan’s hostility a little, and she fell silent, unsure how to answer.

The situation outside was grim. Taking them along wasn’t the real issue; the problem was how to get everyone out of the mall. The inflatable raft could hold at most four people; with their own group, it was already at capacity. Taking three more was impossible. Besides, there was no telling whether anyone’s family was even alive.

“We can show you where we came in, but we can’t take you out,” Wei Qu refused, getting straight to the point.

Pan Yunpeng was baffled by the contradiction—if they were willing to show them the way, why couldn’t they take them out?

When they followed Lin Buwan’s group, who quickly gathered the last of their supplies and led them up to the mall rooftop, the sight that greeted them made everything clear: an endless stretch of water as far as the eye could see.

“How could this be?” The three stared in disbelief.

Xu Yu collapsed to the ground. After a long while, she pulled out her phone and raised it high, hoping for a signal.

But it was useless. After so many days, there was no signal—if there were, it was unlikely she could reach anyone.

“You can stay in the mall for a while longer, but I suggest you head higher as soon as possible. No one knows when the water below might rise. If you wait too long, escaping will be much harder,” Wei Qu urged, helping Lin Buwan and the others into the raft as he warned Pan Yunpeng’s group.

One look at the difference in water levels outside and inside made it clear: as long as the water didn’t recede, the mall’s interior would flood sooner or later. The kitchen where they’d been staying was just at the level of the outside floodwaters. If the water in the mall rose, those who could swim might be alright; those who couldn’t would be at the mercy of fate.

“Alright…” Pan Yunpeng responded stiffly, still reeling from the blow, unable to fully accept reality.

As Lin Buwan’s group finished boarding and Wei Qu prepared to descend, Pan Yunpeng suddenly grabbed his arm.