Chapter 143: An Unexpected Fire When Xin consumed about half of the bottle, he noticed something and reflexively spat out the milk when he read the dark ink on the bottle’s frame.
It hadn’t been noticeable before, hidden by the dark chocolate color, but now that he had consumed some and exposed the clear plastic, it became glaringly evident.
There was a handwritten message on the bottle that caught Xin’s attention:
[Evelyn, you’re the reason why we have overtime. . .]
Frowning, Xin continued to read the note as he took another sip:
[. . . You’re the reason why the company’s food budget went overboard . . .]
[It’s because I want to spend more time with you, and the breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and out-of-town meetings were just excuses to be with you. . .]
Xin finished the bottle, feeling a sense of regret for delving into the note further.
[Will you be my partner for life?]
An inexplicable unease settled in Xin’s stomach, and he couldn’t shake off the discomfort.
With a grimace, he discarded the empty bottle into the trash and decided to sleep in an attempt to rid himself of the unpleasant taste in his mouth.
However, even in his dreams, he found no respite, haunted by Michael Fey’s unexpected confession.
Eventually, Xin fell into sleep.
Xin’s slumber had been deep and undisturbed, cocooned in the warmth of his blanket. It was a realm where time had no grip, and he floated through the depths of his subconscious, free from the world’s cares.
But then, amidst the silence, a jarring, blaring noise invaded his senses. It was a sound so alien, so discordant that it couldn’t possibly belong to the realm of dreams.
He thought he was still trapped in a surreal landscape woven by his mind’s whims, but as the clamor grew louder and more insistent, reality began to claw its way back.
With a sudden jolt, Xin was yanked from his sleep. His eyes snapped open, and he found himself in a room shrouded in the dim, eerie glow of the moonlight filtering through the window.
Panic coursed through Xin’s veins as he struggled to make sense of the deafening noise.
For a fleeting moment, Xin’s heart raced with the irrational fear that he was still trapped in some waking nightmare.
But then he became acutely aware of his surroundings — the familiar contours of his sleeping quarters, the soft hum of the fan, and the mundane details that distinguished the waking world from the realms of dreams.
Xin’s breaths came in rapid succession as he realized that the noise was all too real. The shrill, piercing wail of the fire alarm echoed through the walls, bouncing off every surface and drilling into his consciousness.
Adrenaline surged through him, cutting through the grogginess of sleep like a sharpened blade.
In a frantic scramble, Xin threw off his blankets and lurched to his feet. Panic gnawed at the edges of his mind as he fumbled to comprehend the urgency of the situation.
Racing to the window, his trembling fingers fumbled with the curtain as he yanked it aside. The view that met his eyes sent shockwaves of terror through his body.
A raging inferno roared on the floors above his own. Flames danced like frenzied demons, their orange tongues licking the ceiling and sending showers of fiery sparks cascading downwards. The thick plumes of smoke billowed ominously, blotting out the corridor beyond.
Xin’s heart pounded in his chest as he watched the flames devour everything in its path. Panic and confusion seized him as he contemplated the reality unfolding before him.
Fear constricted his throat, rendering him momentarily voiceless. The acrid scent of smoke began to infiltrate the room, adding to the urgency of his situation.
In the frenzied chaos of the fire alarm, with the relentless blaze and choking smoke growing ever closer, Xin had only one singular thought pounding in his head: he had to save Xiaxia and his mother.
. Panic lent wings to his feet as he bolted towards their room. He reached their door and, without hesitation, raised his trembling fist to pound on the wood, his voice rising in a frantic shout, "Xiaxia! Mom!"
But just as he was about to deliver that desperate, primal cry, the door swung open abruptly, revealing a scene that flooded his heart with simultaneous relief and anxiety.
There stood Xiaxia and his mother, their faces etched with fear and shock.
Without a moment’s pause, they locked eyes, their unspoken understanding conveying the gravity of the situation.
"W-what’s going on?!" Xiaxia was disoriented.
And Xin answered her, "There’s a fire. We have to get out of here fast!"
"W-what about our things?!"
"We have no time for that! Let’s go!"
Xiaxia clung to her mother’s side, her wide eyes mirroring the fear that gripped Xin’s own heart.
"Come on!" Xin urged urgently, his voice quivering with tension.
He grabbed his mother’s hand, and the trio moved with synchronized desperation, racing down the staircase, their footsteps echoing through the dimly lit corridor together with the others who were panicking to get out.
Behind them, the ominous crackling of flames grew louder, and the oppressive heat surged ever closer.
They abandoned everything they owned in their mad dash to safety, their possessions rendered inconsequential in the face of impending disaster.
As they descended the stairs, the cacophony of the fire alarm continued to pierce their ears, together with the incoming sirens.
Smoke billowed ominously behind them, encroaching upon their very heels, noxious and unforgiving.
Xin led the way, navigating the path through the thickening smoke and darkness. Each step felt like a heart-pounding race against time itself, and he could feel the floor beneath him growing hotter with every passing second.
With their lungs burning and their vision blurred by tears and smoke, they emerged into the relative safety of the ground floor.
Fresh, cool air kissed their faces as they stumbled through the front door, finally free from the engulfing threat of the flames.
As they stood outside, gasping for breath and trembling with shock, Xin couldn’t help but glance back at their unit, now shrouded in smoke and the swirling chaos of fire.
It was a devastating sight, one he didn’t think he would experience.