Chapter 21

“CEO Duan had encountered his ‘predestined’ scent!“

　　After making their rounds, the club members returned to find that a considerable amount of time had elapsed.

　　Upon hearing the assistant’s recount, someone could not help but ask why this information was only being shared now.

　　Moments after, the assistant clarified that the staff members were already informed and had already initiated the evacuation process at that time. Since they prohibited anyone from remaining inside, he had no choice but to leave the premises first. Anxiously waiting outside, time seemed to stretch on, yet the boss and the other party were still nowhere in sight. Concerned about the well-being of those still inside, the assistant sought out someone to reiterate the urgency of the situation, just to be on the safe side.

　　As the atmosphere in the room grew palpably tense, the members’ words hung precariously on the tip of their tongues. Inwardly, each of them was grateful that their hasty thoughts had not slipped past their lips.

　　He hastily added, “We really appreciate your boss’ help.”

　　Yet, the assistant merely let out a sound of acknowledgment. He mused to himself, ‘What was there for them to thank for? After all, my boss leaped after him without any hesitation. It would have been sheer chaos if he hadn’t reached the young man in time.’

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　　A collective gasp filled the air, as all the club members were instantly shrouded in a somber aura.

　　With each passing minute, each raindrop seemed to echo the dismal tidings that continued to pour in. As if the rising water level was not enough to deal with, the deluge of rainwater plunging into a previously unknown labyrinth of caves added another layer of danger to an already precarious situation. On top of that, this predicament might repeat itself in the days to come. Now that venturing into this watery maze was deemed to be far too treacherous, they had no choice but to entrust their hopes to the artificial intelligence’s capable hands.

　　Due to these escalating developments, the authorities managing the scenic area were no longer willing to risk the safety of the tourists and had commenced an evacuation. As everyone boarded the vehicles, a sense of heaviness weighed upon their hearts. In this solemn atmosphere, the leader turned to Jin Yumeng and struggled to find the right words to ask, “Should we inform his parents?” 

　　Jin Yumeng hesitated, carefully considering the situation at hand. Considering Yi Zhou’s strained relationship with his family, she doubted that he would have wanted them to be informed about his current predicament.

　　Furthermore, the involvement of highly skilled artificial intelligence in the search and rescue mission would have diminished any potential assistance the Yi family could provide, even if they were to be notified and present.

　　With that in mind, she grappled with her decision for a brief moment before ultimately choosing to wait a little longer.

　　Two hours dragged on, the clock ticking away mercilessly. Yet, there was still no word from the authorities at the scenic area. While she managed to maintain her composure, the leader, however, was a bundle of nerves.

　　As the organizer of this event, the weight of responsibility rested heavily on his shoulders, especially when he was aware that the heartthrob was a local. Hence, it would take his family no time to make their way here. Should danger befall their child, the task of delivering the devastating news would squarely fall upon him. And then, a haunting question crossed his mind — What if… the rescued heartthrob’s life was hanging by a thread, and his final wish was to speak to his loved ones?

　　Breaking his train of thought, Jin Yumeng disclosed, “He has a bad relationship with his family.”

　　Taken aback by this revelation, the leader questioned hesitantly, “But no matter what, they’re still family… right?”

　　Yet, Jin Yumeng fell silent as images and memories of their interactions over the past decade flooded her mind. As she sifted through them, Jin Yumeng could not deny the truth that before the falling-out, the relationship between Yi Zhou and his family was still considered decent. But since then, things have taken a turn for the worse.

　　As the silence stretched on, Duan Xiuwen turned to her and proposed, “Why don’t you give me their number, and I’ll talk to them?”

　　That day in the cafeteria, he learned about their grievances with the Yi family as they spilled their frustrations over lunch. If she were to reach out to President Yi, it would be improbable that he would brush off her contact. In fact, there was a good chance he might even send Yi Jun over.

　　At this juncture, she caught his gaze and nodded knowingly. 

　　Without any hesitation, Duan Xiuwen dialed President Yi’s number and began to explain the situation at hand succinctly.

　　Not a single fluctuation in tone could be detected in President Yi’s voice as he responded, “Alright, got it. Thank you.” With no desire to delve deeper into the matter, he promptly ended the call.

　　On the other end of the line, Duan Xiuwen could discern the apathy in President Yi’s tone and instantly knew that his chances of convincing him were slim. A pang of sympathy washed over him at the thought of his future aunt as he hoped they would get together as soon as possible for his uncle to shower him with affection and care.

　　The leader’s reaction to the news was nothing short of astonishment, as his mind conjured up vivid scenes of a full-on drama involving the wealthy. Settling back in his seat, he could not help but feel a twinge of empathy for the university heartthrob.

　　As dusk descended upon the landscape, the once vibrant sky transformed into a tapestry of deepening hues. Most of the tourists had already received their compensation and were heading back to their respective homes. However, a small group remained, comprising individuals who had lost contact with their loved ones. Amidst the chaos, the artificial intelligence had successfully rescued six survivors, yet three individuals were still trapped inside.

　　Since it was a long weekend that everyone had all been waiting for, the news channels were buzzing with exciting tourism-related topics.

　　In today’s world, even the loss of two lives in a scenic area would be considered a significant event. News spread like wildfire as reporters from every corner of the media world dashed through the pouring rain to the scene, desperate to capture every detail. Only then was an unexpected name brought to their attention.

　　As soon as this revelation hit the airwaves, the “Missing Duan Chi” hashtag topped the charts on Weibo, igniting a whirlwind of discussions and intrigue.

　　Despite their concern, the netizens drew comfort from Duan Chi’s well-established reputation for his formidable prowess and competence. Instead of succumbing to panic, they took it upon themselves to concoct and share humorous anecdotes. Some even jested that if those at the scenic area failed to respond promptly, they would provoke the impatience of influential figures and result in the spectacle of a colossal creature hurtling into the cave and emerging unscathed.

　　To everyone’s dismay, the situation quickly spiraled downward as the events unfolded.

　　When news of this incident reached the ears of those at the research institute, they swiftly arrived on the scene with the most up-to-date whereabouts of Duan Chi. Thanks to the state-of-the-art GPS tracking the wealthy Celestial Lupin Clan had equipped on Lupinus Mutants, they were able to pick up a faint signal even in the most remote and unfathomable corners of the world.

　　At once, the media loitering nearby caught sight of Duan Chi’s documents, as their journalistic instincts kicked into high gear. Eager to uncover the truth, they relentlessly pursued answers from the research institute staff, who skillfully dodged their questions and refused to divulge any information. However, the media were renowned for their ability to unearth the truth. 

　　After a brief lull in the conversation, the reporters turned their attention to the staff members at the scenic area. Upon receiving a response, they began cautiously weaving the word “allegedly” into their reports.

　　With that, the internet went bonkers over the latest developments.

　　For the research institute staff to have rushed over with his whereabouts, it must mean that the Lupinus Mutant’s bracelet had been triggered. It was no wonder CEO Duan was still trapped in the caves — he was unable to transform!

　　Wait, no! That was not the point! The point was CEO Duan had encountered his ‘predestined’ scent!

　　Simultaneously, this revelation caused quite a stir amongst the club members, who were gathered at the visitor center.

　　As they exchanged glances, someone questioned weakly, “Didn’t that assistant mention a student named Yi Zhou?”

　　“That’s right, but how does he know the name of our heartthrob?”

　　There could only be one plausible explanation — The assistant’s boss was Duan Chi, and the lucky one who had been the talk of the town for a long time was their university’s heartthrob.

　　Oh dear, wouldn’t CEO Duan’s romantic life be destined for a bumpy ride now that he had discovered his ‘predestined’ one was emotionally unavailable?

　　Elsewhere, the Yi family had also caught wind of this predicament.

　　Among the three individuals reported to be trapped, one happened to be Duan Chi himself, while one of the other two was said to be his destined partner. What’s more, there was a fifty-fifty probability that a certain individual they had kicked out of their family could be the said person.

　　As the news settled, a haunting stillness descended upon the grand mansion.

　　Yet, the duo that had garnered much attention was still trapped in the confines of the cave.

　　Within Duan Chi’s body, medicine coursed through his veins. Only after the effects had subsided was he finally able to show Jing Xi his ears.

　　Brimming with curiosity, Jing Xi swiftly switched on the flashlight on his phone, casting a beam of light that illuminated the area before him. There, perched atop Duan Chi’s head, were a pair of snow-white ears. Despite his big-shot-esque demeanor, a subtle touch of adorableness was undeniably infused into his presence. This unexpected charm overwhelmed Jing Xi, irresistibly beckoning him to reach out and delicately rub those velvety, irresistible ears. With each tender caress, a delightful texture compelled him to repeat the gesture.

　　“Buzz—”

　　A deafening cry from the bracelet pierced through the air, causing Jing Xi to blink and hastily retract his hand.

　　Duan Chi’s voice resonated with a raspy tone. “There’s no medicine left inside, so they won’t disappear. You can continue fiddling with them.”

　　“Thanks, but I’ll pass,” Jing Xi replied, his voice laced with trepidation. “Won’t I be held responsible if something were to occur?”

　　As he said so, he switched off his phone’s flashlight, in order to resist the temptation.

　　Duan Chi chuckled, “You won’t.”

　　Disregarding his reply, Jing Xi widened the distance between them slightly while keeping his eyes peeled for any sign of rescue.

　　He paused to check his phone, which still showed no signal. As such, he summoned Artificial Stupidity. “People can communicate on their devices seamlessly across vast distances in this era, so wouldn’t you think that it’s illogical for the signal here to be so weak?”

　　“No, it actually makes perfect sense.” System explained, “Certain elements in the rocks here have the ability to interfere with the signal. Have you not noticed the signal growing weaker ever since we entered the cave?”

　　‘Alright, then.’ Realizing the futility of his efforts, Jing Xi conceded and leaned back lazily for a brief respite.

　　Duan Chi wondered, “Feeling a bit chilly?”

　　Jing Xi answered, “Not really.” ‘Well, one of the perks of having Class-S genes is the resistance to these chilly temperatures.’

　　Duan Chi nodded and engaged in easy banter, occasionally speaking with pauses in between.

　　Since he did not keep his ears away, Jing Xi could catch glimpses of its silhouette. Whenever they moved, he could not help but curse inwardly that they were far too adorable for their own good.

　　Before long, Duan Chi caught on to his gaze was constantly drawn to his head and offered playfully, “I can also make my tail appear. Would you like to see it?”

　　However, Jing Xi rejected his offer straightforwardly, “No, I don’t.”

　　After all, he knew all too well about the notorious sensitivity of that particular spot on his tail. Touching it was akin to playing with fire and also a dangerous gamble he was unwilling to take, even if it was to satiate his curiosity.

　　Be that as it may, Duan Chi felt no remorse whatsoever. To be honest, he was satisfied to have uncovered a weakness in this young man today.

　　Gazing at the figure before him, he found them resting their eyes, while radiating a sense of tranquility and serenity.

　　“Buzz—”

　　Once again, the bracelet emitted an ear-piercing screech that shattered the stillness of the surroundings.

　　Jing Xi’s eyes snapped open and scanned the surroundings cautiously, only to find Duan Chi seated motionless in the same spot.

　　As their eyes met, the air crackled with an unending chorus of buzzing, echoing off the cave walls as if trapped in an infinite loop. 

　　After a brief pause, Jing Xi beseeched, “Can you get ahold of yourself and quiet it down for a moment, CEO Duan?”

　　In response, Duan Chi good-naturedly unclasped his bracelet from his arm.