Countless possibilities, but they were only possibilities. Boundless imagination, but it was only imagination, and who knew what the facts were.
Now, there was only one answer that Lei Qingyi could provide.
He did not know.
In the distance, the uninhibited waves of Sea River were still roaring like a beast, constantly trying to escape and devour everything in their path.
At that time, no one knew that there was a pole which has yet to fall down; at that time, there were two people who were struggling to get to safety.
Another wave crashed behind them. Using his own body and an ironlike pair of arms, the man guarded the woman in his arms tightly.
He single-handedly ripped off the woman’s coat, then secured her arms to the pole with that coat.
“Lu Yi…” Yan Huan had her back facing Lu Yi. She wanted to turn around, but she accidentally swallowed some river water which, by that time, had turned muddy.
“Lu Yi, go up, don’t worry about me.”
She looked at the upper hill which was a short distance away. With Lu Yi’s stamina, it was entirely possible for him to save himself right now, but he remained here because she could not escape by herself.
“Stop talking, grab this as tightly as you can.” Lu Yi grasped the fingers on the pole and held it tightly. The veins on the back of his hand bulged from the exertion. His body withstood the impact of the flood again and again. Yes, he could go up by himself. However, if this was the chance that God had given him to save his lover in the flood, then it was probably the one and only chance. It was impossible for them to have such good luck again, to be able to hold on to something holdable, to be able to survive.
Although he could get to safety, Yan Huan could not. With Yan Huan’s weak constitution, as soon as he let go of his hands, she would be flushed away in an instant. Moreover, she was not a good swimmer, definitely not good enough to stay afloat in the treacherous waters.
Don’t be afraid. Lu Yi pressed his face against Yan Huan, worried by the low temperature of her body.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”
Yan Huan kept apologizing. It was her fault, it was all her fault. She should not have came here, she should not have involved him.
“Don’t say sorry, I have to thank you in return.” Lu Yi’s eyes were warm. “At a place like this, at a time like this, in a cold flood like this, I want to thank you for saving my mother and my aunt.”
Yan Huan burst into tears.
“Huanhuan…”
He pressed his face tightly against Yan Huan’s. “Promise me one thing, make sure that you do it, okay?”
“Okay,” Yan Huan nodded. Of course she would agree to the promise, she would fulfill any promise as long as it came from him. Even if he wanted her to die, she would give her promise too.
Another wave of floodwater crashed onto their bodies. It was clear to Lu Yi that his physical strength was getting depleted quickly. He carefully freed one of his hands to release his belt, which he used to fasten Yan Huan’s body to the pole.
No one could see the despair in his eyes and his reluctance at this moment.
“Huanhuan, promise me that you would live well.”
“Lu Yi…” Yan Huan wanted to let go of her hand, but Lu Yi’s voice carried a terrifying implication. “Hold on tight, don’t let go even if you die, do you understand?”
His voice was heavy. Even compared to the water flow that was tormenting his body, it was heavier, more draining and more hurtful.
Yan Huan could only grasp tightly onto everything that she could hold on to, but they were surrounded by water which might be close to submerging them. She was truly in despair. What to do, there was no way out, what to do, both of us might die!
Who invented the word ‘missing’?
When they used the word ‘missing’, was there hope, or despair?
Were there survivors of disaster, or bodies not to be found?
“Huanhuan, don’t sleep,” Lu Yi held the pole tightly, so tightly that his fingernails were all chipped and mangled. He clearly felt that there was something wrong with Yan Huan’s breathing. Do not fall asleep, you must not fall asleep.
“Good girl, Huanhuan, don’t sleep, let us not sleep.”
“Okay,” Yan Huan forced her eyes open. “I won’t sleep, I won’t fall asleep.”
Another wave of floodwater churned past. Fortunately, the flood had been maintained at a certain level just around their waist, otherwise, they might drown instantly if it continued to rise.
Lu Yi remembered what Yan Huan said. As long as they made it through this wave, it would start to subside. As long as they could hold on until tomorrow, maybe there would be helicopters that could find them. Maybe there was still hope.
The only question was… is this possible? He did not know.
He pressed his cold lips on Yan Huan’s face.
“Huanhuan, remember my words, live well, you are not allowed to die, you can’t die.”
“Okay,” Yan Huan gave her promise. Well, she promised. They should live well, both of them should live well. No one is leaving anyone behind, is that okay?
“Be good,” Lu Yi hugged Yan Huan tightly in his arms from the back. All the flood currents were rushing against his body. Suddenly, a large branch spiralled out of nowhere, and by the force of the flood, it hit him hard on the shoulder.
“Lu Yi, what’s wrong with you?”
Yan Huan heard Lu Yi’s muffled grunt. What’s wrong with him, is he hurt? She could not see anything.
“It’s alright.” Once again, Lu Yi grasped her hands tightly. Suddenly, his vision blurred and he almost let go of his hands. He knew that he might not be able to hold on for long.
“Huanhuan, remember my words,” he repeated as he pressed his face tightly onto hers. There were so many things in this lifetime that he did not wish to give up on, and most of it came from her. Otherwise, it did not matter when he would die, where he would die, and what would be the cause of his death. He was just reluctant to give her up.
She had endured a horrific lifetime before, and was wronged for a lifetime. In this lifetime, what would she do if he was not there to protect her?
“Huanhuan, take good care of my parents for me.” It was as though Lu Yi felt something, this could be considered as his last words.
She shook her head. No, she did not want that, she did not want to.
“Live well.” With a heavy heart, Lu Yi pecked her similarly icy face with his cold lips.
“Good girl, you must be good, remember to drink your soup, take good care of your body, and make good movies. You must become an international movie queen.”
The flood seemed to be slightly more vicious now. Their bodies were almost swept away by the flood.
Lu Yi’s voice was hoarse, and his fingers were starting to loosen up once again due to the current.
Suddenly, a heartbreaking warmth glowed in his eyes. Warm tears trickled from the corner of his eyes which blended into the rain to drip on Yan Huan’s face.
“I love you…”
Yan Huan had yet to react before she felt that the warmth behind her back was gone, just like that, disappeared. All of a sudden, the current was pounding right against her back.
“No, no, no…”