Everyone stared at Shen Mo in shock, unable to believe their eyes!
Five minutes!
He had stayed in the dark, cold, oxygen-deprived environment for over five minutes and emerged unharmed?!
Shen Mo wiped the rainwater from his face, tossed a plastic bag onto the corridor floor, and said, slightly breathless, "After I opened the cabinet, the things inside floated everywhere because of the buoyancy. It was very dark underneath, and I couldn't see anything. It took me a while to find a plastic bag."
After speaking, noticing everyone still staring at him, he paused and added, "It might have something to do with the fish we ate earlier. It seems like I can stay underwater longer without any problems."
"Really?! I'll try it!" Tan Xiao eagerly waded into the water, then instantly shivered and hopped back. "Damn, the water's freezing!"
Shen Mo said, "Do some warm-up exercises before going into the water. Otherwise, your body temperature will drop suddenly, and you might get cramps."
"Oh…" Tan Xiao, seemingly understanding yet not fully grasping it, found a spot in the corridor and started doing warm-up exercises like chest expansions and leg raises.
Cheng Weicai handed Shen Mo a dry towel. "Go inside and change out of your wet clothes. Don't catch a cold."
Shen Mo took the towel, wiped himself down, and looked up at Bai Youwei in the attic.
She stared back at him, stunned.
He walked up the stairs with the towel, examined her face, and asked, "Were you worried?"
Bai Youwei parted her lips, "…A little…a little."
Then she realized her tongue and mouth were stiff, and she was even stuttering.
She wasn't just worried…
She was scared, terrified! Because she couldn't imagine what she would do without Shen Mo!
This panic wasn't just from the helplessness of their situation but also from the collapse of her mental support!
When did it start?… Unknowingly, he had become irreplaceable in her heart.
…
Shen Mo reached out and touched her cheek with the back of his hand.
Her skin was icy cold, even colder than his, despite him having just come out of the cold water. The back of her clothes was damp with cold sweat.
He was silent for a moment, then said, "I wanted to tell you, but I was afraid that if I moved the cabinet, the plastic bag would be even harder to find."
—Imagine searching for a plastic bag bobbing with the water currents in the pitch-black water.
"I understand…" Bai Youwei took a deep breath, trying to relax her stiff body. "Go change your clothes… I, I'm fine."
"Okay." He placed the towel in her hand. "Wipe off the sweat."
Bai Youwei nodded, clutching the towel.
After Shen Mo went to change, she stood at the attic entrance, dazed for a while. She didn't know what she was thinking about. Perhaps she was just emptying her mind, or perhaps her thoughts were questions she hadn't even realized she had. In any case, when she came to her senses, she noticed Tan Xiao and Yan Qingwen on the second floor had changed their clothes.
Su Man had changed as well.
She had taken off the cumbersome dress and put back on her shirt and jeans, preparing to go back into the water with the others.
Perhaps considering the need to go back underwater, Shen Mo, upon returning, was still wearing his wet clothes.
This time, four people went into the water.
Shen Mo with Tan Xiao, and Yan Qingwen with Su Man, each pair tied together with a rope.
They agreed with Cheng Weicai and Pan Xiaoxin, who were watching the ropes above water, that they would tug on the ropes every minute. If they were okay, they would tug back in response, confirming everyone's safety.
With everything ready, the four of them, carrying flashlights sealed in plastic bags, slowly submerged themselves…
This time, they stayed underwater longer than five minutes.
Cheng Weicai and Pan Xiaoxin tugged on the ropes every minute and received a response each time.
As time passed, everyone gradually calmed down.
Shen Mo being able to stay underwater for so long alone could be attributed to his unique abilities, but with so many people exceeding five minutes, it meant the fish they ate was truly effective!
They were naturally happy to have received this reward. It was a pity the current crisis hadn't been resolved yet; otherwise, they really should celebrate.