Chapter 165: Encounter with a Landslide

The rain in the mountains always comes without warning, falling so casually, so abruptly.

It rained from evening until the next morning. When everyone set off, the sky was still gray, as if it wanted to pour down all the rain for the entire year.

The director’s team, worriedly looking at the weather forecast, sought everyone’s opinion.

“Yesterday, the local meteorological bureau reported that this is the largest rainstorm in the XX area in recent years. Should we wait another two days before leaving?”

Sun Haotian, impatient, tapped his phone and showed the screen to everyone.

“Director, it looks like the rainy season has just begun. If we don’t leave now, we might have to wait ten days to half a month, not just a day or two.”

His time was precious, and he had important matters waiting for him back home.

“My dad is hospitalized. I need to hurry back to see him.”

“Let’s not wait. If we delay, I might lose my job.”

Everyone chimed in, and soon a consensus was reached.

The director’s team finally decided to leave today, though the director’s furrowed brows didn’t relax.

He could only instruct all departments to take safety precautions against any sudden incidents.

The sound of the rain hitting the bus’s windows had a peculiar power, as if it could soothe everyone’s thoughts and put them to sleep.

Fang Zhou, who had already had enough sleep, closed his eyes again amidst the bumps and rain sounds.

Everyone was sitting on the bus arranged by the production team, and Liu Hao was beside him.

Liu Hao was sleeping even more soundly, snoring loudly.

Fang Zhou couldn’t ignore the thunderous snoring right next to his ear. He opened his eyes abruptly and raised his hand, about to pat Liu Hao’s shoulder to wake him up for a chat.

His motto was: if I can’t sleep, neither can you.

But suddenly, he felt a sticky gaze from the diagonal rear.

He turned his head and saw it was indeed Chu Xinran.

She wasn’t sleeping but was staring at him with her big, wet eyes.

When Fang Zhou looked back, her expression quickly turned into one of resentment, with a hint of grievance, as if accusing him of not sitting with her.

When they first got on the bus, Fang Zhou did look for a seat. Chu Xinran watched him eagerly, almost saying, “Sit next to me.”

However, Fang Zhou sat next to Liu Hao and didn’t go further inside.

He didn’t expect her to still hold a grudge over this.

Fang Zhou withdrew his gaze, intending to talk to Liu Hao.

But when he glanced out the window, he felt uneasy.

A rushing river was right beside them. The turbulent water looked like a ferocious beast, opening its bloody mouth, waiting for food to be thrown in.

Fang Zhou pulled back the curtain on his side and looked out.

He found himself surrounded by continuous mountain peaks. But these were not the green mountains covered in vegetation, but bare rocky mountains.

Occasionally, rocks fell, making the scene look very dangerous.

Although Fang Zhou grew up in the countryside, his hometown was in a plain area. He had never seen such a spectacle.

His first reaction was that something was wrong, and it seemed dangerous.

He unbuckled his seatbelt and struggled through the seats to the driver’s side.

The rain still poured outside, and the windshield wiper had to keep working, or the driver’s view would be blocked.

“How long until we reach the city?”

They were on a bus heading directly to the city, without needing to transfer, but it would take a long time.

“About an hour and a half more.”

The driver was quite optimistic, answering Fang Zhou’s question with a smile.

“This road looks very dangerous. Please drive carefully.”

Fang Zhou wanted to remind the driver to be cautious.

The driver laughed and said, “Don’t worry! I’ve been driving this road for over ten years and have never had any accidents. I’m an old hand; I know this road well!”

Fang Zhou wasn’t worried about the driver’s skills but the road itself. It looked too dangerous, with falling rocks and rushing rivers, and it was still raining.

But there was no other way now. They could only take one step at a time.

Fang Zhou returned to his seat and found someone else sitting beside him.

Liu Hao, who had been next to him, had moved to Chu Xinran’s seat.

He looked at Fang Zhou innocently, as if saying, “Brother, I’ve helped you as much as I can.”

Fang Zhou felt a faint headache, not sure if it was from the long ride or something else.

Given the situation, he couldn’t ask Chu Xinran to leave, so he sat back in his seat, crossing over Chu Xinran.

Her black Mary Jane shoes were polished shiny by the rain, looking small and cute.

Chu Xinran blinked and asked softly, “Why did you choose Sisi yesterday?”

She was still hung up on this, wanting a definitive answer.

Fang Zhou felt a surge of annoyance, both from the worrying road conditions and from being pestered about yesterday’s incident.

Chu Xinran wasn’t the first to ask him. Qin Yun, Han Xi, and even Zhang Zhiyin had directly or indirectly asked if Qiao Sisi was the one he liked.

Fang Zhou, a person who disliked trouble, didn’t want to use Qiao Sisi as a shield, so he answered honestly.

“She helped me with something.”

“What did she help you with?”

Chu Xinran pressed on, wanting to know more.

Explaining the details would be too much. Fang Zhou feared she couldn’t handle it.

So he shook his head and said softly, “It’s inconvenient to say.”

Then he closed his eyes, ending the conversation.

Feeling neglected, Chu Xinran pouted, feeling a bit wronged.

Unable to control herself, she reached out and hugged Fang Zhou’s arm, resting her head on it.

“I’m sleepy. Let me borrow your shoulder for a nap.”

Fang Zhou wanted to pull away, but the cramped space made big movements noticeable to the people behind them.

Qiao Sisi and Han Xi were sitting right behind them.

So he gave up.

Unable to sleep, he opened his eyes and watched the scenery outside.

Yellow mud mixed with rainwater flowed on the road.

The muddy river was even more turbulent, looking very dangerous.

Wait, why did the mud seem to be increasing?

Fang Zhou suddenly stood up, startling Chu Xinran awake.

“What’s wrong?”

She asked with a hint of annoyance.

“Landslide!”

Fang Zhou shouted, trying to wake everyone up.

“There’s a landslide behind the bus!”

Fang Zhou’s words were like a thunderclap, jolting everyone awake.

Outside the rear window, yellow mud mixed with stones from the mountain was rolling down, like a beast chasing the bus, ready to devour it!