I Have Yet to Become a Doll Today

The rainwater has flooded the whole first floor; even the ceiling is submerged.

Standing on the second floor, all you can see is a rectangle of water occupying the stair entry point.

Yan Qingwen is squatting by the water’s edge holding a rope. Everyone else stands to the side, their eyes fixed on the rectangular body of water.

Shen Mo has been under for a minute now. Besides some minor ripples, the surface of the water remains unchanged.

Bai Youwei’s heart is aflame with anxiety.

She wants to pull the rope but fears it would disrupt his movements underwater. But without pulling the rope, she has no way of judging his circumstances from the black and somber water surface.

Her eyes are transfixed on the water. She bites her lower lip without blinking, frequently glancing at the rope in Yan Qingwen’s hand, hoping to see some movement.

But none comes.

Nothing happens at all.

Perceiving Bai Youwei’s nervousness, Yan Qingwen turns his head towards her and says, “An ordinary person can usually hold their breath underwater for about 1 minute. Those with professional training can manage around 3 minutes.”

The implication was clear: Shen Mo was indeed trained for this sort of situation.

Bai Youwei doesn’t respond. Her eyes remain fixed on the water surface while she mentally counts the passing seconds.

With every ticking second, the minutes feel like years to her.

By the time three minutes have passed, she can’t stand the wait anymore and turns to Tan Xiao, saying: “You should go take a look.”

Upon hearing this, Tan Xiao begins to take off his shoes and clothes.

Yan Qingwen tries to dissuade him. He thinks it’s not the right time. If there’s true danger underwater, another person going under would only lead to more sacrifice.

But on second thought, if Lun Ang or Li Li were the ones in the water, even if he knew of the dangers, Yan Qingwen admits that he would go in after them.

He mulls this over and says: “Let me try pulling the rope first. If there’s no response, it’s not too late for you to go down after that.”

Bai Youwei nods, knitted brows betraying her worry.

Yan Qingwen starts to reel in the rope. Four attempts in, the rope suddenly becomes taut and motionless.

“What’s happening?” Bai Youwei anxiously asks him.

Yan Qingwen shakes his head with a grave look on his face, “Something has jammed the rope if that’s the case, even if he’s pulling the rope underwater, we won’t be able to feel it.”

Bai Youwei instantly pales, her scared expression so pitiful it’s hard to bear seeing.

Tan Xiao hollers, “What are we waiting for then? Hurry up and tie a rope around me so I can go down and take a look!”

With a panicked look on her face, Su Man paces back and forth helplessly in the hallway, blurting out, “…We don’t have any more ropes. The one tied to your boss was our only one!”

“Can we use the bed sheets?” Zhu Shu suggests, “When we’re acting, we do this often. We tear the bed sheets into strips and tie them together…”

Professor Cheng quickly says, “Yes, yes! Bed sheets, comforters, curtains; we can use all of these! If you’re worried that it’s not strong enough, just tie multiple layers around!”

Yan Qingwen agrees: “Good. There’s no time to lose. Go get the bed sheets now. Get all of them. Also, take down the curtains. I’m going in too.”

Tan Xiao, together with Professor Cheng and Pan Xiaoxin, heads towards the bedrooms. As they walk they shout at Bai Youwei, “Weiwei! Keep calm. We promise we’ll bring back Shen Mo!”

Bai Youwei sits at the door leading to the loft and doesn’t utter a single word. Her lips are tightly pursed and her face is snow white.

Anybody can see that her emotional state is on the verge of collapse.

Yan Qingwen wants to comfort her but feels disheartened. Five agonizing minutes have already passed – not even a professional diver could stay underwater for five minutes without any aids.

There’s a very high likelihood that Shen Mo is in danger!

Yan Qingwen doesn’t feel particularly upset or heartbroken by this – at most, he can sympathize with the related pain. His more pressing worry is how to get the summer guests out if they can’t go by the water route?!

Meanwhile, Tan Xiao is back with a pile of bedsheets and comforters. In the chaos, everyone hurriedly rips and secures the fabrics into rope-like strands, with Su Man and Zhu Shu also lending a hand.

Just then, with a sudden splash

After being underwater for five minutes, Shen Mo comes back out!