I Have Yet to Become a Doll Today

Chapter 280: 280: A Fifty Percent Feeling

From their very first encounter, she noticed something different about Bai Youwei. She had intended to get to know her, but her plans were disrupted several times by Su Man, preventing her from making direct contact.

Throughout her many years in the entertainment industry, Zhu Shu had managed to avoid any negative publicity and secure top-tier resources in film and television. Her success was due to her uncanny ability to align herself with the strong – a strategy that had become almost second nature to her.

Bai Youwei was the “strong” person she had identified.

Of course, seeking protection also spoke volumes about Zhu Shu’s lamentable situation.

She was very clear about this. But over the years, she had become accustomed to it. If she was suddenly asked to live in any other way, she would be at a loss.

Just like in this abnormal world.

Bai Youwei remained silent, watching her, her eyes inexplicably sharp.

Zhu Shu understood that this was a long-honed caution, an instinctive response, the same as how a cat would tense up when seeing a stranger.

Zhu Shu did her best to look sincere.

But it seemed to have little effect.

Bai Youwei remained indifferent, answering with a blank expression, “I’m silent because I haven’t found the answer yet.”

A chill ran through Zhu Shu’s heart. “It’s not the beads?”

Bai Youwei looked down at the damp wooden floor, ” I hope so. But if you ask me how I feel, I’d say there’s a fifty percent chance.”

Fifty percent.

Zhu Shu’s heart dropped.

Fifty percent. Did that mean there was only a fifty-fifty chance?

Lun Ang beside her cursed under his breath.

Not at Bai Youwei.

But at this goddamned world.

Yan Qingwen’s team set up a few large bed boards on the stairs leading to the loft, reinforcing them with other pieces of furniture.

Having learnt from their previous close call, he had upgraded the setup, even incorporating a rusty axe from outside the front door into the setup.

The old axe, now separated from its wooden handle, was wrapped with a rope, one end hanging in mid-air, the other tied to a beam above. Once the Fish Monster breached the boards, gravity would pull the axe towards it!

Against such a massive creature, a rusty axe would have miniscule effect, but even a few extra seconds to escape would be considered fortunate.

All was set up.

Shen Mo stood at the top of the second-floor staircase with the gathered beads, while the others spread out along the corridor and the stairs.

Shen Mo glanced at his companions behind him, then back to Bai Youwei at the entrance of the loft. Then, refocusing on the surface of the water—

“Do come in, guest.”

There was no sound, perhaps drowned out by the water.

The water level began to rise, spreading, submerging the second floor and the stairs to the loft.

Everyone retreated further.

When the water flooded one meter high, they retreated one meter, and when it flooded two meters, they retreated two meters  When the water reached half the height of the staircase, the second-floor lights flickered and went out.

Darkness enveloped the room, leaving only the dim glow from the loft as their only light source.

Simultaneously, there were heavy sounds coming from downstairs, as if something was clumsily making its way up from the water

Bang!

Something collided with the two large wooden boards Yan Qingwen had erected on the stairs.

The boards, shaking and almost ready to fall, managed to stay upright, held in place by the ropes.

The Fish Monster lay motionless at the bottom of the water.

As if waiting, just like the previous round.

The beam from their flashlight cast upon the water’s surface could only make out a blurry shadow.

Shen Mo, holding the beads, stepped into the water.

One step

And another step

He was now within striking distance of the Water Monster.

Bai Youwei watched as he moved deeper into the water, her heart jumped into her throat. She wanted to call him back, but found herself unable to utter a word.

Suddenly, with an enormous boom!

The Fish Monster leapt up! Splashing monstrous waves!