Chapter 84 – She’s My Girlfriend

Chapter 84 - She's My Girlfriend

Life and death seemed so eerily similar. The liberation she sought was merely eternal rest in such surroundings.

Tang Fei watched helplessly as Shu's mother sank, only five meters away from her.

The flowing water effortlessly devoured life. A human figure was but an insignificant speck in the vast expanse of the river.

Tang Fei immediately dove in, but on her task bar, the mission to save her loved one turned from red to gray!

Mission failed? !

No, it couldn't be.

It definitely couldn't fail!

This mission couldn't fail!

It wasn't just any ordinary task.

System, this isn't a game; this is real human life at stake!

Tang Fei emerged from the water, gritting her teeth. It was as if she were in a race, only to have it abruptly canceled just before reaching the finish line.

So close, so very close, she could have saved that person, rescued a life. The System had bestowed upon her countless miraculous wonders—why was it withholding now?

Tang Fei struck the water surface with force, sending ripples cascading and splashing up in a tumultuous rush. As they descended, they drenched Tang Fei's face.

Beneath the starlit night, she immersed herself in the river, a moment of bewilderment flickering across her face, only to be swiftly replaced by a fiery resolve in her eyes.

The finish line was within sight, and even if the race were to be canceled, she would still run towards it; in her heart, the competition wasn't over yet.

She hadn't come for the mission, but to save lives – there was no time to waste!

The system was merely an external tool, something she utilized for her goals.

Tang Fei immediately dove down again. Activating her underwater vision skill, in the dark, turbid river, she could still see everything within fifty meters beneath the surface.

Through her underwater vision, the river appeared grayish-yellow, surging northward with a sluggishness typical of winter. The schools of fish swimming by seemed less agile in the cold, while debris, including some household waste, swirled along with the sediment. Shu Mu's body was also swiftly carried north by the current.

Tang Fei held her breath, and her skin harmonized with the river water, slowly exchanging oxygen without any sensation of deprivation.

She began to sway her body, her legs kicking up rapid splashes. Her speed was like an arrow piercing through the water, dashing towards Shu Mu's figure.

The gray task didn't indicate failure; instead, it was slowly transitioning from gray to black.

Tang Fei's swimming skill shimmered with a faint blue glow, and one of the two water ripple icons beside it detached.

...

"Someone jumped into the river!"

"Quick, save them!"

"Call an ambulance!"

The formerly boisterous young men were now panicked. They never expected to witness such a scene.

I was enjoying barbecue by the riverside, singing, and drinking when someone decided to jump in! With two splashes, two heads disappeared beneath the water's surface.

The group of seven or eight people jumped in panic, their voices echoing loudly, drawing the attention of those farther away.

"Quick, call the police!"

"I'll dial 120."

"If someone dies, it'll be terrible, especially with that young girl there."

Just then, the siren of a police car grew louder as it approached, followed by a sharp screech of brakes. The vehicle came to a stop on the embankment by the river.

The crowd, relieved, cried out eagerly, "Uncle Policeman, someone just jumped into the river!"

"Uncle Policeman, save them quickly!"

"They're in the water, and they vanished in an instant."

"Over there, right at that spot, that area."

Amidst the commotion, Zhou Weichuan was the first to leap out of the police car. He dashed down the stairs of the embankment with long strides, leaping over several steps at once in his urgency, descending the dozen or so stairs in just a few strides.

In an instant, he spotted the bicycle leaning against the sand, and a coat lying beside it - that belonged to Tang Fei. Her phone was right next to the coat, vibrating incessantly with a bright glow, indicating Zhou Weichuan's repeated calls. The screen displayed "Boss of Gossip Fairy" calling.

Zhou Weichuan picked up the phone, his mind feeling as if it was being relentlessly pounded by a sledgehammer, leaving him momentarily dazed.

Tang Fei had jumped into the river too!

His inexplicable fear had turned into a grim reality.

Why would someone so foolish do such a thing? It was pitch black beneath the surface of the river at night. What good could come of jumping in? Who could she possibly save?

When he signed her on, he had believed this woman to be level-headed, not foolish.

If he had known her composure could crumble so easily, he would have... definitely wouldn't have...

Perhaps he still would have, though. She seemed to have captivated him from the start.

He had been taught since childhood to avoid impulsiveness, for it led to mistakes. He needed to control his emotions, view people and things objectively, and learn to analyze calmly to make the best decisions.

His life should be a mathematics exam, where every question has the optimal solution, and he is the one to find it.

Not literature, no need for emotional intensity, no room for his sentiments...

"Tang Fei!"

"Tang Fei!!"

Zhou Weichuan gazed at the tranquil expanse of the river. There was no one in sight, only vague gestures indicating a location amidst the sparse stars and dim light in the distance.

"Tang Fei?"

It seemed as if someone was smiling at him from the water's surface. Nervous yet endearing, she would fiddle with her fingers and sometimes avert her gaze, creating an awkward sweetness in their interactions.

Zhou Weichuan swiftly shed his clothes and extraneous trousers. Before anyone could react, he impulsively dashed towards the riverbank, all rational thoughts vanishing from his mind. He leaped into the water without hesitation.

"Another one!"

"Come back quickly!"

"Oh, don't interfere, you'll only hinder the rescue. It's a waste of time saving one more person."

Zhou Weichuan swam towards the area he had pointed at, taking a deep breath before submerging his head underwater. The icy cold river water did nothing to quell his escalating madness.

Years of steadfast principles were shattered by a single individual.

He dived into the dark waters, continuously descending. He wanted to touch the riverbed and reached out, vainly grasping at the empty currents around him.

After holding his breath for a while, he resurfaced for air, but he was still alone on the surface.

"Tang Fei! Tang Fei! Where are you? Can you respond? Make a sound?"

"Tang Fei, come up for air! I'm saving people with you, Tang Fei!!"

But there was no reply.

Zhou Weichuan took another breath and dove down again. As he descended, the buoyancy increased, and the water pressure impeded his movements. The air in his lungs dwindled, while the swirling river currents demanded even more effort to maintain equilibrium.

The people on the shore cried out, "How can you save anyone in this pitch-black darkness? It's too dangerous! Hey, that person, come back up! Let the police handle it. The police rescue boat is almost here."

By the shore, people turned on the flashlights on their phones, creating a web of beams that illuminated Zhou Weichuan in the darkness.

Zhou Weichuan dove back into the water, embracing any glimmer of light that came his way. Each ray offered a sliver of hope, and he wouldn't let even the smallest one slip by.

The officer, upon witnessing Zhou Weichuan's behavior, was tempted to lash out with an expletive, were it not for his uniform dictating decorum.

Why is it an innocent fool!

Three police officers approached; two of them secured ropes around their waists while the third on the shore took up the task of hauling them in. The pair swiftly entered the water and swam toward Zhou Weichuan.

The moment he appeared, they flanked him, one on each side, and urged, "Come with us, and don't cause any trouble."

Zhou Weichuan's eyes were laced with bloodshot veins, appearing terrifyingly red.

In the distance, a salvage vessel with the watermark of the water police was approaching, its massive and blinding searchlight illuminating the river, turning the area as bright as daylight.

Soon, a team donned specialized diving gear and underwater imaging equipment, and one by one, they plunged into the depths.

"Leave it to the professionals. Come with us." The officer started to pull Zhou Weichuan away, but he shook his head. "I can assist. I have a certification for rescue diving."

"No need, you can stay on land," Zhou Weichuan said. To his surprise, a pang of pain and discomfort hit his chest as the words left his lips. He couldn't understand why he had remained silent and unyielding before.

What was the point of calling her his girlfriend now anyway?

"That won't do. There's no room for negotiation. Let's go, the boat is about to crash into us." Seeing that reasoning with them was futile, Zhou Weichuan turned around in the water and skillfully freed himself from their grasp before diving back beneath the surface. The two officers rubbed their twisted arms. "He's quite skilled."

"Let's not cause any trouble. Just give him some gear," one of the officers suggested. Dealing with all sorts of people every day had hardened their nerves, and they often encountered impulsive individuals. When words and force failed, it was best to placate them first. If someone lost their life, no one would care if they had insisted on diving into the water themselves.

...

Tang Fei pursued Shu's mother underwater for about eight minutes before finally grabbing hold of her ankle.

Rescue Attempt for Family and Friends - 2/2

As the ethereal ripple from the swimming skill surfaced, it swiftly disappeared into Tang Fei's forehead. Meanwhile, both Shu Mu and Tang Fei were swept to the shore by a massive wave.

"Underwater World 2"

"Mermaid Princess"

"Activating..."

"Mission Reward: Accessory Card: Gem, Mermaid's Tear - Ocean Heart."