Chapter 43: Louyun City

Chapter 43: Louyun City

Liu Shuang was secretly pleased. Her family, parents, and younger sister were in Xiangzhou Province. Although this reassignment back to the military would keep her busy and the missions would take her to places outside her hometown, she could still manage to visit.

However, she was also reluctant to leave the rescue team members who had been fighting alongside her on the front lines of rescue missions. They had become like family.

She was also somewhat reluctant to leave Shu Fu. She always felt that Shu Fu, living alone at such a young age during this disaster, had a tough life. Shu Fu always appeared quiet, but even when sitting among people, there was a sense of loneliness about her.

This loneliness was subtle but palpable, with a slight detachment. Every time their eyes met, Shu Fu would always give her a gentle smile.

If she could, Liu Shuang would have taken Shu Fu with her to Xiangzhou Province, to her hometown Zi City, where the altitude was above 500 meters and mountain ranges provided shelter. The heavy rain wasn’t as frequent there, and it was currently very safe.

However, that wasn’t an option. Shu Fu was not a direct relative, and she had no authority to bring her as part of the team.

Moreover, Liu Shuang had already gauged Shu Fu’s feelings, and she had no immediate plan to leave Louyun City.

Liu Shuang also knew that Shu Fu had given up her access permit to Xizhou Province. Both she and her friend had received commendations as good citizens. They had submitted an application to a small town named Zhicheng in Xizhou Province.

On Shu Fu’s application, it wasn’t her own name that was written.

This was a rare opportunity that everyone wanted, but she had given it to someone else.

To avoid putting pressure on her, before writing the application, she had also asked Cheng Yu to send a rescue team member to the hospital to convey to Fang Zhuo Wen, without mentioning Shu Fu, that there was a chance to apply for a permit to Xizhou Province, possibly to a second or third-tier city, and asked if she was willing.

Once she received a positive response, she submitted the application.

Liu Shuang didn’t quite understand why Shu Fu didn’t want to leave Louyun City. Was it because this was her birthplace? But she no longer had any important relatives here, and even her friends would soon be leaving.

Since the team was on leave and didn’t need to drive, everyone was drinking. Liu Shuang had originally planned to drive back but ended up drinking a few cups due to the toasts from others.

The team members knew she would be promoted after returning to the military. They weren’t about to let her off easy. They all joked that since she was being promoted to lieutenant so quickly, by the next time they met, she would already be a major, and they would have to stand at attention and salute from afar.

Liu Shuang had not attended military school and had joined the military late, only serving for about four or five years. Getting promoted to lieutenant so fast made everyone jealous.

“You should salute to me too now!” Liu Shuang said with a smile, pouring the wine they had added to her cup back into theirs. “Besides, it’s not so easy to get promoted from lieutenant to major, is it?”

One team member, dissatisfied, pointed at Cheng Yu: “He’s a captain, and I’m just a lieutenant. Plus, he’s 30, which is way older than me!”

The unintentionally insulted Cheng Yu: …

Liu Shuang coughed lightly and quickly salvaged the situation: “I mean Captain Cheng is more mature in age than me, and he mainly went to military school and spent a few years on the border, earning several major merits…” She looked at the other team members, pretending to be angry to change the subject: “Are you deliberately comparing me with Captain Cheng? Trying to cause trouble between us!”

Although she said that, Liu Shuang was actually quite confident in herself. If given the same conditions and time as Cheng Yu, she believed she wouldn’t be worse.

But she wouldn’t say it so seriously. After all, they were just joking.

The team member who had spoken earlier was pushed forward by the others, laughing. Someone poured a large cup of wine for him, telling him to drink it as an apology.

He protested as they forced him to drink, and then they made him apologize to Cheng Yu with another cup.

He complained, “You guys just want to make me drink more!”

The group laughed and teased him. Two less informed teammates ran over from the other side of the table and asked Cheng Yu why he was also leaving and not staying in Louyun City, especially since he had only arrived recently.

“I’m not leaving so soon. I’ll be staying for a while longer,” Cheng Yu said, noticing Shu Fu looking at him intently. He couldn’t help but lean in, “What is it? Want to ask something?”

“So you’re already 30…” She had thought he was only 25 or 26.

Cheng Yu: ...

A farewell dinner lasted several hours. Since only Cheng Yu and Shu Fu hadn’t drunk, they each drove a car, first taking the others who had been drinking back. Shu Fu drove the jeep that Cheng Yu had arrived in, and Liu Shuang naturally sat in the car Shu Fu drove, while the others sat in the other car Cheng Yu drove.

To facilitate the rescue team's water rescue operations, Louyun City had set up the dormitories in the eastern suburbs, on a hill near Dam 1. It was both safe and allowed for immediate checks on the outer conditions of the dam.

As the car drove eastward, every time Shu Fu looked up, she could see the dam standing at the end of the road in the heavy rain.

Up close, it was still impressive, a height that was very reassuring.

Non-rescue vehicles were prohibited in the rescue team’s dormitory area. As they were about to arrive, Cheng Yu called Shu Fu, telling her not to drive the car inside. He would drop Liu Shuang off and then drive Shu Fu’s car to send her back.

“No need, Captain Cheng, I can take the bus back.”

At this, not only Cheng Yu but also Liu Shuang, sitting in the front passenger seat, disagreed. “The rain is too heavy, and there’s no bus stop nearby. Just let Captain Cheng drive you.”

Shu Fu looked at Liu Shuang, nodded, and softly agreed with Cheng Yu over the phone.

“Good girl,” Liu Shuang praised.

Cheng Yu could hear Liu Shuang’s voice and knew she had convinced Shu Fu. He hesitated, wanting to say something, but simply replied, “Wait for me,” before hanging up.

Ten minutes later, Shu Fu parked the car, turned off the engine, and Liu Shuang, sitting in the front passenger seat, reached over and gently stroked her black, smooth hair.

She still remembered the first time she met Shu Fu, her hair was oily and dirty, clearly unwashed for a long time, and she looked so vulnerable, squatting alone in a building about to be submerged by water.

“No matter if you ultimately decide to go to Xiangzhou Province, Xizhou Province, or stay in Louyun City, take care of yourself. Most importantly, if you encounter difficulties, remember to contact me or Cheng Yu. Don’t worry about troubling us; after all, we’ve survived the giant waves together.”

Liu Shuang, having drunk some alcohol, had her sharp edges softened. She looked at Shu Fu like an older sister looking at a younger one.

There was relief, relief that she was doing well now, compassion for her being alone and having to rely on herself for everything, and also a sense of regret and reluctance for the upcoming parting.

Shu Fu looked back at her, nodded in agreement, and then asked, “Why are you so good to me?” We barely knew each other, but you’ve been kind to me from the very beginning.

Liu Shuang paused, then smiled. “I don’t think I’ve done anything particularly good for you...”

“From the first time we met, you’ve been very caring, offering me water, being friendly, and even asking for my opinion when you wanted to take me back to the dormitory to shower and change clothes. You remember the things I say and even thought about bringing me to Xiangzhou Province... Isn’t that enough?”

Liu Shuang stared at her, surprised that she remembered these small details so clearly.

When someone is good to another, it’s usually done willingly without expecting anything in return. But when the other person remembers and appreciates your efforts, it feels like your words and actions truly resonate.

How could she explain? That she had a younger sister around the same age? That when she first saw Shu Fu, she found her well-behaved and sensible, reminding her of her sister?

That with each meeting, she felt Shu Fu seemed familiar, as if they had crossed paths before, maybe even long before Sui City.

Liu Shuang reached over and gave Shu Fu a gentle pat on the shoulder. “I just want to be good to you, for no reason. Just like when you help your neighbors in Sui City, is there a necessary reason? In the end, it’s just that you want to, you’re willing to, and you have the ability to, so you do it. It’s your choice, your true self.”

Shu Fu leaned on Liu Shuang’s shoulder and patted her back as well.

Liu Shuang’s simple words, “true self,” resonated deeply, dispelling the lingering doubts that had been weighing on her heart.

Yes, her true self. She wouldn’t forget who she was. No matter what, she would stay true to herself, free from distractions, always just Shu Fu.

The car window on the front passenger side was tapped from the outside. Through the rain and the window, Cheng Yu’s expression was unreadable as he looked at them.

"Alright, I'm leaving now, see you next time." Liu Shuang patted her on the head again and grabbed the raincoat from the back seat, putting it on before pushing the door open and getting out of the car.

Cheng Yu gestured for Shu Fu to move to the passenger seat, but she shook her head, indicating that she would drive and asking him to sit in the passenger seat.

Cheng Yu took off his raincoat and got into the car. Before Shu Fu closed the door, she shouted to Liu Shuang, who had only taken a couple of steps, "Sis Liu Shuang, I will definitely move to Sha City in the future. I hope your family will move to Fengshang Plateau as soon as possible, and we'll meet there next time! Goodbye! Happy New Year and stay safe!"

In the rain, Liu Shuang waved at her with a smile.

The car door was closed, and the engine was started again. As Shu Fu turned the car around, she reminded Cheng Yu, "Captain Cheng, seatbelt."

Cheng Yu didn't respond but silently pulled the seatbelt over and buckled up. After a long while, he finally couldn't hold back and asked, "Why do you call her Sis Liu Shuang, but you call me Captain Cheng?" Just because I'm 30?

Shu Fu looked back at him and asked, "So, you want me to call you... Uncle Cheng?"

Cheng Yu: ……

**

On New Year's Eve, Zheng Feifei's parents prepared an even more sumptuous meal than before, and Shu Fu brought more generous gifts.

Zheng Feifei had known for some time that Shu Fu had changed the application to Zhicheng to Fang Zhuo Wen. When she first found out, she was upset for several days, but she gradually accepted it after Fang Zhuo Wen promised that if there was another opportunity, she would definitely apply for a permit to Xizhou Province.

After dinner, Zheng Feifei invited Shu Fu to stay the night, and since Shu Fu thought there wouldn't be much time to hang out if the application was approved, she decided to stay.

Once again, they chatted until the early hours of the morning, but it was New Year's Eve, and most people in Louyun City stayed up late. At midnight, the official authorities in Louyun City had arranged electronic fireworks displays in several locations within the city.

There was also a spot here in the eastern part of the city, but it was quite far from Jixing Neighborhood, and at midnight, the rain was quite heavy. Shu Fu and Zheng Feifei watched from the window for a long time but only saw a few faint flashes of color.

Zheng Feifei leaned on the windowsill, looking disappointed.

"Next year, we'll set them off in Xizhou Province, where it doesn't rain as frequently, and we can light the traditional fireworks on New Year's Eve," Shu Fu comforted her.

"There's still a year to go..." Zheng Feifei turned her head to look at her and asked again, "Will you set them off with me next year?"

Shu Fu couldn't guarantee it, but since Zheng Feifei was looking at her with such anticipation, she naturally wouldn't disappoint her and nodded, "Yes, we'll set them off together next year."

"It's a promise, okay? Next year, we'll set off those small ones that you hold in your hand, and they'll be so much fun..." Zheng Feifei said, her face filled with both anticipation and some regret, "Zhicheng is at an altitude of over 3000 meters. I wonder if we'll be able to adapt when we get there. Especially my parents—if they get altitude sickness, it'll be terrible..."

"I heard that once the application is approved, they'll distribute altitude sickness prevention medication in advance because it will be an officially arranged migration by then, and the medical services will be coordinated..."

"Yes." Zheng Feifei leaned closer to Shu Fu, still very reluctant, "I really wish you could come with me..."

"Don't worry, Xizhou Province is also my dream destination. I will go, just a little later than you."

"It's a promise?"

"Yes, it's a promise."

...

Two weeks into the new year, Zheng Feifei received notification that her application had been approved. Just as Shu Fu had said, the altitude sickness prevention medication was distributed that same day.

Two days later, the permit for Zhicheng was delivered to their family. She was so excited that she couldn't sleep the entire night, constantly holding the permit to make sure she wasn't dreaming.

The trip to Zhicheng was arranged quickly, set for three days later.

Fang Zhuo Wen also received her permit. She had already been discharged from the hospital, but she didn't want to return to 1009. After handling Wang Qian's affairs, she went to the prison to visit Zhong Li.

She knew her actions might seem foolish, but she still wanted to ask in person: How could someone she had known for so long, someone who had been like a sister and a friend, someone who had cared for and protected her, hurt her without a second thought?

Why would strangers, who had never even met her, give her such a large sum of money and offer her a valuable permit to enter the highland city after hearing about her situation?

She wasn’t stupid, even if she was naive. The rescue team kept saying it was a subsidy from the authorities, but she was just an ordinary person who hadn’t contributed anything to the city. Why would she receive such a generous subsidy?

There were too many people in Louyun City who had been transferred from other cities for refuge. Even if the authorities were to subsidize her due to her situation, at most, they would provide some food and water supplies. There had to be someone else behind this, someone she didn’t know.

No matter how many times she tried to find out, she couldn’t figure out who that person was.

Through the iron bars, Zhong Li’s sneer turned into frenzied jealousy when she learned that Fang Zhuo Wen was about to head to the highland city. “Why you? Why do you get the permit? Why is your life always so good? Why do you always get what others can never achieve no matter how hard they try?”

She had everything—looks, a great job, a handsome and successful husband, and plenty of money—but she was never satisfied. Every time they met, she’d complain about her husband, but to Zhong Li, those complaints felt like thinly veiled bragging.

Ask her why she hurt her?

There’s no reason. I just wanted to. “What I hate most are people like you—pretending to be sweet while using men to show off to other women. If you’re so obsessed with comparing, why don’t you find someone else to compete with? Why do you always target me?”

“Do you even know what you’re saying? Is that all you see? Who’s comparing now? Who’s attacking whom and twisting the facts?”

“Of course, it’s you! You forced me!”

Looking at the malice and jealousy in Zhong Li’s eyes, Fang Zhuo Wen chuckled bitterly to herself. It turned out that Zhong Li had never considered her a friend. In the end, it was all just fake sisterhood. In the peaceful times before, Zhong Li had hidden her true self well, and Fang Zhuo Wen hadn’t seen through her.

Fang Zhuo Wen let out a long breath, feeling the heavy weight on her heart disappear. Before leaving, she smiled at Zhong Li again. “I’m leaving to start a new life in the safe highland city, while you’ll be stuck deceiving yourself and blaming others. But no matter what, you can’t hide the fact that you’re a murderer. You’ll rot in prison for the rest of your life and go nowhere.”

These weren’t the peaceful times of the past. Punishments had become harsher. Even though Zhong Li hadn’t directly killed Wang Qian, she would never leave prison.

After Fang Zhuo Wen finished, she turned and left, ignoring Zhong Li’s curses and insults behind her. Her heart remained unmoved.

**

The people applying to migrate to the highland city had been eagerly waiting for a long time. Many had already packed their belongings, ready to leave as soon as they got the notification. Zheng Feifei’s family was the same.

Since they didn’t have a car, they were arranged to take a bus to Zhicheng along with others. Those with cars could choose to drive themselves, which was more convenient as they could carry more food and supplies. Like during previous evacuations, bus passengers had limits on their luggage.

With strict road controls between cities, people couldn’t travel freely along their usual routes anymore. Trains, being faster and safer than highways, were reserved for those with greater needs, such as important researchers, patients, and the elderly.

The highway migration teams would be led and guarded by military and rescue teams. In case of weather changes, safe shelters would be arranged immediately, ensuring safety throughout the journey.

The distance from Louyun City to Zhicheng was over 1,500 kilometers. If they were lucky and didn’t encounter severe weather, they could arrive in about a day.

“Give me a message when you get there.” Shu Fu had prepared herself for this moment and remained calm, while Zheng Feifei clung to her, tears streaming down her face, unable to hold back her emotions.

“We’ll meet again, I promise.” Shu Fu reached out and tightly hugged Zheng Feifei. “See you next time, Feifei!”

Zheng Feifei’s message of safety came late at night on the second day after their departure. The journey had taken over thirty hours, with some minor hiccups, but they had arrived safely and intact.

A few days after Zheng Feifei arrived in Zhicheng, Louyun City enjoyed two days of clear skies, with temperatures reaching up to twenty-eight degrees during the day. But two days later, the temperature dropped sharply, and heavy rain began to fall.

Outside the dam, the water surged with monstrous waves, and this time, water spouts formed alongside them. Two massive spouts formed over the Cloud River in Louyun City, accompanied by flashes of lightning and howling winds. The entire sky turned as dark as ink, as if someone was undergoing tribulation in the clouds.

The air-raid sirens inside and outside the dam sounded again, though no one could remember if it was the sixth or seventh time in recent weeks. Most people were no longer as panicked, simply stopping outdoor activities, taking shelter indoors, closing doors and windows, shutting off power, and waiting for the disaster to pass.

That day, Shu Fu spent her time as usual in her Drift Island House, waiting for news.

After the hurricane and giant waves subsided, Shu Fu went online to check the latest updates. The official reports were alarming: the waves had spread across a vast area, from the northeastern plains of Huaxia through the hilly regions, all the way to the southwest. The cities along this boundary, situated in the hilly regions, were hit hardest by the giant waves.

The city that experienced the highest waves this time was in northern Xiren Province, with waves reaching a height of 61 meters, breaking the previous record.

Fortunately, the construction of the dam in that city had been accelerated recently. When the giant waves hit, the effective height of the dam was higher than the peak value, preventing another dam failure like what happened in another city.

Because of the recent success of these dams, people in cities located in hilly areas have started to desire cities with dams. Even though their cities are farther from the flooded areas and haven't been affected by hurricanes or giant waves yet, they’re still pushing their local officials to get dams built sooner.

Some of these cities have actually considered and advanced dam projects.

After all, the rain has been falling continuously, and water levels across the planet have risen again and again, already exceeding the global sea level rise threshold of 70 meters reported by experts.

When the cities announced their plans to build city-encircling dams, people were thrilled.

However, the public did not know that soon after the plans were set in motion, these cities received a secret suspension order, along with another unannounced instruction.

The day after the giant waves subsided, Shu Fu finally received an update on her long-quiet progress bar, with a new task.

"Between 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM today, complete the Jiale Textile Supermarket check-in task to earn a 5% progress bar for Raft Level 3. (Current progress of Raft Level 3: 70%)

Note: Failure to complete this task will result in a deduction of 30% from the progress bar."

Shu Fu: ?

Was she hallucinating, or did her laptop glitch?

She had never seen such a ridiculous deduction multiplier!