Chapter 691: Chapter 691: A Narrow Escape
Rong Ling said, "We just received a hurricane warning. The current area might encounter a hurricane."
Li Yufei’s expression changed slightly at the mention of a hurricane.
Although the lifeboat they were in was fully enclosed, capable of withstanding a certain degree of wind and waves, if it was a high-level hurricane with waves over ten meters high, it would easily lead to the destruction of the boat and loss of life.
Rong Ling clenched his fist, thought for a moment, and set the course. No matter what, he had to leave the hurricane zone and wait for rescue.
Even though he didn’t know if they would be found, he still had to do everything he could.
Meanwhile—
The cruise ship’s alarm suddenly sounded.
The captain’s cabin also detected the hurricane warning at sea, and the system automatically issued an alert.
Li Yufei: "What should we do, Rong Ling?"
Rong Ling checked the air and water intakes, returned to her side, sat down beside her, fastened his seat belt, and held her tightly: "Don’t be afraid."
Li Yufei could not help but hold him tightly as well.
It was unclear how much time had passed.
The lifeboat drifted further away from the cruise ship, but as the sea surface continued to churn, the boat became increasingly unstable.
The wind and waves grew stronger.
Without the seat belts, they could easily be thrown out of their seats.
Li Yufei quickly adapted and asked, "What if no one ever finds us?"
Rong Ling remained silent.
Currently, the hurricane warning had been issued at sea, and the rescue team would undoubtedly be delayed in arriving.
Even putting aside whether they would be found, their ability to safely leave the hurricane zone was a significant issue.
Li Yufei’s question left him at a loss for words.
Because if the rescue team could not find them, there was only one outcome: death.
The supplies on the lifeboat were scarce.
Even if they survived the hurricane’s onslaught, they could last at most three days.
Through the boat’s hull, Rong Ling could hear the sea waves crashing against the boat, roaring loudly.
The hull tilted and swayed, and the faint light grew dimmer.
Li Yufei widened her eyes, peering out through a small window.
With a "bang"!
Massive waves crashed against the boat again.
The lifeboat seemed on the verge of capsizing!
Rong Ling held her tightly once more.
Li Yufei felt a wave of despair in her heart...
She feared they would perish there.
She feared never returning to Junjun’s side.
A wave of sadness engulfed Li Yufei, revealing a rare sorrow on her typically composed face.
Rong Ling’s breathing became increasingly rapid.
Li Yufei accidentally touched his hand, which was frighteningly cold.
"Rong Ling..."
Rong Ling’s head rested weakly on her shoulder, his breath somewhat rushed. As his body temperature dropped, he gradually felt his eyelids growing heavier.
Li Yufei kissed his cold lips tenderly: "Don’t sleep... Stay awake, open your eyes..."
Rong Ling: "I’m a little tired."
Li Yufei knew it was a hypothermic reaction caused by blood loss.
She hugged him even tighter, trying to transfer her body heat to him.
However, she could feel his body trembling more and more violently.
Outside the lifeboat.
Suddenly, a torrential downpour began.
The sea area a hundred meters away surged with waves over ten meters high, layer upon layer, continuously rolling in...
...
"Rong Ling?"
"...Rong Ling? Wake up."
It was unclear how long the darkness lasted.
His dizzy consciousness gradually awakened.
Rong Ling struggled to open his eyes, and in the blurry vision, he saw a faint light, with Li Yufei by his side, tightly holding his hand: "Can you hear me?"
His eyes felt sore and swollen, and he heard the clamor of voices around him.
"Rong Ling...We’ve been rescued..."
"Rong Ling, we’re still alive..."
Instinctively, Rong Ling clasped her hand in return.
Suddenly—
A gentle pair of lips touched the corner of his lips: "Rong Ling, pull yourself together, don’t leave me..."
He immediately fell back into darkness.
Dawn.
Sunlight streamed through the tattered window.
Rong Ling winced at the light.
He slowly opened his eyes. As his vision finally cleared, he saw the peeling walls and smelled the pungent scent of disinfectant in the air.
He squeezed his hand, realizing there was a warm hand tightly holding his forearm the entire time.
As he slightly moved, Li Yufei, who was by the bedside, suddenly woke up.
She lifted her head, and upon meeting his eyes, she couldn’t contain her delight: "Rong Ling, you’re awake!?"
Rong Ling tried to sit up but lacked the strength.
Li Yufei immediately supported him, propping him up and placing a pillow behind his back for support.
Rong Ling glanced around and noticed they were in a rundown hospital room, with unfamiliar signs everywhere.
He asked blankly, "Where is this?"
Li Yufei chuckled, "Can’t you tell? It’s a hospital."
Rong Ling: "Of course I know this is a hospital."
Li Yufei took a deep breath, sat down by the bedside, rubbed her temples, and showed visible fatigue: "We’re on Oudh Island."
It seemed she hadn’t had a decent sleep for at least a day and a night, and faint gray shadows appeared under her eyelids.
Rong Ling immediately looked puzzled.
If he remembered correctly, Oudh state was currently in a state of conflict. Although a ceasefire agreement had been signed, war could resume at any moment.
How did they end up in this country?
Li Yufei said, "Our lifeboat was discovered by some fishermen. They brought us to the hospital."
She had sold all her jewelry, exchanging it for local currency, but after Rong Ling had been in the hospital for two days, most of the money was already spent.
Li Yufei: "Are you feeling better, how do you feel?"
Rong Ling: "Much better..."
It seemed he had hit his head, causing some memory lapses about the events at sea. He only remembered getting into the lifeboat, but nothing after that.
Li Yufei said, "You were seriously injured and unconscious. The lifeboat drifted at sea for two days before the fishermen rescued us and brought us here."
After a pause, she added, "I met some kindhearted overseas Chinese working at the Hua Industrial Plant nearby. They informed me the embassy is organizing an evacuation, currently Oudh Island’s situation is unstable, and a new wave of conflict could erupt at any moment."
After speaking, she held his hand tightly: "I wish I could give you time to rest well, but I’m afraid it’s not possible. Can you walk now? What’s urgent is that we must hurry to the embassy for safety."
The hospital is over 50 kilometers away from the embassy, not far, but the traffic is nearly paralyzed, and the hospital isn’t in the Peace District but in the Neutral Zone. Currently, parts of the Neutral Zone have fallen, with countless deaths and injuries.
Many areas have been occupied by armed forces, and the military has withdrawn from the neutral area.
This place could fall at any moment.