Chapter 248 - 113: A Sudden Turn for the Worse (Part 2)

Chapter 248: Chapter 113: A Sudden Turn for the Worse (Part 2)

"By the way, Shutong, did you know Qiumian thinks you went home to rest? She even told me to take you out to relax. If she found out about this, she’d definitely start worrying again..."

Song put away his phone and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

Zhang Shutong was silent for a moment. "That’s for the best. Don’t tell her."

’There’s no need. I’m not trying to prove anything to anyone. She already has bodyguards and is perfectly safe. What’s the point of letting her know I’m running around outside, looking for some so-called killer? Am I just trying to get her pity, or is this some kind of self-aggrandizing act?’

’Besides, even if she did find out, she’d just call from home or ask a few questions on QQ at most.’

Song shook his head and said no more. The group went to the second floor of the mall, where colorful banners fluttered over a few newly opened storefronts. Their destination was a Sichuan restaurant chain. When Song said he needed to use the restroom, Zhang Shutong and Lu Qinglian decided to browse around near the entrance.

"First time here?"

"First time."

They were now standing in the appliance department across from the Sichuan restaurant. Malls back then didn’t have clear zoning—like a fashion floor and a food floor—so everything was just chaotically crammed together.

You could walk out of a hot pot restaurant and find a lingerie shop right next door.

Zhang Shutong and Lu Qinglian were outside the department, watching the display TVs.

A local channel was on, showing the midday news. The report was on the heavy snow from the past few days, followed by some winter safety tips: promptly clear snow from sheds and rooftops, walk slowly, and avoid riding bikes. It was the kind of stuff that might show up in a language arts assignment a few days later.

Zhang Shutong glanced at it and lost interest—it was all pretty useless information. Lu Qinglian, however, tilted her head up and watched intently, like a cat staring at dried fish in a shop window.

’Oh well,’ he thought. ’This girl finds everything fascinating.’

The scene on the screen changed to new footage, probably of a snow-covered mountain somewhere on the island. The host’s tone then shifted to a lighter one as he reminded everyone to be wary of avalanches.

Avalanche. The word felt a bit distant.

But Zhang Shutong knew it wasn’t impossible. The host went on to say that students should absolutely not go playing on the mountains alone this weekend. And even if they did go, they had to be extremely careful.

This was because avalanches don’t usually happen right after a snowfall.

Instead, they occur a few days later when the temperature rises and the snow’s surface melts. The meltwater then slowly seeps down, loosening the once-solid snowpack.

At this point, a statistic flashed on the screen:

"According to experts, 90% of avalanches are triggered by the victims or their companions. This type is known as a ’recreational avalanche.’"

"The sounds made by winter sports enthusiasts can inadvertently become the trigger. Sometimes, even a sneeze is enough. The vibrations from the sound source travel into the snowpack, causing the unstable snow to collapse."

"Therefore, it is essential to remain quiet during outdoor activities. Especially when an avalanche occurs, a person’s panicked screams can easily trigger a secondary avalanche."

"And once a person is buried in the snow, if they are not rescued within half an hour, their chances of survival become very slim..."

"That timeframe isn’t reliable, don’t believe it," Zhang Shutong said casually. "In reality, the golden window for rescuing an average person is only fifteen minutes. Only an adult male in peak physical condition might last for half an hour."

Lu Qinglian tapped her chin, then asked in confusion, "Do you need to soak your feet in hot water after being rescued?"

Zhang Shutong shut his mouth.

"Just watch it if you want to," he said, exasperated. "You’re the one who lives on a mountain, after all."

The scene changed again, this time to a different mountain view. As the camera zoomed in, Zhang Shutong found it a bit familiar.

"Look at that road at the foot of the mountain. Doesn’t it look like the Ring Mountain Road that leads to the villa?"

"I think so," Lu Qinglian said, frowning as well.

"Then do you think those footprints could have been..."

"Left by reporters?" the girl finished his sentence calmly.

’If that were the case, this would all be a huge misunderstanding.’

Zhang Shutong studied the screen carefully for another moment before speaking.

"Probably not. See that tree there? I remember resting in that exact spot. I even looked up at the snow on the mountain and worried about a possible avalanche. There was no tree there at the time, and the road was clear of footprints. They’re probably just using old footage as filler."

Hearing this, Lu Qinglian recalled, "I didn’t see a tree either."

Just then, they heard Song calling for them. Zhang Shutong turned around, but Lu Qinglian was still watching the TV.

"Next, we will demonstrate the standard procedure for artificial respiration..."

He called out to her. The girl watched for a few more seconds before turning her head and entering the restaurant on her crutch.

...

Not long after, their three best friends arrived.

They weren’t surprised to see the two of them had arrived first, aside from asking a few concerned questions about the injury to Lu Qinglian’s foot.

After ordering, the group was shown to a private room by a waiter. Song led the way, his back ramrod straight. The waiter addressed him as "Mr. Song" over and over, which, combined with the golden super-VIP card in his hand, really made him look like a successful businessman.

But the act fell apart the moment the door closed.

Song chuckled wryly as he took off his coat.

"Alright, you guys, remember this. I know I said it was my treat, but you really have Qiumian to thank for this one. At first, I figured five hundred would be the absolute most on this card. I never expected it to be five thousand."

"How much?"

His friends exclaimed in shock.

"Five thousand. And that’s only because the maximum you can load onto this card is five thousand," Song said, looking troubled. "Look, I’m not trying to sound ungrateful, but if I’d known it was this much, I wouldn’t have taken it. I actually wasn’t going to accept it, but Qiumian insisted. She said I should take you all out to have some fun, to calm everyone’s nerves and help us forget about yesterday. I figured it wasn’t just for me and that one big meal would probably kill it, so I took it. But how are we supposed to spend five thousand...? You guys need any new clothes?"