Yulei dared not speak, torn between the fear of upsetting Lin Hanxia and the guilt of letting Jinjing down. Both he and Lin Hanxia tacitly bypassed the heated kiss that had just occurred, yet it was he who chose to broach the subject again, not surprising Lin Hanxia for revisiting it.
After a brief silence, Lin Hanxia suddenly burst into laughter, playfully patting his shoulder and chuckling breathlessly, "You really are a fool! I was just making that up to lighten the mood—such a fool!"
Was it truly just an attempt to lighten the atmosphere? Yulei felt a peculiar sensation creeping between them, something he had earnestly tried to avoid yet found himself unable to escape.
He closed his eyes, dismissing the unwelcome thoughts of romance; survival was of paramount importance. They would address such matters only after ensuring their basic needs were met!
Pushing aside the strange feeling, Yulei quickly shifted to a more practical tone. "So, what's your decision? Shall we remain here or dare to venture out?"
Lin Hanxia raised her cup with a smile. "Of course we should take the risk! If the water doesn't recede, we can't possibly live here forever! Let's make it happen. We'll rest tonight and set out tomorrow. After all, it's Christmas—may Santa Claus bless us with continued survival!"
Yulei clinked his cup against hers, and they exchanged smiles, each finding hope in the other's eyes.
Since they had resolved to act the following day, the pair enjoyed a restful night. Inside the launch shaft, cloaked in darkness, they relied solely on Yulei's watch to distinguish between day and night. After tending to Yulei during his illness for two days, Lin Hanxia had completely flipped her sleeping schedule and took a long time to fall asleep, only waking up in the afternoon of the 25th.
Once they had consumed their rations and hydrated, preparations for diving began.
They couldn't forget the balloons, but Yulei also considered the possibility of being unable to return. Thus, they needed to carry a barrel of fresh water and a box of rations. He secured the water around his waist, while Lin Hanxia took charge of the food. Naturally, they packed the pump for inflating the balloons, leaving behind anything that was not essential on the platform.
With his diving mask in place, one hand gripping a flashlight and the other clutching several balloons, Yulei carefully navigated the stairs. Lin Hanxia followed closely, a ribbon tying their waists together; she clutched balloons in one hand while the other remained free for breathing.
There were a total of twenty-five steps to reach the surface, and indeed, the water was receding at a slower pace.
Lin Hanxia glanced upward at the flashing emergency lights above and suddenly remarked, "I hope we never have to return here."
Yulei understood her sentiment, recognizing the oppressive atmosphere and the profound despair it instilled. He feigned a grimace, saying, "Well, if that's the case, I'll just dive back in alone to retrieve our things."
Her amusement brightened the mood, alleviating much of her earlier tension.
"Let's go," Yulei stated, his expression serious.
Lin Hanxia nodded, inhaling deeply, and together they plunged into the water.
Though Yulei was reluctant to embark on this risky venture with Lin Hanxia, he understood her determination to proceed together. After all, they knew nothing of the outside world; what if he emerged and could not return? They had no phones to communicate, and even if they did, there was no signal!
In the aftermath of the apocalypse, the chance of survival with a companion was already slim; he preferred they remain together until they ensured their safety.
Once submerged, Yulei exhaled completely, tucking the flashlight under his arm while drawing in air from a balloon. This method was now second nature to him after several days of practice, and Lin Hanxia, having undergone similar training, found it manageable.
They swam through the shattered glass of the control room's window, and Lin Hanxia, not wishing to see the corpses, simply closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, allowing Yulei to guide her forward.
Yulei had analyzed the situation before diving; while he couldn't guarantee both would successfully escape the base, he believed they could always turn back when their balloon supply dwindled to half.
However, upon reaching the main entrance guided by his mental map of the base, he discovered a breach had been created in the door, wide enough for both of them to slip through, even accommodating the water tank strapped to him, but it was impossible for Lin Hanxia to fit with her box.
After some struggle, he unfastened the box from Lin Hanxia. He noticed that he had already used up more than half of his balloon supply. He thought it best to check what lay beyond the door before retreating. With that in mind, he guided Lin Hanxia sideways through the opening.
Once through, Yulei shone his flashlight around and was surprised to find the external terrain remained unchanged; if they continued swimming upward, they would surely reach the surface.
Judging the water pressure to be manageable—roughly twenty to thirty meters—he noted their dwindling supply of balloons. They needed to ascend for oxygen, so he decisively led Lin Hanxia vertically upward.
As the light above them expanded, Yulei's excitement grew. When they broke the surface once more and beheld the familiar sun overhead, he could hardly contain his elation.
They were finally seeing daylight again! What a miraculous return to the luminous orb that he believed he would never glimpse again.
Yulei gazed at the sun, its brilliance almost blinding, yet he resisted the urge to look away, only closing his eyes when it became unbearable, leaving behind a fiery afterimage.
Lin Hanxia, clinging to Yulei's arm, rubbed her eyes and hesitantly inquired, "Yulei, why is the sky red…?"
Yulei chuckled heartily, presenting his watch before her. "Dear lady, it's evening! Naturally, the sky is red!"
Lin Hanxia shook her head. "No, that's not right. I've seen evening glow before, but this sky is terrifyingly red, unlike any ordinary sunset."
Yulei paused, having considered the possibility that Earth might have undergone changes due to the apocalypse, but he was no expert on such matters. He could only manage a wry smile. "I'm not entirely sure; perhaps it's the volcanic ash?"
Lin Hanxia sighed, smiling wryly. "Hmm, I wonder if our emergence here is a blessing or a curse…"
Yulei surveyed their surroundings and noticed land just a few dozen meters away. The air outside was rather cold, typical for December, and after being submerged for so long, they would likely be quite uncomfortable. "Let's head there to rest and devise a plan, whether to return or remain. We can still use the balloons, and we've brought the pump with us."
Lin Hanxia nodded and began leading Yulei forward. Underwater, he could assist her, as she was not adept at diving. However, on the surface, his injured leg made him slower than her.
Taihang Mountain, situated between the Shanxi Plateau and the Hebei Plain, boasts a continuous series of peaks and serves as an important geographical boundary in Eastern China. The land they found was actually a prominent peak that had just emerged from the retreating waters, with soil still visibly damp, indicating its recent exposure. The mountain peak likely jutted out of the water by a couple of hundred meters, forming a sizable aquatic island. However, all the forests and vegetation that should have existed there had been washed away, leaving only the remnants of plant life.
As Yulei and Lin Hanxia set foot on solid ground again, they were both overwhelmed by emotion. Yulei scanned the area and realized this was the largest expanse of land, with the rest submerged beneath the sea, save for a few protruding patches revealing what had once been a towering peak.
"It seems the North China Plain is entirely submerged," Yulei remarked, placing the water tank atop a flat rock and letting out a long sigh.
Although Lin Hanxia had known this reality for some time, hearing it and witnessing it firsthand were vastly different experiences. Especially when she gazed upon the vast expanse of ocean, its edges obscured, all bathed in a hauntingly red sky.
Yulei refrained from interrupting her; he, too, was captivated by the sight before him. So much fertile land lay buried beneath the waters that now surrounded them. On the 21st, what had transpired outside had transformed everything, all hidden beneath this relentless sea.
The weight of it all pressed upon Yulei, rendering him breathless.
It was eerily silent here.
No birds chirping, no insects buzzing, no mechanical noises; not even the whisper of the wind—only an all-consuming stillness.
A profound stillness.
"I… I won't return to the base," Lin Hanxia murmured, as if rediscovering her voice. Her tone trembled; despite the lack of wind, the chill in the air was palpable, hovering around ten degrees above freezing.
Yulei exhaled in relief. Though the absence of life felt unsettling, it marked a new beginning, offering more hope than their existence within the launch shaft. "You wait here; I'll dive down and fetch the rations from the door. I'll also see if I can find us some clothes." He began inflating balloons with the pump.
At least the oxygen content in the air hadn't changed, he thought optimistically.
Lin Hanxia made no objections