Chapter 2

Ning Xiaofan's words almost choked in his throat, but Tang Chuyi still heard them clearly. Just this sentence that was stuck in his throat made her breathing falter!

He can defuse the bomb?

For a moment, Tang Chuyi couldn't believe it was true and was instantly stunned!

At this moment, Ning Xiaofan tilted his head, circled around the chair, and when he returned to Tang Chuyi, the electronic voice sounded again.

"Fifty seconds..."

The electronic voice that seemed to be urging death made Tang Chuyi shiver. Looking at the young man's focused gaze on the chair, she, who had already given up hope, suddenly felt a surge of strong hope and couldn't help but tremble as she asked, "Can you really defuse the bomb?"

"Should be okay..." Ning Xiaofan's tone was uncertain, but to Tang Chuyi, it was like heavenly music.

"Mr. Ning... Mr. Ning, I believe you can do it! Hurry up and start defusing it!" With a glimmer of hope for survival, Tang Chuyi couldn't help but feel anxious and urged him.

"Um, I need to stop the activation device first..."

Hurry up and start! Tang Chuyi was anxious, her eyes, misty with tears, looked at him expectantly, hoping he would start soon.

However, Ning Xiaofan didn't move for a long time. Just as Tang Chuyi was about to urge him again, he moved his lips and stammered, "...Miss Tang... Miss Tang, when I stop the activation device, I might... might touch you..."

Tang Chuyi almost fainted. At this critical moment, he was still concerned about this?

"It's fine, I don't mind. Just hurry up and start..."

Tang Chuyi bit her soft lips, feeling inexplicably anxious. At this moment, the terrifying electronic voice sounded again: "Thirty seconds..."

"Alright, Miss Tang, I'll start now. Sorry..." Ning Xiaofan replied with a somewhat awkward expression.

Sorry? At this moment, he was still being so polite!

Death was drawing closer, and Tang Chuyi was extremely anxious. If it weren't for this young man named Ning, who was her only hope, she would have been so anxious that she would have wanted to bite someone.

At this moment, Ning Xiaofan fumbled in his pocket. With a jingle, he pulled out a keychain, picked out a small fruit knife, opened the blade, and leaned down toward Tang Chuyi.

Tang Chuyi watched him lean closer, and before she could react, she felt his hands wrap around her waist from behind.

What is he doing?

Tang Chuyi's heart tightened, almost letting out a scream. Then, she felt a warm breath by her ear, "Sorry, don't be nervous, don't move..."

Ning Xiaofan told Tang Chuyi not to be nervous, but his own heart was pounding with extreme tension.

It wasn't because of the bomb about to activate, but because the distance between him and Tang Chuyi was so close, almost touching, almost brushing against each other.

She was his idol, his goddess. Being so close to his idol made him both excited and nervous. Saying he wasn't nervous would be a lie.

Today, she was wearing a gorgeous evening gown, a one-shoulder style that not only outlined her perfect curves but also added a touch of sensuality. Just a glance from the corner of his eye could see her smooth, white shoulders, her slender neck, and the graceful collarbone below it. Even more, he could catch a glimpse of the alluring valley between her breasts.

She was so beautiful, so enchanting, everything about her captivated him.

She exuded a rich, fragrant scent, fresh and invigorating, soothing to the heart.

Inhaling the fragrance from her, Ning Xiaofan tried to suppress his restless heartbeat, his hands carefully feeling around the back of the chair. His hand inevitably touched her soft, boneless waist.

Oh, her waist is so soft!

Ning Xiaofan's heart cried out, and what made his blood flow faster was that his chest seemed to press against a place it shouldn't. The astonishingly elastic softness made ripples in his heart.

Tang Chuyi's originally pale face gained a hint of color. He was too close, and she could clearly feel his hands searching behind her waist. The warmth from his hand made her heart race. When she felt his chest tightly pressed against her chest, and even felt her breasts deforming under the pressure, her heart almost leaped to her throat.

Tang Chuyi was both flustered and embarrassed. She was a child born after her father's death, and from childhood, she had never had intimate contact with her father, let alone with an unrelated stranger. In her confusion and embarrassment, her mind went blank for a moment, as if she had forgotten the great danger she faced.

"Twenty seconds!"

The cold electronic voice woke Tang Chuyi up. When she came to, a hint of panic, urgency, and embarrassment flashed in her eyes.

What is this guy doing?

Why hasn't the countdown stopped?

Sssss—

A faint sound of a blade cutting through leather.

"Ten!"

"Nine!"

"Eight..."

The countdown suddenly started ticking! Each second brought them closer to death.

How many seconds are left? Is there still time?

Indescribable fear made Tang Chuyi's delicate body shiver uncontrollably. She seemed to feel Death approaching, and even imagined her body being torn apart in a violent explosion!

"Five!"

"Four!"

It's over! It's almost the end!

Tang Chuyi closed her eyes in despair again, her tears dried, but the tear marks still lingered on her cheeks.

"Two!"

"One!"

"Click!"

With the almost imperceptible "click," Tang Chuyi's body tensed involuntarily, waiting in despair for the final terrifying moment!

Silence! The entire hall fell into an eerie quiet!

Time seemed to pass both long and fleeting!

"Phew—"

A warm breath blew into Tang Chuyi's ear, making her skin tingle, a strange feeling that made her skin break out in goosebumps.

Tang Chuyi shivered, but she didn't dwell on the strange feeling or dare to open her eyes. Her mind was focused on one thought: why hadn't the explosion happened as she imagined?

Another warm breath came to her ear, and Ning Xiaofan's slightly low voice followed, "Miss Tang, it's temporarily safe..."

Safe?

What do you mean by safe?

Tang Chuyi was still in a daze, slowly opening her eyes. A clear, slightly tired face appeared before her.

This face belonged to the young man, but he was too close, close enough to feel his breath.

"Is it safe?" Tang Chuyi murmured.

"Temporarily safe." Ning Xiaofan smiled slightly.

His smile was shy but gave her a sense of inexplicable reassurance. Tang Chuyi felt a sense of relief and gently exhaled, but soon, she felt her cheeks flush. When he spoke, a breath of air, not unpleasant but with a faint hint of tobacco, entered her nose.

Why is he still so close when it's safe?

Perhaps because she had never been so close to a man before, his breath made her feel a strange discomfort. She didn't think about the "temporarily" in his words or that this young man was her savior. She felt a bit annoyed, and a hint of embarrassment flashed in her captivating eyes.

Ning Xiaofan seemed not to notice her embarrassment but still slightly lifted his body, creating a bit of distance between them, and sighed, "However, I've only temporarily disabled the activation device. The explosive device is still there, and I'm worried it might have a remote control. If it does, we're both in trouble..."

"What remote? What trouble? Can you at least let me go first?" Tang Chuyi didn't fully understand, but at this moment, she just wanted to get out of this damn restraint.

"Not yet. The steel bar holding you might be connected to the explosive device. Moving it could trigger the bomb."

"What should we do then?" Tang Chuyi's heart tightened.

"The only way is to first disable the explosive device, then find a way to release the steel bar holding you."

"Then... hurry up and start." Tang Chuyi looked at him expectantly.

"Okay, I'm thinking of a way. By the way, do you have a phone?"

"Phone?" Tang Chuyi was slightly stunned and replied subconsciously, "I have a phone, but it's not on me. It's in the backstage..."

"Backstage?"

"Yes, backstage, in the white tent behind the runway, in the first compartment, there's a white handbag on the vanity table. The phone is inside. Why do you need the phone?"

Just as Tang Chuyi finished her last sentence, Ning Xiaofan quickly walked toward the backstage.

On the runway, Tang Chuyi was left alone. As the footsteps faded away, the entire hall fell into an unsettling silence.

The hall was extremely quiet, making Tang Chuyi feel an indescribable fear.

Why isn't he back yet! The chair seemed ready to explode at any moment, and she felt increasingly afraid and uneasy.

Has he left?

Is he abandoning me?

Why isn't he back yet!

Just as Tang Chuyi's mind was filled with wild thoughts, she heard footsteps again.

The footsteps were not loud but hurried. To Tang Chuyi, they were the most beautiful notes in the world, and her chaotic heart inexplicably calmed down.

"Is this the bag?" Ning Xiaofan's slightly lean figure appeared before her, holding a beautiful white handbag.

"Yes, this is the bag."

"Can I open it?"

Ning Xiaofan was very polite, as if seeking the owner's permission. Tang Chuyi frowned slightly, feeling a bit annoyed. At this moment, he was still so fussy!