Saying this felt somewhat awkward, but… she didn’t know why, when it came down to it, she was more inclined to trust Bai Youwei’s judgment than Li Li’s analysis.

From the very first time they had met, she had noticed something different about Bai Youwei. She had intended to find an opportunity to get to know her better, but a few times in between Su Man had interrupted, and they’d never actually had a proper interaction.

Having navigated the entertainment industry for so many years, the reason Zhu Shu had managed to stay completely free of scandal while maintaining top-tier access to film, television, and variety show resources was her instinct for finding strong people to attach herself to. It was nearly second nature to her.

Bai Youwei was the “strong person” she had identified.

Of course, seeking someone to attach herself to was also Zhu Shu’s sad reality.

She was very clear about that. But she had grown so accustomed to it over the years that if she were suddenly told to live differently, she truly wouldn’t know what to do.

Just like this changed world.

…

Bai Youwei looked at her without a word, her gaze carrying an edge that seemed oddly sharp.

Zhu Shu understood — it was a wariness honed over many years, a reflex, like a cat tensing its spine instinctively upon encountering a stranger.

Zhu Shu made her expression as sincere as she could.

It didn’t help much.

Bai Youwei remained indifferent, expressionless as she replied, “The reason I haven’t been speaking is because I haven’t found the answer yet.”

Zhu Shu’s heart lurched. “It’s not the beads?”

Bai Youwei looked down at the damp wooden floorboards. “…I hope it is. But if you’re asking how I feel about it — fifty-fifty.”

Fifty-fifty.

Zhu Shu’s heart instantly sank.

Fifty-fifty — wasn’t that only a fifty percent chance?

Lu Ang beside them let out a low curse under his breath.

Not at Bai Youwei.

But at this damned world.

…

Yan Qingwen led several people in propping up a few large bed boards against the staircase leading to the attic, securing them with furniture for reinforcement.

Having learned from the previous round, he upgraded the trap mechanism, and even put the rusty axe from outside the first-floor door to use.

The axe was old and had separated from its handle; it was now bound up with rope on its own, suspended in mid-air on one end, tied to a ceiling beam on the other. If the fish monster smashed through the boards, the axe would swing down under gravity and strike it!

Against a monster that enormous, a rusty axe could do very little — but if it could buy them even a few extra seconds to escape, that would be lucky enough.

Everything was ready.

Shen Mo stood at the edge of the second-floor staircase, holding the collected beads. The others were spread out across the hallway and staircase.

Shen Mo swept a glance back at his companions, then looked toward Bai Youwei at the attic entrance, and then his gaze returned to the water’s surface —

“Come in, then, guest.”

No sound — perhaps the sound of the door opening was also swallowed by the water.

The water level began to rise, began to spread, flooding the second floor’s floorboards, flooding the staircase leading to the attic.

Everyone retreated step by step.

The water rose a meter, they fell back a meter; it rose two meters, they fell back two meters… As they were pushed to halfway up the staircase, the second-floor lights flickered and snapped off.

The interior went dark — only the attic light barely illuminated the space.

At the same time, a heavy sound came from below, like something in the water lurching and bumping its way up…

…BOOM!

That something collided with the two large boards Yan Qingwen had propped against the staircase.

The boards swayed dangerously, but held under the tension of the ropes.

The fish monster sank motionless to the bottom of the water.

Just like the previous round — waiting for something, no one knew what.

The flashlight beam swept across the water’s surface; only a vague dark shadow was visible.

—

Shen Mo, carrying the beads, stepped into the water.

One step…

Then another…

He and the water monster were now close — almost within reach.

Bai Youwei watched him wade deeper and deeper, her heart practically leaping into her throat. She wanted to call him back, but opened her mouth and found she could make no sound.

Suddenly — a thunderous crash!

The fish monster shot up out of the water! An enormous splash erupted!

—