Fated Love With the Billionaire
Chapter 230: Rescue

Chapter 230: Chapter 230: Rescue

Chen Ningxi clung to the tower, freeing one hand to wave at him. Cheng Qiaobei waved back to her.

Neither of them spoke a word, but it was more profound than a thousand words.

He told her he was there and asked her to wait for him.

Cheng Qiaobei’s presence made her feel secure.

But no one expected the tower to tilt again, swept by the fierce floodwaters in the next second, shaking a few times, leaving the people on it terrified. They clung to the tower like it was a lifeline.

Lin Hanrui observed the water surface again. In less than half an hour, the water level had risen by another two meters.

"The water level is rising," he said, "We can launch the boat now."

The rescue team felt the plan was feasible and quickly gathered a few team members to help Lin Hanrui unload the boat. Even though Liang Lei was a girl, she gritted her teeth to help carry the boat to the river.

Lin Hanrui noticed, "You’re not needed here, get in the car."

Liang Lei replied, "Are you kidding? How can I sit in the car at a time like this?"

Lin Hanrui was at a loss for words. If it were Cheng Qiaobei trapped on the tower and he were told to wait in the car, he wouldn’t be able to comply calmly either.

The boat was released into the rushing river. Cheng Qiaobei was just about to board when the rescue captain stopped him, "Let the professionals handle it. If you get on, one less person can be rescued next round. We need to save time."

Cheng Qiaobei stepped back, and the rescue captain dispatched two experienced team members adept in water to board, with Lin Hanrui piloting the boat.

However, as soon as the boat started, Lin Hanrui noticed a problem.

The water level had risen, but debris floating in it became a safety hazard. As soon as they moved out, the motor got tangled with something, and the boat instantly lost power.

"..." Lin Hanrui frowned, looking grim.

He attempted to restart several times, but the motor remained silent.

The two team members understood the situation and had to return to shore, shouting at those on the bank with a handheld radio, "Pull us back, the motor is broken."

When the boat was pulled back to shore, Cheng Qiaobei asked, "What’s going on?"

Lin Hanrui, looking ashamed, said, "The motor is tangled with something and broken."

Cheng Qiaobei wiped the water off his face, looking at her in the night.

Upon receiving the distress call, the fire brigade rushed to Fengtang Village after completing their last rescue mission.

After a brief understanding of the situation, the firefighters began setting up lighting equipment to provide better visibility on site. Others studied the rescue plan based on the current situation.

But the five people on the tower, mentally strained for a long time, began experiencing physical exhaustion and weakness to varying degrees. At night, fatigue led them to start dozing off.

Even Chen Ningxi’s eyelids were drooping, a very dangerous sign.

If anyone accidentally fell asleep, they could fall from the tower into the water.

Chen Ningxi yawned; she was both tired and sleepy. Recently, she had been checking for power theft every day, with irregular meals, walking tens of thousands of steps a day. For nearly a month, she hadn’t rested well. She had blacked out twice earlier, and without the chocolate she ate, the consequences were unimaginable.

Perhaps by divine grace, the torrential rain gradually lessened, and the floodwaters receded over time, the water surface visibly calming.

The fire brigade also brought good news: upstream had stopped releasing floodwaters. Once the flood peak passed, they could take this opportunity to carry out rescue work.

For now, they needed to wait and observe the water flow situation.

However, the strength of the people on the tower was visibly waning, approaching physical limits to varying extents, and two people’s spirits were quite low. Liu Shaojun continuously encouraged the comrades beside him, urging them to muster up courage and hang on, waiting for rescue.

Another two hours passed, the distance from the shore to the power tower shortened from one hundred meters to fifty, right within the range of the rope launcher. The firefighters decided to immediately use the rope launcher for rescue.

After three attempts to throw the rope, the firefighters finally got it over the tower. Liu Shaojun, the strongest of the five, volunteered to tie the rope.

Just as Liu Shaojun was about to climb down, the tower started to shake, causing the other four to be so frightened their hair stood on end.

Chen Ningxi hurriedly stopped him, "Liu Shaojun, don’t move, I’ll do it."

Of the five, she was the smallest and lightest. Her climbing would have minimal impact on the tower.

Sure enough, as Chen Ningxi began to move downwards, the tower didn’t shake. Until she had secured the rope, with the other end fixed by firefighters to an excavator, another secondary rope was thrown, and Chen Ningxi tied it securely as well. The firefighters began attaching pulleys, harnesses, life jackets, and radios to the rope, with people on shore starting to pull to send over rescue materials.

Once they got hold of the radio, following the firefighters’ instructions, they began putting on the life jackets.

Entering the tenth hour of the rescue, when everyone suggested Chen Ningxi leave first, she resolutely insisted a young repair worker sit on the rescue rope first.

Facing the chance at life, everyone wants to be the first to escape danger. But Chen Ningxi wasn’t just present as a protected female; she was also a team leader responsible for their safety. She couldn’t abandon her people for the first chance at life.

"Let Ma go first, Ma goes up." Chen Ningxi commanded.

Liu Shaojun wanted to say something but was immediately stopped by Chen Ningxi, "Liu Shaojun, who’s the leader?"

Liu Shaojun replied, "Of course, it’s you."

"Then listen to me." Chen Ningxi said sternly, "Ma, hurry up."

Ma’s physical and mental endurance had reached its limit, but under Chen Ningxi’s stern shout, he began to put on the rope.

In his flustered state, he couldn’t put it on properly until Liu Shaojun helped him. Ma was the first to sit on the rescue rope.

Chen Ningxi spoke into the radio, "We’re ready, pull the rope."

The people on shore pulled the rope with all their might, while Cheng Qiaobei on the side furrowed his brows tightly, focusing intently on Chen Ningxi.

He hoped she would be the first to be rescued, but he knew she wouldn’t be.

When Ma was pulled to the middle of the river, they found the rope was too loose, causing him to be dragged into the water. After pulling Ma to shore, they began adjusting the rope’s distance, moving the anchored excavator further back to tighten the rope.

Chen Ningxi called for the second comrade to get on the rope. After Liu Shaojun helped him secure the rope, the second comrade was successfully pulled to shore.

When rescuing the third person, Chen Ningxi still let her colleague go, and Liu Shaojun could see she intended to be the last one rescued.

Only the two of them were left on the tower. Watching the comrades being pulled ashore, Liu Shaojun said to Chen Ningxi, "You go next, I’ll be the last."

The rescue rope was pulled back again. Chen Ningxi said in an unquestionable tone, "Just follow orders and get moving."

Then, the tower shook again, sending a wave of fear through those on shore, while the two on the tower grew anxious.

Liu Shaojun hurriedly said, "It’s your turn."

Chen Ningxi said sharply, "I’m the team leader, I have to ensure your safety. Hurry up and go, stop dawdling!"