Chapter 253 Chen Xueming Falls into the Water

February 21, 2039. 2:00 AM, Offshore Platform.

Chen Xueming could not sleep.

Ever since the cable laying was paused, he had suffered from insomnia every day. Lying in bed, tossing and turning, his mind was filled with that silver-white cable, that 0.03-millimeter corrosion data, and everything Lin Mo had said: "Scientific research is like this; you encounter problems and solve them."

He understood the logic, but he simply could not sleep.

He decided to just get up, put on his work clothes, and walk out of the dormitory.

The platform at night was very quiet. Most workers were asleep, with only a few on duty patrolling. The beams of the searchlights moved slowly through the night, illuminating the anchoring base, the yard, the tower crane, and that sea surface that was forever rippling.

Chen Xueming walked aimlessly. As he walked, he reached the southeast edge of the platform.

There was a newly installed section of railing there, reinforced after the typhoon. But outside the railing, there was still a small area that was not completely enclosed—a monitoring device was located there, requiring regular data checks.

He stood by the railing and looked at the monitoring device. The data for today had not been recorded yet.

Should he... go and get it?

He hesitated for a moment. According to regulations, one should not work alone in an unenclosed area at night. But the data from that device was very important; the technical team would need it first thing tomorrow morning.

It would only take a few minutes; it should be fine.

He climbed over the railing and carefully walked forward along the narrow path. Beneath his feet were slippery steel plates, and the sea breeze was strong, making it hard for him to stand steady. With one hand holding onto a nearby pipe and the other holding a flashlight, he inched forward step by step.

Five meters.

Three meters.

One meter.

He arrived.

He crouched down, opened the protective cover of the monitoring device, and recorded the data by the light. The numbers jumped into his mind one by one; he recited them to himself, preparing to write them down when he returned.

After recording the data, he closed the protective cover and stood up.

Just at the moment he turned, his foot slipped.

The slippery steel plate, stained with the night dew, was as slick as if it had been greased. He lost his balance and fell backward, his hands flailing in the air, trying to grab something—

He grabbed nothing.

He heard himself scream, and then came the endless fall.

The icy seawater swallowed him instantly.

Chen Xueming struggled underwater and choked on a large mouthful of seawater.

The salty taste flooded his throat, causing him to cough violently, but coughing only caused him to inhale more water. Everything around him was pitch black; he could not distinguish up from down. He kicked his limbs desperately, trying to surface, but his body felt as if it were being dragged by something, sinking continuously.

Life jacket.

He remembered that he was wearing a life jacket.

Sure enough, a few seconds later, a force of buoyancy lifted him up. His head finally broke the surface, and he gasped for air.

"Help..." he tried to shout, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he choked on more water.

Where was the platform?

He turned his head desperately, searching for the lights of the platform. Finally, dozens of meters away, he saw that brightly lit area—that was the place where he had just fallen from.

He swam toward that direction. But wearing his work clothes, soaked with water, he felt as heavy as a lead weight. Every stroke was incredibly difficult.

"Help..." he shouted hoarsely.

The sound was scattered by the sea breeze and disappeared into the vast night.

On the platform, Xiao Zhou, who was on duty, was conducting a routine patrol.

When he walked to the southeast corner, he found a flashlight by the railing, lying on the ground and still turned on.

Xiao Zhou's heart skipped a beat. He picked up the flashlight and shone it around. There was no one.

"Chief Chen?" he called out tentatively.

There was no response.

He called out again, but still, there was no one.

Then he saw the open gap in the railing and the slippery path leading to the monitoring device.

An ominous premonition surged in his heart. He rushed to the railing and leaned out to look down—on the pitch-black sea surface, a figure could be vaguely seen struggling.

"Someone fell into the water!!!"

Xiao Zhou's shout tore through the silence of the night.

Three minutes later, the lifeboat was launched.

Five minutes later, the lifeboat arrived at the spot where the person had fallen.

Eight minutes later, Chen Xueming was fished out of the sea.

When he was dragged onto the lifeboat, he was already semi-conscious, shivering all over, with purple lips. The workers worked together to lift him onto the boat, took off their own clothes to cover him, and rubbed his hands and feet desperately.

"Chief Chen! Chief Chen!" someone patted his face, "Wake up!"

Chen Xueming barely opened his eyes, glanced at them, and then closed them again.

The lifeboat returned to the platform at full speed.

Ten minutes later, he was carried into the infirmary.

3:00 AM, Lin Mo was startled awake by a phone call.

"Chief Designer Lin! Chief Chen has fallen into the water!"

Lin Mo sprang up from the bed, his head buzzing: "How is he?! "

"He has been rescued, but he has a high fever, thirty-nine point five degrees! The doctor says he needs to be sent to the mainland immediately!"

Lin Mo rushed out while putting on his clothes: "Arrange a helicopter! I'll be there immediately!"

When he rushed out of the dormitory, Li Xiao also ran out, her hair disheveled and her face pale: "Senior Brother! Senior Brother Chen, he..."

"I know." Lin Mo's voice was very tight, "You stay and guard the base; I am going to the platform."

"I'm going too!"

Lin Mo glanced at her and did not refuse.

The two of them rushed toward the helipad.

4:00 AM, the helicopter landed on the platform.

Lin Mo jumped off the plane and headed straight for the infirmary.

Pushing open the door, he saw Chen Xueming lying on the bed, his face flushed, his lips cracked, and his eyes closed. The doctor was giving him an IV, and standing nearby were several workers drenched from head to toe—those were the people who had saved him.

"How is he?" Lin Mo's voice was very low.

The doctor turned back: "High fever, thirty-nine point eight degrees. He choked on water, and there is a possibility of a lung infection. He needs to be sent back to the mainland immediately for a comprehensive examination."

Lin Mo nodded and walked to the bedside.

Chen Xueming seemed to sense that he had come; he opened his eyes and looked at him.

"Old Lin..." his voice was as hoarse as sandpaper, "I'm sorry..."

Lin Mo did not speak, only held his hand.

That hand was burning hot.

"Don't speak." Lin Mo said, "We are sending you back immediately."

Chen Xueming shook his head: "The platform side..."

"The platform has me." Lin Mo interrupted him, "Your task now is to get yourself well."

Chen Xueming looked at him, his lips moved, but he did not say anything.

Lin Mo turned to the doctor and said: "Send him onto the helicopter immediately."

5:00 AM, the helicopter took off.

Lin Mo sat beside Chen Xueming, watching his body tremble continuously due to the high fever. Li Xiao sat opposite, her eyes red, staring at Chen Xueming.

"Senior Brother Chen," she whispered, "You must hold on."

Chen Xueming did not reply. He had already passed out.

Lin Mo held his hand; that hand was still burning hot.

Outside the window, the sky was gradually brightening. On the eastern horizon, a touch of orange-red was spreading.

A new day had begun.

9:00 AM, Chen Xueming was sent to Sanya People's Hospital.

The examination results were out: acute pneumonia, high fever of forty point one degrees, requiring hospitalization.

Lin Mo stood outside the ward, looking at the inside through the glass window. Chen Xueming was lying on the hospital bed, with various tubes inserted into his body, his face pale. Doctors and nurses were going in and out, busy.

Li Xiao stood beside him, her voice trembling slightly: "Senior Brother, will Senior Brother Chen..."

"He won't." Lin Mo interrupted her, "He is tough."

Li Xiao did not speak again, only looking at Chen Xueming in the ward.

After a long time, Lin Mo's phone rang. It was Zhao Gang.

"Chief Designer Lin, I heard that Chen Xueming fell into the water? How is he?"

Lin Mo briefly explained the situation.

Zhao Gang was silent for a few seconds, then said: "I will strengthen the alert on the platform side. You let him recover well; don't worry."

Lin Mo nodded: "Thank you for your hard work."

After hanging up the phone, he looked at the ward again.

Inside, Chen Xueming was still asleep.

3:00 PM, Chen Xueming woke up.

He opened his eyes, saw the white ceiling, smelled the scent of disinfectant, and heard the ticking of the instruments. He turned his head and saw Lin Mo sitting by the bedside, looking at him.

"Old Lin..." his voice was still hoarse.

Lin Mo stood up and walked to the bedside: "How do you feel?"

Chen Xueming thought about it: "Like I was beaten up."

Lin Mo laughed, but his eyes were a little red.

"You scared the hell out of me." he said.

Chen Xueming was stunned for a moment. He had never heard Lin Mo swear.

"Old Lin, you..."

Lin Mo waved his hand, not letting him continue: "Alright, recover well. I am watching the platform; you don't need to worry."

Chen Xueming was silent for a few seconds, then said: "I'm sorry."

Lin Mo looked at him: "Sorry for what?"

"I caused you trouble."

Lin Mo shook his head: "Xueming, do you know what I fear the most?"

Chen Xueming looked at him.

"What I fear the most is not cable corrosion, not spy infiltration, not construction delays." Lin Mo's voice was very soft, "What I fear the most is losing any one of you."

Chen Xueming's eyes became red.

"Old Lin..."

"So you better live for me." Lin Mo patted his shoulder, "When you get better, we will continue our work."

Chen Xueming nodded, not speaking.

Outside the window, the sunlight shone in and fell on the hospital bed.

7:00 PM, Li Xiao pushed the door and entered, carrying a thermal lunch box in her hand.

"Senior Brother Chen, Master Liu asked me to bring this." She placed the thermal lunch box on the bedside table, "Chicken soup, to nourish your body."

Chen Xueming looked at her, then looked at that thermal lunch box, and suddenly laughed.

"What is going on with you all today? One by one, coming to send warmth."

Li Xiao blinked: "What, is that not allowed?"

Chen Xueming shook his head and reached out to open the thermal lunch box, but he had no strength in his hands. Li Xiao helped him open it, served a bowl of soup, and handed it to him.

He took it and drank a mouthful.

It was hot, fresh, and warmed his heart.

"It's good." he said.

Li Xiao smiled: "Of course, Master Liu simmered it for the whole afternoon."

Chen Xueming drank the soup slowly; Li Xiao sat nearby, and Lin Mo stood by the window.

The three of them did not speak, but no one felt awkward.

After finishing the soup, Chen Xueming put down the bowl and looked at them.

"Old Lin, Li Xiao, thank you."

Lin Mo turned his head and looked at him: "Thank me for what?"

"Thank you... for being here."

Lin Mo was silent for a few seconds, then said: "Nonsense. If we are not here, where would we be?"

Chen Xueming laughed, laughing very happily.

Outside the window, night had fallen. The city lights turned on one after another, illuminating the entire Sanya brilliantly.

In the ward, the three people stayed quietly.

No one was in a hurry to leave.