Chapter 959: Chapter 959: Still Can’t Recruit

It was a quarter past four in the afternoon.

Bai Youwei gazed out the window, the gray and murky sky devoid of clouds, the city tranquil as if the pause button had been pressed.

Her wristwatch lit up without warning and then began to countdown–

23:59…

23:58…

23:57…

As the Inspector had said, the fourth battle game would be settled, and the final battle would start immediately, with a countdown of 24 hours.

“Tan Xiao,” Bai Youwei turned her head and called out.

“Ah?” Tan Xiao, who was engrossed in a mobile game, was momentarily confused.

“Did Shen Mo say when he would be back?” Bai Youwei asked.

Tan Xiao looked perplexed and shook his head, “Umm… he should be back soon, I guess.”

“You go to West Suburb and look for him,” Bai Youwei instructed.

“But, Brother Mo said not to leave you alone,” Tan Xiao put down his phone, “In case something happens, you need someone with you.”

“Are Chang Teacher and Xiaoxin not people?” Bai Youwei waved her hand dismissively, “Hurry up, if you find him, tell him to come back earlier.”

“Oh…” Tan Xiao got up, put on his coat, and before leaving, he asked again, “Do you really not need me to accompany you?”

Bai Youwei rolled her eyes, “What do you think?”

Tan Xiao hesitated and replied, “…it seems, you don’t.”

Bai Youwei: “Then why aren’t you leaving?”

Scratching his head, Tan Xiao finally left.

Bai Youwei watched him go, sighed silently, and once more glanced at her light-sensitive wristwatch.

The countdown was still ongoing.

She grasped the sides of her wheelchair, using her arms to push herself up, managing to stand for a moment before her strength gave out. Suddenly releasing her grip, she fell back down heavily–

Bai Youwei pounded her legs fiercely!

“Damn it, just at a time like this…”

She was loath to admit just how weak she had become; unable to even overcome a small psychological barrier!

With less than a day remaining before the final battle, how could she… how could she…

Bai Youwei closed her eyes, unable to continue the thought.

She took a moment to calm down, looking out at the sky through the window, trying to regulate her emotions, to clear those chaotic thoughts from her mind.

After a while, her mood had finally stabilized.

Then she tried standing up again, striving to maintain a calm mind, repeatedly telling herself: I can do it, I can stand up, I can walk, my legs are fine.

Most importantly… he loves me, he won’t leave me.

I’m not who I used to be anymore.

Thinking of this seemed to infuse her body with strength, her heart warm and cozy as if a small sun had taken residence there.

Bai Youwei slowly exhaled, reaching down to rub her knees, murmuring softly to herself, “I can do it, I can do it…”

…

Shen Mo had not returned for a long time.

Time slipped by, and Tan Xiao also had not returned.

The sky outside had darkened completely, and the meal prepared by Chang Teacher had gone cold, reheated once, and unconsciously had gotten cold again.

“Weiwei, have they still not come back?” Chang Weicai asked.

“Yes, you and Xiaoxin go ahead and eat,” Bai Youwei said hesitantly, “They might have been delayed on the road… I’ll go have look.”

“Why don’t you eat first?” Chang Weicai suggested, “I’ll go out and look for you.”

“No need,” Bai Youwei shook her head, gripping the sides of her wheelchair, moving towards the door, “You eat, I’ll go have a look.”

No sooner had she left the dollhouse than the door outside opened, and Tan Xiao entered wrapped in a cotton-padded coat, his face tight from the cold wind, his hair a mess.

Bai Youwei looked behind him, her brow furrowing, “Where’s Shen Mo? Didn’t he come back with you?”

Tan Xiao shook his head, “Ran into trouble. Brother Mo told me to come back and let you know he’d be late.”

Bai Youwei’s frown deepened, “What trouble?”

“The subjects we had arranged all backed out,” Tan Xiao grabbed the cup of water from the table, downed it in one gulp, and took a breath, “We’re really unlucky. We couldn’t recruit anyone in Shanghai, and now even after coming here, we still can’t find anyone!”