Chapter 36 Part 2

No one answered for the moment.

The two young women's suppressed, heavy breathing echoed in the air, exceptionally clear.

Although their screams had been forcibly suppressed, their inner fear had not disappeared.

They came from ordinary families, but they were daughters who had been pampered and doted on at home. They had gone through school, graduated, and entered society. While not wealthy, their lives had been peaceful and smooth. When had they ever encountered such a minor accident?

Bo He should have been one of these young women. Her personality should have even won her more affection from her elders.

But it hadn't.

She had thought to save someone during the typhoon, remained calm during the earthquake, and now this.

The one person Qin Chuan didn't hear a single sound of panic from was Bo He, who was closest to him.

He didn't even know if, in all those years he hadn't seen, Bo He had ever met someone who would feel heartache for her, be soft with her, and want to make up for everything she had missed.

Boss Qin, having had a sudden epiphany, certainly wanted to express his inner feelings. However, through their interactions over the past few days, he also knew that if he rashly laid everything bare, he would likely be blacklisted immediately. If he tried to play the hero saving the damsel by pulling her into his arms and telling her not to be afraid, as one might with an ordinary girl, he would probably be picked up, spun around in a Thomas flare, and then sent into a free-fall within the elevator.

All the methods that might work on an ordinary young woman were completely useless on Bo He.

Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind.

Qin Chuan silently moved a little closer to Bo He and whispered, "Actually, I'm a little scared too."

No matter how quietly he spoke, it was still clearly audible in the elevator.

The two young women's panicked breathing faltered for a moment.

Qin Chuan could even read the frantic complaints in their minds: "A grown man, and he had the nerve to yell at us just now, yet he's scared to death himself?!"

But having seen so much of Boss Qin's stern, unsmiling, and severe side, Bo He actually sort of believed him.

In her eyes, given Qin Chuan's status and his prideful nature, why would he ever admit it if he wasn't genuinely terrified?

Bo He's heart stirred. "Do you have claustrophobia?"

In the darkness, Qin Chuan's voice came after a moment of silence: "Yes. My therapist said my case is quite severe. I should try to avoid staying in environments like this for too long. It was fine before when the lights were on and it wasn't for long..."

The two young women let out a long breath, thinking to themselves, "So he has a condition, no wonder."

Their sympathy was aroused, and they no longer held Qin Chuan's earlier behavior against him.

Bo He comforted, "It's okay. There's probably a power outage outside."

Qin Chuan: "I think I heard a fire alarm just now."

"Logically, the elevator should stop at the nearest floor," Bo He said, reaching out to press the help button.

There was some noise from the other end, but it sounded like the signal was interfered with—it was just static, and it was impossible to tell if anyone was speaking.

One of the young women said timidly, "The air conditioning is off in here. Are we going to suffocate to death?"

It would have been fine if she hadn't said anything, but now that she had, all four of them began to feel the air around them grow hot and stuffy.

Wearing a suit in the summer with air conditioning was one thing, but with the AC off, Qin Chuan felt as uncomfortable as if he were wrapped in a cotton-padded jacket in the middle of June.

Bo He heard his faint gasps and assumed his fear was deepening. Her heart softened, and she patted his arm.

"It's okay. We'll be out of here soon."

Qin Chuan gave a low hum of agreement and casually asked, "Aren't you afraid we won't get out?"

Bo He suddenly said, "Have you ever seen the kind of latrine pits they have in small towns?"

The completely unrelated question made Qin Chuan pause before he said, "No."

Bo He: "The kind of squat toilet from many years ago—just a trench dug in the middle, and you squat with your feet on either side, not like a modern restroom. Once it got dark there, there were no lights. It was full of mosquitoes, gloomy, and smelly. I remember when I was very young, I once spent a whole night in one. After that, no matter how dark the environment, I was never afraid again."

Qin Chuan knew she wasn't trying to show off her suffering, but was merely trying to distract him and alleviate his fear. Although Qin Chuan's fear was feigned, he was very willing to let her continue speaking.

"Wouldn't staying in that kind of environment for a long time create a conditioned fear? How come you're not afraid instead?"

Bo He smiled. "Fear probably comes from subconsciously knowing or hoping that someone will care and ask about you. I've been thick-skinned since I was a child, so setbacks only make me stronger. Maybe I should even thank my parents for giving me such a strong heart."

If one knew nothing of Bo He's family background, these words would seem like ordinary small talk, spoken without intention and heard without thought.

He had clearly met Bo He's mother and had even carefully searched for information about her online. That famous and successful director had a happy family, a successful husband, and a charming and lovely daughter. Her path to success was a portrait of a generation whose fate was changed by education; it could even be made into an inspirational documentary to rouse spirits and encourage progress.

However, in this happiness, there was no place for Bo He.

Qin Chuan touched his chest.

His heart was beating there, scalding hot, steady, and strong.

He remembered that he had just received his physical exam report not long ago. He was in robust health, everything was normal.

But, at this moment, his heart was aching slightly.

Because of one person.