C11 A Fire Broke out

"Beep!"

Lin Feng had just settled into his seat when his WeChat notification chimed. Glancing at his phone, he saw a message from Zhang Xiaoman.

Zhang Xiaoman: Hey handsome, free for dinner tonight?

Lin Feng couldn't help but shake his head, amused yet bemused. It seemed this woman had taken a liking to him, though he wasn't sure if it was for him or his wallet.

After a moment's thought, Lin Feng sent a voice reply to Zhang Xiaoman: Drunken Night Tower, Booth 28. I'll be waiting.

Zhang Xiaoman responded promptly: On my way!

Lin Feng wasn't particularly interested in Zhang Xiaoman, but since he had acquired a Bronze Treasure Chest from her, he figured dinner could serve as a token of his gratitude.

Ten minutes later, Zhang Xiaoman appeared in the lobby of the Drunken Night Tower, still in her standard work outfit but now carrying a black handbag.

"Xiaoman, over here!" Lin Feng called out, waving her over. Zhang Xiaoman spotted him and quickly made her way to the table.

"Sorry for being late," she said, settling into the seat across from him.

Lin Feng poured her a cup of tea and asked casually, "Just off work?"

"Yeah, just clocked out," Zhang Xiaoman replied, self-consciously smoothing her hair, her demeanor slightly restrained.

"You're not getting too attached, are you?" Lin Feng inquired with a hint of curiosity.

"Hehe," she chuckled, batting her eyelashes at him. "You wouldn't look down on a poor girl like me, would you?"

"No, of course not," Lin Feng replied, touching his nose awkwardly. "I'm not exactly rolling in cash myself."

"Sure," Zhang Xiaoman teased with a playful glare, pouting her lips. "You're sitting there with a watch worth over half a million and you're telling me you're poor?"

Lin Feng was at a loss for words.

Zhang Xiaoman thoroughly enjoyed her meal, but Lin Feng was somewhat distracted, his thoughts preoccupied with a Silver Treasure Chest. Consequently, he couldn't muster much enthusiasm for the fine food or the charming company.

"Lin Feng, do you have a girlfriend?" Zhang Xiaoman asked, making light conversation.

"No," Lin Feng responded honestly.

Zhang Xiaoman's eyes sparkled as she pressed on, "For a wealthy young master like yourself, I'd imagine the standards for a partner are quite high, right?"

"Sure," Lin Feng replied nonchalantly.

Upon hearing this, a shadow passed over Zhang Xiaoman's face, but she quickly regained her composure. With a smile, she inquired, "And you? What are your requirements for a significant other?"

Lin Feng gave Zhang Xiaoman a sidelong glance and responded with a half-smile, "I don't have any specific requirements. But if I had to mention one thing, it would be that she can't have a small chest!"

"What?" Zhang Xiaoman was taken aback, stammering, "You... you're really... quite blunt!"

"Hehe, what's wrong with being straightforward? I'm not a fan of subtlety," Lin Feng said with an implied meaning.

A blush crept onto Zhang Xiaoman's cheeks. She paused before asking softly, "So, how big does it have to be to catch your eye?"

"Uh, at least not smaller than yours, I'd say?" Lin Feng estimated with his reply.

"Pah! You're such a lecher." Zhang Xiaoman spat out, her face flushed, yet a flicker of delight was unmistakable in her eyes.

Lin Feng offered an embarrassed smile. As he lifted his teacup for a sip of water, a sudden scream pierced the calm of the hall:

"Fire!"

"Get out!"

"The kitchen's ablaze!"

"Someone help!"

Thick smoke billowed from the kitchen into the dining hall, followed by a resounding explosion. Something had detonated, and in an instant, sparks flew, igniting the curtains and wooden staircase!

The hall, after a brief hush, erupted into chaos. Screams, curses, and roars filled the air; people of all ages were in a panic, each fearing for their own safety.

"This is bad! We need to move!" Lin Feng's expression shifted. He set down his teacup and swiftly rose to his feet.

He never imagined a simple meal could end in a fire. Lin Feng was utterly bewildered!

Chaos reigned in the Drunken Heaven Tower as terrified patrons stampeded toward the exit. Trampling incidents occurred one after another.

In such a moment, self-preservation was the only thing on everyone's mind. Who had time to consider the safety of others?

Lin Feng, with a sense of urgency, grabbed a bewildered Zhang Xiaoman and dashed toward the restaurant's main entrance.

As the crowd around them swelled, Lin Feng, with his enhanced physique, carved a path through the throng with sheer force.

But Zhang Xiaoman, trailing behind him, wasn't so fortunate. How could such a delicate woman find safety in this chaos?

"Ah!"

A scream pierced the air as Zhang Xiaoman's grip on Lin Feng's hand was jostled loose by the frenzied mob!

Lin Feng whirled around, his gaze met by the frantic eyes of diners, but Zhang Xiaoman had vanished.

"Out of my way!"

In his panic, Lin Feng bellowed, flinging his arms wide and shoving through the crowd. His formidable strength made his arm muscles swell and his veins pop.

"Bang!"

"Ah!"

"It hurts!"

"Help!"

In a flash, Lin Feng sent four or five grown men flying, who in turn toppled others, resulting in a heap of bodies and a clearing before him.

Silence fell over the scene.

Lin Feng stared, incredulous, at the aftermath of his actions, struggling to believe he was the cause.

Onlookers gazed at Lin Feng with terror in their eyes, and suddenly, no one dared come near.

Was this the power of an Evolver?

A mere outburst had laid more than a dozen people at his feet. What if he unleashed his full potential? Who could withstand him then?

Ah, my apologies! It wasn't intentional. I just lost control of my strength for a moment. Please, don't hold it against me!

With a remorseful glance at the fallen crowd, Lin Feng raised his voice and called out, "Zhang Xiaoman, where are you?"

"Lin Feng, save... save me..."

A feeble voice drifted from the back of the crowd. Following the sound, Lin Feng finally spotted Zhang Xiaoman huddled in a corner.

There she was, kneeling on the ground, her once crisp shirt now crumpled and stained with dark streaks across her face, her hair in disarray, looking every bit the image of a woman undone.

In just a brief moment, Zhang Xiaoman had become a picture of distress, a testament to the sheer madness of the crowd around her.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, the crowd from behind surged forward, the terrified patrons stepping over those who had fallen, heedless of the bodies beneath their feet as they pushed toward the exit.

Zhang Xiaoman, with what appeared to be an injured foot, could only sit forlornly on the ground, her eyes filled with hope as she gazed in Lin Feng's direction.

Confronted with this chaos, Lin Feng clenched his jaw and, braving the swarm of people, made his way determinedly toward Zhang Xiaoman...

In that instant, time seemed to crawl. The clamor around them hushed, and in Zhang Xiaoman's vision, Lin Feng was the sole figure, resolute and unwavering.

Sweat droplets, large as beans, sprouted on his brow. His face, usually handsome, was now contorted with effort.

Yet, to Zhang Xiaoman, this sight quickened her pulse—here was a boy, fighting through the madness for her. Her heart fluttered at the thought...

"Ha!"

Within mere moments, Lin Feng had broken through the crowd. He dashed to Zhang Xiaoman's side and asked with urgency, "Where are you hurt? Is it bad? Show me!"

Blushing under Lin Feng's gaze of concern, Zhang Xiaoman stammered, "I twisted my ankle. I don't think I can walk."

"Don't worry, I'll carry you out," Lin Feng declared. Without waiting for her response, he scooped her up in his arms.

"Ah!"

Zhang Xiaoman let out an instinctive yelp, then instinctively wrapped her arms around Lin Feng's neck. As she realized she was fully cradled in his embrace, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson down to her neck.

"Hold on tight, don't let go. I'm getting you out of here," Lin Feng murmured close to her ear.

"Mhm," Zhang Xiaoman murmured back, too shy to lift her gaze to meet Lin Feng's eyes.

Seizing a brief lull in the chaos, Lin Feng quickly wrapped his arms around Zhang Xiaoman and darted into the throng of people desperately fleeing.

"Bang!"

"Puhwark!"

"Thud!"

Lin Feng's body was jostling fiercely against the swarm, yet Zhang Xiaoman, cradled in his embrace, remained unscathed. In a stolen moment, she cast a covert glance at Lin Feng. His steadfast visage, the depth of his eyes, his serene expression, and the beads of sweat still falling from his brow—all struck chords deep within her soul.

In that instant, a song echoed in Zhang Xiaoman's mind: it was just one extra look at you in the crowd that etched your face in my memory, never to be forgotten...