Chapter 161: Global Extreme Cold 4
“The weather has been strange recently; it dropped over 40 degrees in just two days.”
Yesterday it was a few degrees above freezing, but today it’s already three degrees below.
“Tell me about it. I took the subway to work today, and the moment I stepped out of the station, I nearly froze solid.”
“You’re lucky; the roads are already iced over. My husband drove me to work today, and the car skidded, almost crashing into someone.”
The company employees began to chat about the bizarre weather. Some found the heavy snow rare and exciting, while others found it utterly grueling.
“The winter clothes at the Shopping Mall are sold out. I only have this one thick outfit on. I hope I can buy two down jackets after work today.”
“Thank goodness for the air conditioning; it’s really too cold…”
Lu Qingyuan walked by after coming up from the Cafeteria, just in time to hear their conversation. Perhaps out of respect for the boss, the moment he arrived, the office floor instantly quieted down considerably.
He wasn’t surprised at all. He just held his hot coffee and looked out the window. Due to the temperature difference between inside and outside, the window was covered with a layer of fog. Wiping away the thick fog, the snow outside was falling like goose feathers, extremely dense.
Although the central air conditioning was on in the building, one could feel the cold seeping in from outside just by getting close to the window.
It was indeed getting colder and colder.
Even more terrifying than the continuous drop in temperature was the power outage.
Due to the rapid temperature drop, the city’s power system lost control.
As soon as the air conditioning stopped, the indoor temperature quickly plummeted. Heat began to dissipate through the walls. Those wearing many layers were fine, but those not dressed warmly enough were in a terrible predicament.
As for Lu Qingyuan… he had come to the company a day earlier. At that time, the temperature was still a few degrees above freezing, and he was only wearing a shirt and a coat.
Now, his suit pants were letting in the wind.
His coat no longer provided warmth.
No matter how handsome he was, at such low temperatures, his limbs were stiff and his fingers red from the cold.
Finally, Boss Lu couldn’t bear it anymore and let the employees leave early.
However, when they tried to leave, the main roads in S City were jammed due to the heavy snow. The subway seemed to have issues and was suspended for inspection.
These two pieces of information indicated that the city’s transportation was paralyzed.
Want to go home? You’d have to walk.
Lu Qingyuan was wearing so few clothes; if he really walked home, he might freeze to death. Except for those who lived nearby and were dressed very warmly, everyone else, like Lu Qingyuan, was trapped in the company.
Among them, Lu Qingyuan was probably the most miserable. Besides the clothes on his back, he only had a summer air-conditioning blanket in the lounge.
Thin clothing wrapped around him, the cold was bone-chilling.
The employees in the company started calling their family members, and many more left one after another. By the time the last person left the company, he was left all alone.
It was too cold.
Lu Qingyuan was already considering tearing down the curtains for warmth.
However, just then, his phone rang. In the empty and quiet floor, the phone’s sound was so loud it seemed to echo, displaying the caller’s name.
Lu Qingyuan used his frozen fingers to answer the call. Chu Yian’s voice came through, “Teacher Lu, where are you right now?”
“Company.”
“I know you’re at the company, I’m asking which floor our company is on?”
Chu Yian stood in the pitch-black office building lobby. “Why don’t you come down? I’m already downstairs at the company. I was going to call you when I left, but who knew it was so cold outside that my phone lost signal.”
Her chattering voice entered Lu Qingyuan’s ears. The feeling at that moment… was a bit strange.
Lu Qingyuan couldn’t quite explain it himself, but he just had a peculiar feeling in his heart.
Perhaps it was because he was too cold.
He moved his somewhat stiff legs and walked down from the eighth floor.
“Whoa! Teacher Lu, you’re incredible.”
Chu Yian looked at Lu Qingyuan’s thin clothing. She guessed he might be wearing too little, but she didn’t expect it to still be autumn wear.
If she hadn’t come, he would have frozen to death, she thought.
Chu Yian thought to herself, handing him the large bag she had brought, which contained a down jacket.
She should have brought him a set of thermal underwear.
Lu Qingyuan put on the down jacket, and his body temperature finally gradually warmed up.
“Thank you.”
“Oh, come on.”
Chu Yian waved her hand, “With our relationship, there’s no need to say such things.”
Lu Qingyuan didn’t reply, his gaze turning towards the heavy snow outside that had already sealed off the doors. “Did you walk here?”
“No, I rode my bike.”
The heavy snow outside obstructed visibility and caused road congestion, but small vehicles like bicycles could still pass. However, some road surfaces had snow pressed into ice, making it a bit slippery to ride.
“Yes, let’s go quickly.”
If the snow accumulated too thickly, even bicycles wouldn’t be able to be ridden. And the clothes Lu Qingyuan was wearing would most likely not withstand even colder weather.
It was Lu Qingyuan’s first time riding on someone else’s bicycle.
His legs were very long, making it very easy for him to touch the ground, and he was also very heavy. The bicycle was front-heavy and back-light, the front wheel was floating, almost flying up.
“No, let’s switch.”
After riding for only five meters, Chu Yian herself moved aside.
She looked at Lu Qingyuan’s frozen red hands and then took off her own gloves to give him.
Lu Qingyuan didn’t take them. “If I take them, what about you?”
“I’ll just put my hands in my jacket pockets.”
Chu Yian looked at the gloves she had brought. They were a bit too big for her to wear, but they fit Lu Qingyuan perfectly. “Luckily, I brought a large size, otherwise you wouldn’t even be able to wear them.”
Lu Qingyuan’s hands were icy cold, making the lingering warmth inside the gloves particularly noticeable.
He didn’t say anything, just waited for Chu Yian to get seated before riding the bike in the direction of home.
The road conditions on the way back were even worse than when Chu Yian arrived. Heavy snow had trapped cars, and people on the road had no choice but to abandon their vehicles. Their bicycle often had to be pushed after riding a short distance. By the time the two returned to the villa, their shoes and pants were soaked.
Chu Yian had worn thermal leggings and fleece-lined trousers when she left, but she was shivering with cold on the way back.
Lu Qingyuan, needless to say, his legs were already blue and purple from the cold.
But he was too proud to admit it; he didn’t say anything.
Fortunately, the gas was still usable, and the ginger brown sugar water Chu Yian had brewed before leaving was still warm in the kitchen. They each drank a large bowl, at least warming their bodies from the inside.
“Change out of your wet clothes. I’ll boil two pots of hot water.”
Boiling hot water, of course, was for bathing.
As Chu Yian spoke, she also noticed Lu Qingyuan’s exposed blue and purple ankles.
She found high-concentration alcohol among the items piled in the living room. “Go back to your room and rub your legs with alcohol. I’ll call you when I’m ready.”
Lu Qingyuan took it, but his legs, frozen for too long, felt nothing even after prolonged rubbing. Finally, his expression became serious. “My legs… might need a doctor.”
But in the current situation, it was already very good that they could even get back. It was hard to find a doctor even with money. Or by the time a doctor arrived, his legs might need to be amputated.
“Don’t panic yet. It should just be from being frozen for too long.”
Chu Yian brought over hot water and placed a hot towel on his legs.
