ALL NOVEL Chapter 49 - If You Go, I Go; If You Stay, I Stay:
Chapter 49 – If You Go, I Go; If You Stay, I Stay:
Chu Hanting’s handsome brows instantly furrowed – Su Mu wouldn’t call him so many times without good reason.
Something serious must have happened!!!
Just as he was about to call back, the phone rang.
He answered immediately: “Hello, Su Mu.”
“You finally answered. There’s no time to explain everything. But what I’m about to say is crucial – you must believe me. Someone has planted bombs in your Chu Da Plaza. You need to evacuate everyone immediately. And you shouldn’t stay there either.”
He had answered so quickly he accidentally hit speakerphone, and Liu Yu heard everything.
“Hello? Chu Hanting, did you hear me? Say something. I know this sounds crazy, but…”
Chu Hanting cut him off: “I understand. I’ll send people to investigate right away. I believe what you’re saying.”
Su Mu, who had just gotten out of the taxi and was rushing through Chu Da Plaza, paused for a moment when he heard “I believe you” from the other end.
The whole way there, he’d been wondering how to make someone believe him rather than dismiss it as delusion.
Without any evidence, most people would probably treat it as a joke.
Even if he called the police, they wouldn’t believe him this quickly!
Su Mu quickly recovered and continued moving forward while explaining urgently.
“Hanting, have them search thoroughly. There might be multiple bombs, though I’m not sure how many. Also…”
He paused briefly before continuing.
“Ah Ting, don’t rush to the front. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Chu Hanting, who had been listening intently, froze at these words. “Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.”
Liu Yu had become unsettled the moment he heard about the bombs.
The word was so rare, it felt unreal.
“You believe what he’s saying?” Liu Yu asked with furrowed brows.
“Su Mu wouldn’t joke about something like this.” Chu Hanting’s gaze was intense.
“True, with something like this, better safe than sorry.”
Thinking carefully, Liu Yu realized Su Mu’s warning might not be far-fetched. After all, Chu Da Plaza was a long-planned project with substantial investment.
It wouldn’t be surprising if jealous competitors tried to sabotage it.
He twisted his watch face, clearly deep in thought.
After hanging up with Su Mu, Chu Hanting immediately began making one phone call after another to arrange everything.
“Where do you think they’re most likely to have placed the bombs?”
Liu Yu, knowing about the situation, didn’t rush to leave for safety.
This was too serious a matter for him to just run away alone.
Meanwhile, Chu Hanting had ordered the opening to be suspended and all staff and merchants to be evacuated.
Only security and professionals remained to search every hidden corner of each area.
But all of this was kept secret, because according to Su Mu, the bombs were likely already placed throughout the mall, ready for remote detonation.
If news of the suspended opening got out, it might alert the perpetrators that their plan had been discovered, causing them to detonate early.
So externally, information was still restricted. Security guards would be posted at all mall entrances, preventing any early customers from entering.
This way, while ensuring no casualties, they could maintain the illusion of proceeding with the planned opening, buying time to defuse the bombs while keeping the perpetrators unaware.
Hearing Liu Yu’s question, Chu Hanting thought for a moment.
“Bathrooms, stairwells. These are the easiest places to sneak into. Especially bathrooms, since there are no cameras due to privacy concerns. And mall stairwells are rarely used, so suspicious items wouldn’t be easily noticed.”
“Makes sense. The Liu family isn’t far from here – I’ll have our people come help.”
Chu Hanting didn’t refuse.
At a time like this, more help was better.
Of course, Liu Yu meant professional bomb disposal experts, not servants or staff.
Su Mu ran the whole way, arriving at the chairman’s office out of breath.
Without waiting to catch his breath, he pushed open the door. The two inside were shocked to see him.
“Why did you come?” Chu Hanting immediately noticed Su Mu’s state – covered in sweat, disheveled, clearly having rushed here in worry.
“What about your competition? Besides, the bombs haven’t been defused yet – it’s very dangerous. Let me take you away first, Yang can drive you to the competition venue.”
He reached to pull Su Mu away, but Su Mu forcefully pulled back.
This was the first time Su Mu had ever pulled away from Chu Hanting’s hand. Chu Hanting was shocked, though somehow it felt expected.
“Su Mu, you…”
“Chu Hanting, if you’re not leaving, I’m not leaving either. I’m staying with you.”
Chu Hanting: …
He’d gone from “Ah Ting” to “Chu Hanting” – clearly he was angry.
Or rather, Su Mu was determined to stay, and no amount of persuasion would make him leave.
“You brought me this news, so you must know how dangerous this is!” Chu Hanting gripped Su Mu’s arms, staring intently at him, not missing a single expression in his eyes.
This person was clearly afraid, his body even trembling slightly, yet his eyes showed absolute determination.
There was a sense of facing death without retreat despite the fear!
Actually, Su Mu wasn’t afraid of the bombs – he was afraid of Chu Hanting getting hurt, which was why he couldn’t leave.
He feared that if he left, the next time he’d see Chu Hanting would be when he was severely injured. Su Mu couldn’t take that risk.
Even though he had the advantage of being reborn and knowing about this in advance, it didn’t mean everything would be easily resolved.
What if they missed one bomb? What if they overlooked something? What if Chu Hanting happened to be right there?
No one could predict these things, no one could be 100% certain.
In fact, because of his early warning, the butterfly effect had been disrupted, meaning the final outcome was unknown.
Best case scenario would be Chu Hanting unharmed and the bombing situation perfectly resolved.
But thinking of the worst case, Chu Hanting might not just be severely injured – even worse things could happen.
So he absolutely wouldn’t leave. He would stay by Chu Hanting’s side until this whole thing was resolved, until he was completely certain of his safety. Only then could Su Mu truly relax.
In this life, he couldn’t bear to lose Chu Hanting.
No matter what dangers lay ahead, Su Mu would face them together with him.
Even if knives rained from the sky, he would stay by his side!!!
“Chu Hanting, I’ll give you two choices,” Su Mu’s gaze was unusually determined, his tone brooking no argument.
“Either leave with me, or if you stay, I stay with you. Don’t try to make me leave.”
Chu Hanting knew there was no room for negotiation when Su Mu spoke like this.
At the same time, he felt as if an arrow had pierced his heart, breaking through its hardened shell.
Until now, his feelings for Su Mu had been more like caring affection from an elder to a younger person. After all, Su Mu was talented, well-behaved, and often clingy with his declarations of love.
Chu Hanting didn’t dislike this kid.
But he had never placed him on an equal level with himself.
Yet now, he was hearing what amounted to a declaration to live and die together!
His heart skipped a beat, and he could clearly feel the strong pounding in his chest.
People often said he was cold-blooded and cruel, and even he believed no one could warm his heart.
He had heard countless “I like you”s and “I love you”s.
Many people were only after his status, and hearing it so often, he had become numb to such words!
Phrases like “I like you” could only move teenagers, and for someone who had weathered the deceptions of the business world like him, these words meant nothing. He never trusted such sweet talk.
But today, he felt his heart truly moved.