Seeing everyone turn to look at him, Xie Lin jumped in fright and stood rooted to the spot for a long while.
"Wait, I just went to the bathroom. What are you all..."
Lu Ye instantly breathed a sigh of relief. He strode forward and pulled him into his arms, tightening his hold more and more.
His heart pounded like a drum, and the lingering fear left him cold all over.
Xie Lin struggled a few times but couldn't break free.
"I can't breathe."
"Where did you go?" Lu Ye's voice was frighteningly hoarse.
"Huh? Didn't I just say? The bathroom."
"There's a bathroom upstairs. Why did you come downstairs?"
"I ran into a creep and felt sick, so I came down to use the one downstairs."
Lu Ye's expression hardened. "What creep?"
Held tightly in his arms, Xie Lin struggled to recount what had happened.
"I really can't breathe, hubby."
Lu Ye let out a long breath.
"I thought..."
Before he could finish, Lu Zhenzhen burst into loud sobs beside them.
"Thank goodness, Xie Lin! You're all right! My sorry life is saved!"
"..."
Wu Xinyou also let out a long breath, her voice full of relief at having survived the ordeal.
"I was wondering why a trip to the bathroom was taking you so long."
"Was it that long?"
Still held in Lu Ye's arms, Xie Lin sounded muffled. He pushed hard a few times.
"Let go of me first."
Xiao Lie wiped the cold sweat from his forehead too.
He had no doubt that if Xie Lin had really gone missing, Lu Ye could have killed everyone present.
The manager's legs gave out, and he finally sank to his knees, tears streaming down his aged face.
"Thank goodness! Thank goodness you're all right, sob..."
Still not sober,