Chapter 17 . The Return to the Locked Room

After finishing the photo session, the guards dragged them back to their room and locked the door behind them.

The air inside was thick with tension.

Zhao Rui paced back and forth. "Okay, okay, let's just go over what happened. We saw cages full of kids, a masked woman who might be our doctor, and a warlord showing off his bomb collection."

Liang Chen sat on the floor, calmly pulling out the stolen bomb.

Zhao Rui's eyes widened. "Wait, WAIT, WAIT—WHAT IS THAT?!"

Liang Chen smirked. "Our way out."

Zhao Rui held his head. "Bro. BRO. When did you steal A BOMB?!?"

Liang Chen shrugged. "While you were making stupid jokes."

Zhao Rui gasped. "I WAS PROVIDING EMOTIONAL SUPPORT."

Liang Chen smirked. "And I was providing an escape plan."

Zhao Rui sighed. "I can't believe this. I bring humor, you bring explosives. We are NOT the same."

The Plan

They both sat down, staring at the bomb.

Zhao Rui: "So… how does it work?"

Liang Chen: "Not sure."

Zhao Rui: "Horrified YOU STOLE A BOMB WITHOUT KNOWING HOW IT WORKS?!"

Liang Chen: "I didn't exactly have time to ask for a manual, Rui."

Zhao Rui groaned. "Oh great. We're either going to escape or become fireworks."

Liang Chen leaned back. "If we use it right, we can create a distraction, escape, and maybe… get those kids out too."

Zhao Rui exhaled. "Right. Hero moment. Love that for us."

Then, he grinned. "But let's try not to die in the process, yeah?"

Liang Chen smirked. "Deal."

As they prepared their next move, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the door.

Something was coming.

And this time, they might not get another chance to escape.