Lost and Found: Return of My Mysterious Fiancee

This bomb was unlike the newer models previously encountered. It was more intricate, more sophisticated, and its arrangement was more deceptive, yet upon closer inspection, it appeared somewhat… childish. Yes, childish. A very common spherical pet toy rested on the balance instrument, and any slight movement would trigger the explosion. Who would place a pet toy on a bomb? Especially one that could make noise.

“Tina, how does it look inside?” Jared could only observe through the crack of the door, unable to see the full picture. Tina, holding scissors, noticed a familiar feeling amidst the intricate wiring. Jared, not hearing a response, grew worried and called out again, “Tina.” Tina shook the scissors lightly and said, “It’s fine.” She crouched down, scrutinized the differently colored wires, and confidently cut one. A ticking sound followed, and the toy fell from the balance instrument, rolling around the floor until it stopped under a desk. “Come in,” Tina said, placing the scissors on the table. The bomb was not difficult; it just looked bewildering. In reality, it was the basic red wire.

Jared entered, unaware of the cold sweat on his back. He had been less nervous defusing a thirty-second countdown bomb during a past mission. It was only upon hearing Tina’s voice that he realized how scared he had been. “It’s not a new type of bomb, just an ordinary one, but arranged in a fancy way. It looks tough, but it’s all a smokescreen,” Tina said nonchalantly, smiling at Jared. Seeing the seriousness in his eyes, she unwittingly grinned. She hooked her arm around Jared’s neck, her enticing gaze like the first ray of sunshine in winter, “What’s on your mind, old man?”

Jared suddenly pulled Tina into his arms, holding her tightly. He buried his face in the nape of her neck, desperately inhaling her scent, the scent that reassured him. Tina knew her ‘old man’ was scared. “It’s not like we haven’t been through worse.” The time Silas Blackwood kidnapped the students of Class 22D had been more perilous. A chill flashed in Jared’s eyes, “It’s my fault.”

“It has nothing to do with you,” Tina gently patted Jared’s back. “It’s the enemy’s tactics, and I’ve dismantled it. This little trick won’t cost me my life.” Jared knew deep down that Tina was the smartest woman in the world. Besides, if someone wanted her life, they would have to get through him first. But even as he trusted her, he feared for her safety. This fear was instinctual, a fear of losing Tina.

The two held each other tightly, their heartbeats drawing closer… Tick-tock… tick-tock… The office was suddenly filled with several eerie sounds. Tina’s gaze sharpened, and she immediately located the source of the noise. Jared also crouched down, looking at the spherical pet toy under the desk. It was now pressing down on the actual bomb switch! Just then, the previously deactivated bomb reactivated, starting a countdown that rapidly entered single-digit numbers!

Even Tina and Jared, swift as they were, could hardly react in time!

“Tina, get out now!” Jared pushed her forcefully, quickly locking the heavy office door behind him.

Tina banged on the door, shouting, “Jared, open the door, open it!”

In that instant, Tina guessed what Jared was planning.

He intended to shield the bomb with his body to minimize the damage and buy her time to escape!

“Jared, open the door!” Tina kicked at the door lock with all her might.

But the doors and locks of the TCL Laboratory were made of world-class materials; mere human strength couldn’t budge them.

Jared took the bomb to the farthest corner of the office, wrapping himself tightly around it.

Just a little more time for Tina was all he needed.

Tina took a deep breath and kicked fiercely at the door separating her from Jared!

Bang!

A puff of smoke rose inside the office, and as a sound akin to a balloon popping filled the air, Tina had kicked the sturdy door lock into oblivion.

Her strength was immense, and she rolled on the floor from the momentum, running through the white smoke towards Jared.

“Uncle!”

Jared was covered in dust, his shirt torn at the chest, and his hair disheveled from the explosion.

The usually aloof and distinguished Mr. Farrell had never looked so comical.

Yes, comical.

Tina, drenched in a cold sweat, stared blankly at Jared.

It took them a full ten seconds to comprehend.

This was no bomb!

It was clearly just a joke smoke bomb!

The ‘bomb’ Jared had shielded dropped a banner – Congratulations, you’ve passed the first test.

Jared licked his lips, “First test?”

Tina clenched her fists tightly, dispersing the lingering smoke, and cursed loudly, “Damn old man, just you wait!”

Only her master, Master Tam, who was supposedly “resting in peace,” could devise such a humorous bomb setup and include a banner.

Jared also realized there was never any real danger; it was just a prank of love.

Once the smoke cleared, Tina spotted something else revealed by the ‘explosion’.

All of Lily’s experimental data!

This was the reason Tina and Jared had come here.

With this data, they could deduce what kind of virus GTO was researching and how it related to their drugs.

Given Mr. White’s sudden disappearance and Lily’s unknown whereabouts, these experimental results were crucial. Without them, all their efforts would have been in vain.

Fortunately, Master Tam had already found and copied this data, hiding it inside the bomb.

Jared breathed a sigh of relief, “All’s well that ends well.”

Tina gritted her teeth, “Not so happy, the old man dared to play me, he better watch out.”Content © provided by NôvelDrama.Org.

As she spoke, she squatted down to inspect the exploded box.

It had a fingerprint recognition system; had Jared not been the one holding the bomb, the outcome would have been different.

The old man, truly deserving of being the mentor to those pests, knew all the ways to torment someone.

Tina packed away Lily’s experimental data, “When I find him, I need an extra thousand dollars, or else, I’ve wasted my time!”

Jared chuckled involuntarily, his dear girl, how adorable she was!