Xiao Yi, always a meticulous man, was now taking caution to the extreme. Every move he made was carefully considered, every step he took cautiously, as if he were walking on a minefield rife with traps. His eyes remained alert, not missing a single subtle shift in his surroundings. His brows furrowed slightly, forming a deep "川" (Chuan) shape, revealing his inner solemnity. His lips pursed tightly, he remained silent, completely absorbed in observing and assessing the situation. Xiao Yi and his companions, fully aware of the delicate nature of the situation, tried to maintain a low profile throughout. They walked with slow, gentle steps, fearing to attract unnecessary attention. When speaking, they kept their voices low, their words brief and reserved, never revealing their thoughts or intentions. In a crowd, Xiao Yi always made a point of not standing out, quietly fading into corners. His attire was also kept simple and unobtrusive. Even the slightest expression was carefully controlled, not betraying his true emotions. Xiao Yi was a meticulous observer of his surroundings. Any unfamiliar face or unusual sound would arouse his high alert. He was like a vigilant cheetah, moving cautiously in a jungle full of dangers, looking for a chance to survive.
They huddled in the dim room like frightened birds. The door was tightly shut, as if it were their only barrier against the dangers of the outside world. Everyone's body was tense, not daring to breathe, their eyes fixed on the door, as if they could see through the paneling of the door to any possible threats outside. Their heartbeats were remarkably clear in the silence, each beat punctuated by deep fear. The room was filled with tension. They carefully stacked their supplies in a corner, covering them with tattered curtains, as if these supplies were their most precious yet dangerous secrets. They dared not make a sound, even their breathing was kept as light as possible. Even if someone accidentally touched an object nearby, making the slightest scraping sound, they would draw horrified glances and stern gestures to silence from the others. Every once in a while, someone would quietly walk to the door, put their ear close to the door, and listen carefully to the movements outside. If there was any movement, they would quickly retreat as if they had been electrocuted, their faces pale, and they would imagine with fear the terrible consequences they might face if they were discovered.
Though hidden within their rooms, Xiao Yi and the others' hearts were like the sea in a storm, turbulent and utterly calm. Xiao Yi's heartbeat was rapid and chaotic, each beat pounding against his chest as if trying to break free from this body shrouded in fear. His mind replayed the horrific scenario of being discovered: those hideous faces, those greedy eyes, the prospect of violence and plunder that would ensue, like sharp blades, piercing his nerves again and again. The others were similarly gripped by anxiety. Some's hands trembled uncontrollably, as if their hands had lost their will. Others bit their lips until deep, bloody marks formed, oblivious to the pain, their hearts consumed by fear and worry about the unknown. Every sound that filtered through the crack in the door would instantly stiffen their bodies, their hearts gripping as if an invisible hand were gripping them. They kept asking themselves, "Will we be discovered? What if we are?" These questions played over and over in their minds like a mantra, tormenting their fragile hearts. Xiao Yi's throat felt dry, and even swallowing became an immense struggle. His gaze wandered, unable to stay in any one place for long, as if every corner of the room lurked an unknown threat. The eyes of the others were also filled with helplessness and confusion. In this small space, anxiety was like an ever-expanding balloon, threatening to burst their sanity at any moment.
Xiao Yi and his companions hid in the room, their hearts pounding, filled with fear that the secret of the supplies would be discovered. Xiao Yi's eyes drifted to the pile of hidden supplies from time to time, his heart pounding like a rabbit. He kept imagining various possible situations in his mind: What if someone accidentally discovered the abnormality of this room and broke in forcibly? What if someone noticed their whereabouts and guessed that a large amount of supplies were hidden here? Every scenario made him shudder, as if a disaster was about to befall. At the same time, the energy problem of the base was like a heavy stone, weighing on their hearts. Xiao Yi frowned, and a picture of the base falling into chaos due to energy shortage emerged in his mind. He worried whether the existing solutions would really work, and worried that new and unpredictable obstacles would arise in the process of solving the energy problem. The others were equally filled with worry. Some rubbed their hands together, muttering to themselves, "If the supplies are discovered, we're doomed, but if the energy crisis isn't resolved, we're doomed too." Others paced the room, their eyes filled with anxiety: "What should we do? Can we save the supplies and successfully resolve the energy crisis?" Every passing moment deepened their anxiety. The hidden supplies seemed like a time bomb, and the base's energy problem was an unsolvable problem. They were trapped in this double dilemma, suffering internally, but unable to find a way out.
"This isn't a solution, but what else can we do?" These helpless words echoed faintly in the room, like a cold wind, stinging everyone's soul. Anxiety was really like a thick dark cloud, weighing heavily on everyone's heart. Xiao Yi clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force, his eyes filled with confusion and pain. He asked himself over and over in his heart, but he couldn't find the answer. The feeling of powerlessness made him feel suffocated. Others either slumped on the ground, staring blankly at the ceiling, or leaned against the wall with their heads lowered, as if they had lost their souls. Their hearts were gnawed by anxiety, but they couldn't break free. The dark cloud grew thicker and heavier, as if it was going to swallow them completely. Every breath became heavy, and every thought was filled with despair. They tried to find a glimmer of hope, but found that it was all dark around them, with no way out and no direction. Some clutched their heads in their hands, groaning in agony, "What should I do? Is this all I can do?" Their voices tinged with tears, filled with deep fear and helplessness. Anxiety made the hours seem unbearably long, every second akin to endless torture. Trapped beneath this dark cloud, unable to escape, they could only allow the anxiety to creep in, eroding their last shreds of courage and faith.
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