"Damn it! You got shot?!" A Mo's voice was tight. "You ran a full two kilometers?!"
Xiao Han had no strength to answer, only suppressed groans of pain, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
Su Wan, disregarding her own discomfort, struggled to get up. Zhang Ma tried to help her, but Su Wan gently pushed her hand away.
She walked closer, her wrist moving slightly, and a sealed medical first-aid kit appeared in her palm, which she handed directly to A Mo.
"Disinfect, stop the bleeding."
A Mo immediately started treating the wound, his movements skillful and urgent. Scissors cut through clothing, disinfectant cotton wiped over flesh and blood, and the pungent smell of medicine and blood permeated the air.
Xiao Han's body was tense.
Su Wan took out another small metal bottle and unscrewed it. "Strong painkiller and antibiotic." She brought the bottle to Xiao Han's mouth.
A Mo looked up at her, then quickly lowered his head to continue. A few drops of clear liquid slipped into Xiao Han's mouth.
The medicine seemed to work quickly; Xiao Han's tensed muscles gradually relaxed, and his breathing became heavy and slow. He closed his eyes.
A Mo quickly removed the bullet, bandaged the wound, and tied a secure knot.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his voice hoarse: "Han Ge lost a bit too much blood, he's fallen asleep."
He looked at Lu Shiyan.
Lu Shiyan nodded slightly. "Guard him."
Zhang Ma quickly tidied up a relatively clean partitioned room. Inside, there was only a solitary cot, with a thin military blanket spread on the bed board.
She helped Su Wan lie down and tucked in the corner of the blanket. "Young Miss, please rest first."
Su Wan leaned against the headboard, her lower back aching severely.
She looked at Lu Shiyan, who was standing in the shadows of the doorway, gazing at the unconscious Xiao Han in the next room.
Su Wan licked her dry lips, her voice a little weak. "You and Xiao Han..."
"What's your relationship?"
Lu Shiyan did not immediately turn back. After a few seconds, he turned around.
He did not answer her question; instead, he stepped closer to the bed. "How is your stomach?" His voice was unreadable.
During the days Su Wan had a fever.
He wasn't deliberately guarding her, but he accidentally discovered... when she was unconscious, a faint glow emanated from her lower abdomen, through the thin fabric.
The light was soft but carried an indescribable energy fluctuation, its source pointing directly to the fetus in her womb.
This child was not normal.
This was the real reason he wouldn't let her out of his sight.
At this moment, his gaze also fell on her lower abdomen, which she was still protecting.
Su Wan was momentarily stunned by his question and subconsciously pressed her stomach.
Su Wan was momentarily taken aback by his question.
Her fingertips subconsciously covered her lower abdomen.
Not long ago, it had been churning, hurting so much she almost curled up.
"It's fine..." she said, her voice carrying a trace of lingering weakness, "It's very strange."
She moved, feeling the calm within her body, which was a stark contrast to the previous severe pain. "Now there's no discomfort at all."
"But just now..." She paused, seemingly replaying the sharp torment, "It really hurt, it hurt a lot..."
She added, as if convincing herself.
"Really."
Lu Shiyan did not press further. His gaze lingered on her lower abdomen for another moment before moving away.
"I'll ask Zhang Ma to prepare dinner for you. Have some bread first to tide you over."
After speaking, he turned and left the partitioned room.
His footsteps gradually faded in the empty corridor.
Su Wan watched his back disappear into the shadows of the doorway and let out a soft breath.
This guy just wouldn't answer her questions.
Her stomach really didn't hurt anymore; that sharp, agonizing pain, as if her internal organs were being shredded, had vanished without a trace.
She moved her body; the soreness in her lower back was still there but had significantly lessened.
The most intense feeling now was hunger.
She was starving.
She took out a whole wheat bread from her space, grateful for the supplies her dad had left her.
She eagerly took a big bite.
Delicious, she finally felt alive again.
She had been in such excruciating pain earlier, she thought she and the baby in her belly would both die here today.
She never expected to be casually munching on bread now.
Life truly was unpredictable.
Zhang Ma was busy at the makeshift stove, with simple steamed rice bubbling in the pot, emitting hot steam.
The escape had begun the moment she woke up. Now, smelling the aroma of food, her stomach churned—not morning sickness, but pure hunger.
She ate the rice in big mouthfuls. On the small table beside her, there were several small plates of mixed cold dishes, looking quite refreshing in color. They were all the most common home-style side dishes.
Time was limited, and conditions were crude; there wasn't even a proper hot stove. Zhang Ma had truly done her best.
Thankfully, the child in her womb was well-behaved and didn't cause trouble at this time.
This was a blessing in disguise.
They couldn't go back to that villa. Someone was targeting them.
Why? Su Wan couldn't understand.
They had to find their next foothold quickly, a truly safe place.
Her thoughts uncontrollably drifted northward.
The original owner's father... he was there.
According to the book, Su Father's influence, he must have already established his own base.
If only she could go to her father for refuge, that would be great.
Her gaze swept over the silent figure not far away, Lu Shiyan.
Should she suggest going north to him?
It would be like discussing with the King of Hell, "Hey buddy, got a light?"
He'd most likely use that gleaming dagger to carve "Dream On" on her forehead.
What was she, anyway?
A walking pendant? A pet that could feed itself?
Her status was roughly equivalent to the knife-wiping cloth in his hand, perhaps even a little abrasive.
Forget it, just go to bed. Everything's in dreams. Maybe she could even teleport to the northern base and parachute onto her dad's desk.
Who cares about north or south, surviving is paramount, and sleeping is even more important.
From the next room came Xiao Han's suppressed, heavy breathing due to high fever.
Zhang Ma came out carrying a basin of water, her footsteps light, her face filled with worry. "He's burning up badly, it seems it won't go down anytime soon." She whispered to Lu Shiyan.
Of the servants in the villa, only A Gui, A Fu, and Zhang Ma remained.
Adding to Xiao Han's personnel losses... in last night's chaos, one of his subordinates got infected and was dealt with.
Zhang Ma sighed, her voice even lower: "Mr. Xiao's men, only three are left. A Mo, Third Brother, and Uncle Hu."
The once mighty team of nearly twenty people was now scattered, with only nine remaining.
Lu Shiyan leaned in the shadows on the other side, a cigarette between his fingers, its crimson tip flickering.
Smoke swirled, blurring the aura around him.
Zhang Ma looked at Lu Shiyan, wanting to speak but hesitating. In the end, she just sighed heavily again and turned into the kitchen.
Lu Shiyan took a drag from his cigarette and slowly exhaled. "Guard well."
Zhang Ma looked at Lu Shiyan, her eyes complex, wanting to say something, but in the end, she didn't. She sighed heavily and turned into the kitchen.
He paused, his gaze piercing through the dimness, falling on Su Wan. That look carried a cold scrutiny, as if it could penetrate all disguises. Just then, a strange tremor, with a hint of icy sting, suddenly came from Su Wan's lower abdomen, as if something had been touched by his gaze.
"Especially her." Lu Shiyan's voice was so low it was almost a whisper, and that stinging sensation instantly spread, making her body tremble.
