“Nianzhi? Nianzhi?” The female classmate Gu Nianzhi had towed across the entire Little Mirror Lake was in shock. She screamed Gu Nianzhi’s name in horror, but didn’t dare return to the water. They were the last ones to reach the shore. The classmates who arrived first heard her screams and quickly ran over. Mei Xiawen, who had been waiting anxiously on the shore, was the fastest. He shot like an arrow to the shallow end of the shore and bent over to retrieve Gu Nianzhi from the water. He picked her up against his chest and stepped out of the lake.
“Lil Sis, Lil Sis? Are you ok? Don’t scare us!” Little Temptress was about to burst into tears and leapt over to take Gu Nianzhi from Mei Xiawen. Green Tea Fang and Lady Cao also ran over to help, and the three of them carried Gu Ninazhi to the only long stone bench in the straw hut on the shore. Lady Cao sat on one end of the bench and cradled Gu Nianzhi’s head on her lap. She stuck her hand out to feel her breath and sighed in relief, “She’s still breathing, she probably passed out from exhaustion.”
The classmate Gu Nianzhi rescued muffled her mouth with joy, then starting crying with fear. They were all raised like royalty, and had never encountered such exhausting escapes for their lives. They had barely survived and couldn’t speak, but sat silently in the straw hut by the shore to shelter from the rain and prayed someone would quickly come save them. They could hear the gunshots across the lake and see a helicopter circling in the sky, but they dared not shout for attention. Who knew how many criminals there were? And where they hid? They had just narrowly avoided the fate of becoming hostages, and did not want to attract the wolves instead of their saviours…
The classmate hugged her knees as she sat by the straw hut door, her muffled sobbing infectious. Everyone’s eyes turned red but they could only use the back of their hands to wipe the tears. Mei Xiawen half knelt in front of the stone bench and buried his face in Gu Nianzhi’s hand. His tears were streaming and wet her palm. Gu Nianzhi’s fingers twitched, she quietly moaned, “…Uncle Huo…”
Mei Xiawen heard it and excitedly looked up at her to call her name, “Nianzhi? Nianzhi? Are you awake?”
Gu Nianzhi opened her eyes and only saw Mei Xiawen’s concerned expression.
“…Nianzhi, you passed out before you reached the shore and almost drowned, Class Rep saved you.” Little Temptress explained gently, not forgetting to get bonus points for Mei Xiawen.
Gu Nianzhi recalled powerful arms carrying out her out of the water. She stared at Mei Xiawen, her eyes softening. Nothing better than rescuing her could move her lonely heart. Gu Nianzhi looked at Mei Xiawen and her lips curved into a smile as she quietly said, “I’m ok, just a bit tired. Don’t worry.”
“Don’t talk anymore if you’re tired, take a rest.” Lady Cao unknotted her seaweed-like long hair, so she could rest comfortably.
Gu Nianzhi agreed and closed her eyes. She was exhausted and needed a good rest.
…
Huo Shaoheng’s Humvee had just exited the highway. In front of them were the military vehicles of the garrison troops that had been deployed as support. Fan Jian waited until the vehicles entered the area before he turned onto the mountain road.
Zhao Liangze had been searching for signs of Gu Nianzhi’s and Little Li’s locations on his electronic devices the entire time and suddenly looked up to point in a direction, “Little Li should be nearby! He’s very close!”
Huo Shaoheng didn’t speak for a second and turned to look out the window. The night was a cloak of darkness and the heavy rain left streaks on the glass. Outside the window, the world was a blur. Inside the Humvee, it was eerily quiet. Everyone had the same thought, how would Mr. Huo decide: to stop the car to save Little Li first, or to leave him be and rush directly to Gu Nianzhi’s aid… In terms of of importance, Gu Nianzhi was higher up than Little Li?
“Stop the car, find Little Li.” Huo Shaoheng nodded calmly and quietly adjusted his uniform. Fan Jian looked at Yin Shixiong and silently hit the brakes. Zhao Liangze also glanced up at Huo Shaoheng, but couldn’t detect a sliver of change in his expression. Yin Shixiong dared not look at Huo Shaoheng’s face at all. He knew exactly how important Gu Nianzhi was to Huo Shaoheng, but he still decided to save his own soldier first…
Yin Shixiong felt a conflict of emotions and his feelings of guilt increased. The car halted to a stop and he was the first to exit and brave the rain. Yin Shixiong’s Bluetooth headset also had instant communication capabilities. Zhao Liangze’s voice traveled through headset and guided him to Little Li’s location. The probe in Yin Shixiong’s hand quickly beeped and in five seconds he was able to find Little Li passed out in a ditch besides the road.
“Little Li?” Yin Shixiong patted his cheek and felt the warmth on his face and the faint breathing from his nose. He sighed in great relief. He carried Little Li out of the ditch and onto his shoulders to return to the military vehicle. The Humvee was spacious inside and had three rows of seating. The trunk was also equipped with additional seats and added one more row to make seating for 12 people. Huo Shaoheng and Zhao Liangze were in the third row, and the second row was empty. Yin Shixiong took the unconscious Little Li to the Humvee, while Huo Shaoheng and Zhao Liangze moved to the second seat to allow the third row to collapse, creating a makeshift cot. Little Li laid on the cot without moving and breathed weakly.
“Take the first aid kit!” Fan Jian turned and flung it at Yin Shixiong, before slamming on the gas and continuing to drive forward.
Yin Shixiong took out medication from the first aid kid and immediately cleaned and dressed Little Li’s wounds, then injected him with anti fever and anti-inflammatory medication. He also realigned his broken arm and fixed it to a temporary plastic board. Every Special Ops soldier underwent first aid training, so it was not a challenge for the exceptionally talented Yin Shixiong.
Fan Jian stepped on the accelerator and the Humvee roared into the thick curtain of rain, towards the entrance of the villa. With the aid of medication, Little Li was able to wake quickly. He opened his eyes to saw Huo Shaoheng and reflexively stood to salute him.
Huo Shaoheng waved his hand in dismissal, “You’re injured, that’s unnecessary.”
“Yes, Chief!” Little Li flushed with emotion, half his face was swollen like a steamed bun and one eye was almost sunken in.
Yin Shixiong tidied the first aid kit to carry it and looked at Little Li questioningly, “What about Gu Nianzhi? Where is she?”
Little Li quickly explained, “I was about to report to Chief!” He panted as he explained the situation from start to end. As he finished, they had arrived to the totally secured entrance of the villa. The police set up blockades at the entrance to ensure vehicles could only enter and not leave. The incoming vehicles must have permits issued by the C City Police Headquarters or garrison. Huo Shaoheng remained in the car, his gaze shifting to the window. The darkened glass reflected his despairingly beautiful face, frigid enough to cause palpitations. His inky eyes were darker than the rainy night sky as he sat silently like a mountain in the Humvee. Fan Jian dug through the glovebox on his left side for a long time before producing a permit issued by the garrison for the policeman guarding the entrance.
The police glanced at him then looked inside the vehicle, “Who are you people? Out of the car!”