Chapter 34: The Miserable Cry in the Rainy Night  

After moving slightly, Zhou Xiaochuan stole another glance at Jiang Rou.  

It was as if he was checking whether she had noticed his small movements.  

Hmph!  

He wasn’t scared, and he definitely didn’t want to be closer to Jiang Rou.  

It was just… more comfortable this way.  

Finally, Zhou Xiaochuan lay down, still hugging Zhou Xiaohua.  

But Jiang Rou had seen every little movement made by this little wolf cub.  

There were only so many people in the room, and with the power out, they were surrounded by darkness. Any shift in their shadows was easy to notice.  

Jiang Rou saw it but chose not to say anything.  

She knew that because of his childhood experiences, Zhou Xiaochuan had matured far too early.  

At just six years old, he already had a strong sense of pride.  

If she pointed it out, it would only make Zhou Xiaochuan resist even more, maybe even get defensive.  

That wouldn’t be good at all.

Just like that.

The three of them still slept as they had for the past few days, lying under their blankets, separated by a slightly shorter distance than before.

Outside, the heavy rain poured relentlessly, never stopping.

Inside the house, the sound of water dripping could also be heard.

The wind and rain intertwined, creating a chaotic symphony.

Even more terrifying was…

The sound of thunder.

Boom!

Boom!

The thunder rumbled alongside flashes of lightning, as if determined to split apart the murky sky, flickering again and again.

It looked just like some immortal undergoing a heavenly tribulation.

Jiang Rou listened, her body involuntarily shivering as fear crept up her spine.

She thought of the two children beside her…

In the darkness, Jiang Rou quietly sat up slightly and looked toward Zhou Xiaochuan and Zhou Xiaohua.

The two small children clung tightly to each other, their bodies pressed together as if they were still in the womb, seeking comfort and security from one another.

Zhou Xiaohua, in particular, was especially frightened. She kept burrowing into Zhou Xiaochuan’s embrace, as if she wished she could hide herself away completely.

While holding the little girl, Zhou Xiaochuan also covered Zhou Xiaohua’s ears with both hands, trying to shield her from the thunderous noise.

“You can’t hear it. Our Xiaohua can’t hear it. Brother is covering your ears.”

“Don’t be afraid. Brother will protect you.”

“Xiaohua, just go to sleep. Once you fall asleep, you won’t hear anything anymore.”

Zhou Xiaochuan whispered softly, comforting Zhou Xiaohua.

Jiang Rou observed them in silence for a while. Seeing that the two children were not acting abnormally, she withdrew her gaze and lay back down again.

Listening to the sound of the rain, drowsiness gradually overtook her.

Before she fell asleep, she hoped—just as Zhou Chongshan had said—that by morning, the storm would have passed…

Little did she know.

The two children beside her had begun making noises again.

Zhou Xiaochuan’s body was unusually tense as he held Zhou Xiaohua, and there was a distinct chill radiating from him.  

His brows were tightly furrowed, his teeth clenched, as if he were enduring some unbearable pain.  

Yet, he refused to let out even the faintest whimper.  

However, beads of cold sweat seeped uncontrollably from his forehead, trickling down his face.  

Even his breathing had become heavy and labored.  

Zhou Xiaohua was still half-asleep, drifting between wakefulness and slumber.  

She was pressed so closely against Zhou Xiaochuan that she immediately sensed something was wrong with him.  

Slowly, Zhou Xiaohua opened her eyes. She reached out her small hand and gently touched Zhou Xiaochuan’s chest, then his face.  

“Brother, brother…”  

“What’s wrong?”  

Zhou Xiaochuan gritted his teeth, his breath hissing through them as he endured the pain. He lifted his hand, pressed it against Zhou Xiaohua’s tiny fingers, and gently tucked her hand back under the blanket.  

“Brother is fine, Xiaohua. Don’t worry. Just sleep peacefully…”  

As he spoke, he patted Zhou Xiaohua’s back in a soothing rhythm, lulling her back to sleep.  

Hearing his words, Zhou Xiaohua finally relaxed. She let out a small yawn and, in her drowsy state, drifted off again.  

—  

The storm that night was far more violent than anyone had expected.  

In the latter half of the night, instead of easing, it grew even more ferocious.  

The howling wind and pounding rain never ceased, roaring on without end.  

Even though Jiang Rou had fallen asleep in such an environment, it was a restless and shallow sleep, barely enough to be called rest.  

Half-asleep, half-awake—  

She heard it…  

“Waa… waa… waa…”  

It was crying.  

A child’s cry, filled with desperation and panic.  

One wail after another, urgent and sorrowful.  

“Waa… waa… waa…”  

“Waa… waa… waa…”

Why was there a child’s cry?  

There were no other children in her house.  

Jiang Rou, still groggy from sleep, momentarily thought she was back in her original world. She forgot that she had already traveled through time, forgot that she had somehow become a mother without pain or effort, and forgot that she now had two children.  

Then, in a sudden flash of thought—  

A child!  

Crying!  

Jiang Rou was startled awake.  

Xiaochuan!  

Xiaohua!  

Her eyes flew open as she jolted upright from the bed.  

At that exact moment—  

Boom!  

A deafening clap of thunder shook the night.  

A streak of white lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the entire room for just a brief second.  

In that fleeting moment of light, Jiang Rou saw that Zhou Xiaohua, who was supposed to be sleeping beside Zhou Xiaochuan, had somehow crawled out of bed.  

The small child, wearing only thin clothes, had made her way to Jiang Rou’s side.  

She was crying…  

Tears streamed down her tiny face like a torrential downpour, her sobs filled with utter misery…

Zhou Xiaohua’s entire little face was drenched in tears.  

【Wuwuwu…】  

【Waa waa waa…】  

The voiceless child, filled with nervousness and helplessness, could do nothing but clutch Jiang Rou’s blanket tightly with her tiny hands, trying desperately to wake her up.  

【Save Brother… Quick… Save Brother… Waa waa waa…】  

Zhou Xiaohua’s tears fell as heavily as the rain outside, streaming down her cheeks uncontrollably.  

The moment she saw Jiang Rou wake up, she cried even harder. Her small body trembled violently, shivering from distress.  

Jiang Rou hurriedly sat up and was met with this heartbreaking sight.  

She didn’t have time to think—she reached out immediately and pulled Zhou Xiaohua into her arms.  

“Xiaohua? What’s wrong? What happened? Don’t be scared, don’t be scared, I’m here. We’re not afraid, no more crying. Tell me, where does it hurt? Did you have a nightmare?”  

Jiang Rou held the little girl tightly, her voice filled with urgency as she tried to comfort her.  

But the moment she asked—  

Zhou Xiaohua, who was already shaking with anxiety, became even more frantic.  

She couldn’t make a sound, and as she sobbed, she gasped for air in large, unsteady breaths.  

Her breathing was weak and ragged, making her sound even more pitiful.  

Such a small child, gasping like that—  

Tears streamed down her face as she waved her hands frantically, struggling to convey something to Jiang Rou.  

But unlike Zhou Xiaochuan, Jiang Rou didn’t have the ability to understand Zhou Xiaohua’s unspoken words.

Wait!  

Zhou Xiaochuan!  

Jiang Rou suddenly thought of something.  

Zhou Xiaohua was already crying like this, but what about Zhou Xiaochuan?  

Zhou Xiaochuan, who had always been Zhou Xiaohua’s protector, how could he not know anything at all?  

What happened to Zhou Xiaochuan?!  

Jiang Rou’s heart trembled.  

Under the faint light, she quickly turned her gaze to the other side of the bed.  

She saw… Zhou Xiaochuan curled up into a huddled ball.