Chapter 25

Upon receiving the phone call, Shi Weiguo, even uncertain about the authenticity of the news, immediately took his son and dialed the number of his future son-in-law in Province G, who was looking everywhere.

After hanging up the phone, Su Xi also bought some fresh clothes for Shi Lingling at the clothes shop.

Upon returning to the hospital, she found that the class monitor and Li Yundong had already returned. She placed the clothes she was holding on the bench and asked, “Class Monitor, what did the police say?”

Wang Hongbing wiped his face and sighed. “The police said that, since someone died, even though we reported the case, we had to leave detailed information. If we didn’t have our student IDs and the police hadn’t called the school to verify our identities, we might not have been able to get away today. They even want us to be at their beck and call.”

Su Xi didn’t expect reporting a case in this life to be so complicated. As someone who had never been to the police station in her past and present life, she didn’t quite understand these matters. She apologized, “I’m sorry, class monitor. I’ll treat you, FangFang, and Li Yundong to a meal another day. I really caused trouble for you today.”

Wang Hongbing and the others quickly waved their hands. Wu Fangfang walked over, holding Su Xi’s arm, and scolded, “How can you blame yourself? We’re all helping people; it’s only right. Why are you being so polite? Besides, the school knows that what we did was a good deed. Maybe they’ll even praise us.”

Su Xi smiled without saying a word, but she remembered today’s help. Someday, she would have to repay the favor. She didn’t plan to continue this topic, so she raised her wrist and looked at the time, saying, “Class monitor, it’s only around 11 o’clock now. You guys go back; you can still play for a few more hours. I’ll stay here.”

Wang Hongbing frowned. “Can you manage alone?”

He indeed had to go back. Previously, in the urgency to save someone, he only rushed to the hospital and didn’t encounter any classmates along the way. Naturally, no one would know they came to the hospital.

Su Xi smiled. “I’ve just contacted Shi Lingling’s family. They said they’ll come over as soon as possible. It shouldn’t be long before someone comes to relieve me.”

Wu Fangfang: “Then let’s wait with you, and we’ll leave together when they arrive.”

Su Xi shook her head firmly and said, “No, I’m not sure when Shi Lingling’s family will arrive. It’s useless for all of us to stay here. Besides, I’ll head back to school later; it’s very close to here.”

What she didn’t mention was that when she goes back, she wants to visit her home as well. She doesn’t know how her brother and the others are doing.

In the end, Wu Fangfang and the others were persuaded, especially since the class monitor was in charge of this activity, and leaving on his own would not be appropriate.

Su Xi didn’t want to disturb Wu Fangfang’s rare date, so she firmly ‘dismissed’ Wu Fangfang, who wanted to stay with her.

As for Li Yundong, he didn’t know what was going on. He didn’t say anything and just blushed, awkwardly walking away.

Su Xi: “……” I must have annoyed him by asking him to carry a dead body. Maybe Li Yundong was upset but didn’t want to complain to her.

‘How about getting each of them a gift later, aside from treating them to a meal? ’Su Xi clenched her right hand into a small fist and hit it against her left palm.

She really is a clever little demon!

…………….

Yan An is the captain of a unit in the J City Army. He is 30 years old this year, considered a mature youth in this era. After eagerly waiting for his fiancée, who was promised to him as a child, to graduate, the wedding is approaching.

Just after submitting the application for marriage leave, he received a call from home saying his fiancée had disappeared.

Naturally, Yan An didn’t believe it. His sister said nonsense about his little girl not wanting to marry him and eloping with her lover.

After sorting out matters with the troops, he borrowed a friend’s car as he found the train too slow with its frequent stops and rushed home, driving recklessly all the way.

The only fortunate thing is that he had already decided to take wedding leave, so he had arranged for the deputy team to take over his work in advance. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to return home so promptly.

Upon arriving home, he wore a cold expression, ignoring his sister’s sarcastic remarks. An ex-scout, Yan An, quickly determined that his fiancée had been kidnapped.

This realization sank his heart to the bottom of a valley. He couldn’t fathom how his delicate little fiancée, like a hothouse flower, could fare well in the hands of kidnappers. He wished she had just hidden away in a fit of anger; at least she would be safe.

Despite his urgency and anxiety, he dared not show too much emotion, fearing the elderly members of the family wouldn’t be able to bear it.

He privately discussed his findings with his father-in-law, then asked the father-in-law, who was the deputy secretary and couldn’t easily leave the province, to stay in the local area and continue searching for clues. Meanwhile, he took his brothers and followed the faint leads all the way to G province.

Upon arriving in G province, his fourth brother-in-law, Shi Nian An, who was staying at the guesthouse on standby, received a call from his father saying they had found his sister.

It goes without saying that Shi Nian An’s excitement and joy were the same as his father-in-law’s; even if it was a lie, he couldn’t miss any chance of finding his little sister. He initially planned to go on his own based on the address but remembered his father’s advice after running a few steps—this could be a trap specifically set for their family, so they should act together.

He only remembered his father’s advice after running a few steps. 

With this in mind, Shi Nian An gritted his teeth, changed direction, and sprinted toward the location where his three older brothers had gone in the morning.

……………….

Four o’clock in the afternoon.

Su Xi had just fed Shi Lingling her first bowl of soup. This was a special favor from the hospital canteen chef, who managed to secure some quality ingredients. Once again, Su Xi marveled at the power of money.

“How are you feeling? You’ve just finished lunch. Do you want to rest like this for a while before lying down later?” Su Xi wiped the oil stains from Shi Lingling’s mouth with a handkerchief and then used a clean towel to wipe away the sweat.

Shi Lingling’s surgery had ended over two hours ago, and the anesthesia had mostly worn off. At this point, beads of sweat were forming on her pale face due to the pain.

With a feeble shake of her head, she replied, “Let me rest like this for a while. Thank you, Su Xi. If it weren’t for you today, I’m afraid I would have died long ago.”

“What are you talking about? You should think this way: escaping a great disaster brings great fortune. Does it hurt a lot? If so, why don’t you take a nap?” Su Xi interrupted Shi Lingling, looking at the beads of sweat that had just been wiped off but were oozing again. Su Xi thought it must have been too painful.

Indeed, in this era, there were no pain relievers; it was entirely based on endurance. Just thinking about that feeling… ugh…

Shi Lingling is indeed a bit tired. Perhaps the aftereffects of anesthesia were still lingering. However, she didn’t want Su Xi to just stay there. Apologetically, she said, “Su Xi, if you have something to do, go ahead and do it. You’ve been busy for me all day.”

Seeing Shi Ling Ling’s eyelids struggling to stay open and enduring the desire to sleep, Su Xi found it both amusing and strangely distressing. “Today is Saturday. Originally, I was planning to go mountain climbing, just for fun. I have nothing else to do. I’ll stay here with you. I’m not going anywhere. We can still talk when you wake up.”

Su Xi was not sure when Shi Lingling’s family would be able to come here. She was worried that she had just finished the surgery and became too excited, so she didn’t tell them that her family had already reached the G province, searching for her.

Though somewhat selfish and taking advantage of someone’s kindness, Shi Lingling felt relieved when she heard that Su Xi was willing to accompany her.

Whether it was gratitude for saving her life or the fact that this younger girl was stronger than she was, Shi Lingling felt a sense of dependence on Su Xi, who showered her with a feeling of security.

So, after forcing a smile, she couldn’t hold on any longer and drifted off to sleep.

There weren’t many people hospitalized at this time. Although Su Xi chose a double room, the other bed was empty, without even a blanket.

She didn’t mind the discomfort of the wooden bed. She lay down and closed her eyes to rest.

After an unknown amount of time passed, suddenly, there were chaotic and hurried footsteps outside the corridor.

Su Xi opened her eyes, quickly got out of bed, put on her shoes, and just as she did, the door was forcefully pushed open.

Su Xi took a brisk step and found herself standing by Shi Lingling’s bed, blocking the inquisitive gazes of several men at the doorway.

The men at the door, tall and somewhat disheveled, with scruffy beards and bloodshot eyes, indeed fit the image of anxious relatives looking for someone. Thinking about this, Su Xi scrutinized their appearances and noticed a resemblance in their facial features, especially the youngest one, who shared about 60% similarity with Shi Lingling.

Looking at the five men, she asked, “Are you Shi Lingling’s brothers and fiancé?”

With Su Xi’s words, the anxious hearts of the men at the door settled.

Yan An, unable to care about anything else, took a big stride to reach the bedside. He looked at his fiancée, who used to be as bright and warm as a spring flower but now looked thin and pale.

This iron-blooded man, who didn’t shed tears even when wounded, had red eyes. He sat on the only wooden stool by the sickbed, delicately cradling her hands, full of scars, in his own palms.

He cherished her with kisses, feeling helpless about what to do.

If it were any other day, Yan An, this wolf cub, who acted so frivolous with their little sister, and the four older brothers would have erupted in anger.

However, this time, with the disappearance of his little sister, this man seemed to have gone crazy. If it weren’t for the need to have the strength to find Lingling, he would hardly eat or sleep.

The actions of Yan An were all observed by the Shi Brothers, and they knew that this man genuinely cared for his sister.

After Eldest Brother Shi confirmed that his sister was just asleep, his emotions slightly calmed, he gratefully looked towards the lifesaver who had moved away, allowing their reunion.

Although the lifesaver looked more delicate and beautiful than his own sister, she didn’t quite look like someone who could rescue his sister from kidnappers.

However, based on the protective stance she took in front of his sister’s sickbed, Eldest Brother Shi was also grateful. So, he approached Su Xi and solemnly bowed, expressing his gratitude: “Thank you very much for saving our sister. In the future, as long as you need anything from the Shi family, just ask. We will definitely not refuse!”