Chapter 46.2

Xie Zhen and his team descended smoothly. They quickly removed some smaller rubble and gradually exposed a family of three trapped beneath.

The father was on top, protecting the mother with a hunched posture, while the mother, in turn, shielded a child about a year old.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear that the mother had injuries on her fingers, which the child had been unconsciously sucking on.

But the mother was already dead, and the child, struggling to draw anything, had cried itself hoarse.

With tears in his eyes, Xie Zhen carefully picked up the nearly lifeless child from under the woman. The soldiers saluted the deceased parents, paying their highest respects.

Some of the younger soldiers, reminded of their own parents back home, roughly wiped away their tears and began the difficult task of separating the couple.

However, the father’s grip on the mother was so tight that they could not separate them.

“Captain!” the young soldiers said, clearly troubled.

Xie Zhen’s voice was hoarse as he commanded, “Tie the two of them together with a rope and let the people above pull them up.”

“Understood!”

As the people above pulled up the couple’s bodies, a commotion erupted among the crowd:

“Oh no, it’s so tragic for Factory Manager Zhang and his wife. What about the child? Is the child alright?”

“Has anyone informed their eldest son? I heard he’s studying out of town.”

“It’s so pitiful!”

“Why is the sky so merciless? Factory Manager Zhang and his wife were so kind to us poor folks.”

“Good people don’t live long…”

The crowd buzzed with chatter, and some, unable to contain their sorrow, began to cry. Death always brings sadness.

When Xie Zhen emerged last, he was carrying the sole surviving child, bound in his arms. A few aunts, who were sobbing uncontrollably, were surprised that such a small child had survived. They hurriedly took the child from Xie Zhen’s arms.

One of them loudly declared, “Let’s go, come to my house. I have some milk powder from the stuff we dug out. The baby must be starving.”

In times of adversity, true feelings showed. Neighbors stepped up, taking the child to find food.

The remaining people started discussing how to arrange Factory Manager Zhang’s funeral and notify his relatives.

Gradually, the crowd began to disperse and become busy with their tasks.

At this moment, Xie Zhen noticed Su Xi sitting up on the bamboo bed. He was about to offer a smile when he was struck by the sight of the bloodstains on her chest.

For the first time, Xie Zhen was overwhelmed. His mind went blank, and he could no longer hear the surrounding noises.

He stood there, stunned, his gaze fixed on the blood on Su Xi’s clothes, as if unable to comprehend what he was seeing.

As the red stain that pained him seeped into his vision, Xie Zhen’s eyes turned bloodshot. Without warning, he rushed toward Su Xi, stumbling and kneeling on the ground without feeling it. He hugged her tightly, trembling uncontrollably.

The impact of the dead couple had hit him hard, making him fear deeply for their future together. He had envisioned every part of his future with her, and the thought of losing her made him shudder at how bleak his life would be without her.

At that moment, Xie Zhen admitted to himself that he was afraid.

Su Xi, surprised by his intense reaction, sensed his fear. She reached up with her dirt-streaked hand and hugged his back, gently patting his tense shoulders. For some reason, tears began to fall uncontrollably from her eyes, dripping onto his shoulder and soaking into his uniform, making Xie Zhen’s heart ache even more.

Xie Zhen buried his face in her neck, inhaling her unique floral fragrance deeply. The scent, soothing despite the pain, eased his tormented heart somewhat.

Then, without warning, Xie Zhen wrapped his arms around her legs and, in response to her startled cry, lifted her up into a princess carry. He had wiped away his sorrowful expression, his face now stern as he addressed his subordinates.

“You continue the search and rescue. I’ll take your sister-in-law to the medical station and be back shortly.”

The soldiers saluted, giving them the reassurance they needed to proceed with their duties.

Su Xi, seeing Xie Zhen’s dark and stern face, found herself at a loss for words. She felt an inexplicable fear and silence enveloped her.

Su Xi nestled quietly in Xie Zhen’s arms, deliberately reaching out to touch his neck. Usually shy and easily embarrassed, Xie Zhen was uncharacteristically unresponsive, not even glancing at her. Realizing that her actions had angered him, Su Xi dared not provoke him further and closed her eyes in feigned sleep.

Xie Zhen carried her all the way to Su Dong’s tent. After ensuring she was safely settled and tended to, he left without giving her a glance—and disappeared from her view.

Su Xi felt a pang of betrayal. Xie Zhen had given her to Su Dong and then left her to face her big brother’s wrath alone. The usually calm and composed Su Dong was now fuming, and his anger was terrifying. Su Xi was berated for several minutes—nearly reduced to tears.

Before she could catch her breath, Xi Yannan arrived with similar fury, delivering another round of scolding. Only after Su Xi promised—almost desperately, never to act so recklessly again did Xi Yannan finally quiet down.

Lying on the hospital bed, Su Xi stared blankly at the ceiling, her mind buzzing with the harsh words of her two brothers. She repeatedly swore to herself that she would never act so recklessly again, realizing how her actions had not only led to her own injury but also caused her loved ones unnecessary worry.

The harsh reprimands from her brothers, combined with the action of Xie Zhen trembling in fear, left Su Xi overwhelmed with guilt. As she closed her eyes, exhaustion finally overtook her, and she fell into a deep sleep.

—o—o—o—

When Su Xi woke up again, the room had already been lit with a kerosene lamp.

The falling leaves signified autumn, and the lamp’s light was like a bean.

The room was dimly lit.

Su Xi blinked and regained her senses, only to discover that her hand was being held in someone’s palm.

She slowly turned her head to look towards the side of the bed.

Indeed, it was Xie Zhen. He was leaning over the edge of the bed, asleep, and still holding her small hand in his palm.

Su Xi dared not move, afraid of disturbing the man’s sleep.

In the faint light, she carefully traced the man’s distinguished features.

Perhaps because of her irritation, even in his sleep, the man’s brows remained furrowed.

Looking down, beneath the high bridge of his nose was a pair of slightly thin lips. Su Xi remembered seeing somewhere a saying that men with thin lips were often cold-hearted and unfeeling.

However, Su Xi thought this was inaccurate. At least, Xie Zhen was a man of affection and loyalty.

He was simply not very good at expressing himself. In every moment they were together, she could clearly feel his tenderness.

Reflecting on their love and all they had been through, Su Xi couldn’t help but curve her brows into a smile, her eyes filled with affection as she looked at the man.

Perhaps Su Xi’s gaze was too intense, as the man suddenly stirred.

Then, he got up, stretched his sore neck a few times, and met Su Xi’s watery, black eyes. Her clear, watery eyes were filled with deep emotion.

Xie Zhen was momentarily stunned, then leaned down and gently touched the young girl’s cheek. With a voice still hoarse from sleep, he asked tenderly, “Xixi, are you feeling better?”

Su Xi was still a bit drowsy and did not want to move. She shifted to the side of the bed and, seeing the puzzled look on the man’s face, coquettishly patted the empty space next to her. “I’m fine now. You know the effects of peach wine, I just want to lie down a bit longer. Come up and sleep with me!”

Xie Zhen could hardly believe his ears.

He doubted whether the thirty-plus hours he had gone without rest had caused him to hallucinate.

His little girl was inviting him… to sleep together?

“Gulp!” Xie Zhen’s Adam’s apple bobbed rapidly.

Su Xi noticed that the man did not move at all, and his gaze even seemed a bit distracted.

Realizing that she might have scared him, she wanted to cover her face in embarrassment.

She truly meant no harm. She just thought that Xie Zhen, lying there, must be uncomfortable.

They were already engaged, so what was the harm in sharing a bed?

Thinking this, Su Xi became more resolute. She took hold of the man’s large hand and, with a firm tug, pulled him over.

The force in her hand made Xie Zhen completely sure that it wasn’t a hallucination.

His little girl had really, truly invited him to sleep together!

In the same bed!!

He quickly removed his shoes and socks, climbed onto the bed, and wrapped the girl in his arms, all within a few seconds.

Feeling Xie Zhen’s strength, Su Xi buried her face in his embrace and let out a soft laugh, saying in a sweet tone, “I’m not going anywhere!” Xie Zhen’s eyes were filled with satisfaction as he rubbed his chin against the top of the girl’s head and said, with a hint of sternness, “If you dare to run away, I’ll spank you.”

Su Xi wasn’t afraid. At that moment, they were holding each other face-to-face, perfectly aligned.

Her hands rested on the man’s waist as she said sweetly, “I’m not afraid.”

Then, in a small, timid voice amidst the man’s muffled laughter, she asked, “You’re not angry with me, are you?”

Xie Zhen’s hand, which was stroking the girl’s hair, paused.

After a moment, he sighed and said, “I’m not angry with you.”

Su Xi nuzzled against the man’s chest and brought up an old issue, “I don’t believe it! You were really harsh before.”

Xie Zhen’s neck felt a bit ticklish from her nuzzling, so he lifted his hand to smooth out the girl’s messy hair. “I’m truly not angry with you. I’m just… just a bit upset with myself for putting you in danger.”

Su Xi heard the self-reproach in the man’s voice and felt a pang in her heart. She struggled to pull away slightly from his embrace.

Looking up at the man, she said urgently, “How can you blame yourself? It was my decision.”

Xie Zhen looked down at the beautiful girl in his arms, who was like a little sprite. She was charming and clever, and though she seemed frail, she had bravely stood up during a crisis.

He had once marveled at his luck, grateful that such an outstanding girl had come into his life and loved him.

He had always believed they would have a long time together.

But today, the couple who had died in each other’s arms had shocked him deeply, and the sight of the girl covered in blood had frightened him even more.

At that moment, he realized that no one knew which would come first: an accident or tomorrow.

With this thought, he lowered his head and locked his gaze on the girl, tenderly kissing her brows and eyes.

For some reason, at that moment, the man suddenly felt a tightness in his throat.

He took a few deep breaths and, after a while, said hoarsely, “Xixi, when we go back… let’s register our marriage.”