Chapter 14: Give Me Back My Child  

The storm was truly ferocious.  

Out of the corner of her eye, Qian Lai caught sight of Qiao Muting’s long legs climbing over the side of the train car, her heart clenching with worry for him.  

On the other side, she had to distract the deranged woman, stabilize her emotions, and coordinate with Qiao Muting’s plan.  

“Big sister, Aqing is safe now.  

Look at this heavy rain—Aqing has been crying nonstop because he’s scared of it.  

We won’t hurt you, and we won’t take Aqing away.  

But the two of you standing there is too dangerous. Come, let’s go back.  

The rain is so heavy—don’t let the child catch a cold.”  

Qian Lai cautiously took a step forward, but the woman immediately grew alert.  

“Go back! Step back! Don’t even think about taking Aqing!”  

By now, Qiao Muting had already grabbed the railing and begun moving behind the woman.  

He was practically suspended in mid-air at this point, making Qian Lai even more nervous.  

The train entered a sharp S-curve, swaying more violently than before.  

The sudden centrifugal force caused Qiao Muting’s foot to slip—he nearly got thrown off.  

Qian Lai’s heart lurched.  

Fortunately, his arm strength was astonishing. He quickly pulled himself back, securing his legs onto the railing behind the woman.  

To avoid detection, he had to curl up and hide beneath the railing.  

Ahead, the train was about to enter a tunnel. Once inside, the rescue would become even more perilous.  

The train rocked more frequently now.  

The woman had no choice but to grip the iron chain on the railing with one hand while clutching the child tightly with the other.  

As the train swayed again, Qiao Muting seized the moment to vault over the railing and subdue the woman.  

But at the critical moment, she spotted him.  

She fought desperately against Qiao Muting, prompting gasps from everyone.  

Just then, the train plunged into the tunnel, plunging everything into near-total darkness—only the dim glow of the tail light remained.  

“Let go of my child… I’ll kill you…”  

Qiao Muting leaped over the railing with his long legs, reaching directly for the child.  

Unexpectedly, the woman was far stronger than an average person. With a swift sidestep, she evaded his grasp and shoved him hard with her other hand—  

Before anyone could react, Qian Lai had already dashed forward, grabbing Qiao Muting just as he teetered on the brink of falling.  

Summoning all her strength, she barely managed to pull him back.  

The sheer momentum nearly sent him crashing into her, but he caught her in his arms instead.  

The sudden closeness startled the deranged woman, giving the train police the perfect opportunity to rush forward and restrain her. Others quickly joined in, finally subduing her.  

Still shaken, Qian Lai clung tightly to Qiao Muting’s waist, burying her face in his chest as she sobbed.  

That had been terrifying!  

If she had reacted even a second slower, if she had hesitated for just a moment—he would have been pushed off the train.  

It was too close!  

He had actually risked his life climbing the train to save the child.  

Only a real father would go to such lengths for his own child!  

Held in her embrace, Qiao Muting felt an immense sense of comfort, both physically and emotionally.  

His large hand cradled her trembling shoulders as he murmured softly, “Thank you for saving me. If it weren’t for you, I’d be meeting my ancestors by now.”  

He was infuriating! How could he still joke at a time like this?  

At least they were safe—only Wenquan was still wailing.  

The moment the train emerged from the tunnel, the heavy rain poured down on them once more.  

Only then did Qian Lai snap back to reality—the shirt draped over her shoulders had long since flown away.  

Now, she stood barefoot in the rain, wearing nothing but a deep-V camisole nightgown.

Soaked to the bone, the nightgown might as well not have been worn, leaving all her charms exposed to the man’s gaze.

Qiao Muting understood immediately, shielding the woman in front of him with his own body to cover her embarrassment. “Let’s hurry back,” he said.

Fortunately, Hua Rui arrived just in time with a towel, though Wenquan continued to wail uncontrollably in her arms.

The child was utterly terrified!

“It’s alright. It’s alright. Don’t cry. Wenquan is brave…”

The young father’s gentle coaxing was full of charm.

He instinctively reached for Qian Lai’s hand, only for both of them to notice a bloody gash on her forearm. “Ouch.”

“You’re hurt? Let’s get that bandaged right away.”

For such a minor injury, a couple of drops of Divine Spring Water would suffice.

But the man insisted on dragging her to the infirmary without another word.

He took charge as if he owned the place, refusing to let anyone else handle it.

“Needs disinfecting. Squeeze my hand if it hurts.”

“Does this hurt?”

“Is the bandage too tight?”

“Too loose?”

He kept asking questions.

Gauze and medicine bottles danced obediently under his long, nimble fingers.

“Doctor Qiao, you’re an excellent doctor!”

Qiao Muting’s heart blossomed with joy.

Qian Lai studied the man before her closely.

His short hair was half-damp, his bangs messily strewn across his forehead—the disheveled look only amplified his masculine appeal.

His sword-like brows softened with tenderness, his dark eyes flickering, his nose bridge high and straight with a barely noticeable tiny black mole at the tip.

They say rosy lips and pearly teeth enhance a woman’s beauty most. Yet this man’s fair skin paired with his ruddy lips made him look irresistibly sexy, his heroic aura tinged with gentleness.

Hah! Plum Blossom Eyes with Silkworm Puffs!

A romantic at heart, coupled with a generous spirit.

But was that necessarily accurate?

“What’s wrong with you?”

Qian Lai noticed patches of dark purple spreading across the man’s wrist. His movements were gradually slowing, pausing intermittently.

Qiao Muting had already sensed something amiss with his body.

Earlier, while climbing the train, his gloves had been too slippery, so he’d removed them. During his tussle with the woman, there’d been contact…

He was probably about to have an episode!

Gritting his teeth against the discomfort, he didn’t dare admit how desperately he wanted her right now.

She might be the only one who could save him. But how could he possibly say that out loud?

“Let’s go quickly.”

He could only hope the medicine he carried would provide some relief—the rest would have to rely on sheer willpower.

No sooner had they stepped out of the infirmary than Qiao Muting suddenly staggered, clutching his chest in obvious agony as he leaned against the corridor wall.

Why was the reaction so intense this time?

“What’s wrong?” Qian Lai supported him.

It was as if all his strength had been drained—he was now limp, nearly collapsing.

The man began taking huge, heaving breaths, his chest rising and falling violently.

“What’s happening to you?”

“I… I can’t… breathe…”

Completely sapped of energy, the man slumped straight to the floor.

Ah!

Qian Lai screamed. Cradling his drooping head, frantic and terrified, tears streaming down her face: “What’s going on?”

His breathing grew increasingly labored yet slowed abruptly in frequency.

He gripped her hand desperately, his eyes now bloodshot, his sword-like brows furrowed as he gazed pleadingly at Qian Lai, gasping brokenly: “If I… don’t make it… help me… take the child… to the military.”

“Don’t talk nonsense! Do you have medicine? Or anything that can save you? Tell me quickly…”

“The medicine… the medicine, you…” Before Qiao Muting could finish speaking, he collapsed weakly to the ground, his breath faint.

Qian Lai was utterly shocked.

Just moments ago, they had been comrades-in-arms saving the child together, having gone through hardships side by side.

To watch someone so full of life suddenly fall before her very eyes?

She couldn’t accept it at all.

“Doctor Qiao, wake up!”