Huo Hanshan couldn’t help but freeze in surprise.
He had never expected to hear such ruthless words from Ming Yan’s mouth. She had always been utterly obedient to him.
He knew she was terrified of injections, trembling violently every time she was pricked, needing a long time to recover…
Yet, for his sake, she had donated blood to Qin Wan many times.
Huo Hanshan’s expression grew hesitant as he looked up at Ming Yan. “Then…”
“Sister Ming Yan…” Before he could finish, Qin Wan suddenly interrupted from the side, tears already welling in her eyes before she spoke. “What… what do you mean? Are you cursing me to die?”
Ming Yan stared coldly at her. This woman’s malice and obsession were matched only by her first-rate acting skills, fooling Huo Hanshan time and again.
Perhaps… he was willingly deceived.
A cold smile curled at the corner of Ming Yan’s lips. “Whoever wants to donate blood can do it. I won’t be giving you any more of mine!”
Qin Wan turned and clung to Huo Hanshan’s arm, her voice filled with grievance. “Hanshan, look at her. She’s actually cursing me to die. Does she want me to lie in the ICU next to my mom before she’s happy?”
Qin Wan’s mother had lain in the ICU for five years after saving Huo Hanshan and still hadn’t woken up.
It was precisely because of this that Huo Hanshan felt guilty toward Qin Wan and showed her special favor.
But Qin Wan exploited this, always bringing up her mother whenever she stirred up trouble.
And Huo Hanshan indulged her every time.
However, this time was different. When Huo Hanshan heard Qin Wan mention her mother, he frowned slightly.
He would always remember five years ago, the moment the truck lost control and crashed toward them. Aunt Qin had pushed him away with all her might, only to fall under the wheels herself, her blood staining the ground beneath her…
But Ming Yan…
Seeing him remain silent for so long, a flicker of hope rose in Ming Yan’s heart.
Just once.
If only Huo Hanshan would stand by her side just once.
She would feel that all her years of devotion had been worth it.
It wasn’t that he didn’t like her—he just couldn’t bring himself to.
“Ming Yan, donate blood to Qin Wan one more time, alright? I promise it’ll be the last!” Huo Hanshan looked up at her, his dark, ink-like eyes reflecting her face.
The hope that had kindled within her instantly turned ice-cold.
Ming Yan let out a bitter laugh—she was truly foolish.
To still harbor hope for him.
It turned out that every choice he made was the same.
And every time, she was the one he abandoned after weighing the pros and cons…
Qin Wan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. When she looked at Ming Yan, her eyes and brows were filled with triumph. “Sister Ming Yan, it seems I’ll have to trouble you to donate blood for me again this time. Thank you so much!”
Ming Yan glanced at her sideways.
—Huo Hanshan truly cared for her…
She had once foolishly believed that Huo Hanshan was learning to love slowly.
But now, with his usual aloof indifference, he was telling her—he would never like her in this lifetime.
Ming Yan withdrew her gaze and swept it indifferently over Huo Hanshan. “I said I won’t donate blood to her.”
Huo Hanshan frowned slightly. The indifference in Ming Yan’s eyes made him uncomfortable.
He still remembered the first time he saw Ming Yan. It was a bright summer day, and her smile had been even more radiant than the sunlight.
But when had she stopped smiling?
“What should I do? If Sister Ming Yan doesn’t give me a blood transfusion, I’ll die!” Qin Wan’s face was filled with panic. “Huo Hanshan, you promised my mom you would take care of me…”
Huo Hanshan’s voice was icy cold. “I’ll find someone else to give you a transfusion right now. I won’t let you die!”
Qin Wan widened her eyes, looking at Huo Hanshan with disbelief. “What if we can’t find anyone? Ming Yan has given me transfusions so many times already. Our blood types match, and there have been no rejection reactions. Why change now?”
Huo Hanshan remained silent.
Tears immediately welled up in Qin Wan’s eyes. “Fine, fine. If you won’t take care of me, I’ll go find Aunt Mei!”
With that, she ran crying into the ward.
Not long after, Wang Mei was dragged out by Qin Wan.
Wang Mei had just fallen asleep a short while ago and still looked somewhat tired.
It was unclear what Qin Wan had told her, but her gaze swept over Ming Yan with a hint of reproach.
“Hanshan, don’t always bully Xiao Wan. Her mother became a vegetable to save you. Now, it’s just asking Ming Yan to give her a little blood—it’s not a big deal. Besides, she’s done it so many times already, nothing will happen. But if Xiao Wan doesn’t get a transfusion immediately, she could die!”
Huo Hanshan pursed his lips, his brow slightly furrowed. “Mom, I said I’d find someone right away. There’s also blood in the blood bank. It doesn’t have to be Ming Yan’s.”
“Aunt Mei, look at him! He only knows how to care about Ming Yan, not me!” Qin Wan’s words dragged Ming Yan into the conflict.
Wang Mei frowned with a headache. However, Huo Hanshan’s expression was cold and unreadable, his eyes sharp and intimidating. She knew that once her son made up his mind, no one could persuade him otherwise.
Helpless, she could only turn to Ming Yan. “Ming Yan, could you give Xiao Wan a little blood? Please, just consider it a favor for me.”
Ming Yan smiled.
She knew it would come to this!
Every time Qin Wan threw a tantrum, she was always the one who had to give in.
And Wang Mei, her future mother-in-law, always chose to let her suffer.
Well, of course.
From the very beginning, she had been the one chasing after them.
She remembered her first meeting with Wang Mei during the winter break five years ago.
Back then, she had just started university.
One night, returning to campus too late, she was dragged into a dark alley by a drunken thug. In that critical moment, a tall, thin young man saved her. Though she didn’t see his face, she noticed the scar on his chest where the thug had slashed him with a knife.
Later, after she was discharged from the hospital, she saw that same scar on Huo Hanshan’s body.
She had already fallen in love with him at first sight, and learning that he was the one who had saved her that day filled her with even more joy.
Even though he had always been cold and distant toward her, she only became more determined in her pursuit.
Though she was the belle of the law department, she shamelessly chased after him, losing herself in the pursuit.
During the winter break that followed, unable to bear the long month apart, she secretly bought a train ticket to his hometown without telling her family and went to see him.
Having grown up in the city in a well-off family, she had hardly ever experienced hardship.
When she finally found Huo Hanshan after asking around, she saw him being pinned firmly to the ground.
“You stubborn child, why won’t you listen? We already told you there are wolves in the mountains. Didn’t you see how Aunt Sun was bitten? Going up the mountain to look for someone now is just asking for death!”
“Your mother probably encountered wolves. We’ve already called the police. Wait for them to arrive before going up the mountain. Don’t act rashly.”
The villagers in the village were all talking at once.
Meanwhile, Huo Hanshan was pinned to the ground, his face smeared with dirt and covered in grass and debris.
Yet he just stared fixedly at the mountain, his expression still blank, but his eyes like those of a wild beast on the verge of madness.
“Let him go!” Ming Yan rushed forward, summoning strength from who knows where, and shoved aside the two men holding Huo Hanshan down.
“Where did this little girl come from? What are you causing trouble for? We’re doing this for his own good. It’s almost dark—going up the mountain now would be like feeding yourself to the wolves!”
Huo Hanshan sat silently on the ground, his long fingers clenched tightly, still not uttering a word.
“There are so many of you here! While it’s not completely dark yet, everyone should help search the mountain. That’s better than just standing around doing nothing!”
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances, but no one responded.
If they really encountered wolves, it could be a matter of life and death!
“If you won’t help, then don’t stop him!” Ming Yan reached out and took Huo Hanshan’s hand. “Come on, I’ll go up the mountain with you to find your aunt!”
Huo Hanshan sat on the ground, looking up at her.
“Let’s go!”
Ming Yan pulled him to his feet and, holding his hand, started walking toward the mountain.
By then, the sky had already darkened.
“Huo Hanshan, don’t worry. I’ll help you find your aunt!” Ming Yan took a deep breath, her eyes fixed straight ahead into the dark and dangerous path, as if constantly trying to bolster her own courage, even though her heart was pounding so hard from fear it felt like it might leap out of her throat.
“After we find your aunt, let’s learn martial arts and taekwondo together. No one will ever be able to stop you from doing what you want to do again!”
The image of Huo Hanshan being so helplessly pinned to the ground had deeply shaken Ming Yan.
It was only then that she realized that even someone as proud and outstanding as Huo Hanshan could feel so utterly helpless and desperate.
She didn’t want to see him like that.
He should be shining, someone whose excellence everyone looked up to.
It must be said that fate was still on their side.
Just as the sky was about to turn completely dark, they were fortunate enough to find Wang Mei, who was on the verge of unconsciousness from excessive blood loss.
She hadn’t encountered wolves—she had simply tripped, and a branch had pierced her calf, causing her to lose a lot of blood.
Huo Hanshan immediately carried her on his back and headed down the mountain.
Ming Yan remembered how Wang Mei had thanked her profusely at the time, repeatedly telling Huo Hanshan not to let down such a wonderful girl.
But now—
times had changed.
Everything was different.
Now, Wang Mei was begging her to donate blood for someone else.