Xiao Xiao shook Lu Jingshen from side to side, yet his face remained full of indulgent laughter. He drew her into his arms, letting her lean against him as they both looked up at the star-filled sky.
Not far away, Shen Nianan rested her head lightly on Zhou Yanze’s shoulder. She pointed at a star chart and whispered something softly. Zhou Yanze listened without interrupting, replying now and then in a low voice, the firelight flickering in his steady, composed eyes.
Jiang Yining sat by the campfire with her arms wrapped around her knees, her chin resting quietly as she gazed into the flames. The mountain air had turned cold as night deepened. Without warning, something warm settled over her shoulders. A jacket, carrying a familiar, clean scent, was draped gently around her.
Xie Shiyan sat down beside her. He said nothing, yet he stayed close, the side of his arm pressed against hers, the warmth of him steady and reassuring.
Jiang Yining did not move, nor did she turn to look at him. Instead, she tilted her head slightly and rested it against his shoulder. Firelight danced across her face, and a faint, peaceful smile touched the corner of her lips.
The next two days passed in a blur of laughter, teasing, shared meals, and quiet moments spent watching clouds drift lazily across the sky. Before they knew it, it was time to leave. The campsite was cleaned until not a trace remained, save for faint ashes and the lingering scent of grass and earth.
One by one, the three cars started and made their way down the winding mountain road.
Jiang Yining sat in the passenger seat beside Xie Shiyan. The window was slightly open, and the cool mountain wind rushed in, lifting strands of her hair. She watched the scenery slip past outside, green hills fading into the distance as sunlight filtered through the trees in shifting patches.
A soft, wordless tune escaped her lips.
Xie Shiyan glanced at her, a quiet smile forming. Keeping one hand on the steering wheel, he reached over with the other and gently took her hand from her lap. His palm was warm and firm, his thumb brushing lightly over the back of her hand.
The car neared the foot of the mountain, where the road split in two. The view widened, and the outline of the town appeared in the distance under the bright glare of the sun.
Then, in the next instant—
A fully loaded truck, completely out of control, burst from the right side of the fork.
Its massive form filled Jiang Yining’s vision in an instant, bearing down on them at terrifying speed, heading straight for the side of their car.
The blinding headlights grew larger and larger in her eyes. In that moment, everything froze, and the cold shadow of death gripped her whole body.
“A-Yan!”
Her scream tore through the air, sharp and broken. As Xie Shiyan jerked the steering wheel, Jiang Yining moved without thinking. In a sudden surge of desperate strength, she unfastened her seatbelt and threw herself toward him, ignoring everything else.
She wrapped her arms tightly around his head and shoulders, pulling him into her as if she could shield him completely with her own body.
“Ningning, no!”
Xie Shiyan’s hoarse roar was swallowed by a deafening crash.
Boom—
The windshield shattered instantly, exploding into countless shards that shot inward like a storm of glass, piercing into Jiang Yining’s unprotected back.
Crack…
A clear, sickening sound cut through the chaos.
It was the sound of bones breaking under unbearable force.
The noise erased the last of her awareness. The final image she saw was Xie Shiyan’s face, drained of all color, his eyes filled with terror and despair.
Warm liquid, thick and metallic in scent, streamed down her forehead, across her eyes and lips, blurring everything into darkness.
…
The sharp smell of disinfectant filled the air beneath harsh fluorescent lights.
Xie Shiyan sat rigidly on a bench outside the emergency room. A hospital coat hung loosely over him, stained with dark patches of blood, something a nurse had thrown over his shoulders after his own clothes had been torn apart.
His back was slightly hunched, his hands clenched so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. His nails dug deep into his palms, drawing blood, yet he seemed unaware of any pain.
His gaze was fixed on the glaring red light above the operating room doors. That red burned into his eyes like dried blood. Every second that passed felt like a dull blade carving slowly through his chest.
“Ningning… hold on… please…”
The words slipped from his dry lips in broken whispers, trembling with desperation. Cold sweat soaked through his back, leaving him shaking.
Clang—
The heavy doors of the emergency room finally opened.
The lead surgeon stepped out, still dressed in green scrubs. Exhaustion weighed heavily on his face, along with a grave, suffocating solemnity.
He removed his mask and looked at the people waiting outside.
Jiang Yining’s father stood stiffly, trying to hold himself together despite the tremor running through his body. Her mother’s eyes were swollen, filled with fragile hope that flickered on the edge of collapse. Her younger brother stood nearby, biting his lip, his entire body tense.
Xie Shiyan rose to his feet abruptly, his movements stiff and unnatural, like a puppet pulled by invisible strings. His bloodshot eyes were locked on the doctor’s lips.
The doctor spoke quietly.
“I’m very sorry… we… we did everything we could. Due to severe brain trauma and multiple organ failure… we were unable to save her…”
After that, Xie Shiyan heard nothing at all.