Qiao Zhiwei didn’t know how long she had been asleep when she suddenly sat up in bed with a start. The little girl who had been keeping watch beside her saw the fear on her face and immediately asked, “What’s wrong, sister?”
Hearing the question, Qiao Zhiwei’s eyes slowly cleared. The room was lit by a kerosene lamp, and her gaze fell on the little girl’s face. She asked gently, “You stayed up all night watching over me?”
Xie Fang nodded. “Yes. You kept having nightmares, and I was afraid you’d be scared.”
Hearing this, Qiao Zhiwei’s nose went sour. She felt a genuine surge of gratitude. “Thank you.”
She glanced down at her watch 5:30 a.m.
She needed to head back immediately, or her younger sister would be worried sick.
Seeing the exhaustion on her face, Xie Fang suggested, “Why not sleep a bit longer? The bus to the city doesn’t leave until seven. My mom will wake you for breakfast when it’s ready.”
But Qiao Zhiwei couldn’t fall back asleep. She opened her bright eyes and asked, “Is there a place in your village to make a phone call? I want to call my sister.”
“There’s a supply and marketing cooperative at the intersection ahead. You can call there, but it doesn’t open until seven,” Xie Fang replied.
Qiao Zhiwei got up. “Thank you. You should go rest.”
Xie Fang took out the 120 yuan Qiao Zhiwei had given her yesterday and held it out. “We accepted it yesterday just to let you feel at ease. Staying one night wouldn’t cost this much.”
Qiao Zhiwei smiled. “You saved my life. Any amount of money is worth it.”
Xie Fang hesitated, then pulled out twenty yuan. “Even the best hotel in the city wouldn’t cost twenty yuan.”
Seeing she might refuse, she laughed, “I want to be friends with you, so next time I go to the city, I’ll have someone to meet up with.”
Qiao Zhiwei, wary of encountering unscrupulous people who might target her money, handed over all her money to show her sincerity and her status.
She didn’t expect the little girl had stayed up all night with her. Xie Fang accepted the money and smiled. “Alright, we’re friends from now on.”
Seeing that Qiao Zhiwei had accepted the money, Xie Fang added, “Your clothes were filthy yesterday. I washed them and hung them in the backyard. I’ll go check if they’re dry.”
“I’ll go,” Qiao Zhiwei said, not wanting to trouble her further.
“There are chicken and pig pens in the backyard. You don’t know your way around go open the main gate first.”
“Okay.”
As Qiao Zhiwei opened the door, she saw a tall, imposing figure at the entrance. Before she could react, a tremendous force pulled her into his arms.
In an instant, her entire body was pressed tightly against a chest that rose and fell violently.
Her cheek was forced against his chest, and her eardrums were filled with his uncontrolled heartbeat.
She felt his fingers digging deep into the fabric of her back, almost piercing her skin, trembling slightly.
Qiao Zhiwei felt his breath all around her, nearly overwhelming her. She struggled and whispered, “Jingnian…”
Her faint voice snapped Huo Jingnian fully awake.
Qiao Zhiwei felt her body lighten as she finally got a breath. When she looked up, she met Huo Jingnian’s eyes, bloodshot and intense.
“How did you know I was here?” she asked.
“There were your clothes in the backyard.”
He had thought he was mistaken, so he had driven around the village again. On the second pass by this family’s backyard, he saw the clothes drying under the eaves.
His gaze then fell on the wound on Qiao Zhiwei’s neck.
He instinctively wanted to reach out to check, but Qiao Zhiwei stepped back reflexively.
Seeing her reaction, Huo Jingnian felt a sharp, inexplicable pain. He said gently, “Your neck is injured. I’ll take you to the hospital.”
Xie Fang returned from the backyard with the clothes and saw a man standing at the door. She immediately tensed but relaxed when she saw Qiao Zhiwei seemed familiar with him. Approaching, her eyes lit up.
This man was incredibly handsome he looked even better than actors on calendars.
Perfect for Weiwei.
She walked closer in a daze. “Wei…Weiwei, elder brother-in-law…”
Qiao Zhiwei: !!!
Xie Fang, seeing Qiao Zhiwei’s shocked expression, paused and apologized, “Sorry, I called the wrong person. Is this… your elder brother?”
Something felt off about those eyes.
Huo Jingnian met Xie Fang’s puzzled gaze and smiled. “You didn’t get it wrong. Thank you.”
Xie Fang exhaled in relief and hurriedly said, “Elder brother-in-law, please come in.”
Huo Jingnian followed and casually sat beside Qiao Zhiwei.
At this moment, Xie An heard the movement in the main room and came out, surprised to see Huo Jingnian.
Qiao Zhiwei quickly explained, “This…this is my fiancé.”
Embarrassed, Xie An said to Huo Jingnian, “Last night, before you came, two men had already come knocking, and the neighbors’ doors were knocked too. My father and two older brothers were out, so it was just me, my sister, and my mother at home, so…”
Huo Jingnian nodded. “No need to apologize. Thank you for being so careful. I will remember your kindness. If you have any requests now, let me know. If it’s possible, I’ll fulfill them.”
Xie An looked at the young man before him. His every movement, every word, carried a natural barrier from ordinary people. He must be someone extraordinary.
She thought for a moment. “We only helped Comrade Xiao Qiao out of a sense of justice. We never expected any reward. Besides, Comrade Xiao Qiao gave us a large sum of money yesterday upon entering.”
“But it was too much. We planned to return it to my sister.”
Xie Fang quickly said, “Brother, I returned it to Weiwei, but I still kept twenty yuan. From now on, she’s my friend in the city.”
Qiao Zhiwei smiled and nodded.
Huo Jingnian then said to Xie An, “Good. Keep it. I’ll leave two phone numbers and an address. Whenever you need me, contact me.”
At that moment, Xie Fang’s mother brought out breakfast. Seeing a young man inside and observing Qiao Zhiwei and the two children’s reactions, she realized a family member had come.
And wow, this man’s presence was impressive.
“Comrade Xiao Qiao’s friend?”
Huo Jingnian stood, politely greeting her. “Yes. I’m Weiwei’s fiancé. Thank you for taking care of her last night.”
Xie Fang’s mother said, “Ah, in such situations, anyone with a bit of humanity would help. Such a beautiful girl, almost ruined what would have happened to her? Thankfully she escaped. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. People like them should rot in prison. Simply terrible.”
Huo Jingnian nodded. “Auntie is right. They will face justice as you wish.”
Xie Fang’s mother blinked slightly. The young man appeared cold and stern, yet his words carried a certain charm.
Meanwhile, He Gang sat in the interrogation room, his forehead bandaged and eyes swollen, obediently giving his statement.
“Officer, I really didn’t touch her. She’s the one who beat me like this…”