Xu Xi’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively turned and ran back.
But she was pregnant, and the muddy beach was slippery, making it impossible for her to run fast.
By the time she reached the children and followed their gaze toward the sea, only a pair of small hands was still flailing above the water’s surface.
Xu Xi anxiously grabbed the boy beside her and asked, “Didn’t you say he could swim? Why can’t he get back up?”
The boy was terrified and stammered, “Yang Zhijun only moved into the family compound with his mother last month. We don’t really know him, but we all thought he could swim.”
Yang Zhijun had accidentally fallen into the sea while playing a game of chase with them.
At first, no one paid it much mind, assuming Yang Zhijun could swim just like the rest of them. But after waiting a few seconds on the shore, they still hadn’t seen him resurface.
Li Xiaomei was crying in fear. “Auntie Xu, please save him!”
Although Xu Xi knew how to swim, she was pregnant and dared not recklessly dive into the sea.
She shouted for help, but it was midday, and there wasn’t a soul in sight nearby.
With no other choice, she told the children, “Hurry to the military base and find the soldiers. Tell them Yang Weijun has fallen into the sea. I’ll try to think of something.”
The children obediently wiped their tears and sprinted toward the camp.
Li Xiaomei, worried about Yang Zhijun and Auntie Xu, glanced back, her round eyes widening in shock.
She saw Xu Xi, as if throwing caution to the wind, plunge headfirst into the sea.
…
Zhou Yue was in his office discussing with Yang Weiguo how to better deploy sentry posts along the muddy beach to prevent unauthorized landings or border crossings.
Suddenly, there were several urgent knocks at the office door.
Zhao Heping’s voice came from outside. “Reporting to both Battalion Commanders! There’s an emergency—a child has fallen into the sea, and it’s Battalion Commander Yang’s son!”
The words struck like a thunderbolt. Yang Weiguo’s pen clattered onto the desk.
He rushed out, anxiously asking Zhao Heping, “Where did my son fall into the sea?!”
Zhao Heping replied, “The rocky beach.”
Without waiting for Zhao Heping to say another word, Yang Weiguo dashed off—saving his son was the priority.
Seeing Zhou Yue also heading toward the beach, Zhao Heping hurried after him and reported, “Battalion Commander Zhou, according to the children, your wife happened to be at the rocky beach too. She even jumped into the sea to save the child.”
His wife was pregnant—this was far too reckless.
Zhou Yue’s steps faltered, his brow furrowing deeply, his voice carrying a barely noticeable tremor. “Xu Xi went into the sea to save someone?”
Zhao Heping confirmed firmly, “Yes, Platoon Leader Li’s daughter Xiaomei saw it with her own eyes…”
Before he could finish, Zhou Yue was already in motion, striding swiftly toward the beach.
On the way to the shore, Zhou Yue’s brow remained tightly knitted. She was pregnant—how could she withstand the strain of the sea? If she couldn’t even protect herself, how could she save anyone?
Though his face appeared calm, his clenched jaw and slightly trembling fingers betrayed the worry he couldn’t hide.
In less than five minutes, he had reached the beach.
A crowd of soldiers had gathered along the shore for the rescue effort. Zhou Yue, tall enough to see over them, immediately spotted Xu Xi in the middle of the group, drenched from head to toe.
Seeing she was safe, the knot of anxiety in Zhou Yue’s heart finally loosened.
He strode quickly toward her, his brow still tightly furrowed. The panic in his eyes gradually faded, leaving only anger at her disregard for her own safety.
Xu Xi was happily accepting the gratitude from Guo Ailan and Yang Weiguo.
Suddenly sensing an intense gaze, she looked up and met Zhou Yue’s pitch-black eyes.
She was about to greet him, but the oppressive aura around him made her swallow her words.
Why did he seem… angry?
Zhou Yue walked up to her with a dark expression. After confirming she wasn’t injured, he took off his military-green jacket and draped it over her.
“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
Xu Xi instantly felt warm. Her eyes curved into crescents as she looked at him. “No, I just did a good deed—I saved Sister-in-law Guo’s son from the sea.”
Zhou Yue scolded sternly, “That was reckless. You’re pregnant…”
“But if I hadn’t gone in to save him, he would have been swept away by the waves,” Xu Xi interrupted anxiously. Seeing his cold expression, her voice softened. “I know I shouldn’t have gone into the sea while pregnant, but I can swim. I could ensure my own safety.”
Xu Xi still valued her life. After jumping into the sea, she hid in the Spatial Dimension.
Yang Zhijun had already fainted in the water. She pulled the child into the Spatial Dimension and only emerged with him when they were close to shore.
From start to finish, she only got wet when entering the sea. Nothing else happened.
If she didn’t have the Spatial Dimension, she wouldn’t have dared to enter the sea even with ten times the courage.
Zhou Yue suddenly felt he should give her a safety lesson. Otherwise, next time she saw someone in danger, she might recklessly rush to rescue them again.
He lowered his gaze and saw that her clothes beneath the military-green jacket were soaked through. The clinging fabric outlined her figure, and her swollen pregnant belly was particularly noticeable under the wet clothing.
Her hair was still disheveled, clinging to her cheeks and neck. She looked fragile and pitiful.
Zhou Yue’s throat moved slightly, and his tone softened. “Let’s go back and change your clothes first.”
Xu Xi: “Okay.”
Back at the family quarters, Xu Xi changed out of her wet clothes and drank a few sips of Spirit Spring Water, feeling refreshed all over.
As soon as she stepped out of the room, Zhou Yue immediately approached, holding a soft, dry towel. He began wiping her damp hair.
Xu Xi looked up at him in surprise.
How strange. Zhou Yue disliked her, didn’t he? Yet he was helping her dry her hair. The sun must be rising from the west.
Meeting her astonished gaze, Zhou Yue pressed his thin lips together, wiped her hair roughly a few times, then let go.
“Don’t overthink it. I’m just worried you might catch a cold. The military doctor said pregnant women shouldn’t get sick.”
Xu Xi’s eyes sparkled. “Zhou Yue, are you concerned about me?”
Zhou Yue replied almost instantly, “No.”
But seeing Xu Xi lower her head, looking dejected, he added, “Later, come with me to the hospital. Let the doctor check you to make sure everything’s okay.”
Xu Xi didn’t want to go to the hospital. She gently tugged his sleeve. “I’m perfectly fine, and the baby is okay too. Do we really need to go to the hospital?”
Zhou Yue frowned. “No, you must see a doctor.”
Xu Xi couldn’t persuade him. Just as she was about to get ready to go with him to the island hospital, Guo Ailan and Yang Weiguo arrived with their son.
Guo Ailan was carrying a basket of eggs. Seeing Xu Xi, her eyes grew moist. “Oh, Sister Xu, thanks to you, our Zhijun is safe and sound.”
Yang Weiguo patted Yang Zhijun on the shoulder. “Son, quickly thank Aunt Xu for saving your life.”
“Thank you, Aunt Xu, for saving me.” As he spoke, Yang Zhijun knelt directly before Xu Xi.
Xu Xi was startled and hurriedly helped the child up, speaking gently, “Next time you go to the beach to play, remember to be careful. The sea is very dangerous.”
Yang Zhijun nodded, still shaken. “I understand.”
This near-drowning had scared him half to death; he wouldn’t dare go to the beach to play without an adult again.
Guo Ailan and Yang Weiguo then pressed fifty yuan into Xu Xi’s hands as a token of gratitude.
“Oh, there’s no need to be so polite…”
Xu Xi outwardly declined with polite words, but in reality, she had already secretly tucked the fifty yuan into her pocket.