Jian Shuibing braved the billowing smoke and rushed out of the wooden house. He rejoiced inwardly, thinking that surviving a great disaster meant good fortune would follow. He was going to live a good life from now on.
He looked up and saw Qin Yuhe standing in front of him.
Jian Shuibing's heart trembled. His feet slipped as he turned to run in the opposite direction.
Qin Yuhe caught up with him in a few strides and knocked him unconscious to the ground with a single punch.
Jian Shuibing collapsed on the ground like a pile of mud. His good life had ended before it even began.
By this time, the entire wooden house was completely engulfed in flames.
The raging fire bared its fangs and brandished its claws. Crimson tongues of flame shot up into the sky, and waves of rolling heat rushed forth.
The sound of cracking wood constantly echoed in the air.
The scene before them was far too perilous. Everyone who had rushed over stood frozen in horror.
Song Xinya pushed her way through the crowd and dashed toward the burning cabin.
A cold figure sprinted over. Qin Yuhe blocked Song Xinya's waist with one arm and pulled her back.
Hanging onto his arm, Song Xinya kicked her legs violently, struggling and screaming, My sister! My sister is inside!
Qin Yuhe said, I know!
Song Xinya forcefully pried at the arm blocking her. Let me go! I have to save my sister!
Qin Yuhe's arm remained firmly in front of her, not yielding an inch. It's too dangerous!
Song Xinya tilted her head up to look at Qin Yuhe. Because of her fierce struggle just now, her dark hair was a messy tumble, with a few strands clinging to her face. Her usually radiant, fox-like eyes were now completely red and brimming with tears.
Qin Yuhe, my sister is still in the house. I haven't even officially reunited with her yet. During the fourteen years she was missing, she suffered so much.
Qin Yuhe, the fire is so big, my sister will be burned alive. I know it's dangerous, but I have to save her. I can't just watch my sister die. She is my biological sister. If I don't go save her today, I will regret it for the rest of my life.
Qin Yuhe, I'm begging you, don't stop me. Don't stop me from saving my sister. Let me go!
The people around them began to chime in and persuade her.
Mrs. Qin, the fire is too big. Mr. Qin is right to stop you. Going in there is tantamount to suicide.
Mrs. Qin, don't act on impulse. No matter how anxious you are, you have to consider the reality. She can't be saved. The fire has consumed the entire house. There is no way to save her.
Life and death are determined by fate. Everything is destined by the heavens, and no one can change it.
You must act within your limits when saving someone. Give up. Don't end up losing another life without even saving the person.
The crowd's discussions pierced Song Xinya's ears like needles. With red eyes, she asked Qin Yuhe, Is that what you mean too? You want me to give up as well, right?
No! Qin Yuhe looked into her eyes with his deep, dark gaze and said, What I mean is, you don't go. I will go save her!
Song Xinya's pupils trembled as she looked at him. It's dangerous, it's too dangerous. Qin Yuhe, you can't go. I'll go.
He held her shoulders with both hands and told her, emphasizing every word, Song Xinya, I am your husband. I am the man who protects you from the wind and rain, not a coward who hides behind you when danger arises. Don't argue, don't be stubborn. Listen to me. I must be the one to do this!
He pulled her back to a safe area, jumped onto the helicopter, grabbed a pair of wire cutters, turned around, and charged into the sea of fire without hesitation!
The crowd turned pale with fright.
Mr. Qin!
Mr. Qin rushed into the fire!
Even though they saw it with their own eyes, their gazes were still filled with disbelief.
That was the eldest son of the Qin family, the most prestigious family in the country!
The most powerful man at the top of the high-society pyramid, the head of the Qin Group!
Such a noble and invaluable man, rushing all alone into a sea of fire!
The man's back was tall and straight. Walking into the raging inferno, his spine was like a mountain peak, making people think of an indomitable hero.
The crimson flames rolled and raged, spreading viciously in all directions.
With a roar, the flames burst outward, completely swallowing Qin Yuhe's figure.
Qin Yuhe stood in the center of the wooden house, his eyes piercing through the blazing fire and thick layers of smoke as he searched.
With his vision obstructed, he shouted their names loudly.
Jian Yiyi!
Jin Ruizhi!
In the corner, Jian Yiyi and Jin Ruizhi were slipping in and out of consciousness, on the verge of passing out.
When the highly penetrating voice reached them, the two suddenly perked up.
Jin Ruizhi shouted in response, Mr. Qin! We are over here!
Following the sound, Qin Yuhe found the two of them.
He saw the two children holding onto each other tightly, with an attitude of facing death together.
Jin Ruizhi's legs were free.
Jian Yiyi's legs were chained.
Jin Ruizhi said anxiously, Yiyi is tied up with iron chains!
Qin Yuhe's face was calm, showing no surprise. I know.
Jin Ruizhi saw the wire cutters in Qin Yuhe's hand.
Did Qin Yuhe know in advance that Jian Yiyi was locked in chains?
Indeed, he did.
Since Jian Yiyi was someone who could walk and run, if Jian Shuibing wanted to hide her, he would definitely use something to tie her up.
Qin Yuhe had anticipated this situation in advance and brought wire cutters before coming.
Facts proved that Mr. Qin's guess was correct.
The wire cutters in his hand clamped tightly onto the iron chain. Because of his exertion, his bulging arm muscles stretched his sleeves to the limit.
With a muffled crack, the iron chain snapped.
With another muffled crack, Jian Yiyi's feet were freed.
Qin Yuhe ordered, Run!
Jian Yiyi and Jin Ruizhi held hands and sprinted wildly toward the outside.
Just as the two reached the door, with the light of survival right before their eyes, a rumbling sound came from above. The roof beam collapsed, crashing down toward them.
Jian Yiyi screamed in terror.
Jin Ruizhi hugged her head, protecting her in his arms.
The expected pain of being crushed never came; Qin Yuhe's hands had caught the falling beam.
The entire weight of the beam pressed down on his hands, and the flames scorched his palms.
His thin, red lips were pressed tightly into a straight line as he squeezed out two words from between his teeth: Go! Quickly!
Jin Ruizhi snapped back to reality and pulled Jian Yiyi outside.
Qin Yuhe took a step back and threw the beam aside.
With a boom, the fire surged forward, blocking his path.
Outside, Song Xinya stared anxiously at the wooden house. Her thoughts were in turmoil, her heart felt tightly gripped, and her face was deathly pale.
Due to extreme tension, her stomach cramped, causing severe pain. She hunched over, pressing her hands tightly against her abdomen.
Suddenly, two people burst out of the sea of fire and ran toward safety.
Song Xinya saw Jian Yiyi.
Sister!
Her sister had been saved!
Song Xinya ran toward Jian Yiyi. The strong wind whistled past her ears, blowing all her hair back, while the hem of her clothes fluttered like waves in the air.
Youyou!
Youyou!
She reached Jian Yiyi's side and pulled her into a tight embrace.
Youyou, I am your sister!
Jian Yiyi could hardly believe the words she heard. She asked numbly, Really?
Song Xinya hugged her tightly, her voice choking with emotion. Really. Your name is Song Tingyou. You are my biological sister, and you also have a twin brother named Song Tingye.
The joy of surviving a deadly ordeal, immediately followed by the wonderful surprise of learning she had an older sister and brother, left Jian Yiyi feeling overwhelmed. She was swept up in a sudden, immense wave of happiness that made her head spin.
Song Xinya wanted nothing more than to hold this long-lost sister a little longer and ask her what she had been through all these years, but reality did not allow her the time, because...
"Why hasn't Mr. Qin come out yet?"
Song Xinya's stomach cramped again. She was so tense she could barely breathe, a suffocating sensation pressing down on her in heavy, suffocating layers.
Why hadn't Qin Yuhe come out yet?
Filled with intense, trembling anxiety, Song Xinya stared fixedly at the flame-engulfed wooden cabin.
With a deafening rumble, the entire cabin collapsed to the ground.
The horrified gasps and cries of the crowd echoed in her ears.
"President Qin is buried!"
"President Qin didn't make it out!"
"He was just alive a second ago, and now he's gone!"
Song Xinya felt as if her entire being had been hollowed out. Her legs went weak, and she dropped heavily to her knees.
Staring at the fiercely burning ruins, large tears spilled from her eyes and shattered against the ground.
Her heart felt as if it had been thrown into a blender, ruthlessly and repeatedly sliced apart by sharp blades.
No!
She could not lose Qin Yuhe!
In the face of death, nothing else mattered.
Pride, reserve, self-esteem, wealth, status, fame and fortune—none of these meant a thing compared to him being alive.
The string of rationality in her mind completely snapped, her entire heart tipping unequivocally toward him.
The feelings she had suppressed deep inside erupted like a volcano, pouring out of her, the scorching magma nothing less than her profound love for him.
At this very moment, Song Xinya realized one undeniable fact with absolute clarity—
She loved Qin Yuhe.
Song Xinya loved Qin Yuhe!
