Chapter 9

Yueyue’s anguished scream turned into cries that were heartbreaking to hear.

Qin Tang, holding Yueyue, fell to the ground. She looked down in panic, and saw fresh red blood oozing from the back of Yueyue’s head, sticky and warm against her hands. Her own hands instantly went limp, and her face turned pale.

Jiang Chuan rushed out of the classroom. He looked down, immediately picked up Yueyue, and pulled Qin Tang to her feet, his voice deep as he asked, “Are you okay?”

Qin Tang shook her head. Her fingers were numb from the pain, and her voice trembled. “I’m fine.”

Jiang Chuan didn’t say anything else. He held Yueyue in his arms and started walking toward the motorcycle. “I’ll take her to the hospital.”

Qin Tang took a deep breath and immediately followed. “I’ll go with you.”

Jiang Chuan glanced at her and shoved Yueyue into her arms. “Get on the bike.”

Qin Tang tore off her shawl and pressed it gently against Yueyue’s head. Yueyue was still softly crying, and Qin Tang comforted her in a gentle voice, “Don’t be scared. We’re going to see a doctor now. You’ll be fine.”

Ah Qi’s face was pale, her legs weak as she leaned against the truck. She looked down at the wooden board, its sharp edge still stained with a trace of blood, making it look even more jarring.

She didn’t know how the little girl would turn out…

But the fact that she was still crying so loudly meant it couldn’t be that serious, right?

Xiao Bai was also frightened and pulled Ah Qi down. “We should go and check too.”

Ah Qi anxiously asked, “She won’t be hurt, right?”

Xiao Bai dragged her over. “I don’t know either…”

The wooden board had been too heavy. Before Xiao Bai could steady it, Ah Qi lost her grip, and it crashed down like that.

Ah Qi grabbed her hand, looking at her and saying, “Xiao Bai… I wasn’t the only one who handled it, right?”

Xiao Bai paused for a moment, as if suddenly seeing Ah Qi clearly.

Shouldn’t they have been more concerned about Yueyue’s condition right now, rather than rushing to assign blame and shirk responsibility?

Xiao Bai glanced at her and said coldly, “Yeah, I have responsibility too.”

Jiang Chuan checked Yueyue’s injury—it wasn’t very deep.

Qin Tang pressed on the wound and said, “Let’s go quickly.”

Xiao Bai ran over. “Brother Jiang, I want to go with you.”

Jiang Chuan shot her a cold glance. “No need.”

The motorcycle sped along the mountain road, leaving Yangquanshan behind, moving rapidly ahead.

While Yueyue was being stitched up at the Jiaxian County Hospital, Jiang Chuan called Xiao Cheng to handle things at Yangquanshan. “By the way, tell Yueyue’s parents not to worry. She’s fine. I’ll bring her back in a few days.”

Xiao Cheng asked, “What about Ah Qi and Xiao Bai?”

Jiang Chuan replied in a deep voice, “Tell them to go back where they came from.”

...

Qin Tang came out of the ward and saw him standing at the end of the hallway, making a phone call. Yueyue had been sedated and had fallen asleep, while the doctor was still stitching her up.

She walked over.

Jiang Chuan hung up the phone and turned around, his gaze meeting hers. He looked down at the blood on her hands. “Why haven’t you washed your hands yet?”

Qin Tang moved her stiff fingers. “I’ll do it now.”

Just as she turned around, someone grabbed her wrist from behind. Jiang Chuan looked at her fingers—her index and ring fingers had been scraped, especially her index finger, which had a large gash. The blood had dried, and the area was red and swollen. He looked up at her, his eyes dark. “Why didn’t you say anything about your injury?”

Qin Tang pulled her hand back and let it hang by her side. “It’s a small injury. Yueyue’s head injury is more serious.”

Jiang Chuan gave her a look and then pulled her forward. “Let’s get a nurse to take care of it.”

The nurse treated Qin Tang’s wound while Jiang Chuan leaned against the doorframe. His gaze was fixed on her fingers. Except for her swollen right index and ring fingers, the rest of her fingers were delicate and fair.

After Qin Tang had her wound treated, she turned around, not sure when Jiang Chuan had left.

Back in Yueyue’s room, she found Jiang Chuan sitting in a chair beside the bed. Qin Tang walked over. “I think we should take Yueyue to Yulin for another checkup to make sure there’s no damage to her brain.”

The county’s medical equipment wasn’t as good as in the city. Yueyue was only eight or nine years old, and after such a blow, treating just the wound wasn’t enough. If she had a concussion or internal bleeding, it could lead to complications.

She explained her reasoning, and Jiang Chuan looked at her. “Is it that serious?”

Qin Tang said, “Not really, but the checkup is necessary.”

Jiang Chuan had initially wanted to say that children from the mountains weren’t so fragile—when he was young, he didn’t even know how many times he had gotten hurt, and many of his wounds were worse than this. But seeing her serious expression, it was clear she wasn’t asking him for permission, she was just informing him.

He turned his head. “Do as you wish.”

This girl could be quite stubborn sometimes.

The original plan was to return to Xi’an tonight, but that was clearly not going to happen now.

Xiao Cheng and Xu Peng were handling things at Yangquanshan, and Yueyue’s parents wanted to come to the county town to see her. Xiao Cheng had to persuade them for a long time before they agreed to wait until the next day to meet up in Jiaxian.

Xiao Bai followed behind Xiao Cheng, her face anxious as she looked at Jiang Chuan.

Yesterday, Xiao Cheng had relayed Jiang Chuan’s message to them: go back to where they came from.

When they first arrived at the charity station, Xiao Bai had wanted to leave. But now that she had come out and seen the children, she truly wanted to stay. She hoped to spend the whole summer with them. Xiao Bai looked at Jiang Chuan and softly pleaded, “Brother Jiang, could we stay? We were wrong. We didn’t mean to... I’ll cover Yueyue’s medical expenses...”

Jiang Chuan asked, “Do you have the money?”

Xiao Bai blushed with shame. “Not right now, but I will once school starts.”

Jiang Chuan asked, “What about your living expenses?”

“I’ll save up. You don’t belong here.”

Jiang Chuan walked away quickly. Ah Qi, who had been standing a few meters away, didn’t dare approach, but now she ran up and stood in front of him.

“Brother Jiang, wait!”

Jiang Chuan’s gaze was cold. She shrank back, lowering her head. “I really didn’t mean it... The board was too heavy, I couldn’t hold it, and it slipped. I didn’t mean to, Brother Jiang. Please let me stay.”

Jiang Chuan replied, “I’ll take you back to Xi’an. You’ll leave then.”

He looked at Xiao Bai and Xu Peng. “If you want to stay, it’s fine.”

Xiao Bai’s face lit up with joy, and she quickly said, “Thank you, Brother Jiang.”

Xu Peng was also glad not to be punished, happy not to be implicated.

Only Ah Qi lowered her head, biting her lip, not making a sound. Her tears were almost falling, but her eyes were fixed on her feet.

Qin Tang was keeping Yueyue company in the hospital room. Yueyue, wearing a patient gown, looked a little pale, her originally rosy cheeks now somewhat drained of color. But she was well-behaved, and after waking up, she didn’t cry again. Qin Tang had changed into a different skirt, and the little girl smiled and complimented how pretty it was.

It seemed she really liked skirts.

Qin Tang stroked her hair. “I’ll buy you a skirt tomorrow.”

Yueyue’s eyes brightened, but she quickly shook her head. “No need, I have clothes to wear.”

Qin Tang smiled. “Clothes are clothes, but a skirt is a skirt.”

Yueyue looked a little confused. “They’re both worn on the body, aren’t they the same?”

“No, a skirt is prettier!” Qin Tang teased her.

At that moment, the door to the room opened, and Xiao Bai and Ah Qi stood at the entrance. Xiao Bai looked at Qin Tang. “Sister Qin Tang, we came to see Yueyue.”

Qin Tang glanced at them and replied indifferently, “Go ahead.”

Xiao Bai came up to the bed and gently asked, “Does your head still hurt, Yueyue?”

Yueyue honestly nodded. “It hurts.”

Actually, she had no idea how she ended up with a blow to the head.

Xiao Bai felt guilty and gently touched her face. “I’m sorry, it was my fault... I wasn’t careful...”

Ah Qi stood behind and also apologized, “And I too, I’m sorry little sister.”

Qin Tang lowered her head to inspect her camera. The lens had been knocked yesterday and there was a noticeable scratch. She furrowed her brows, feeling as if the scratch on the camera was the same as one on her heart. It hurt terribly.

Xiao Bai noticed the white bandage wrapped around her fingers, making them look slightly clumsy.

“Qin Tang, you were hurt too?”

Xiao Bai pulled Ah Qi, saying, “I’m sorry.”

Qin Tang raised her head and looked directly at Ah Qi.

Ah Qi bit her lip. “Sorry, it was my mistake yesterday.”

Qin Tang stared at her for a few seconds and then said, “I forgive you.”

Ah Qi was stunned, but quickly added, “Then, could you help me plead with Brother Jiang? Xiao Bai and Xu Peng can stay here, I don’t want to leave...”

Qin Tang replied, “You should ask Jiang Chuan about this. The station isn’t mine, I can’t decide.”

After dinner, Jiang Chuan carried a takeaway box. “You guys go rest. I’ll head to the hospital.”

Qin Tang didn’t plan to go back and walked ahead.

Jiang Chuan called after her. “Where are you going?”

Qin Tang turned back. “I’m just going to stroll for a bit, then I’ll go to the hospital to see Yue Yue.”

Earlier, she had passed a children’s clothing store and spotted a nice dress. She planned to buy it.

Jiang Chuan glanced at her. “Okay, but don’t go too far.”

Qin Tang didn’t reply and turned to walk away. When she returned to the store, it was already closed with a sign hanging:

The store owner had an emergency at home.

For inquiries, call 13XXXXXXXXX.

She was a little disappointed and stood outside, unsure when the owner would return. Should she call?

After a few seconds of thought, she decided to call the store owner.

The store owner apologized, saying, “I’m sorry, my son has a fever, and I need to take care of him. How about you come back tomorrow? I’ll open at 10 a.m.”

Qin Tang said, “Alright.”

But she wouldn’t be coming back tomorrow.

Jiang Chuan had said they would leave for Yulin City at 8 a.m.

Qin Tang wandered a little longer and passed a bank, remembering that her cash was running low. She turned and walked inside.

After withdrawing cash and stuffing it into her bag, her phone rang.

Jiang Chuan asked, “Where are you?”

Qin Tang looked around. “What’s up?”

Jiang Chuan said, “Yue Yue has finished her meal. Didn’t you tell her you’d visit her tonight?”

Yue Yue, lying in her hospital bed, wouldn’t sleep, saying her sister would come to see her.

Qin Tang said, “Yes, I’ll be over soon.”

She had intended to buy the dress before going, but now that she couldn’t buy it, she was about to head to the hospital.

She walked a bit further and saw a children’s clothing store at the corner of an alley. She looked at the road sign and repeated the address: “I’m at the entrance of the alley where there’s a children’s clothing store. I’ll come after I finish here.”

Jiang Chuan wasn’t very familiar with Jiajian County, but the alley’s name sounded familiar.

He stood up and told Yue Yue, “You sleep first. I’ll step out for a bit, and I’ll come back to see you later.”

Yue Yue obediently nodded. “Okay.”

Jiang Chuan walked out of the hospital and, after ten minutes, reached the entrance of the alley Qin Tang mentioned.

He glanced around, then his gaze paused at the children’s clothing store at the alley’s mouth.

Qin Tang was holding two skirts, comparing them in front of the store’s mirror, her expression serious. Then, she turned and said something to the store owner before going back inside.

Jiang Chuan smiled and crossed the street to a nearby tobacco shop to buy cigarettes.

He leaned against the small glass counter outside the shop, skillfully tearing open the pack, pulling out a cigarette, and checking his pocket for a lighter, but it was missing.

“Boss, can I have a lighter?” He placed a coin on the counter.

The night was windy, and the town wasn’t very lively; many shops had already closed.

Jiang Chuan lit his cigarette, resting his elbow on the counter, exhaling a few puffs of smoke, while occasionally glancing over at the clothing store.

Qin Tang finished buying the two skirts, paid, and opened the door to leave. Just as she stepped outside, a shadow suddenly lunged at her, quickly snatching the bag off her shoulder.

The force was so strong that she wasn’t prepared, and the bag was yanked from her shoulder, caught in her hands. She quickly grabbed the strap, and the man paused. He then pulled even harder.

Qin Tang’s fingers were numb from the pain, and when she slightly loosened her grip, the bag slipped from her hands, and the force of the pull caused her to stumble a few steps forward.

It all happened in under a minute.

The owner of the clothing store, shocked, screamed, “Robbery!”

The thief was already running swiftly down the alley, clutching her bag.

Qin Tang didn’t hesitate. She sprinted after him.

Jiang Chuan had just finished his cigarette and was about to stub it out when the shop owner shouted, “Damn, there’s a robbery over there!”

Jiang Chuan looked up and saw Qin Tang, slender and swift, charging into the alley while the man ahead of her was running with her bag in hand.

Qin Tang was chasing without a care.

Jiang Chuan threw his cigarette away and dashed across the street, moving so fast that the tobacco shop owner gawked.

Qin Tang was closing the gap, her hand reaching out to grab the man’s coat when suddenly, a gust of wind passed her, and a dark figure swiftly overtook her, grabbing the thief’s wrist. With a knee to his back, the man was slammed to the ground.

The sound of impact was sharp and painful.

Jiang Chuan quickly grabbed the thief’s hand, stood up, and stomped on his back, ripping the bag from his grip and tossing it to Qin Tang.

Qin Tang caught the bag and, looking at the thief groaning in pain under Jiang Chuan’s boot, asked, “What should we do with him?”