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Daybreak arrived.
All darkness would give way to light.
Jiang Chuan had taken two bullets—one in each shoulder—but fortunately, neither hit a vital spot, and the wounds weren’t deep. Though soaked in water, he could still endure.
The anti-drug squad had already arrived.
The sound of gunfire guided his direction.
He hurried over, spotting Cao Yan standing with a few police officers. The siege had begun.
Jiang Chuan approached, asking only, “Where’s Jiang Kun?”
Cao Yan: “It’s chaotic. We don’t know yet.”
Jiang Chuan narrowed his eyes. “Let’s check above. Don’t let him escape.”
Cao Yan: “Alright.”
They took a few men and headed uphill, navigating through a hail of bullets. Though Fan Yi had brought many weapons, they were no match for the SWAT team’s superior equipment. Under their cover, Jiang Chuan and Cao Yan reached the halfway point where the goods were being transported. Many vehicles were parked above, with quite a few people around.
Fan Yi and Jiang Kun were likely trapped inside and hadn’t come out yet, so the cars dared not leave.
Jiang Chuan glanced behind him. Their forces were limited.
Suddenly, commotion erupted above as a car engine roared to life.
“You can’t leave now! Boss Fan hasn’t come up yet!”
“He’s not coming! If we don’t leave now, you’re all dead!” Jiang Kun roared.
“No! We must wait for him!” someone shouted. “Brothers, follow me down to support him. Everyone else, guard the cars!”
Jiang Chuan and Cao Yan’s expressions changed. They raised their guns and charged forward. Jiang Kun had already gotten into a car.
A group rushed downhill, instantly reducing the number of people on the slope, giving them an opportunity.
Continuous gunfire erupted, and many fell.
Under his subordinates’ cover, Jiang Kun entered a vehicle. Suddenly, another car exploded behind him, catching fire and blocking the road. The car couldn’t pass through.
Cao Yan cursed loudly.
Jiang Chuan shot out the rear tire of the car. It swayed, collided with the rock wall, and stopped momentarily.
Cao Yan immediately chased after it.
Jiang Chuan was faster, leaping through the flames. As the car started again, Jiang Chuan fired several shots, shattering the glass and killing two men inside.
Jiang Kun’s face was filled with ferocity as he pulled out his handgun, slammed the accelerator, and fired out of the window at those behind him.
Jiang Chuan shot out another tire. The car moved forward several dozen meters, swaying violently before hurtling toward the cliffside. Jiang Kun slammed on the brakes, leaving the front of the car dangling over the edge of the cliff.
Behind them, Jiang Kun’s men surrounded them. Cao Yan turned to deal with them.
Jiang Kun crawled out of the car and fired several shots. Jiang Chuan took cover behind a vehicle.
After waiting a few seconds without any response, Jiang Kun quickly turned to flee.
Hearing the sound, Jiang Chuan immediately chased after him, pulling the trigger and firing a shot, which Jiang Kun narrowly avoided. He pulled the trigger again—no bullets left.
He swiftly charged forward, leaped, and tackled Jiang Kun fiercely.
The two rolled and tumbled several times.
“Bang!”
Rolling to the edge of the cliff, Jiang Chuan flipped over and pinned Jiang Kun down, gripping his wrist tightly. A struggle for power ensued, the dark gun barrel shifting between them.
“Bang!”
“Bang!”
“Bang!”
The final bullet pierced through Jiang Chuan’s body. His body swayed slightly, and his eyes momentarily lost focus.
Jiang Kun sneered, his face contorted with cruelty.
He had won.
Daylight broke fully.
Morning light bathed the land, casting a soft glow over this sacred place.
Jiang Chuan saw the temple in the woods, the Yellow River flowing beneath the cliffs, and across the river, his girl. She had said more than once: “I’ll wait for you to come back.”
A flicker of clarity returned to Jiang Chuan’s eyes.
He had completed his mission—but so what?
If he were gone, what would she do?
He knew she couldn’t endure losing him again, yet selfishly, he wanted to be with her.
From beginning to end, all he had given her was this battered body of his.
…
Jiang Kun grabbed his clothes, flipped up, and delivered a punch to Jiang Chuan’s face.
Jiang Chuan’s head jerked to the side, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
In the next instant, summoning an unknown strength, he fiercely grabbed Jiang Kun’s arm, flung him backward with all his might, and kicked off the ground.
Jiang Kun’s body hung in the air, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Jiang Chuan’s strength depleted, and he let go.
Jiang Kun plummeted from the cliff, his body smashing onto the rocks below, emitting a dull thud and a scream.
Cao Sheng’s men arrived, joining forces with the anti-drug squad to eliminate and capture the remaining criminals.
Jiang Chuan collapsed, kneeling at the edge of the cliff, drenched in blood, motionless, silent as a statue.
…
Qin Tang reached the village entrance, where villagers on motorcycles escorted her out.
She saw the helicopter in the sky.
Later, she encountered the police convoy on the road.
Qin Tang urgently shouted, “Stop the car!”
Standing by the side, she caught sight of Cao Sheng, who immediately stopped the vehicle. Qin Tang rushed over, grabbing him and asking frantically, “Where’s Jiang Chuan? Where is he? Which car is he in?”
Cao Sheng clenched his lips, unsure how to respond.
Qin Tang seemed to realize something, her face turning pale, her body swaying abruptly. The next moment, as if driven mad, she began searching each vehicle, shouting his name:
“Jiang Chuan!”
“Jiang Chuan!”
“Jiang Chuan!”
Cao Sheng grabbed her, “He’s not here.”
Qin Tang’s face was streaked with tears, her voice tragic as she turned and screamed, “Then where is he?! I need to find him!”
Cao Sheng held her firmly, his eyes red, “He and his critically injured comrades were taken onto a helicopter. They’re being treated, but the situation… is still unclear…”
“Unclear…” Her eyes were vacant, tears streaming endlessly. She muttered, “What does unclear mean?”
“Are you saying… he might die…”
“Will he die…”
Cao Sheng found it unbearable, pressing her shoulders gently, “No, he’s resilient. He’ll pull through.”
Qin Tang looked up, wiping away her tears, naively staring at him as if reassuring herself: “Yes, he’s resilient. The fortune-teller said he has a strong life force. He’ll have two children with me.”
Cao Sheng’s throat tightened.
Qin Tang walked over, opening the car door, “I’m coming with you. Take me to see him.”
…
Xi’an City.
Qin Tang crouched outside the emergency room, curling into a ball, her eyes fixed on the light above the door.
A full day and night had passed.
Qin Tang had barely eaten anything, only drinking water, steadfastly keeping vigil. No one could persuade her otherwise.
Someone must have informed her parents because that afternoon, Qin Sen and Jing Xin arrived. Seeing their daughter curled up like that, their hearts ached. Jing Xin went over, embracing her tenderly, calling her, “An An…”
They knew everything that had happened.
Qin Tang looked up, her gaze gradually focusing, “Mom…”
Before she could say anything, the light above the emergency room dimmed.
Qin Tang sprang to her feet, rushing over as the doctor emerged. She looked at their weary faces, too afraid to ask. Finally, the doctor sighed in relief, “We managed to save him, but he lost a lot of blood, and the wounds are critical…”
Qin Tang bit her lip, saying nothing.
The doctor continued, “Forty-eight hours. If he makes it through, he’ll be fine. If not…”
The doctor didn’t continue.
…
Qin Tang stayed at the hospital for two more days. During this time, Cao Yan was transferred from intensive care to a regular ward.
Zhao Feng had died in the line of duty.
Jiang Chuan made it through the forty-eight hours but remained unconscious. The doctors said it was due to excessive blood loss, so Qin Tang continued her vigil.
Qin Sen and Jing Xin hadn’t left either. Qin Tang’s current state reminded them of the past, yet it was different. They were worried.
Qin Tang stepped out of the ward and looked at her parents, “Dad, Mom.”
Qin Sen patted her head, while Jing Xin embraced her shoulders.
Qin Tang looked up at them, “There’s something I want to tell you.”
“Go ahead.”
Qin Tang asked, “Back then, when Jiang Chuan resigned from the police force, did you interfere?”
Jing Xin hesitated, looking at Qin Sen, then shook her head, “No, your father and I didn’t interfere.”
Back then, it was Zhou Qi’s mother and Chen Jingsheng’s parents who had intervened.
Qin Tang pressed her lips together, “I know. You definitely didn’t interfere.” She just wanted to confirm.
All the past grievances were finally laid to rest.
…
More than ten days had passed.
Qin Tang held his hand and complained, “Your hair has grown so long. If you don’t wake up soon and get a haircut, it won’t look good.”
In the past few days, she had been talking to him nonstop. Even she hadn’t realized they had so much to say to each other—it felt like they could talk for a lifetime and still not finish.
Seeing that his hair had indeed grown quite long, Qin Tang decided to trim it for him. She went out and bought a pair of scissors.
When she returned, she asked the nurse for help, propping him up with a pillow behind his back. She knelt on the bed.
She patted the back of his head, brandishing the scissors, about to start cutting when suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist.
Qin Tang froze in place, scissors in hand, startled.
Jiang Chuan hugged her waist, pulling her down. His gaze was soft yet direct as he stared at her, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
Qin Tang stared at him blankly. Jiang Chuan took her hand and pressed it against his face. The stubble on his cheeks pricked her palm, and only then did she react. Her eyes instantly reddened, “Jiang Chuan...”
“Hmm?” His voice was hoarse, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Since when did you become so teary-eyed?”
“No,” she denied, sniffing slightly.
Jiang Chuan wiped her eyes, “You’re still saying no?”
Qin Tang rubbed her tears onto his dry, rough palms, “I won’t cry anymore from now on.”
“Alright.” Jiang Chuan pulled her into an embrace.
Qin Tang didn’t dare to press too close; his body was still injured, and she feared hurting him.
“My parents came to see you.”
“Did they? It’s not a good look for them to see me like this.”
Jiang Chuan pinched her cheek, “They probably have a bad impression of me.”
Qin Tang shook her head, looking at him, “It doesn’t matter. I like you.”
Jiang Chuan smiled, brushing his cheek against hers, “I know.”
“My mother likes you too. With her here, you don’t need to worry.”
“Mm, I’m not worried.”
“Do you feel any pain?” She moved to get up, “I’ll call the doctor.”
Jiang Chuan stopped her, his face pale, his body weak, “Wait. Let me hold you a little longer.”
Qin Tang lowered her head and leaned back into his embrace, “Okay.”
She tilted her face up to look at him, “Everyone says you have a strong life force.”
Jiang Chuan chuckled, “Do they?”
“Mm-hmm.” She hugged him tighter, “You don’t know how scared everyone was. You lost so much blood, and there were several bullet wounds on your body.”
A strong life force was just an excuse.
What kept him going was her.
He couldn’t bear to leave her.
He was too afraid—afraid that she wouldn’t be able to endure being alone again, another four years, or even longer.
He had to keep this body of his—for his girl.
…
A month later, Jiang Chuan was discharged from the hospital.
During this time, Qin Tang traveled between Beijing and Xi’an.
Cao Sheng, Cao Yan, and Han Cheng all visited Jiang Chuan. If he wanted to return to the police force, he could go back anytime.
But Jiang Chuan refused.
It wasn’t that he had lost faith after being away from the team for so long. Faith still lingered in his heart—it was just that his mindset had changed.
He remained at the volunteer station, responsible for transporting supplies to impoverished mountainous areas and donating funds to support underprivileged children.
Everyone had their own purpose in this world.
After New Year’s Day, Qin Tang finished all her work and booked a ticket for the same day, arriving in Xi’an that night.
Jiang Chuan went to the airport to pick her up and brought her back to the volunteer station.
The university students’ winter break started early, and the station was bustling again. Xiao Bai and Xu Peng returned, bringing two classmates along. However, it was too cold to barbecue in the courtyard, so they set up a grill in the living room.
Xiao Bai asked, “Where are we going tomorrow?”
Lü An replied, “To Ji County and Langao County.”
“Two places?”
“Mm.”
“How will we split up?”
Jiang Chuan said, “I’ll go to Ji County with Qin Tang.”
Their trip was mainly to Yangjuan Mountain to visit Yueyue and her brother.
Xiao Cheng grinned teasingly, drawing out a long “Oh…”
Jiang Chuan glanced at him indifferently, “What? Do you want to go?”
Xiao Cheng quickly shook his head, “No, no, no…”
How could he be so tactless? A third wheel would surely get crushed.
Qin Tang smiled faintly.
That night, they drank and laughed together.
Aside from Qin Tang and Lü An, no one knew about Jiang Chuan’s past.
Aside from Qin Tang, no one knew what he had done, what he had given up, and why he had returned here.
In this world, no one understood him better than Qin Tang.
…
Early the next morning, Xiao Cheng and Lü An set off for Langao County. This trip was to deliver supplies. Afterward, they wouldn’t go again until after the New Year, letting the children enjoy the holiday. When spring arrived and school resumed, they’d work harder.
Qin Tang heard the sound of a car engine and sat up from the bed.
Jiang Chuan pushed the door open, “Awake?”
Qin Tang nodded, “When do we leave?”
“When you’ve rested enough.”
“I’m rested.” After a moment, she added, “You drive. I can sleep in the car.”
Jiang Chuan chuckled softly, “Alright.”
An hour later, the black Jeep drove out of the yard.
When they arrived at Yangjuan Mountain, the children surrounded them. Yueyue had grown taller, and her brother stood shyly but excitedly behind her.
Qin Tang touched Yueyue’s face, “You’ve grown taller.”
Yueyue ran off and returned a moment later with her backpack. She pulled out a bag of dried red dates, “My mom said to give these to you. They’re the sweetest and best dates we grow at home. Thank you for letting my brother go to school.”
Qin Tang smiled, “It’s because of your brother’s hard work, the public welfare fund, and the volunteer organization.”
Yueyue was young and didn’t fully understand what a public welfare fund was. She only knew that Qin Tang had enabled older siblings in the village who couldn’t afford schooling to attend school, and Jiang Chuan had brought many school supplies for them.
In her eyes, they were the best people.
Jiang Chuan and Qin Tang stayed at Yangjuan Mountain for three days and two nights, leaving on the fourth day.
The weather was bitterly cold, with thick layers of snow covering the ground.
Halfway through their journey, the car broke down. Jiang Chuan tried to fix it but couldn’t.
Night had fallen, and the winter darkness was heavy, the cold biting and relentless.
Jiang Chuan made a few phone calls, but at this hour, there was no way to arrange for a tow truck. Qin Tang wrapped herself tightly in her scarf, only her beautiful eyes peeking out as she exhaled a puff of white mist. “Are we going to spend the night here?”
Jiang Chuan frowned, “Let me make another call.”
Qin Tang held his hand and smiled, “Never mind. We can stay in the car; it won’t be too cold.”
Jiang Chuan looked at her, “Are you sure?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Jiang Chuan gazed at her, “Are you hungry?”
He had originally planned to take her to eat something warm once they reached the county town, but that plan had fallen through.
Qin Tang said, “There are biscuits in the car.”
Jiang Chuan rummaged through the trunk, and Qin Tang was surprised to see an alcohol stove, half a bucket of water, and some noodle seasonings. “We can cook noodles.”
Qin Tang excitedly squatted beside him to watch. “How did these get here?”
Jiang Chuan explained, “Xiao Cheng prepared them. The mountain roads are tough, and the car has broken down more than once or twice. He didn’t want us to go hungry, so he stocked the car with supplies.”
The noodles were ready.
Aside from salt and oil, there were only two packs of pickled mustard greens—nothing else.
The two sat in the car. Jiang Chuan suddenly remembered something and rummaged through the glove compartment, pulling out a sausage. It was originally bought for the children, but Yueyue had returned one. He used a small military knife to slice the sausage into pieces and placed them all in Qin Tang’s bowl.
Qin Tang divided half of it back to him, “You eat too—it’ll help you recover.”
Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow, “Recover what?”
Qin Tang replied, “You were injured and hospitalized before. You need to regain your strength.”
Jiang Chuan leaned closer, whispering in her ear, “You know my body best.”
“…”
Qin Tang’s ears turned red as she pushed him away, “Hurry up and eat.”
Jiang Chuan chuckled softly and bent his head to eat the noodles.
After finishing, they leaned back against the seats. Jiang Chuan pulled her into his arms and asked softly, “Are you cold?”
Qin Tang shook her head, “No.”
Jiang Chuan nibbled on her earlobe, “It’ll get colder at night. The sky is clear; the sun will rise tomorrow.”
Qin Tang shifted slightly, her voice soft, “Mm…”
After a while.
“Are you really not cold?”
“…”
Qin Tang lifted her head and kissed his lips, “Not cold.”
Their lips intertwined, their breaths hot. Jiang Chuan sucked on her tongue, his hand slipping under her sweater, unfastening the hidden buttons, and cupping her soft breast.
Qin Tang tilted her head back, pulling off her scarf to let him kiss her neck.
Her clothes half-undone, she straddled his lap, moving up and down, closing her eyes, and letting out soft moans that sounded especially enchanting in the empty night.
Jiang Chuan couldn’t resist her allure. His hand moved lower, touching her sensitive spot.
“Mm…” Qin Tang furrowed her brow, “Don’t touch…”
The softer her voice, the more intense his movements became.
Qin Tang clung to him, trembling repeatedly, half-closing her eyes as she gazed out the window at the clean sky and the yellow earth slopes covered in white snow.
She held him tighter.
The next morning.
The first light of dawn appeared.
Jiang Chuan had been right—the sun would rise today.
Qin Tang woke up, finding both their coats draped over her. Jiang Chuan was nowhere to be seen.
She sat up, her body slightly sore.
Qin Tang slipped her hand under her clothes, fastened the hidden buttons of her bra, adjusted herself, and got out of the car holding her camera and his coat.
She walked forward, about to call out to him.
“Uncle Jiang Chuan, why are you still here?”
“Ah, did you not leave?”
“Are you going to our school?”
…
Qin Tang heard Jiang Chuan chuckle lowly, “I’m checking if you’ve been attending school properly.”
She walked over and climbed up the nearby mountain path.
Standing about ten meters away, she quietly watched him.
This was a mountain road where children from the village passed on their way to school. Jiang Chuan stood at a higher point, pulling a group of children along.
Qin Tang saw his handsome profile and was captivated.
When the children had walked far enough, she called out, “Jiang Chuan.”
Jiang Chuan turned around.
The morning light enveloped him from behind, soft and radiant.
Qin Tang raised her camera.
Jiang Chuan strode toward her, “What are you taking pictures of?”
“You.”
She paused, “And the dawn.”
She pointed to the sun rising on the horizon, “Do you know what you remind me of?”
Jiang Chuan raised an eyebrow, “The sun?”
“The dawn.”
That was what he brought when he came.
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