Xia Chuyi bit her lip, clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and, with her hands propping herself up, tried to stand.
Just as she managed to get up, a sharp pain pulled at her ankle, causing it to give way, and she fell again.
In her rush to get out, she hadn’t taken any anti-slip measures, and the fall had twisted her ankle.
Plus, having run in the cold wind for a long time, her body was weak and tired, and now, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stand up.
The cold wind howled, growing fiercer as she rose and fell, fell and rose, in a continuous cycle.
In the end, her clothes were smeared with snow and mud, filthy beyond recognition, her body utterly drained.
Her fists were clenched tightly, her nails digging into her flesh.
She gazed into the distance, filled with reluctance.
She thought everything was moving in a positive direction.
She thought she had changed Uncle Xia’s fate.
The colder the wind blew, the colder Xia Chuyi’s body became.
If only she had known, she wouldn’t have been so carefree just because Uncle Xia had agreed to stop transporting goods and had stayed in the village recently.
If only she had stayed by Uncle Xia’s side, ensuring they safely got through this deadly day.
Biting her lip fiercely, she exerted herself again, continuing to push up her body, trying to stand once more.
Unfortunately, her feet slipped and she failed again.
Xia Chuyi felt immensely defeated.
Suddenly, from a distance came the rumbling sound of an engine starting.
She abruptly looked up, anxiously and full of anticipation, toward the source of the sound—the other side of the hill.
In her hopeful gaze, the sound grew closer and closer… Then, a striking army-green color appeared in view.
It was a somewhat familiar military sedan, slowly approaching from afar.
She stared at the car.
As the car approached, the engine noise abruptly quieted, and the car stopped.
A tall and upright figure got out of the car, taking firm and quick strides, step by step, toward her.
It was as if a beam of light shone upon him.
She stared dumbly at him.
In the play of light and shadow, a large hand reached out, and she was suddenly lifted around her waist.
“Huo… Shiqian?” Xia Chuyi belatedly realized.
Her hands unconsciously clutched Huo Shiqian’s arms.
Huo Shiqian’s expression was grim, his lips tightly pursed, his brows slightly furrowed, but the way he held her was exceedingly gentle.
“You…” she started to speak, but a thousand words choked her, not knowing where to begin.
Huo Shiqian’s deep voice voiced just two words: “It’s me.”
She pursed her lips as a surge of uncontrollable bitterness rose in her heart, and tears unknowingly slid down her cheeks.
Without saying much more, she leaned into Huo Shiqian’s warm embrace, his long legs striding towards the military vehicle.
“Chuyi?” Suddenly, a familiar voice came from inside the vehicle.
Xia Chuyi paid no heed to Huo Shiqian, quickly twisting her body to look towards the direction of the car.
Indeed, she saw Uncle Xia, his face full of anxiety, poking his head out from the car window and asking, “Chuyi, what are you doing here?”
“In this freezing weather, why did you go out and end up ?” Uncle Xia’s voice was full of concern.
“Uncle? Uncle!” Xia Chuyi twisted her body, continuously calling out as she looked at Uncle Xia.
She wanted to know what exactly had happened to Uncle Xia.
“Stop moving,” suddenly, Huo Shiqian holding her coldly said, “Want to fall again?”