Qiuran's lower abdomen was already a sheet of blood-red, and two fresh cuts were continuously bleeding.
Ning Fan finally stopped walking, thinking, This woman must be insane.
However, Qiuran felt she was very clear-headed.
Ning Fan came to rescue her today, and she believed Ning Fan still cared about her in his heart, but his subsequent indifference made Qiuran think that Ning Fan had not yet forgiven her.
Back then, it was she who had wronged Ning Fan. Since his disappearance, Qiuran had lived in agony, her face washed with tears whenever she thought of Ning Fan.
Finally, Ning Fan had returned, but his repeated rejections had driven Qiuran to despair.
Now, even though Ning Fan had stopped, he still hadn't turned around. Clenching her teeth, Qiuran moved her blood-soaked hand again, the pain in her abdomen twisting her expression.
Aiming at her own body, she wanted to stab herself again, even if Ning Fan did not turn around in the end, she would die without regret!
Just as Qiuran's third stab was about to enter her body, Ning Fan turned around and rushed over, grabbing the hand that held the dagger, his face a mix of shock and anger as he looked at her.
"Why are you being so foolish?!" he exclaimed.
Ning Fan snatched the dagger from Qiuran's hand and threw it far away.
Qiuran's complexion turned pale, her body extremely weak, with blood at the corners of her mouth. Yet, at this moment, as Ning Fan came to stop her, Qiuran revealed a delighted smile,
she said excitedly, "I...I knew it... you wouldn't forget... about me…I know... you still have a place for me in your heart...Ning...Fan…
I love you… I really do love you, please don't leave...me…"
Having spoken in stops and starts, Qiuran then fainted, and Ning Fan quickly embraced her.
Looking at Qiuran, who had passed out, Ning Fan felt quite helpless, chuckling bitterly at how madly in love Qiuran was with him.
Ning Fan sighed, picked up Qiuran, and quickly left the place.
In Qiuran's villa, Ning Fan brought Qiuran back here. First, he administered first aid to stop the bleeding and bandaged her, making sure she was not in grave danger, then he carried her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed.
After doing all this, Ning Fan looked at the quiet Qiuran and sighed, just as he was about to turn around and leave.
Suddenly, as if sensing Ning Fan was about to leave, Qiuran reached out and grabbed his hand.
Ning Fan turned his head, only to find Qiuran was still unconscious, not awake yet.
"Ning Fan... please don't... don't leave me..."
Qiuran was still murmuring Ning Fan's name, fearing that he would leave her.
Ning Fan looked at Qiuran's pained face, and at that moment, he felt even more unable to leave. He sat by the bed and said softly, "I'm right here, go to sleep…"
Perhaps hearing Ning Fan's voice, Qiuran's expression became reassured, her breathing gradually stabilizing, and she held onto Ning Fan's hand all night long.
Until the next morning, Ning Fan sat by the bed, guarding Qiuran.
Qiuran slowly opened her eyes, murmuring something at the same time.
When she saw Ning Fan right beside her, her eyes filled with joy.
After seeing her awake, Ning Fan let go of Huo Qiuran's hand, said nothing, and turned to leave right away.
Seeing Ning Fan about to leave, Huo Qiuran excitedly stood up. This movement directly strained her injuries, causing a painful expression to appear on her face.
"Ning Fan, could you please not leave me? Even if we just remain as ordinary friends, can you stay and chat with me?"
Huo Qiuran's tone was full of pleading; she no longer dared to hope for a reconciliation with Ning Fan, perhaps their relationship could not immediately return to what it was years ago.
Now, Huo Qiuran hoped to revert to being just ordinary friends with Ning Fan, at least this way she would still have a chance to see him again.
Ning Fan frowned but eventually sighed and stayed.
Seeing him stay, Huo Qiuran finally felt content, her eyes filled with an extraordinary affection as she looked at Ning Fan and asked, "How have you been these years?"
Huo Qiuran's face was still somewhat pale, whether it was because of her injuries or because of emotional reasons, it was unclear.
"Where have you gone all these years, and why did you leave without saying goodbye back then?"
Huo Qiuran asked softly, remembering the events of the past, her expression suddenly turned somber.
Ning Fan did not answer her questions but instead asked, "Do you know who wanted to kill you?"
If it just meant being an ordinary friend, Ning Fan felt that was okay; let bygones be bygones.
Last night, Huo Qiuran had almost been murdered, mysteriously involving people from Japan, and Ning Fan felt this was definitely not a simple matter.
Huo Qiuran shook her head; she was not very sure herself.
"The people last night were not ordinary Jianghu ruffians; they all used Japanese katanas, and their blade technique was identical, likely from a certain sect," Ning Fan said. Huo Qiuran nodded in agreement.
Last night's assailants were obviously not ordinary underworld figures, especially Li Kui, a figure in Jianghu, who had once been a secular disciple of the Shaolin Temple, also unexpectedly got involved; Huo Qiuran was surprised because she did not recall ever offending this Li Kui.
Ning Fan looked contemplative, and after thinking for a while, he analyzed, "The person who wanted to kill you might be a rival or an enemy. They failed this time and will undoubtedly not let it go. Be careful about your safety in the coming days; Xiao Jianming's injuries, even if not crippling, will need a long recovery!"
Speaking of Xiao Jianming, Ning Fan had rushed to the scene last night and couldn't help but exclaim at the sight of his injuries.
At that time, Xiao Jianming was completely disfigured, one hand and one leg utterly twisted, covered in blood.
His willpower was also astonishing; despite his appearance, he still had a breath left in him, but if Ning Fan hadn't arrived on time, Xiao Jianming would have likely been completely done for.
"Xiao Jianming has been severely injured but it's not critical. I've looked after him; you don't need to worry about him, but he should heal properly if he doesn't want to end up disabled!" Ning Fan finished speaking, Huo Qiuran nodded and murmured a sound in agreement.
For a while, the room fell into silence.
Looking at the affection in Huo Qiuran's eyes, Ning Fan sighed.
"It's getting late, you should rest well; I'll be leaving now."
Eventually, Ning Fan departed amidst Huo Qiuran's disappointed gaze, uttering his farewell.
Huo Qiuran did not hold back, believing that reestablishing a friendship with Ning Fan was already a significant step back for him, and she dared not hope for more.
Some things cannot be forced, like matters of the heart… what's missed is missed.