The warmth that belonged solely to the sun came shining in, inch by inch caressing her dry skin. Time seemed to stretch infinitely in an instant. Amid the dappled shadows of light and shade, several rescue workers surged toward her like water.
"Are you okay?" A deep, gentle male voice came from above her. A hand reached out to her, and her lifted hand was grasped. He pulled her to her feet.
In that moment, it felt as though she had regained the entire world.
She wobbled and could only stand steadily when he supported her. As she lifted her gaze, it met his equally astonished eyes.
In such a dire moment, there was no time for recollections, doubt, surprise, or anything else.
"Not good! There’s a child!"
"Oh no! Both his legs are pinned down!"
"Oh my God..." The others couldn’t help but cover their mouths in distress.
"Rescue the child first," Jiang Jinghuai immediately said, releasing Tian Sangsang’s hand.
Lying on the ground was a boy with a delicate, fair face. His complexion was completely drained of blood. His small upper body curled into a tight ball; he was so tiny. The stark contrast between his soft black hair and ghastly white face made one’s heart ache.
A medical worker asked Tian Sangsang with concern, "Comrade, are you hurt? Are you okay?"
What did her minor injuries matter? Tian Sangsang shook her head fervently, tears streaming down her face again. "I’m fine; please save my son first! He’s been trapped for so long; will his legs... will his legs be okay?"
Jiang Jinghuai froze for a moment, giving her a surprised glance, his gaze deep and unreadable.
The medical worker replied, "We’ll do our best to save his life." But inwardly, he knew: they could ensure no immediate danger to the boy’s life, but his legs—those were beyond saving.
"Let’s try lifting the rubble," someone suggested.
Jiang Jinghuai moved to help immediately.
"Wait... Wait a minute..." A sudden spark of clarity flashed through Tian Sangsang’s muddled mind.
"Comrade, there’s no time to wait. Delaying any longer is dangerous," the medical worker urged anxiously.
"I know we can’t wait. Doctor, do you have any saline solution? Let him drink some first," Tian Sangsang said quickly. "His legs have been crushed for two days; the muscle tissue is likely necrotic by now. If we move the debris recklessly , he could go into cardiac or renal failure and die."
"..." The medical worker regarded her with a grave look before saying, "I nearly forgot, thanks to your reminder."
"No need to thank me. I’m his mother," Tian Sangsang replied, her gaze fixed on Meng Shuyan as the medic got to work. His eyes were tightly shut, so fragile and tender. Just looking at him, she couldn’t help but cry again. She could feel Jiang Jinghuai’s eyes on her, but her son mattered more.
Time was needed to flush toxins from the bloodstream. Jiang Jinghuai sent a few others to assist elsewhere in the area but stayed with a small group to watch over the scene. He himself didn’t move, as if his feet were weighed down by lead. This woman...
Her eyes were red and swollen like tiny peaches, her dark face smudged with dust, and her features distinct and sharp—strangely familiar. She was dressed in black, but her clothes had been torn to shreds by the earthquake, making her appear utterly disheveled. Still, her back remained ramrod straight, and her entire being was wholly focused on the little boy.
Tian Sangsang? She looked so much like her, and yet not.
The child on the ground, soft and pale, especially his head of hair—it brought back memories of someone in his past. Her son? So, she had married?
He waited—waited for her to explain. But now was clearly not the time for explanations.
"Alright, we can lift the rubble now," the medic said at an opportune moment.
Tian Sangsang stared intently as the rubble was slowly lifted piece by piece. Her son was carefully placed on a stretcher. She followed the medics at a half-run, then came to a sudden halt, turning back to glance at the man still watching her. She uttered three words: "Jiang Jinghuai."
"Keep yourself alive, and come back to take a look at your son." Her tone was matter-of-fact. On the other side, Chen Ying had also been rescued.
Jiang Jinghuai furrowed his brows, his deep eyes lingering on her retreating form for a second before turning away. "We continue the rescue," he said.
Uh. The other team members were visibly stunned. What did they just hear? A son? Did the captain have a child? Wasn’t the captain supposed to be a long-standing bachelor? Thinking of that soft, adorable little boy from earlier—indeed, there was a six- or seven-point resemblance to the captain, but far cuter. Ugh, what were they thinking? Was this really the time?
The shelter here was divided into two sections: one for those with minor injuries, crammed together in one area, and another for the severely injured, who required surgery. The medical personnel who had just arrived didn’t have access to hospitals or similar facilities, so a makeshift operating area had been set up. Many medicines were in short supply, and even surgical tools were lacking.
Amid the orderly chaos, everything was still a frenzy.
Tian Sangsang stood uneasily outside the improvised operating room, biting her lip hard. It was only in this brief lull that she had a moment to look at the others around her. The air was filled with wailing...
These people, who had suddenly lost their homes and loved ones, wore expressions of utter helplessness on their ash-gray faces...
But how was she any different?
Just then, the medic from earlier came out.
Tian Sangsang looked at her expectantly. "Doctor, how is my son?"
The doctor sighed, speaking in a tone filled with the compassion of someone who has seen too much suffering. "The muscle tissue is severely necrotic, to the extent of infection. Amputation is necessary—otherwise, it will endanger his life."
"No, he can’t... he can’t lose his leg..." Tian Sangsang covered her face powerlessly and broke into tears. Her son was so young. Amputation...it was such a cruel reality. She suddenly grabbed the doctor’s hand, pleading. "Doctor, please think of another way. My son can’t lose his leg." She knew she was being unreasonable, but she couldn’t help it. This wasn’t just anyone—it was her son! Even when they were trapped beneath the rubble, she had considered the possibility.
"We can’t do anything more," the doctor shook her head. "For now, his life isn’t immediately threatened, but after three hours, it’ll be too late. Think it through carefully and come find me once you’ve decided. I still have other surgeries to perform; many people are waiting."
Despair was written in Tian Sangsang’s pitch-black pupils. She stared blankly at the medical worker’s white coat, her lips trembling slightly as tears streamed down her face.
There was nothing she could do. She could do nothing. Even though she had a space, she could do absolutely nothing.
Why was she so useless?
She scanned the crowd moving back and forth—the rescue workers rushing to and fro—trying to catch sight of Jiang Jinghuai. He was the father of this child. Where was he? She shouldn’t be the only one making this decision.
Yet, one military truck after another rolled by, blocking her view.
"Reinforcements have arrived," she heard someone say.
A large quantity of supplies was brought in as soldiers and medics poured out of the green trucks. Among these people was a woman with a pure, delicate beauty. Her expression was calm as she carried an emergency medical kit on her back.