The car drove smoothly into the city.

The street scene outside the window changed from low-rise rural houses to familiar red brick buildings.

Xu Xinghe helped Shen Jianqiu into the hospital.

Shen Jianqiu's ankle was swollen so badly that he winced in pain with every step he took, and several blisters on the soles of his feet had burst.

The doctor applied a cold compress and bandaged her, and prescribed a blood-activating and stasis-removing ointment.

Xu Xinghe also took the opportunity to have the nurse treat the scratches on her arm. They were all superficial injuries and were quickly healed.

After their injuries were treated, the two returned to the compound by car.

Lian Xiao caused such a commotion that Old Master Lian naturally learned of their kidnapping and was very anxious.

Upon seeing them enter, he immediately sat up and looked them over repeatedly. "It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright! I was worried sick all night when I heard you were kidnapped."

"Grandpa Lian, I'm sorry to have worried you." Xu Xinghe smiled brightly. "We're all fine, nothing's wrong."

Shen Jianqiu nodded quickly, "Yes, Grandpa Lian, thanks to Xinghe, Brother Jiang, and Lian Xiao, we were able to come back safely."

The two little girls were kidnapped all night; I wonder how scared they must be!

Thinking of this, Elder Lian's eyes suddenly turned serious. "Those kidnappers must be dealt with seriously. Interrogate them thoroughly to see if they have any accomplices. If so, arrest them all. We must not let them harm others again!"

Lian Xiao nodded, "Grandpa, don't worry, I've already had someone investigate."

Those who hurt Xu Xinghe and Shen Jianqiu will not escape!

After chatting for a while longer, Old Lian waved wearily, telling them to go back and rest.

He didn't get much rest that night either; as people get older, their physical condition just doesn't improve.

I used to be able to watch over prisoners all night without any problems, but now I get dizzy and lightheaded just from sleeping less.

The four of them walked out of the Lian family's house.

Xu Xinghe looked at Shen Jianqiu and said, "In your current state, we definitely can't go out to play. Let me take you home."

"Yes." Shen Jianqiu did indeed need some time to rest.

The Shen family lived in the same compound, very close to the Lian family.

Shen Jianqiu opened the door; the room was quiet.

Her parents were both at work, and since Lian Xiao deliberately kept it a secret, they had no idea that their only daughter had been kidnapped.

Shen Jianqiu changed his shoes and pulled Xu Xinghe into his room. "Lian Xiao, Brother Jiang, please sit in the living room for a while. Xinghe and I need to talk for a bit."

After she finished speaking, she closed the door.

The room was beautifully decorated, reflecting the thoughtful touches of a young girl.

It's clear that her parents love her very much.

Shen Jianqiu poured Xu Xinghe a glass of sugar water before reluctantly speaking, his cheeks flushed slightly. "There are some things I feel I need to make clear to you. I know you're not a bad person, and I want to consider you a friend, so I'm telling you this. If you don't listen, then let's not associate with each other anymore!"

Xu Xinghe perked up her ears, "Oh, right, you seemed to suddenly dislike me before, and I wanted to ask you why!"

"I didn't suddenly start disliking you, I have my reasons!" Shen Jianqiu sneered. "I think you're greedy and always looking for something better!"

Xu Xinghe was confused. "When did I do that?"

How could she not know?

Seeing that she was genuinely puzzled and not pretending, Shen Jianqiu breathed a sigh of relief for some reason.

If she knew and still did it, then it was intentional.

Even if such a person isn't bad, she doesn't want to be friends with them.

However, Xu Xinghe went to such lengths for her in this matter, which, to some extent, makes her a trustworthy person.

You can't go wrong making friends with someone like that.

"You're clearly engaged to Jiang Linchuan, yet you're getting so close to Lian Xiao. Don't you know how to avoid suspicion?"

Xu Xinghe was completely stunned. She had never thought that Shen Jianqiu disliked her for this reason. She then chuckled and said, "You misunderstood. Lian Xiao and I are good friends, just like your relationship with him. In addition, Grandpa Lian specifically instructed him to take care of me. Besides, we have been through a lot together in Heilongjiang Province, so it's normal for us to be close."

As for the claim that Lian Xiao liked her, she didn't think so.

She could never forget how much Lian Xiao initially disliked her, and how reluctant he was to give her a ride on his motorcycle.

Even after arriving in Heilongjiang Province, he rarely showed up.

It wasn't until some things happened that they slowly grew closer.

In Xu Xinghe's view, this is a normal process for friendships to improve, and everyone goes through this.

"Snow disaster?" Shen Jianqiu's curiosity was immediately piqued. "Is the snow disaster in Heilongjiang Province very serious?"

She grew up in Shanghai and was used to mild winters; she had never seen real heavy snow.

“It was extremely serious.” Xu Xinghe sat down on the edge of the bed and recalled the scene at the time. Her tone became a little heavy. “The snow had been falling for a long time without stopping. The snow was even knee-deep. All the roads in the mountains were blocked, and many villagers’ houses were crushed. At that time, relief supplies could not get in at all, and later we even had no food to eat.”

“Lian Xiao, Jiang Linchuan, and I went to help with disaster relief, helping villagers build houses and shovel snow. Oh, and we also spent the New Year together, having New Year’s Eve dinner together. How could we not be close? You know Lian Xiao doesn’t have any relatives in Heilongjiang Province, and neither do I. So we spent the New Year together, just like family.”

Shen Jianqiu's eyes widened in shock. "The snow can fall that heavily? It can even cause houses to collapse?"

She simply couldn't imagine that scene.

Looking at her incredulous expression, Xu Xinghe suddenly realized something and winked mischievously, "Do you like Lian Xiao? Otherwise, why would you care so much about my relationship with him and even hate me because of it?"

"I didn't!" Shen Jianqiu's face flushed red instantly, and he hurriedly waved his hands in denial, but his eyes unconsciously darted away.

Seeing Xu Xinghe looking at her with a half-smile, she deflated, her voice barely audible, "I do like him a little, but I know he doesn't like me, so I've never mentioned it."

She grabbed Xu Xinghe's arm and emphasized, "You absolutely mustn't tell anyone else, especially not Lian Xiao! Otherwise, I won't be able to see him again."

Seeing her flustered appearance, Xu Xinghe's heart softened involuntarily. She patted the back of her hand and said, "Don't worry, I won't tell. But... I can help you!"