Chapter 56: Living

Yu Bai felt like he had slept for a very long time and had a long dream.

In her dream, Jiang Jizhou didn't hurt her because of the misunderstanding. They got into the same university, got married after graduation, and everything from school uniforms to wedding dresses was so natural and logical, like a scene from a fairy tale.

Yu Bai wanted to stay in this beautiful dream forever and never wake up, but she heard someone calling her name from afar. Gradually, everything in the dream collapsed, and Yu Bai suddenly opened her eyes. What she saw was a pure white ceiling, bed sheets, and an IV drip in the ward.

"You're awake, Bai Bai." It was Wen Qin's voice, filled with joy and tears. Yu Bai looked over and saw Chi Qinghe and Wen Qin standing by the hospital bed. Chi Qinghe looked like he hadn't slept for several days; his face was haggard, his beard was unshaven, and he had lost his usual refined demeanor. When he saw Yu Bai wake up, almost the next second, tears welled up in his eyes, and his mouth was half-open, but he couldn't say a word.

Yu Bai glanced at it only once before turning to Wen Qin, who asked anxiously, "Where is Jiang Jizhou?"

Upon hearing this, Wenqin looked away.

The more silent she became, the greater Yu Bai's fear grew. She turned her gaze to Chi Qinghe, who lowered his eyes. "The government has sent a rescue team to search for them, but there's still no news."

The news came as a bolt from the blue. Yu Bai was stunned for a moment, then she was about to pull out the IV needle from the back of her hand. She was going to find Jiang Jizhou.

Chi Qinghe and Wen Qin held Yu Bai down. Chi Qinghe comforted Yu Bai with pain and worry, "Bai Bai, you have a high fever, your ear disease has worsened, and you are not fully recovered. The rescue team has already gone, and Yue Ming is also searching for you. He will definitely be alright. You should take care of yourself first."

“Yes, Bai Bai, there’s a professional search and rescue team looking for President Jiang. You should focus on recovering. President Jiang definitely doesn’t want you to take any risks,” Wen Qin said, wiping away her tears as she tried to persuade Yu Bai.

Yu Bai was heartbroken and couldn't bear to think about whether Jiang Jizhou was still alive.

Her voice trembled, "But he did it to save me."

Hearing Yu Bai's words, Chi Qinghe felt even more heartbroken.

If Jiang Jizhou really died, then he and Yu Bai were completely finished. Without hesitation, Chi Qinghe gently said to Yu Bai, "I'll go find him. You stay in the hospital to recover."

Yu Bai's eyes widened, and he gently shook his head. "No need, I owe him."

Yu Bai was extremely stubborn. She pulled out the IV needle, which stung slightly.

Looking at her pale, pained face, Chi Qinghe smiled bitterly to himself; he and Yu Bai were probably nearing the end.

"I'll take you there," Chi Qinghe said with a wry smile.

"This is troublesome." Yu Bai's voice was calm, seemingly devoid of emotion, yet a slight tremor could still be felt.

The weather was lovely after the rain, and the air was fragrant, but Yu Bai had no heart to appreciate it. She felt increasingly cold inside, the chill spreading to her blood, causing her to tremble uncontrollably. The closer she got to Fairy Mountain, the more violently she trembled.

A cordon was set up around Fairy Mountain, and the bright orange of the search and rescue team could be seen on the mountain. Yu Bai clenched his fists, which were covered in cold sweat.

As soon as he got out of the car, Yu Bai rushed over, eager to ask, "Any news?"

The search and rescue team leader glanced at the woman in front of him. She was pale and thin, but her eyes were bright, eagerly awaiting an answer. However, he could only say in a businesslike manner, "We haven't found her yet."

The glimmer of light in Yu Bai's eyes was swallowed by the shadow of despair and vanished in an instant. She staggered and almost fell down, but Chi Qinghe supported her shoulder. She was very cold.

"Are you family members of the victims?" the search and rescue team leader asked.

Yu Bai nodded, then shook his head, leaving the search and rescue team leader completely bewildered.

"Anyway, let's go back and wait for news first."

Yu Bai said firmly, "I'm going up the mountain to find him too."

“That won’t do.” The search and rescue team leader immediately rejected her request. “It’s dangerous up in the mountains. Your presence will only complicate our search and rescue mission.”

For a moment, Yu Bai wanted to rush up the mountain without a care, but the next second she held back. She stood there, staring blankly at Fairy Mountain not far away, her heart ashen. A sharp explosion came to her ears, and she was in so much pain that she couldn't help but bend over, but her eyes were so dry that she couldn't shed a single tear.

"Jiang Jizhou, please don't die, please."

She could only helplessly pray to God not to let Jiang Jizhou die. At the moment he saved her, all the love and hate that had entangled her over the years vanished. Regardless of everything, she was still that lonely girl in the dark corner, pulled into the bright world by Jiang Jizhou, and from then on, she simply depended on him.

Love triumphed over hate. Yu Bai dared not face Jiang Jizhou; she only wished for his well-being.

"Then I'll help here." Yu Bai looked at the search and rescue team leader pleadingly. He had been doing search and rescue for many years, but this was the first time he had seen such a complex and heavy look in someone's eyes, as if they were suppressing years of pain and tears, unable to show the slightest bit of it.

"Okay." The search and rescue team leader couldn't bear to do it after all.

“I’ll stay here with you,” Chi Qinghe said.

Yu Bai shook his head, "No need, this has nothing to do with you."

"But you are related to me." Chi Qinghe's heart was breaking. He would rather it was him who saved Yu Bai than die.

Yu Bai spoke slowly, his voice filled with apology, "I'm sorry."

Once you've had it, you don't want to lose it again.

Looking at the girl he had loved for many years, Chi Qinghe still couldn't bring himself to say a single harsh word. He didn't want to hurt her any more at this moment.

"Okay, then take care of yourself."

Chi Qinghe turned around, feigning nonchalance.

Yu Bai glanced at Chi Qinghe's departing figure, tall and imposing, yet exuding an indescribable loneliness. Yu Bai closed his eyes, paused for a moment, then looked away, focusing intently on Fairy Mountain, praying for good news.

Fortunately, the rain stopped after the storm, and the weather was fine, which provided favorable conditions for the search and rescue team. However, almost a week has passed since they perished, and if they are not found soon, the chances of survival are slim.

Despite his own illness, Yu Bai was busy here, helping to ensure the logistical support of the search and rescue team so that they could focus on their search and rescue mission.

Two more days passed, and they still hadn't found her. Yu Bai had become so thin that she was just skin and bones. The dark circles under her eyes proved that she hadn't slept for several days. She had been busy with various tasks during the day. The search and rescue team leader couldn't help but feel sorry for her. "Miss Yu, you should get some rest first."

"It's alright." Yu Bai's voice was hoarse, and she looked like a pitiful, down-on-her-luck person from the inside out.

"Alright, let's go up the mountain first," the search and rescue team leader sighed.

"Please, please find him quickly," Yu Bai pleaded, his weak voice like the mournful cry of a cuckoo.

"Don't worry, we will definitely work hard."

Yu Bai watched their retreating figures as they climbed the mountain, then collapsed helplessly to the ground. The intense mental strain of the past few days had left her utterly exhausted, but her worry for Jiang Jizhou kept her awake all night.

By the afternoon, there was still no news. A full week had passed since Chi Qinghe disappeared. She wandered aimlessly around the tent, her body almost forming a stereotyped behavior.

As the sun set and the sky gradually darkened, a distant light shone down, signaling the rescue team's descent from the mountain. Yu Bai's heart leaped into her throat, pounding in her chest, a mixture of anticipation and fear coursing through her. She ran towards them, stumbling and even falling, her knees bleeding, but she didn't care.

The search and rescue team leader shouted to her from afar, "Slow down, we've found him!"

These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky. Yu Bai's heavy heart, which had been heavy for days, suddenly lifted into the air. She ran even faster, the night breeze was warm, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She ran to the stretcher, her body went limp and she knelt down on the ground, crawling onto the stretcher. She looked at Jiang Jizhou's thin and weathered face, the scratches from the stone, and the dried bloodstains.

He is still alive.

The pain of the past few days was finally released at this moment. She covered her mouth and cried loudly. Her heart-wrenching sobs were heartbreaking.

Jiang Jizhou was pulled back from the brink of death. Hearing the cries of the person he loved deeply, he desperately opened his eyes and looked at Yu Bai, who was crying beside the stretcher, the girl who had supported him through these past few days.

"Don't cry."

Upon hearing his voice, Yu Bai cried even louder, pouring out all the emotions she had suppressed over the past few days.

Jiang Jizhou felt both heartache and joy that he could see her again.

However, his extremely weak body caused him to fall into a coma. The search and rescue team leader helped Yu Bai up and said, "Let's take him to the hospital first."

Yu Bai cried uncontrollably and could only nod repeatedly.

Yu Bai accompanied Jiang Jizhou in an ambulance to the nearest hospital. After a long examination, Jiang Jizhou was fortunate to be in good health. However, he was extremely weak because he had not eaten for several days and needed to be given intravenous fluids and rest. He still needed to be hospitalized for a few more days for observation.

Despite his own frail health, Yu Bai stayed by Jiang Jizhou's side to take care of him.

"Let's eat. I made chicken soup." Yu Bai carried the food into the ward. "It's from a free-range chicken that I bought specially. It's very nutritious."

Jiang Jizhou was lying on the hospital bed, looking at the pine tree outside the window, which was still green and lush. The wind rustled the white curtains. He turned to look at Yu Bai, who had become much thinner but was still very energetic, and the corners of his lips unconsciously turned up.

They seemed to have returned to their youthful days, gentle and peaceful, a time of tranquility.

If he could, Jiang Jizhou would wish to stay in the hospital forever, so that Yu Bai could always be gentle and considerate to him, and they would never speak ill of each other again.

"Thank you, Bai Bai." Jiang Jizhou stared into Yu Bai's eyes, those watery eyes like a calm lake.

Yu Bai paused in his movements and said calmly, "You saved me, it's only right."

She feigned aloofness, creating distance between them.

But Jiang Jizhou had already heard from the search and rescue team leader how worried Yu Bai was during the days he was missing, and even he, as an observer, couldn't help but be moved.

"I can tell that she still loves you."

The search and rescue team leader's words were etched in his mind. Jiang Jizhou looked at Yu Bai with a mixture of heartache and joy.

"Then feed me," Jiang Jizhou said, pushing his luck.

Yu Bai paused, silently scooped up a spoonful of chicken soup, blew on it gently, and then placed it to Jiang Jizhou's lips, "Open your mouth."

Jiang Jizhou happily opened his mouth and took a sip of the chicken soup that Yu Bai had cooked.

Yu Bai was about to take the spoon back when Jiang Jizhou reached out and grabbed her hand. "I can do it myself. Bai Bai, you're not fully recovered yet. Take care of yourself first, okay?"

"I'll take care of myself, I'm fine." Yu Bai felt the hand getting hotter and hotter, and struggled to escape.

"I'm only taking care of you because you saved me, don't overthink it." Yu Bai's voice was deliberately cold.

However, Jiang Jizhou had already seen the soft heart beneath her tough words.