When I woke up again, every part of my body ached terribly. It felt as if I had been torn to pieces and then pieced back together.
As consciousness gradually returned and the doctor entered, Ruoke couldn't help but close her eyes. A tear slid down her dry eye.
Why must I live? Wouldn't it be better to just die like that?
But my mother said: No matter how difficult it is, you must live on strongly! Giving up on life will be punished by heaven!
But I'm so tired, so incredibly tired...
She neither saw nor heard who came and went, who left and came again. She simply let her consciousness drift away, drifting into a hazy sleep. Everything was no longer relevant to her.
"Don't play dead with me. Without my permission, even Death itself cannot release you! If you dare to go on a hunger strike, I will make everyone who cares about you suffer a fate worse than death! I will send them all to hell!"
The man exhaled a puff of smoke, uttered some cold words, slammed the door, and left.
No one noticed that the man had been standing outside the door for a long time.
He closed his eyes and saw the scene of her lying in a pool of blood that day. He thought that was what he wanted to see, but at that moment, he was filled with fear and rushed to the hospital like a madman. For a full seven hours, he forgot to sit up and just leaned against the wall until the operating room door opened, at which point he collapsed to the ground.
Ling Ruoke slowly opened her eyes, her gaze empty. She thought she no longer cared, but why did her heart still ache so much that she could hardly breathe?
Ling Ruoke, why are you so pathetic! You can't even die, you can't even die! You deserve it, you deserve it!
She weakly raised her hand and slapped herself across the face. It didn't hurt at all, but tears still streamed down her face.
...
On a training ground of a certain military region.
In the dim sky, a crescent moon adorned the scene, its faint light insufficient to dispel the encroaching darkness, creating a somewhat oppressive atmosphere.
At this moment, two tall, dark figures stood on the training field, exuding an oppressive aura. They were like leopards in the night, quiet one second and pouncing like lightning the next.
Two red dots flickered, adding to the mysterious atmosphere. Upon closer inspection, it became clear that they were cigarettes held between their fingers.
"Save people? Save what? It's not like we're on a mission, why would we go all the way to City A to save people? Are all the police in City A dead?"
Huo Qingfeng took a deep drag of his cigarette, exhaled, and glanced at Fu Peigang with a slight frown.
City A? He remembered that the beautiful girl lived in City A. She should be living a happy life now, perhaps with a little baby. A blissful image immediately flashed through his mind.
He felt a sharp pain in his chest and took a deep drag on his cigarette.
"Rescue a poor woman who is being held captive by her ex-husband. That man has a lot of influence in City A, and the police don't dare to touch him."
Skin and bones, on the verge of death? Fu Peigang breathed a sigh of relief as he recalled Shishi's description of Ruoke now. He still remembered the girl he met in City A; she was gentle as water yet lively and spirited.
"How come I didn't know you joined the Women's Federation? And you're so clever, knowing to bring up things that even the police in City A dared not handle to show off! You've memorized all the military regulations in the toilet, haven't you?"
The sound Huo Qingfeng made through his nostrils: "Kid, your head got caught in a door."
“She’s Shishi’s best friend, I can’t just ignore her. Besides, Ruoke is really pitiful, not only—”
"What did you say her name was?"
In a swift movement, Huo Qingfeng grabbed Fu Peigang by the collar, nearly lifting him up. Huo Qingfeng's eyes were terrifyingly wide in the darkness.
"Her name is Ruoke, Ling Ruoke."
Huo Qingfeng was stunned for a long time before slowly letting go of her hand, the night concealing the disbelief in his eyes.
Fu Peigang's keen senses as a soldier led him to notice a clue.
"Captain, do you know her?"
Huo Qingfeng didn't answer, but just took a few deep drags on his cigarette, his brows furrowed in a deep frown.
When do we depart?
"ah?"
"I asked you when we're leaving to rescue people. Are you deaf? If you keep pretending to be deaf, you'd better go outside and run twenty laps right now!"
A fist landed hard on Fu Peigang's chest, causing him to stagger backward in pain, but he quickly stood up in a standard military posture.
"Report! We'll depart for City A first thing tomorrow morning and launch the rescue operation tomorrow night! However, the specific operational plan needs to be finalized after on-site reconnaissance. Over!"
Fu Peigang was so aggrieved: "I just didn't realize what was going on. I was just saying it was the Women's Federation's job. Now they want me to sprout wings and fly off to save people. What's going on?"
Huo Qingfeng turned around and waved at him.
"I understand, you can go back now."
"team leader?"
Has the captain agreed? But why?
"Don't ask anything you shouldn't ask, get out!"
A swift kick swept across Fu Peigang's feet. Startled, he turned and walked away, patting his chest, thinking: "The captain's acting strangely tonight!"
The night grows deeper and quieter. In the stillness of the night, it is easiest to recall the past.
Huo Qingfeng stubbed out his cigarette, threw himself to the ground, and lay down with his arms crossed behind his head.
The sky was dark, and the moonlight was cold.
In a daze, it felt as if they were back in that earthquake. When they dug through the soil and saw that several children were still alive underneath, everyone was overjoyed.
The last person to attempt a rescue was a young girl, who was already on the verge of death. Even so, she weakly grasped his arm, silently asking: Are the children alright?
He told her the children were alright, and she smiled as she fainted. Despite her pale and haggard face, that smile held a strength and beauty he had never seen before, instantly striking his heart.
He later learned that she had come here to teach during the summer vacation. These children were all her students. When she was buried underground, she told the children not to speak to conserve their energy, while she kept telling them stories until she was rescued.
In the hospital, her throat was sore from overuse that she couldn't speak, so she always used a smile instead. During that time, all the patients and wounded in the hospital received this girl's sweetest and purest smile. It was like a flower blooming in ruins, giving people hope for the future.
"I'm sorry, I already have a fiancé, and we are very happy."
I still remember how gently she refused him, as if afraid that being even a little harsh would hurt him. Her beautiful eyes were filled with deep apology.
Huo Qingfeng slammed his fist into the ground, bent over, and sat up abruptly before disappearing into the night.
If possible, what about the happiness you speak of?
Since he can't give it to you, then I will give you your happiness!
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