"At only 28, he’s never been idle, always planning my future. I’ll definitely repay him someday.”
Long Yifei was undeniably inspiring.
A boy who hadn’t graduated high school managed to work and build a house for his sister, and save hundreds of thousands to take her for eye treatment.
Though small, their lives were lived with effort and were worthy of respect.
Melody patted her. “Just consider it a million. Your brother raised you all these years, he’s worth at least a million. There’s nothing to inquire about. When you start working, you can pay him back according to this.”
The sister felt her words made sense. “Then I’ll listen to you. My first small goal is to repay him a million.”
Long Yifei arranged a room for Melody in a hotel near the hospital, while he stayed at the hospital to care for his sister.
The surgery was very successful. The three stayed for half a month. When the sister’s stitches were removed, her sight was restored, and they returned home together.
Her eyes were still fragile after the surgery, unable to tolerate strong light and with dietary restrictions. Thus, the sister was on leave from school.
Both Long Yifei and Melody were exceedingly cautious. Even though they knew the cornea wouldn't fly away and their sister wouldn't go blind again, they felt they had to treat her even better to justify the surgery.
The three moved about as stealthily as thieves, their days remarkably quiet.
So quiet that Melody, waiting to die, forgot about her own condition for a long time.
Moreover, after stopping the doctor’s medication, her hair began to grow back slowly.
With strands growing in all directions, she looked like a monster. So, she used Long Yifei’s razor to shave it off.
In a few days, a fresh green layer emerged, like spring grass, full of life.
They had expected that by the end of the month, the sister would be able to go out and see the sights like normal people, and everything would be getting better.
But fate, at this moment, decided to play a cruel joke on them.
That night, Melody and her sister were sleeping soundly when they suddenly smelled a strange odor.
A dark shadow flashed past the window, and there seemed to be low male voices talking.
Melody’s body stiffened, and she opened her eyes.
If there were people outside the window, moving abruptly would invite unnecessary trouble. So, she stealthily reached out and felt for her sister’s phone, which was on the bedside table.
Long Yifei had bought the sister a new phone after her eyes had recovered. The sister was accustomed to braille and couldn't type. Melody was teaching her to use the keyboard.
Therefore, she knew the unlock password.
She dialed Long Yifei. The call connected, rang for two seconds, and she quickly hung up.
Long Yifei was a light sleeper. She believed this little disturbance was enough to wake him.
As expected, Long Yifei soon sent her a WeChat message.
“There are people outside the window. You two lie still, don’t move.”
“What kind of trouble did you get into? Why are these people here?”
“Uncertain. Don’t move yet, observe the situation.”
After reading his message, a raging fire suddenly erupted within her peripheral vision.
Melody turned her head and looked out the window. No wonder there were people talking near the wall earlier. They had poured gasoline on the house, and it was now ablaze.
She didn’t know what trouble Long Yifei had gotten into outside, but judging by the current situation, they were clearly here for revenge and to kill them. They were finished.
“Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu!”
She urgently nudged her sister in the quilt with her elbow, unaware that her sister had already woken up.
“What should we do, sister? I’m scared to move. What do we do?”
“It’s good that you’re awake. Don’t be scared, don’t be anxious, I’m here. I’ve already messaged your brother, he’ll come.”
The two held hands, lying still on the bed, pretending to be dead, waiting for Long Yifei to give further instructions.
But there was no sign from him. The fire grew larger and higher. The two lying on the bed could feel the waves of heat. If they didn’t escape now, it would be too late. The door was finally opened quietly.
Long Yifei crawled in, squatting on the ground, and said to them.
“Get off the bed quietly, don’t make a sound.”
The two, like worms, slowly wriggled out from under the quilt and crawled out of the room with him.
When they reached the living room, and the people outside couldn’t see them, they dared to speak.
Long Yifei, drenched in sweat, his face anxious and grave, thrust his wallet, car keys, and phone into Melody’s hands.
“There’s a back door in the kitchen. I’ll break it open in a moment. You take your sister and run. Don’t worry about behind us, don’t worry about me. Get in the car and go. Get as far away from here as possible. Do you hear me?”
Although Melody had good psychological fortitude, she had never witnessed such a scene before, and her heart began to flutter.
“What’s going on? What did you get yourself into outside? Is there no reporting this?”
“Reporting it is useless. What I do isn’t legitimate business. No one can save me.”
“Ah?”
The sister suddenly burst into tears, clutching his arm pitifully.
“What are you saying, brother? What exactly have you been doing outside?”
At this point, there was no time for explanations.
Long Yifei only urged her, “Don’t worry about it. Remember my words, listen to your sister, run as far as you can, understand? Are you two ready?”
The sister shivered all over, her hand still gripping his.
“No, no, I don’t want to be separated from you. Brother, don’t scare me, tell me this is all fake!”
“This is not the time for jokes. If we don’t run now, it will be too late. I’ll count to three, no more nonsense, you two hurry!”
Then he pushed his sister’s hand away and ran towards the kitchen first.
As soon as his figure appeared at the doorway, someone outside shouted.
“Not dead yet! The person is here! I see them!”
Long Yifei turned back and yelled at them.
“Quick, if you don’t run now, it’ll really be too late!”
Melody grabbed her sister and went into the kitchen. Long Yifei grabbed a wet quilt, draped it over himself, opened the refrigerator, and began to fiercely kick a previously sealed wooden door.
After four or five kicks, the burning door finally burst open.
A thick cloud of smoke accompanied by heat rushed in, nearly knocking them to the ground.
Long Yifei recovered slightly, threw the prepared quilt onto the fire, and temporarily suppressed the flames.
He turned back, “Run!”
Melody had no time to think. She instructed her sister to close her eyes, grabbed her wrist, and rushed out frantically.
Emerging from the thick black smoke, male voices and figures could be heard from all directions, at least five or six of them.
They were running towards them from different directions.
“They are here, I see them! Come over, quickly!”
Long Yifei produced a shining broadsword from somewhere and charged towards the nearest person.
As he advanced, he shouted to them, “Don’t look back! Run! Quickly!”
The wind howled past her ears. After escaping the waves of heat, the night wind felt like knives against her face.
The shouts and cries from behind grew fainter and fainter.
Melody finally saw the pickup truck.