Meng Jingwei disliked the photo and wanted to delete it, but the next moment her phone was snatched by Qing Muye. "Fine, I'll take one for you."
He took her phone away and let Meng Jingwei take a photo by herself.
Then he showed her the photo he took. She nodded with satisfaction, but as she flipped through the album, she asked, "What about that photo just now?"
"Deleted."
The man, holding an umbrella, walked in front and said nonchalantly.
"Alright, deleted it then. It wasn't good anyway," Meng Jingwei muttered, and then set the photo Qing Muye took as her phone's wallpaper.
...
Night fell, with lightning and thunder, and the rain poured down.
Meng Jingwei lay in bed, unable to sleep, and only managed to fall asleep around four or five in the morning.
"Meng Jingwei, Meng Jingwei, something's happened, wake up quickly, wake up quickly."
At some point, Meng Jingwei, who was dreaming, was nudged by Xiao Meiyan and woke up, groggily asking, "What's wrong?"
Upon opening her eyes, she saw Xiao Meiyan looking worried and anxious.
"The rain is too heavy, a landslide occurred and collapsed the school on the mountainside. Some children and teachers who went to school this morning are still trapped inside. The village has gathered people to rescue them and asked us to notify the people of Guolou Village to evacuate."
Because Dongpu Village is located between two mountains, and the distance between the mountains is very wide, even if a landslide occurred, there would be no impact.
However, Guolou Village is situated at the foot of the mountain, and if a landslide were to happen, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"Landslide?"
Meng Jingwei's heart skipped a beat, and she was so frightened that all her sleepiness vanished. She sat up directly from the bed. "How could such a thing happen?"
"Yes, I'm terrified. Many of the volunteers who came here want to leave, but the rain is too heavy now, so they can't leave even if they want to."
Xiao Meiyan was equally anxious.
She was pampered and accustomed to a life of ease, with fingers that never touched manual labor.
This trip to Liangchuan was also because she was tired of staying in the city and wanted to experience life.
She never expected to encounter a landslide.
Meng Jingwei immediately got up, changed her clothes, and walked out of the house with Xiao Meiyan.
Standing under the eaves outside the main hall, they looked at the ceaseless rain, as if the sky had cracked open and was pouring water inside, causing worry.
"Where are Qing Muye and the others? Did they go to the school?"
Meng Jingwei was concerned about the situation at the school and asked.
"Yes, they went."
"Then let's hurry to Dongpu Village. If we delay, something will happen," Meng Jingwei said to Xiao Meiyan.
The two of them walked out of the yard together, stepping onto the muddy ground, not bothering to care that their shoes were instantly soaked. They quickened their pace towards Guolou Village.
"Meiyan, Meiyan? Xiao Meiyan, stop for me!"
Not long after they had walked, a voice called out from behind them.
The two of them turned their heads upon hearing the sound and saw Xiao Qitian walking towards them in a raincoat, pointing at Xiao Meiyan and angrily saying, "What are you doing in such heavy rain?"
"Dad, the village chief asked me and Meng Jingwei to notify the villagers of Guolou Village to evacuate. Do you want to come with us?"
The rain was heavy, pattering on the umbrella, and the noisy sound was very loud, so they had to shout to be heard by each other.
"I knew you were going to Guolou Village. It's too dangerous there. You come back with me!"
Xiao Qitian grabbed Xiao Meiyan's arm without explanation. "If someone has to go, let her go alone. You come back with me!"
"Dad, let go of me. I want to go with Meng Jingwei. Otherwise, won't she be in danger alone?"
Xiao Meiyan, who usually seemed unreliable, cared about Meng Jingwei and didn't want her to risk going to Guolou Village alone. She continued, "There are many people there too. It will be dangerous if we delay. How can you be so selfish?"
Although Xiao Qitian was worried about Xiao Meiyan, Xiao Meiyan was a kind child at heart and naturally also worried about Guolou Village, whose situation was unknown.
"What nonsense are you talking about? I, Xiao Qitian, only have you as my daughter. If anything happens to you, how will I explain to your mother? Come back with me!"
Xiao Qitian berated Xiao Meiyan and dragged her back without explanation.
Xiao Meiyan struggled incessantly, looking back at Meng Jingwei and shouting, "Meng Jingwei, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and help me."
"You should go back with your father."
Meng Jingwei shook her head, not intending to take Xiao Meiyan with her to Guolou Village.
As a frail and delicate young lady, going with her would only slow her down and wouldn't be good.
Moreover, Meng Jingwei strongly supported Xiao Qitian's approach.
She held her umbrella and quickly headed towards Guolou Village. Just as she reached the village entrance, she saw the masked man holding an umbrella and walking towards her. "You're going to Guolou Village?" the masked man asked, his back hunched.
"The school on the mountain was destroyed by a landslide, and the village chief told us to quickly notify the people of Guolou Village."
"I'll accompany you," the masked man offered proactively.
At that moment, Meng Jingwei frowned slightly and shook her head, refusing. "You're not feeling well and walk very slowly. It's better for you to rest at home. It will be more convenient for me to go to Guolou Village alone."
"The houses in Guolou Village are scattered. How can you notify everyone by yourself?" he reminded her.
His words struck a chord with Meng Jingwei, and she finally said, "Then be careful. I'll go first and notify them at the east end of Guolou Village. You go directly to the west end of Guolou Village later."
In the mountains, there was no signal, and in dangerous situations, notification had to be done in person, otherwise, no one knew what kind of consequences they might face.
"Alright."
The masked man nodded slightly.
The two of them, holding umbrellas, headed towards Guolou Village.
Originally, she thought the masked man, leaning on his cane, would walk very slowly, but she found that no matter how fast she walked, the masked man could keep up.
Gradually, her calm heart began to stir, and she became wary of the masked man.
This person was not simple.
Rumble—
The two of them walked quickly towards Guolou Village. Heavy rain poured down all around, creating a layer of mist, making everything appear hazy and unclear.
And in front of them, a water channel was filled with turbid water, flowing fiercely and wantonly.
Above the water channel was a simple wooden bridge, very narrow, only wide enough for one person to pass.
Meng Jingwei hesitated for a moment, looking at the wooden bridge, then turned to look at the masked man and said loudly, "You go first. The water under the bridge is too fierce, almost covering the bridge deck. I'm not at ease with you behind me."
Her voice was very loud, as if she was afraid the masked man wouldn't hear.
The masked man, holding his cane in one hand and his umbrella in the other, looked at the rushing river flowing turbulently, splashing water onto the wooden bridge. He nodded, "Okay, I'll go first."
He walked around Meng Jingwei and stepped onto the bridge step by step.
Watching him walk onto the bridge calmly and without incident, Meng Jingwei doubted herself, wondering if she was just being suspicious because she hadn't slept well lately.