She dreamt of the car accident again.
The private car that suddenly swerved into her path, violently colliding with her vehicle, and the oncoming truck that had no time to brake…
The colorful world turned into a sheet of crimson.
Trapped in her seat, unable to move, the screams and gasps around her gradually faded, leaving only the sound of blood draining from her own body.
"Wuwuwu…"
The crying of a child acted like a powerful stimulant, pulling her out of the dream.
She frowned, struggling to open her eyes.
The surroundings were no longer a car crash scene, but a dim, hazy expanse. A little girl, her face smeared with mud, sat beside her, sobbing pitifully.
The moment she woke, a touch of blue that had been lingering in her heart slowly burrowed into her small bag.
"You cry so ugly," she said, raising a hand to wipe the little girl's face.
Upon regaining clarity, she realized she was leaning against a large tree. It was thick and sturdy, appearing to be over a hundred years old. Part of its roots were exposed, and the loosened soil beneath had been washed out by the flood, forming a pit. Yet, the intricate network of roots remained firmly anchored, creating a small barrier that shielded her from falling rocks from above.
If not for this, she might have truly tumbled down.
She patted the tree trunk. "Thank you."
Looking to her sides, she discovered the area was a mess, with no sign of its former lush greenery.
The sky had long since darkened, and the rain continued to fall persistently. Fortunately, the tree roots overhead provided significant shelter.
The little girl had stayed by her side for so long; she must have been terrified.
Xia Weiliang propped herself up. Her right leg was in severe pain. She rolled up her pant leg and saw a wound over twenty centimeters long.
Not daring to let the little girl see, she quickly pulled her pants back down.
"Ah, where's the umbrella?"
Anxious, she wanted to search for it. Just then, Xiao Jinzi's small hand tugged at her, dragging over the basket. Inside were the bundles of oil-paper umbrellas.
Looking at the umbrellas, then at the little girl, Xia Weiliang suddenly hugged her, finally feeling that she was alive. "It's good that you're okay, it's good that you're okay."
It was impossible to walk now. The walkie-talkie had been smashed, and her phone had no signal. She could only wait patiently for rescue, but fortunately, things on the mountain had temporarily stabilized.
She took off her rain jacket, propped herself up on one foot, and rested it on the protruding root, which just happened to provide shelter from the rain.
Having done all this, she felt as if all her strength had been depleted. She sat down with a plop, her face alarmingly pale.
Glancing at the pitiable little girl, she pulled her into her arms, resting her chin on the girl's small head. "Don't worry, I won't die. I still have to take you to find your mother… We'll both be fine."
Perhaps it was this sentence that comforted the little girl, who quieted down.
"Are you hungry?"
The little girl remained silent.
Xia Weiliang rummaged through her small bag for a long time, finding a bottle of water and two pieces of chocolate.
She first gave the water to Xiao Jinzi, who was truly thirsty and drank more than half the bottle.
She then looked at Xiao Hei, who had been following her, and poured some water for it into a leaf.
She then broke one piece of chocolate in half and offered the larger piece to the little girl. "Eat it."
Xiao Jinzi extended her dirty little hand, took it, and took a careful bite. It was sweet, and her eyes brightened.
However, she only ate one bite before trying to stuff it into her pocket.
Xia Weiliang stopped her. "Why aren't you eating?"
Xiao Jinzi didn't speak, glanced at her, and then quietly lowered her head.
Staring at the little girl, she asked, "You… want to take it back for your mother to eat?"
Xiao Jinzi buried her head even lower.
Xia Weiliang's nose tingled, and she raised her hand to stroke the girl's little head, then took out another piece from her bag. "Look, this is for your mother."
Xiao Jinzi looked, and though her expression didn't change much, her big eyes were filled with joy.
"Eat it quickly."
The little girl then ate it all, bite by bite.
Watching the little girl's obedient demeanor, Xia Weiliang suddenly thought that even if she were to die here, saving this child seemed worth it.
She had never considered the meaning of life, such a grand question.
But, for just a moment, perhaps she had grasped it.
It all came down to the word "worthwhile."
Xia Weiliang was utterly exhausted. She leaned against the tree roots. Her clothes were soaked through. Gusts of cold wind seeped into her body, making her shiver. But after a while, her entire body felt like it was burning. In this cycle of cold and heat, her consciousness blurred, and her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
But she knew she couldn't sleep now.
Xiao Jinzi was curled up beside her. The little girl's big eyes were wide open, gazing at her intently, as if afraid she would disappear.
Xia Weiliang struggled to stay awake, chatting aimlessly with the little girl. In the end, she didn't even know what she was saying.
"...I actually resented you. Since it was you, why didn't you step forward before? Even if… even if you said nothing, I could have understood. But what harm would it have done if you had protected me just once?" Su Dan Novel Network.
"When I realized he wasn't the person he used to be, I… I was so happy…"
"I don't care who my parents are. They were only responsible for bringing me into this world. How I live, what I become, is up to me."
"Xiao Jinzi, is it dark outside?"
"It's really so dark… and so cold…"
In her ears were the sounds of the rain, mixed with the little girl's crying.
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't open her eyes. So, she thought, I'll just sleep for a little while.
Just for a little while.
—
"Weiliang!"
"Niangniang!"
"Xia Weiliang!"
"Sister, where are you? Don't scare us…"
The rain finally stopped.
As dawn broke, shouts echoed from the mountain.
Xiao Jinzi woke up first. She sat up, listening carefully, confirming that someone had come to rescue them. She quickly went to shake Xia Weiliang.
But no matter how much she shook, she received no response. Xiao Jinzi cried again, anxiously.
The shouts began to drift away.
Xiao Jinzi, frantic, looked up in the direction of the voices while desperately tugging at Xia Weiliang.
"Wuwu… wuwu…"
Xiao Jinzi only cried, but eventually, the voices from above disappeared.
Sobbing, Xiao Jinzi crawled to her side, pulled up her arm, and wrapped it around herself, just like her mother used to hold her when she was little. "Wuwu… Mama… wuwu Mama… Mama…"
Her voice was small, light, and soft, eventually growing louder and louder. "Wuwu… Mama!"
The person who had been unconscious frowned, vaguely hearing something, but it seemed she hadn't heard clearly. She opened her eyes. The sky was dim, covered with heavy, dark clouds.
She stared blankly, then slowly raised her hand, looking at the sky through her fingers. "Xiao Jinzi, look, the rain has stopped…"
That hand could no longer support itself and began to fall…
Suddenly, it was firmly grasped by someone!
Before her consciousness faded again, she saw a familiar face, handsome, dashing, but also anxious and panicked.
She smiled. It was wonderful to dream of him.
"Found her!"
"Here!"
"Quick, quick, Xiao Jinzi is found too!"
Chaos erupted all around, with people scrambling, but none of it could disturb her dream.
A dream with him in it.