"Daiyao, why didn't you answer your phone just now?"
"Xiao Xi..."
"No, don't cry! What happened?"
As soon as the call connected, all that could be heard was Song Daiyao sobbing uncontrollably on the other end.
Hearing this, Qiu Xi began to panic.
Liang Yunfei and Shen Yan beside her weren't any better, yet they could do nothing but anxiously wait.
"Xia... Xi..., Zhao Huasheng he... he's in the hospital..."
Gasping for breath, the crying Song Daiyao finally managed to speak.
"Which hospital are you at now?"
Qiu Xi didn't have time to ask for details but could already guess that this wasn't a simple matter, or Song Daiyao wouldn't be crying like this.
"Huake First Hospital..."
"Okay! You stay there, and we'll be there soon."
"Okay..."
"Xiao Xi! What happened?"
Both of them were anxious. As soon as Qiu Xi hung up, they asked.
"I'm not quite sure yet, but it's probably quite serious. Let's go to the hospital first, and I'll explain on the way."
"Then let's go quickly."
"Mhm!"
Given the urgency, Qiu Xi informed Nan Hua, made a call to their counselor, and then headed out with the other two.
In a rush, almost at the same time, two groups arrived at Huake First Hospital.
"Xixi! What's going on?"
Since the text messages were unclear, a worried Nan Hua had driven over directly.
"Hoo hoo..."
Panting, Qiu Xi still replied, "Not clear yet! Let's go in quickly."
"Alright!"
Emergency room. They didn't need to ask as they walked in; the group immediately spotted Song Daiyao, disheveled and slumped by the entrance.
"Daiyao!"
"Xiao Xi..."
"Wuwuwu... you're finally here..."
Overwhelmed and dazed, Song Daiyao's tears began to flow again when she saw them.
"Where's Zhao Huasheng?"
"He... he's still in surgery..."
"!!!"
This was even more serious than she had imagined!
"What happened! Didn't you guys go to the milk tea shop?"
How could such a serious thing happen on such a short trip?
"It's all my fault... if it weren't for me..."
"Alright, stop crying for now and tell us what happened."
She was speaking incoherently from her distress. Qiu Xi had no choice but to comfort her while inquiring.
"Okay..."
"..."
"Slap!"
"Did you call the police?"
After listening to Song Daiyao's fragmented account, the male beside her remained silent, while Qiu Xi and the other girls, especially Liang Yunfei, were now burning with rage.
"No... I was just busy calling 120..."
"No, we have to call now..."
They couldn't let these scumbags get away with it!
From what Daiyao had just said, she knew they must have done this many times before!
If it hadn't been for Zhao Huasheng today, Daiyao probably wouldn't know where she would be now.
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got!
"Let us handle this. You guys keep an eye on the situation here."
Hearing this, Nan Hua spoke up.
It was true that the few of them standing there couldn't say much, so it was better to do something.
"That's fine, we'll be counting on you."
"No 'counting on us,' Zhao Huasheng is our brother!"
"We're heading out now."
"Okay, be careful."
"Mhm."
Watching the light on the emergency room door, it was clear this night would be a sleepless one!
"Daiyao, why don't you go tidy yourself up a bit, and we'll watch here?"
"No! I have to stay and watch!"
She wouldn't be at ease until she saw that he was alright!
"But..."
Liang Yunfei, who was about to persuade her further, had her wrist held by Qiu Xi.
"Forget it, let her stay."
For something this significant, anyone would likely not want to move.
"Sigh... alright then."
"The counselor will probably be here soon. I'll go inform Uncle Song first, and you guys watch here."
"Okay, go ahead."
For this kind of matter, having an adult present would be more convenient. They also didn't have a good way to contact Zhao Huasheng's family, so Nan Hua and the others would likely have to do that.
Qiu Xi then dialed the phone number they had left when they visited the Song family.
"Hello, who is this?"
Late at night, Song Mingcheng fumbled for a while before answering the call.
"Uncle Song, it's me, Qiu Xi."
"Student Xiao Xi, it's so late, has something happened?"
"Mhm! It's Daiyao..."
Late at night, Qiu Xi kept the explanation brief, recounting the entire incident over the phone.
"Okay... Uncle will be there immediately. Please take care of them for now..."
Before finishing, Song Mingcheng hung up.
"Old Song, what are you doing so late at night?"
Mo Lanxin, groggily woken up, was disturbed by the commotion.
"Daiyao's girl is in trouble, she's at the hospital, I'm going to see!"
"What?!!"
"I'm going too!"
Instantly awake, she immediately flipped over and got out of bed.
"Alan, why don't you just go tomorrow..."
"No!"
Now that she knew, she definitely wouldn't be able to sleep all night.
Besides, this was her daughter!
She had to go!
"Alright... then let's hurry."
The commotion of the two getting up then startled their next-door neighbor, the night owl Song Yuqing.
Eventually, the family of three left together.
At this moment, at Huake First Hospital.
"Qiu Xi, how is it now?"
The counselor, woken up in the middle of the night, had her heart in her mouth.
She was terrified that something might happen to her students, as that would likely mean the end of her career as a counselor.
"Teacher, this is what happened..."
"This is outrageous!"
Are there no laws? In broad daylight, they commit such unspeakable acts.
"Teacher..."
"Alright, where are those few boys? I'll go look for them."
How could such a matter be left to a few children to handle?
Qiu Xi pointed towards the entrance, "They're just outside."
"Alright, you've all worked hard. Just stay here and rest."
"..."
Not long after the counselor left, the Song family of three arrived.
Worried, all three of them had rushed over with just a jacket thrown on, without changing their clothes or shoes.
"Dad! Mom! Brother..."
"Uncle Song."
Having stopped crying after a whole night, she started to break down again upon seeing her closest family.
"Alright, don't cry!"
Seeing her daughter's state, Song Mingcheng told his wife to go comfort her.
He then pulled his son aside and began to ask Qiu Xi and the others what had happened.
"They really are tired of living!"
Father Song was now furious.
"Where are your teacher and those young men?"
"There..."
"Alright, you guys should get some rest. We'll go take a look."
"..."
Fine...
With two more "generals" added to that group, it seemed they could finally rest.