Yin Zhao-an breathed with the aid of an oxygen mask as she lay unconscious in the intensive care unit, her slow and shallow breaths rhythmically fogging up the translucent mask. Her head and shoulders were wrapped in gauze, the sterile cotton soaked with yellow medication and dark red blood. Although her body wasn't wrapped entirely in gauze, the parts that remained exposed to the air, such as her neck and parts of her shoulders, were covered in bruises.
Zhao Yu shuddered when he saw Yin Zhao-an's current state. He had known that Yin Zhao-an treated Tang Yu very well, but he didn't think it was to the extent that she was willing to give up her life for Tang Yu.
The incident that day was reported on the news. Initially, he had only watched the news report without much thought, but he never expected to see someone familiar appearing in the news. At the time, the revelation had sapped all of his body's strength, and the glass of water in his hand fell to the ground, shattering into pieces and sending water splattering everywhere.
Even though the person shown on the TV was covered in blood and facial features were obscured to protect the person's privacy, there was no way Zhao Yu could fail to recognize the other party. The dying person who had appeared in the news was Yin Zhao-an.
A pedestrian interviewed by the news channel mentioned that he had seen a motorcyclist driving down the street next to him at flying speeds, adding that this was his first time seeing someone daring to drive so recklessly in the middle of a city. This interview was followed by footage of the aforementioned motorcyclist captured by a nearby surveillance camera.
Zhao Yu had similarly never seen anyone driving a motorcycle so quickly before, so his heart shuddered when he saw Yin Zhao-an doing so. Moreover, if Yin Zhao-an was willing to go to such great lengths to rescue Tang Yu, was Tang Yu merely just a close friend to Yin Zhao-an?
Honestly speaking, if Zhao Yu was put into a similar situation, the only thing he would know to do was call the police. He simply couldn't see himself doing something as crazy as engaging in a high-speed chase with a kidnapper.
…
After Gao Rang was finished checking all the wards under his charge, he relaxed his slightly sore shoulders. When he walked past Yin Zhao-an's intensive care unit and saw that the boy from before was still seated outside the ward, he couldn't help but look at his watch, noting that half an hour had already gone by since he last saw the boy.
At this time, Wang Zhen just so happened to have returned from the rooftop terrace to check on her daughter, a dazed look on her face.
"Doctor Gao," Wang Zhen politely greeted Gao Rang. She recognized Gao Rang as one of the doctors responsible for her daughter's treatment, though they had only met a few times thus far.
Gao Rang nodded and faintly smiled in response. Then, he pointed at Zhao Yu, who was sitting on the bench with his head hanging down, and said, "This boy has been sitting here for a while now. He's quite patient." After saying so, Gao Rang turned to Zhao Yu. When he failed to get a response, he helplessly shrugged and said, "I still have things to do, so I'll be taking my leave first."
Once Gao Rang was gone, Zhao Yu promptly stood up from the bench and politely bowed to Wang Zhen, "Auntie, my name is Zhao Yu, and I am Zhao-an's classmate."
Wang Zhen lovingly stroked Zhao Yu's head. The past few days had exhausted her heart, and the only desire remaining in her heart was to see her daughter survive this ordeal. Because of her change of heart, she became much gentler in the way she treated everyone around her.
"I know. Thank you for coming to see her." After saying so, Wang Zhen gazed through the window at the unconscious person in the intensive care unit. "It's a pity she can't see you now."
Zhao Yu accompanied Wang Zhen without speaking. Nothing he could say would be helpful in this situation, so he'd be better off keeping silent and letting Wang Zhen figure things out herself.
"Ah Cheng has gone to apply for temporary leave for An-An from school."
Zhao Yu did not speak, waiting for Wang Zhen to finish speaking.
"An-An's grades have always been good, but it'll probably be a long time before she can start attending classes again. By then, she will have a lot of classes to catch up on, and it will be very exhausting.
"An-An has always been a proud person. She might not seem to care about her grades on the surface, but she works harder than anyone. I know that. I have always known that.
"She wouldn't want to fall behind others. Don't you think so?"
"Zhao-an is an excellent person," Zhao Yu earnestly replied as he looked into Wang Zhen's tired eyes. "She isn't inferior to anyone. She never has."
Wang Zhen smiled gratefully, tears pooling in her eyes. "That's right. My An-An has never been worse than anyone."
…
The dream world was like an endless abyss. No matter how Tang Yu struggled, she simply couldn't break free.
Ahead of her was darkness. Cautiously, Tang Yu fumbled her way forward, the loss of her five senses instilling a feeling of helplessness in her. Although she wanted to call for help, she couldn't make a sound.
A cool breeze blew past her face amidst her disarray. A change had occurred to the flow of air around her. She tried to reach out with her hand but failed to touch anything.
Then, a whimpering voice came from the darkness…
"I seem to have lost you again."
"Why can't I find you…"
"Look at me… Look at me, okay?"
…
Tang Yu woke up from her dream and opened her eyes, only to be greeted by a blurry sight, a contribution of the warm tears shrouding her eyes. After blinking a few times, Tang Yu looked out the window and saw that the sky outside was still covered in dark clouds blocking the sun.
When will the rain clear up… Tang Yu wondered.
"You're awake, Little Yu? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Yu Wanrou grabbed Tang Yu's hand and cried with joy.
The wound on Tang Yu's tongue had yet to fully heal and even moving her tongue gently hurt a lot. However, there was something Tang Yu desperately wanted to say.
"An… An-An…"
Yu Wanrou's hand stiffened for a moment. Then, squeezing out a smile, she said, "An-An needs to rest. We shouldn't disturb her."
"I want to see her."
An-An was waiting for her.
"Please."