The fire grew larger, and Feng coughed, struggling to keep her eyes open before finally closing them.
At that moment, she no longer hoped for her second brother’s arrival; it would likely mean dying together. She had faced death before and wasn’t frightened now. Her only concern was for her father and brother, especially her second brother—she feared his reckless behavior. Fortunately, her incomplete state meant he would be powerless to save her.
In a daze, she heard the door open and felt something cool on her face. Struggling to open her eyes, she saw Ning Yuan’s panicked face.
“Feng, Feng!” he called.
She took a breath and continued coughing. Ning Yuan quickly untied her ropes and picked her up. Suddenly, there was a loud bang. He threw himself to the ground, shielding her as the TV exploded and light fixtures fell. The pastoral-style room was engulfed in flames.
Ning Yuan grunted in pain as debris struck his back but gritted his teeth and lifted her again. However, after a few steps, he had to retreat; the fire was everywhere, blocking their escape.
Feng gripped his clothes. “Brother Ning Yuan, you shouldn’t have come.”
At that moment, his heart suddenly became calm. Ning Yuan held her and smiled, “I’m glad I came.”
Unable to live together, but able to die together – what a blessed gift!
The fire grew larger, and in the distance, sirens could be heard.
Feng breathed through the wet cloth Ning Yuan had brought, still barely able to breathe, while he was coughing continuously.
“Ning Yuan, put me down and try to escape,” she said weakly with her functioning hand.
Ning Yuan staggered and placed her against the wall, then tore down the cloth from the lampshade to cover her. He smashed a decorative vase and picked up a piece of glass.
He pressed himself atop her, kissing her ear, “Unable to live together, but hoping to die together. But Feng, cough cough, I know the person you want to die with is not me.”
“Ning Yuan!” Feng panicked.
Ning Yuan smiled gently, like the man who had once made her heart flutter, “Feng, don’t be afraid. He will come to save you.” He sliced open the major artery in his leg, and blood gushed out, soaking her clothes.
“Ning Yuan, Ning Yuan!” she cried, hating her helplessness.
The thinning air and blood loss made his breath grow weaker, “Don’t worry, blood is also a liquid, it won’t burn you.”
“Ning Yuan, get up. If you do this, I will never forgive you. I will hate you for all eternity.”
Ning Yuan’s eyelids flickered open. “Feng, tell me, if that incident hadn’t happened, would I still be the one you loved?”
“No, Ning Yuan, get up.”
Ning Yuan pressed her hand over her mouth. “Be good, don’t speak. You need to wait for him to save you.”
The flames around them burned hot, but he felt cold. He smiled, “Feng, did you love me back then?”
Tears streamed down her face, and Feng nodded.
Ning Yuan’s eyes brightened, then dimmed. His head drooped against her neck.
“Ning Yuan, don’t die, please!” Feng called out, her hand covering his lips stubbornly even in death. She hated him, resented him, but never wanted him to die like this.
After all, he was once the person she loved. “Feng’er, Feng’er!” She heard her brothers’ voices vaguely, but she had no strength to respond.
Tears rolled down her cheeks. She shouted loudly, but they couldn’t hear her. She drifted in and out of darkness, losing consciousness.
In her dream, Ning Yuan smiled warmly, his eyes full of affection. “Meeting you was my luck!” His smile faded. “I never loved you. Never.”
Finally, in the raging flames, he asked, “Do you still love me? Would you still love me if that incident hadn’t happened?”
A sharp pain gripped her heart as she struggled to wake from the dream. “Ning Yuan, you cannot die. If you die, I will never forgive you, for all eternity.”
“Feng’er!” A hoarse voice called out. A trembling hand placed on her forehead, “Are you awake?”
As Ru Feng opened her eyes, her vision slowly cleared. A disheveled figure with a dark and bruised face came into focus—her handsome second brother, looking nothing like himself.
Qi Feng leaned in nervously, “Wind, how are you? The doctor said your eyes are fine; can you see me?”
Ru Feng opened her mouth, her throat painfully dry, unable to respond.
Qi Feng stroked her face, “Don’t worry. You were choked by smoke; you’ll be better in a few days.”
His face pressed against hers, fear overwhelming him. When he rushed into the room with a fire extinguisher, she lay silently in the flames, blood everywhere.
Fortunately, he held her, still trembling. Thankfully, Ning Yuan had used his own blood to save her.
Ru Feng raised her left hand, patting his back gently in silent comfort.
Long after, Qi Feng’s emotions calmed. He embraced her, saying, “Wind, wherever I am, you’ll be too, not a step away.”
Ru Feng patted his hand and wrote: “Ning Yuan.”
Qi Feng trembled, averting his gaze. Seeing his reaction, Ru Feng guessed something and wrote Ning Yuan’s name again. Alive or dead, she wanted answers.
Qi Feng finally turned back, his voice hoarse, “He’s dead.”
Ru Feng’s fingertips froze, a bone-chilling coldness. Qi Feng held her left hand, warmth slowly seeping in. “He protected you well. When I found you, the flames were already on him, but you were wrapped in a blood-stained cloth, completely unharmed.”
Ru Feng closed her eyes, tears rolling down. She had once told herself she wouldn’t cry for him, but now, how could she suppress this pain?
How much must he have suffered, waiting for his blood to drain, feeling the flames consume him? Ning Yuan, Brother Ning Yuan!
If only they had never met, he might still be alive.
“I want to see him,” she wrote on Qi Feng’s palm.
Qi Feng gently stroked her head. “He’s been cremated. When you’re discharged, I’ll take you to the cemetery.”
Ru Feng’s injury was not as severe as her previous one, but her face grew increasingly pale.
The doctor said her smoke-damaged respiratory tract was recovering normally, but she never spoke, just eating and sleeping, sometimes so quiet her breathing was barely audible.
Qi Feng was anxious. She would smile apologetically and soon fall into an exhausted sleep.
When asked how she felt, she would only write “tired” on his palm and sleep day and night.
A month passed. Her injured right hand began to move, other wounds had scarred, yet she still hadn’t spoken.
Mom grabbed her hand, “How can you be full? You’ve only eaten three bites of rice. Just take one more bite, okay?”
Ruofeng looked listless, reluctantly taking another bite but unable to swallow it.
Qifeng brought over a soup bowl, “Drink some soup.”
She swallowed a mouthful of rice with the soup, pushed away the bowl, and lay back on the bed.
Mom rushed out with the bowl, running to the corridor and crying.
Situ Jin walked in, sat by the bed, caressing his daughter’s pale cheek, “Ruoer, what else is making you uncomfortable?”
Ruofeng shook her head, tracing on his palm, “Tired.”
Situ Jin gazed into her eyes for a long moment before saying, “Ruoer, don’t blame yourself. I believe Ning Yuan used his life to protect you, not for you to live in guilt.”
Ruofeng nodded, she knew.
Situ Jin held Qifeng and Ruofeng’s hands and said, “The dead cannot be brought back, but those alive must cherish each other. Your second brother has been watching over you day and night. If this continues, you’ll lose not just Ning Yuan, but yourself, your second brother, and me.”
Ruofeng shook her head vigorously, clutching Qifeng’s hand tightly.
Qi’an stepped closer, comforting her, “Don’t be afraid, second brother will be fine.” He looked disapprovingly at Situ Jin, “Dad, don’t scare her.”
Situ Jin stared directly at Ruofeng, “When you close your eyes, do you see that big fire?”
Ruofeng nodded slowly.
