The night's experiences were undoubtedly catastrophic for a girl like Shang Honglian.
Her originally clean and tidy red dress was stained and torn in places, revealing her snow-white skin beneath.
Her face, which had been bright and lovely during the day, had lost its rosy glow, replaced by a deep pallor and a lingering, unquenchable fear.
Most importantly, Shang Honglian's small feet, having run barefoot, were covered in dirt from her soles to her calves.
Qin Chuan had twisted his ankle even while wearing shoes; it was hard to imagine the ordeal Shang Honglian endured, being dragged barefoot through the uneven, gravel-strewn alleys.
Shang Honglian's ability to endure this far without a single complaint was a testament to her remarkable spirit.
Looking at Shang Honglian standing there with her dirty feet, Qin Chuan felt a genuine liking for her for the first time.
This seemingly mischievous girl, a flower cherished by Director Shang, was far more resilient and strong-hearted than he had imagined.
Her crying in the alley earlier was perfectly normal. In such a situation, even Qin Chuan was scared; how much more so a delicate girl like Shang Honglian?
Not being afraid would be abnormal. Everyone fears death, and every girl fears being defiled by bad people.
"Honglian, be good!"
"It's very late now, and your parents must be worried sick waiting for you at home!"
Qin Chuan said.
Shang Honglian pouted, and suddenly, tear-shaped drops streamed down her fair cheeks. "But... my feet are hurt too!"
"It really hurts so much right now!!"
"What?!"
Qin Chuan's expression immediately changed. His gaze fell on Shang Honglian's feet. Qin Yang and Zheng Chengdao, standing nearby, quickly shone their flashlights.
"Look, she's bleeding!"
Shang Honglian pointed to her right foot. Although thickly covered in dirt, a trickle of dark red blood was indeed seeping out. All three of their faces paled.
"To the hospital, quickly!"
Qin Chuan shouted.
Half an hour later, in the emergency room of the People's Hospital, Qin Chuan and Shang Honglian occupied separate beds, their situations clearly defined.
Qin Chuan had genuinely sprained his ankle. There was no quick cure for this injury. After a simple cleaning, the doctor applied an ankle brace for support and began an IV for inflammation.
Shang Honglian's case was different. After her feet were cleaned of the dirt, over a dozen wounds, varying in size, appeared on the soles of both her feet. They looked terrible.
As the doctor disinfected and cleaned the wounds with iodine, Shang Honglian trembled in pain, tears once again covering her entire face.
Qin Chuan looked at Shang Honglian, enduring the pain, and clenched his fists, filled with guilt.
Qin Yang and Zheng Chengdao, standing beside him, also wore grim expressions.
"Brother, I'll get you Director Shang's phone number. Go find a payphone outside and call Director Shang! Have them come to the hospital!"
Qin Chuan couldn't bear to watch any longer and turned to Qin Yang.
Qin Yang nodded immediately, noted down the phone number, and hurried out of the hospital.
With such a serious incident, it was impossible not to inform Director Shang. Even if it affected their partnership, Qin Chuan couldn't remain silent.
Shang Bingrong arrived quickly, appearing within twenty minutes, accompanied by a woman dressed simply but possessing an elegant aura.
Her appearance bore a strong resemblance to Shang Honglian, suggesting she was likely Shang Honglian's mother, Yang Meiling.
Yang Meiling worked at the Forestry Bureau as a section chief. Her husband was a bank president, and she held a significant position; together, they were influential figures in Yongnan County.
"Honglian!!"
As soon as they entered the emergency room, Shang Bingrong and Yang Meiling rushed to their daughter's bedside, their concern overflowing. They barely noticed Qin Chuan standing nearby.
By this time, the wounds on Shang Honglian's feet had been bandaged, and she had started receiving an IV drip.
Fortunately, it was like this; otherwise, if Shang Bingrong and his wife had seen the numerous wounds on their daughter's feet, they would have been even more heartbroken.
"Dad!"
"Mom!"
On the hospital bed, Shang Honglian, seeing her parents, her eyes welled up with tears. She looked like a runaway child who had narrowly escaped being kidnapped and had finally found her parents in her hour of need.
"My dear, don't cry! Don't cry!!"
Yang Meiling stepped forward and tightly embraced her daughter, comforting her continuously.
Shang Bingrong noticed the dirt and tears on his daughter's clean dress. His brow furrowed, and a rare sternness flickered in his usually gentle eyes.
He quickly turned his sharp gaze to the other hospital bed, where Qin Chuan's foot was elevated and a white ankle brace was clearly visible as he received an IV drip.
Seeing Shang Bingrong's gaze, Qin Chuan showed an apologetic expression.
Shang Bingrong approached and asked in a deep voice, "Qin Chuan, what exactly happened here?"
"Uncle Shang, I'm sorry! I failed to protect Honglian!"
Qin Chuan apologized.
From not far away, Shang Honglian, still in her mother's embrace, heard the voice and quickly raised her head, exclaiming, "Dad, tonight’s events are not Qin Chuan's fault. It was all my fault!"
"I didn't listen to Qin Chuan and insisted on running around everywhere. That's how those four masked men in black had an opportunity!"
"Four masked men in black? Daughter, what exactly happened to you tonight?"
Yang Meiling was startled. Shang Bingrong's face also changed. The situation was far more serious than they had imagined!
They had initially assumed Qin Chuan had been in a car or motorcycle accident, which caused these injuries. They never expected something like this.
"What exactly happened? Qin Chuan, tell us clearly!"
Shang Bingrong gritted his teeth.
Qin Yang and Zheng Chengdao, standing nearby, perked up their ears. They were equally curious about the night's events.
"Uncle Shang, Aunt Yang, please don't worry. This is what happened..."
Qin Chuan began to speak, recounting everything from the moment he left Shang Bingrong's office and encountered Shang Honglian.
The story started calmly, with everyone listening quietly. It wasn't until Qin Chuan reached the part where he and Shang Honglian unknowingly ran out of the snack street and four masked men in black suddenly appeared that everyone's expression turned tense.
After Qin Chuan finished recounting the entire ordeal, the atmosphere in the room became terrifyingly heavy.
"Dad, Mom! What happened tonight is truly not Qin Chuan's fault. He wanted to take me home earlier, but I was too stubborn and ran around, giving those four masked men in black a chance!"
"If Qin Chuan hadn't protected me with all his might, you might not have seen your daughter tonight!"
After speaking, Shang Honglian seemed to recall her recent experience, burrowing her head into her mother Yang Meiling's embrace and weeping softly.
Yang Meiling quickly comforted her.
"Qin Chuan, according to what you've said, those four masked men in black never revealed their faces, did they?"
Shang Bingrong's expression had slightly softened.
"No!"
"And you didn't sense anything familiar? I mean, their voices, or their build and movements?"
Qin Chuan shook his head again. "No! Those four men in black were complete strangers!"
"So, this entire incident seems like a complete accident?"
Shang Bingrong's face turned as dark as water.
"Boss, you just said that at the end, you hit one of the black-clad men in the eye with a stone, right?"
Zheng Chengdao suddenly interjected.
"Yes!"
Qin Chuan nodded.
"Did you call the police?"
Yang Meiling asked anxiously.
Just as Qin Chuan was about to answer, a commotion erupted outside. Someone was shouting, "Fire! Fire!!"
Qin Yang and Zheng Chengdao rushed out and saw flames soaring across the moat, a stark beacon in the darkness.
"That location seems to be our development project!"
Qin Yang muttered to himself. As the words left his mouth, their faces contorted in shock!!