Xia Weiliang stayed there for three full months.
Autumn gave way to winter, and everything became bleak.
She sat alone on a long bench in the courtyard, raising her hand to catch the drifting snowflakes. The snowflakes landed in her palm and melted into water, forming drops, then streams.
"Doctor, how is my grandfather?"
Her heart gave a sudden lurch upon hearing that voice.
She slowly raised her head and saw the person walking towards her on the path. She stared blankly, almost forgetting to breathe.
"Old Mr. Xiao is simply advanced in age. Apart from his diet, he is doing well otherwise. Mr. Xiao need not worry."
"Thank you, Doctor."
"You are most welcome."
After the doctor left, the man stood alone for a while. Perhaps sensing something, he turned his head.
In a world covered by the first snow, a girl sat on a garden bench, wearing a hat and scarf, her features obscured.
He glanced at her once, then withdrew his gaze and turned to leave.
Xia Weiliang remained seated, unmoving, until he faded from view, until tears blurred her sight.
He treated her as a stranger, as someone utterly irrelevant…
Her hand clutched her chest, and her heart suddenly ached so fiercely that it made breathing difficult. Su Dan Novel Network
She slowly slumped back onto the bench, until she fell heavily to the ground—
"No!"
Xia Weiliang jolted awake, her eyes wide with panic, her breathing ragged.
"Sis! Sis, you're awake!"
Ah Ning was beside her.
She slowly shifted her gaze. "Ah Ning?"
Looking around, she saw a small tent, and faintly heard the sound of rain pattering on it.
So, that was just a dream?
Her face was wet. She raised her hand and touched it; it was covered in tears.
"Sis, why are you crying? Are you not feeling well? I'll go get the doctor, you wait here, okay!"
Ah Ning excitedly ran out of the tent.
Xia Weiliang covered her chest, feeling her heartbeat, trying to confirm she was still alive.
At that moment, Xiao Lan emerged from her sleeve, looked up at her, and then burrowed back in.
She was back, she was back!
Xia Weiliang covered her face, trembling all over from lingering fear.
"A…unt…"
Hearing the voice, her body stiffened. She immediately looked up and noticed the little girl huddled in the corner of the bed.
"Xiao Jinzi?"
"A…unt…"
Xiao Jinzi called out again, with effort.
"You can speak now!!"
The surprise of Xiao Jinzi being able to speak washed away her earlier fear.
Xiao Jinzi reached out a small hand. "Eat… eat…"
She had clutched the chocolate for so long that it had melted into her palm, leaving nothing behind.
Seeing this, Xiao Jinzi drooped her head in disappointment.
"Come here quickly, let me see." Xia Weiliang wanted to hug her, but every movement caused her pain, especially her legs, which felt like the skin was being stretched taut.
Knowing she was injured, she didn't struggle further. She raised her hand and touched the little girl's cheek. "Your chocolate actually went into Auntie's tummy a long time ago. It was the most delicious thing Auntie has ever eaten. Thank you, Xiao Jinzi."
The little girl seemed to understand, her big eyes full of trust.
After a round of checks, it was confirmed that Xia Weiliang was alright.
"That's great~ *Sniff*~ Sis, you have no idea how scary you looked then. You scared Brother Yi so much he didn't dare to leave your side, staying with you for a whole day!"
Xia Weiliang froze. "Where is Xiao Yi?"
"He's gone with Situ and Director Huang to a nearby village for disaster relief."
Xia Weiliang suppressed the stirring in her heart and briefly inquired about the events of the day.
Suddenly, she remembered something. "Where's my umbrella?"
"The umbrella has been given to Uncle Qu."
"That's good, that's good."
"Hmm, what's this?"
Ah Ning picked up an old bronze mirror from the ground. "Why is it cracked?"
Xia Weiliang recognized it as the bronze mirror she had found on the tree. Its surface was now cracked like a spiderweb, not as if from external force, but as if shattered by immense power.
She gazed at the broken mirror, where she could no longer see herself, just as she couldn't see her past life.
This mirror gave her a peculiar feeling. She put the bronze mirror away, wanting to return it to its original place if possible.
As they were speaking, Lang Yue entered with Qu Guanxiang.
"Master," Xia Weiliang smiled sweetly at her master, "I brought back your umbrella~"
Seeing her triumphant expression, as if seeking praise, Qu Guanxiang lowered his head, discreetly wiping his eyes. "It's my fault, my fault, all my fault…"
"Please don't say that. I should have done this! And, if it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to save Xiao Jinzi! So, everything is destined."
Xia Weiliang said it lightly, but everyone had seen how dire her condition was when she was rescued. It was truly a near-death experience.
Fortunately, she had acted decisively, knowing to take Xiao Jinzi to the bamboo forest for shelter. If she had hesitated even a moment longer, the outcome would have been different.
Lang Yue was also extremely grateful to her. "Weiliang, if it weren't for you, Xiao Jinzi would probably…"
Glancing down at the well-behaved girl who had been faithfully by her bedside, Lang Yue stroked her little head. "But, she is also fortunate in misfortune, as she can finally speak!"
Xia Weiliang nodded, and couldn't help but ask, "Isn't her mother overjoyed?"
Lang Yue paused, glanced at Xiao Jinzi, and immediately said, "Of course, she's very happy. Both her parents are very happy."
"That's good."
Xia Weiliang breathed a sigh of relief, looking tenderly at Xiao Jinzi.
Such a good and sensible child should be healthy and happy in the future.
Knowing that Uncle Qu had something to tell Xia Weiliang, Lang Yue took Xiao Jinzi outside.
Uncle Qu sat on the chair opposite her, with the umbrella she had desperately retrieved leaning beside him.
"This is my responsibility as your master. I shouldn't have let you go on such a dangerous mission." He looked up at Xia Weiliang and said, "This umbrella was the first oil-paper umbrella made by my ancestors when they moved to Gu Mo Village. It has been meticulously preserved through generations, and it has come to me. I couldn't possibly let it be destroyed…"
So that's how it was!
Xia Weiliang was glad she had retrieved it. Otherwise, how could she face her master!
Uncle Qu gazed at the umbrella. "The village chief said they plan to open a small museum in the village to collect the village's history. In the future, that will be the resting place for this umbrella."
Fearing it would affect her rest, Uncle Qu left after his visit.
Suddenly, there were exclamations from outside, followed by increasing human voices. Words like "road collapse" could be faintly heard.
At that moment, Ah Ning ran in. "Sis, it's bad, the road to Shui Wu Village has collapsed."
Xia Weiliang tried to remain calm and composed, slowly asking, "Were Xiao Yi and Director Huang heading to Shui Wu Village?"
Ah Ning gritted her teeth and nodded. "It's Shui Wu Village. We can't contact them now, and the base is already mobilizing people to check it out!"
Without a second thought, Xia Weiliang moved to throw off the covers and get out of bed. Ah Ning immediately stopped her. "Sis, you can't go. You're still a patient, how can you go rescue people?"
"I can take care of myself," she said to Ah Ning, exceptionally calm.