Saved at last!
The piercing sound of sirens instantly acted like a shot of adrenaline, immediately dispelling all of Huo Guining's heaviness and fatigue.
As the clamor of voices grew around her, she finally dared to cry out loudly:
"Help! We're here! Come quickly and save my brother!"
"Is anyone there? Please save my brother!"
The rescue team immediately followed the sound, and a bright flashlight beam illuminated the entire pit.
"We've found them! They're here!"
A tall figure leaped down into the waist-deep pit, embraced Huo Guining's shoulders, and examined her up and down in the light of the police flashlights: "Ningning, are you alright?"
Huo Guining looked at the newcomer with tear-filled eyes, her long-suppressed emotions suddenly bursting forth: "Waaah, Dad! I... I can't wake up... my brother, please save him, waaah..."
The newcomer was none other than Huo Xiaozheng.
Hearing Huo Guining's loud cries, his anxious heart finally relaxed.
"It's okay now, Ningning, don't cry. Dad's here, and your brother will be fine too."
After comforting Huo Guining, Huo Xiaozheng finally noticed that someone was lying across her legs.
Huo Yueze's white suit was now tattered and torn by tree branches. He was covered in mud, with twigs stuck in his hair. His eyes were tightly shut, and his breathing was rapid.
Huo Xiaozheng moved him aside, took Huo Guining into his arms, and wrapped her tightly in his coat.
Then, he moved to the side.
The accompanying medical personnel immediately came forward. After a preliminary assessment of Huo Yueze's condition, they lifted him onto a stretcher and carried him away.
Seeing his son lying on the stretcher, looking so battered and weak, Huo Yanqin's eyes reddened.
Then he saw Huo Guining, her hair in disarray and her face streaked with tears, lying in Huo Xiaozheng's arms as he followed.
His heart was filled with both anger and pain.
"How is Ningning?"
Huo Xiaozheng shook his head: "Not sure yet. I'll take her to the hospital along with Yueze."
The group arrived at Anzhen Hospital.
After a series of examinations, it was determined that Huo Guining only had some minor external injuries and was suffering from shock.
Huo Yueze's condition was slightly more serious, with scrapes and bruises all over his face, body, and feet.
In addition to a concussion, he probably wouldn't wake up for a while.
However, fortunately, Huo Yueze was not in any serious danger and only needed to stay in the hospital for observation for a few days.
Upon hearing this news, Huo Guining finally couldn't hold on any longer and fell asleep with her head tilted to one side.
After all the hustle and bustle, it was already one o'clock in the morning.
The siblings' hospital rooms were separated only by a wall, each of them lying peacefully in the quiet rooms, breathing softly.
Huo Xiaozheng sat by Huo Guining's bedside, staring at her without blinking.
Only now did he feel that his heart had truly settled.
In the quiet of the night, he reflected on the time since Huo Guining had arrived.
At first, this daughter who had appeared out of nowhere made him suspicious. Like Huo Jing, he even suspected that her appearance might have some ulterior motive.
But she was perceptive and knew when to stop.
Whether it was her initial mention of guardianship, her show of weakness in court, or even her complaints about Shi Lili, everything was kept within certain boundaries.
Her rationality was like a mirror; she needed to be constantly vigilant to ensure that she wouldn't be deceived at any moment, lest she step into the other side of the mirror - that illusory world that could destroy her.
Pain, sorrow, breakdown - none of these lasted too long in her.
For the first time, Huo Xiaozheng saw a reflection of himself in her.
The moment she saw him, the lowering of her defenses seemed less like dependence and more like trust.
In contrast, the way she clung to Huo Yueze, crying her heart out for her brother, made Huo Xiaozheng feel it was even more genuine.
Huo Xiaozheng felt both happy and disappointed.
He even found himself increasingly annoyed by his nephew lying in the next room.
If it weren't for the fact that the foolish boy had risked his life to save Ningning, he would have tried to convince his older brother to send him abroad for further education as soon as possible.
Huo Xiaozheng heaved a long sigh.
On the hospital bed, Huo Guining was not sleeping peacefully. As she turned over, half of her body was exposed outside the blanket.
Huo Xiaozheng leaned forward and grabbed her hand to tuck it back under the covers.
"Ouch..."
Huo Guining frowned and instinctively tried to shake off Huo Xiaozheng's hand.
Huo Xiaozheng lightened his touch and turned on the small night light to look at Huo Guining's wrist.
On her fair wrist, a purplish-red mark was clearly visible. Huo Xiaozheng was shocked.
In the urgency earlier, he had only been concerned about whether her body was intact.
Now, seeing the injury on her wrist, his heart felt as if it was being squeezed by a merciless hand, leaving him almost unable to breathe.
Huo Xiaozheng turned off the night light, tucked Huo Guining in properly, and lay down on the nearby cot.
At this moment, all was silent except for the sound of his heartbeat pounding in his ears.
Early the next morning.
Old Master Huo and Zheng Jinxiu arrived at the hospital early, followed by the butler carrying various bags and packages.
The butler, though over fifty, showed surprising strength, looking neither flushed nor out of breath.
Huo Guining had already woken up and was washing up with Huo Xiaozheng's help.
"Dad, can I go see my brother?"
The first thing Huo Guining asked upon waking was about Huo Yueze's condition.
Huo Xiaozheng told her that her brother was still sleeping and that they should let him rest and not disturb him.
After confirming that Huo Yueze was not in any danger and was just sleeping, Huo Guining finally felt relieved.
However...
"Dad, I can wash my face by myself..." Huo Guining stood on the footmat, looking somewhat helpless.
Huo Xiaozheng, holding a towel, refused sternly: "No, your wrist is still injured. The doctor said you can't get it wet."
Unable to protest further, Huo Guining had no choice but to let him wash her face.
Huo Xiaozheng had never done such a thing before, and his movements were quite awkward.
Old Master Huo pushed open the door to see this "loving" scene between father and daughter.
"Ningning, you're awake." Zheng Jinxiu quickly walked to Huo Guining's side, looking her up and down, her gaze finally settling on her wrist.
"My poor dear, you've suffered so much." Zheng Jinxiu's eyes immediately reddened: "Does it hurt? You must have been so frightened."
Huo Guining smiled brightly: "It doesn't hurt. I was a bit scared at the time, but I'm not afraid at all now."
A flash of darkness passed through Huo Xiaozheng's eyes.
Zheng Jinxiu knew she was trying to comfort her, and her eyes grew even redder: "Grandma brought you some abalone porridge. Come and eat, Ningning."
Huo Guining obediently agreed.
As her gaze passed over Old Master Huo, she greeted him obediently as well.
Old Master Huo's expression was not good. He sighed: "What happened last night was my fault, Ningning. I didn't ensure proper security."
"You've suffered so much because of it."
Huo Guining shook her head: "It's alright, it's not your fault, Grandpa."
"Look, I'm perfectly fine now, aren't I?"
After saying this, Huo Guining purposely jumped off the footmat and spun around in place to show that she was indeed healthy.
Huo Xiaozheng took her hand, led her to sit on the sofa, and began applying medicine to her wrist without a word.
"Ah!"
Huo Xiaozheng's touch was a bit too heavy, and Huo Guining couldn't help but cry out in pain.
"If it hurts, you can say so."
Huo Xiaozheng stared into Huo Guining's eyes, enunciating each word clearly.
