Chapter 25: Rescued

Ning Huaizhi’s heart hammered against her ribs, the rhythmic thudding so intense it felt as though it might shatter her eardrums.

Panic surged through her, eroding her composure. She took a deep, shaky breath, forcing herself to remain calm.

After dragging her into the grove, the figure had gone still, his arms wrapped tightly around her, imprisoning her in a suffocating embrace. His warm, damp breath brushed against her neck, sending a fresh wave of goosebumps across her skin.

"Don't speak."

His voice was lowered, muffled. It struck a chord of familiarity in Ning Huaizhi, yet she could not place it. Did he know her?

"Who are you?" she managed to choke out, the words forcing their way through her constricted throat.

Her inquiry seemed to infuriate the man behind her; his grip tightened significantly.

"You actually don't recognize my voice?"

That voice was even more familiar now. He grabbed her shoulders, forcing her back against a tree trunk. Unfortunately, the silhouette in the darkness was too indistinct; even at this proximity, she could not make out his features.

He began to seethe with rage, but just as quickly, he seemed to soothe himself.

"It’s fine, it’s fine. It doesn't matter if you don't know who I am. You only need to know that from now on, you belong to me. Huaizhi, I love you so much. What happened before was my fault. Forgive me, and let's be together again."

This voice...

Ning Huaizhi’s eyes widened in shock.

She whispered in disbelief, "He Mingyuan."

He Mingyuan let out a low, hollow chuckle. "Huaizhi, you finally recognized me. The fact that you still know who I am means you love me, doesn't it? You still love me."

He Mingyuan’s anxious heart finally settled. He had worried that Ning Huaizhi might reject him, but since she still loved him, their union was only natural—they were a match made in heaven, and he had simply accelerated the timeline.

He Mingyuan leaned his head in close. "Huaizhi, you used to say you weren't ready, refusing to even give me a kiss. Since that’s the case, I’ll just take it for myself. You certainly wouldn't blame me for that, would you?"

As his lips drew near, Ning Huaizhi seized the moment of his distraction and drove her knee into his groin.

He Mingyuan’s expression twisted instantly. He let out a low, guttural growl, his face contorting in agony. Ning Huaizhi scrambled to escape the grove, He Mingyuan in pursuit. Seeing the glow of headlights on the mountain road, she sensed a chance for rescue and dashed toward the path, flagging down the approaching vehicle.

The screech of tires pierced the air, and the blinding glare of the headlights flooded her vision, obscuring everything else.

A man stepped out of the car, but before Ning Huaizhi could catch a glimpse of his face, she succumbed to darkness and fainted.

...

She felt as though she had drifted through a long, weary dream. In it, she was back in Anxi Village, surrounded by her childhood friends, her adoptive parents, and—He Mingyuan.

He Mingyuan!

At the thought of that name, Ning Huaizhi began to struggle. She pried her eyes open just a sliver, scanning her surroundings. She saw two figures, one in white and one in black—were they the specters of death?

She closed her eyes again, retreating into the void of her dream.

Qin Qiuhong held the medical report and asked, "When will she wake up?"

"Likely tomorrow. She suffers from long-term malnutrition, likely due to poor conditions in her childhood, which has left her constitution weak. Combined with the severe shock she endured, she will need careful recuperation once she’s discharged to fully recover."

"I understand."

Qin Qiuhong received the news and walked back to the ward with a heavy step. Remembering that the girl was still asleep, he softened his tread. He sat on the nearby sofa, his gaze fixed on Ning Huaizhi with a complex expression.

He had gone to the club that afternoon and, feeling exhausted, had taken a nap in his private lounge. He hadn't woken up until nightfall, and it was pure luck that his driver’s reflexes were fast enough; otherwise, she wouldn't be here now—she would have been in the ICU.

Qin Qiuhong sighed softly. The moment he saw her, he had recognized her as the girl he had encountered at the Ning family banquet. Could it be that the Ning family had continued to treat her poorly after she returned? Why else would she be wandering a mountain road in the middle of the night?

He immediately instructed his assistant to investigate.

Soon, the assistant called back. Qin Qiuhong stepped out onto the balcony of the ward to answer.

"Sir, I have the information. Miss Ning is currently working at the club. This afternoon, a guest harassed her and drove off with the golf cart, leaving her no choice but to walk back, which caused her delay. As for what happened in the grove, there is no surveillance, so I cannot be certain. However, after you took her away, her ex-boyfriend appeared on the mountain road. I checked the logs; he entered two hours ago, but he was not a registered visitor at the club. Miss Ning’s situation may be related to him."

"I see. Keep a close watch on that man. We will wait for Ning Huaizhi to wake up before taking any action."

"Understood."

Qin Qiuhong returned to the room, watched over the sleeping girl for a moment, and then departed.

...

Sunlight, soft as fine silk, draped over Ning Huaizhi, waiting for her to open her eyes. When she finally woke, she instinctively rubbed her temples; a mixture of dizziness and nausea left her feeling quite unwell.

Once she steadied herself, she surveyed her environment. The room was simple and clean, devoid of any personal effects. The walls and sheets were stark white. To her left, the balcony door stood open; the wind billowed the sheer curtains, and the faint, sterile scent of disinfectant hung in the air.

Was this... a hospital? She wasn't entirely sure.

"You're awake."

A voice came from the doorway. Ning Huaizhi looked over, her gaze guarded.

The man wore a impeccably tailored black suit that exuded an air of prestige. Even beneath the clothing, one could discern a strong, athletic build. His features were sharply defined, and his expression was solemn. He looked far more like a true aristocrat than anyone she had met at the banquet. He also resembled the blurred figure she had seen just before losing consciousness.

"Did you bring me to the hospital?"

The man smiled. "Who else but me?"

"Thank you."

The man did not reply. He walked straight into the room and stopped beside a table. Ning Huaizhi licked her lips; they were parched. Having gone so long without food or water, she was famished.

Just then, a fragrant aroma filled the room. Ning Huaizhi glanced around, realizing the scent was coming from the man’s hands. Before she could speak, he turned around, holding a bowl of porridge.

"Would you like to eat in bed, or at the table?"

"The table is fine. Thank you."

Ning Huaizhi was not accustomed to eating in bed, so she threw back the covers and climbed out without hesitation. It was only then that she realized her clothes had been changed. She instinctively looked up at the man.

He offered only a calm response: "The nurse changed them for you."