Young Prime Minister, a Hermit

Chapter 194

"Galan! Xu Lie! Jump down!" Zi Mo's voice suddenly rang out.

That gentle yet urgent voice was like a warm current that dispelled the fear and despair in my heart. Zi Mo! It's Zi Mo! I've always believed that as long as Zi Mo is by my side, I can feel at ease and rely on him.

Xu Lie reacted faster than I did; the instant Zi Mo spoke, he released his grip, as if he had been gritting his teeth and waiting for this moment. We plummeted rapidly through the air, Xu Lie holding me tightly. Several gunshots, like firecrackers, rang out from above, rapid and chaotic, along with strange impact sounds, filling my bulging eardrums. But pressed against Xu Lie's chest, I couldn't see anything, only the pungent smell of blood surrounding me, making me want to vomit, only his iron-like hands tightly holding me, only the pounding of his heart beneath his firm, warm chest, each beat striking my ears.

We landed on the soft mat, and Zimo rushed over, shouting outside, "Has the ambulance arrived yet? Get the stretcher ready!"

I wasn't actually impacted at all. Xu Lie held me tightly in his arms, protecting me well, and his hands remained stiff and wouldn't let go even after we landed. I was thankful that despite such danger and turmoil, I didn't feel any stomach pain; it seems he's a resilient and tenacious child.

When I looked up, I suddenly heard a loud bang. I was so shocked that I covered my mouth with my hand and watched as Meng Xue'er fell from the sky, landing on the edge of the mat. A bamboo stick was sticking out of the ground and had just pierced her back, emerging from her abdomen.

My stomach churned, I felt like vomiting, but I couldn't even muster the urge to vomit. My limbs convulsed and trembled, I shivered like an autumn leaf in the wind. I've seen dead people before, but I've never seen one like this. Her intestines were ripped out, her white clothes stained crimson, and blood gushed from a hole in her head. Yet her eyes stared straight at me, a seductive smile playing on them, as if to say, "You can't beat me, you'll never beat me!"

I took a few deep breaths, slowly calming down and stopping my trembling. Xu Lie's stiff hands were still tightly wrapped around me. I pried his left arm off, only to find his right hand gripping my wrist tightly, as if glued on because of the blood. Just as I was about to forcefully pry him off and help him onto the stretcher, I heard Wu Jing, that burly man, suddenly cry out in a rough, hoarse voice in my ear: "Young Master!! Young Master…"

I almost burst out laughing. Wu Jing! That big guy, the man who could walk around with me carrying a bunch of toys without batting an eye, was actually crying! And crying so horribly, it was hilarious.

But then I heard more voices. Some called him "Young Master," others "President Xu." When I looked up, I saw that they all had pale faces and fearful eyes.

I lowered my head to try and see why they were crying, but all I saw was a blinding white light. I shook my head violently, and then Xu Lie's pale face came into view. My gaze slowly moved and landed on his back.

When we fell, he shielded me like that, even as gunfire rained down, I wasn't hurt at all. And what about him?

I was suddenly filled with fear, and my whole body trembled even more violently than before. I wanted to look at his back, I commanded myself to look at his back, but my eyes wouldn't obey me. They would rather linger on his bright red shirt than move an inch.

"Lie'er! Lie'er! You must hold on! You must hold on!" Xu's father's voice rang in my ears, as if he had aged ten years in an instant, hoarse, strained, and choked with emotion. "Quick! Help the young master onto the stretcher!!"

Several people rushed over to take Xu Lie away, but I remained kneeling there blankly, as if I had lost my soul, completely motionless.

Someone shouted, "Boss, you can't pry the young master's hands off! He's injured on the shoulder; forcing him might just..."

I clenched my fists tightly, commanding myself to stop trembling. I couldn't run away; how could I run away at a time like this! Xu Lie's life... it's over at this moment, right now!

"Lanlan! Lanlan!" Mr. Xu shook my shoulders and called out, "There's no other way, you and Lie'er get in the ambulance together, hurry!"

It was completely dark. The yellow incandescent lights in the building swayed in the wind, casting long and short shadows. I followed the stretcher out of the building, and the moonlight, carrying a hint of coldness, shone on my face, like a pair of cold hands touching me silently.

I shuddered slightly. The scene was chaotic, and Xu Lie beside me was in imminent danger. Incredibly, I was reminded of a long time ago, of a carefree youth.

The first time Yingying held a cigarette, she choked on it, tears welling in her eyes. Back then, her eyes were still bright and clear, but after the tears, the pain was clearly visible. She said to me with a self-deprecating yet indifferent tone: "Isn't that what love is all about? It's either me dying for you, or you dying for me. Burning together in mutual destruction, that's love." Unfortunately, Lanlan, you don't understand yet.

Yes, I didn't understand back then! Now that I understand, I wish I had never known.

Chapter 43 Dilemma

I couldn't tell if I was pulling Xu Lie or Xu Lie was dragging me, as we were carried and helped into the ambulance. The air inside was thin and had a strange smell; everyone was crammed into a small space, making it feel incredibly suffocating.

I heard a doctor in a white coat saying things like "muscle stiffness" and "loss of consciousness".

Xu Lie's face was mostly hidden under the oxygen mask, the rest of his body was covered in blood, and his hair hung down on his forehead, swaying gently with the vibrations of the car, like a soft kiss.

I raised my hand and gently wiped the dirt from his face. My heart was filled with a mix of confusion, panic, fear, and bewilderment. I desperately tried to think of many things and many people to cover up the piercing pain in my heart. Those familiar faces that were once etched in my heart now seemed to have collectively abandoned me, slowly fading and becoming blurry.

Looking at Xu Lie, who was unconscious, and at his right hand, which was still tightly gripping my wrist even in his unconscious state, I felt only pain. No matter how many people or things I thought about, all I felt was pain! It was like my heart was being ripped out, yet I couldn't die, I couldn't forget.

Then, I thought of Yihan. I thought of his hair that had turned white, the warm, damp feeling when he buried his head in my neck, his gentle kisses, his lonely and desperate figure... I seemed to hear a tearing sound, as if something had been ripped in two. The pain was gone, the fear was gone, but tears fell silently, dripping onto his hands and mine, leaving several faint, menacing streaks of blood.

The doctor kept saying in my ear, "You must be a very important person to him! Whether the patient lives or dies depends on his will. You must encourage him... give him hope!"

Amidst this turbulence and suffocation, the car sped to the hospital.

I recognize the doctor in the blue surgical gown; he's Liu Yingshi, a close friend of Xu's father.

His face was grave, and his complexion was slightly pale as he said to Xu's father, "Two bullets, one almost pierced his lung, and the other damaged an artery. He also suffered a head injury upon impact, so he's in critical condition. I can only do my best; he needs surgery immediately! Also, Tian, you need to be prepared, Lie'er… might… die!"

Uncle Liu's words were like a bomb with its fuse lit, waiting to explode. Everyone was watching, and although he hadn't been shattered to pieces yet, they could already see the unfortunate state of his fate.

I felt as if someone had smashed a giant sledgehammer into my head. The dull pain didn't come all at once, but spread gradually throughout my body. Every inch of my skull was shattering, every drop of brain matter splattering out was like a slow-motion scene in a movie, clear and audible.

I think I must have misheard. Uncle Liu actually said Xu Lie would die. I've been through so much—two worlds, battles, conspiracies, and intrigues—and I'm still alive. How could he die? How could he...die?

Even Xu's father, a man of such strength, trembled, tears streaming down his face. He gritted his teeth and said, "Yingshi, do your best..." His voice trailed off, as if filled with overwhelming despair. Finally, he pleaded in a mournful voice, "Yingshi! You must save him! He's my only son... Yingshi!"

I can't imagine how Xu's mother would react if she found out. Could she handle it?

"I know! Of course I know!" Uncle Liu's eyes were red. "We can't delay any longer! Quick! Push him in! The blood bank needs type A blood!"

But they suddenly realized that Xu Lie was still holding my wrist tightly. It had been almost an hour, and his hand seemed to be one with mine, and neither of us could separate them.

Uncle Liu tried everything, but it still didn't work. Everyone was helpless. It was as if we were all watching Xu Lie's life slip away, and I was the murderer who turned the hourglass faster.

In a hoarse, angry voice, Mr. Xu roared, "Lanlan, do you really want to watch Lie'er die?"

Do I... want to watch Xu Lie die? I don't want to! Of course I don't want to! Father Xu, can't you hear me? I'm crying, crying my heart out, crying uncontrollably. My heart is crying.

I lowered my head, touched Xu Lie's cold hand, and whispered, "Xu Lie, Xu Lie! Can you hear me?"

"If you can hear me, let go of my hand," I whispered. "I'll wait here until you wake up, until we go home together. I promise you, if you survive..."

I closed my eyes, hot tears streaming down my cheeks, a silent pain lingering in my heart: "If you live, I... I will never leave you again! If you die, I will disappear forever. Xu Lie, can you hear me?"

Suddenly, a faint pulse returned to his stiff wrist. I quickly lifted his hand, freeing his wrist from his grasp, and shouted back, "Get him into the operating room!!"

"Lan... Lan..." A faint voice suddenly came from beside me. It should have been completely drowned out by my sharp shouts, but for some reason it was so clear.

I turned around abruptly and saw Xu Lie slightly open his eyes, his breath casting a white mist over his oxygen mask.

Uncle Liu hurried over, removed the oxygen mask, and said in a deep voice, "Lie'er, to make a long story short, we must get to the operating room immediately. Uncle Liu will do everything in his power to save you! Don't worry, you won't die!"