Lin Yu swallowed hard as he saw Xue Qin’s name on the business card, inexplicably feeling a guilty pang, as if he’d been caught cheating.

  "He Rong, you don’t need to be afraid. Back when you agreed to sleep on the floor, I made a promise to you, and naturally, that still stands." Jiang Yan’s voice was so cold it sent chills down Lin Yu’s spine.

  Gulp.

  Lin Yu swallowed again, sensing a faintly sour note in the air.

  Was she jealous?

  Did she… like him now?

  Impossible. Even if she didn’t dislike him as much lately, that didn’t mean she had feelings for him.

  But whether she liked him or not, they were still married. If he were to cheat on her, of course she’d be upset.

  "What did you promise me?" Lin Yu couldn’t help but ask curiously.

  Hearing him ask this right off the bat, Jiang Yan seemed even angrier. Her voice icy, she said, "I told you—you can have as many women as you want outside. I won’t interfere, as long as my parents don’t find out."

  "Oh." Lin Yu nodded softly.

  "And if that’s not enough for you—if you want a divorce—I’ll agree to that too!" Jiang Yan continued, though her chest inexplicably tightened.

  In the past, she was the one who looked down on this good-for-nothing. Now, he dared to disdain her?

  Seeing Lin Yu silent, Jiang Yan glanced at him and noticed him staring ahead in shock, motioning for her to slow down.

  Jiang Yan frowned and followed his gaze. The road ahead was jammed with cars, many already turning back. In the distance, thick black smoke and raging flames engulfed two floors of a 20-story residential building.

  "A fire?"

  Jiang Yan’s face paled. After a brief hesitation, she pulled over near a storefront.

  "Go home first. I need to help!"

  With that, she sprinted toward the burning building.

  Lin Yu watched her retreating figure, a tender smile forming on his lips. Her silhouette stood in stark contrast to the panicked crowd fleeing in the opposite direction.

  If you can charge forward without hesitation, how could I hold back? Otherwise, how could I ever deserve you?

  Lin Yu chuckled to himself and quickly followed.

  The burning building stood at a bustling intersection, an older mixed-use high-rise housing residents, offices, and businesses. The fire had started on the 18th and 19th floors—reportedly triggered by a child playing with the kitchen gas, igniting flammable materials stored in a neighboring company. The explosion had set off a chain reaction, and now both floors were completely engulfed.

  Most people had escaped, though some with minor injuries remained outside. Those still trapped inside had no way out.

  Falling debris from the explosion had crushed cars and injured pedestrians below. The scene was horrific, and half the road was paralyzed.

  In less than half an hour since the accident, the casualties had already reached dozens. Bloodied victims littered the area, some with skin charred and peeling, moaning in agony.

  Ambulances couldn’t get through the wreckage blocking the roads, so medical personnel carried the severely injured out on stretchers while treating the less critical on-site with first aid kits.

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  With so many injured and so few medics, they were overwhelmed.

  Jiang Yan’s heart ached at the devastation. She identified herself to a nearby doctor, took a medical kit, and began treating the wounded.

  Lin Yu caught up and immediately pitched in.

  "What are you doing here?" Jiang Yan asked coldly.

  "Helping you."

  Lin Yu deftly bandaged a patient’s disinfected wound, then hoisted the man onto his back and carried him out.

  "What are you doing?" Jiang Yan frowned.

  "This man’s leg needs surgery immediately, or it’ll have to be amputated."

  Lin Yu jogged as he spoke.

  From then on, he focused on transporting the injured.

  When the fire brigade arrived, they threw themselves into battling the blaze, but the flames were too fierce, and progress was slow. Firefighters rushed into the building to rescue those still trapped.

  About half an hour later, the firefighters began withdrawing.

  "Reporting to the mayor, the mission is complete! All reachable survivors have been rescued!" The fire captain saluted an official, though his heart bled—they’d saved everyone they could, but those left behind were beyond help.

  The floors above the fire were inaccessible, and the ladder trucks couldn’t reach that high. Fortunately, most of the upper floors were vacant, with few occupants.

  Suddenly, Lin Yu heard a child’s cry. He frowned, scanning the area before looking up—the sound seemed to come from above the burning floors, likely the 20th.

  He’d never noticed his hearing was exceptional before, but now the girl’s screams were as clear as if she stood beside him.

  His stomach dropped. Was the girl near death?

  As someone who’d possessed another’s body, perhaps he could hear the cries of the dying.

  Though he heard her, the smoke obscured his view.

  "My baby!"

  A heart-wrenching scream pierced the air as a woman in her thirties, dressed in pink, broke through the crowd and lunged toward the building. Two firefighters grabbed her.

  "Let me go! My child is still up there! I have to save her!" the woman shrieked.

  She’d never imagined that a quick trip to buy groceries would end in disaster.

  "Ma’am, the fire’s too intense—you’ll never make it up!" a firefighter said grimly.

  "I don’t care! I’ll get there myself! I’ll save my baby!" The woman thrashed wildly.

  Tears welled in the firefighters’ eyes. A mother’s love was boundless, but against such a disaster, humans were powerless. Letting her go in would be sending her to her death.

  "What’s going on?" The fire captain hurried over.

  "Captain, this woman’s child is still inside!"

  "Which floor?"

  "The 20th." The woman pointed upward, sobbing. "Apartment 2001."

  "Ma’am, that’s directly above the fire. We… we…" The captain’s face darkened. The words "can’t help" stuck in his throat.

  Their tallest ladder only reached the 18th floor. Reinforcements were stuck in traffic.

  "Please, I beg you! Save my daughter!" The woman collapsed to her knees, clutching the captain’s pants, her despairing cries shattering hearts.

  The crowd murmured in sorrow.

  Jiang Yan’s eyes reddened, her fists clenched at her chest.

  "Ma’am, I’m sorry." The captain bowed his head, tears streaming down his face. Even this hardened veteran couldn’t hold them back.

  "Ma’am, your child might already…" Another firefighter choked out.

  The 20th floor sat atop an inferno—like a skillet over a flame. Survival was nearly impossible.

  "Look! The child’s on the balcony!"

  A shout went up, and everyone turned.

  A tiny figure pressed against a glass door, pounding and screaming.

  "Daughter! Daughter!"

  The woman scrambled up, screaming toward the building. "Don’t be afraid! Mommy’s coming!"

  She tried to bolt inside again, but the firefighters restrained her. "Ma’am, you’ll die!"

  "Then I’ll die with my baby!" She fought like a wild animal.

  The captain gritted his teeth, steeling himself. "I’ll—"

  "I’ll go!"

  Before he could finish, Lin Yu stepped forward.

  "Let me save the child. Give me a fire suit."

  "You’re insane!" Jiang Yan grabbed his arm.

  Ignoring her, Lin Yu locked eyes with the captain. "I was special forces. I’ve done this before. I can get her out."

  "Which unit did you—"

  "The suit. Now. Every second counts."

  "Zhan Jinzhong! Give him your gear!"

  A firefighter roughly Lin Yu’s size stripped off his suit.

  "He Rong, have you lost your mind?" Jiang Yan stared in disbelief. Since when had he been special forces? He’d fainted during high school军训!

  "Tell me—this time, do I count as a man in your eyes?" Lin Yu smiled, taking the suit.

  Jiang Yan gaped, speechless.

  "Don’t worry. I’ll bring her back." He squeezed her shoulder and turned toward the building.

  "He Rong!"

  Jiang Yan’s scream tore from her throat, tears flooding her eyes. Since when had this coward become so brave?

  But bravery or not, this was suicide!

  Lin Yu didn’t know if he’d return. He was a ghost, but He Rong’s body was mortal.

  Yet he had to go. That dying girl’s cries echoed his own once.

  If this was the end, so be it. Sorry, brother.

  Lin Yu’s steps faltered at Jiang Yan’s cry. Without turning, his voice trembled. "If I don’t come back… take care of my parents. And my godmother. And yourself…"

  Then he plunged into the smoky darkness.

  "Jia Rong—!"

  Jiang Yan crumpled to the ground, weeping.