Chapter 11: The Arrival (Part Two)

"Xiaoyu, come here quickly!" From a distance, Mother Mo was already waving as soon as she saw Xiaoyu.

"Why did you run off like that?" Nan Lingzi complained. "You made everyone worry." Yet her tone was full of concern.

"Mm, I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what? It's not as if my life is at stake."

"Ah, don't be angry." Mo Yu tried to appease her.

"Hmph."

"Alright, that's enough." Mo Qing interrupted them at just the right moment. "Don't you all feel it's much hotter now? I think it's nearly forty degrees!"

"Yes, Chichi, are you alright?"

Chichi's little face was flushed red.

"Sis, it's so hot," she said weakly, like a fish out of water.

"Let's go inside!"

"No, what if there's an aftershock?!"

"Get inside!" At this, the old man who had remained silent so far gave the order.

"Mom, we can stay close to the door," Mo Qing tried to comfort her protesting mother as well.

The heat was unbearable, almost absurdly so.

In the end, the eight members of the family, plus Lingzi and Aunt Zhao, went inside. Others, too, who could no longer bear the heat, had already retreated indoors.

They turned on the air conditioner—thank goodness, it still worked—set it to the lowest temperature, and only after half an hour did they feel a hint of coolness.

At that moment, Mo Yu hurried upstairs.

"What's wrong with that child?"

"Yes, why is she going upstairs?"

"Mo Yu!"

"Coming," came the reply, as a moving 'mountain of clothes' descended from upstairs.

Mo Yu handed each person a garment.

"What are you doing, giving us clothes in this heat?"

"I think something is off with the weather, and the sky is turning pale."

"Pale? But it's nighttime."

"If you don't believe me, go see for yourself." Mo Yu looked at her aunt with some annoyance. If she wasn't mistaken, the helicopter from City B should be arriving soon.

Speak of the devil—the sound came right then.

"Attention, everyone below! Each household may send out no more than seven people. There’s been an outbreak in City A. We are the rescue team from City B."

At these words, the crowd erupted like an agitated nest of ants: some refused to leave, others were eager to get away.

"I'm not leaving. It's probably nothing serious!"

"If the helicopter's here, it must be something big!"

"Let's just go!"

Mo Yu looked at her quiet family and spoke: "They said seven people can go, but if we count Chichi, that's eight."

The implication was clear: two people would have to stay behind.

Silence fell, even Mo Yu's aunt lowered her head.

"I'll stay," said Nan Lingzi.

"No, how could I ever explain that to your parents?!" Father Mo objected.

"I'll stay."

"I'll stay, too," said Mo Yu. "There's not much time—hurry and go! I'll take care of Lingzi and myself."

"Xiaoyu, absolutely not!" Mother Mo was terrified; she knew her daughter too well.

Before her mother could say more, Mo Yu lightly struck her, and Mother Mo immediately fell into a deep sleep.

Ignoring everyone else’s pleas, she ushered the others onto the helicopter.

"Xiaoyu, be careful!" Father Mo, holding his wife and son close, called out. "I’ll come back for you!"

"Sis!"

"Go on, I’ll survive and find you in City B!"

As the cabin door closed, a single tear slid down.

It belonged to her cousin.

The tear glistened, clear as a pearl or a gem.

Had I missed something?

From behind, Nan Lingzi wrapped her arms around Mo Yu’s waist and murmured, "Thank you, Mozi."

She knew she was never meant to be part of this rescue, even though her parents had died in the line of duty, even though her grandfather had once been a general. But all that was in the past, wasn’t it?

Mo Yu turned and gently ruffled the girl’s hair.

In that moment, everything was so quiet, so beautiful.

Wasn’t it?

My friend.