Chapter 744: with translation of chapter title

The red Volvo XC60 traveled over 1800 kilometers on the highway, weary from the journey, and in a little over a day arrived at Rongcheng.

The toll stations in Rongcheng were all wide open with four lanes, and Xie Yiren slowly passed through the toll station with the flow of traffic.

Although she was tired, although night had already fallen, she had no thought of resting a bit.

Multicolored neon lights on the street were split by the car body, crisscrossing through the windows; the empty passenger seat beside her kept being illuminated in the darkness.

There, someone once sat—honest, dull, yet full of strength, like a stone, very solid and reliable.

Passing Fu River, the flickering light points reflected in the endless ripples on the river surface—whether they were moonlight or the coming and going of people on the bank—were unclear.

Xie Yiren suddenly hoped that after picking up that person, she could keep driving without stopping midway, the car passing through decades of time, disappearing into the early morning when the streetlights went out.

The road may be long, but it will always have an end.

Driving all the way, she arrived at Tianfu Square. At the agreed-upon spot, Xie Ning was already waiting for her.

"Dad." Xie Yiren got out of the car, obedient as ever.

Xie Ning rubbed Xie Yiren's head and said, "You arrived so quickly—didn't you rest a bit?"

"I slept a few hours on the road; I'm not tired."

Watching her now-grown daughter, Xie Ning felt a sigh. He had not wanted her to come, yet she came anyway. The always-well-behaved Xie Yiren had finally grown up.

"Dad, you've lost weight recently," Xie Yiren whispered.

Xie Ning's face finally showed a smile unlike his usual one, so warm.

"Lost weight? I'm still in my prime, I can keep going for many more years," Xie Ning laughed.

The father and daughter fell silent together, quietly watching the blood donation and fundraising crowds at Tianfu Square. A few days earlier, on the night of the earthquake, tens of thousands had spontaneously gathered here.

The rising sound, like rolling war drums, surged upward, straight to the ninth heaven.

But now, that emotion has not dissipated; that sound still echoes in the ears, turning into trickling streams, bit by bit becoming reality.

"The initial work of earthquake relief is basically finished," Xie Ning said. "What remains are just some finishing tasks. It may continue for a long time, but for now I have nothing to do."

"Are you going home?" Xie Yiren asked.

"No, I heard from Zheng Ren about something; I need to go to Europe," Xie Ning said.

Xie Yiren didn't ask what he would do in Europe; this was a habit she had formed since childhood.

"You have good judgment; this kid Zheng Ren has responsibility, drive, and ability," Xie Ning described Zheng Ren with three 'haves'.

For him, that is high praise.

Xie Yiren felt her face flush a little, but she didn't lower her head; her gaze was clear, like the pure moonlight on a cloud layer.

"He came down safely from the front line and is now undergoing surgery at the Provincial Hospital. Go find Director Chen; I'll send you his phone number on WeChat," Xie Ning said.

"Mm." Xie Yiren nodded. "Get back home soon after you're done."

"Soon, going there is just a preliminary survey. Zheng Ren gave me a tough problem, a really big problem." Xie Ning said, a headache forming, he lightly rubbed his temples.

"Is Mom coming too?"

"Mm, I'll stop by on the way."

"Then I'll wait at home for you to come back," Xie Yiren said.

"When you see Zheng Ren, let him get some sleep. These days he hasn't had a full night's rest. Though he's young, don't wear out his body," Xie Ning urged.

"Huh?" Xie Yiren startled.

Along the way she guessed that Zheng Ren, who had no trace of life's pleasures, might not even eat, maybe drink little water. But she hadn't expected the front line to be so harsh that he hardly slept.

How could that be acceptable?!

Seeing Xie Yiren's anxious expression, Xie Ning said, "There are too many casualties; the surgeries can't keep up. And yet your little boyfriend is the most capable, so he's been persisting."

Hearing Xie Ning say 'little boyfriend,' Xie Yiren felt a bit shy, but hearing his affirmative words, she still showed a relieved smile.

Xie Ning highly approved of Zheng Ren; when he called his dad on the road, Xie Yiren had already guessed this.

At this moment, it was finally confirmed.

"He's just like that," Xie Yiren said in a tiny, fine, soft voice, like the gentle night breeze of Bashu, tender and sweet.

"You can't wait, right? You don't want to keep Dad company, you just want to see your little boyfriend right away," Xie Ning asked with a chuckle.

"I'm already here, so I'm not in a hurry." Xie Yiren said directly, "Dad, I miss you."

Xie Ning smiled.

"Then I'm off; first I'll go pick up Mom. I should be back in half a month to a month. By then, you should also be returning to Di Du."

"Mm."

"I'm leaving." Xie Ning rubbed Xie Yiren's head again; her neat ponytail wouldn't become fluffy and cute when rubbed, instead it showed a brisk vigor.

Xie Ning raised his hand, said nothing more, and turned to leave.

By the roadside, a black Rolls-Royce was parked. Xie Ning walked over, and someone opened the door.

He didn't look back, got straight into the car; the black vehicle slipped away silently into the traffic, into the night.

Xie Yiren watched Xie Ning leave; one minute later, her phone vibrated.

It was a message from Xie Ning, a personal contact card.

It should be Director Chen of the Provincial Hospital, Xie Yiren still remembered Xie Ning's words.

Has he lost weight?

Is he tired?

What should I say when we meet?

This bastard dared to deceive me and even turned off his phone—how will this score be settled?

Looking at Lao Chen, Director Chen's phone number, Xie Yiren froze.

What is the feeling of 'near-home timidity'?

Xie Yiren felt as if she were still in the supermarket buying daily necessities for Zheng Ren, just having encountered the earthquake. She felt as if she had just finished calling Zheng Ren, and that guy had immediately hung up; she rarely scolds people in her life—Zheng Ren, you bastard!

Stunned for a moment, Xie Yiren smiled, tilted her head, her ponytail swaying.

After dialing the phone, Xie Yiren waited quietly.

After a few rings, the call was connected.

The voice was a little hoarse, as if someone had disturbed a sweet dream.

"Who is this?" Director Chen asked.

"Director Chen, Greeting, I am Xie Yiren, the instrument nurse for Zheng Ren. My father, Xie Ning, asked me to call you." Xie Yiren said succinctly.

"Uh…" Director Chen on the other end seemed to have crashed, unable to take in all that information at once.

But soon, he reacted.

"Xie Ning? Is that Ningzi?" Director Chen asked hesitantly.

"Yes, Director Chen."

"Oh, I see. I'm at the Provincial Hospital. Come find me. When you arrive, wait for me in the emergency department; I'll come down to get you." Director Chen said.

"Thank you for the trouble." Xie Yiren said, then hung up.

She rubbed her face, tidied her clothes, and walked firmly back to the red Volvo XC60, navigating all the way to the Provincial Hospital.