Under the moonlight

Huang Meng and Xu Ao followed behind. When they arrived, Lin Hanshuang had already taken him into her arms. By the light, Huang Meng looked at the man's face, which was withered and sallow. Her brows furrowed. Lin Hanshuang seemed to feel the limp and lifeless body in her arms and cried out anxiously, "Quickly, save him! Ah, Yuri, Yuri, how are you?"

Yuri was the man's name. Huang Meng turned her head and exchanged a glance with Xu Ao. As if they were exchanging a knowing look, they didn't say anything but understood each other. The two of them stepped forward. Huang Meng pulled up Lin Hanhan, who had collapsed on the ground, while Xu Ao carried Yuri on his back.

Huang Meng helped Lin Hanshuang walk behind Xu Ao. Jiang Ying, who caught up from behind, watched Xu Ao walk past her without even glancing at her, even though she hadn't missed the look he had given Huang Meng earlier.

Jiang Ying looked at Huang Meng following behind, her eyes turning cold. She should have been the one standing next to Xu Ao. Before Huang Meng appeared, she was the one who had the best understanding and rapport with him.

The group returned to the embassy, ​​and Xu Ao carried Yuri up to the second floor to wake up the sleeping Lao Huang.

Old Huang is a retired doctor. When the embassy couldn't find a doctor willing to come, he volunteered. Before the bombing, they would go to the city hospital for treatment. Usually, the young people in the embassy would come to him for help with sprains, strains, headaches, and fevers.

Old Huang, wearing a coat, opened the door and saw Xu Ao carrying a man on his back. He quickly let them in. Old Huang's room was the same as the other rooms, except that the table had been moved and placed upright in front of the window, with a chair on each side of the table, just like a small clinic in China.

A white curtain hung behind the table, and behind the curtain was a single bed. After Xu Ao came in, he put Yuri on the single bed. Old Huang followed closely behind, arranging Yuri's body properly before picking up a stethoscope and placing it on the man's chest.

Huang Meng stood by the curtain, supporting the almost exhausted Lin Hanshuang. Jiang Ying stood by the door with her arms crossed, waiting with Xiao Zhang. At this moment, the room was quiet except for the sound of their rising and falling breaths.

As Lin Hanshuang watched the stethoscope move across the man's chest, tears streamed down her face. She tightly gripped Huang Meng's arm, which was resting on her chest. Huang Meng felt some pain but endured it. Compared to Lin Hanshuang's mental anguish, her physical pain seemed insignificant.

Xu Ao watched as Lao Huang examined the man's body, and his expression relaxed a little. He turned to look at Huang Meng and saw that she was pursing her lips tightly, with one arm reaching behind Lin Han Shuang to support her shoulder, and the other arm across her front.

She was half a head shorter than Lin Hanshuang, and it was clear she was struggling to support herself. Xu Ao silently walked to Lin Hanshuang's other side and reached out to support her arm. He was tall and strong, which made it much easier for Huang Meng, who had been leaning to one side and struggling.

After waiting for three or four minutes, Lao Huang finally took the stethoscope off. He slowly pulled the man's clothes back up, turned around, lifted the curtain, and sat down at the table. Lin Hanshuang quickly sat down opposite him and asked anxiously, "Doctor, how is he?"

"Yes, he is indeed very weak, but it's not a serious illness, just some malnutrition. He has asthma, but fortunately it hasn't flared up yet. However, there is some inflammation in his lungs, probably from catching a cold. Luckily, he was brought here in time, otherwise, if the cough triggers his asthma, it would be difficult to handle."

After calmly finishing his speech, Lao Huang began writing the prescription. He knew every medicine the embassy had ever brought in by heart, and could write down the required medications without ever having to look at the medicine list.

Hearing him say that, Lin Hanshuang immediately felt relieved and let out a long sigh of relief. Old Huang across from her was writing on the form, his eyes peering through his thick glasses as he looked at the woman in front of him and asked, "Is he your lover?"

Old Huang's voice wasn't loud, but everyone in the room heard him. Huang Meng immediately looked down at Lin Hanshuang, who also tensed up for a moment, unsure of what to say. Jiang Ying and Xiao Zhang also curiously stepped forward, pricking up their ears.

"Yes, he is my lover." The silence in the room lasted for a minute before Lin Hanshuang finally gave a calm reply.

Looking at the unusual determination in her eyes, Huang Meng didn't know whether to be happy or sad for her. He hadn't appeared in her most beautiful years, but he had ignited a flame of passion in her most dull and boring life, and she had willingly plunged into the fire.

"Alright, we have all these medicines here, including asthma medication and some cold and flu granules. However, his body is too weak and he has inflammation, which is the most troublesome thing. If the inflammation is not treated in time, it may trigger asthma. No amount of medicine will help."

Old Huang handed the list to Xu Ao. He was unaware of what had happened that afternoon. Old Huang liked to read and would hide in his room to read after every meal, so he rarely worried about what was happening outside unless someone told him.

Xu Ao, holding the form, said to him, "Okay, I understand. Sorry to bother you, Lao Huang. Get some rest."

As Xu Ao was about to carry the man on the bed, Lao Huang stopped him, saying, "Let him stay here tonight. I'll keep watch in case anything happens. You all go back and rest. I'll call you if anything comes up. Go ahead." Lao Huang waved for them to leave as he spoke. Xu Ao didn't insist anymore; this was the best arrangement. Xu Ao nodded and smiled, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."

"Hey, you little rascal, you're being all polite now. Go on your way!" Old Huang said with a smile.

Jiang Ying opened the door first and went out with Xiao Zhang, followed by Xu Ao and Huang Meng. Lin Hanshuang glanced at Yuri lying on the bed with concern, looking back every few steps.

The group stood in the corridor. Seeing that they were all silent, Huang Meng said, "Well, it's getting late, I'll head back now." Huang Meng turned and walked towards her room. Xu Ao said to Jiang Ying and Xiao Zhang, "Go back and rest. Lin Hanshuang and that man's matter has nothing to do with our work. Don't speculate or discuss it. This matter has been resolved, and I will report it at tomorrow's morning meeting. That's all." Xu Ao turned to leave, but Jiang Ying suddenly called out to him, "Xu Ao."

Seeing Jiang Ying looking at Xu Ao with such deep affection, Xiao Zhang wisely slipped away.

Only Jiang Ying and Xu Ao remained in the corridor. Xu Ao glanced back at Huang Meng's tightly closed door, adjusted his glasses, and asked in a deep voice, "Is there anything else?"

"What do you plan to do with that man?" Xu Ao narrowed his long eyes and glanced at Jiang Ying.

"Just say what you think."

“I think we should send him back. If those mercenaries find him in our embassy, ​​it could cause unnecessary misunderstandings and trouble.” Jiang Ying smiled helplessly, glancing at the closed doors in the corridor, and continued, “We already have so much trouble. How can we explain it to others if we keep him here? After all, he’s not a citizen of China.” Jiang Ying’s tone was calm and indifferent as she spoke.

Xu Ao looked up at her. Jiang Ying's soft, watery eyes were fixed on Xu Ao. Although she wasn't stunningly beautiful, she was still a pretty and intelligent woman. Unfortunately, she had a personality stronger than most men, and she always put rationality first, no matter what job she was doing.

Jiang Ying looked straight at Xu Ao with a smile on her face. She believed that he must have the same thoughts as her, and she knew that he was definitely not a person who acted on emotion.

"Let's talk about this tomorrow, at least until he's recovered." Xu Ao finished speaking, turned around and walked towards the door. Opening the door, he caught a glimpse of Jiang Ying still standing there and turned to her, saying, "You should go to sleep early too!"

Jiang Ying didn't return to her own room until Xu Ao's door closed.

In the dead of night, at the edge of the main city's blockade line, a mercenary hurriedly handed a walkie-talkie to his leader. After a crackling sound, a voice came through the radio.

"Prepare for the final action."