Quenching

"I also have an online store, enough to keep us fed and clothed!"

"Are you really willing to let go?"

"We truly loved each other, there was no betrayal or hurt, but uncontrollable factors separated us. I don't regret it, I just sincerely hope that everything is alright for him."

Ma Qianji gently placed Huang Qiaqia's head on the pillow, tiptoed to close the door, folded the card in his hand, threw it into the trash can, and slowly walked to Wanli Fuguang's side.

“Grandpa, why did she do this? I asked the neighbor last week to give you a year’s living expenses.”

"Yes, I received a card with 120,000 yuan in it, and I made a lot of food for Huang Qiaqia. She has been focusing on eating lately."

"She used to be worried about bothering me, so she would only call me during her lunch break and send me messages early in the morning. Why haven't I received a single message or call from her lately? Did Sheng Shanxing say something to her, right?"

"not at all."

Ma Qianji gave an affirmative answer, and Wanli Fuguang suddenly slumped down, his eyes vacant and lifeless.

The cold marble floor sent a chill down his spine, and Wanli Fuguang's limp body seemed to lose all feeling, numb and insensitive.

With a "plop," a stray spark accidentally fell deep into Wanli Fuguang's chest, instantly igniting flames all over his body. The embers in every cell gradually burned fiercely, and countless flames burned on his skin, as if Wanli Fuguang were in a furnace.

The empty corridor, the torment of ice and fire, was like a wild beast violently tearing at Wanli Fuguang's body, ferocious and grotesque.

At this moment, not a drop of water or a wisp of wind can penetrate Wanli Fuguang; only ruins and desolation remain.

******

Ma Qianji pressed down on the thick cardboard, took off his thick cotton coat, placed it on the cardboard, and gestured for Huang Qiaqia to lie down.

Huang Qiaqia, who was squatting down, tilted his head again and looked out through the largest hole in the mobile prefabricated house at the streets covered with residual snow, the bare tree branches, and the dark garbage heaps piled with mud and dirt. He shook his head, glanced at Chen Zhixing beside him, and reluctantly typed on his phone.

"Grandpa, let's go to the 24-hour convenience store!"

"No way, you'll definitely be tempted to beg for food with me the moment you see it. If that happens, I'll tell your dad what you've been doing and I won't keep it a secret from you anymore."

"It seems very cold here. Is there a warm place?"

“It’s not cold at all. I have a good relationship with the garbage collectors, so I’m never cold when I sleep here. You lie down first, and Chen Zhixing will stay here and watch over you. I’ll go get two more cotton coats for you to cover up.”

Huang Qiaqia swallowed hard, took out his phone, and typed a message.

"The wind is so scary, and there are bugs too, I can't sleep."

"Let me pack up, shall we go back to our apartment complex?"

"Absolutely not. None of us can return to the community before Thursday."

Huang Qiaqia put away his phone, his brows furrowed, and sat on the cardboard, gripping Ma Qianji's arm, refusing to lie down and go to sleep.

Ma Qianji gently pushed Huang Qiaqia's hand away and pointed behind Huang Qiaqia.

Before Huang Qiaqia could turn around, a force pulled him up, and a barrage of scolding came crashing down on his head.

"Why are you doing this?"

Huang Qiaqia opened her mouth wide, blinked incredulously, and asked in surprise.

"How did you come?"

"If I don't intervene, are you really planning to stay here tonight?"

Huang Qiaqia's eyes were full of reluctance. She reached out to touch the familiar face, but in a flash, as if she had been electrocuted, she quickly withdrew her hand, broke free from her own arm, took a big step back, and shook her head repeatedly.

You can't touch me.

"Hasn't the test report come out?"

"No."

Wanli Fuguang's outstretched hand suddenly froze in the dilapidated mobile prefabricated house.

Huang Qiaqia bit her lip secretly, took a big step back, shook her head repeatedly, and whispered.

“I received my report this morning. Chen Zhixing saw the little girl at noon. If she gets infected during contact… I can’t touch you.”

"Why did you and Chen Zhixing risk your lives to save them, knowing it was contagious? Don't you value your lives?"

Huang Qiaqia pursed her lips, her face gradually turning pale, and said in a trembling voice.

"She's only two years old. She hasn't done anything, yet she has to endure the torment of illness, she..."

Wanli Fuguang's eyes were bloodshot, his piercing gaze fixed on Huang Qiaqia's pale face as he spoke with uncontrollable rage.

"I'm asking you why you wanted to save them?"

"She clutched the hem of my clothes, sobbing uncontrollably. Her face and neck were red from crying, and she could barely stand. She..."

A ruthless glint flashed in Wanli Fuguang's eyes. In an instant, he gripped Huang Qiaqia's chin tightly with his large hand and spoke sharply.

"I'm asking you why you risked everything to save people when you knew it was contagious?"

"Chen Zhixing and I made plans to go to the lab, we..."

"I asked why?"

"I……"

Wanli Fuguang gradually trembled all over, his teeth clenched tightly, and a sound like an axe chopping through ice struck Huang Qiaqia's head.

"You don't want to live anymore? You don't want to live anymore for a love affair? You don't care about yourself?"

No, it's not.

Wanli Fuguang's gaze grew increasingly fierce, and he secretly increased the pressure on Huang Qiaqia's chin as he cursed angrily.

"How long has it been? You're still lost and confused. Huang Qiaqia, let me tell you, love is only a part of life. Even without it, you still have to live well."

Huang Qiaqia's tears rolled down her cheeks instantly, and she sobbed.

"I didn't bother you, I didn't contact you, nothing."

Wanli Fuguang's eyes darkened, and he shoved the man into Ma Qianji's arms. He turned and glared fiercely at Chen Zhixing, who obediently followed Wanli Fuguang and explained.

"Brother, listen to me, my senior and I ran into a little girl..."

“Chen Zhixing, Huang Qiaqia is ignorant, careless, and muddle-headed. You let her have her way and let her live next to the garbage dump.”

"Brother, no, I..."

How much money do you have left?

"Yesterday's dinner was bread that Grandpa picked out of the trash can?"

"You let her eat it?"

“Huang Qiaqia thought it was dirty and didn’t eat a bite. Brother, we really have no money. I live with my grandma, and she’s old, so I don’t dare call her to tell her the truth. Huang Qiaqia doesn’t dare tell her family either.”

Wanli Fuguang sighed, handed Chen Zhixing a stack of cash, and gave him instructions.

"Let's go to a hotel first. After the house is cleaned on Thursday, let Huang Qiaqia go home to stay."

Just as Wanli Fuguang took a step, Chen Zhixing grabbed his arm, clutching the money, and said pitifully.

"Brother, the volunteers won't be here until next Tuesday, but the money..."

Wanli Fuguang flung Chen Zhixing's hand away, suppressing his anger, and coldly questioned him.

"Is Huang Qiaqia planning to sell the house?"

"It's...it's...already sold. The paperwork will be completed next Friday..."

Wanli Fuguang gritted his teeth, kicked Chen Zhixing hard in the leg, and glared at him, scolding him.