Lu Shiyan, however, withdrew his hand, letting the flames dissipate into the air. "Not yet."
"Why?" Xiao Han stepped forward, his tone urgent. "What are we waiting for?"
Lu Shiyan remained silent. After a moment, he raised his hand and pressed his fingertips to his brow, a gesture of weariness. "She's pregnant."
Xiao Han's movements froze.
A few seconds later, he let out a scoff-like breath. "So? That woman imprisoned you, tormented you, and you're going to stay and take care of her and that bastard child?"
Lu Shiyan lowered his hand, slowly turning to him. "I said, not yet."
Xiao Han stared at him, as if he didn't recognize the man. "Are you worried about that child?"
Lu Shiyan didn't answer.
His silence was the answer itself.
Xiao Han exhaled heavily, stepping back half a pace. "Lu Shiyan, you've really changed. Have you forgotten what she did to you?"
"I haven't forgotten." Lu Shiyan's voice was devoid of emotion. "But the child is innocent."
Xiao Han seemed about to argue further when an urgent knocking sound from outside suddenly interrupted him.
It was Zhang Ma, her voice tearful, completely losing her usual composure. "Sir! Miss is not well!"
Lu Shiyan and Xiao Han exchanged a glance, then immediately got up and walked out.
Su Wan's room was brightly lit, almost dazzling.
She was curled up on the bed, her face flushed. Her bangs were damp with cold sweat, sticking to her pale temples and cheeks.
She clutched her abdomen tightly, her teeth clenched, and suppressed moans of pain escaped her throat.
"What's going on?" Lu Shiyan's voice revealed no emotion.
Zhang Ma was flustered and at a loss, wringing her hands. "I, I don't know either... Miss suddenly cried out about stomach pain in the middle of the night, and it's severe, I'm afraid... I'm afraid it's the child..."
Lu Shiyan walked to the bedside in a few steps, leaned over, and reached out to touch Su Wan's forehead. The skin beneath his fingertips was astonishingly hot.
"She has a fever." He withdrew his hand, turning to Xiao Han at the doorway. "Go get fever medicine, and the ultrasound machine."
Xiao Han stood still, seemingly weighing something.
Lu Shiyan tilted his head to look at him, but didn't speak.
Xiao Han finally turned and quickly left the room.
Lu Shiyan's gaze returned to the bed. He looked at her painfully curled up, at her hands pressed against her abdomen, her wrist bones excessively slender.
He reached out, seemingly wanting to do something, but ultimately just stopped in mid-air and slowly lowered his hand.
"Hold on." He spoke, his voice slightly lower than before.
Su Wan's high fever lasted for three days, during which she was almost never conscious. Lu Shiyan stayed by her side, never leaving, and personally took care of her.
On the fourth morning, Su Wan finally opened her eyes.
She felt a wave of weakness, but the pain in her abdomen had significantly lessened. She slowly turned her head and saw Lu Shiyan sitting on a chair by the bed, his head slightly bowed, seemingly asleep.
His eyelashes cast long, slender shadows in the sunlight, and his sharply defined profile looked exceptionally tired. Su Wan was momentarily stunned, not expecting him to be guarding her here.
She moved her body slightly, and the bed made a faint sound. Lu Shiyan immediately opened his eyes, looking at her with sharp gaze.
"You're awake." His voice was still cold, but less sharp than usual.
Su Wan nodded, her voice weak. "Is the child... alright?"
Lu Shiyan's expression softened slightly. "It's fine, it's just that your body is too weak; you need to rest well."
Su Wan breathed a sigh of relief, her hand unconsciously stroking her lower abdomen. This little life was her only reliance in this apocalypse.
"Thank you." She said softly.
Lu Shiyan didn't respond, merely got up and poured a glass of water, handing it to her. Su Wan took the glass, and their fingertips brushed unintentionally, a subtle current flowing in the air.
Just then, a hurried sound of footsteps broke the silence in the room. Xiao Han pushed the door open, his face grim. "Lu Shiyan, we have a situation."
Lu Shiyan immediately stood up. "What is it?"
"The alarm on the outer perimeter of the villa was triggered; someone has intruded." Xiao Han's voice was very low. "And it's more than one person."
Lu Shiyan's expression instantly turned cold. "How many people?"
"At least ten, fully armed." Xiao Han answered quickly. "Judging by their equipment, they should be from that side."
Su Wan's heart sank. That side? Which side?
Lu Shiyan turned to Su Wan, his eyes complex. "Can you walk?"
Su Wan bit her lip and nodded.
"Good, follow me." Lu Shiyan reached out to help her up. "We'll take the secret passage."
Xiao Han led the way, Lu Shiyan supported Su Wan, and the three quickly moved through the corridor towards the basement.
Just as they were about to reach the basement entrance, gunfire suddenly erupted from the front of the villa. This was followed by the sound of breaking glass and heavy footsteps.
"They're inside!" Xiao Han whispered, quickening his pace.
Lu Shiyan's expression grew even more solemn. He glanced at Su Wan's pale face and suddenly made a decision. "Xiao Han, you take her through the secret passage. I'll hold them off."
Xiao Han was stunned for a moment. "Are you crazy? How can you deal with so many people alone?"
A flicker of determination flashed in Lu Shiyan's eyes. "It's enough. Go!"
He entrusted Su Wan to Xiao Han, then turned and walked towards the direction of the gunfire.
Su Wan suddenly grabbed his wrist. "Wait!"
Lu Shiyan turned back, meeting her worried gaze.
"Be careful." She said softly.
Lu Shiyan's eyes moved slightly. He nodded, then resolutely turned and left.
"Quick! This way!" Xiao Han urged in a low, strained voice.
He supported Su Wan, leading her towards an inconspicuous hidden door in the wall.
The remaining figures in the villa stumbled along, terrified and uneasy.
A cold, damp aura assailed them.
They stepped into the narrow secret passage. The light suddenly vanished, leaving only the rough feel of stone steps underfoot.
The passage wound downwards, leading deep into the mountain behind the villa.
Su Wan leaned against the cold wall, barely supporting her weak body.
Xiao Han, leading the way, suddenly stopped and whispered a few words to a taciturn man beside him.
A Mo's body instantly tensed, his breathing quickening slightly.
"Han Ge... you're going back alone?" His voice was hoarse, with a clear note of objection.
Xiao Han didn't speak, merely raised his hand and patted A Mo's shoulder with considerable force.
A Mo's Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally lowered his head.
He reached out, preparing to take Su Wan, whom Xiao Han was supporting.
"You all go first, I'll be back soon."
He was going back? Back to the villa?
Su Wan looked at Xiao Han's retreating back.
This person... in the original story, there was no character named Xiao Han at all. Where did he come from?
He and Lu Shiyan, they were actually in a relationship where they would risk their lives for each other? What exactly was their relationship?
They should be more than just friends; they were the kind of close friends who would sacrifice their lives for each other. This kind of relationship was also completely unmentioned in the original book.