Xiao Han gripped the steering wheel with one hand, the off-road vehicle bumping along the gravel road.
Su Wan had been uncomfortable on the way, so they had stopped to rest several times.
“It’s almost noon; let’s find a place to get something to eat.” Seeing Su Wan’s face turn pale again, Xiao Han broke the silence and looked at Lu Shiyan.
Lu Shiyan nodded slightly, his gaze still fixed ahead: “There’s a small rest stop ten kilometers ahead, marked on the map.”
Su Wan gently massaged her aching lower back; her pregnant body was especially sensitive to such long journeys, and a tightening, dragging sensation subtly emanated from her abdomen, making her frown slightly.
The car drove into an open area, where the outlines of buildings were faintly visible ahead. Xiao Han narrowed his eyes: “I see it, a gas station. It can shelter us from the wind and rain.”
Lu Shiyan scrutinized it for a moment, then stepped on the brake: “We’re not the only guests.”
Following his gaze, Su Wan saw a familiar minibus parked behind the gas station.
It was Li Xinhu and his group.
“Heh, what a coincidence.” Xiao Han raised an eyebrow, his tone playful, “We really do have a connection with this Captain Li.”
Lu Shiyan looked at Su Wan; her face was somewhat pale, and her hand unconsciously pressed against her lower abdomen. “Should we take a detour?” he asked.
“No,” Su Wan shook her head, her voice a little weak, “I’m not feeling well, and I want to find a stable place to rest as soon as possible. Besides, I’m hungry.” The bumping made the discomfort in her abdomen grow stronger.
Lu Shiyan gazed at her for a moment, then finally nodded: “Don’t leave my side after we get out of the car.”
The off-road vehicle slowly drove into the gas station, its engine sound startling the people inside. Several figures immediately appeared at the entrance, staring nervously in their direction.
Li Xinhu stood at the forefront, behind him several team members, including Hong Jie, who still had a hostile expression, and Xiaomei, whose tear stains were not yet dry. Their expressions varied, with obvious wariness.
Xiao Han was the first to jump out of the car, stretching his limbs, and deliberately spoke loudly: “It really is a small world.”
Lu Shiyan followed closely, opening the car door and helping Su Wan out, then instinctively shielding her behind him.
Li Xinhu hesitated for a moment, then still took a step forward, his voice low: “It’s you.”
“Uh-huh,” Xiao Han’s lips curved into a sneer, “What, do you own this road?”
Li Xinhu shook his head: “No. I just…” He took a deep breath, “I apologize for last night. It was my fault for not managing the team well…”
“Some people, oh, they just put on a show.” Hong Jie muttered sarcastically from behind, her voice not loud, but just clear enough for others to hear, “If we’re really talking about who implicated whom, it’s not certain yet.”
Xiaomei suddenly turned around, hatred erupting: “You still have the nerve to say that? Didn’t A Hao die because of you?”
Hong Jie was not to be outdone, stepping forward: “A Hao was impulsive himself, what does that have to do with me? Li Xinhu saved your husband, and my husband saved Li Xinhu, we all owe each other, so why should I take the blame?”
Lu Shiyan watched the internal conflict expressionlessly, and whispered to Su Wan: “Go back to the car.”
Su Wan gently shook her head; the dragging pain in her abdomen made her not want to move anymore. Her gaze unconsciously fell back on Li Xinhu. The man’s eyes were full of pain and struggle.
On one side was the aggressive Hong Jie, using her oath as a weapon. On the other side was Xiaomei, holding her stomach, her eyes hollow, needing protection. The team members were gnawing on dry rations, their morale low. This team… Su Wan’s lips twitched almost imperceptibly.
It was truly incredible. Who wouldn’t have a breakdown on the spot leading this team? Choosing the highest difficulty at the start of hell would be no worse than this.
She silently withdrew her gaze, took the steamed bun and water Lu Shiyan handed her, and ate slowly to replenish her strength. She didn’t have the energy to watch other people’s drama, but the other side insisted on putting on a show.
“Since everyone needs to rest, why don’t we each find a place and not disturb each other?” Su Wan spoke softly, the discomfort in her abdomen making her voice a little shaky.
Li Xinhu looked at her in surprise, then nodded: “We’ll leave immediately and make space for you.”
Lu Shiyan’s gaze swept over Li Xinhu and the wary or exhausted team members behind him, finally landing on Su Wan’s increasingly pale face. “No need,” his voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable warning, “There’s enough space; we’ll each rest for half an hour. But if there’s any action that threatens us…”
Li Xinhu looked at Lu Shiyan in surprise, seemingly not expecting him to be so calm. He forced a smile: “Thank you.”
“What are you pretending to be a good person for!” Hong Jie scoffed, “Didn’t you people kill A Hao?”
Li Xinhu suddenly turned around: “Enough! If you keep making trouble, you’ll stay behind; we won’t take you!”
Panic flashed in Hong Jie’s eyes, then quickly returned to hatred: “You wouldn’t dare! You swore to my husband that you’d take care of me for life!”
“My taking care of you doesn’t mean I’ll tolerate you harming others!” Li Xinhu’s voice uncharacteristically rose.
Hong Jie suddenly looked up and started wailing at the sky. “Old Zhang! Can you hear me!”
“You’ve only been gone a few days, your bones aren’t even cold yet!”
“Your good brother is about to abandon me, leaving me to fend for myself!” This performance was full of emotion and accusation.
Xiao Han, standing nearby, almost couldn’t hold back a laugh, his mouth twitching as he suppressed it. This drama, it would be a waste not to perform it on a big stage.
Su Wan leaned against the car, her face pale, hands tightly clutching her abdomen, cold sweat beading on her forehead; the sudden, sharp pain was almost unbearable.
Hong Jie’s tantrum and Li Xinhu’s distress formed a stark contrast.
The remaining people in Li Xinhu’s team also looked embarrassed, their heads bowed.
“I’m not abandoning you,” Li Xinhu’s voice was weary, “But if you continue to be unreasonable, sow discord, and threaten everyone’s safety, I cannot keep indulging you.”
“Who did I threaten?” Hong Jie immediately retorted, “A Hao’s death was caused by them! Not me!” Her finger trembled as she pointed at Lu Shiyan and Su Wan.
Lu Shiyan didn’t even lift an eyelid.
“Enough,” Li Xinhu interrupted her, “Everyone knows what’s right and wrong.” “If you still acknowledge Old Zhang as your husband, and still want to follow the team, then behave yourself.”
“Otherwise, even if I break my oath, I will never carry a ticking time bomb.”
Hong Jie was stunned by the resolve in his eyes, she opened her mouth, but in the end, dared not speak again. She merely glared fiercely at Li Xinhu, then swept a venomous gaze towards Su Wan’s side, before angrily turning her head away.
Li Xinhu took a deep breath, as if all his strength had been drained, and waved to the others: “Everyone rest, we leave in half an hour.”
Just as the farce seemed to subside and Su Wan was about to sigh in relief, a sharp, twisting pain seized her lower abdomen without warning. The intensity of it made her fingertips numb, and the steamed bun she had just bitten into almost slipped from her grasp.
Her face instantly turned ashen, and cold sweat immediately broke out. This was bad; this feeling… definitely wasn’t just an ordinary stomach ache!
“Su Wan!”
His voice was three parts deeper than usual, carrying a hint of anxiety that even he hadn’t noticed.
The next second, he had moved to her side, extended a long arm, and steadily pulled her halfway into his embrace, preventing her from slipping.