47: Chapter 47 Breakthrough in the Rainy Night

In reality, that dim, yellowish light felt like a shore that they would never reach.

Qin Ruoxi could feel Xiao Bei's breathing growing heavier; his shirt was completely soaked, clinging to his back and radiating an abnormal heat.

"You... seem to have a fever."

Qin Ruoxi reached out to touch Xiao Bei's forehead, which was burning hot to the touch.

Xiao Bei did not answer, simply continuing to walk forward stubbornly.

Suddenly, his foot slipped, and he lunged forward.

Qin Ruoxi let out a cry of alarm, and the two of them fell heavily into the mud.

"I'm sorry, Mayor Qin!"

Xiao Bei scrambled up in a panic, disregarding his own mud-covered state to rush and help her up.

Qin Ruoxi waved her hand, propping herself up on the ground to sit.

"It's not your fault; this path is just too difficult to walk."

She looked up at the light not far away.

"It looks like a farmhouse. Let's head over there."

Xiao Bei wanted to carry her again, but was firmly refused.

The two of them supported each other, limping toward that glimmer of light.

The farmhouse was even more dilapidated than imagined; the wooden door hung crookedly on its frame, and several window panes were shattered.

The light shone from a room on the second floor, but the entire first floor was pitch black.

"Is anyone there?"

Xiao Bei knocked on the door, his voice sounding exceptionally weak amidst the sound of the rain.

There was no response.

Knock, knock!

He knocked forcefully a few more times, but still, no one answered.

"It might be abandoned."

Qin Ruoxi observed the surroundings.

"Let's just get out of the rain first."

Xiao Bei pushed the door open, the rotten wood emitting a harsh creaking sound.

The interior was pitch black, and a damp, musty smell rushed to meet them.

He fumbled to find the switch on the wall, but the light did not turn on.

"The electrical circuit might be broken."

Xiao Bei searched for a long time before digging out an old, worn-out flashlight.

Under the faint light, it was clear that this was a typical rural living room, with a dilapidated wooden table in the center and some farm tools piled in the corner, covered in a thick layer of dust.

Qin Ruoxi walked in slowly, holding onto the door frame; as soon as her right foot touched the ground, she gasped in pain.

"Please sit down and don't move."

Xiao Bei quickly brought over a chair and wiped the dust off with his sleeve.

"I'll go upstairs to see if anyone is there."

"Be careful."

Qin Ruoxi nodded, watching Xiao Bei's figure disappear around the bend of the stairs.

Footsteps and the sound of opening and closing doors came from upstairs.

A few minutes later, Xiao Bei returned.

"No one's there. There's bedding in the second-floor bedroom; it looks like someone stays here occasionally, but they aren't here tonight."

"It seems we're in luck."

Qin Ruoxi managed a weak smile, her lips turning slightly blue from the cold.

Xiao Bei looked around and found some dry firewood in the corner.

"I'll go start a fire. You need to change out of your wet clothes, or your injuries will worsen."

Qin Ruoxi's expression instantly became complex.

Xiao Bei realized the impropriety of his words and quickly added,

"That... I'll go upstairs and find you some dry clothes."

He hurried upstairs and soon returned with a faded cotton coat.

"This is all there is; please make do with it."

Qin Ruoxi took the cotton coat, her fingers trembling slightly.

"You... turn around."

Xiao Bei immediately turned his back and walked to the fireplace to start a fire.

The wood was a bit damp, and it took a great deal of effort for him to ignite a small flame.

The rustling sound of clothing friction came from behind him, and the tips of Xiao Bei's ears involuntarily burned hot.

He forced himself to focus on starting the fire, arranging the firewood one piece at a time.

"It's... it's done."

Qin Ruoxi's voice was much lower than usual.

Xiao Bei turned around and saw Qin Ruoxi wrapped in that oversized cotton coat, her wet hair clinging to her pale cheeks, looking much more fragile than usual.

Her professional suit was neatly draped over the back of the chair, and her shoes were placed to the side.

"Your foot needs to be treated."

Xiao Bei crouched down and gently lifted Qin Ruoxi's right ankle.

The swelling was already quite obvious, and the skin was flushed an unnatural red.

Qin Ruoxi reflexively tried to pull her foot back, but it was held firmly by Xiao Bei.

"Don't move. We need to apply a cold compress first."

He got up and went to the kitchen, found an old iron basin, collected some rainwater, and then tore a relatively clean piece of cloth from his own shirt.

After soaking it, he gently applied it to Qin Ruoxi's ankle.

"Hiss—"

The icy sensation made Qin Ruoxi gasp.

"Bear with it. It will feel better once the swelling goes down."

Xiao Bei's voice was surprisingly gentle.

The flames gradually grew stronger, and the room began to warm up.

Qin Ruoxi watched Xiao Bei's busy back, noticing that the wound on his right shoulder was still oozing blood.

"Your wound..."

Xiao Bei shook his head.

"Just a flesh wound. It's nothing."

"Nonsense!"

Qin Ruoxi suddenly raised her voice.

"Turn around and let me see."

Xiao Bei hesitated for a moment, then turned around.

Qin Ruoxi signaled him to come closer, using the firelight to examine the wound on his shoulder—a laceration about ten centimeters long, with edges that had already turned somewhat white.

"This needs to be disinfected and bandaged."

Qin Ruoxi frowned.

"Is there a first-aid kit?"

Xiao Bei shook his head.

"Rural households don't necessarily have one. Just cauterizing it with fire is enough to stop the bleeding."

"That's absurd!"

Qin Ruoxi said sternly.

"What if it gets infected?"

She looked around, her gaze landing in the direction of the kitchen.

"Go see if there is any salt. Saltwater can at least disinfect it."

Xiao Bei obediently went to the kitchen to find salt and soon returned with half a bag of coarse salt.

"This is all there is."

"Boil some water."

Qin Ruoxi commanded, suddenly realizing her tone was too harsh, and added,

"...Go ahead."

Xiao Bei's lips curled up slightly.

"As you wish, Mayor Qin."

He set up the iron basin over the fireplace and poured in the rainwater and salt.

In the interval while waiting for the water to boil, the two fell into silence, with only the sound of rain and the crackling of burning firewood echoing in the room.

"Why did you save me just now?"

Qin Ruoxi suddenly spoke up.

"In the car, you could have escaped on your own."

Xiao Bei poked at the fire, the firelight dancing on his sharp-featured face.

"It was my duty."

"Just duty?"

Qin Ruoxi pressed.

Xiao Bei looked up, staring straight into her eyes.

"Also because you are a good official."

He paused.

"Canglan City needs someone like you."

Qin Ruoxi did not expect to receive such an answer and, for a moment, did not know how to respond.

The water boiled.

Xiao Bei used the cloth to dip into the saltwater, gritting his teeth as he wiped his own wound, beads of sweat seeping out on his forehead.

"Let me do it."

Qin Ruoxi reached out.

Xiao Bei paused for a second before handing the cloth to her.

Qin Ruoxi took the cloth and signaled him to come closer.

Xiao Bei knelt on one knee so she could reach the wound.

"Bear with it."

Qin Ruoxi's voice softened.

The moment the saltwater touched the wound, Xiao Bei's muscles tensed, but he didn't make a sound.

Qin Ruoxi carefully cleaned the wound, her movements so gentle it didn't seem like the usually decisive Mayor Qin.

"It's done."

Qin Ruoxi bandaged the wound with the clean part of the cloth.

"You need to see a doctor tomorrow."