Those human traffickers all thought the two of them had escaped down the mountain. Although they didn't know how they managed it, they felt that their thorough search of the mountain, digging three feet deep without finding anyone, was proof enough.
Fu Chen, carrying Jian Yi on his back, ran swiftly downwards. He was essentially running on sheer willpower; otherwise, his weakened body would have long given out.
He told himself he couldn't collapse. If he did, Jian Yi would surely not survive either.
If the two of them were caught and brought back, they would be dealt with immediately. Those people would undoubtedly kill him, and Jian Yi would likely be sold off. A young girl sold off would be no better than death.
So, he ran all the way down the mountain. Unbeknownst to him, numerous scratches marked his face and body, yet he felt no pain, only driven by one word: run.
...
Inside the hospital.
Ever since Jian Yi was sent away, Jiang Yan had been on bed rest at the hospital due to complications with her pregnancy. However, the head of obstetrics and gynecology informed Jin Lan that both Jiang Yan and the fetus's condition were not optimistic.
The director advised her to not dwell on things too much and to relax her mood. But how could Jiang Yan relax? Her mind was filled with Jian Yi's desperate pleas for help every time she opened or closed her eyes.
While Jin Lan searched for Jian Yi, he stayed by her side. Jiang Yan remained indifferent. She knew this was not Jin Lan's fault, but Jin Qing's doing. Yet, she couldn't help but feel a sense of complicity.
"Yan Yan, I know this has made you very sad, but you need to be strong. Think of Jian Yi. She loves you and the baby in your belly so much. She would definitely not want you or the babies to be in any danger. Little girls like her would cry if they saw you like this," Jin Lan comforted her.
"I know, but I can't. I understand the logic, but Jian Yi is still so young. If she was handed over to human traffickers, do you have any idea what terrible things she might encounter?" Jiang Yan cried silently, her back to him.
She wanted to be strong too, but her daughter had been taken by human traffickers. As a mother, she was truly heartbroken.
It was her fault, her failure to protect her.
"I will do my best to find her. If I can't find her, I won't give up. One year, two years, five years, ten years, I will never give up!" Jin Lan declared with determination.
Jiang Yan closed her eyes, her heart aching. If Jian Yi wasn't found, she didn't know if her baby could be saved. She didn't want this either.
...
After Fu Chen ran down the mountain with Jian Yi, he immediately continued forward along the road. He dared not stop, fearing that those people would catch up or that they would unfortunately run into those human traffickers again.
There were very few vehicles on this road, and Fu Chen dared not easily flag one down for help. He was afraid of stopping a trafficker's car or someone untrustworthy. Having just escaped the tiger's den, he didn't want to enter the wolf's lair.
Finally, Fu Chen spotted a luxury car worth hundreds of thousands. He saw hope and rushed into the middle of the road, blocking the car's path.
The driver braked sharply, startled, managing to stop the car just in time. Gu Yun Ting in the back seat nearly hit his head.
"What's going on?" Gu Yun Ting asked with a frown.
"Young Master, someone suddenly jumped into the middle of the road to stop the car," the driver said, feeling wronged. But the person ahead had already fallen, and he had to check on them.
"Get out and handle it properly," Gu Yun Ting said coldly.
"Yes, Young Master!"
The driver and Gu Ye got out of the car to check on the person in front. At this moment, the human traffickers also found them. Seeing Fu Chen and Jian Yi, they rushed over, intending to capture the two and take them back.