She paused for a moment before continuing, "After that, he often secretly brought me food. However, I knew my place and never harbored any inappropriate thoughts, as his status was something I could never aspire to. When we graduated, he told me he wanted to date me, but I turned him down. Yet he was stubborn. Upon learning that I was being sent to the countryside, he followed me without a second thought. I only found out he was also going to the countryside when I saw him in the train station’s waiting room. Later, I learned from Zheng Xuewen that he had a major fallout with his family in order to accompany me. When he saw me, he pulled me aside to revisit the old topic. Looking at his beaming face, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse him; after all, I wasn’t heartless. But now, with this huge mess, if his family finds out he went into the mountains just so I could have a bite of meat, and that he nearly lost his life for me, they’d probably hate me to death, wouldn’t they?" She covered her face after finishing her story. That’s when Yunyi finally spoke up, "He was willing to give up his life for you. Are you really going to shrink back now?" Wei Zijia felt somewhat inferior and said in a low voice, "But we’re not from the same world to begin with; our backgrounds are so different. After such a major incident, and given how much his family values him, they will definitely come to see him. I don’t want to humiliate myself." Yunyi understood her feelings but didn’t feel it was her place to say much, so she kindly reminded her, "It’s not easy to find someone who truly cares for you. Don’t hurt him or leave yourself with regrets." Seeing Wei Zijia lost in thought, Yunyi closed her eyes and began to meditate. Their conversation was overheard by Huo Jingrui, who was not far away. He couldn’t help but turn his head to look at Yunyi. Just as Huo Jingrui had guessed, people did indeed surround them in the latter part of the night. Yunyi and Jingrui opened their eyes simultaneously. After exchanging glances, they sprang into action. Yunyi gently shook Wei Zijia, who had fallen asleep against a tree trunk, "Wake up." Seeing her open her eyes, Yunyi put a finger to her lips in a ’shush’ gesture. Chapters first released on NovelHub(.)net The sleepiness vanished from Wei Zijia’s face, instantly replaced by fright as she glanced around in panic. She saw Qiao Wenyu and Zheng Xuewen were also sitting up. Qiao Wenyu started to come towards her but was stopped by someone; he looked anxious as he gesticulated. Worried he’d act impulsively, Wei Zijia quickly raised her hand to stop him. She then pointed at Yunyi beside her, signaling Qiao Wenyu to remain calm. As soon as those people appeared, it was clear they had a specific target. And indeed, just as Yunyi had thought, they weren’t there to rescue anyone but to silence them. So, as soon as they arrived, they began shooting indiscriminately. Wei Zijia, who had never witnessed such a scene, was so terrified she almost screamed. Fortunately, Huo Jingrui had made preparations; this area had plenty of hiding spots. Yunyi pulled Wei Zijia behind the largest nearby rock. Some of the captured enemy spies were cursing furiously in Japanese, clearly in a panic. Then, a barrage of gunfire erupted over their heads, and the terrified prisoners quickly fell silent. This was precisely why Huo Jingrui had allowed those people in. He wanted to make it clear to the captured enemy spies that they had been abandoned. They should stop their futile resistance and confess honestly. Once Huo Jingrui deemed the moment right, he signaled to his men lying in ambush on the periphery. They swiftly closed in, trapping and attacking the group sent for the silencing. Only then did these assailants realize they had walked into a trap, and they frantically tried to fight their way out. Consequently, Wei Zijia and Yunyi became their targets.