Chapter 1013: Chapter 1013: Xin Family (1)
The person on the shore screaming like mad, already scared enough to faint, wasnât that Xu Miao, who they had met on the train?
But who was the one in the pond?
Watching the figure in the pond sinking and floating, nearly submerged, Jiaojiao couldnât care about anything else. She screamed for help at the top of her lungs. It didnât matter who was in the pondâthis was a human life at stake!
Ruan Jie could swim. He often swam in the river back in the countryside to catch fish. Upon seeing this, he didnât overthink; as he ran to the opposite side, he pulled off his heavy clothes and shoes and, just when the person in the pond started to sink completely, plunged headfirst into the water.
A winter pond could kill someone. The moment Ruan Jie jumped in, he shuddered violently, momentarily frozen stiff in the icy water.
Jiaojiao stood on the shore watching the scene unfold, completely powerless to stop him. Her heart nearly stopped as her small face turned pale, stomping frantically on the ground in utter panic. âBrother, come back! Please come back!â
Ruan Jie, struggling to endure the cold, felt his reactions slow down. He shivered again, unable to hear Jiaojiaoâs cries from the shore. Once his hands and feet regained some sense of movement, he began to paddle toward the person in the water.
At that moment, the patrol team circling the courtyard happened to pass by. Seeing someone drowning in the pond, four members jumped in instantly, pulling Ruan Jie and the struggling victim toward the shore together.
Winter water was truly icy. Once Ruan Jie was back on the shore, his lips turned purple and his body shook uncontrollably.
Jiaojiao hurriedly covered him with clothes, angrily patting his shoulder. âBrother! Who told you to jump in?! Who let you jump?!â
As she kept hitting him, tears streamed down her face. She cried uncontrollablyâthe sheer terror sheâd felt when he jumped in just moments ago was unspeakable. She had been scared to death.
âItâs fine, itâs fine. Your brother has good skills; nothing will happen. Donât cry now, be good.â Ruan Jie, trembling from the cold, shivered twice more and pulled his crying little sister into his arms to comfort her.
âBrother, are you cold? Iâll get you some clothes.â Seeing the clothes sheâd draped over him already soaked, Jiaojiao, terrified he might get cold, struggled out of his embrace and reached to take off her own clothes to cover him.
âNo needâyour brother isnât cold.â Ruan Jie, of course, couldnât take her clothes. His face, visibly turning blue and pale from the cold, still forced a smile.
Standing nearby, Xiu Xi silently took off his own jacket and draped it over Ruan Jie. Ruan Jie instinctively wanted to refuse, but meeting Xiu Xiâs gaze, he somehow swallowed those words back.
It was then that he remembered the person he saved. He didnât know whether they were alive or dead. Stretching his neck from the huddle of people around him, he glanced toward the person he had pulled out. âHowâs she doing?â
Only then did Jiaojiao remember to look, but the patrol team surrounded the victim, making it impossible to see. She caught a glimpse of a pale, bloodless face as the person was liftedâa young girl.
She appeared to be around ten years old, her complexion awful. It seemed like she had choked on water and was freezing, her eyes closed, as if she were unconscious.
Jiaojiao wanted to see more, but the young girl was quickly carried away by the patrol team. Xu Miao stood there crying, her tearful eyes wandering toward Ruan Jie before she finally dashed after the girl.
ââŠâ Jiaojiao.
She couldnât help but press her lips together tightly, feeling somewhat unsettled inside.