“What happened? Everything was fine, so how did the fire break out?”
“That’s right. Moreover, why is your father still in there when you’ve already gotten out? Is he still taking some things inside? Don’t panic, your father will come out soon!”
Someone wanted to take a look at Han Qing’s hands, but he kept hiding them behind his back. “Please, aunties and uncles. My father has fainted and he’s unable to get out from there. Please help him!” Han Qing begged endlessly.
The few adults realized that the situation was way worse than they had thought after hearing that Han Qing’s father had passed out. Seeing that his father was a grown adult, they initially thought that he would make it out as well since his little kid had managed to make his way through the fire. However, little did they know that he had lost consciousness.
A few of them immediately walked toward the house.
Nevertheless, they hesitated when they had reached the doorstep; they did not dare to take any steps further.
“T-This fire is raging. Will we be able to make it out alive if we go in?”
Such a sentence had made the others hesitate even more.
“Indeed. This is a large fire; it must be extremely dangerous for us to go in. Why don’t we put out the fire first?”
“Han Qing, you should go and stand by the side. Let us take care of this, alright?”
Although Han Qing was at a young age, he noticed the hesitation in their faces. Even though they were currently standing in front of the door, they were unable to get in. Meanwhile, Han Qing’s father was still inside, bearing the pain.
Han Qing reacted instantly. He quickly turned around and wanted to run into the house, but he was stopped by one of the adults that was standing near him. “Hey, why are you being so disobedient? The fire is raging and you shouldn’t go in. What if you get burned? Quick, go and wait by the side. Do not go in anymore.”
“My father! My father is still in there!” Han Qing struggled, wanting to head inside. However, the adult was dragging him backward, and his strength was insufficient to overcome his force.
“Father! Father!” Han Qing kept on yelling. It was probably his cry of despair that was filled with misery that had made the few adults unable to take it anymore.
“Why don’t we take a look inside? Even a child like him has made his way out.”
“That’s true. If a child isn’t scared of it, how can we be fearful as adults? What a shame.”
“Let’s go. Han Qing, wait for us outside. We’ll head in to rescue your father.”
The few men lifted their sleeves and were ready to head inside, but the firefighters ended up arriving the moment they were about to head in. The firefighters then immediately surrounded the whole area that was on fire before they started evacuating the people around.
Han Qing wanted to rush forward while he yelled for his father after seeing them surrounding his house.
However, a firefighter had crouched down to hold him in his arms.
“Kid, the fire is huge. You can’t just run into it. Otherwise, you’ll get hurt.”
Right after the firefighter had finished his sentence, he noticed Han Qing’s hands which were badly mutilated. “How did you get hurt?”
“Father! Father!”
Han Qing still wanted to head inside. The firefighter quickly realized what he was saying before his face darkened. “Are you saying that your father is still in there?”
“Uncle, can you save my father? Thank you!”
As a firefighter, his sense of honor made it impossible for him to refuse this sort of request. He quickly replied in a stern manner. “Alright, I will go in to save your father. However, you should promise me to stay here. Don’t go running around, got it?”
Han Qing nodded. “Thank you, uncle. You have to save my father.”
After the firefighter made sure that Han Qing wasn’t going anywhere, he quickly stood up to have a discussion with his teammates. They then headed inside to rescue Han Qing’s father.
Han Qing did not stand by the side; instead, he stood at the nearest spot where the fire was unable to harm him. He wanted to wait for his father there; his father had let him look for help after he had gotten out and he had done it! Han Qing’s father would be safe and sound!
At this moment, Madam Han had just gotten back after she had bought the cake. She was carrying the box of cake in her hands when she caught sight of blazing fire from afar. With some doubts in her mind, she quickly paced toward the spot. Her mind was blown away when she saw that it was their house that was on fire, and something was collapsing at that instant.
Without any second thoughts, she had dashed forward hastily.
…
There was fire coming directly toward his direction. Han Qing’s pupils contracted after recognizing the burning smell. He, who was standing still moments ago, had abruptly dodged at this moment.
He was suffering from shortness of breath as his sweat dripped along the side of his forehead. Both the air and temperature in his surroundings were rising quickly. In front of his eyes were flashing scenes of fire, his past and endless darkness.
He could hear someone calling him from time to time, but it was as if no one was calling him at all.
The first thought that came to his mind after he had slammed the door open was to save Yan. He could not let Yan get engulfed in the sea of flames, nor could he let her be in danger.
That was why he had barged in. Until he was standing at this spot, scenes from the past started to emerge before his eyes.
His past memories were like soul eaters, gnawing at his memories and his mind. His limbs had become immobile. However, he thought of rescuing his little girl who was waiting for him in the fire; he thought of her being helpless in front of the raging fire, just like how he had lost his father at a young age back then. Han Qing clearly knew that he had to overcome everything.
Han Qing covered his mouth and nose as the smoke billowed wildly. He was searching for Yan’s shadows inch by inch throughout the entire house.
…
“What happened?”
Madam Han had rushed her way to the entrance and shouted loudly. “This is my house—how did it get on fire? Hubby, Han Qing!”
Madam Han panicked and ran into the house before she was stopped after taking a few steps forward.
“Madam, the fire is blazing. You shouldn’t go in.”
“Why can’t you let me in? This is my house. Let me in!”
Madam Han was usually a gentle woman. She was also a reasonable person. Suddenly, she had lost her mind when faced with a life and death situation.
“Madam, we understand that you’re worried. However, fire has spread around this whole area. Please calm down. We have professionals heading inside to rescue the casualties. Please wait by the side, alright?”
Madam Han heard a soft voice coming from her bottom left when she was about to say something.
“Mother.”
Madam Han lowered her head to find Han Qing, who was standing beside her leg. She was startled before she noticed that Han Qing’s little hands had been mutilated. She immediately shed a few tears.
“Han Qing, what happened? Why have your hands become like this?”
She held Han Qing in her arms and wanted to grab his hands to get a closer look at it. Nevertheless, she had no way of doing it as she was worried it would hurt Han Qing once she touched him.
“Mother.” Han Qing’s eyes were slightly reddened as he felt troubled in mind. “Father is still in there, but there’s an uncle who has brought his men inside to rescue him. Mother, father will be fine, right?”
Madam Han was dumbfounded after hearing the words from Han Qing. She then turned her head over to look at the raging fire, and her body started to tremble lightly.
“Yes, he will be alright!”
