轉碼失敗！請您使用右上換源切換源站閱讀或者直接前往源網站進行閱讀！It was only a corner of the lampshade that was damaged, but he carefully repaired it, making it look brand new.

"Perhaps next year," he said, his voice tinged with anticipation for the future, "Old Bull and Grandpa Five are discussing power grid access, it just takes some time."

Jiang Yan stopped talking. She noticed something unusual and gently tugged on He JianGuo's arm, hinting for him to look up.

He Jian Guo suddenly looked up. Hanging above him was a row of ornaments, like mysterious sprites in the darkness, tightly wrapped around themselves, as if they were dark flower bouquets blooming suddenly from the ceiling.

"Don't worry, they might just be seeking some shade."

He explained to Jiang Yan that although bats were not uncommon in this area, the small figures and deep colors of these creatures undoubtedly confirmed his judgment - they were common house bats. They might be a little frightening, but they meant no harm.

He JianGuo gently patted Jiang Yan, but met with empty air. She didn't seem to be alarmed by this at all.

"Don't always treat me like a child. Bats usually prefer dark and damp places. I didn't come last time."

Jiang Yan smiled and glanced at him. A woman in love is delicate and perceptive; she noticed his change, her heart filled with sweetness. Her words carried a hint of coquettishness, without any reproaching meaning.

In the dim light, her almond eyes were slightly narrowed, a playful gleam dancing in their depths.

He Jian Guo hadn't thought it through. His attention was entirely on her right now. This unexpected "tease" stirred something within him, and he couldn't help but pull her closer, murmuring a promise in her ear: "Next time we go up the mountain, I really can't let you come with me, or else I'll be too distracted."

However, his promise was accompanied by a more tender gesture. His hand silently slid to her slender waist, he wasn't being too bold, just craving a moment of embrace.

Until their soft bodies were pressed together, He Jian Guo's heart beat faster. He couldn't believe how intimate their relationship had become.

Jiang Yan then impatiently patted his shoulder, urging him to get back to business. "Hurry it up and finish, I'm getting a little uneasy here,"

He Jian Guo agreed, but his arm around her waist tightened. Jiang Yan was about to protest when a whisper in her ear stopped him: "Don't move, something's happening."

At first, she thought he was joking, but the ensuing tension made her angry. Her fingers unconsciously hooked onto his earlobe, while her body instinctively leaned against him as a baby's cry echoed through the cave.

This sudden outburst of crying was particularly jarring in the silence. Jiang Yan's fear stemmed from her vivid imagination; even a tiger appearing suddenly wouldn't have been as unsettling as this.

He Jian Guo smiled helplessly, gently pulling her hand back to his waist. The tension quickly took over, and he drew out an old but well-maintained short pistol from his hip pocket. He held the oil lamp in one hand and protected Jiang Yan with the other as they slowly moved towards the source of the crying.

"Fear not, for the evils lurking in the darkness tremble before the power of light."

He tried to ease her tension with a joke, but was surprised to find that Jiang Yan not only wasn't afraid, but smiled. He couldn't tell if she was truly believing him or just putting on a brave face.

Jiang Yan was suddenly enveloped by a feeling of astonishment, especially with He Jianguo's company. A sense of instinctive security arose within him.

Had she been alone, she probably would have acted without hesitation.

Coming back to her senses, she couldn't help but smile when she heard He Jian Guo's words. She felt deeply that even the smartest person could not completely escape the mark of time.

As fear subsided, their steps quickened, as if the power sensed their approach. The previous cries abruptly ceased, leaving an eerie silence.

Jiang Yan and He Jianguo spoke in hushed tones, entering the dormitory area they had explored before. Their voices seemed to come from some corner.

They searched each room one by one, discovering that almost all usable items had been emptied. Even wooden furniture had been stripped bare. It was likely that after the troops retreated, others quietly ransacked the place. Who these people were remained a mystery, as did whether they were from Qingshan溝.

The first two rooms yielded nothing. Just as they entered the third room, a dark figure suddenly burst out. Jiang Yan was startled and almost dropped his flashlight. He instinctively kicked out with one leg, moving faster than He Jian Guo.

He Jian Guo swiftly stepped forward, restraining the black shadow. A heart-wrenching scream followed, and before his eyes stood a figure clad in white with jet-black hair.

Jiang Yan's spine tingled with a chill, but the other person's cry told her this was not the legendary evil spirit.

Remembering the cries of the infant before, and seeing the bloodstains on his white shirt, Jiang Yan's face changed drastically. He gripped the flashlight tightly and quickly walked into the dormitory.

The scene was chaotic, a naked infant lay on tattered sheets, its umbilical cord still bleeding.

Jiang Yan hastily took off his coat to wrap the baby, checking his breathing. Anxiety filled his heart as he realized he might have arrived too late.

She recalled the events of her school days, her gaze resolute. She pounded on the infant forcefully, waiting for a response.

Finally, a faint cry rang out. Jiang Yan’s tense heart relaxed slightly, leaning against a warm embrace, his anxieties easing. He was grateful for this turn of events.

Considering the infant's vulnerability and the unknown dangers, they decided to immediately halt further exploration of the fortress.

That woman's identity, background, and reasons for being here all need to be investigated in detail.

Thus, Jiang Yan held the baby and followed He Jianguo back the way they came. His thoughts gradually drifted back to a certain summer in the past.

Jiang Lin accompanied her roommate into the bathroom. The two young ladies were terrified. When they opened the door, they found a newborn baby in the sink. Her roommate's scream caught the attention of the dormitory manager, who then took steps to report the incident. When they picked up the small life that was still warm, that night became an unforgettable shadow for Jiang Lin and her roommate.

Jiang Lin's heart was filled with guilt. She always imagined that if she could have intervened faster back then, even just providing preliminary first aid, perhaps the outcome would have been different.

Although she understood that even if she saved the child, she couldn't predict his future, the loss of life was something she couldn't ignore.

Now, the same scene is playing out again. Jiang Lin has another chance to change her fate, though the person involved is different, the burden in her heart seems to have lessened somewhat.

Although she knew she was innocent, the past weighed on her heart like an invisible chain.

After several incidents involving Su Zhijian, Li Ming, and Zhang Damo, the educated youths tacitly agreed to no longer bring strangers back, especially women and children. Considering the naiveté of young people and the potential negative impact, He Jianguo and Jiang Lin decided to directly send the woman to Old Niu's house.

"What's going on"

Niu Da Ma was startled by the sudden situation. Her household had many people, and her children rarely went out. When she saw He Jian Guo carrying a figure from afar, her heart clenched instantly.

Not until she saw Jiang Lin carrying a child behind her did she realize that the matter between these two young people wasn't as serious as it seemed.

"Aunty, we found her and her child while patrolling the mountain. The child was almost suffocating, but Jiang Lin saved her. We're not familiar with childcare, could you please take a look"

He Jian Guo concisely explained what had happened.

Having childcare experience, Niu Da Ma immediately understood. She promptly spread a mattress on the kang and added two sets of clean baby blankets, signaling He Jian Guo to put the woman down. She then took the child from Jiang Lin's hands.

"Oh, it's a boy."a had already sent the child to Niudai's side and then took Jiang Lin by the hand, preparing to help the woman wash herself. 。It was only then that Jiang Lin noticed that the white garment wasn't a d...