Driver Xiao He instinctively slammed on the brakes. The wide tires of the Mengshi truck screeched sharply. The experienced driver then released the brakes and began to apply the brakes intermittently to prevent the vehicle from going out of control. Due to the high speed, the car continued to swerve forward.
During the sudden braking, Liu Xinyao and Xu Qingya, sitting in the back seat and caught off guard, were slammed against the back of the front seats. Chen Yang, in the passenger seat, felt a sharp pain in his shoulder from the suddenly tightened seatbelt.
The car finally stopped just before hitting the vehicle in front. Seeing the taillights of the large truck that was only millimeters away, driver Xiao He breathed a sigh of relief. A serious chain-reaction collision had occurred in the tunnel. When the car first entered the tunnel, the eyes needed time to adjust, so at the moment of entry, visibility was almost zero. If Chen Yang hadn't warned him in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Looking at the wrecked cars ahead, Xiao He felt a wave of fear.
Liu Xinyao, rubbing her bruised forehead, asked,
"Cousin, are you alright?"
Before Xu Qingya could answer, Chen Yang sensed a danger. As a former pilot, he had a natural instinct for peril.
The car was stopped in the highway lane, near a tunnel entrance; a car could crash into it at any moment.
He shouted,
"Everyone, get out of the car immediately!"
The somewhat dazed driver, Xiao He, snapped back to reality, quickly turned on the hazard lights, and jumped out of the car. After getting out of the passenger side, Chen Yang immediately opened the rear door on his side, helping Xu Qingya out of the car while calling out,
"Xiao He, you and Liu Xinyao quickly get over the guardrail!"
He then helped Xu Qingya walk around the back of the car to the roadside guardrail at the tunnel entrance. Chen Yang's hand naturally encircled Xu Qingya's slender waist, while his other hand grasped her soft hand. This was purely out of habit, and Chen Yang didn't realize anything was amiss. Xu Qingya's pretty face flushed slightly; it was the first time a boy had his arm around her waist, and she felt a little embarrassed.
However, the situation was urgent, and she didn't think much of it.
Just as the two reached the tunnel entrance, a large truck roared towards them. The driver clearly didn't realize there was an accident inside the tunnel, and the truck was speeding towards the rear of the van. Standing outside the guardrail, Liu Xinyao was terrified by what she saw and shouted, "Watch out!"
Chen Yang had also seen the truck. Without thinking, he grabbed Xu Qingya and lunged towards the guardrail. In a flash, the truck crashed heavily into the Mengshi command vehicle. After a deafening roar, the sturdy body of the Mengshi was crushed into a mangled shape by the tens of tons of truck that had struck at high speed.
Chen Yang and Xu Qingya had leaped over the guardrail in a fish-like motion, so they tumbled down the highway embankment upon landing. Chen Yang hit his head on the ground, feeling dizzy. In his dazed state, he still remembered holding Xu Qingya tightly, trying his best to protect her.
Xu Qingya was also stunned by the sudden accident. She only knew to cling tightly to Chen Yang's neck, and the two tumbled down the embankment in each other's arms.
In a dizzying spin, the two tumbled down the road embankment, and after a violent roll, they finally came to a stop under a low tree. In a daze, Chen Yang felt a soft, boneless body beneath him. Xu Qingya's arms were wrapped around his neck, their faces almost touching, nose to nose. Looking at her beautiful face so close, especially her luscious red lips, Chen Yang recalled the tender moments he shared with Xu Qingya in his past life. He couldn't help but feel a surge of desire, an urge to kiss her fiercely and savor her.
Even more overwhelming was the familiar feeling that ignited a primal urge within him, causing him to have a physical reaction.
Xu Qingya was pinned beneath Chen Yang, the overwhelming masculine scent making her heart race. She immediately felt the change in Chen Yang's masculinity, and his warm breath on her neck sent shivers down her spine.
Neither of them spoke; the atmosphere was unusually ambiguous.
"Cousin! Chen Yang! Are you alright?!"
Liu Xinyao's anxious voice from above snapped them back to reality.
Xu Qingya released her grip on Chen Yang's neck as if electrocuted, and Chen Yang instinctively pushed himself up. He then reached out his hand to Xu Qingya, who was still lying on the ground.
Xu Qingya hesitated for a moment, then still reached out and grabbed Chen Yang's hand. Chen Yang pulled Xu Qingya up from the ground and asked with concern,
"Are you alright?"
Xu Qingya's face flushed slightly, and she whispered,
"I'm fine, how about you?"
"I'm fine too!" Chen Yang grinned and said, "Let's go upstairs, Liu Xinyao must be worried!"
Xu Qingya nodded slightly. She felt a little uncomfortable in front of Chen Yang. Thinking of the scene where Chen Yang had been on top of her earlier, Xu Qingya couldn't help but show a shy expression. Seeing Xu Qingya's fair face flushed with pink, and the skin under her tied-up hair slightly red, this shy, girlish demeanor made Chen Yang feel a little tempted. He quickly shook his head, pulling himself back to reality.
"Hiss..." Xu Qingya gasped, taking just one step when a piercing pain shot through her ankle, causing her to groan in pain.
Chen Yang immediately helped Xu Qingya up, asking,
"What happened?"
"I think I twisted it...it hurts as soon as I touch the ground!" Xu Qingya pointed to her right ankle, frowning as she spoke.
Without a word, Chen Yang helped Xu Qingya sit down slowly, carefully removing her standard leather shoes, rolling up her trousers, and then carefully taking off her military socks. He immediately saw that Xu Qingya's ankle was red and swollen; it looked quite badly injured.
Chen Yang examined her carefully, thought for a few seconds, and then said,
"Qingya... Sister! It looks like a sprain. I don't know if any bones are broken. Let me carry you up first, and then I'll check you over properly!"
Chen Yang blurted out "Qingya," thankfully adding "Sister" quickly. It sounded a little odd, but at least he didn't give himself away.
Actually, Liu Xinyao hadn't introduced them at all, but Xu Qingya hadn't thought of that either. It seemed natural that Chen Yang knew her name. This young man gave her an indescribable sense of security and closeness. From the first moment she saw Chen Yang at the airport, Xu Qingya had subconsciously felt this way, but she hadn't even realized it herself. Otherwise, she, with her usually calm and collected nature, wouldn't have insisted that Chen Yang get in the car.
Chen Yang offered to carry her, and Xu Qingya immediately recalled their earlier intimate posture, blushing. She lowered her head and whispered,
"Thank you for your trouble!"
"Not at all! Not at all!" Chen Yang was more than happy to be close to Xu Qingya. He quickly squatted down, his back to her, and said, "Come on, hold me tight!"
Xu Qingya obediently wrapped her arms around Chen Yang from behind, tightly hugging his broad chest.
Chen Yang exerted a little effort, steadily standing up. He grabbed Xu Qingya's surprisingly bouncy thighs with both hands and began to climb up the slope step by step.
Because of the slope, Xu Qingya couldn't help but lean back as soon as she stood up. Chen Yang quickly bent down and said to her,
"Sister Qingya! You need to stay close to me, otherwise you might fall backward!"
After the first time, Chen Yang called her "Sister Qingya" with perfect fluency. In his previous life, Xu Qingya had been a little bird nestled in his arms, but in this life, she was older than him, and he had to call her "Sister." Chen Yang couldn't help but sigh at the irony of fate.
Shy Xu Qingya gave a soft "Mmm" in a voice barely above a whisper, pressing herself tightly against Chen Yang's back, her arms wrapped around his neck. The warmth from Chen Yang's body and that familiar masculine scent made Xu Qingya's face flush.
Chen Yang suddenly felt a soft body pressed tightly against his back, and his mind began to wander again. He quickly shook his head, shifting his attention to his feet, and carefully climbed up step by step.
Liu Xinyao and Xiao He helped Chen Yang up the embankment. Chen Yang reluctantly put Xu Qingya down on the roadside. Liu Xinyao eagerly grabbed Xu Qingya's hand and bombarded her with questions:
"Cousin! How are you? Did you bump into something?"
Concern clouded her judgment; facing her close cousin, Liu Xinyao completely lost the aloof beauty she usually possessed on campus. Xu Qingya's face was still burning. She was replaying the embarrassing scene in her mind. Hearing Liu Xinyao's question, Xu Qingya snapped out of her daze and said,
"Oh! It should be nothing serious, just a twisted ankle!"
After saying that, she looked at Chen Yang and said,
"Chen Yang, thank you so much!"
Liu Xinyao then remembered that Chen Yang had become everyone's savior. If he hadn't warned them in time, their car would have rear-ended the car in front. Then he had reminded everyone to get out of the car immediately. Of course, the most dangerous moment was the last one; if Chen Yang hadn't reacted quickly, Xu Qingya would already be a bloodied, cold corpse.
Liu Xinyao also said to Chen Yang,
"Thank you, Chen Yang!"
Her words were few, but her tone was very sincere, which was rare for Liu Xinyao. She had never been polite to boys, especially since Chen Yang had previously left such a bad impression on her. Chen Yang waved his hand, not saying much; his attention wasn't on that.
Chen Yang frowned, turned to everyone, and said:
"The situation is very dangerous. Cars could come at any moment. Let's divide the tasks. I'll go ahead and set up warning signs. Xiao He, you immediately report the situation to the military and call the police. Liu Xinyao, you're in charge of looking after Qingya. Remember, whatever you do, don't go inside the guardrail!"
Chen Yang's words carried an unquestionable tone.
However, Liu Xinyao and the other two nodded in unison. Still shaken, they unconsciously regarded Chen Yang as their pillar of support.
After making the arrangements, Chen Yang walked alone along the guardrail towards the oncoming traffic. According to regulations, warning signs must be set up at least 150 meters away, but Chen Yang hadn't walked even 100 meters when he saw another car speeding towards them…