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Tomorrow is the First Day of the Lunar New Year, a perfect day to sleep in, but Miao Chengmin woke up early. Perhaps it was because he had been at the Fire Department for a while now; even without setting an alarm, he naturally woke up at six every day. Since Ming Juan's grandfather was at home, Miao Chengmin did not share a bed with Ming Juan.
Walking into the large living room, Miao Chengmin glanced back at Ming Juan's bedroom door, contemplating whether to go to the kitchen to make something for her grandfather. Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside the door. At first, Miao Chengmin paid no attention, thinking it might be her grandfather going out for exercises. However, when the footsteps stopped at the door, he felt someone peering through the peephole.
Alerted, Miao Chengmin quietly approached the door and pressed his ear against it. He wasn't mistaken; there was indeed someone outside. Perhaps it was too cold, as he could hear the person rubbing their hands together, a small sound that Miao Chengmin caught.
"Is it a relative?" Miao Chengmin wondered. If it were Ming Juan's family, it would seem inappropriate for him to open the door as an outsider. But it was so cold outside, and he wasn't sure who it was. Just as he hesitated, a voice came from outside that made Miao Chengmin feel oddly familiar—
"Is this the right place?"
"Ah?!" Miao Chengmin gasped. He had only encountered such a unique deep female voice during college; could it be...?
It was just past six in the morning; surely this person wouldn't dare knock on the door. Miao Chengmin bent down to look through the peephole, but when he saw a large eye staring back at him, he quickly recoiled!
"Ah!" The voice outside also exclaimed. Both of them had nearly thought they were seeing a ghost through the peephole. Especially the person outside, who just wanted to peek inside; little did they know someone was looking back!
Curiosity piqued, Miao Chengmin wanted to confirm if it really was her. He decisively opened the door—
"Fei?!"
There was no mistaking it: standing outside was Yu Feiyao, Ming Juan's super close friend who had grown up with her! At five feet five inches tall, with high cheekbones and willow-shaped eyes, and a distinctive mole on her left cheek—she looked exactly the same as he remembered!
"Miao Chengmin?" Yu Feiyao gasped in surprise. Miao Chengmin quickly gestured for her to lower her voice, and she immediately covered her mouth. After all, it was only six o'clock; Ming Juan and her grandfather were still asleep.
"Come in; don't freeze out there," Miao Chengmin said as he pulled Yu Feiyao inside and quietly asked, "What brings you here? It's early on New Year's Day."
"I was about to ask you that!" Yu Feiyao said while taking in Miao Chengmin's appearance, still trying to process everything. "Is this... your home? Why are you here?"
Miao Chengmin had no choice but to explain their plan to celebrate New Year together with Ming Juan. Only then did Yu Feiyao realize what had happened; she explained that she had spoken with Ming Juan earlier about visiting her for New Year but that her flight to U City had only been available in the early morning hours. This meant she and her boyfriend Li Tao arrived in U City around four or five in the morning without even dropping off their luggage before following Ming Juan's location to find this place.
"Ming Juan didn't tell you I was here?" Miao Chengmin asked in confusion.
Yu Feiyao shook her head: "She even told me not to come! But with my personality, how could I not come? Turns out she wanted to spend time with you! Sigh, love is truly gone..."
Seeing Yu Feiyao looking somewhat dejected, Miao Chengmin comforted her gently: "Oh come on, she must have other plans; you two are so close—Juanzi wouldn't ignore you! By the way, you mentioned Li Tao is here too?"
To avoid waking Ming Juan and her grandfather, they decided to sneak out quietly. Besides, Miao Chengmin wanted to see his old college buddy Li Tao as well. Li Tao had rented a car in U City and after hugging and catching up with Miao Chengmin at his request, they drove together to a newly opened department store to prepare a little surprise for Miss Ming.
"You two didn't stay up all night, did you?" Miao Chengmin asked from the passenger seat as he turned to look at Li Tao and Yu Feiyao.
"Of course! You have no idea how annoying this little one can be!"
"Shut up!"
While steering with one hand, Li Tao playfully dodged Yu Feiyao's attempts from the backseat to cover his mouth.
"Fei kept rubbing against me on the plane and insisted I kiss her before she could sleep. She even asked me if I wanted to see her wear..."
"Hey, you're so annoying! Why would you tell outsiders about this!" Yu Feiyao, furious and embarrassed, couldn't catch Li Tao's head, so she simply slapped him several times until he begged for mercy. Miao Chengmin watched the two with a smile, saying nothing. He thought of his Miss Ming; although Ming Juan wasn't as fiery, Miao Chengmin had never asked her to wear anything specific...
"Hey, has your young lady shown you anything?" Since they were old friends, Li Tao asked directly.
"What?" Miao Chengmin asked, holding back laughter.
Li Tao pointed to his chest and legs.
"Hey! That's really rude!" Yu Feiyao, sitting in the back seat, pounded on Li Tao's seat like a dog pushed into a corner.
"I'm not like you; I don't ask to see that," Miao Chengmin teased.
"Hey, it's not asking. Just say if you've seen it or not?" Li Tao glanced at Miao Chengmin comically.
Miao Chengmin burst into laughter and nodded, "I've never asked; it's always been her initiative."
"Wow—" This made both Li Tao and Yu Feiyao start teasing him.
"Chengmin, I think you've gotten darker! Haha!" Li Tao turned on the car's stereo to change the subject.
"Ha, being a firefighter isn't easy, you know," Miao Chengmin said, looking ahead, thinking he might have seen something wrong and rubbing his eyes.
"It's not that he's dark; did you confuse him with that black thing outside, Tao Tao?" Yu Feiyao pointed at the black smoke outside.
"Huh?" Yu Feiyao's reminder made both Miao Chengmin and Li Tao react. Miao Chengmin focused his gaze, and they all realized—
"Is there a fire?"
Perhaps it was instinctive; Miao Chengmin immediately turned to Li Tao and shouted, "Pull over! Call the police!"
The fire was in a restaurant on the third floor. Judging by the thick smoke rolling out, Miao Chengmin concluded that the fire might have spread throughout the entire hallway!
He was indeed correct. As Miao Chengmin opened the car door, the acrid smell of smoke hit him instantly. This was no ordinary fire; everyone could hear cries for help from upstairs! Although it was only the third floor, flames were already licking out of the hallway, blocking the only escape route!
"Chengmin, the fire department is on their way!" Li Tao said as he walked over to him. Yu Feiyao held Li Tao's hand while looking at Miao Chengmin; she could see that he seemed to be making a firm decision.
"We're of no use here and it's so smoky; let's leave!" Li Tao suggested fearfully as he looked at the crackling fire scene above.
"You two go first."
Miao Chengmin turned to them: "Have you forgotten my position?"
"But without firefighting gear, you're just an ordinary person; you'll get burned!" Yu Feiyao guessed Miao Chengmin's thoughts and quickly reached out to grab him. However, he shook her off; his furrowed brow revealed a calmness and determination typical of someone in a dangerous profession.
"Maybe I'll get hurt without firefighting gear, but I'm a firefighter," Miao Chengmin said as he pointed at the still-dazed Li Tao. "Lend me your scarf in front. Fei, I’ll take your drink."
What Miao Chengmin decided, no one could change. He never felt that he should distance himself from such matters; he never had. Since meeting Ming Juan, he could see his determination in every situation.
"Help! Help—" By the window on the third floor, a woman held her child tightly in her arms, crying out loudly. People downstairs were spontaneously searching for something soft; if someone had to jump from the third floor, there might still be a chance of survival.
"Bang!"
The sound of an explosion startled the woman. While gently patting her crying child, she wrapped the last damp towel around him. The fire was becoming increasingly difficult to control, with explosions and cries for help echoing everywhere. Other trapped individuals were isolated in various corners by the raging flames, and suffocating smoke continued to invade her, making her feel increasingly faint. If they didn't get out soon, everyone would either be burned alive or suffocated!
The entire sea of red and black flames resembled hell itself, and the desperate cries grew fainter. A burning wooden post fell nearby, and Miao Chengmin quickly sidestepped to avoid it. Everything before him was ablaze; even though he moved quickly, he could still feel the intense heat from the burning hallway.
"Don't be afraid! The firefighters are coming!"
Wrapped in a damp scarf, Miao Chengmin rushed into the inferno while shouting. His words seemed to bring boundless hope to all those trapped inside; their cries rose like hungry chicks calling for food. Miao Chengmin bent down in front of the blocked door, covering his mouth and nose with his hand. Unable to push it open, he slammed against it with all his strength. After several attempts, he finally broke through a gap. As he stepped inside, the first thing he saw was a woman nearly charred black beside a scorched advertisement.
" Aunt!" With the mindset of saving whoever he could, Miao Chengmin coughed violently as he crouched down to lift her. However, as soon as he reached out his hand, Aunt grabbed him.
"I can't do it anymore; don't worry about me..." The woman pointed at her child wrapped in a wet towel. "Take my son and go save someone else..."
"You'll be fine! Okay?!" Miao Chengmin quickly encouraged her, taking the child from her arms while trying to pull her up with one hand. " Aunt, you're going to be okay! You can watch your child grow up, alright?! Promise me! Get up; we’ll get out together..."
" Aunt!"
" Aunt..."
It seemed she heard Miao Chengmin's calls; she nodded weakly as he pulled her up, but her arm went limp—there was no longer any sign of life...
"Ah!" The sorrow and anger in his heart ignited like the flames around him, and Miao Chengmin's emotions shattered instantly. This was the first time in his life that he watched someone he needed to save die right before him! He pounded on the scalding floor repeatedly, gritting his teeth as tears streamed down his face.
The cries for help surrounding him continued unabated, gradually calming Miao Chengmin down as he realized his task was not yet complete. With furniture exploding behind him as it burned, he took one last look at the woman surrounded by flames and resolutely charged through the door holding her child.
This could not happen again!
Miao Chengmin would not leave; everyone must survive.
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