Fu Shiyan swept her into his arms and charged out.
When Han Yang saw the two emerge, he excitedly rushed over and noticed a scorched hole in the back of Fu Shiyan's shirt, through which a patch of red was faintly visible.
"President Fu, are you injured?"
"It's nothing," Fu Shiyan said as he carefully set Miss An Yan down on the ground so that she could breathe in the fresh air.
He gently tapped the girl's face, his voice filled with urgency, "An Yan? Are you alright? An Yan?"
An Yan slowly opened her eyes and clutched the man's shirt tightly, her voice weak, "Younger Uncle?"
Fu Shiyan felt a great relief wash over him. He glanced back at the factory enveloped in tongues of fire. A moment later and all that would have been left inside were charred corpses.
Han Yang frowned, "President Fu, Miss An Yan's face has been damaged by the smoke."
Fu Shiyan rubbed his fingers around An Yan's eyes and saw his fingertips darken, his voice indifferent, "That's just smoky makeup."
Han Yang: "...President Fu, let me carry Miss An Yan to the car."
Fu Shiyan looked down at the little hand gripping his shirt and said helplessly, "You can let go now."
An Yan made an acknowledging noise and then passed out, but her hand remained in the same position.
Fu Shiyan was left with no choice but to scoop her up and sit in the back seat of the car, unable to let go of An Yan.
Embracing the unconscious person, the position was too ambiguous.
With no other option, Fu Shiyan propped her head on his thigh, stretching his body across the back seat of the car.
As the car started, An Yan's face turned inwards from lying flat and faced the man's solid abs.
The warmth of her breath filtered through the thin shirt, causing Fu Shiyan's body to tense, and his hands to clench; he quickly pushed her face to the side.
In a place hidden from the man's view, the corners of An Yan's lips lifted slightly.
Hospital, VIP ward.
After confirming with the doctor that An Yan was unharmed, Fu Shiyan entered the ward.
He sat down beside the bed with dignified elegance, legs crossed and hands folded in his lap, and said softly to the girl with a tear-streaked face, "I'm very sorry."
An Yan gazed at the man's exceptionally handsome profile with heavy nasal tones, "You don't have to apologize, Younger Uncle. I should be thanking you for saving me. If it weren't for you, I would have perished in the fire."
"Chenyu's actions were hurtful. But given the circumstances, there's no need to continue your engagement."
"I understand."
"Do you remember what the kidnapper looked like?"
An Yan shook her head, "I don't really remember."
"This matter involves the reputations of both the Fu Family and the An Family, so..."
"I understand. Calling the police would have a huge impact on both families. Just catching the kidnapper will be enough, Younger Uncle."
Fu Shiyan saw the girl behaving quietly and obediently, and couldn't help but feel more admiration. He nodded, "I will give you an explanation for this matter."
He abruptly stood up, "The facilities here are no different from those at home. Everything you might need is here. Rest well, and if you need anything, let Han Yang know."
An Yan suddenly grabbed the man's hand, as if lacking a sense of security, "Are you leaving?"
Fu Shiyan glanced at the little hand tarnished by smoke and fire and withdrew his hand without a change in expression, "I have some matters to take care of."
Watching the man guard himself as if from a lecher, An Yan pursed her lips. She then clutched his sleeve again, "Younger Uncle, you're injured on your back."
There was not a flicker of emotion on Fu Shiyan's proud face as he glanced at the restless little hand and said indifferently, "It's nothing."
An Yan knew not to push the man's limits any further and withdrew her hand, only to see dirty smudges now on the white cuff.
Fu Shiyan gave a slight nod and turned to leave.
A rumbling noise arose.
The man paused in his steps and looked back with a light voice, "I'll have Han Yang bring you a meal in a while."
An Yan nodded obediently.
Watching the man exit the ward, An Yan arched an eyebrow. Everything was going as she had anticipated.
Glancing at her darkened hand, she raised her hand to touch her face again.
Tsk! Her fingertips were all covered in gray-black.
She wrinkled her nose with disgust, hopped out of bed, and walked into the bathroom.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she couldn't help but twitch the corners of her mouth. Her gray-black face was streaked with tears, and her dark circles were especially heavy.
With that ghostly appearance, she still tried to charm Fu Shiyan. It was a miracle he hadn't fainted from fright.
She removed the thick and exaggerated makeup, tossed the colorful wig into the trash bin beside the vanity, and started to shower.
After a quick rinse, An Yan stood in front of the mirror and lifted her hand to wipe away the steam.
The face in the mirror was both innocent and provocative; the skin was almost transparently pale in stark contrast to her jet-black hair, and a touch of crimson on her lips brought life and allure to the otherwise cold black and white portrait.
This was the real An Yan. For three months she had gone to great lengths to uglify herself to earn Fu Chenyu's disdain.
At that moment, her ears picked up the sound of the hospital room door opening.
"An Yan?"
An Yan's gaze shifted; that was Fu Shiyan's voice.
A thought struck her, and she suddenly swept her hand across the countertop, sending shampoo bottles and shower gel tumbling to the floor with loud thuds.
"An Yan? An Yan? What's wrong?"
No response came.
Fu Shiyan hesitated for a split second before entering. With just one glance, the graceful figure burst naked into his line of sight.
He quickly turned his face away, grabbed a bathrobe from the clothes rack, walked over, covered An Yan with it, and carried her out.
He found a female nurse to help An Yan get dressed.
Standing outside the hospital room, he pressed his brow.
He had only come back to ask what she'd like to eat, having forgotten to inquire about her preferences before he left. Yet, he hadn't expected to encounter such a scene.
The female nurse came out, "Sir, I've changed your girlfriend's clothes."
Girlfriend?
Fu Shiyan took a deep breath, wanting to say she wasn't, but then felt it was pointless and simply said thank you.
Peering through the small window at the girl on the hospital bed, he saw her long lashes casting shadows on her fair face, her pretty button nose, and her crimson lips—every detail was exquisite.
The girl before and after makeup seemed like two different people, and who knew what she would look like when she opened her eyes.
However, this girl's taste in aesthetics was truly questionable; otherwise, why would she idolize such a non-mainstream style of dressing?
He chuckled softly and left.
An Yan cracked open an eye, peeking through the small window until she saw the man was gone, and a dimple appeared at each corner of her mouth.
In the next hospital room.
An Yirou leaned on Fu Chenyu's shoulder, her eyes red, "I don't know how my sister is doing; if something bad happened to her, I'd be overwhelmed with guilt and sorrow."
Fu Chenyu's face was solemn, "Just now, Younger Uncle called; he said An Yan nearly lost her life in the fire and is now in the special care ward next door, room 1206."
An Yirou instinctively clenched her fist, "It's good that my sister is safe. I didn't expect Younger Uncle to care so much for her, even going personally to rescue her. Brother Chengyu, do you think Younger Uncle might blame you for choosing me?"
Fu Chenyu snorted, "If that kidnapper hadn't used the video to blackmail my Younger Uncle and my Younger Uncle hadn't been worried about subsequent trouble affecting the company and me, he wouldn't have gone to save that bumpkin! Next month, at the engagement party, the leading lady can only be you. That country bumpkin will never step foot through the Fu Family's door in her lifetime!"
Of course, An Yirou wasn't worried about Fu Shiyan blaming Fu Chenyu. Her concern was why Fu Shiyan was so good to An Yan and even risked his life to rescue her.
It was such a pity An Yan hadn't died this time; after all, if that wench were dead, all the family wealth would be hers.
However, the thought of An Yan's pitiful state of being cast aside filled her with tremendous comfort, and she couldn't wait to relish in it again.
She held Fu Chenyu's hand, "Brother Chengyu, I want to visit my sister."
"Why bother seeing her? Hasn't she bullied you enough?" Fu Chenyu naturally didn't want to see that disgusting woman. Just one glance at her was enough to make him feel suffocated, "That ugly face of hers, it might as well be an improvement if it got burned."
An Yirou shook his arm, "Brother Chengyu, please take me to her!"
Unable to withstand An Yirou's coquettish pleading, Fu Chenyu helped her and turned towards the room next door.
The hospital room door was pushed open.