MGASC -Chapter 90 Holding Her and Refusing to Let Go

“Child, it’s not that we won’t save her—it’s just that I’m afraid she can’t be saved anymore…”

“No!”

The three little ones stared with eyes wide open, so anxious they wanted to cry but couldn’t. All they could do was show their resistance and fear on their faces.

Suddenly, the crowd was forcefully pushed aside as a defiant, sharp presence strode forward.

It was Lin Tianyue!

The moment they saw him, the three children were like drowning kids spotting a lifeline, shouting in unison, “Dad!”

Their dad had finally come back!

Lin Tianyue swept all three children into his arms. Before he could say a word, his eyes were already searching the crowd for Zhang Qiao.

She was so striking—he should have spotted her at once. But he didn’t see her.

His heart sank.

Gripping Lin Xun’s arm tightly, he asked, “Lin Xun, where’s Auntie Qiao?”

Lin Xun’s eyes were red. “Dad, Auntie Qiao is still inside! Hurry and save her!”

Lin Ran’s eyes brimmed with tears. “The door won’t open, the window won’t let us out—we’re scared to death!”

Lin Jin clutched his leg, sobbing. “Dad… Dad… what do we do?”

The once neat and spacious courtyard had turned into a sea of flames.

Firelight flickered wildly in Lin Tianyue’s dark eyes. The crackling roar of the blaze scorched the air—just like his heart, burning with world-ending torment every second.

“Help me watch the kids!”

He shoved the children into a neighbor’s arms and, without any protective gear at all, lifted his leg and charged inside.

“Tianyue!” A kind-hearted person grabbed him. “Don’t go throw your life away! The fire’s too big—it’s impossible!”

Lin Tianyue shot him a look, sharp and savage, like a bloodthirsty beast. The fury and obsession in his eyes made people shudder.

“Tianyue, it’s too dangerous! Everyone’s doing this for your own good!”

“Getting the three kids out was already a miracle—it’s too late!”

But Lin Tianyue ruthlessly tore his hand away and plunged into the inferno without looking back.

“Tianyue!”

“Dad!”

A string of heart-rending cries followed behind him.

He heard none of it.

No one knew this courtyard better than he did. He first felt his way to the outside of the kitchen, groping along the scorching wall until his hand found a sharp axe.

The wooden handle was already charred. He struck it hard against something, beating out the flames.

His iron-like fist clamped tightly around the burning handle. Without hesitation, he kicked aside the obstacles ahead and pressed forward.

“Zhang Qiao!”

His voice, thick and hoarse from smoke, thundered through the flames.

He needed to confirm her location, to decide from which direction to rescue her.

More than that, he needed to know her condition—whether she was still conscious or already knocked out by the smoke.

There was absolutely no room for a third possibility.

With a loud explosion, a burning beam crashed down onto his shoulder. Lin Tianyue staggered, his body pitching forward, nearly falling headfirst into the flames. Once he steadied himself, he didn’t stop.

“Zhang Qiao!”

His voice grew even more ragged.

Then—finally—he heard it. A weak yet determined voice:

“Cough… here!”

It came from the window.

Lin Tianyue rushed over in just a few strides.

Through the blistering-hot window bars, he finally saw the person he’d been desperate to find.

Zhang Qiao had a damp cloth covering her face, her hair wrapped up. She stood just inside the windowsill, only a pair of dark, shining eyes visible.

The two of them locked eyes through the window.

Overwhelmed with emotion, their throats tightened. Neither could say a word.

They could only see themselves reflected in each other’s eyes—fire blazing behind them, fierce and bright, tears shimmering.

By comparison, Zhang Qiao’s posture was a bit comical.

She was using a thick stick to pry at the steel bars on the window.

She had no intention of waiting obediently for death. Even if there was only the faintest hope, she wouldn’t give up.

That stick was usually used to brace the door.

It was thick.

After struggling with all her strength, her face red from exertion, the gap between the bars seemed to widen a little.

When Lin Tianyue appeared before her, she was still gritting her teeth and prying at the bars—one leg even lifted off the ground.

Above them came more crackling and popping sounds. The fire had reached the eaves of the room. The roof could collapse at any moment.

After one exchanged look, Lin Tianyue barked, “Qiao, step back!”

Zhang Qiao didn’t hesitate. She let go and quickly retreated a few steps.

But her watery, beautiful eyes never left Lin Tianyue’s dark, soot-streaked face.

His lips were pressed tight, his eyes filled with a do-or-die resolve.

He raised the axe high and brought it down. With a sharp crack, one steel bar snapped. Two more blows followed, and a gap appeared in front of Zhang Qiao.

Then came the sound of the window frame and glass being smashed one after another. Once he was sure the opening was big enough for her to pass through, Lin Tianyue decisively tossed the axe aside and tore away the remaining shards of glass with his bare hands, flinging them to the ground.

“Come!”

He shouted the command, reaching out his blood-smeared hand to her.

Zhang Qiao swallowed hard, threw away the stick, and ran toward him.

She stepped onto the windowsill, poked her head out, and before she could even exert any strength, those iron-clamp hands had already locked under her arms. In one swift motion, he lifted her out as lightly as a swallow.

He held her tightly against his chest, like someone who had just recovered a priceless treasure. Separated only by his chest, their heartbeats raced together.

Then he scooped her up bridal-style and strode through the sea of fire, heading straight for safety.

The courtyard was chaotic with voices. When Lin Tianyue had charged into the flames, the neighbors who came to help couldn’t stand by anymore and all joined in to fight the fire.

Some fetched water to pour on the flames, some used brooms to beat them down, others put on makeshift protection, planning to go in and support Lin Tianyue. But in the blink of an eye, they saw him rushing out with Zhang Qiao in his arms.

The three children, who had been held back the whole time, saw their father and the person in his arms. One by one, they burst into tears of joy.

They broke free and ran over.

Lin Jin clung tightly to Zhang Qiao. “Auntie Qiao, you finally came out… I thought you were dead… wuwuwu…”

Zhang Qiao: My dear child, thank you very much for that.

Thankfully, Lin Tianyue had arrived in time. If he’d been any later, she might really have turned into roast lamb.

This must be the protagonist halo, Zhang Qiao thought. She really ought to thank the author too…

Lin Ran just looked at her, crying and laughing at the same time as he wiped his tears.

Lin Xun asked anxiously, “Dad, are you okay? Auntie Qiao, how do you feel?”

Zhang Qiao gestured for Lin Tianyue to put her down. With so many people watching, it was too embarrassing.

But Lin Tianyue acted as if he hadn’t heard her at all, holding her just as tightly as before.

Left with no choice, Zhang Qiao reached out to touch Lin Jin’s face, then patted Lin Ran’s arm. “Be good. Auntie’s got a tough life—I told you before, didn’t I? You go first, I’ll be fine.”

Lin Jin sobbed, “I was scared to death!”

Zhang Qiao glanced up at Lin Tianyue again and gently reminded him, “Everyone’s fighting the fire. Maybe… you should put me down?”

Lin Tianyue lowered his gaze to her, as if only now pulling himself back from the life-and-death terror moments ago.

He froze for a beat, then asked, “Are you sure you’re really okay?”