in Xiaoxiao was startled. Was that an earthquake? How could there be a sudden earthquake?

Zhou Zhennan's expression shifted instantly. He turned to look toward the southeast. "Isn't the laboratory located in the mountains to the southeast?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xiaoling also realized what might be happening. Her heart sank. "Has something happened to big brother?"

Zhou Zhennan frowned as he gazed into the distance toward the southeast, where a dark cloud of smoke was rising.

Though she didn't fully understand, Lin Xiaoxiao's heart leaped to her throat at the grave looks on Zhou Zhennan and Zhou Xiaoling's faces. "What's going on?"

Zhou Zhennan turned to Zhou Xiaoling. "Take me to your unit. I need to speak with the leadership."

If his guess was correct, a massive explosion had likely triggered a landslide.

Without overthinking, Lin Xiaoxiao followed Zhou Xiaoling and Zhou Zhennan to the unit. Even Li Yunlan, who was usually outspoken, remained silent this time, her brow furrowed throughout the journey.

Zhou Huaian's unit was quite a distance away on foot—located at the foot of the mountain. The iron gate bore no signs and even looked somewhat dilapidated.

After entering the main gate, they had to walk a long way before reaching Zhou Huaian's office. At first glance, it resembled an ordinary factory workshop. But further inside, the place revealed a completely different world.

However, Lin Xiaoxiao and the others couldn't proceed any further—not even Zhou Zhennan was permitted.

Zhong Zhiguo had already heard about the explosion and arrived with several officials from the security department. They were huddled over a map, their expressions tense and tinged with anger.

"How could something this serious happen? Why did the explosion occur midway? What kind of inspection protocols have you been following?" His roared questions were met with silence.

When Zhong Zhiguo noticed Zhou Xiaoling arriving with Zhou Zhennan, he was somewhat puzzled. The man resembled Zhou Huaian strikingly—were it not for knowing Zhou Huaian came from a rural background, he might have mistaken this man for Zhou Huaian's biological father.

Still, he greeted Zhou Zhennan politely. "Have you come looking for someone?"

Zhou Zhennan skipped the pleasantries. "I came to find out what just happened. Could Zhou Huaian be in danger?"

Zhong Zhiguo hesitated. "And you are...?"

"I am his biological father."

Zhou Xiaoling, impatient by nature, felt that her father and Zhong Zhiguo were wasting precious time with small talk. "Could my brother be in danger? We need to get to the scene."

Lin Xiaoxiao was equally anxious. "There was just a huge explosion—could there be casualties?

Are medical teams dispatched? I can help."

She was especially worried about Zhou Huaian. No matter what was happening, she couldn't help but connect it to Zhou Xiaoming.

Pressed for time, Zhong Zhiguo replied hurriedly, "Medical personnel are already on their way.

The cause is still unclear."

Lin Xiaoxiao insisted, "Can I go? Zhou Huaian's previous injury hasn't fully healed. I need to see him."

Zhong Zhiguo feared that Lin Xiaoxiao and the others would only complicate matters. Just as he began to explain, someone rushed in to report: "An explosion occurred at marker A-128 on Yulin Mountain. The landslide buried a document transport vehicle. The car Zhou Huaian was in rolled off the cliff into the river..."

"With the recent snowmelt, the water levels are raging. The rescue operation is facing difficulties."

Lin Xiaoxiao's face turned pale, and she nearly lost her balance. Luckily, Li Yunlan quickly grabbed her arm. Usually emotional, Li Yunlan was unexpectedly calm this time. "He will be fine. I'll go find him—I'll find my son."

Zhou Zhennan looked solemnly at Zhong Zhiguo. "Can you take us to the scene? I haven't even met my son yet."

As he spoke, his eyes grew warm with emotion. He dreaded to think what might have happened to Zhou Huaian, whom he had never met.

Zhong Zhiguo glanced at Lin Xiaoxiao, then at Zhou Zhennan. "Let's go together."

All the way, Lin Xiaoxiao's heart was gripped with fear. She had never felt so terrified. Deep down, Zhou Huaian was the closest person to her in this world. What would she do if he were gone?

The explosion had taken place halfway up the mountain along a military road used for national defense and research—normally off-limits to all vehicles and pedestrians.

The winding mountain road was treacherous, with steep cliffs on one side and a raging river on the other. Just standing by the roadside and looking down at the turbulent waters was enough to make one dizzy—it was like a giant monster waiting with its gaping mouth, ready to swallow anything that fell in.

Rocks and debris from the landslide had blocked the road. Rescue troops had already arrived, and Xiao Yan and her team were busy treating the wounded.

But there was no sign of Zhou Huaian!

As Lin Xiaoxiao stepped out of the vehicle, her legs weakened, and she nearly collapsed. Walking to the edge of the road, she gazed down at the roaring river and surprisingly grew calmer. A washed over her—Zhou Huaian couldn't be gone just like that.

The man she admired was—he wouldn't die so easily.

Kneeling down, she observed the slope below. Not every part was steep; there were gentler sections where people were already searching.

Suddenly, someone shouted, "Over here! There are two people here!"

Lin Xiaoxiao sprang up and nimbly climbed down the relatively gentle slope. Stumbling as she ran, she shouted, "Don't move them! Wait!"

She didn't trust that these people had the expertise to avoid causing further harm to the injured.

She fell once but ignored the pain as she rushed forward. When she saw the person lying on the ground, tears of relief welled in her eyes. She barely noticed the other more severely injured person—rushing to examine the unconscious Zhou Huaian. Apart from a fractured calf, she confirmed no other major injuries and instructed the rescuers to carefully carry Zhou Huaian up.

Then she turned to the other severely injured person—reportedly the driver—who had three broken ribs, a fractured calf, and a swollen lump in his abdomen.

His condition was critical.

Zhong Zhiguo stayed behind to direct the investigation into the cause of the accident, while Lin Xiaoxiao and the others accompanied the injured to the county hospital. Neither the town hospital nor the unit hospital were equipped for such major surgeries.

Only after Zhou Huaian was wheeled into the operating room did Lin Xiaoxiao realize her back was drenched in sweat. She turned to Li Yunlan, who stood there in a daze, and went over to support her arm. "Don't worry, he'll be alright."

Internally, however, she couldn't help but sigh. Was Zhou Huaian cursed lately? His abdominal wound hadn't fully healed, and now he'd injured his leg.

For once, Li Yunlan was perfectly lucid. "Why did the explosion happen? Isn't that area restricted?"

Lin Xiaoxiao almost blurted out that it must have been Zhou Xiaoming's doing. But unsure of Zhou Zhennan's stance, she knew she had to choose her words carefully.

Zhou Xiaoling, her eyes red, interjected, "It must be jealousy because big brother is too outstanding. Although I haven't been here long, I've heard many stories about his achievements.

Those green-eyed monsters couldn't stand it and plotted against him."

Hearing the word "jealousy," Zhou Zhennan was reminded of what Zhou Xiaohong had said—that Lin Xiaoxiao once mentioned Zhou Xiaoming had harmed Zhou Huaian out of envy.

As much as he didn't want to suspect Zhou Xiaoming, human nature was unpredictable.

In his heart, he didn't want Zhou Xiaoming to do anything extreme. After all, Zhou Xiaoming had called him father for thirty years, and he wished him well.

But what if it was truly out of selfishness...?

After a moment of reflection, he asked Lin Xiaoxiao, "Have you ever met someone named Zhou Xiaoming?"