312 A New Lease on Life?

Lin Nuan didn't mind that Chu Xun had run a background check on her, as almost everyone in Haicheng was aware of her story.

Lin Nuan gave no response other than curling her lips; her delicate face remained calm and serene. Chu Xun compelled herself to stay calm and keep her emotions in check. It wouldn't do if she lost her cool in front of this young lady.

She put out the cigarette she was holding and took a sip from the juice bottle before she said, "Lin Nuan, I'm not afraid to tell you frankly that I love Fu Huai'an, more than you can imagine…"

When Chu Xun said this, her eyes betrayed a tinge of vulnerability.

"I am indebted to Fu Huai'an because he saved my life…"

Lin Nuan was taken by surprise. She didn't think that Chu Xun would open up to her and confess her innermost feelings as they were merely acquaintances.

Lin Nuan placed the juice bottle on the coffee table before she said, "President…"

Chu Xun raised her hand to stop Lin Nuan from talking before she continued, "Let me finish!"

Lin Nuan pursed her lips and nodded as she sat there quietly.

"Back then, I was following a news lead, which led me to Iraq. They were at war then, and it was Fu Huai'an who saved my life!" Chu Xun said as tears welled up in her eyes. "You haven't experienced the feeling of despair while you were on the brink of death, you wouldn't be able to understand how I felt. He appeared in front of me then, and you can't imagine how attached I felt to him… I love him, I love him so much!"

Chu Xun's words evoked Lin Nuan's memories of Fu Huai'an when they were in Iraq—his tall silhouette standing against the light.

She lowered her gaze and stared at her fair, slender fingers. She remembered how her legs had crumbled beneath her and how he lifted her up with his strong hands.

Chu Xun said in a hardened tone, "After being on the brink of death, I consider myself to have a new lease on life, and I live each day as if it is my last! I'm not going to give up the man I love!"

In fact, there was another secret that Chu Xun was hiding… and it was about Tuan Tuan!

In June 2014, Chu Xun was investigating a lead on human trafficking, and somehow, she became stuck in war-torn Iraq. After passing through many safe areas, she ended up in one that was occupied by the anti-government ISI military forces.

When she contacted the embassy, she was told to make her way to Samarra. There was a heavy machinery and equipment company located there which was owned by the Jiang Group and arrangements would be made for them to evacuate via helicopter.

On the night of June 22nd, Chu Xun and her coworkers made their way to the venue. There, they met Jiang Ming'an, who was also waiting for the helicopter. They were hopeful that they would be able to return home soon and the group of them waited there until late at night.

However, the helicopter didn't arrive. Jiang Ming'an instructed some people to stay behind and told the others to go back to have a rest. Jiang Ming'an asked Chu Xun and her coworkers if they would be interested in returning to the Jiang Group's company as there was ammunition, medical supplies, and rations available and they could fill their stomachs. There were also many others taking refuge there.

Chu Xun saw that her coworkers were famished and she agreed that they would all go to the factory with Jiang Ming'an. They could finally have something to eat and take a well-deserved rest.

For the entire day of June 23rd, Chu Xun stayed in the factory and went around taking photographs of the place as she felt that the material would make a good news piece. When the helicopter brought them back home, she could publish it in the newspaper, and the headline would be sensational.

However, the helicopter didn't turn up on the night of the 23rd.

Chu Xun was worried.

In the wee hours on June 24th, Lu Xiangsi gave birth to Tuan Tuan.

Early the next morning, Jiang Ming'an decided to get them to evacuate. His eyes were bloodshot as he didn't manage to get much sleep the night before. He led the first group, and they set off in search of a safe route.