Drama Queen Reborn as a Top Student!-Chapter 684 - 286

Qian Zhuang and his wife started from setting up a street stall. Through diligence and integrity, their business thrived. Later, they acquired a storefront and no longer had to endure the elements and harassment from city enforcers.

He thought everything was finally getting better.

Even after many years, he could still vividly remember that day.

That day, he went to oversee the store’s renovations. Due to an issue with the water pipes, it took a lot longer than expected. His wife called him several times, urging him to come home for dinner. Feeling frustrated, he yelled at her over the phone.

She had a gentle temperament and didn’t say much in response, only reminding him to be careful on his way back, as the streetlight at their building entrance was broken, and to watch his step while heading upstairs.

Feeling remorseful, he bought a bouquet of roses from a flower vendor on his way home, hoping to surprise her and make up for his outburst.

He also bought her favorite roasted goose from Tanji Roasted Goose. Even though it meant waiting in line for a while longer, he felt it was worth it. He knew she would probably scold him for spending frivolously, as she was such a frugal person.

On their wedding day, he had promised to give her a good life. Yet he had often made her suffer hardships, and deep down, he felt guilty. He silently vowed to work even harder.

From a distance, he noticed a commotion at the entrance of the alley, with many people gathered.

He looked up and saw thick smoke billowing against the dark sky.

Panicked, he rushed forward and found their apartment building engulfed in flames.

"Wife...!" He dropped everything in his hands and tried to charge inside like a madman, only to be stopped by the crowd.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed? Wait for the firefighters! Don’t recklessly throw your life away," someone warned him. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

The alley was too narrow for fire trucks to pass through. Firefighters set up a ladder; some operated the water guns from above, while others, carrying oxygen tanks, fearlessly rushed into the blazing inferno.

He grabbed a passing firefighter. "Please, I beg you, save my wife! She lives in Unit 204. She’s still so young..."

The firefighter was tall and fully clad in protective gear. Through the visor of the hazmat suit, Qian Zhuang saw a pair of deep black eyes, shining brightly like the stars in the night sky—a spark of hope in the chaos.

He remembered the firefighter’s badge number, which ended in 07.

The tall firefighter nodded and charged into the flames without hesitation. His heroic fearlessness left Qian Zhuang deeply shaken.

Waiting anxiously, Qian Zhuang soon saw the firefighter emerging with someone in his arms. He rushed forward.

It was an elderly woman, her face and hair covered in soot, coughing violently.

He recognized her—Aunt Zhang, their neighbor from 203.

The emergency team hurried over to check on her.

The firefighter, without a moment’s rest, turned and rushed back into the fire.

He saved three people in quick succession.

Just as Qian Zhuang was losing patience and about to burst into the flames himself, the firefighter appeared again.

This time, he was holding his wife in his arms.

Her face and legs were covered in blood, a dreadful and shocking sight.

"Wife...!"

He screamed at the top of his lungs, his voice shredded by anguish.

The firefighter, bending down, fell to his knees. He looked utterly exhausted. The hazmat suit bore scorch marks from the fire—blackened streaks, ash smears, and spots of fresh blood...

"Ali...!" A colleague rushed to his side.

Moments ago, Qian Zhuang had heard people addressing him as the commander.

"There’s... there’s no one else inside, right?" The firefighter’s voice was hoarse, as if it had drained all his strength.

The unconscious woman in his arms suddenly opened her eyes and weakly murmured, "207... 207... hurry..."

Realization hit Qian Zhuang, and he immediately exclaimed, "Yes, yes! Unit 207—there’s a grandfather and grandson who live there. They haven’t come out yet!"

The firefighter rose to his feet again, but his colleague grabbed his arm. "Ali, you can’t go back in! Unit 207 is on the west side, and the fire there is raging out of control. The gas tanks could explode at any moment!"

"Have you forgotten our duty as firefighters? Even if it’s a mountain of blades or a sea of fire, as long as I’m wearing this uniform, I will not shrink back."

His voice was resolute and thunderous, echoing across the scene.

He turned to Qian Zhuang. "What’s the little boy’s name?"

"Aning... his name is Aning..."

This time, before charging into the fire again, the firefighter paused for a moment. He placed a hand over his chest.

When he raised his head, there was no hesitation—he ran toward the inferno on the west side, as if heading into a battle with no return.

Qian Zhuang stared at the tall figure being swallowed by the flames. "What’s his name?"

The commander’s eyes filled with grief. "His name is Shen Li. He’s the most outstanding warrior in our brigade."

Qian Zhuang committed that name to memory.

"He’s truly a great man."

The commander directed the water operator on the ladder to douse the western side of the building. But the fire was too fierce, worsened by the delay in accessing the alley. No amount of water seemed sufficient to extinguish the roaring flames.

"Shen Li, you must survive! Your daughter isn’t even five years old yet—can you bear to let her grow up without a father?"