Chapter 6: A Thousand Miles

Chapter 6: A Thousand Miles

"It's such a pity..."

Lin Qingshan smacked his lips. The manuscript payment would only be released next month, so this month he still had no money for food.

After all, the cash the original owner had was spent on rent and art supplies.

Before this, he had been hungry for over ten days. If the landlord's daughter hadn't kindly given him five loaves of bread ten days ago, he might have starved for over a month and would be dead by now.

Wait...

Wouldn't it be better to die from starvation? If he died, he could go home.

Lin Qingshan regretted it immediately; if he had known, he wouldn't have accepted those five loaves of bread.

He had come here today and naturally planned to walk back slowly.

At that moment, a cry came from a short distance away.

"A little dog has fallen into the water!"

"How pitiful for that little dog."

"Is there anyone who can swim? Hurry and save it!"

"Don't be foolish. Going into the river for a dog? What if something dangerous happens?"

...

By the riverbank, a crowd had gathered.

Lin Qingshan was stunned for a moment, then his eyes brightened. He shouted, "I'll do it!"

He dashed into the crowd, startling everyone, who quickly moved aside.

Then, Lin Qingshan leaped into the rushing, icy river.

The crowd was dumbfounded. They didn't expect anyone to actually jump into the river for a dog!

And he hadn't even taken off his clothes or shoes before jumping in.

A few nearby girls were very excited; finally, someone was willing to step up.

However...

"He doesn't even know where the dog is and jumped in. Will he be okay?"

"Ah... He should be fine, right?"

"No!" At this moment, a leading girl said calmly, "He's in danger now. The current is too strong. We need to help him."

"But... Qianli, how do we help?" the other girls asked hesitantly.

"Find a stick and prepare to pull him out," said the girl named Qianli.

Meanwhile, in the river, Lin Qingshan, struggling in the swift, cold, and murky water, barely managed to open his eyes and saw the struggling little dog ahead.

He couldn't see clearly due to the murky water.

He could only make out a yellowish mass about twenty or thirty meters ahead.

Lin Qingshan took a deep breath, raised his head above the water, and confirmed it was indeed a little dog.

It was a small, orange-yellow puppy, probably no more than three or four months old, which explained why it couldn't swim and was struggling.

He brightened up and swam quickly towards it.

When he reached the yellow puppy, Lin Qingshan grabbed it. The puppy seemed frightened and opened its mouth as if to bite him.

Lin Qingshan was momentarily pleased; if the puppy had rabies, he would definitely die from the bite!

However, the puppy seemed to sense Lin Qingshan meant no harm and didn't bite. Instead, it gently bit his arm.

Lin Qingshan felt a warm but painless touch on his arm and felt a bit disappointed.

But for now, he needed to save the puppy. After all, it was a life.

Then he would drown here. By saving a life, he could finally go home as he wished.

Great! Today is a good day!

Lin Qingshan held the puppy and swam towards the shore, planning to toss the puppy up and then sink to the riverbed.

However, a group of people had gathered on the shore.

A group of... girls.

They looked young, around twenty.

So youthful and beautiful.

Lin Qingshan thought with some emotion. But it worked out; he could hand the puppy to them and complete his task.

"Quick! Grab this stick!" The lead girl suddenly extended a long branch towards him.

Lin Qingshan was momentarily stunned.

"You don't need to; save the puppy first," he said, holding out the puppy to the girl.

The girl hesitated but took the puppy from Lin Qingshan.

Seeing the puppy saved, Lin Qingshan nodded in satisfaction and then gave up his swimming posture, slowly sinking to the riverbed.

"Not good!" The other girls panicked, "He's out of strength! Hurry and save him!"

The leading girl also panicked, stretching the branch, "Quick! Grab the stick. We'll pull you up!"

But Lin Qingshan didn't respond and continued sinking.

Suddenly, everyone was in a panic.

The rescued puppy seemed to realize Lin Qingshan was in danger and barked urgently.

"Quick! Grab the stick!"

The girl wanted to save Lin Qingshan, but seeing him being carried away by the current, she handed the puppy to another girl and stretched the stick, trying to reach Lin Qingshan.

But at that moment, she slipped.

"Ah!" A scream followed by the sound of someone falling into the water.

"Ah! Qianli fell into the water too!" the other girls screamed.

"Is anyone there? Someone fell into the water! Help us!" The girls were nearly crying, shouting loudly.

But there seemed to be no one nearby who could swim well, and everyone hesitated.

After all, rescuing someone could be dangerous for even skilled swimmers.

In this situation, who would dare to jump in...

As time passed, the situation grew increasingly desperate.

But at that moment...

"Whoosh!"

"Plop!"

The heavy breathing of a man and the sound of something hitting the ground.

The girls turned around and saw that Lin Qingshan, who had just "drowned," had brought the girl who fell into the water back to shore.

Gu Qianli coughed up some water and looked at the young man in front of her with a strange expression.

Wasn't this person just drowning?

Lin Qingshan set her down and said, "That was close. Are you okay... Alright, it looks like you're fine. Thankfully, you're okay."

He had seen that this girl had fallen into the water trying to save him. It would have been very unlucky if she had drowned because of him.

Though he wanted to die, he didn't want to cause the death of a girl because of himself.

Especially since this girl was so pretty... Hmm, like that editor, another beautiful girl.

She had a good figure too.

Dying in such a confused way would be a pity.

So he gave up on drowning and swam over to save her.

"I'm fine... Thank you..."

Although it was strange, Gu Qianli still thanked Lin Qingshan.

"Qianli!"

At this moment, the other girls excitedly came to Gu Qianli, shouting with relief.

One of them even brought the puppy over.

"I'm fine... Don't worry, everyone," Gu Qianli reassured her friends. 

(End of Chapter)