Song Qiuya's mind went blank. Her body swayed, and she began to topple backward.
"Qiu Ya!"
Chen Lin reacted instantly, lunging forward and catching her securely in his arms before she hit the floor.
The slender body in his arms was cold and rigid, like a jade statue that had lost its soul.
"Qiu Ya, don't panic! Stay calm!" Chen Lin held her tightly and spoke in a low, firm voice beside her ear. "This isn't the time to fall apart! We'll go there right now! Whatever happens, I'll be with you!"
Chen Lin's voice was like a shot of adrenaline, forcibly pulling Song Qiuya back from the brink of collapse.
She abruptly came to her senses. Tears instantly filled her beautiful eyes, and she reached back to clutch Chen Lin's arm, her knuckles whitening with the force of her grip. Her voice trembled uncontrollably.
"Chen Lin... my dad... my dad, he..."
"I know. I know." Chen Lin cupped her cold cheeks and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with his fingertips, his gaze steady and resolute. "Calm down first and listen to me. Your father is in Wucheng, the provincial capital, right? We'll drive there now. I'll take you!"
"Yes! Wucheng!" Song Qiuya was utterly distraught. All her usual composure and decisiveness had deserted her, leaving her instinctively dependent on the man beside her.
Chen Lin said no more. He did not even have time to tell the staff downstairs before scooping Song Qiuya into his arms and rushing down the stairs.
"Mr. Chen? What happened to Manager Song..." Several employees stared in shock.
"Something urgent has come up! Look after the shop for the next few days!"
With that, Chen Lin carried Song Qiuya straight out of the jewelry store, gently settled her into the