When the helicopter landed on the rooftop helipad, the piercing sound of alarms immediately echoed throughout the hospital.

The rescue team, already on standby, rushed forward with a thermal stretcher. Bai He’s snow-white feathers had been stained dark red with blood, appearing particularly shocking under the glaring emergency lights.

"Blood pressure is continuously dropping!"

"Prepare for an emergency transfusion!"

Xu Ying jumped out of the cabin, her surgical gown still dusted with desert sand.

As she quickly followed the stretcher, she rapidly reported the injuries: "Both hind limbs are completely severed, with a blood loss of approximately 800 ml. We need to stop the bleeding immediately, stabilize the vital signs, and then proceed with prosthetic surgery."

The shadowless lights in the operating room suddenly turned on, illuminating every detail of Bai He’s wounds. Xu Ying donned her magnifying glasses, and the ruptured blood vessels appeared like torn red threads under the magnifying lens.

"Electrocautery for hemostasis."

Her voice was calm as she skillfully clamped each bleeding point with hemostatic forceps. The surgery lasted for three hours, and when the final vessel was properly tied off, the numbers on the monitor finally stabilized.

Xu Ying let out a long breath of relief. As she removed her gloves, she realized her fingers were uncontrollably trembling. She gently brushed over Bai He’s feathers and quietly said, "Rest well. Once the brace is ready, we’ll continue."

Bai He was taken to the ICU special care ward, the incubator maintaining its fragile body temperature.

Through the observation window, Xu Ying saw it occasionally twitch unconsciously, as if still trying to walk in its dreams.

Meanwhile, in the 3D printing lab on the third floor, the carbon fiber brace was gradually forming layer by layer inside the precision instruments.

Director Yi leaned against the door, staring at the progress bar on the display screen—98%, 99%... At 12:40 AM, with the sound of a final prompt, the bionic crane leg brace was finally completed.

"We’re ready for surgery."

Director Yi’s voice came through the communicator.

The operating room was still brightly lit at one in the morning.

Xu Ying aimed the carbon fiber brace at Bai He’s severed limb, and the biological glue glowed a faint blue under the ultraviolet light.

When she connected the last nerve guide wire, Bai He suddenly twitched its ’toes’ slightly under anesthesia—the intricately designed carbon fiber joints actually responded to the neural signals.

The brace installation was a success!

The veterinarians in the operating room simultaneously revealed smiles of satisfaction.

*

As the automatic doors of the operating room opened slowly, Xu Ying could barely stand.

Seven consecutive hours of high-intensity surgery had completely drenched her back in sweat, and her fingers slightly cramped from maintaining fine movements for so long.

Under the glaring corridor lights, she instinctively squinted, her vision blurred by physiological tears—

Suddenly, a warm hand gently covered her eyes.

Qi Xiao had unknowingly stood by her side, his tall figure blocking most of the light, the remaining brightness slipping through his fingers just enough for her to slowly adapt.

"No rush." Qi Xiao’s deep voice brushed past her ear, his other hand steadily supporting her wobbling elbow, the warmth of his palm seeping through the surgical gown, "Take a deep breath first."

Only then did Xu Ying realize her breathing was quick and shallow.

Guided by Qi Xiao, she gradually adjusted, catching a whiff of the bitter scent of coffee mixed in his sleeve—he must have waited outside the operating room all night.

"Better now?"

Seeing her nod, Qi Xiao slowly moved his hand away, but maintained his protective stance around her.

The corridor lights had turned softer, and she could finally see clearly—

"Clap, clap, clap—"

Sudden applause flooded in like a tide.

Qiao Yuxi was the first to rush forward, thrusting a large bouquet of desert roses into her arms: "Our station chief is amazing! Achieving a bionic brace implant surgery on the first day of opening!"

Qi Xiao quietly stepped back half a step as the crowd surrounded them, yet he stayed close enough to catch Xu Ying should she waver, only lowering his eyes and hiding the lingering worry when he was sure she stood firm.

Director Yi stood at the back of the crowd with a thermos cup, his eyes behind his glasses curved into crescents: "The world’s first crane carbon fiber prosthetic implant, remember to share the data for the paper."

Xu Ying wanted to laugh, but only managed a breathy hum, her throat too parched to make a sound. Just then, a cup of warm honey water was timely handed to her—prepared by Qi Xiao at some point, with fine droplets of moisture still clinging to the glass. She drank it all in one go, the sweet liquid soothing her burning throat.

"Thank you..." Xu Ying’s voice was still a bit hoarse, but she could finally speak.

At three in the morning, the hospital corridor was gently lit, embracing everyone present. Xu Ying looked at everyone still there, her nose tingling: "Aren’t... you all going to sleep?"

Qiao Yuxi brushed aside the stray hair on her forehead, the warm light reflecting in her eyes: "Not sure what else we can do for you, except to be with you."

This moved Xu Ying so much that her eyes teared up. Every pair of eyes in the corridor gazed at her brightly, like stars in the desert night sky.

"Come on, our big achiever needs rest!" Qiao Yuxi suddenly bent over, crouching with her back to Xu Ying, "Today I’ll carry you back to the grand villa!"

Xu Ying was truly exhausted, smiling as she climbed onto her back: "Then I won’t stand on ceremony!"

Qiao Yuxi carried Xu Ying downstairs, with Qi Xiao escorting the two of them.

As she staggered down to the hospital’s ground floor, a light sweat broke out on Qiao Yuxi’s forehead.

Just as she was about to endure a few more steps, her knee suddenly gave way, pitching her forward—

The next moment, a pair of strong hands was already there to catch both of them securely.

"Let me."

Qi Xiao’s voice came from behind.

The already half-conscious Xu Ying suddenly reacted like a little robot hearing a command, instinctively opening her arms toward the sound source.

As Qi Xiao bent over, she perfectly flopped onto his back.

Qi Xiao’s movements were as smooth as flowing water as he hoisted her up.

Xu Ying buried her face in the nook of his shoulder, and with her head tilted, she fell back into a deep sleep, purring softly like a kitten in seconds.

Watching a certain someone’s instantly softened profile, Qiao Yuxi suddenly felt quite redundant.

The night breeze lightly brushed her cheeks as Xu Ying, perched on Qi Xiao’s back, slightly opened her eyelids.

In her drowsiness, she saw the sand sagebrush in the villa’s courtyard gently swaying under the moonlight, with night dew still clinging to its petals.

Qi Xiao’s steps were steady, as if afraid to disturb her sleep.

At three in the morning in the desert, the Milky Way hung low, almost within reach. Resting on Qi Xiao’s back, Xu Ying comfortably closed her eyes again under this starlit sky.

*

The next morning.

Xu Ying naturally woke up in her grand villa. Opening her eyes, she saw five little ear foxes sprawled disorderly on the bed, sleeping without any grace.

One lay belly up, exposing its round tummy; another curled into a fluffy ball, its tail twitching from time to time; the most mischievous one even stuffed its head under the pillow, leaving only a fuzzy back end showing.

Xu Ying couldn’t help but laugh, reaching out to scoop up the most peacefully sleeping Fox Xiao Wu, rubbing its soft ears.

The little one lazily kicked its legs, nestling closer into her embrace, purring contentedly from its throat.

"These little fox spirits, no matter how much I cuddle them, it’s never enough—they’ve truly charmed my soul away..."

She lightly scratched its chin, watching it squint its eyes enjoyably, her heart melting completely.

These days feel incredibly blessed, Xu Ying thought while kissing Fox Xiao Wu’s ear tip.