In the temporary rescue command post camp, a bonfire party had begun to celebrate everyone's safe return.
"A total of 3,840 search and rescue helicopter missions were conducted, with 65,233 rescue personnel deployments. Often, more than a hundred helicopters would be searching in different directions simultaneously in a single day..."
The passengers murmured, reading the news reports.
"This was truly a massive operation."
"They arranged teams combining helicopter crews and ground search parties."
"Because the jungle was so dense, the helicopter crews often couldn't directly spot people in the forest. But the sound of the rotors could alert those who were lost that help was nearby..."
"So if the stranded people could make any noise, they could be detected by the ground teams nearby?"
"The requirements for the helicopter pilots must have been incredibly high."
"I heard they were all fighter pilots."
"Good heavens!"
"The ground rescue personnel must have needed extensive specialized knowledge too."
"How much did all this cost?"
Zhang Ruoshui was also curious about this question. She touched her hair, which Sheng Yuxiao had completely dried for her.
She asked Sheng Yuxiao, "How much did this incident cost us?"
While going through the luggage, Sheng Yuxiao replied, "The money isn't really important."
"We spent money up front, and while my uncle couldn't appear publicly, he was squeezing money from the airline company behind the scenes. After all the ins and outs, we actually came out ahead."
"The real trouble was selecting the rescue personnel. Their skill levels varied dramatically."
"They were reluctant to follow the waterways deep into the jungle, and some couldn't handle the intensity of the search."
Zhang Ruoshui thought about where she had first encountered Sheng Yuxiao: "So you went deeper into the jungle by yourself?"
Sheng Yuxiao brushed past his own involvement, saying only: "How could I alone be enough? Old Mr. Zhang personally selected the pilots, then I asked Mr. Wei Wenjuan to hire mercenaries with jungle warfare experience. When Mr. Ke Muning found out, he immediately sent people over."
Zhang Ruoshui noticed something: "You didn't speak directly with Ke Muning?"
"Even in times like these, when we need to minimize public connections, we must maintain our covers. Otherwise, your multiple identities lose their effectiveness." Though Sheng Yuxiao had been desperate at the time, his mind remained clear.
"Though Mr. Ke Muning did exchange a few words with me outside just now," Sheng Yuxiao added.
Brief words, but meaningful ones.
Zhang Ruoshui didn't mind: "Hmm, just a few words shouldn't matter."
Sheng Yuxiao returned to her side, opened a jar of medicine, and began applying it to the rashes on her neck and wrists that had developed from the unfamiliar jungle environment.
The rashes were itchy.
But Zhang Ruoshui had always been good at enduring discomfort since childhood.
The ointment felt cool at first, but after a moment, a sudden wave of heat came over her.
Zhang Ruoshui suddenly grabbed Sheng Yuxiao's fingers: "Are your hands very hot?"
After she spoke, she squeezed them a couple of times.
Indeed, they seemed to grow warmer with each squeeze, which was quite curious.
Sheng Yuxiao: "..."
He lowered his eyes, his expression tightening.
"Do you have any rashes on your legs? We should treat those too," Sheng Yuxiao asked seriously.
"Probably? I haven't really paid attention." Zhang Ruoshui had been too busy surviving in the jungle to notice.
She rolled up her pants leg and stretched out her leg for him to see.
Her skin was fair, with well-proportioned flesh and bone.
Sheng Yuxiao's vision blurred for a moment, then he gripped her ankle, his gaze falling more on the small wounds.
"How did you get so many injuries?" Sheng Yuxiao asked.
"Things still managed to get in even though I tied my pants tight," Zhang Ruoshui said dismissively.
But Sheng Yuxiao cared. He grabbed another tube of ointment and turned to leave.
Zhang Ruoshui called after him in confusion: "Where are you going?"
"To get you a jacket. You'll be cold."
Zhang Ruoshui countered: "Why don't you just give me yours to wear?"
Sheng Yuxiao paused, then took out a new suit jacket from the luggage and draped it over her head.
Zhang Ruoshui pulled at the sleeves, wrapping the jacket tightly around herself, and looked up saying: "Just like when we were young..."
Their first meeting.
His jacket had become hers then too.
She loved this feeling, how no matter when or where, it felt like Sheng Yuxiao belonged completely to her.
There was joy in possessing someone.
There was joy in being a little selfish.
Sheng Yuxiao remained silent as he finished applying the medicine.
Then he stood up to wash his hands, removing the strong medicinal smell.
"Little Duck? Little Duck, are you in there?" Xu Ruying's voice called from outside the tent.
Sheng Yuxiao had just walked back to Zhang Ruoshui's side when he stopped in his tracks.
Zhang Ruoshui called back loudly: "Just a moment."
Then she looked up, meeting Sheng Yuxiao's gaze.
"But we're grown up now, and we're dating, so it can't be just like when we were young, right?" Zhang Ruoshui asked softly.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, with an inexplicable excitement, as if she had finally opened the door to another world she had never seen before.
Sheng Yuxiao bent down slightly and said: "Right."
Then he suddenly lowered his head and kissed her lips.
Zhang Ruoshui was stunned for a moment.
Oh?
So this is what it feels like.
Warm, soft...
Sheng Yuxiao's muscles tensed as he moved his lips: "Is this okay?"
What if Little Duck just didn't want him to be with anyone else, but had never thought about being this intimate with him...
Zhang Ruoshui smacked her lips and said: "Kiss me again, I haven't quite figured out the taste yet."
Sheng Yuxiao: "..."
He suddenly raised his hand to support the back of her neck and kissed her more forcefully.
It was completely different from the previous kiss.
There was a roaring in their ears from the celebratory noise of the bonfire party outside, while their breaths mingled together. It seemed that even in the most chaotic world, two people could create their own private sanctuary.
She could clearly smell the shower gel on Sheng Yuxiao.
It had a botanical scent.
Sheng Yuxiao finally revealed the assertiveness and aggression of an adult man.
Zhang Ruoshui found herself short of breath and instinctively placed her hand on the back of his neck.
The temperature transmitted through his skin to her fingertips.
It was scorching, blazing hot.
It was Sheng Yuxiao's devotion.
"Little Duck? Aren't you done yet? Are you very tired? Do you need to sleep?" Xu Ruying's voice called again from outside the tent.
Sheng Yuxiao released his hold, patting Zhang Ruoshui's head one last time before letting her go completely.
He asked: "Have you figured out the taste now?"
"Now I have," Zhang Ruoshui said softly.
Sheng Yuxiao smiled, his eyes twinkling with light.
He bent down in front of Zhang Ruoshui and said: "I'll carry you out on my back."
"Carry me again?"
"Yes, we don't want to rub off the medicine we just applied."
Zhang Ruoshui thought this made sense and happily climbed onto his back, wrapping her arms around his neck.
She really loved Sheng Yuxiao!
When they emerged, they startled Xu Ruying.
"Sheng Yuxiao is here too?" Xu Ruying was surprised, "Little Duck, did an insect bite your lips?"
Sheng Yuxiao glanced up: "I bit them."
Xu Ruying: "Haha, what a joke!"
