Chapter 228: Chapter 227: If You Call Me, I’ll Be Free

The desert night was chilly, and Qi Xiao served a bowl of steaming hot tomato egg soup.

“Drink it while it’s hot.”

The golden egg flowers floated in the rosy broth, and he gently pushed the bowl towards Xu Ying.

Xu Ying eagerly picked up the bowl, feeling the warmth spread from her fingertips.

She paid no heed to manners, gulping down mouthfuls as the hot soup slid down her throat, dispelling fatigue and hunger.

With the fragrant rice, Xu Ying ate with her cheeks bulging slightly, the loose strands of hair on her forehead swaying gently with her movements.

Qi Xiao watched her wolfing down the food, his lips involuntarily curving into a gentle smile, his eyes filled with a hint of laughter.

“Eat slowly, no one’s going to take it from you.”

He said softly, and casually placed a large chicken drumstick into her bowl.

When Xu Ying was almost done eating, Qi Xiao brought in a brand-new laptop bag from beside him.

“Professor Ye and Qin Yan have formulated a comprehensive Snow Lotus planting plan.”

“I helped bring the files and materials back from West Mountain this time.”

He deftly took out the notebook from the bag, its silver-gray body gleaming with a metallic sheen.

“This is a work computer from Professor Ye’s team for you, it contains the prepared presentation plan.”

Xu Ying’s eyes were immediately drawn to the laptop. When she saw the brand logo on the body, her chopsticks fell onto the rim of her bowl with a “clatter.”

She was all too familiar with the configuration of this laptop—it was the high-end model she had been yearning for, with a market price of 20,000 yuan!

She had always wanted to visit the digital mall in the city, but never found the time.

Although now she was somewhat well-off, who would mind a free, expensive laptop? Who wouldn’t be happy?

“Just for me?”

She looked up incredulously, her eyes wide like a surprised little animal.

Qi Xiao was amused by her reaction and lightly responded, “Mm”: “Qin Yan and Professor Ye want to know when you’re free to visit West Mountain.”

Saying this, he took out a brown paper envelope from his backpack and waved it in front of Xu Ying, “Do you want to open it?”

Curious, Xu Ying took the envelope and, as she opened the seal, a faint pine scent wafted out.

Inside was a piece of coarse white paper, densely printed with paw prints in various shapes. She immediately recognized these familiar marks.

“This is a Snow Cleaning Weasel’s paw!”

She pointed excitedly to a small plum-shaped print, her voice slightly raised in excitement, “And this is the Snow Mountain Pigeon’s paw!”

Then she recognized a larger print, “This is the Snow Leopard’s paw!”

Xu Ying gently traced her fingers over the marks on the paper, as if she could feel those furry little creatures through the prints.

Qi Xiao watched the brightness in her eyes, his tone unconsciously softening:

“Since you left West Mountain, those little animals come to Qin Yan’s ranger station every now and then.”

He paused here, eyes filled with gentle humor, “Qin Yan thought he had great rapport with animals too, but they kept bringing the dried Snow Lotus flowers you left behind.”

“Even though Qin Yan can’t understand what they’re saying, he can guess they’re asking when you’ll be back to the Snow Mountain.”

After hearing this, Xu Ying’s gaze was visibly moved. She lowered her eyes, the long eyelashes trembling slightly under the light, casting a shadow on her lower eyelid. “I did promise them to visit the Snow Mountain again.”

Xu Ying took out her phone and opened the calendar, her finger scrolling quickly across the screen, “I have a two-day break next week…I’ll see how to take them.”

After the meal, just as Xu Ying was about to get up to clear the dishes, Qi Xiao had already skillfully stacked the tableware.

“Relax and sit down.” He adeptly tidied up the table, not giving Xu Ying any chance to help.

Qi Xiao stood by the sink washing dishes, his leather jacket casually draped over the back of a chair. He was only wearing a fitted black turtleneck sweater, accentuating the sharp lines of his shoulders and back.

However, in stark contrast to his cool demeanor, he was wearing a pink apron with a bunny pattern around his neck—clearly a girl’s size, with ties so thin they pitifully cinched his waist, outlining his lean waistline.

Xu Ying’s gaze unintentionally swept over his tense waistline, the hint of muscles beneath the sweater stopping her breath momentarily.

She then nonchalantly turned away, her fingers unconsciously stroking the Tusun sleeping in her lap, feeling her face warming up.

Had the heater at the rescue station turned on automatically, or was the fur of this chubby “gas can” in her arms too fluffy, making it a little too warm?

“Did you ask Old Yi to find some help from the rescue station?”

Qi Xiao suddenly asked Xu Ying, his hands still busy, water splashing as he washed the dishes.

“If you’re too busy, you can ask me for help.”

He suggested.

Xu Ying tilted her face up, “But, I feel like you’re usually very busy?”

Qi Xiao almost blurted out, “Whenever you call me, I’m free.”

Xu Ying blinked in surprise, tilting her head, “Eh?”

As the words fell, the air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Qi Xiao, realizing what he had said, immediately closed his mouth, and went back to tidying up the cleaned insulated boxes, his actions visibly more flustered than before.

The clanging sound of metal rang through the quiet living area of the rescue station.

The cleaned insulated boxes quickly found their way into the insulated bag, and Qi Xiao carried it to the door.

Xu Ying stared at his slightly reddened ear tips, smiling with her eyes, “I know, if I need help, I’ll ask you.”

Qi Xiao didn’t dare to look directly into her bright eyes, his Adam’s apple moved unconsciously, his voice slightly hoarse, “I’ve delivered everything. I’ll head out, get some rest early.”

With that, he took long strides and headed for the door.

“Wait a moment!”

Xu Ying hurriedly called him.

“Come over here.”

She unconsciously used the tone she usually used to train the little foxes, realizing it was off right after she said it.

But Qi Xiao, as if hearing a command, immediately stopped.

As he turned to look back, the black turtleneck sweater contoured the sharp arc of his neck and shoulders, remarkably similar to the Snow Wolf Xu Ying had seen on the Snow Mountain.

Clearly an outline of defiance, yet bowing softly into a submissive line at the moment.

“What’s the matter?”

His deep voice carried a hint of undetectable hoarseness, his profound Rui Feng eyes slightly downcast, holding a bit of nervousness and helplessness.

Clearly such a tall physique, standing before her, yet inexplicably reminiscent of a large canine retracting its claws, even breathing softly.

Xu Ying pointed to the high-tech electronic door of the rescue station, “Come and record your face recognition, so you don’t have to wait outside for me next time you come to the rescue station.”

Qi Xiao’s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise, then nodded, “Okay.”

After recording the facial recognition, he straddled the motorcycle with his long legs, deftly putting on the helmet, his deep voice coming from beneath it, “I’m off, good night.”

“Good night.”

As Qi Xiao’s motorcycle roared away, Xu Ying turned to look at the electronic door, suddenly remembering something.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep