Chapter 6 Summer Malfunction on the Ice Field (Part 2)

"Why? What happened?" Shi Banxia was still immersed in the confrontation between sadness and restraint, and did not react for a moment.

"The scent of baby seals attracts predators! The seal pack is starting to stir; something's definitely wrong." Ji Rendong grabbed Shi Banxia's wrist and pulled her towards the SUV. "Quick! Get in the car!"

Ji Rendong's hand was still warm. Shi Banxia was being pulled by her and could only stagger behind. She couldn't help but look back again.

Not far from where they had just left, behind a huge patch of floating ice, a massive white figure flashed by.

Shi Banxia's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly realized that Ji Rendong's sudden tension was not an overreaction.

That white figure—it's a polar bear!

As she ran, the cold wind rushed into her throat, but Shi Banxia felt her face burning.

She had just criticized Ji Rendong's almost cold-hearted composure, but now, it was precisely this "cold" caution that protected them in the face of potential danger.

The SUV drove across the silent snowfield, their hearts pounding. The interior was cramped, silence pervaded, and the atmosphere was even more suffocating than the previous close call.

Shi Banxia lowered her head, recalling the strength with which Ji Rendong had grabbed her wrist and the decisiveness with which she instantly sensed danger.

Ji Rendong's statement, "Respecting nature means first and foremost accepting death," may not be a sign of indifference, but rather a deeper understanding and resignation to the laws of nature.

Is one's "empathy" really so naive in the face of nature?

“Banxia…” After a long while, Ji Rendong’s voice rang out softly, with a hint of hoarseness and weariness, “I understand how you feel. When I first encountered this situation, I was even more agitated than you.”

Shi Banxia suddenly raised her head.

Ji Rendong paused, gazing into the distance with a somewhat vacant look, before continuing, "A year and a half ago, my team and I, like you, found a dying Arctic fox cub. We broke the rules and rescued it..."

"As a result, the human scent remained on it. After it was put back in the nest, the mother abandoned it that very night. Later, we discovered that both of the cubs in the nest had frozen to death the next day, one of them bearing wounds from an attack..."

“Banxia…” Ji Rendong’s voice was soft and trembling, “Sometimes, what we call ‘help’ may be the most deadly poison to them.”

"At that moment, I understood that here, rational restraint and resolute decisiveness are more important than impulsive emotions."

This was the first time Ji Rendong had mentioned his past to Shi Banxia.

Shi Banxia noticed that Ji Rendong's eyes were slightly red. She was explaining to Shi Banxia a natural law that she herself had never understood before but now had to bear.

Shi Banxia opened her mouth, and most of her previous grievances and sadness dissipated. She didn't know what kind of feeling this was; it was a complex emotion mixed with understanding, confusion, and heartache.

"I'm sorry, Sister Rendong... I was too harsh with my words just now..." Shi Banxia said softly.

Ji Rendong did not answer immediately. She continued to look out the window. After a while, she slowly said, "You're right. Scientific research can be cold and impersonal at times."

Shi Banxia looked at the picture in the camera lens, her vision blurry. "I'm just very sad..."

Ji Rendong sighed softly, "It is precisely because I am sad that I know what to do."

Ji Rendong lowered his eyes slightly, "Record its coordinates, body shape, and environmental samples, and analyze the cause of its death. Perhaps this can save ten or a hundred future seals. This is the responsible way I have chosen."

Shi Banxia nodded. She wanted to say something more, but in the end she closed her mouth and lowered her head to gently stroke the camera.

Back at the research station, Shi Banxia got off the car first, and Ji Rendong spoke softly behind her: "I gave up photography not because I no longer love it..."

Shi Banxia paused, then turned sharply to look at Ji Rendong, "Why is that?"

Ji Rendong didn't look at her, and walked straight into the room, leaving only one sentence: "Some people choose to stand on the side of recording death and try to stop it; while others choose to remember death and let more people see it."

The door closed gently.

Shi Banxia stood there stunned for a few seconds. Instead of immediately going back to her room, she turned around and went to the communal kitchen to make two cups of black coffee.

Shi Banxia, ​​carrying a cup, arrived at Ji Rendong's room. She hesitated for a moment, then gently knocked on the door.

Shi Banxia pushed open the door and saw Ji Rendong sitting at his desk, a thick observation notebook spread out on it. Shi Banxia walked over and placed a cup of black coffee on the table.

Shi Banxia said softly, "Sister Rendong, thank you for earlier. Can we talk?"

Ji Rendong looked up from his notebook and saw the steaming coffee on the table, and paused for a moment.

“I think I understand what you mean…” Shi Banxia leaned against the table, looking at Ji Rendong.

Ji Rendong slightly turned her head, avoiding Shi Banxia's gaze, "What do you understand?"

Shi Banxia continued, "Perhaps I can't offer help in scientific research... but I can use my camera to show everyone everything that happens here—whether it's cruel or beautiful."

"To let people see, and then understand, and perhaps even be willing to do something for them..."

Ji Rendong picked up the cup and took a sip. The bitter liquid slid down her throat, easing her tense nerves slightly.

“That photo of the baby seal…” Ji Rendong said softly, “You took a very good one…”

Shi Banxia was stunned for a moment; she hadn't expected Ji Rendong to bring this up.

"Its life is gone, but your photos can let everyone know that it once existed." Ji Rendong finally looked up at Shi Banxia, ​​her expression complex. "Sometimes, 'seeing' itself is a kind of power, and I overlooked that..."

Ji Rendong sighed softly, "Banxia, ​​I'm sorry, I neglected your feelings."

This affirmation warmed Shi Banxia's heart. She flashed her signature sunny smile and extended her little finger, making a childish pinky promise.

"So, we've made up, right?"

Ji Rendong watched Shi Banxia's actions, hesitated for a moment, and then actually stretched out his little finger and gently hooked it up.

"Um."

Shi Banxia withdrew her hand, blinked, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "What happened to the Arctic fox cubs...?"

“We have established more comprehensive observation points,” Ji Rendong said calmly.

"At the beginning of the year, we successfully issued an early warning of a large-scale food shortage. The rescue station intervened in time, and the survival rate of Arctic fox cubs in that area increased by 40%."

After saying that, Ji Rendong finally showed his first smile of the day.

This specific data was more convincing than any explanation. Shi Banxia finally understood what Ji Rendong meant by "taking responsibility."

Shi Banxia's eyes sparkled, her tone tinged with anticipation, "Sister Rendong, could I also take some pictures of you at work...?"

Ji Rendong paused, her hand holding the cup still. She coughed lightly twice and looked at Shi Banxia with a hint of doubt.

Shi Banxia quickly tried to explain, "What I meant was... not just to film the environment and small animals, but also to film you and the other members of the research team."

Shi Banxia smiled sweetly, "I also want to record the story you told about 'preventing death,' and to record your figures protecting the polar regions."

Ji Rendong was momentarily dazzled by Shi Banxia's smile. Looking at the photographer who had regained her smile, whose eyes were sparkling and who seemed more composed than before, she smiled gently.

"Okay, but on the condition that you absolutely obey safety instructions."

"Yes! I promise!" Shi Banxia nodded vigorously.

Looking into Shi Banxia's sparkling eyes, Ji Rendong inexplicably thought of Latte acting cute, and she couldn't help but reach out and gently pat Shi Banxia's head.

—Just as I imagined, it was soft.

Shi Banxia froze instantly, her face turning bright red. She stared blankly at Ji Rendong, "Sister Rendong...?"

Ji Rendong then realized what had happened, quickly put her hands back in her pockets, and awkwardly looked away. "Sorry, my apologies..."

Her voice trembled slightly as she looked at the notebook on the table, trying to regain her usual composure, but the slightly reddened tips of her ears betrayed her unease.

In the small room, the air suddenly became warm. Shi Banxia looked at Ji Rendong's unusually flustered appearance, and the surprise in her heart strangely melted into a slight, itchy heartbeat.

Shi Banxia didn't back down; instead, she moved closer, tilting her head and curving her lips into a sly smile.

"It's okay, I don't mind~" Shi Banxia leaned closer, her voice tinged with laughter, "I just didn't expect that Sister Rendong would feel embarrassed at times?"

Shi Banxia's words brushed against Ji Rendong's heart like a feather. Ji Rendong had no choice but to turn around—and met Shi Banxia's sparkling eyes.

The girl's face was inches away, carrying a faint scent of dark cocoa. Their breaths mingled, and Ji Rendong's breath hitched.

Ji Rendong felt a tickle in her heart. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something to maintain her composure as a senior, but in the end she just sighed softly, "...Banxia, ​​go and rest. We have to go out on fieldwork tomorrow."

Shi Banxia slightly distanced herself, gently tidied her hair, and nodded with a smile, "Okay, Sister Rendong, I'll come to see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Sister Rendong." Shi Banxia stood at the door and turned to look at Ji Rendong.

Ji Rendong responded softly, "Goodnight, Banxia."

The door was gently closed.

Ji Rendong stood there, looking down at her hands. She gently rubbed her fingertips, as if she could still feel the softness of the girl's hair and the lingering warmth of this sudden intimacy.

Outside the door, Shi Banxia leaned against the wall, gently touching her burning face. She took a breath of the cool air and walked briskly back into the room.

"What, Honeysuckle Sister...isn't this kind of cute...?"

A note from the author:

Xia Xia/Xiao Dong: Protecting the environment is everyone's responsibility!

Don't worry about the baby seal! The next chapter will talk about its condition.