She looked at Xia Zhining again, the tenderness in her eyes even clearer, like spring water breaking through the ice:
"I heard that they have all grown up to be...very outstanding."
Xia Zhining's nose suddenly stung, her eyes instantly reddened, and tears welled up unexpectedly, swirling within them.
She blinked hard, trying to suppress the slight dampness.
Xia Tang raised her hand, her fingertips carrying the slight coolness unique to the laboratory, and gently, with utmost tenderness, stroked Xia Zhi Ning's warm cheek. It was a touch of extreme restraint, yet brimming with unspoken words.
She withdrew her hand, pointed to the silver box that concerned countless people's ability to celebrate the New Year in peace, and her tone returned to its usual professionalism:
“Go, Expert Xia. Return it to the ‘victim’.”
Xia Zhining sniffed and nodded emphatically.
As she turned to pick up the box, she thought of the Mr. Gu, the president who was in a terrible predicament because of the stolen reagents and could be considered the biggest "victim" in this incident. She almost couldn't help but smile, her lips twitching upwards. She quickly pursed her lips, afraid that she would actually laugh so hard that she would burst out laughing.
She carried the suitcase and walked briskly towards the door.
Behind her, Xia Tang stood quietly, her gaze following her daughter's back with tenderness until the door was gently closed.
The laboratory returned to silence, with only the soft hum of the instruments and a silent warmth in the air, a feeling of "reunion is in sight."
*
The next day.
Xia Zhining solemnly handed the silver reagent box to Gu Huaiye.
A light touch of the fingertips, and they're gone in an instant.
The box was cold, but his palms were warm.
"Thank you all for your hard work."
Gu Huaiye took it, his voice steady, but his gaze lingered for a moment longer on her slightly tired yet bright face.
Secretary Jiang immediately stepped forward, took the box, and handed it over to the fully armed security team.
The team will escort the reagents to the airport overnight to complete the final leg of their journey home.
Ji Shuyun stood beside her sister, her gaze sweeping over Gu Huaiye like a scanner, her tone devoid of emotion: "President Gu isn't personally escorting the shipment? The reagents are of utmost importance."
Upon hearing this, Gu Huaiye turned to look at him, a knowing yet composed smile playing on his lips: "Officer Ji, rest assured, the escort team is top-notch, and the procedures will be flawless. I'll stay here."
He turned his gaze to the Oroqen hunters who were packing their belongings not far away, "I still need to finalize this year's medicinal herb contracts with these old friends."
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes nearby.
Immediately afterwards, the little red fox that Xia Zhi Ning had rescued earlier and was forced to act as "bait" poked its head out from behind the snowdrift.
Behind it, there were actually several small figures following.
A sable with something in its mouth, a snow hare hopping around, and even two round squirrels, each holding something in their arms.
To everyone's astonishment, the little animals lined up and walked up to Xia Zhining, carefully placing the things they were holding in their mouths and arms neatly on the snow at her feet.
The red fox flicked its bushy tail, raised its dark, bright eyes, and spoke in a soft, sweet voice:
[Sister~ This is a thank-you gift that we all chipped in on!]
[Thanks to my sister for catching Professor Lin, otherwise we would definitely be dead!]
Xia Zhining looked down and was completely stunned.
On the snow, there was a pile of—
A wild ginseng root with complete hairs and beard, in excellent condition;
A lingzhi mushroom, deep purple in color and thick like a small umbrella;
Several plump, glossy pine cones;
There were even a few pieces of unidentified tree fungi with a warm color and a delicate fragrance.
These are all the most precious and hard-to-find natural treasures from the mountains and forests of Northeast China!
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