Chapter 17: The Door Lock Had Been Tampered With

"Suspicious individuals?"

Qi Xiao’s words served as a warning for Xu Ying. The desert management zone was dangerous not only due to extreme weather and wild beasts but, more alarmingly, because of poachers hunting wildlife, criminals evading capture, and hostile foreign forces. Because the desert was vast and sparsely populated, lacking the signal interference and aerial traffic of cities, it often served as a hiding place for sensitive locations like military bases.

Seeing Xu Ying’s brow furrow upon hearing this, Qi Xiao, fearing he had frightened her, quickly added, "Don't worry. If you encounter any danger, you can call me for help." He gestured toward Xu Ying’s phone; he had called her earlier, so her phone already had his number. "I can get here very quickly."

"Thank you! I will be extra careful!" Xu Ying nodded gratefully.

Suddenly, she felt a chill on the back of her hand. Looking down, she saw that Little Five, the youngest fox in her arms, was staring longingly at the baby bottle on the table, drooling right onto her hand. She had been so preoccupied with safety concerns that she had nearly forgotten the cubs were waiting for their meal. Yet, as the smallest of the litter, the cub was remarkably well-behaved; it knew that Sister Xu and Qi Xiao were discussing something important, so it didn't make a peep.

Xu Ying picked up the bottle and placed the nipple near Little Five’s mouth. The tiny cub immediately clutched the bottle with its little paws, drinking with rhythmic gulps. Before long, it had all four paws wrapped around the bottle, much like a koala hugging a tree, terrified that someone might snatch it away. This protective little display was so adorable that Xu Ying felt like planting a big kiss on its forehead.

Holding