Yu Jingjing froze in shock and rubbed her eyes. Two seconds later, she sprang up with a meow, tears streaming down her face as she rushed toward Ye Ruan.
Ye Ruan had barely caught the black cat and staggered back two steps from the impact when Yang Xiaomian and He Zhou pounced on him too. They all tangled together and fell into the snow.
"Little Ye Ruan! Little Ye Ruan! Waaah!"
"Captain, Captain!"
"Captain... awooo..."
He Zhou burst into howling sobs, burrowing his canine head into the crook of Ye Ruan's shoulder.
Pinned beneath them, Ye Ruan couldn't get up. He looked up at the gloomy sky, shivering as snowflakes landed on his forehead.
"I can't breathe..." he said helplessly.
They hurriedly got up and helped Ye Ruan to his feet, supporting him on either side.
Si Ning came out at the commotion. Seeing Ye Ruan standing there unharmed, the black lines gone from his face, he smiled faintly.
"You're better?"
Ye Ruan nodded. "Yes."
Lu Yao walked around them and headed inside.
"Let's not waste time. Tell us which direction Gu Cheng and the others went. The blizzard's over now. Let's find them."
Inside, Cai Hao was discussing something with several researchers around the stove.
Cai Hao wasn't surprised at all to see the two of them. He didn't even have the energy left to swear.
"Headquarters contacted me yesterday and said you two had run off. I knew you'd come."
Cai Hao pinched the bridge of his nose, gave the older researchers a brief introduction in Inuit, then got down to business.
"We were just putting together a search-and-rescue team to find them. Perfect timing, Ye Ruan-you'll lead it. The other search-and-rescue team Headquarters sent will arrive a little later."
Ye Ruan nodded and held out his hand.