The white rescue drone slowly descended.
Qiao Nan finally saw the logo on its body, Xunnan Technology’s dark blue icon, highly recognizable, printed on the tail fin.
“It’s Xunnan’s latest rescue drone!”
Qiao Nan murmured, looking up.
“My brother must be here.”
The rescue drone, several times larger than a regular aerial photography drone, hovered above and to their side.
The faint humming sound from its rotating rotors filled them with a sense of security.
Zhao Yutong slumped onto the ground, looking up with him at the drone overhead.
“Your brother is truly a savior, like a Bodhisattva. When I get out of here, I’m willing to write an 800-word essay praising him.”
The two sat in the rain, looking utterly disheveled, but their eyes sparkled with intense vigor.
Pei Xu stared intently at the remote control’s display screen.
“First, send them the supply package and walkie-talkie.”
Then, remembering something, he added, “I’ll do it.”
He took over the remote control from the pilot.
Once the rescue personnel had attached the supply package and walkie-talkie, he skillfully manipulated the joystick, controlling the drone to fly towards Qiao Nan’s location.
The winding mountain road twisted and turned.
The drone rounded several bends and finally hovered in front of Qiao Nan.
It was a black drone, gracefully hovering in front of Qiao Nan, neither too high nor too low, not too far nor too close—just within reach for Qiao Nan to grab the walkie-talkie and supplies, creating a gentle illusion.
Qiao Nan reached out to unhook the supply package and, somewhat nervously, took the walkie-talkie.
“Hello?”
He tentatively called out, “Brother? Is that you?”
The familiar voice, converted into electromagnetic waves, reached Pei Xu’s ears.
The moment he heard Qiao Nan’s voice, Pei Xu’s tightly constricted heart seemed to finally break free from its shackles and expand again.
His heart pumped warm blood to his limbs, and only then did Pei Xu feel his floating soul return and regain control of his body.
“It’s me.”
His voice was slightly hoarse, but his tone was steady and resolute.
“The road is cut off by a landslide, so we can’t get through. I’ve already arranged for a helicopter. The supply package has raincoats, food, and hand warmers. You rest right where you are; I’ll be there to pick you up soon.”
Hearing the voice he had longed for, Qiao Nan’s nose immediately stung.
He quietly took a breath to suppress the urge to cry, but his hoarse voice still carried an undisguised sob, “Old Li and the others are still waiting for us. Qiu Ran is sick, and I don’t know how he’s doing. We need to go back first to give them supplies.”
After saying that, he and Zhao Yutong quickly put on the new raincoats and ate two chocolates to replenish their energy, then prepared to head back.
Zhao Yutong carried the remaining supplies, while Qiao Nan held the walkie-talkie tightly, talking to Pei Xu, “They’re sheltering in a cave not far from the Hongya Mountain entrance. Zhao Yutong and I walked for over an hour to get here, originally hoping to find someone to ask for help, but we only got this far before we couldn’t go on.”
At this point, he chuckled, his voice full of reliance, “It’s a good thing you came.”
“I’m late.”
“No, you’re not.”
Qiao Nan confessed the lie he had told, saying with a laugh, “Since you’re here, I haven’t really lied to them anymore.”
Qiao Nan and Zhao Yutong led the way, with the drone following above them.
With the food to replenish their energy and the hand warmers to keep them warm, they returned much faster, reaching the sheltering cave in less than an hour, just in time to bump into Old Li, who had come out to check after hearing the commotion.
Looking at the backpacks on their backs and then at the drone in mid-air, Old Li was so excited he was almost incoherent, “Did… did you find people?”
“Yes, we did.”
Zhao Yutong, having escaped death, was so excited he gesticulated wildly, “We were about to perish halfway, but then Qiao Nan’s brother suddenly appeared out of nowhere!”
As he spoke, he rushed into the cave, shouting, “Comrades, we’re saved!”
Old Li shook his head at his retreating figure, but the smile on his face was impossible to hide, “That’s good, that’s good.”
“How’s Qiu Ran?”
Qiao Nan asked.
Old Li said, “We boiled some water and fed it to him. He looks a bit better, but we can’t delay too long.”
***
Qiao Nan said, “My brother said the road is cut off, so they can’t get in, but they’ve already arranged for a helicopter. It shouldn’t take too long.”
The two entered the cave and saw everyone distributing chocolates and hand warmers.
The drone’s carrying capacity was limited, so under the circumstances, they could only prioritize the most essential supplies.
Fortunately, they didn’t have to wait long. Half an hour later, the rescue helicopter arrived.
Everyone excitedly squeezed to the front of the cave, craning their necks to watch, their previous despondency and despair completely vanished.
One crew member descended first, followed by Pei Xu, who also slid down a rope ladder.
He was wearing a gray windbreaker, a helmet, and goggles, but Qiao Nan still recognized him instantly.
“Brother!”
Before he could even remove his helmet, Qiao Nan strode forward and hugged him.
Pei Xu paused, then embraced him without hesitation, with such force that he seemed to want to crush his bones and embed him into his own body.
Only his voice remained gentle, filled with strong reassurance, “It’s okay, it’s okay.”
The powerful embrace made Qiao Nan feel an immense sense of security.
Like an anxious kitten after a setback, he desperately squeezed himself into Pei Xu’s arms, seeking comfort.
Pei Xu continuously stroked his back, his movements gentle and protective, as if he were handling a fragile treasure.
Zhao Yutong watched with envy, quietly asking Wu Meng beside him, “If I shouted ‘Dad’ right now, do you think I’d get a hug of love?”
He crossed his arms, feigning weakness, “I’m scared too, and I really need comfort.”
Wu Meng couldn’t help but roll his eyes at him.
The rescue helicopter had limited capacity and would need to make two trips to take everyone.
The first trip prioritized the four girls and two boys with severe colds.
Old Li, Zhao Yutong, and another male student in better condition stayed behind with Qiao Nan and Pei Xu to wait for the second rescue team.
Fortunately, when the helicopter arrived, it also brought a huge supply package filled with clean blankets, clothes, and food and water, so waiting wasn’t too difficult.
The clothes were all prepared in large sizes.
Qiao Nan found his a bit big; he simply rolled up the sleeves and pant legs, then, hugging a hand warmer, he sat down next to Pei Xu, clinging to his brother as if he had no bones.
Pei Xu pulled him closer into his embrace, making him more comfortable.
“Are you uncomfortable anywhere? The helicopter will take them directly to the hospital; it’ll probably be a while before it’s back. Do you want to sleep?”
“My feet hurt,” Qiao Nan complained.
“I must have walked too much and gotten blisters.”
There were no shoes in the supply package, so Qiao Nan was still wearing his original shoes.
His blue and white basketball shoes were soaked in mud and water, unrecognizable from their original state.
“Let me see.”
Patting the back of his neck to tell him to sit up, Pei Xu found a towel and clean water, then took off Qiao Nan’s shoes to check his wounds.
The shoes had been worn for too long, and the abraded skin had stuck to his socks.
Qiao Nan hissed, drawing a sharp breath, and complained, leaning on Pei Xu’s shoulder, “It hurts.”
Pei Xu paused his movements, then even more carefully peeled off his socks.
Qiao Nan’s feet were originally very beautiful, with slender ankles and fair skin, only his toes showing a faint pinkish hue.
But now, his tender soles had several blisters, and the broken wounds, having come into contact with dirty water, were a ghastly pale white, looking quite horrifying.
Pei Xu frowned deeply.
Since they thought they’d be picked up quickly, no emergency medicine was prepared in the supply package.
He could only use mineral water to clean the dirt from the wounds first, “I’ll clean your wounds first. It might sting a little.”
Qiao Nan mumbled a little “Oh” in a wronged voice, “Then be gentle.”
Pei Xu softly hummed in acknowledgment, lowering his head to meticulously clean the wounds.
His movements were very careful, probably afraid that Qiao Nan would feel pain.
He would occasionally blow gently, showing no hint of disgust.
When Qiao Nan was little and scraped his knees, Pei Xu would also clean his wounds like this, gently blowing on them to comfort him.
The warm breath wafted over his sensitive soles, and Qiao Nan curled his toes, feeling a belated sense of awkwardness.