Chapter 5

"Patient's breathing is getting weaker! The quicksand is still sinking!"

"Rope is secured! Prepare to pull upward!"

"Everyone pull! Maintain balance!"

The rescue team's shouts echoed across the desert.

I could feel the rope wrapped tightly around my body, slowly being pulled upward.

On the sand nearby, Aria leaned against Ethan, acting cute for the camera:

"Ethan, make sure you film me looking good. Adjust the filter to something soft. Add a desert adventure background music—it'll definitely go viral."

Ethan didn't hesitate. He immediately adjusted the phone settings, specifically choosing sand dunes as the background.

"Don't worry, I guarantee you'll look like a desert princess. The views will be amazing."

While the rescue was underway, he even had the mind to discuss video captions with Aria. They were planning how to describe their "expedition adventure" to attract more likes.

A rescue team member saw this scene, frowned, and walked over to remind them:

"Sir, there's an emergency rescue happening here. Please keep quiet. The patient isn't out of danger yet. Please be mindful of the situation."

Ethan looked up with displeasure.

"What's wrong with filming a video? We're not interfering with your rescue!"

The team member was left speechless and could only shake his head and walk away.

The rescue made quick progress. I was successfully pulled from the quicksand and lifted onto a rescue stretcher.

Aria made a heart gesture at the camera, then pouted:

"Ethan, the rescue fee is so expensive. I don't think it should come from our research budget. Shouldn't she pay for it herself? I don't want to spend extra money for no reason."

Ethan immediately turned off the camera and held her hand.

"You're right. It has nothing to do with us. She's the one who carelessly sank in. If anyone should split the cost, it should be her. We're not paying."

Aria smiled and leaned on his shoulder.

"Ethan thinks of everything!"

This scene was witnessed clearly by Director Zimmerman from the Research Institute, who had rushed over after receiving the satellite call.

Several core researchers and medical personnel hurriedly descended from the helicopter he'd arrived on.

His presence made the noisy desert instantly quiet.

Director Zimmerman walked straight up to Ethan. He stopped, his voice ice-cold:

"You're Quinn's boyfriend?"

Ethan was editing vlog footage, looking up in confusion:

"Yeah, why?"

Director Zimmerman glanced at me lying weak on the stretcher, his face livid. Without a word, he signaled to the security personnel behind him.

Several guards immediately stepped forward and grabbed Ethan by the collar.

Ethan's face turned pale with fright as he struggled and shouted:

"What are you doing? Trying to assault someone in broad daylight?"

Director Zimmerman's eyes were practically shooting flames.

"Quinn is a national key postdoctoral researcher! She holds core data for a national-level desert ecology research project! Her safety directly impacts the project's success, yet when her life hung by a thread, you haggled over prices and focused on filming vlogs for followers?"

"I've already had the institute pay the full rescue fee and deployed a professional medical team! And you, as her boyfriend and the expedition team leader, sabotaged a national key research project out of selfish interests?"

He kicked Ethan's leg with all his strength. Ethan stumbled and fell to the ground, his phone flying out of his hand.

Aria screamed, trying to dodge, but was blocked by another guard.

Director Zimmerman pointed at Ethan and roared:

"Restrain this man! Immediately file a case for sabotaging a national key research project! All project losses and data risks caused by his delayed rescue will be legally compensated! I'm telling you, his life is over!"