I raise furry animals and fly them to my motherland.

Chapter 332 Capable in both formal and informal settings

The little sand cat was working extra hard today, digging more than thirty holes of varying depths in the sand, even rubbing its pink paw pads until they turned red.

Xu Ying gently lifted the little guy's paw, rubbing it tenderly with her fingertips, and said with a tender reproach, "Why are you working so hard today? Actually, completing ten pits would have already met the goal~"

The little sand cat twitched its round ears. "[Sister Stationmaster, I want our home to become even more beautiful!]"
It looked at Xu Ying with its big, wet eyes, ["Every additional hole dug means one more plant can be planted."]
Xu Ying felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing this. Even small animals understood the importance of protecting their home, which made her sigh that some people were not as sensible as this little creature.

"You've exceeded your work target by three times today!" Xu Ying tapped its pink little nose. "Take a good rest tomorrow."

The little sand cat wagged its tail anxiously, [No! I feel uncomfortable when I'm idle.]
It suddenly stood up on its hind legs, its two front paws rapidly gesturing in the air as if digging in the sand, [Look how fast I can dig! I can dig even more and more holes!]
Its tiny paws moved so fast they almost left afterimages, and its earnest little expression made Xu Ying burst into laughter, tears welling up in her eyes.

Just then, the roar of an engine was heard in the distance.

A modified off-road vehicle sped by, kicking up dust, and came to a smooth stop in front of the campsite with a beautiful drift.

The car door opened, and Qi Xiaoli jumped out, the hem of his black windbreaker fluttering in the wind.

He raised his hand to adjust his signature cowboy hat, revealing a pair of sharp, eagle-like eyes beneath the brim, exuding a wild and handsome aura.

As the head of the camp's vehicle fleet and ace pilot, Qi Xiao had just completed a long-distance supply transport mission and rushed over without even having time to change out of his flight suit.

He casually picked up a thermos from the car, which contained chilled plum juice and several boxes of still-steaming food.

"Here, it's something to cool you down in the summer."

Qi Xiao handed the plum juice to Xu Ying, and the water droplets condensed on the bottle slid down his well-defined fingers.

Xu Ying took the drink, her eyes crinkling into crescents: "Thank you, Boss Qi~ Another mission today?"

Qi Xiao gave a soft "hmm" and his gaze fell on the little sand cat in her arms.

The little guy was pitifully holding up his two front paws, his paw pads tinged with an abnormal red.

He crouched down and gently touched the cat's ears with his rough fingertips: "Did you dig this hole?" His voice carried a hint of amusement. "What a clever little thing."

Upon hearing this, the little sand cat immediately raised its head, puffed out its chest, and even the tip of its tail twitched proudly, as if to say, "Of course."

Qi Xiao chuckled softly, took a small tin box from his pocket, scooped out some ointment, and applied it to its pink paw pads. Xu Ying blinked in surprise, leaning closer to look at the small tin box in Qi Xiao's hand: "You even have ointment like this?"

Qi Xiao gently smoothed the ointment with his index finger, a slight smile playing on his lips: "A traditional folk remedy passed down through generations."

He paused, then twirled the tin box in his palm. "It can be used by both animals and humans, and the effect is quite good."

The little sand cat squinted comfortably and rubbed against his palm.

Qi Xiao casually scratched its chin, then looked up at Xu Ying: "If you want it, I'll teach you how to make it."

Moonlight streamed through the brim of his cowboy hat, casting dappled shadows on his angular face.

Xu Ying unconsciously laughed along, her voice light and cheerful: "Okay~" The last syllable rose slightly.

As dusk settled, the campfire crackled, casting long shadows of the two people and the cat.

After Qi Xiao finished applying the medicine to the little sand cat, he suddenly stood up and said, "Wait a minute," before striding towards the supplies tent.

A short while later, he returned carrying a sewing box and some pieces of cloth, and sat down cross-legged by the firelight.

Xu Ying curiously leaned closer, and the little sand cat in her arms perked up its ears. She saw Qi Xiao's slender fingers holding silver needles, which moved nimbly in the warm yellow firelight, and the fabric obediently changed shape in his palm.

"What are you doing?" Xu Ying couldn't help but peek out and ask, and the little sand cat also peeked out and meowed.

Qi Xiao didn't even look up, the needle and thread flowing smoothly between his fingers: "Didn't the little sand cat's claws turn red from digging in the sand?"

He bit off the end of the thread, unfolded a delicate little cloth cover, and said, "I'll sew it a pair of cat paw gloves."

Xu Ying took a look and saw that the dark brown canvas outer layer was durable, but the inside was sewn with a soft cashmere lining.

Qi Xiao then took out several small metal claw sleeves from his pocket and carefully sewed them onto the front of the fabric: "These materials can withstand the friction of sand and gravel."

Qi Xiao sat cross-legged on the moisture-proof mat, with the needle and thread fabric spread out on his knees.

He would occasionally beckon to the little sand cat: "Come here, let's take your measurements."

The little sand cat immediately trotted over and obediently raised its front paw.

Qi Xiao gently cradled its furry little paws in his large palm, his fingertips carefully measuring the size of the paw pads.

"Meow~" The little sand cat felt ticklish from being petted, and its paws involuntarily opened up, like a blooming plum blossom.

It curiously peeked out, its pink nose almost touching the needle and thread in Qi Xiao's hand.

"Stop fooling around." Qi Xiao gently tapped its wet nose with his knuckles. The little sand cat immediately shrank its neck, but still tried to hook the dangling thread with its paws.

The ball of yarn was tossed about and rolled a long way, leaving a winding trail on the sand.

Xu Ying couldn't help but chuckle, reaching out to pull the mischievous little one back into her arms: "If you keep causing trouble, I won't give you gloves."

The little sand cat immediately became obedient, burying its head in her arms with a pitiful expression, only revealing its big, round eyes to peek at Qi Xiao's movements.

A night breeze swept by, bringing with it the crisp sound of bellflowers in the distance.

Qi Xiao's cowboy hat brim cast a flickering shadow in the firelight. He frowned slightly, concentrating intently on sewing the metal claw sheath onto the fabric.

The little sand cat was so engrossed in watching that it unconsciously imitated his expressions, its scrunched-up little face making Xu Ying laugh.

"It's sewn up."

Qi Xiao held up the finished cat paw gloves. The dark brown canvas gleamed warmly in the firelight, and the metal claw tips were delicately embedded in the fabric, making them both practical and adorable.

The little sand cat couldn't wait any longer; its fluffy little paws scratched anxiously in the air, [Give it to me! Give it to me!]
The sand cat excitedly pricked up its ears and eagerly put its paws into the glove, but in its haste, it got its paws tangled in the yarn.

"Slow down."

Qi Xiao's deep laughter mingled with the crackling of the campfire as he patiently and gently untangled the little guy's knotted threads.

Xu Ying rested her chin on her hand and watched this scene, the firelight dancing in her smiling eyes.

I never expected Qi Xiao to be able to fly a helicopter and sew gloves. He's truly a man of many talents, both in the living room and in the kitchen.

When the little sand cat finally managed to put on the gloves, it immediately strutted around in the sand, creating a few little plum blossoms, and then hopped and skipped around the two of them, its tail held high, like a victorious little general.

[Perfect fit, looks great!]
(End of this chapter)