Since we are all reborn, let’s arrest the senior!

Jiang Zimei practically threw herself at Lele's side, her hands trembling as she cradled the child in her arms, her skin ice-cold to the touch. Lu Mingze quickly took off his scarf and wrapped it around the child's bluish-purple lips, but then noticed a gray shadow curled up beside Lele—it was a shivering little puppy, its hind legs covered in dark red scabs, its still-warm belly pressed against Lele.

"So it was to save the puppy." Jiang Zimei's voice trembled as her fingertips brushed against Lele's frozen eyelashes. A series of hurried footsteps approached from afar. Three boys wearing woolen hats parted the reeds, and the leader froze at the sight, the silver whistle around his neck swaying in the wind and snow.

"Did you injure the puppy?" Lu Mingze's gaze was piercing as he stared at the boys' mud-splattered sneakers. The boy in the red beanie suddenly turned his face away, while the other tall, thin boy wrung his hands anxiously: "We just wanted to take it to the vet. It escaped from a dog meat restaurant, and its leg got caught in a clamp."

The silver-haired boy took off his whistle, its metallic edge gleaming coldly in the twilight. "My name is Lin Ye," he said, "I'm a volunteer at the animal rescue center." He pulled a first-aid kit from his backpack and deftly treated the puppy's wounds. "This kid insists on staying with it; no matter how much I try to persuade him, he won't leave."

As they spoke, Jiang Zimei had already fed Lele a few sips of hot ginger soup from a thermos. The child's eyelashes trembled, and he weakly clutched her clothes: "Sister... Xiao Hui can't die." The sound of sirens came from afar, and Lele's mother stumbled into the reeds, collapsing to the ground the moment she saw her son.

Lin Ye placed the bandaged puppy into a specially made insulated box, looked up at Jiang Zimei, and said, "This child is very kind-hearted. If you'd like, our rescue station can provide volunteer opportunities." Suddenly, two teenagers behind him yelled, "The boss is kidnapping child laborers again!"

When they returned to the orphanage, the director was organizing the children to decorate the corridor with snowflake lanterns they had just made. Warm yellow light shone through the cut-out colored paper, projecting snowflake patterns onto the walls. Duo Duo, clutching her lantern, timidly approached, her eyes lighting up when she saw the puppy in Jiang Zimei's arms: "Its eyes are like stars!"

That evening, Jiang Zimei and Lu Mingze stayed at the orphanage to take care of Lele. The child had a high fever and kept murmuring "Little Gray." Lu Mingze cooked millet porridge and gently blew on it to cool it down. Outside the window, the wind and snow lashed against the makeshift roof, making soft, mournful sounds.

In the early hours of the morning, a series of urgent knocks broke the silence. Lin Ye, covered in snow, stood at the door, holding a small, panting puppy in his arms: "Its condition has worsened, and the pet hospital has lost power." Jiang Zimei immediately entrusted the child to Lu Mingze and rushed into the snowstorm with Lin Ye.

When they arrived at the rescue station, the person on duty was a young man wearing round-framed glasses, with cartoon bandages clipped to his white coat pocket. "My name is Xu Nan, a third-year veterinary student," he explained while examining the puppy. "It needs a blood transfusion, but the supply is insufficient."

Lin Ye suddenly rolled up his sleeves: "Use mine, my blood type matches itss." Jiang Zimei looked at the crisscrossing scratches on his arm, recalling his skillful way of treating wounds. Xu Nan pushed up his glasses: "You just had a tetanus shot last week."

"Enough with the nonsense." Lin Ye turned his head to the side, letting Xu Nan draw blood. Jiang Zimei noticed that the corner was piled with unopened pet food, with the words "To the Homeless Children" printed on the packaging and signed "Mingyue Foundation".

As dawn broke, the puppy was finally out of danger. Lin Ye dozed off in his chair, unmelted snowflakes still clinging to his eyelashes. Jiang Zimei draped a blanket over him and noticed a sharply written note in the register: Lin Ye, 17 years old, guardian deceased.

Back at the orphanage, Lele's fever had subsided, and she and Duoduo were watching the snow from the window. Lu Mingze, wearing an apron and with flour on his nose, came out of the kitchen: "Freshly baked brown sugar cookies, to help the little hero recover." Behind him, a clay pot was bubbling away, wafting the aroma of angelica and astragalus.

Around noon, a black van pulled up in front of the orphanage. A middle-aged man in a suit and tie stepped out, holding a black umbrella; his eyes, behind his gold-rimmed glasses, were piercing. "I'm a director of the Mingyue Foundation. I've heard about your animal rescue efforts," he said, handing over his gold-embossed business card. "We're looking for partners to establish a mutual support program for stray animals and children."

Lin Ye appeared behind Jiang Zimei without her noticing, his pupils contracting slightly upon seeing the logo on the business card. He clenched his fists, his nails almost digging into his palms: "Director Chen, what refined taste you have! Three years ago, on a snowy day like this, you personally took me to the juvenile detention center."

The air froze instantly. A cold glint flashed in Director Chen's glasses: "Lin Ye, it was all to help you reform." He turned to Jiang Zimei, "These troubled youths don't know how to be grateful, Miss Jiang, you'd better not..."

"Lin Ye isn't a problem child!" Duo Duo suddenly rushed out from behind the door, clutching a crumpled piece of drawing paper in her hand. "He secretly brings us snacks every month and even taught me how to bandage stray cats!" The children gathered around, chattering about Lin Ye's good deeds.

Jiang Zimei took Duoduo's drawing. In the picture, a boy wearing a silver whistle was leading a group of small animals, and huge snow lanterns were falling from the sky. She looked at Lin Ye's reddened ears and suddenly understood why the pet food from the rescue station always arrived on time late at night.

Lu Mingze brought over freshly brewed ginger tea, the steam blurring Director Chen's glasses. "Mr. Chen," he said, "perhaps we can collaborate from a different angle." He pulled a thank-you card drawn by Lele from his pocket. "Children need role models, and stray animals need help. Isn't this a win-win situation?"

The snow outside the window had stopped sometime ago, and the setting sun edged the clouds with gold. Lin Ye stroked the soft fur of the puppy, listening to the children discussing what to name it. Jiang Zimei placed a steaming hot brown sugar biscuit into his hand, and in the warm yellow light, the blush on the tip of the boy's ears was gentler than the sunset.

As dusk fell, Director Chen's car slowly drove away. He touched the revised cooperation agreement in his briefcase, recalling Lin Ye's stubborn gaze in the juvenile detention center, and suddenly realized that some lights can never be extinguished by restraint.

As the first snowflake lantern was lit, the puppy let out a clear bark. Jiang Zimei leaned on Lu Mingze's shoulder, watching the children crowd around Lin Ye asking for bandaging tips, and suddenly realized that the snow and wind of this winter were all meant to make these warm encounters even more precious.

On the distant street, stray cats gathered, following the glow of the lanterns, their footsteps creating strings of plum blossom patterns on the snow. Xu Nan hurried over, carrying a first-aid kit; the cartoon bandages in his white coat pocket swayed gently with each step.

With the launch of the collaborative project with the Mingyue Foundation, a makeshift animal rescue shed was erected in the orphanage's backyard. Jiang Zimei and Lu Mingze led the children in painting animal patterns on wooden boards with colored paint. Duoduo tiptoed to add whiskers to the kitten pattern, while Lele carefully colored the puppy pattern with a brush. Lin Ye leaned against the shed frame, giving instructions. The silver whistle around his neck swayed gently with his movements, but his gaze occasionally drifted towards the distant wall.

As dusk deepened, a modified van pulled up outside the orphanage, its side emblazoned with the words "Wild Wind Stray Animal Rescue Team." The door opened, and three familiar figures stepped out—the same boy they'd met in the reeds that day. Akai, wearing a red hat, jumped out, clutching a cardboard box: "Boss! We've brought the equipment for the makeshift operating room!" The tall, thin Ajie dragged several woven bags from the van, filled with cat and dog food. "What's going on here?" Jiang Zimei asked, wiping the paint off her hands as she approached. Lin Ye scratched his head, his ears turning red: "I...I talked to them about the collaboration. These equipment and supplies are considered our rescue team's investment." Akai squeezed in, winking at Jiang Zimei: "Actually, the boss has wanted to help the orphanage for a while. Last time he saw you making shelters for the stray cats with cardboard boxes, he talked about it all night."

Lin Ye kicked A Kai, his ears turning bright red, and turned to help move things. Jiang Zimei watched his busy figure, remembering the unopened pet food she had seen at the rescue station that day, and suddenly understood many things.

Just as everyone was busily setting up, a screeching sound of brakes shattered the tranquility. A white SUV pulled up at the entrance, the door opened, and a woman in a mink coat and a young man in a suit stepped out. The woman, wearing ten-centimeter heels, pinched her nose and surveyed the surroundings: "This is the project you're going to collaborate on? It's filthy, covered in germs from stray animals!"

The young man adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze lingering on Lin Ye for a moment. "Mom, this is a key project for the Mingyue Foundation, and Dad attaches great importance to it." He turned to Jiang Zimei, giving her a professional smile. "I am Chen Mingyu, the son of Director Chen. I've come to check on the project's progress."

Lin Ye's face turned pale instantly, and the veins on his hand gripping the wrench bulged. A-Kai sensed something was wrong and stepped in front of him, saying, "If you're going to look, then look, but don't talk nonsense!" Chen Mingyu glanced at Lin Ye, a cryptic smile playing on his lips, "Lin Ye, long time no see."

Jiang Zimei keenly sensed that the atmosphere was not right and quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Mr. Chen, we are about to take the children to do the final decorations for the shelter, would you like to join us?" Just as Chen Mingyu was about to speak, the lady suddenly screamed: "Ah! A rat!" She staggered backward, her high heels got stuck in a crack in the stone slab, and she fell forward.

At the critical moment, Lin Ye rushed over and caught her. The lady, still shaken, patted her chest and said, "I was so scared! Children shouldn't be brought to places like this!" Chen Mingyu's face darkened as he stared at Lin Ye's hand supporting his mother. "Lin Ye, you still love to show off."

Lu Mingze walked over with two cups of hot tea: "Mrs. Chen, you must be frightened. Have some ginger tea to warm yourself up." He handed the tea to the lady and calmly met Chen Mingyu's gaze. "Our project has strict hygiene standards, and we do a thorough disinfection every week. Moreover, interacting with animals can cultivate children's love and sense of responsibility."

Just then, Duoduo ran over carrying Little Gray, the bandage on the puppy's leg clean and white. "Auntie, look, Little Gray is so well-behaved! It can use its own pee pad!" Duoduo looked up, her eyes sparkling. Little Gray seemed to sense its little owner's nervousness, wagged its tail, and came closer, gently rubbing against the lady's hand.

The lady's expression softened, and she reached out to pat Little Grey's head. Chen Mingyu's eyes flickered slightly as he watched his mother's rare smile.

As night fell, the shelter was lit up with snowflake lanterns made by the children themselves. The warm yellow light shone through the colored paper, casting various adorable animal patterns on the snow. Lin Ye stood in the shadows, watching the children's joyful figures, and a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

Jiang Zimei quietly walked up to him: "Actually, Chen Mingyu's attitude today seems to be more than just because of past conflicts?" Lin Ye smiled self-deprecatingly: "He's disliked me since we were kids. My dad was the driver for his family's company. A car accident... Never mind, let's not talk about that."

Jiang Zimei was about to say something when she suddenly heard Lele's exclamation. They turned to look and saw an orange cat with an injured hind leg hiding in the corner, its eyes wary. Lin Ye immediately crouched down, slowly extended his hand, and gently called out to it. The orange cat hesitated for a moment, then cautiously approached and rubbed against his palm.

"Its leg is badly injured and needs immediate treatment." Lin Ye picked up the orange cat and ran towards the makeshift operating room. Jiang Zimei and Lu Mingze exchanged a glance and followed.

In the operating room, Xu Nan had already prepared the medical instruments. The orange cat gradually calmed down under Lin Ye's soothing touch, and Xu Nan began to carefully examine the wound: "It was caused by someone; someone cut it with a sharp object." Lin Ye's eyes instantly turned cold, and his nails dug deeply into his palm.

Just then, Chen Mingyu walked in, followed by several men in suits. "I heard there are new wounded?" He glanced at the orange cat on the operating table. "I know the best veterinarians; how about we take it to the city's vet?"

Lin Ye stared coldly at him: "No need, we can handle it ourselves." Chen Mingyu shrugged: "Don't be ungrateful, I'm doing this for the good of the project. If word gets out that the medical conditions here are poor, it will damage the foundation's reputation."

“Mr. Chen!” Jiang Zimei interrupted him. “Our team is professional, and every animal here is as important as a member of our family.” She picked up the shivering orange cat and gently stroked its fur. “What it needs is not cold medical equipment, but warmth and a sense of security.”

Chen Mingyu stared blankly at Jiang Zimei's determined gaze, suddenly lost in thought. He remembered when he was a child, his mother would only have a nanny take care of him when he was sick, and she never touched him so gently.

The surgery went smoothly, and the orange tabby was placed in a warm cat bed. The children gathered around and named it "Orange." Dodo placed her favorite ball of yarn next to the cat bed and whispered, "Orange, don't be afraid, this is your home from now on."

Late at night, while on patrol, Jiang Zimei found Lin Ye sitting alone on the roof of the rescue shelter, gazing at the starry sky. She gently climbed up and sat down beside him: "What are you thinking about?" Lin Ye was silent for a moment: "I was thinking, if my dad were still alive, he would definitely like it here."

Jiang Zimei looked at the profile of his face, the moonlight casting a soft halo around him: "Your father must be so proud of you." Lin Ye turned his head, his eyes sparkling: "Actually, I've always wanted to thank you. You've shown me that I can also be a light for others."

Suddenly, a burst of urgent barking shattered the silence. They looked down and saw Kai and Jie rushing into the yard carrying a Labrador Retriever covered in blood: "Boss! It got hit by a car!"

Lin Ye immediately jumped down and rushed into the operating room. Jiang Zimei and Lu Mingze also quickly sprang into action, preparing surgical supplies. Chen Mingyu had also arrived at the operating room door at some point, watching the busy figures inside with a complex expression. (End of Chapter)