The little star from the Gobi Desert, handed over to the state, is hailed as a national treasure.

During her recovery at the base, Shen Ruowen used her skillful hands to draw patterns, embroider handkerchiefs, and knit scarves for the female soldiers. She got along well with many people, especially her roommate Xing Yuxiu, who took extra care of her.

Sweetie was already loved by everyone at the base, and Shen Ruowen would come to play with the little girl whenever he had free time.

Although Tian Tian is naturally intelligent, she lacked playmates her own age from a young age. Even though the adults at the center doted on her, they would only play simple games with her, such as building sandcastles. The stories they told were always the same few, which could no longer satisfy a child's curious nature.

Shen Ruowen's appearance brought a whole new color to her life. Every time they met, Shen Ruowen would find a new way to make the little girl happy.

For example, take out a handkerchief, fold it three or two times to make a little mouse, and have Sweetie blow on it.

Although Tian Tian didn't understand, she still obediently puffed out her cheeks and blew—and the little mouse darted forward in her palm with a "whoosh," as if it had come to life.

Sweetie had never seen such a novel game before, and she clapped her hands with delight: "Amazing! Auntie, let the little mouse run again!"

"Then blow another breath!"

"Okay!" Sweetie blew hard again, and the little mouse darted out once more. Shen Ruowen pretended not to catch it, letting the "little mouse" dart around in her palm. Sweetie was amused and laughed heartily, clutching her belly and unable to straighten up.

Besides origami, Shen Ruowen can also perform shadow puppetry. With her hands clasped together and her fingers moving nimbly, she can conjure up a dove with outstretched wings, a hopping puppy, or a peacock with its tail feathers spread.

Sweetie watched intently, pestering her to perform it again and again.

Besides that, she can easily make paper frogs, paper cranes, paper ponies, and even fold paper boats, put them in the washbasin and let them float with the current, which makes Tian Tian's eyes widen in amazement.

In just a few days, Shen Ruowen completely won over Tiantian's heart with these novel ways of playing. Even at night, Tiantian would murmur in her dreams, "Aunt Shen, I want more little boats..."

Li Guihua, who was in charge of taking care of the child, seemed to have fallen out of favor. She was a down-to-earth person who didn't know any fancy tricks; she only knew how to knit sweaters and sew shoe soles, and she spoke of the simple truths passed down from the older generation. Naturally, the child was closer to the person who could play with him, and soon became Shen Ruowen's "little shadow."

However, Li Guihua did not let her guard down. No matter how much fun Tian Tian and Shen Ruowen were having, she stayed by their side without leaving for a moment. The last time Tian Tian sneaked out had left her with lingering fears, and this time, no matter how much the child pleaded, she would not let the child out of her sight.

On the morning of the 17th, a tense atmosphere pervaded the entire base. With less than two hours to go before the first full-system test of the "Changjian" engine, all the personnel remaining at the base waited quietly for this moment with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

Even the usually composed Li Guihua was somewhat uneasy, occasionally looking up in the direction of the experimental field, hoping for good news from afar.

After finishing breakfast, Shen Ruowen came to see Tiantian again, leaning on her cane. Tiantian was sitting on the bed playing with a kaleidoscope, which was also Shen Ruowen's handiwork. She used three pieces of glass to make a prism, and put shredded candy wrappers inside. When the sunlight shone on it, it was colorful and very beautiful.

Shen Ruowen smiled at Li Guihua and sat down on the bed to play with Tiantian. Li Guihua sat by the door, mechanically knitting a sweater while keeping an eye on the sounds coming from the loudspeaker.

Just past nine o'clock, a burst of hurried and chaotic footsteps abruptly shattered the silence.

Immediately afterwards, an urgent call blared from the loudspeaker: "Technician! Technician! Please assemble at the pond immediately! Piping has occurred at the bottom of the pond! I repeat, technicians, please assemble at the pond immediately! Piping has occurred during the pipeline construction!"

Li Guihua's expression changed drastically, and she abruptly stood up. Shen Ruowen also stopped what she was doing and looked out the window.

"Something's happened!" A young soldier ran breathlessly past the barracks, shouting along the way, "The pond is leaking! Water's flowing back in! Quick, find the senior technician!"

Li Guihua's heart sank. The engine test was at a critical moment, the main force was at the front line, and the irrigation project at the rear had suddenly encountered a dangerous situation. This was undoubtedly a fatal hidden danger for the base.

If the pond were to burst its banks, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Her concerns were shared by all those who remained. The sounds of footsteps and shouts outside quickly increased, clearly alerting the remaining personnel.

Just then, a voice came over the loudspeaker, instantly silencing the noise: "Comrades, this is Gao Yanzhou. I have the situation under control. Now, everyone, follow my orders!"

Since Professor Zheng Hong was admitted to the hospital, Gao Yanzhou has been the temporary person in charge of the project. As soon as he spoke, the originally panicked crowd quieted down instantly, and everyone subconsciously stopped and waited for his instructions.

"A piping failure in the pipeline system could potentially impact several nearby main water supply pipelines."

All on-duty personnel from the pipeline network team, engineering teams one and two, and any available personnel from the logistics support team, assemble at the pond!

"Prepare sandbags, water pumps, and emergency leak-sealing materials! Notify the maintenance team to bring all the welding and cutting machines! The surveying team, with blueprints and water pressure monitoring equipment, should be there within five minutes!"

His instructions were clear and unambiguous, and almost all the personnel that could be mobilized in the living quarters rushed out and headed towards the pond. After a brief period of commotion, an unusual silence fell over the area around the barracks.

Hearing the commotion outside quickly subside, Shen Ruowen's face showed a worried expression: "Sister Li, it seems something serious has really happened. Aren't you going to check on it?"

Li Guihua shook her head, her gaze never leaving Tian Tian: "I don't understand the technology; I'd only be a hindrance if I went. I'd better stay here with Tian Tian."

"That's true." Shen Ruowen nodded, then turned to Tiantian, "Tiantian, do you want to go watch the fun?"

Before Tian Tian could answer, Li Guihua frowned, her tone clearly displeased: "Reporter Shen, there's a rescue operation underway. Why are you sending such a young child to join in?"

"Sister Li, don't misunderstand." Shen Ruowen smiled, but her eyes held a deeper meaning. "Tian Tian isn't an ordinary child, is she?"

"What do you mean?" Li Guihua narrowed her eyes warily.

"It doesn't mean anything," Shen Ruowen said innocently. "I just thought that maybe Tian Tian could figure it out with just one glance, and then even the biggest danger could be easily resolved."

Alarm bells rang in Li Guihua's mind. Reason told her that Shen Ruowen's words might not be without merit; with Tiantian's special abilities, she might indeed be able to help. But a strong intuition warned her: she absolutely could not let Tiantian get involved in this matter, otherwise, it would endanger the child's safety.

Thinking of this, Li Guihua's face darkened, and she said coldly, "Reporter Shen, you should go back to your room and rest. We're close to the pond, and if the dam breaks, I'll have to take Tiantian to safety. Your foot injury makes it difficult for you to move around, so it's safer for you to go back."

These words were clearly an order to get rid of him.

Shen Ruowen wasn't annoyed and replied with a smile, "Alright, since Sister Li has spoken, I won't bother you any longer."

She bent down, gently patted the sweet little head, and said softly, "Sweetie, Aunt Shen has to go back now. Say goodbye to Auntie."

Clutching the kaleidoscope, Tian Tian blinked her big, watery eyes, looking puzzled. "Aunt Shen, aren't you going to play with Tian Tian anymore?"

"I'll spend time with you again next time, sweetie." Shen Ruowen smiled, reached out and hugged Tiantian, kissing her soft little face.

Seeing how doting she was on Tian Tian, ​​Li Guihua's displeasure subsided slightly. She picked up the bowl of sea buckthorn berries from the table. "Reporter Shen, take some of these berries with you..."

Before the words were even finished, an unexpected event occurred!

Shen Ruowen suddenly pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and abruptly covered Tiantian's mouth and nose.

Caught off guard, Tian Tian didn't even have a chance to struggle before her little head tilted to the side and she instantly fell asleep on Shen Ruowen's shoulder.

"Clang!" The bowl in Li Guihua's hand fell to the ground with a thud, and bright red sea buckthorn berries rolled all over the floor.

"Shen Ruowen! What are you doing?!" Li Guihua's eyes were bloodshot. Without thinking, she reflexively pulled out a pistol from her bosom and pointed it directly at Shen Ruowen!

—Although she came from a civilian background, her years of military service had already honed her marksmanship to an excellent level.

Upon seeing the gun, Shen Ruowen's eyes flashed with surprise, which quickly turned into sarcasm: "Oh, Sister Li, so you were already on guard against me?"

"You really are suspicious!" Li Guihua said sternly. "The commander instructed me to keep a close watch on you! I never imagined you were a spy!"