Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 468: The Gift of the Forest

What she had done was more than just catch a criminal and recover a case of critical reagents.

"Then..."

Nancy looked up at Tammy, her eyes bright with a flicker of cautious hope. "Then... can you come home for the New Year this time?"

Tammy looked at her. Her expression remained neutral, but the usual professional distance in her eyes seemed to soften.

She nodded, her voice soft but carrying an undeniable warmth and certainty. "I will. This year... I finally get a break. I want to go home, too. I really want to see my family."

She looked back at Nancy, the tenderness in her gaze becoming clearer, like spring water breaking through the frost. "I hear they have grown up to be... quite exceptional."

Nancy’s nose stung instantly. Her eyes turned red as tears surged without warning, shimmering in her gaze. She blinked hard, trying to force back the moisture.

Tammy reached out, her fingertips carrying the slight chill of the laboratory. She brushed them against Nancy’s warm cheek with extreme gentleness, a touch that was deeply restrained yet filled with unspoken words.

She pulled her hand back and pointed toward the silver case that held the peace of mind for so many people this season. Her tone returned to its usual professional calm. "Go on, Nancy. Return it to the victim."

Nancy sniffled and gave a heavy nod.

As she turned to pick up the case, she thought of a certain CEO. The man who had been so stressed by the theft that he could easily be called the biggest loser of this entire ordeal. She almost couldn't help it; she smiled, but quickly pressed her lips together, terrified she might actually laugh so hard she would ruin the moment.

Holding the case, she walked toward the door with a light step.

Behind her, Tammy stood still, her gentle gaze following her daughter’s silhouette until the door was softly closed. The lab fell silent again, save for the faint hum of instruments and a quiet warmth in the air that promised a long-awaited reunion.

…

The following day.

Nancy solemnly handed the silver reagent case over to Barry with her own hands. Their fingertips touched for a fleeting second before pulling away. The case was cold, but his palm was warm.

"Thank you all for your hard work," Barry said. His voice was steady, but his gaze lingered a moment longer on her exhausted yet bright face.

Beside him, Jorgan immediately stepped forward to take the case and hand it over to a fully armed security team. This team would escort the reagents to the airport overnight, completing the final leg of the journey.

Simon stood by Nancy’s side, his eyes scanning Barry like a sensor. His tone was neutral. "You aren't following the escort personally? These reagents are a serious matter."

Barry turned to look at him, the corner of his mouth curving into a knowing, composed smile. "Do not worry. The transport is handled by the most professional team; the process is foolproof. I am staying here."

He turned his gaze toward the Oroqen hunters nearby, who were packing their gear. "I still have to finalize this year's medicinal herb contracts with these old friends."

A rustling sound suddenly came from the nearby bushes.

Next, the little red fox Nancy had rescued, the one forced to be a decoy poked its head out from behind a snowbank. Behind it, several other small figures followed.

There was a sable carrying something in its mouth, a hopping snow hare, and even two chubby squirrels clutching items in their paws. Under everyone's surprised gaze, the animals lined up in front of Nancy and carefully placed their gifts on the snow at her feet.

The fox wagged its fluffy tail and looked up with dark, shiny eyes. Its voice was soft and sweet. "Nancy! This is a thank-you gift from all of us! It is a good thing you caught Langstrom, or we would surely be dead!"

Nancy looked down and was completely stunned.

Piled on the snow was a wild ginseng root with all its delicate fibers intact; a deep purple truffle as thick as a small umbrella; several plump, glossy pine cones; and even a few pieces of fragrant, unknown forest fungi.

These were the most precious and hard-to-find natural treasures of the Northeast wilderness!

Seeing so many high-quality forest goods presented at once, the Oroqen clansmen were the first to react. Several veteran mountain foragers quickly knelt down, carefully picking up the truffle to examine it against the light, their fingers trembling slightly.

"Gosh... the shape, the crown... this is a wild find at least fifty years old!"

Experts judged the age of truffles by the scars on the stems.

"I have spent half my life in these mountains and haven't encountered something like this more than a few times. And these little guys just brought it out as a pooled thank-you gift?"

"This truffle... look at the color and thickness. It is top grade!"

Master Crow, who had been watching the spectacle from Nancy’s shoulder, shot down and landed next to the pile of truffles, his bead-like eyes wide with shock.