After Felicia finished treating Stephan’s injuries, she was about to pack up the medical kit when he stopped her.

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt somewhere else?”

Stephan didn’t answer. Instead, he reached out, grasped her calf, and began untying her shoelaces. He seemed intent on removing her shoes.

Felicia froze, then realized what he was doing. She quickly pulled her foot back, her face flushing. “What are you doing? Let go!”

“Don’t move,” Stephan ordered firmly, continuing to remove her shoes. “The blisters on your feet need to be treated too.”

“I can do it myself… Really, I’ll take care of it. Let go…”

She felt awkward, not just because he wanted to treat her feet, but for another reason. After days of walking and running through the rainforest, her feet, encased in her shoes, had been hot and sweaty. The thought of their odor made her want to disappear.

But Stephan… she was speechless. However, he wasn’t wrong. They had shared far more intimate moments than this. What was there left to be embarrassed about?

With a resigned sigh, she stopped resisting; she didn’t really have much choice. Stephan held her legs down firmly with one hand while deftly removing her shoes with the other.

A pair of red socks appeared. Originally white, they were stained crimson from the repeatedly blistered and broken skin on her feet.

Stephan’s movements faltered; his brows furrowed.

Felicia didn't think much of it. Assuming the socks were stuck to her wounds, she bent forward to pull them off herself.

To her surprise, he stopped her. From the medical kit, he retrieved a…

Felicia felt no pain, only an unbearable ticklish sensation on her soles. She wanted to laugh but held back. Stephan cradling her feet with such reverence, as if handling a priceless treasure, left her flustered and speechless.

Just what was he thinking?

Leaning back against the cabin wall, Felicia raised her hand to cover her eyes.

No one spoke. Only the steady hum of the helicopter blades filled the air.

Meanwhile, Stanley exchanged glances with his two subordinates. Without a word, they reached the same conclusion—they had to secure Felicia’s favor. Nothing else mattered.

Just then, a soft beep came from the communication device. Miraculously, the signals disrupted by the magnetic field had been restored.

Whether this was due to subsiding seismic activity or their leaving the peculiar rainforest, no one knew. Either way, it was good news.

With the restored signal, Stanley contacted personnel outside the rainforest. The other teams scattered within the rainforest began regrouping at the designated meeting point.

After another half hour of flying, Stanley, monitoring the ground below, spotted a clearing with several tents. He shouted excitedly, “We’re here! Prepare to land!”