“That’s good.” Danielle breathed a sigh of relief, the weight in her chest lifting slightly. “You have to be careful. Don’t push yourself too hard.” She wanted to say so much more, but she couldn't find the words.
“I know,” Alexander’s voice was soft. “You take care of yourself over there, too. Don’t worry about me. I’ll come get you after the storm passes.”
“Okay.” Danielle nodded, a lump forming in her throat. A thousand words flooded her mind, but she didn’t know what to say.
“Is there anything else?” Alexander asked gently.
“No, that’s all. You get back to work,” Danielle said. “Remember to take your medicine. Don’t forget.”
“I will. Bye.”
After hanging up, Danielle stood by the window, still clutching her phone, and didn't move for a long time. She couldn’t shake the unease from her mind.
-
The Antarctic night arrived exceptionally early. Outside the research station, the precursors of the extreme cold storm had already appeared. Fierce winds hurled pellets of ice against the outer walls, producing a dull roar as if trying to rip the steel fortress apart.
But inside the station’s core laboratory, the lights were bright. The temperature was precisely controlled, creating a world entirely separate from the brutal cold outside.
“Mr. Davidson, you should get some rest. I can watch over things from here,” Parham said as he pushed open the lab door, holding a cup of hot coffee. “You’ve been working for six hours straight. You’ll wear yourself out.”
Alexander accepted the coffee, a touch of warmth spreading through him from the cup. He took a sip, the rich aroma momentarily chasing away some of his exhaustion. “Alright. Notify me immediately if there are any issues.” He nodded, not trying to be a hero. The high-intensity work of the past few days, combined with his chronic health issues, was indeed taking its toll.
Leaving the lab, Alexander returned to his room. Just as he took off his lab coat, his phone vibrated in his pocket. It was a message from Danielle.
“How is the chip pre-treatment going? Is everything okay?”

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