Chapter 16

The short-distance field sampling trip organized by the research institute this time brought the researchers involved to an area with an aeolian landform. Jasmine's data team and Cassian's geomorphology team happened to be taking the same route, so they ended up setting off on the same bus. Cassian was still as lively as ever, joking around on the bus and making several elderly scholars laugh. However, he seemed to become an entirely different person upon arriving at the sampling site. He was always the first to carry the heavy sample collection boxes. He was also always the first to climb up any steep slopes that the teams needed to traverse and secure an anchor point, after which he would turn back to help up the people behind him. He thoughtfully distributed water to everyone and reminded them to pay close attention to their water intake under the hot sun. He also made sure to take care of one of the more elderly researchers, ensuring that the latter could record data from a re