I listened to my sister's words today.

Wen Changqing rushed into the office. The room was full of documents and printed materials. He flipped through them quickly and carefully, fearing that he would miss even the slightest clue.

Several heavy books were casually spread out on the table, and the pages were being turned quickly.

While comparing it with the high-definition close-up photos that had just been leaked on the Internet, I was secretly anxious in my heart: How does this look like a fox?

It didn't even look like a canine! The hair, face shape, and body shape all didn't match up. He almost began to doubt whether this was the object he had initially guessed.

Staring at the white creature in the photo, he frowned slightly.

The face is as round as a cat's, but the mouth looks awkward, neither as short and delicate as a cat's, nor as slender as a dog's.

Even more puzzling are online comments – those who claim to have touched the creature generally mention that its fur is incredibly soft, which is in stark contrast to the fur of a fox.

"Cat? Fox? Small? Soft-fur?" Wen Changqing muttered to himself, piecing these characteristics together in his mind, but he still couldn't come up with a clear answer.

He paced back and forth restlessly, his thoughts drifting like pieces of paper in the wind.

Suddenly, as if struck by lightning, he stopped in his tracks, his eyes lighting up, "That's right!"

He rushed to the bookcase in two steps, opened the glass door, and quickly pulled out a thick "Encyclopedia of Extinct Creatures".

The pages of the book were flipping quickly, and the sound of paper rubbing against each other was particularly clear in the quiet office.

I stared at the illustrations and text in the book, quickly scanning each entry until - "Eureka!"

His finger stopped at the page for "Southern California Cats and Foxes" and he almost knocked over the teapot on the table with excitement.

He held his breath and read the description in the book carefully:

The Southern California cat-fox, a small mammal that was once thought to be extinct in 1900, was officially declared extinct by the World Health Organization in 1903, more than 120 years ago.

The cat-fox's ears are relatively large, but due to the proportions of its round face, they are not as conspicuous as those of the expanded-eared fox.

It is relatively small in size, with the body length of an adult generally not exceeding 50 cm.

The book describes that the fur on the back of an adult cat-fox is usually light yellow or yellow-gray, turning gray-brown in winter. Regardless of the season, the fur on its belly remains white, and the fur on its tail is mostly light yellow or yellow-gray, with a black tip.

However, the color of the cat-fox's fur that suddenly appeared should be due to genetic problems, especially the blue and red eyes, which are its important symbols.

These details are like puzzle pieces, gradually forming a complete picture in Wen Changqing's mind.

The more he read, the more excited he became. However, when he wanted to continue looking for more information, he found that the description came to an abrupt end and there was no further record.

Wen Changqing stared blankly at the few short lines of text, his throat tightening.

Gripping the corners of the book tightly, my thoughts raced: This information might be the key to solving the mystery!

Has this creature, which has disappeared for more than a century, really reappeared in human vision?

Looking down at the photo again, it was as if I was looking into those mysterious red eyes through the paper, and an indescribable emotion surged in my heart.

My hands were shaking slightly, not out of fear, but out of a mixture of excitement and anticipation. I couldn't wait to see it with my own eyes.

Wen Changqing stared at the last paragraph of the document, his heart burning with anger, almost wanting to smash the table.

The text was unbelievable, yet so true.

Cat-foxes have always been a species that is almost extinct. Their reproductive capacity is almost unimaginably low. Generation after generation, half of the cat-fox population has never been able to reproduce in their lifetime. (Original text)

Every inch of their fur, and even every part of their body, contains amazing medicinal value. (Original text)

Once upon a time, a superb cat-fox with fur as lustrous as silk was sold at auction for a staggering $1 million, becoming a luxury item sought after by wealthy businessmen. (Original text)

The double blow of overhunting and regional development has caused their habitats to disappear.

It is outrageous that due to the preciousness and medicinal value of its fur, its existence has been almost wiped out. (Original text)

There are very few pictures, let alone specimens, because the fate of those caught is to be processed on the spot and sent directly to the auction. (Original text)

The fur of the cat-fox is dense and soft, like fine wool, and has a calming effect, attracting countless wealthy businessmen from all over the world. (Original text)

They spared no expense to buy it just to own the soft fur, and his anger almost made him unable to calm down.

These unscrupulous businessmen, knowing full well that this rare species is on the verge of extinction, still indulge their greedy desires, do not protect it, but instead hunt it on a large scale.

Every time he heard similar news, he couldn't let it go. Those creatures that had disappeared could no longer be saved.

He slammed the table hard, and the fierce sound seemed to pour out the anger in his heart.

Then, he hurriedly picked up the phone on the table and quickly dialed the hotline of the Longguo Wildlife Conservation Organization.

A teasing voice soon came from the other end of the phone: "Hey, Lao Wen, why are you free to call me at noon today?"

"Old Ji!" Wen Changqing had no time to joke with him. His tone was serious, "The situation is urgent. Immediately mobilize all available police forces and personnel!

A Southern California cat-fox was discovered online. It has been extinct for over 120 years and is likely now in a wildlife park in Beijing! We must organize efforts to protect it immediately!

Dean Ji on the other end of the phone instantly stood up from his chair, his voice stunned for a second: "What? The Southern California cat-fox that has been extinct for over 120 years?"

"How is this possible! Are you sure? You're not kidding, are you?"

"Old Ji, I can't confirm 100% that it is a cat-fox, but from the leaked photos, it looks almost identical to the extinct cat-fox!"

Wen Changqing's tone was filled with determination and anxiety. "Even if it's not true, we can't let our guard down. If we wait to find out the truth before taking action, it might be too late. You know the seriousness of this matter!"

Dean Ji took a deep breath, obviously moved by Wen Changqing's tone. After a moment, his tone became serious: "Okay, you are right. If it is true, this is the reappearance of a prehistoric species. We have missed this opportunity."

"There may never be a second chance. I will notify the relevant departments and mobilize personnel immediately."

Wen Changqing heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this, but he didn't let down his guard. "Remember, whether it's an extinct species or not, it must be strictly protected. Hurry up. I'll be waiting for your news here."

"I understand!" Dean Ji responded, and suddenly chuckled again, "Your old bones, can still keep up? Don't torment yourself, just wait patiently."

Wen Changqing snorted coldly and responded bluntly: "Stop talking nonsense! Act quickly, or don't blame me for not warning you when the time comes!"

Dean Ji on the other end of the phone was filled with doubts when he heard the hang-up sound, but since Old Wen was so urgent, he knew the seriousness of the matter and did not dare to delay any longer.

He immediately began to arrange forces from all sides, preparing to go to the Beijing Wildlife Park to launch an action that could change history.

【Qiyou Flower x1】

(Cat-foxes do exist in world history, but there is very little information available. I asked several university professors and received some blurry black and white photos. They have been partially altered in this novel.)