At the same time.

At the various observation points outside the Panda Hall and inside the surveillance room, everyone watching the scene unfold through cameras and telescopes held their breath.

"Look, Tuantuan is ignoring him."

"I told you so. How could going in empty-handed possibly work?"

"It looks like Yang Qi is out of ideas..."

"Come on, Brother Qi!"

...

Inside the enclosure, Yang Qi let just the right amount of "helplessness" and "disappointment" show on his face.

He sighed, stood up, and brushed the grass clippings from his pants. "Alright then," he said. "Since you don’t want to go out, I’ll be leaving first. Take your time eating."

[Go on, go on.]

Without even lifting its head, Tuantuan casually waved a paw as if shooing away an annoying fly.

Yang Qi turned and walked slowly toward the exit, his back looking rather "lonesome" on the surveillance monitors.

Most of the onlookers outside sighed, thinking this attempt was likely going to end in failure.

However, just as Yang Qi was a few steps away from the exit, his fingers, hanging by his side, discreetly and quickly reached into the "Hundred Pouches Belt" at his waist. His fingertip touched a small, pre-prepared piece of "Vitality Nutrient Cream" that had been diluted with a little water.

He then lowered his hand, letting it swing naturally with his arm’s movement.

An extremely faint, yet uniquely sweet scent with a fatal attraction for beasts, immediately began to drift silently from his fingertip. It wafted through the air toward the giant panda behind him, which was still engrossed in chewing a tender bamboo shoot.

Tuantuan’s movements abruptly froze!

Its round nose twitched quickly and forcefully a few times. Its black-bean-like eyes flew wide open, erupting with an unprecedented glimmer of desire and urgency.

It suddenly lifted its head to look at Yang Qi’s back as he was about to step out the gate, and a hurried grunt escaped its throat.

[Two-legged Beast, wait for me.]

Yang Qi heard it, but not only did he not stop, he acted as if he hadn’t heard anything and quickened his pace slightly, just about to step through the gate.

Now Tuantuan was getting really anxious!

It let out a "WOOF," scrambling up from the ground with clumsy yet swift movements. It didn’t even bother to drop the leftover bamboo shoot in its paw. It started chasing after Yang Qi with its signature pigeon-toed gait, THUMP THUMP THUMP.

As it chased, it didn’t forget to call out urgently.

[Wait, Two-legged Beast!]

[You have something good on you, it smells so good!]

[Let me have a bite!]

Under the dumbfounded, breathless gazes of all the "spectators" outside the enclosure, the national treasure that usually found moving a single step too tiring actually, voluntarily, and even eagerly chased Yang Qi out of the gate.

"He’s out! He’s really out!"

"Holy crap, Tuantuan actually came out on his own!"

"How did Yang Qi do it? He clearly didn’t do anything just now."

"I told you Brother Qi could do it, didn’t I? Hahaha..."

...

In the surveillance room and hidden corners, a wave of irrepressible gasps and praise erupted. Everyone’s faces were filled with disbelief and excitement.

[Admiration from the Sect Leader, Contribution Points +25]

[Praise from the General Affairs Hall Master, Contribution Points +30]

[Acclaim from the Spirit Beast Hall Master, Contribution Points +35]

...

A smile touched the corners of Yang Qi’s lips. He slowed his pace slightly, allowing the "THUMP THUMP" of the pursuit behind him to draw closer.

When it was just over three meters away, he continued walking forward.

[Two-legged Beast, wait!]

Tuantuan called out anxiously, its pigeon-toed steps picking up speed. Its round, rolling body swayed back and forth, and it actually managed to cover a considerable distance.

Yang Qi figured that was about enough. He then acted as if he had "heard" the call, turning around to face Tuantuan and walk backward.

He didn’t use the "Basic Spirit Communication Technique" again. Instead, he spoke aloud, "Tuantuan, no need to see me out. Go on back now."

As he spoke, he even gave the giant panda a friendly wave.

Tuantuan: "..."

It tilted its big, round head, its small eyes within the dark patches filled with confusion.

’What’s with this Two-legged Beast?’

’Wasn’t he able to "talk" with me just a moment ago?’

’Why can’t he suddenly understand me anymore?’

Although it couldn’t understand what exactly Yang Qi was saying, that unique, faint yet tantalizing aroma was still there, and its source was this Two-legged Beast!

Tuantuan was just lazy, not stupid. It immediately determined that Yang Qi had a "treasure" on him.

So, it ignored Yang Qi’s "incomprehensible" words and continued its determined pursuit, letting out pitiful, coquettish whimpers.

Yang Qi was laughing inwardly but maintained a look of incomprehension on his face, guiding Tuantuan along the planned route.

Only after they had walked some distance did he stop as if in "sudden realization." He made an "eating" gesture at Tuantuan, then spoke into his walkie-talkie.

"Sister Hu, it seems Tuantuan is hungry and wants to eat. Could you please prepare some apples and bring them to... hmm, the intersection over there."

On the other end of the walkie-talkie, Hu Jing, who had been nervously watching the situation, was taken aback. "Huh? Bring apples now?"

But the experienced Veterinarian next to her reacted faster. Leaning closer to the walkie-talkie, he said in a low voice, "Xiaohu, go get the apples, but don’t deliver them directly. Yang Qi is doing this on purpose; he wants to make Tuantuan walk a bit more. Wait until Yang Qi has led Tuantuan around the whole route, then give the apples to him."

Hu Jing understood instantly and quickly replied, "I get it."

She immediately turned and jogged off.

...

On the park’s main path, the evening light was soft, and the streetlights had not yet fully turned on.

Yang Qi led the giant panda on, sometimes quickening his pace for a few steps to make Tuantuan chase anxiously, other times slowing down to let it catch its breath, but never allowing it to get truly close.

While whimpering and "begging for food," Tuantuan unknowingly followed Yang Qi, walking a rare long distance of over a hundred meters in its "bear-life."

The people in the surveillance room and at the various observation points watched this magical and slightly comical scene, all of them clicking their tongues in amazement and unable to hold back their laughter.

Finally, when Yang Qi had led Tuantuan around the entire planned route, the Veterinarian’s voice came through the walkie-talkie.

"Xiao Yang, that’s about enough time. The first exercise session shouldn’t be too strenuous."

Yang Qi understood. He smiled at Tuantuan, who was still following closely behind him with eager eyes, then quickened his pace toward the intersection not far ahead.

Hu Jing was already waiting there, holding two washed apples. Seeing Yang Qi and Tuantuan trailing behind him, she was both excited and amused.

Yang Qi walked briskly to Hu Jing and took the apples.

The moment he turned his back to Hu Jing and the surveillance cameras, he very quickly smeared the last bit of "Vitality Nutrient Cream" from his fingertip evenly over the surface of the two apples.

Then, holding the apples, he turned back to face Tuantuan, who had stopped and was staring at him with sparkling eyes.

"Here, Tuantuan. You must be tired. Have some apple."

Yang Qi handed over the two apples that had been smeared with the "bait."

Tuantuan immediately extended a furry paw and carefully took the two apples. It habitually brought them to its nose first and gave them a good sniff.

"MIE~?"

It let out a cry of confusion and pleasant surprise.

’This apple smells... pretty much the same as the ones I usually eat?’

’No, wait. If I sniff carefully, there seems to be a tiny hint of that intoxicating aroma I was chasing just now.’

’It’s very, very faint, but it’s definitely there.’

Tuantuan couldn’t figure out where the scent came from, nor could it be bothered to try.

For a giant panda, when there’s something delicious in front of you, you just eat it!

"CRUNCH~"