’What a scumbag...’

’No, wait, a scumbag *ape*!’

’He already has a wife and kids, but he’s still hung up on his first love.’

’Depressed to the point of a hunger strike?’

Yang Qi was speechless.

[Host has been detected arriving at a Friend Sect]

[Task Triggered: A "Black-faced Spirit Ape" with a heavy heart has been discovered. Host, please resolve the issue as soon as possible to help it recover, make a name for yourself, and enhance the sect’s reputation.]

’There it is!’

The system really did have a response mechanism.

Red Star Zoo had become a "Friend Sect."

Back in Donghua, Tong Xiaoyue had been designated as an "Outer Sect Elder." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

But once Yang Qi arrived at Red Star and was treated with formal courtesy, the designation was immediately changed to "Friend Sect."

All he could say was that the system was very flexible in its assessments.

...

He took a slow breath to steady his mind.

Yang Qi continued to communicate with Ah Wu through his thoughts.

"I can understand how you feel, missing your previous mate. But it’s not right for you to stop eating and ruin your health."

[Well...]

Ah Wu lowered his head again, wrapping his long arms around himself. He looked ashamed and dejected as he responded in a low voice.

[I just can’t control it.]

[My heart hurts. I don’t want to eat anything.]

"I understand."

Yang Qi softened his voice, speaking in the comforting tone of someone who’s "been there." "I also think about my first partner from time to time."

These words seemed to strike the softest spot in Ah Wu’s heart.

He lifted his head, his brown eyes lighting up. His earlier listlessness vanished as he eagerly gestured and called out to Yang Qi.

[Really?]

[Two-legged Beast, was your first partner beautiful?]

He seemed to have found a kindred spirit and even added, with a hint of pride:

[My first partner was very, very beautiful.]

[Her fur was black and glossy, and her eyes were like stars.]

"In my eyes, she was the most beautiful too."

Yang Qi played along.

’That first love of his...’

’Never mind, better not to bring it up. He was young and completely blind back then.’

[Exactly!]

Ah Wu grew even more excited, as if he’d met a rare confidant. He nodded repeatedly and gestured wildly, temporarily forgetting his troubles.

"But."

Seeing that the emotional groundwork was laid, Yang Qi’s tone shifted. He tucked away that trace of "reminiscence" and looked at the male ape with a serious gaze. "It’s normal to think about your first partner, and it’s normal to feel heartbroken. But it’s wrong for you to stop eating. You still want to see her again, don’t you?"

Ah Wu nodded vigorously, his eyes filled with longing.

"Then think about it."

Yang Qi didn’t hold back. "Look at you now—your fur is dull, and you’re completely listless. When you finally see your first partner again, will she be happy, or will she be disgusted? Will she even recognize you? Maybe she’ll see you in this state and not know who you are at all!"

[Well...]

Ah Wu was stunned by the question. It seemed he had never considered the problem from this angle.

He pictured himself appearing before that beautiful figure from his memories, looking gaunt and pathetic...

A sudden shiver ran through him. A look of clear shame and panic crossed his face as he frantically shook his head and cried out.

[No, no.]

[I can’t let her see me like this.]

[I... I’ll eat right now. I have to get my strength back.]

’Success!’

Yang Qi relaxed inwardly.

Without delay, he walked a few steps away, took two ripe bananas from a tray of fresh fruit on the nearby rockery, and walked back to offer them to Ah Wu.

"Here, eat some bananas first and get some energy. Once you’ve eaten, you’ll have the strength to think about other things."

[Thanks.]

Ah Wu thanked him a bit sheepishly. He reached out a long arm to take the bananas, skillfully peeled one, and began to eat it in large bites.

Although he didn’t seem to be savoring it with particular relish, he was at least eating voluntarily.

For an ape that had been on a hunger strike for over two days, this was undoubtedly a huge breakthrough.

Outside the enclosure, Huang Leqing and the others watched through the glass, completely dumbfounded.

"He... How did he do that?"

A young veterinarian rubbed his eyes in disbelief. "It looked like he just went in, stood there, and ’talked to himself’ in Ah Wu’s direction for a few minutes? And Ah Wu just... just started eating?"

"I didn’t see him use any special food or props. Those are just regular bananas," another researcher added, completely bewildered.

"Weird. This is too weird. It doesn’t align with any conventional principles of behavioral correction," someone muttered under their breath.

"Hmph."

From the sidelines, Zhou Jing couldn’t help but let out a soft scoff. With her chin held high, she said, sharing in the glory, "I told you all. Yang Qi’s nickname, the ’Druid,’ isn’t just for show—it’s backed by real results. Just because you can’t do something doesn’t mean he can’t! See? He solved it just like that, didn’t he?"

Hearing this, the few veterinarians and researchers who had previously dismissed Yang Qi’s claims of "animal communication" flushed slightly, looking embarrassed.

But they couldn’t refute the facts before their eyes, and their expressions grew complicated.

"Incredible... Absolutely incredible..."

Huang Leqing seemed oblivious to Zhou Jing’s words and paid no mind to the others’ reactions.

He stared intently at Ah Wu eating the banana inside the glass enclosure and at the composed Yang Qi beside him, muttering unconsciously.

"There must be some kind of behavioral induction mechanism we don’t yet understand... or maybe pheromones?"

"Jingjing."

Tong Xiaoyue glanced at Zhou Jing, signaling for her to tone it down.

Zhou Jing stuck out her tongue and fell silent, but she couldn’t hide the smug look on her face.

Tong Xiaoyue had specifically sought out Yang Qi.

If Yang Qi had been unable to solve the problem, or even find its cause, Tong Xiaoyue’s reputation would have been somewhat affected.

But now, with a single move, Yang Qi had gotten the male ape to eat a banana.

What did that prove?

It proved that Tong Xiaoyue had an excellent eye for talent!

...

Seeing that Ah Wu had started eating and was temporarily stable, Yang Qi didn’t disturb him further. He quietly deactivated the "Basic Spirit Communication Technique" and walked out through the staff passageway.