"Jingjing, I really can’t let you do this. It’s a violation of safety regulations. There’s going to be an accident."

Sun Dawei said to Zhou Jing, his face etched with worry, his tone almost pleading.

"I must not have made myself clear."

Zhou Jing paused for a moment before continuing, "Yang Qi isn’t a tourist. He’s an expert our Zoo specifically brought in to solve animal-related problems."

"An expert?"

Sun Dawei shot Yang Qi a surprised and skeptical look.

’An expert this young?’

’He’s not a con artist, is he...?’

"Hold on."

Zhou Jing thought for a moment, then took out her phone. "I’ll call my aunt and get her approval."

"Wait."

Yang Qi stopped Zhou Jing just as she was about to dial. "Don’t bother Teacher Tong, and let’s not make things difficult for Mr... Brother Sun."

He turned to Sun Dawei, his tone sincere. "Brother Sun, I understand your concerns, and safety is definitely the top priority. I have a compromise, though. What do you think?"

"I don’t need to go into the enclosure. What if I just stay here at the end of the staff corridor and talk to Hua Hua for a bit from behind the iron safety gate? Would that be okay?"

"Well..."

Hearing his proposal, Zhou Jing hesitated. "Will that work through a gate?"

She was under the impression that Yang Qi needed to be much closer to animals to interact with them.

"We’ll find out if we try," Yang Qi said with a smile.

Before, he would have needed to get close for his Ten Thousand Beasts Affinity ability to work effectively.

But things were different now. He had the Basic Spirit Communication Technique.

This Magic allowed him to communicate directly with animals within a certain range using just his thoughts. Distance wasn’t a major issue, as long as he was within the spell’s effective radius and the target animal hadn’t completely shut him out mentally.

The iron safety gate provided a safe buffer and was actually a convenient setup for him to cast his spell.

"Then let’s give it a try."

Zhou Jing considered it. The method was at least safe, and even if it didn’t work, it wouldn’t cause any major problems.

Seeing Yang Qi proactively compromise with a relatively sound proposal—one that Zhou Jing also agreed to—Sun Dawei breathed a sigh of relief. His impression of Yang Qi improved considerably.

He shot Yang Qi a grateful glance and nodded.

"Alright. If you’re just communicating from outside the safety gate without going in, that’s not technically against the rules. Follow me."

With that, he turned and led the way.

Yang Qi and Zhou Jing followed.

The three of them walked down a long, narrow staff corridor flanked by solid concrete walls. The air was thick with the smell of disinfectant and the distinct odor of animals.

At the far end, a heavy metal safety gate with an observation window came into view.

Behind the gate was the leopard’s indoor enclosure.

"Could you two step back a bit?"

Yang Qi said to Sun Dawei and Zhou Jing, his eyes on the faint silhouette of a leopard resting on a perch behind the gate.

"Alright."

Zhou Jing nodded and gestured for the still-uneasy Sun Dawei to move back. They both retreated a few steps.

"Jingjing..." Sun Dawei tried to take the opportunity to speak with her.

"Call me Zhou Jing," she interrupted. "We’re just colleagues, Master Sun."

"..."

The smile on Sun Dawei’s face froze. A flash of disappointment crossed his eyes, his shoulders slumped slightly, and he fell silent.

’What a simp...’

Yang Qi overheard their exchange, thought to himself, and shook his head before turning his focus back to the task at hand.

Standing before the safety gate, Yang Qi locked his gaze on the female leopard, Hua Hua. With a focused thought, he stirred his Magical Power, and the Basic Spirit Communication Technique quietly activated.

"Hua Hua, Hua Hua, look over here! That’s right, over here!"

A smile on his face, Yang Qi waved at Hua Hua through the observation window.

Hua Hua, who had been dozing on her perch, twitched her ears violently. Her head shot up, and her sharp eyes swept toward the safety gate.

She had clearly "heard" the sudden voice, one whose words she could instantly understand.

She stared warily at Yang Qi for a few seconds. She seemed confused but sensed no malice.

After a moment’s thought, she leaped nimbly from the perch and padded toward the safety gate with an elegant, powerful, and unhurried gait.

She stopped about a meter from the gate, lowered her body slightly, and let out a low, inquisitive growl.

Two-legged Beast, how do you know how to speak the language of leopards?

As she growled, her nostrils flared, sniffing carefully at Yang Qi’s scent through the ventilation mesh on the gate.

As she took in his scent, her golden eyes lit up, her confusion now tinged with surprise.

Huh?

Two-legged Beast, you smell very nice. It’s a pleasant scent.

Are you really a Two-legged Beast?

You’re not like the others I’ve seen.

"Guaranteed genuine, 100% authentic Two-legged Beast."

Yang Qi replied, maintaining the Spirit Communication Technique, before quickly getting to the point. "Hua Hua, I heard you don’t want to have cubs. Is that right?"

GRRROWL!

Hua Hua seemed displeased, letting out a low growl.

Who said that?

How could I possibly not want cubs?

I want cubs of my own very much!

"Then why haven’t you found a mate?" Yang Qi pressed.

At his words, Hua Hua turned her head and shot a disdainful glance toward a male leopard lazing in a distant enclosure, letting out a contemptuous huff.

That sorry lot?

Hmph. One is more pathetic than the next. They’re either spineless and listless or clumsy fools who fall out of trees. And their coats aren’t even shiny.

They are completely unworthy of being my mate!

Her tone was filled with arrogance and fastidiousness.

’Wow, she really looks down on them...’

Yang Qi almost burst out laughing.

This Hua Hua had quite the queenly air about her; her standards were incredibly high.

"In that case, Hua Hua, what kind of mate are you looking for?" Yang Qi continued. "Maybe I can keep an eye out for you."

He still had two Creation (Fertility) Pills, but this was the Red Star Zoo. When it came to feeding the leopards, it wasn’t his place to interfere.

Besides, with how much Hua Hua despised the other male leopards, forcing them to mate would likely end in disaster.

Back when Big Flower was courting, Er Hua had only been dismissive; she hadn’t completely despised him.

Really? You can help me?

Hua Hua’s interest was immediately piqued. Her eyes locked onto Yang Qi, and her front paws kneaded the ground unconsciously as she clearly articulated her standards for a mate.

I want a handsome one. A very, very handsome one.

He must be strong, stronger than any male leopard I have ever seen.

And he must be an amazing hunter—even more amazing than me.

Only a male leopard like that is worthy of me, Hua Hua! Only he can help me produce the best cubs!

’Handsome?’

’Strong?’

’An amazing hunter?’

’Isn’t that just the animal kingdom’s version of "tall, rich, and handsome"?!’

’And her requirements are pretty specific, too.’

Yang Qi couldn’t help but be inwardly amazed.

’This Hua Hua not only has high standards, but they’re also quite "quantifiable."’

’It’s not that she doesn’t want to breed. She’s clearly a firm believer in "quality over quantity," and she just can’t find anyone who meets her "perfect mate" standards.’

’So she’d rather just stay single!’