You call this skinny?

Yang Qi looked at Tuantuan’s still-plump body—so round it could roll like a ball—and suppressed a laugh, forcing himself to reply.

"Hmm, now that I take a closer look, you do seem a little ’skinnier.’ Not as stout as before. Tuantuan, have you not been eating properly? That won’t do. You need to eat more."

"Ying ying~"

The giant panda immediately nodded in agreement.

[I want to eat a lot and sleep a lot, eat lots and lots.]

As it "spoke," it waddled slowly toward Yang Qi with its pigeon-toed gait, a cunning glint in its black-bean-like eyes, and whined in a "negotiating" tone.

[That... that super, super yummy fruit...]

[Two-legged Beast, could you give me a little more?]

[If I eat a lot, I’ll grow bigger and stronger. Then I can help you chase away the bad Two-legged Beasts in the future.]

’Heh, it’s even learned to bargain and show its loyalty at the same time.’

Amused, Yang Qi put on a "troubled" expression and replied, "I’d love to give you more, but that delicious fruit is extremely rare and very hard to find. I was away these past few days specifically to look for it, and I had to travel a long, long way."

"Baa~!"

Hearing this, Tuantuan’s eyes grew even brighter, and it let out a happy cry.

[Really?]

[You’re so nice, Two-legged Beast.]

[Thank you for going out of your way to find yummy food for me.]

[So... how much did you find?]

Yang Qi rubbed his nose and continued his deadpan lie. "Not a lot, but enough for the next few days. You can only have a little bit each day, okay? If you eat too much, it’ll be harder to find more."

"Baa baa~!"

Tuantuan was overjoyed, doing two clumsy yet adorable somersaults on the spot.

[This is great, this is great!]

It climbed to its feet and continued walking out beside Yang Qi. Then, as if remembering something, it began to "tattle" to him, its tone tinged with a hint of pride.

[Oh, right, Two-legged Beast, I’ll tell you a secret.]

[A few days ago, when you weren’t here, a Two-legged Beast I don’t know tried to trick me into going out.]

[Hmph, I saw right through him. I knew he was a liar.]

[I ignored him completely, but he still tried to touch me. I roared at him, and he peed his pants!]

[Hmph hmph, trying to trick me, Tuantuan? No way!]

"Er..."

Yang Qi’s lips twitched.

’This national treasure really knows how to hold a grudge, and his logic is crystal clear.’

He immediately gave a thumbs-up and praised, "Good job, Tuantuan! That was brilliant! That’s exactly right. You have to protect yourself and not just go off with any Two-legged Beast you don’t know."

"Baa!"

Having been praised, Tuantuan lifted its head, clearly enjoying the compliment.

The man and the panda "chatted" idly as they slowly strolled along their usual route through the quiet, post-closure zoo grounds.

Yang Qi patiently listened to Tuantuan’s various "complaints" and "boasts," chiming in every now and then. The atmosphere was harmonious.

The zoo staff, whether observing from the shadows or watching from the security room, couldn’t help but sigh with emotion.

"You really need Brother Qi for this."

"I know, right? Look how well-behaved Tuantuan is. It’s like he’s ’chatting and laughing’ with Yang Qi."

"Heh heh, I bet certain people have finally given up hope now, huh? Still thinking of taking some of the credit?"

"Shh... Keep your voice down."

"..."

At a relatively hidden observation point, Huang Zhongmu stood motionless. Several other mid-level managers, including Jiang Kai and Mei Ying, were around him, but no one spoke. They just quietly watched the warm and magical scene in the distance.

After watching for a long time, Huang Zhongmu withdrew his gaze, his tone flat.

"From now on, Yang Qi will be solely responsible for taking Tuantuan out for evening walks. No one else is to interfere or make any more attempts. Minister Jiang, you will coordinate the relevant arrangements."

"Yes, Director."

Jiang Kai replied.

The others also nodded, having no objections to the decision.

...

After leading the giant panda on a full loop along the designated route, they arrived at the agreed-upon intersection.

Hu Jing was already waiting there, holding two washed apples.

Yang Qi took them, turned his back to Hu Jing and the security cameras, and with a flash of his fingertips, smeared a tiny bit of diluted "Vitality Nutrient Cream" onto the surface of the apples before handing them to the eagerly waiting Tuantuan.

Tuantuan took the apples and gave them a deep, customary sniff. When the familiar, enticing aroma wafted into its nostrils, it immediately let out a satisfied "baa" and began munching away, shaking its head back and forth in pure bliss.

With the two "special" apples in its belly, Tuantuan was completely satisfied. Without any prompting from Yang Qi, it swayed its roly-poly body and ambled toward the Panda Hall on a familiar path, its retreating figure exuding a well-fed languor.

By now, the sky had turned completely dark, and the path lights in the zoo came on.

Yang Qi chatted for a bit with Chen Ze and a few other security guards he knew, who were waiting nearby. Then, he said his goodbyes, left the Zoo, and drove toward the mountain behind it to pick up Ta Xue.

The mountain forest seemed even more deep and silent in the night.

Yang Qi parked his car at the foot of the mountain and walked up a familiar forest path.

Arriving at the clearing where he and Ta Xue often met, he let out a long whistle.

The whistle echoed through the woods.

A moment later, a faint RUSTLE came from the treetops nearby. A nimble and graceful figure leaped down lightly—it was Ta Xue.

It affectionately rubbed against Yang Qi’s leg, a happy whimper rumbling in its throat.

But immediately after, another, even more agile figure, brimming with wild power, slid silently from the high canopy and landed steadily in front of Yang Qi.

It was the mother clouded leopard, Caiyun.

Caiyun took two steps forward, her pupils gleaming faintly in the darkness, and let out a low growl.

[Two-legged Beast, a powerful beast has come to the mountain.]

’A powerful beast?’

Yang Qi froze for a moment, then immediately used his "Basic Spirit Communication Technique" to ask.

"A powerful beast? Is it a leopard bigger than you? Or a bear?"