I have a wildlife zoo

Chapter 316 Not Family by Blood, but Just as Close as Family

Fang Ye squatted down and picked up Ice Cake, who had followed Jiaojiao closely, cradling her in his arms and scratching Ice Cake's belly, he sighed, "Oh, has our little piggy gained a bit more weight?"

"Wahhh!"

Ice Cake, disgruntled, bit Fang Ye's finger. Who are you calling a little pig? She's a tiger! A divine White Tiger, got it?

Fang Ye felt a pain in his hand and inhaled sharply, "Ouch, Ice Cake! You bite so hard!"

Turning around, he tried to hand her to Lan Li, "Didn't you miss Ice Cake? Here, you hold her."

But then he saw Lan Li trembling and not daring to move as Jiaojiao rubbed against her legs!

Seeing Fang Ye looking at her, Lan Li quickly sent him a pleading and pitiful gaze for help!

Her hands were so nervous that they began to sweat.

"You've seen me pet Jiaojiao so many times, what's there to be scared of?"

Fang Ye found Lan Li's reaction a bit amusing but understood where she was coming from!

He handed Ice Cake to her and gently pulled on Jiaojiao's tail, walking a bit farther away before calling out, "Jiaojiao, you've scared her! Come over here!"

Jiaojiao then turned toward him, extending her tongue and licking his hand.

"Phew!"

Relieved, Lan Li let out a sigh, her chest heaving as she flopped down onto the ground.

Her legs had been a bit wobbly just now, and finally, she could sit down!

Then, as she stroked Ice Cake on the head, her mood lifted and a smile spread across her face. Looking into Ice Cake's blue eyes, she whispered softly, "Ice Cake, I came to see you! Do you remember me?"

How could Ice Cake forget her?

When she was just a little cub that could only drink milk, it was Fang Ye and Lan Li who took turns taking care of her!

Every day after finishing her milk when she felt tired and sleepy, Lan Li would hum lullabies gently to help her sleep, which were undoubtedly very happy and sweet memories!

Hearing the familiar voice of Lan Li and smelling her scent, confirming it was the animal keeper who used to take care of her, she got excited in an instant! Discover more content at empire

Lying on Lan Li's lap, nuzzling back and forth and making soft, milk-breathy cries of "Wahhh".

Then, she started to knead on Lan Li's legs with her small paws, squinting her eyes and making the motions of kneading milk!

She felt extremely comfortable on Lan Li's lap, reminiscent of the days when she used to drink milk.

Lan Li, smiling brightly, stretched out her legs sitting on the grass and rubbed Ice Cake's head, "Ice Cake still remembers me!"

As she rubbed its belly, she couldn't help but think, tigers seem cuter when they're little! They're much more imposing when they're big.

As cubs, they are cute tigers, but when grown up, they are fierce tigers!

In the future, maybe only the zookeeper will be able to pet her.

Feeling a bit melancholic at the thought, she asked, "Ice Cake, will you remember me when you grow up? Will you be aggressive towards me?"

Maybe sensing Lan Li's sadness, Ice Cake raised her head, blinked her eyes at Lan Li and snuggled into her embrace, making soft, woolly cries of "Wahhh" and acting coy.

Lan Li was completely charmed by Ice Cake's adorable coquettish behavior!

Just like before, while caressing her, she began to hum softly, "Two tigers love to dance~"

...

After licking Fang Ye's hands, Jiaojiao began to rub against his legs, clearly overjoyed!

Fang Ye bent down with a chuckle, using his hands to vigorously rub Jiaojiao's soft cheeks!

Of all the animals in the zoo, Jiaojiao was his favorite.

Fang Ye felt that for the other animals, he was more like a kindergarten teacher, responsible for overseeing and taking care of these little guys.

He provided food, conducted enrichment activities, like a teacher playing games with the kids; dealing with mischievous children could be troublesome as he considered how to prevent them from fighting and to coexist harmoniously.

But to Jiaojiao, she was more like family.

Taking good care of Jiaojiao, providing a favorable environment, she knew it!

When bored and idle, chatting with Jiaojiao for a bit, she would listen quietly, as if understanding half of what was said.

When his mood was good, his smile bright, Jiaojiao would be lively and cheerful, pulling at him to play, wanting to roll around on the grass with him, to swim in the pool.

When Fang Ye was busy and dizzy with tasks, Jiaojiao wouldn't pester him to play but would quietly stay by his side, allowing him to pet her and relax, offering comfort to his weary body and soul.

When he was sad, Jiaojiao could sense his low spirits and would attempt to comfort him in her own way, circling around him, rubbing her cheek against his with affection.

Actually, after animal keepers spend a long time with animals, there's a feeling that the animals are like family, a sense of trust and rapport—a hidden value.

If something went wrong, a mere scolding would make the animal aware of its mistake, lowering its head in acknowledgment.

However, to have an animal comfort you, that level of trust is quite rare!

And it also varies with the animal; different animals indeed have varying levels of emotional intelligence.

Red pandas, those simple-minded little foodies, only think about where the sun is warmest, what's for today's meal, who annoyed them, and no matter the keeper's mood, just hand over the apples, or they won't bother with you without them.

Jiaojiao lowered her head to sniff at Fang Ye's shoes, seemingly picking up an unusual scent, appearing quite interested.

The smell of the jungle?

Lifting her head to look at him, her amber tiger eyes seemed to express curious inquiry, where had the director been recently? So long without a visit to see me.

"I went to Yunnan recently! The construction of a hydroelectric power station almost destroyed the last habitat of the green peafowl in the country."

Fang Ye rubbed Jiaojiao's head, intending to tell her about his Yunnan trip, when he remembered Bao saying that Jiaojiao had lost her appetite recently and hadn't been very active, possibly sick.

But she seemed to be in good shape?

So, he used Eye of Observation to check on her.

[Amur tiger: Jiaojiao

Age: 3 years

Mood: Happy]

Fang Ye focused, intensifying the output of his mental energy, staring intently, and Jiaojiao suddenly let out an uneasy growl!

With her ears pricked up and body tense, her back fur bristling, she was on high alert.

It was as if something was watching her!

"It's okay, it's okay! Just a little health check."

Fang Ye gently stroked Jiaojiao, smoothing down her fur, and saw a few new pieces of information appear in the status bar.

Health status: Good!

Nothing wrong, then?

Turning off Eye of Observation, Jiaojiao instantly relaxed, looking around in confusion.

Fang Ye, stroking his chin, pondered for a while, "Hmm... maybe she's just missed me too much?"

It seemed like the only reason!

Shaking his head in amusement, he knelt down to hug Jiaojiao's neck and nuzzled his face against her furry cheek, "There, there, good girl, did you miss me so much that you lost your appetite? That won't do; you've got to eat properly!"

Leading Jiaojiao to the staff passage, he opened the door, curled his finger and knocked, calling out, "Bao!"

Jiaojiao squirmed out from under his arm, poking her head out, looking curiously down the corridor.

She was used to watching the corridor from inside her enclosure and had never seen it from here, finding it rather novel.

Bao, hearing the sound, hurried over, and seeing the tiger peering curiously from the other side, he stumbled, his mind going blank with a "buzz," his face turning pale, "Oh my goodness!"

Frightened out of his wits!

Why was there a tiger here? Had it eaten its fill today? Taking good care of Jiaojiao all the time, and given her gentle nature, she probably wouldn't harm him, right? But what to do now, stand still? Call someone, go get the director?

"Hey, Bao?"

Fang Ye called again, pulling Bao back to his senses.