Given how notoriously difficult it is to breed leopards in captivity, it would be a monuntal achievent if Big Flower could successfully give birth to her cubs.
While everyone else was ecstatic, Yang Qi remained relatively calm.
Back at the enclosure, Yang Qi shared the good news with the waiting Big Flower.
"Your cubs are all doing great. They’re very healthy."
Big Flower’s pupils visibly brightened, and a low, contented purr rumbled in her throat.
’Thank you, Two-legged Beast.’
"You’re welco."
Yang Qi smiled.
He soothed her with a few more words, then turned and left the enclosure, heading to the cafeteria for lunch.
...
As expected, the news that the leopard, Big Flower, was pregnant with septuplets spread like wildfire throughout the Zoo.
Murmurs of surprise, excitent, and disbelief could be heard everywhere.
Soon, the news traveled beyond the Zoo’s walls, reaching other zoos.
That evening, before the closing announcent had even played over the loudspeakers, Yang Qi’s phone vibrated.
He picked it up and saw the caller ID: "Tong Xiaoyue."
"Xiao Yang, congratulations! Your Zoo really dropped a bombshell this ti!" Tong Xiaoyue’s cheerful voice ca through as soon as the call connected.
"Hello, Teacher Tong. News certainly travels fast."
Yang Qi moved to a quieter corner and replied with a smile, "We just got lucky at the Zoo, and Big Flower pulled through for us."
After a few pleasantries, Tong Xiaoyue cut to the chase. "Xiao Yang, I’m calling mainly to ask you sothing. Do you think there’s any chance the male leopard who successfully mated with Big Flower, Er Hua, could try with my female leopard, Hua Hua?"
Yang Qi knew what she was getting at.
’So she’s got her eye on Er Hua, hoping to replicate Big Flower’s miracle?’
Apparently, the news of septuplets imdiately made his peers think about the quality of the "stud."
After a mont’s thought, Yang Qi answered tactfully, "Teacher Tong, I’m fairly familiar with Er Hua. To be honest, his success with Big Flower this ti was mostly due to luck."
"Given Er Hua’s current state, it would be extrely difficult to have him et and accept another unfamiliar female leopard so soon. The success rate would be incredibly low. Besides..."
After a pause, Yang Qi spoke frankly. "Aside from being young, Er Hua isn’t exactly the ’cream of the crop’ among the leopards. He most likely doesn’t et Hua Hua’s standards for a mate."
The other end of the line went silent for a few seconds.
"Ah, I guess I got ahead of myself."
Tong Xiaoyue sighed. "I got too excited when I heard about the septuplets and was only thinking about the quality of the breeding stock. Thank you, Xiao Yang. You’ve saved our Zoo a lot of wasted effort and kept us from potentially stressing out the animals."
"Don’t ntion it."
Yang Qi quickly replied.
After a few more words, the call ended.
Yang Qi put away his phone and shook his head slightly.
’Replicate Big Flower’s miracle?’
’It’s not that easy.’
’Without the system’s Creation (Fertility) Pill to fundantally unlock their potential and boost the success rate, they’d be lucky to get two or three cubs from natural mating.’
’Miracles, by their very nature, can’t be replicated.’
Just as he was lost in thought, his phone vibrated again.
This ti, the na on the screen was "Deng Lei."
"Captain Deng, what are your orders?" Yang Qi answered, his tone familiar.
"Orders? I’m calling to ask for your help."
Deng Lei chuckled. His tone then beca more serious. "It’s about that tip you gave us, Advisor Yang. The one about a possible unrecorded large predator on Cangshan. The bureau and the Forestry Departnt are taking it very seriously. We held a joint eting and deployed resources accordingly."
"Over the past few days, we’ve sent experienced patrol teams with equipnt into the mountains. They’ve already surveyed most of the area..."
"And the result?" Yang Qi asked.
"Nothing."
Deng Lei’s voice was tinged with confusion and a hint of helplessness. "No fresh tracks from a large animal, no obvious signs of a den, and the infrared caras haven’t captured anything larger than known species. It’s as if the creature just vanished, or maybe was never there to begin with."
Yang Qi frowned.
’Caiyun’s warning was still fresh in his mind. She had no reason to lie to him about sothing like this, nor would she.’
Deng Lei continued, "So, the bureau was wondering... could we trouble you to communicate with that clouded leopard, Caiyun, on the mountain behind your Zoo one more ti?"
"Could you ask her if she’s sensed the creature’s presence or any signs of its activity recently? It’s important for directing our future monitoring efforts and resource allocation."
"No problem."
Yang Qi agreed readily. "I’ll go find her after the Zoo closes this evening and ask. I’ll call you back tonight."
"That’s great! Thank you, Advisor Yang!"
Deng Lei sounded relieved. He added a few words of caution before hanging up.
"They couldn’t find it?"
Yang Qi muttered to himself as he put his phone away.
Caiyun wouldn’t lie to him, but a professional patrol team had co back empty-handed.
For both of those things to be true, it could only an one thing.
The hidden predator wasn’t just powerful—it was also exceptionally intelligent and cautious!
...
After the Zoo closed for the evening, Yang Qi made his usual trip to the Giant Panda Hall.
He took Tuantuan outside for a long walk and finished by feeding him two "special" apples.
Tuantuan, completely satisfied, waddled back to his enclosure on his own.
Having finished his daily tasks, Yang Qi returned to his dorm. He grabbed Ta Xue, started up his SUV, and drove out the Zoo’s side gate, following the familiar road to the entrance of the rear mountain.
As soon as the car stopped, Ta Xue shot out, leaped gracefully into the woods, and let out a few clear calls at a specific frequency.
Yang Qi locked the car and followed at a leisurely pace.
He hadn’t gone far before a familiar, agile figure silently darted out from the depths of the woods.
It was Caiyun.
Ta Xue bounded forward happily, nuzzling against her mother’s head and affectionately rubbing against her neck.
Caiyun lowered her head as well, gently licking Ta Xue’s fur and letting out a low purr.
User Comments
0 comments from readers