For a common Red Fox to be given a na as grand and artistic as "Celestial Fox of the Clouds" was really sothing.
As for Miss Hu’s ailnt...
A heavy heart.
It was clearly a psychological issue. A physical exam, of course, would find nothing.
"Ahem."
Yang Qi gave a light cough, drawing everyone’s attention. He then ventured, "Um, Dr. Zhang, since Tongtong’s physical exam shows no problems, is it possible this is... a psychological issue?"
At his words, Dr. Zhang grew pensive.
The young nurse, Cheng Yao, and the keeper Xu Ping were taken aback. They clearly hadn’t considered that angle.
Psychological problems?
’Can animals even have such complex emotions?’
Seeing this, i Ying took the opportunity to make an introduction. "This is Yang Qi, a new colleague who just started today."
Hearing this, Cheng Yao’s pretty eyes widened. With a mix of shock and admiration, she said, "Oh! So you’re the new guy who saved that kid from the Great Sage. I saw the news in the group chat. You’re incredible!"
Xu Ping also glanced at Yang Qi curiously, but his concern for the Red Fox was more pressing. He quickly asked, "Brother Yang, you think Tongtong’s problem is psychological? Then why is she acting like this?"
"Just call Yang Qi."
Yang Qi waved a dismissive hand before following his own train of thought. "If she’s physically fine, then sothing must be bothering her. Xu Ping, think carefully. Has Tongtong encountered anything unusual lately? Any big changes to her environnt? Was she scared by any misbehaving visitors? Or could she be in heat?"
"Well..."
Xu Ping thought for a mont before replying, "Everything seems normal. Her enclosure and the surrounding area are the sa, and we haven’t had any particularly strange visitors. As for being in heat..."
Dr. Zhang, standing nearby, interjected, "A Red Fox’s mating season is typically at the start of the year. This isn’t the right season for it."
The trail seed to have gone cold again.
Yang Qi’s brow furrowed slightly. Unable to discern a deeper cause for the mont, he suggested, "Well, let’s wait for the anesthetic to wear off completely, until Tongtong can move freely. Then we can observe her behavior more closely."
Dr. Zhang adjusted his glasses and sighed. "I suppose that’s our only option."
At that, the group backed away from the cage and stood outside to wait.
After a few minutes of small talk, Tongtong’s limbs twitched inside the cage. She seed to be regaining consciousness, but she remained sprawled listlessly on the ground, head drooping. She couldn’t even be bothered to lift her eyelids, completely ignoring Yang Qi and the others outside.
An idea struck Yang Qi.
He walked over slowly, once again approaching the cage.
Seemingly hearing his footsteps, Tongtong’s ears twitched imperceptibly. She lazily turned her head for a glance, then turned away again with disinterest.
But a second later, as if sensing sothing was off, she snapped her head back around. Her foxy eyes locked onto Yang Qi, a flicker of what seed like human-like surprise and... curiosity? in their depths.
’The Ten Thousand Beasts Affinity is working!’
Yang Qi was secretly overjoyed. He squatted down, trying to et the Red Fox’s gaze, and began to chat in a gentle tone, as if talking to a friend.
"Hi, Tongtong. I’m Yang Qi."
"I heard you’re not feeling well. Can you tell what’s bothering you?"
"I’ve been a little tired lately myself. By the way, what’s your favorite thing to eat?"
"Or, what do you want to do most of all?"
...
’Beast Language Proficiency requires the animal to actually say sothing for to understand it.’
To Dr. Zhang, the young nurse, Cheng Yao, Xu Ping, and i Ying, who were all watching from behind, the scene was both bizarre and fascinating.
’A grown man, having a serious conversation with a fox?’
Amid his curiosity, a flicker of hope appeared in Xu Ping’s eyes. He prayed this new colleague could truly work a miracle.
Yang Qi continued to "chat" with Tongtong in a low voice. Seemingly soothed by his presence and tone, the fox actually let out a pair of soft, aggrieved whimpers from deep in her throat.
"WHIMPER... WHINE~"
To the others, it was just the normal cry of a fox. But to Yang Qi’s ears, the aning was simple and clear—
I want out!
Miss Hu wanted to leave the cage and go outside!
’It finally worked...’
Now that he knew the Red Fox’s deepest "wish," Yang Qi felt a surge of confidence.
After a few more soothing words, he stood up. He turned to the others, who all wore different expressions, and cleared his throat. "Um, Sister i, Dr. Zhang, I was thinking... what if we tried letting Tongtong out of her cage for a walk?"
"After all, being cooped up in a cage for too long is bound to have a psychological effect on any animal. Letting her get so fresh air might help."
This explanation, frad in terms of animal psychology, made the ticulous Dr. Zhang pause in thought. He then gave a slight nod. "I think it’s worth a try."
Cheng Yao, the young nurse, Xu Ping, and i Ying, however, remained skeptical.
Xu Ping asked nervously, "Let her out? What if sothing goes wrong? What if she runs away or gets spooked and hurts soone..."
As he spoke, his gaze instinctively fell upon i Ying, the one who could make the final call, his eyes full of hope.
’If Director i can convince Director Huang Zhongmu to approve this...’
Yang Qi also looked at i Ying, adding, "As for safety, we can put Tongtong on a leash."
Cheng Yao thought the idea had great visual appeal and quickly chid in. "Yes, Sister i, we should try it! If we get a video of Tongtong on a walk, her fans would love it!"
She too looked toward i Ying.
Suddenly the center of attention, i Ying felt the pressure, but she also thought it was worth a shot.
She imdiately pulled out her phone, stepped aside, and dialed the zoo director, Huang Zhongmu, to explain the situation and their proposal in detail.
A mont later, she hung up, a smile spreading across her face. "The director approved! He said we can proceed with caution, but safety is the absolute priority!"
"That’s great!" Cheng Yao cheered.
Xu Ping also let out a visible sigh of relief.
"Um..." The young nurse beside them raised her hand timidly. "I happen to have a very sturdy leash for a large dog in my car."
"Really?"
Yang Qi’s face lit up. "Where’s your car parked, miss? I’ll go get the leash."
"It’s better if I get it."
The young nurse blushed, turned, and ran out of the fox enclosure.
When the young nurse returned, breathless, with the leash, Dr. Zhang habitually raised his tranquilizer blowgun, preparing to give the Red Fox a light dose.
Yang Qi quickly stopped him. "Dr. Zhang, there’s no need for anesthetic. I can go in and put it on her directly."
"Absolutely not!"
Dr. Zhang shook his head, objecting. "That’s too dangerous! A Red Fox is a carnivore, after all. Even if she’s usually docile, she could still injure soone in a stressful situation."
"It’ll be fine."
Yang Qi insisted, "I have a feeling Tongtong and I ’get along’ just fine. I don’t think she’ll resist."
’Animals aren’t made of stone. How could she be in a good mood after being tranquilized at every turn? I have no intention of letting the rapport I’ve just painstakingly built go to waste.’
i Ying looked at the confidence in Yang Qi’s eyes, rembered his performance at Monkey Mountain, and after a mont of deliberation, chose to trust him.
"Let Yang Qi try," she said. "We’ll be on standby out here in case of an ergency."
Hearing this, Cheng Yao, the young nurse, and Xu Ping felt their hearts leap into their throats. They watched Yang Qi, a mix of nervousness and anticipation on their faces.
Since i Ying had given the order, Dr. Zhang had no choice but to agree, though he did so with reluctance, his hand still gripping the tranquilizer blowgun tightly—just in case.
Yang Qi took the sturdy leash, drew a deep breath, gently opened the cage door, and stepped inside...
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