Interstellar Zoo No. 1 - Chapter 28.1

Chapter 28.1

 

Qingjiao’s sudden affection caught Mu Ling completely by surprise.

 

After calming down, Mu Ling didn’t rush to read too much into it. Looking at the tightly sealed protectiv fence, she guessed Qingjiao’s intention.

 

It wanted her to dig a hole with it.

 

‘Clever little thing, you sure know how to give orders.’

 

Mu Ling said helplessly, “Qingjiao, this can’t be opened anymore; you can’t get in.”

 

Seeing that Mu Ling still hadn’t moved, Qingjiao assumed she didn’t understand. It walked back to the hole and scratched at the protective fence, making loud noises to demonstrate.

 

Mu Ling nodded repeatedly. “I understand what you mean, but I can’t dig it open either. Come with me; I’ll take you back by car.”

 

As she said this, she turned to Major Chang and asked sheepishly, “Major Chang, can I fit one more S-class war beast in the car?”

 

Major Chang immediately replied, “Of course, no problem.”

 

Mu Ling quickly thanked him and waved to the three beasts. “Let’s go back.”

 

Qilin and Lightning obediently followed, but Qingjiao remained where it was, still guarding the protective fence.

 

Mu Ling had no choice but to walk back. She tentatively touched Qingjiao’s fur, and when she saw it didn’t attack her, she felt safe enough to gently pat its large head. “Qingjiao, don’t worry; I won’t sell you. Come with me, okay?”

 

Mu Ling remembered that Major Song had said last night that Pimi understood the command “go,” so being an S-class war beast too, Qingjiao would surely understand as well. She repeated several times, “Qingjiao, go, go.”

 

“Good girl, come with me.”

 

Finally, after another tense standoff lasting dozens of seconds, Qingjiao licked its lips, stood up, and followed Mu Ling for a few steps. It looked back at the protective fence one last time before continuing on.

 

Mu Ling sighed in relief and rubbed Qingjiao’s forehead. “So good, you’re really smart.”

 

At that moment, Lightning nudged Mu Ling’s other side, rubbing against her hand.

 

She had to pat its head too and praised it. “Lightning is good too.” Then she added, “Qilin is good, Qilin is good.”

 

She made sure to spread the love equally, keeping things fair.

 

They walked back for over ten minutes before reaching the off-road car. It was now past noon, and someone had already brought lunch boxes up from below. Major Chang asked for a medical kit and brought it to Mu Ling so she could re-bandage Qilin.

 

However, Mu Ling said, “Major Chang, I want to go back.”

 

Major Chang’s expression changed immediately as he explained urgently, “Director Mu, I know Qilin’s injury is upsetting for you, but we’ve only completed one-tenth of the inspection of Bi Ke Forest this morning. Our reinforcements won’t arrive until the day after tomorrow. We really need you here for these three days. You’ve seen it yourself – just this small area has shown two mid-level infected beasts. What if there are more heavily infected ones in other regions? If we discover them even a day late, the consequences could be…”

 

“Wait a minute.” Mu Ling interrupted Major Chang’s lengthy explanation in shock. “Major Chang, what I meant was that I want to go back to the zoo while you all take your lunch break and then return in the afternoon.”

 

Major Chang: “…”

 

Mu Ling: “…”

 

Major Chang looked surprised. “You’re coming back this afternoon?”

 

Mu Ling scratched her head. “Of course! I do have a lot to do, but since Colonel Song is helping protect the workers repairing the protective fence now, my matters aren’t as urgent. Still, I need to go back to the zoo – our lion is sick and needs feeding and medication. Also, Qingjiao looks anxious and probably wants to return to the park. Qilin is injured too; I don’t want it participating in any further mountain searches. So when I come back this afternoon, I can only bring Lightning with me.”

 

Just bringing one wasn’t a problem, as long as she could come.

 

Major Chang immediately said, “Then I’ll take you back.”

 

Mu Ling looked at the soldiers distributing lunch boxes and asked, “Do you want to eat first? I can wait for you.”

 

“No need.” Major Chang got into the off-road car and told Mu Ling, “Get in.”

 

Mu Ling got in, with Qilin and Lightning following closely behind, while Qingjiao stood below, quietly watching them.

 

Mu Ling patted the space beside her. “Qingjiao, come.”

 

After hesitating for a moment, Qingjiao finally stepped up and sat by the door.

 

Worried it might fall off, Mu Ling placed her hand on its neck. Qingjiao stiffened for a moment and turned to look at her.

 

Mu Ling stroked Qingjiao’s fur until its ears were flattened against its head.

 

To her surprise, Qingjiao found this comfortable and tilted its head without resisting.

 

The descent was easier than the ascent due to their familiarity with the route and no need for inspections. They reached Bi Ke Zoo in less than half an hour. Then Mu Ling and the three beasts boarded their special war beast vehicle, with Major Chang driving again. He increased his speed and got Mu Ling to Bi Ke Zoo within an hour.

 

At the zoo entrance, Wei Li came out upon hearing the commotion and was about to greet the director when he saw a gray wolf leap from the vehicle behind her and dash straight through the zoo gates, sprinting toward the mountain trail.

 

“Whoa!” Wei Li nearly got knocked over by the gray wolf. He quickly dodged aside, exclaiming in shock, “Qingjiao?”

 

Mu Ling came in with Qilin and Lightning. Seeing the gray wolf disappear into the forest, she told Wei Li about Qingjiao crossing the protective fence. Wei Li was very surprised. “Qingjiao actually went to the back mountain to hunt mutant beasts? But the fence repairmen did resume work. This morning, the four employees from Happy Valley left, and Colonel Song probably felt awkward staying alone, so he said he’d go patrol the mountain with Brother Xiang. Brother Xiang gave him a tranquilizer gun and told him to be the repairman’s bodyguard.”

 

Mu Ling chuckled. “I guessed as much.”

 

Wei Li looked behind Mu Ling at the war beast vehicle still parked at the zoo entrance. A young man in military uniform was watching them from the car.

 

Wei Li whispered, “Is that Major Chang?”

 

Mu Ling nodded. “Yes, he’s waiting for me. I’m going back with him later.”

 

Wei Li frowned. “You’re going again in the afternoon? Director, the mental assessment device has arrived. Aren’t we testing Qilin and the others today?”

 

Mu Ling hesitated briefly before saying, “Let’s wait until tonight when I return for testing instead. By the way—did Pimi’s diapers arrive?”

 

Wei Li said, “Yes, they’re at the vet station.”

 

Mu Ling went to the vet station. She first re-bandaged Qilin’s wound, then fed lunch to Qilin, Lightning, and Pimi. Then she unfolded a diaper and started putting it on Pimi.

 

Pimi had just finished lunch and was already unhappy. Now its bottom was being wrapped up.

 

It was annoyed and roared at Mu Ling’s face, “Roar!”

 

Mu Ling adjusted its pant legs, making sure the diaper wouldn’t twist when it sat down. She responded absent-mindedly, “Oh, uncomfortable, right? It’s not uncomfortable, not uncomfortable.”

 

“Roar!” Pimi called out again.

 

Mu Ling looked up at it, then suddenly exclaimed happily, “Oh, Pimi, your roar seems much louder than before!”

 

Pimi licked its whiskers, staring at the white cloth on its bottom. It stretched its head over, wanting to bite off the white cloth.

 

“You can’t do that.” Mu Ling covered its mouth directly, pushing its face away. She said sternly, “You can stop wearing diapers when you stop soiling yourself. Be good.”

 

Mu Ling forcefully rubbed Pimi’s ears and kissed its nose.

 

Pimi looked at Mu Ling up close, then at its own bottom. Finally, as if surrendering, it quietly lay back down and stopped moving.

 

When Mu Ling came out with Lightning, only fifteen minutes had passed.

 

Before getting in the car, Mu Ling first knocked on the driver’s side door.

 

Major Chang rolled down the window.

 

Mu Ling raised her hand, offering him something.

 

It was a piece of bread and a box of milk.

 

Major Chang was stunned.

 

Mu Ling waved another set of milk and bread in her other hand, smiling, “Don’t look down on it.”

 

Major Chang was silent for a moment, then took the bread and milk, saying, “Thank you.”

 

Mu Ling didn’t say anything and got into the back of the vehicle with Lightning.

 

The mountain search work was tedious and busy. No more accidents like the morning occurred in the afternoon. At nearly 7 PM, as it was getting dark, considering the dangers of working in the dark, the troops finally called it a day.

 

On the way back, Major Chang drove Mu Ling home again. When the war beast vehicle stopped at the zoo entrance, Mu Ling was about to go in when she heard Major Chang call out, “Director Mu.”

 

Mu Ling turned to look at him.

 

Major Chang smiled at her. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning.”

 

Mu Ling smiled back. “Okay.”

 

After Mu Ling entered the zoo gates with Lightning, the vehicle behind started its engine, and the sound gradually faded away. Mu Ling closed the main gate and was about to walk inside when suddenly, the door of the ticket office next to her opened.

 

Mu Ling was startled, then saw Xiang Bie walk out.

 

“Brother Xiang?” Mu Ling asked suspiciously. “What are you doing here?”

 

Xiang Bie closed the ticket office door behind him and said casually, “Looking for something.”

 

Mu Ling saw his hands were empty and asked, “Didn’t find it?”

 

“Remembered the wrong place.” Xiang Bie said, then looked at Mu Ling and towards the main gate, asking in a flat tone, “You’re going again tomorrow?”

 

Mu Ling sighed. “No choice. I promised Major Chang I’d go for three days. Their reinforcements won’t arrive until after three days.”

 

Xiang Bie pressed his lips together without speaking.

 

Mu Ling asked again, “Brother Xiang, what were you looking for? Should I help you find it?”

 

“No need.” The man said, turning to walk inside.

 

Mu Ling blinked and followed him in.

 

At 9 PM, Mu Ling had just showered and changed clothes when she came downstairs to see three men in the vet station, holding an instruction manual and staring at a huge electronic device, deep in thought.

 

Mu Ling: “…”

 

Mu Ling peeked over and asked, “What are you looking at?”

 

Wei Li was startled and turned around, exclaiming, “Director, why don’t you make any sound when you walk?”

 

Mu Ling frowned, took the manual from his hand, flipped through it, and muttered, “You were just too focused. What are you looking at? ‘Mental Assessment Device Installation Instructions’?”

 

Colonel Song put his hands on his hips and asked, somewhat exasperated, “Why do we have to install this kind of thing ourselves? Shouldn’t the seller provide installation?”

 

Wei Li said gloomily, “Because we bought a second-hand one.”

 

Colonel Song: “…”

 

Xiang Bie then took the installation manual from Mu Ling, turned to the third page, looked at it for a moment, then crouched down to check the ports on the back of the device.

 

Wei Li and Colonel Song immediately looked at him with hopeful eyes, expecting him to figure out this thing.