Chapter 4

For Jiaojiao, she had already gotten used to the barrier of iron bars between her and the outside world.

She couldn't reach out to the people outside, and they couldn't reach her, which was just fine.

Now, without the barrier, someone was so close, and Jiaojiao didn't know what this meant, becoming nervous and uneasy.

Although this person wasn't a stranger but a familiar caretaker.

She let out a low growl as a warning.

Both sides were a bit afraid.

Fang Ye maintained a smile, and the foot he had taken a step with was gently pulled back.

After a while, perhaps feeling that nothing seemed to be happening, Jiaojiao slowly lay back down, tilting her head to look at Fang Ye.

"Phew! The director is amazing!"

Outside the enclosure, Lan Li lightly patted her chest, feeling dizzy, as if her heart had almost leaped into her throat.

Fang Ye also broke out in a cold sweat, but his mood was unusually excited.

The most difficult first step had been taken, and Jiaojiao had adapted to his presence!

In the observation eye, Jiaojiao's state was displayed: curious/expectant.

Usually, she was the only tiger in the tiger enclosure, and Jiaojiao was very lonely!

When there were few visitors, she didn't mind their presence.

She, too, passed the time by watching the various visitors.

But when there were many visitors, the noisy sounds and the many gazes made her feel restless and agitated.

The times she enjoyed the most were before the zoo opened and after it closed.

Watching the familiar caretakers clean the enclosure and feed her was a rare sight, and it was also the time when she felt the most relaxed and at ease.

Today, after the caretaker fed her, he actually came to her side?

Fang Ye looked at the curious Jiaojiao and squatted down beside her.

He spoke softly, "Good girl, good girl..."

He reached out and placed his hand on Jiaojiao's brownish-yellow fur.

The moment Fang Ye's hand touched her broad, warm back,

Jiaojiao's body suddenly trembled as if electrocuted, her eyes widened, and she stood up, looking majestic!

A true tiger's body shook!

She opened her massive jaws and roared, a hot, foul-smelling breath hitting Fang Ye's face, making his eardrums hurt!

Lan Li, who had been watching from outside the enclosure, let out a short exclamation, "Director!"

"It's fine! Don't be nervous!"

Fang Ye's hoarse voice sounded.

His facial muscles twitched, and he looked at the glaring Jiaojiao, trying to make his eyes and voice as gentle as possible: "Good girl, don't be afraid..."

He knew that at this moment, the most important thing was not to panic, and the best choice was to remain still!

If he made a wrong move in a panic, it could lead to a misunderstanding, and what was originally fine could turn into a problem!

The observation eye showed that Jiaojiao was nervous and uneasy, but not angry!

After a while,

The nervousness disappeared, leaving only unease.

Jiaojiao looked at Fang Ye, leaned her head forward, and gently rubbed her cheek against his.

Lan Li's eyes were full of surprise, and she covered her mouth in disbelief.

Fang Ye's eyes widened slightly, then he wrapped his arm around Jiaojiao's neck and laughed weakly, tears streaming down his face.

He really wanted to laugh louder.

His body, which had been tense, quickly relaxed.

"Good girl, good girl..."

Jiaojiao's initiative to rub her head against him was something Fang Ye had never expected!

He had planned to retreat once Jiaojiao's emotions calmed down.

He would come back next time, taking it step by step, letting her slowly adapt to such closeness.

However, it seemed that Jiaojiao had instinctively roared at him, and after the tension subsided, she felt it wasn't quite right.

Like a child who had made a mistake, she was uneasy and used this way of rubbing her head to show her apology and affection.

"Damn, that was intense, like dancing on the edge of a knife..."

Fang Ye's face flushed, and he muttered to himself, using his still trembling hand to slowly stroke Jiaojiao's back.

Although his previous analysis was spot-on and he was confident, ideals and reality are two different things.

Tigers, being at the top of the food chain, naturally have a strong presence.

Even in captivity, they still retain the essence of the king of beasts.

Fortunately, he had withstood the pressure and successfully gained Jiaojiao's affection!

"Who would have thought, petting a big cat is really exciting!"

Fang Ye chuckled, his hand running down Jiaojiao's back, then boldly rubbing her cheek.

The brownish-yellow fur on a tiger's back is quite hard and thick, similar to a rough blanket, and a bit prickly.

The light white fur on her cheeks and belly is soft and fluffy, feeling like a fuzzy scarf.

At first, Jiaojiao was a bit uncomfortable with such intimate petting, baring her teeth, shaking her head, and growling low, like a human sneezing when tickled.

But she soon grew to like the feeling, her over 200-kilogram body lying down on Fang Ye's lap, closing her eyes contentedly.

Mood: Happy!

Lan Li, outside, was already speechless!

In her mind, tigers were always majestic and ferocious.

But this one, lying on the director's lap, was as gentle as a cat!

It must be a fake tiger!

This scene was so captivating that Lan Li watched with wide eyes, even forgetting her fear of tigers, curious about what it felt like to pet a tiger.

Forget it, just thinking about it is scary!

If she were in his place, she would have fainted!

Lan Li suddenly had an idea and excitedly said, "Right, such a precious moment should be captured in a photo!"

She quickly took out her phone and snapped several photos.

Fang Ye, engrossed in petting the big cat, lost track of time and almost forgot why he had taken the risk to come in!

Until ten minutes later, the system's notification sounded.

"Ding! Task completed: Petting the cat! The tiger's mood is very happy!"

"Completion evaluation: Perfect!"

"Reward: A Bengal white tiger cub!"

Fang Ye snapped out of his trance, "Huh, it's been ten minutes already?"

Seeing the reward, he was completely shocked.

Damn, a Bengal white tiger!

The Bengal white tiger is a variant of the Bengal tiger, with fur that has turned white with black stripes due to a genetic mutation.

Due to the lack of camouflage, Bengal white tigers find it hard to survive in the wild and have become extinct outside of zoos, where they are protected and bred.

There are fewer than 200 in the world!

Due to their rarity and the fact that white tigers are considered auspicious mythical creatures, they are deeply loved by visitors and are the undisputed stars of the zoo!

Fang Ye was extremely excited, "This is amazing!"

"Roar?"

Noticing that the petting had stopped, Jiaojiao opened her eyes, her amber eyes fixed on him, and she let out a dissatisfied roar, lifting her head to nuzzle him.

Fang Ye patted Jiaojiao's head and smiled happily, "Soon, you'll have a new companion!"