"Of course! Of course!"
Master Yu nodded eagerly. He glanced at the door behind him and whispered, "My grandson just fell asleep, so I have about half an hour. Quick, quick, let me see Zhuangzhuang."
"Thank you, Master Yu."
Yang Qi took the phone from the young zookeeper and nodded to Minister Wang. "I’ll head in now and let Zhuangzhuang and Master Yu ’meet.’"
With that, he took the phone, hurried back down the staff corridor, and entered the chimpanzee enclosure once more.
Atop the rockery, Zhuangzhuang was already waiting with eager anticipation.
The moment he saw Yang Qi return, he let out an urgent, low whimper, gesturing frantically with his hands.
’Did you find him? Is he there?’
Yang Qi held up the phone, turned the screen toward Zhuangzhuang, and smiled. "Look, who’s this?"
On the phone screen, Master Yu’s face, wrinkled yet warm and benevolent, gazed at the camera expectantly.
The moment Zhuangzhuang made out the familiar face on the screen—
Its entire body froze.
Time seemed to stand still.
The next moment, a long, drawn-out cry—a mix of surprise, sorrow, and longing—welled up from deep within Zhuangzhuang’s throat.
"OOH... OOH AAAAAH—!"
It leaped down from the platform and staggered toward Yang Qi. It reached for the phone screen with trembling hands, wanting to touch it, yet freezing in mid-air as if afraid it might break.
Its large brown eyes quickly filled with shimmering tears.
On the other end of the call, Master Yu’s eyes grew red as well.
...
...
Yang Qi held the phone, patiently letting Zhuangzhuang and Master Yu video chat for over ten minutes.
On the screen, Master Yu chattered on about his life in Nanling, gushing about how cute his grandson was, commenting on the recent weather in Binjiang, and reminding Zhuangzhuang to eat well...
Although Zhuangzhuang couldn’t speak or understand human language, it stayed glued to the screen. It would occasionally pat its chest gently or make soft "ooh-ooh" sounds in response, its eyes sparkling. The earlier dejection was completely gone.
The call only came to a reluctant end when the cries of Master Yu’s prematurely awakened grandchild sounded from his end.
Zhuangzhuang watched the screen go dark with great reluctance, then looked up at Yang Qi. Its eyes were filled with contentment, yet also held a new glimmer of hope.
It gestured with its hands and whimpered softly.
’Can I see him again?’
"Of course you can."
Yang Qi replied affirmatively, "When I go out later, I’ll tell that young Two-legged Beast to arrange video chats for you and Master Yu over the next few days."
"Besides, Master Yu said he’s coming back to Binjiang next week to see you in person."
’Really?!’
Zhuangzhuang spun around in excitement, slapping the ground with its hands and letting out a joyous shriek.
’Thank you.’
’Thank you, nice-smelling Two-legged Beast.’
It extended its powerful arm and gingerly tapped the back of Yang Qi’s hand.
This is a chimpanzee’s way of expressing friendship and gratitude.
[Mission Complete]
[Reward: Feather Fall Technique]
’Feather Fall Technique?’
Yang Qi raised an eyebrow, a surge of joy welling up inside him.
’This Magic is so practical!’
’It wasn’t for offense or defense, but it could solve a fundamental fear shared by all ’land-based creatures.’’
Falling.
’Feather Fall,’ just as the name suggests, allows a person to float down from a great height like a feather—slowly, steadily, and without any impact.
’With this Magic, I’ll have an absolute guarantee of safety, whether I accidentally fall from a great height or need to get down from a rooftop or cliff quickly.’
’I’ll never have to worry about getting injured or even dying from a fall again!’
"Not bad, not bad at all."
Though inwardly ecstatic, Yang Qi’s expression remained calm.
He waved at Zhuangzhuang.
"I’m heading out now. Eat well, play well, and wait for Master Yu to come back."
’Okay.’
Zhuangzhuang nodded vigorously, turned, and ran towards its food bowl.
It was hungry.
Watching the revitalized chimpanzee, Yang Qi smiled, turned and walked out of the enclosure, and returned to the observation area.
He returned the now-warm phone to the young zookeeper and instructed, "Over the next few days, please find a suitable time to arrange video calls for Zhuangzhuang and Master Yu. Just let him watch from outside the glass for about ten minutes each time. That should be enough to keep his spirits up."
"No problem."
The young zookeeper nodded repeatedly. "I’ll be sure to arrange it."
Hearing this, Minister Wang, who was standing nearby, waved his hand magnanimously and said, "Xiaoliu, go to logistics later and get a new phone with a big screen. It’ll be dedicated for Zhuangzhuang’s video calls. We’ll count it as special equipment for the Zoo."
"Thank you, Minister Wang!" the young zookeeper said, overjoyed.
Only then did Minister Wang turn to Yang Qi. He pointed at Zhuangzhuang, who was now roughhousing with his companions in the enclosure, and gave him a heartfelt thumbs-up.
"Advisor Yang, you’re really something else!"
"I’ve worked at this Zoo for almost twenty years and have seen my share of Animal Experts, but you’re the first one I’ve met who can really connect with an animal’s heart like that. You’re one of a kind!"
The young zookeeper also nodded, his face full of admiration.
Yang Qi smiled humbly.
After a few more pleasantries, he took his leave.
He picked up Xiaojiu, Bai Wan, and Liu Fu, who had been waiting outside, and drove away from the Binjiang Zoo.
...
「Binjiang City Bureau.」
Yang Qi went to Tang Yuan’s office, preparing to officially bid farewell and return to Donghua.
"Director Tang, now that the killer is caught, there’s nothing more I can help with. I’m preparing to return to Donghua. I have work at the park and can’t be away for too long."
Tang Yuan was signing documents. Hearing this, he immediately put down his pen and stood up from behind his desk.
"Advisor Yang, leaving so soon? Why not stay a couple more days? I was thinking of getting everyone together tonight for a few drinks."
"Next time, perhaps."
Yang Qi smiled. "If I have the chance to come to Binjiang again, I’ll definitely take you up on that."
"Alright then, I won’t insist."
Tang Yuan said this, but he didn’t immediately see his guest out. Instead, he turned, took an exquisite velvet gift box from the cabinet behind him, and presented it to Yang Qi.
"Advisor Yang, before you leave, a small token of our appreciation. You must accept it."