Chapter 55.1

“Lingren”

Mu Ling cradled Lingren in her arms, immediately noticing the fox’s unusual reaction.

When she saw Lingren staring at the two lions, a pang of unease hit her, and her eyes widened. “What are you looking at?”

The white fox tilted its head slightly toward the lioness, its small black nose twitching as it sniffed the air intently.

Mu Ling held her breath, her anxiety intensifying.

She recalled the rumors about the Mutant hamster aboard the starship. Before escaping the cargo hold, it had reportedly been confined with the other transported animals.

Could it have infected the others?

Impossible, she thought. Lieutenant Luo was from the Beast tamer’s army and well-versed in dealing with mutant beasts. With such a major incident, he would have thoroughly checked all animals and would never have allowed them off the ship if there was any danger.

Besides, whether they were zoo animals or private pets, vaccinations were mandatory. Even if bitten, infection wasn’t guaranteed.

Mu Ling kept a close eye on Lingren’s every movement, monitoring its behavior intently.

“What’s wrong, Director Mu?” Manager Chen turned around after noticing Mu Ling had fallen behind.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Mu Ling saw that although Lingren remained vigilant, it showed no signs of aggression. Only then did she catch up to Manager Chen.

By the time they reached the truck, its doors were already closed, blocking her view of the lions.

She glanced at the white fox again. Lingren was still staring at the truck’s door, its beautiful triangular head tilting in confusion. Its snowy white ears twitched slightly, but that was the extent of its reaction.

“Director Mu, please get in.” Manager Chen opened the car door, gesturing for Mu Ling to board first.

The vehicle was a transport truck sent by the Forestry Bureau of Four Bay Star. The rear was a cargo hold, and the front had four seats.

Aside from the driver’s seat, the remaining three were reserved for the three officials from Shenwang Star. Their subordinates traveled in another car, along with the luggage.

Mu Ling, clutching Lingren, took the innermost seat in the back row of the main vehicle.

Seeing this, Managers Chen and Harry quickly competed for the front passenger seat.

Ultimately, Manager Chen emerged victorious, strapping himself in with a smug smile aimed at Manager Harry.

Manager Harry muttered under his breath, clearly displeased, as he reluctantly settled in the back seat.

Once seated, Manager Harry shifted uncomfortably, edging closer to the door in an effort to distance himself from the white fox in Mu Ling’s arms.

“Manager Harry,” Mu Ling said with a playful smile, “Lingren doesn’t bite.”

“I know, I know,” Manager Harry replied, forcing an awkward grin. But he still kept his distance.

Mu Ling adjusted Lingren, resting its head on her right shoulder to block Manager Harry’s view.

Embarrassed by Mu Ling’s accommodation, Manager Harry tried to change the subject. “Is this white fox a new war beast acquired by Bi Ke Zoo? I don’t recall seeing it before.”

Mu Ling shook her head. “No, it’s been with us for nearly a year. It used to live in the mountains, but it got injured recently, so I brought it down.”

She elaborated further, “Lingren is still experiencing some memory and cognitive issues. It’s very attached to me, and I worry something might happen at the zoo if I leave it behind. I hope it’s not too much trouble for you both.”

Manager Harry quickly waved his hands. “Not at all! You’ve got it under control. Besides, we owe you for handling the starship incident so well. Who knows what might have happened otherwise?”

At the mention of the starship incident, Mu Ling glanced at Lingren again. Though it lay obediently on her shoulder, its eyes remained fixed on the cargo section, nose twitching incessantly.

“Manager Harry, how are Roumei and Xiaoduo holding up?” she asked, concern evident in her voice.

Manager Harry’s expression turned worried. “They seem shaken. When we moved their cages earlier, they didn’t make a sound or even stand up. If not for the Beast Tamer’s Army thorough checks, I’d be worried the mutant hamster had gotten to them.”

Mu Ling nodded thoughtfully. “If the Beast Tamer Army confirmed their safety, it should be fine. Maybe they’re just not adjusting well. Four Bay Star’s climate is quite different from Shenwang Star.”

“Probably,” Manager Harry agreed. “We’ll have to get the Monty Zoo veterinarians to check on them when we arrive tomorrow morning.”

It was 3:30 a.m., and the driver was taking them to a hotel for some rest before the afternoon conference. The morning was designated as free time for the visiting zoo officials. Some planned to network, while others had arranged matchmaking sessions for their animals.

Roumei and Xiaoduo’s first match was scheduled with Monty Zoo, and Manager Harry had already coordinated with them.

The two vehicles soon arrived at the hotel, which the Forestry Bureau had reserved for all participants. Both officials and their animals were provided rooms, though the animals had to stay in their cages.

Mu Ling’s case was special. She had indicated during registration that her companion was a war beast, so she and Lingren would share a room.

The night-shift receptionist greeted her with a warm smile. “We’ve prepared a suite for you and Lingren to ensure you’re comfortable,” she said, handing over the keycard. “Our manager saw the trending news and specifically arranged this before leaving.”

Managers Chen and Harry, stuck with standard rooms, couldn’t help but feel envious.

Mu Ling, feeling embarrassed by the special treatment, thanked the receptionist profusely. Once everyone had their room keys, they rode the elevator upstairs together.

Fas, who was sharing a room with someone from Fu’ai Zoo, helped Mu Ling bring her luggage to her suite before leaving.

After ensuring the windows were secure, Mu Ling removed Lingren’s leash, letting it roam freely.

The moment it was unrestrained, Lingren leaped onto the bed, shook its fur, and sat on the soft blanket, its white coat blending perfectly with the bedding. Mu Ling sat beside it, smiling as she ruffled its head.

The white fox stretched out contentedly, resting against her leg, its violet eyes gazing up at her with affection.

“You’re such a good boy, Lingren.” She bent down to kiss its little face. “Sister’s going to take a shower first, don’t run around, okay?”

As she opened her suitcase, Lingren wedged itself under her arm, rubbing against her insistently before plopping into the suitcase.

“Really?” Mu Ling sighed. “Lingren, you’re blocking sister from getting her clothes.”

After some maneuvering, she managed to retrieve her items, carrying Lingren in one arm while gathering what she needed. Once everything was sorted, she headed to the bathroom.

As soon as the bathroom door closed, the white fox became unhappy.

It lay by the door, sniffing through the gap until it heard the water running. Then it circled in place before settling against the door, occasionally whimpering softly.

When Mu Ling emerged from her shower, she found the fox waiting eagerly at the threshold.

Lingren rose immediately, ears pinned back, front paws reaching up to seek her attention.

Mu Ling sighed affectionately, scooping it up. “Why are you acting like a puppy? Did you learn this from Loyalty?”

The familiar name made Lingren bark softly—”Ga!”—as if in response.

After blow-drying her hair, Mu Ling carried the sleepy fox to bed. Lingren burrowed into her arms the moment they got under the covers.

Mu Ling held it close, gently kissing the red fur on its forehead. “What were you really looking at with Roumei and Xiaoduo earlier?”

The fox, of course, couldn’t answer. It simply rested its head on her arm, nestling its pointed snout against her neck.

Smiling softly, Mu Ling closed her eyes.

But just as she began to drift off, Lingren suddenly bolted upright in her arms.

Startled awake, Mu Ling watched as the fox leaped off the bed and rushed to the door, pressing its nose against the gap and sniffing intently before scratching at the surface.

“Lingren?” she called out.

The fox ignored her, continuing to claw at the door with increasing urgency.

Now fully awake, Mu Ling hurriedly put on a coat, secured Lingren’s leash, and opened the door.

The fox darted toward the elevator, where a cleaning cart now stood that hadn’t been there before. It frantically sniffed around the cart before suddenly charging toward the stairs.

Mu Ling, still in her slippers, had no choice but to follow as Lingren descended three flights and raced down a hallway, finally stopping at Room 1209.

This wasn’t Manager Harry’s room, nor was it where Roumei and Xiaoduo were staying.

“Lingren, what’s wrong? Is there a Mutant beast inside?” Mu Ling asked tensely as the fox scratched at the door while barking its distinctive “Ga! Ga!”

The harsh, duck-like cries pierced the quiet of the night, waking nearby guests.

Soon, doors began opening as people emerged to investigate the commotion.

Recognizing her from the viral news, one guest asked hesitantly, “Are you Director Mu from Bi Ke Zoo?”

“Yes,” Mu Ling replied apologetically. “I’m sorry for the disturbance. Does anyone know who’s staying in this room?”

A young man stepped forward. “That’s Director Qiao’s room from Qizhou Zoo on Baya Star.”

Baya Star was a small planet in the Eastern Star Region. It was so small it only had one zoo, and a very small one at that.

“But Director Qiao left earlier,” the man continued. “We had dinner together, but midway through, he got a call about some family emergency. He said he couldn’t attend the conference and left right after.”

Mu Ling’s brows furrowed slightly, while the white fox continued scratching at the door, calling out even more excitedly, “Ga! Ga!”

Seeing the door about to be damaged, some guests became uneasy. “Director Mu, what’s going on with Lingren? In this room, could there be…”

Suddenly, everyone became tense.

But Mu Ling just stared intently at Lingren, thinking about the housekeeping cart upstairs, this room, and the conference meeting member who left suddenly.

Something flashed through her mind.

Mu Ling asked the young man again, “What time did Manager Qiao leave?”

The young man scratched his head, unable to remember exactly, “It was during dinner time…”

“Nine o’clock,” a female staff member interjected. “I was in the lobby and saw him leave with his luggage.”

Nine o’clock.

That was exactly when Lingren had killed the mutant hamster and caused the online uproar.

Mu Ling’s expression darkened as pieces began falling into place. “Could someone contact the front desk? I need this room opened.”

Minutes later, a pale-faced staff member arrived with a keycard. Looking nervously between Mu Ling and the agitated fox, they quickly unlocked the door.

The moment the door opened, Lingren charged inside. It thoroughly sniffed every corner of the room before stopping, letting out a mournful cry that sounded nothing like its usual voice.

How could Lingren make such a sorrowful sound?

Mu Ling’s face tightened with concern. “Was this room cleaned after checkout?”

“Yes,” the staff member stammered. “It was cleaned immediately after he left.”