Chapter 9.2

Mu Ling helplessly explained, “It’s just our zoo’s little tiger. It’s a bit mischievous.”

‘Mischievous? Does that justify abusing it?’ The director’s face was stern, though his tone feigned gentleness. “Is that so? I’ve never seen a real tiger before. Could you show me through video?” He intended to use the video to keep an eye on this zoo owner.

Mu Ling was stunned. They had just been discussing the zoo being reported, and now this official suddenly wanted to see a tiger? But who could argue with a leader? They’d have to deal with each other in the future. Mu Ling quickly replied, “Of course.”

She activated the camera. Almost immediately, the Forestry Bureau saw the scene on the other end.

It was a large iron cage with thick padding. Inside, a fierce, enormous golden tiger was eating. The tiger’s body was wrapped in many bandages, looking quite battered. It was also very thin, as if malnourished for a long time, its fur extremely dull.

It indeed looked like an abused animal.

The Forestry Bureau director said coldly, insincerely, “Quite a robust tiger.”

Mu Ling smiled, “Actually, it’s not robust. Its physical condition is below average. It has suffered too much in the past.” As she spoke, she bent down and stroked the tiger’s head affectionately.

Seeing this, the director was shocked and immediately shouted, “Don’t touch it!”

What was wrong with this Ms. Mu? How dare she touch it while the beast was eating? Even if it’s a tamed animal, it’s still a wild beast. Protecting food is instinctive for wild animals. Even abused beasts would never allow humans to touch them while eating. They would kill for food!

The director’s shout startled others in the office.

Many people looked over, and someone walked to the director’s office door asking, “Director, what’s wrong?”

The director didn’t answer them. The office was eerily quiet at this moment.

The staff, not understanding, saw the director on a video call. Since the video wasn’t hidden, they could also see the image floating in mid-air and looked towards it.

In the video, a young woman was awkwardly bending over, her hand stiffly placed on the head of a giant wild tiger, turning her head to look at the communication mirror in shock. The wild tiger she was petting was also coldly looking at the floating camera. It seemed to be reacting to the voice it heard, but its eyes were expressionless, as if looking at a dead person.

The Forestry Bureau staff were speechless.

What the hell? How can a human dare to get so close to a tiger that’s eating? Her hand is even on the tiger’s head!

Wait, that’s not right. Why isn’t the tiger reacting? Shouldn’t it attack her?

“Le-leader,” Mu Ling cautiously opened her mouth. Because it was a one-way video call, Mu Ling didn’t know what had suddenly happened to the leader. His shout just now had given her a big scare.

After another ten-odd seconds of silence, the director finally came to his senses and found his voice. He said hoarsely, “Qi-Qilin doesn’t bite you?”

“Huh?” Mu Ling was a bit confused. “Qilin doesn’t bite people. It’s a very gentle tiger, just sometimes has a bit of a temper.”

As Mu Ling spoke, she pushed the tiger’s body with one hand and tugged hard at her trouser leg with the other. She gritted her teeth, “Qilin, you’re stepping on me.”

Qilin glanced at the camera, then at Mu Ling, and lowered its head to continue eating.

“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

Qilin continued eating.

“Qilin!”

Mu Ling was angry now.

“Fine, fine, fine. You think I can’t deal with you? If you won’t lift your paw, then don’t eat anymore.”

Mu Ling reached out and snatched the food bowl from the tiger’s mouth.

The Forestry Bureau employees and the director were stunned.

What are you doing?!

Snatching food from a tiger’s mouth is provocation, a declaration of war!

You’ll be torn to pieces by the tiger!

Sure enough, the tiger unhappily growled, “Roar!”

Mu Ling raised the food bowl with both hands, holding it above her head, intending to keep it out of Qilin’s reach.

Qilin looked at the food bowl, licked its mouth, and stopped eating.

It curled its body and sat down directly, its large bottom pressing on Mu Ling’s foot.

Now, forget about the trouser leg, Mu Ling’s entire leg was pinned.

Mu Ling was speechless.

Mu Ling put down the food bowl and hugged the tiger’s neck. “You little brat! Bad kitty! Just because I stepped on your tail a bit, you had to sit on my leg in return, didn’t you? Huh? Didn’t you?”

Mu Ling roared as she rubbed and messed up the tiger’s head. Qilin, feeling uncomfortable from her touching, opened its large mouth, wanting to bite Mu Ling’s moving hand. As it bit, Mu Ling’s arm was covered in saliva. She got tired and simply stopped moving, letting Qilin bite.

Qilin wasn’t really biting; its teeth weren’t applying force. Seeing Mu Ling not moving, it didn’t want to bite anymore. It used its nose to push that arm away, then moved its bottom, stood up, and walked to the side to drink water.

Mu Ling’s leg was finally free. She wiped her hand on her work pants, cleaning off the saliva, then said to Qilin, “You hurry up and eat. You must finish it. Sister will come back to check later.”

After speaking, Mu Ling walked out of the iron cage. After closing the door, she walked towards the outside while apologizing, “I’m sorry, leader. I’ll go to the office now. But I still feel that our zoo’s old employees wouldn’t do something like abusing animals. I hope after you investigate clearly, you can clear their names.”

The director was silent for a few seconds, then slowly said, “Don’t try to pin the blame on your employees.”

Mu Ling froze mid-step. “Huh?”

The director took a deep breath. “The troublemaker is clearly you. Bring me Qilin’s documents and report to the Forestry Bureau right now. Immediately!”

Mu Ling was speechless.