Chapter 253

At the moment she saw them, a flicker of disappointment crossed Ling Yue's eyes, so fleeting it was hardly noticeable.

Without her speaking, the viewers in the live stream had already recognized them and exclaimed excitedly.

【Ahhh, it's an emperor penguin! Super super beautiful emperor penguin!】

【I only know it's a penguin; how did those upstairs recognize it?】

【Isn't this easy to recognize? Emperor penguins are the largest species in the penguin family, giants of the penguin world!】

Seeing the question marks in the comments, Ling Yue thoughtfully introduced: "Actually, emperor penguins aren't hard to recognize, just as the comments said—they are the largest penguins, standing up to 1.23 meters tall, usually tall and handsome, with well-proportioned bodies, uniform coloring, their signature beak orange‑red, the neck to belly showing an orange‑yellow gradient, the darkest color behind the ears. Emperor penguins are usually monogamous for a year, with lifespans ranging from ten to twenty years."

Hearing this, some viewers couldn't help but feel a bit stunned.

【Host, wait! I've only heard of monogamy, never of yearly monogamy—did my ears go bad?】

【Upstairs, same here—what is yearly monogamy? o> _

Ling Yue couldn't help but smile faintly at this: "Because although emperor penguins are monogamous, they usually only stay together for one year; after a year, when the next breeding season comes, they pick a new partner—though there are exceptions."

【⊙▽⊙ How exciting!】

【Exciting? How exactly is it exciting? Upstairs, do tell—【perking ears】【cat‑style curiosity】】

【I remember now—when I read Sugar Bunny Madam's novel, A Qi was just like that, hilarious!】

【Goodness, I didn't expect those thick‑eyebrowed, big‑eyed ones to play around so flirtatiously!】

【You've got it wrong—emperor penguins are fine; the most flirtatious are Adélie penguins, those little punks in black headgear, constantly *【censored】*, *【censored】*, *【censored】*, absolutely wild!】

【!!! What's with those censored words upstairs? Has the system even given up on them?!】

Seeing the topic drifting, Ling Yue had to speak up, steering it back with a few words; the viewers didn't know, but she herself was well aware—compared to the gentleman emperor penguins in tailcoats, Adélie penguins are just street‑wandering punks!

As for those indescribable things, this isn't just her opinion; as early as a century ago, British man George Murray Levick came to Antarctica with an expedition team.

He was instantly captivated by the stark black‑and‑white Adélie penguins; they were endearing, like little gentlemen in miniature tailcoats, and he even wrote several praising poems in a row.

Later, he published several papers praising them, and unable to contain his excitement, he personally stroked a pair of Adélie penguins.

But the deeper he went, the more he realized that beneath the penguins' cute, fluffy exterior lay nothing like the pure cuteness he had imagined.

Judged by human societal norms, every aspect of their daily life shatters one's worldview, repeatedly shocking his perspective!

When six or more Adélie penguins gather together, they act like street‑gang thugs, often committing evil deeds such as … sexual harassment, provoking their own kind.

Their sexual preferences absolutely exceed human imagination!

The adjectives blocked by the system for the viewers above, Ling Yue could guess each one, because her predecessor—the unlucky British naval surgeon George Murray Levick—had already summed them up.

First is necrophilia—an act utterly indescribable to humans, the object sometimes being skeletal remains weathered for years on the ice.

Second is sexual abuse of young penguins.

The gang‑forming Adélie penguins will mistreat some chicks, often causing their deaths.

Third is calling for spring.

Penguins need pebbles to build nests, but for a large penguin colony, pebbles are undoubtedly scarce; usually, males with pebbles are popular, yet some females will actively seduce males, and once they get the pebble, they immediately turn hostile and deny anyone!

Because of the pebbles, slick, deceitful old penguins deliberately steal stones from young ones to win a mate's favor.

Thus, Adélie penguins have earned the nickname 'hooligans' among people. Of course, these are mostly human subjective judgments; placed in the penguins' survival situation, they constitute another set of 'natural laws'.

These thoughts were merely a fleeting instant.

Ling Yue's attention was wholly on the screen; as the staff entered, one could see the entire Emperor Penguin Ocean Hall—a world of ice and snow, the floor covered in thick snow, occasional feathers scattered about, and some pebbles placed haphazardly to one side.

The staff couldn't help but shiver; in the distance lay a blue lake where the penguins could swim during leisure, and these decorations showed attention to detail everywhere.

For the Antarctic emperor penguins living in zoos, it seems hardly different from their homeland.

He eagerly introduced these penguins; from just now one could see his humorous tone, and his remarks often made the viewers burst out laughing.

Only Ling Yue—her facial muscles twitched for a moment, she couldn't muster a smile, and a faint, continuous call seeped into her ears, muffled and distant, as if coming from another world.

The staff evidently saw the live‑stream translation; facing this group of emperor penguins for science popularization, they looked immensely proud: "Our Memphis Zoo may have ten pairs of emperor penguins, but their life has always been harmonious!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a sharp 'pa‑pa‑pa' sound suddenly rang out!

That sound was truly loud, instantly drawing all the viewers' attention; after seeing the fierce battle, they were all stunned!

Two emperor penguins in tailcoats raised their short, flat black wings and slapped each other with a 'pa‑pa‑pa', their dense, glossy black backs and bellies making a resounding 'pa‑pa'.

The two emperor penguins held their heads high, their orange‑red beaks occasionally pecking lightly; the battle was visibly intense to the naked eye.

Soon another emperor penguin joined the fray; two penguins teamed up to attack a slightly taller one, and that taller emperor penguin furiously counter‑attacked, letting out a loud 'ah‑ah‑ah' cry.

Ling Yue heard clearly as the large emperor penguin angrily shouted: "Thief! Thief! Husband, come help me quick!"

In the blink of an eye, another penguin joined the battle, immediately aiming at the other two—obviously a helper for the bullied emperor penguin!

"Wife, I'm here! Watch me beat them to death!"

"Thief, thief! Get back here quick!"

The emperor penguin couple surged forward with fierce momentum; the two penguins opposite could only barely defend, but Ling Yue observed that they weren't unable to fight—one seemed to be holding back something, offering only slight resistance.

The battle erupted like a volcano, unavoidable; the four penguins launched into a 'pa‑pa‑pa' assault, leaving the live‑stream viewers gaping in astonishment.

The clear 'pa‑pa' sounds drew a circle of onlookers, who widened their eyes and shuffled into the corners; Ling Yue even heard the faint rustle of their discussion.

"Wow, the Brie couple is awesome! They beat the Xike lot so badly they had no chance to fight back!"

The large emperor penguin seized the moment, covering its belly until it emitted a 'jī‑jī‑jī' sound, and a round little head popped out.

The fluffy gray chick stood on its father's feet; though the penguin looked wobbly with short legs, it actually had long legs beneath—a chubby little fellow!

Because of their weight, the thighs and knees are hidden under thick fat; the upper and lower legs are mostly inside the body, so what shows is just a section of shin and foot‑web.

This helps them better avoid the cold; their soft bellies are also the chicks' favorite 'home', and when laid down, not a single feather can be found.

Thus Ling Yue finally realized it was a dad with chicks.

The fluffy chick protested with a 'jī‑jī': 'Daddy, daddy! I wanna see, I wanna see!'

The penguin dad firmly refused, while the mom nearby nibbling a fish chimed in: 'Chicks can't watch this!'

The young chick curiously asked: 'Then why can Mom and Dad watch it?'

The couple stared at each other, and in the end both turned to face the wall, saying to the child: "Look, we're not looking anymore."

The little penguin innocently nodded, its head covered by its father's warm belly, so naturally it couldn't see; after its earnest parents finished speaking, it immediately turned its head 180 degrees, watching with great enthusiasm.

The couple had a very good relationship; upon exchanging a glance, they laughed "ah ah", almost huddled together, chatting softly; if you didn't listen to the content, they were indeed a very harmonious family.

"Wife, come quick! They're fighting! They're fighting again!" an emperor penguin lay on the ice, its black back contrasting with its white belly; its plump, tall figure oddly resembled a fat duck playing in water, and it cheerfully called its wife over.

The couple lay together on the ground to watch, their mouths still holding the small fish and shrimp fed by the keeper, looking just like a little movie couple.

The protagonists are naturally those two penguin couples.

Not only were they watching with great interest, but even the online viewers in the livestream found it extremely amusing.

【Frog fun, is this a hidden program at the zoo? I've never seen penguins fight before; cute yet with a hint of fierceness!】

【Sounds good? If it sounds good, it's a real penguin!】

【Does anyone still remember what the staff just said? Penguin life is very harmonious.】

【Yeah, so harmonious they could drum!】

The viewers who loved the spectacle and didn't mind the fuss kept commenting, "Whoa, that one missed, that one swung at air, quick learn my family's shadowless kick, hurry up and get in there!"

Little did they know, the staff were almost in tears.

He was stunned for a moment, then immediately summoned the emperor penguin hall keeper: "George, quickly separate them!"

Keeper George looked at the chubby, fierce emperor penguin over a meter tall, unconsciously stepping back two steps; he said nothing, but his expression spoke volumes.

Just then, a comment floated down from above: "【George: Mommy I'm scared QAQ!】"

The viewers were about to laugh themselves crazy.

Finally, only after several burly staff members intervened did the two sides temporarily cease fire.

The staff's faces flushed red: "Host, actually our emperor penguin hall has never been like this before!"

He spoke with conviction, when from behind came a rough "ah ah" cry: "Thief! Thief!"

"You're the thief! We took this by our own ability!"

"Husband, hit it! Hit it!"

"If you've got the guts, come over! Come over!" The emperor penguins, temporarily separated by the staff, were far from obedient; their "ah ah" cries almost drowned out the staff's voices.

Perhaps realizing neither could land a blow, one side lifted its head high, flapped its wings, showing not a trace of defeat's dejection, but rather as if it had gained a great advantage.

Ling Yue heard the voices of both sides, slightly widened her eyes, and exclaimed "Wow!"

The victorious couple were so angry they could die, their short wings slapping the railings with "pa pa pa": "Come over, I'll beat you to death! You two thieves!"

At the same time, even the livestream viewers felt it.

【Staff: Ah, what to do, so embarrassing QWQ】

【Host, what are they saying? Why are they fighting so fiercely?!】

The staff were even more embarrassed, since they had just said that; now they got slapped in the face, and quickly made an excuse: "Host, this is exactly why I wanted to consult you; they used to never be like this!"

He rubbed his temples in frustration: "Lately I don't know what's wrong; the Brie couple keeps targeting the West couple, and our zoo's mediators have tried many times to no effect!"

"You cured the lovebirds before; can you now ask the penguin couples why they insist on targeting the West couple like this?"

The staff member said, unable to help muttering to themselves: "Could it be because they're a gay couple?"

This statement left the viewers greatly puzzled, looking at the machine translation they couldn't understand for a moment.

【What's a gay couple?】

Ling Yue's gaze swept over the lens, and she casually explained: "Because the West couple are the only male-male homosexual penguin pair in the emperor penguin hall."

【!!!】

People who usually don't pay attention to or even know about penguins basically wouldn't realize that penguins can also have homosexual tendencies.

Ling Yue: "Actually, looking across the whole natural world, many animals exhibit homosexual behavior, such as lions and birds."

The Ying Guo doctor Qiáozhì·Mòlǐ·Lièwéikè mentioned earlier had, in part, delayed his experimental results by decades before they were exposed, because his findings included a homosexual penguin group.

Ling Yue's words caused an uproar of surprise; upon looking again at the two penguin couples, their expressions changed instantly, and they began to debate the cause of the fight.

【Could it be because they're the only emperor penguin pair and got excluded? After all, homosexuality is a minority behavior.】

Seeing this, Ling Yue couldn't help shaking her head: "Impossible."

Animals aren't like humans, with any notion of excluding same-sex or opposite-sex partners; they usually consider strength, and only bother to notice who wants to be with whom.

Through Ling Yue's explanation, the earlier guesses were also overturned; the calls of the two emperor penguin couples continued, and Ling Yue directly translated them.

【Thief?! No wonder there are so many penguins in the emperor penguin hall, but only this couple keeps fighting each other!】

【Indeed, the poor penguin must have something hateful about it!】

【Could it be that they stole someone else's pebbles?】

Ling Yue's eyes flashed, and she directly denied: "Impossible."

She had the staff pull back the camera: "Look, there are many pebbles on the ice in the livestream, proving they're not lacking pebbles for now. Pebbles are very important to penguins—not only as a mating standard for males to prove their ability to provide, but also as a necessity in the incubation process."

"Do you see these two penguin couples? Do they need them?"

The livestream viewers couldn't help agreeing.

【It seems that's indeed the case; these two penguins have already become partners, so they don't need pebbles. As for another reason, male homosexual penguins probably can't have kids, right?】

【It's not just 'seems,' it's certain! Even humans haven't developed male pregnancy yet.】

【So what exactly is the reason, then?】

Ling Yue's gaze fell on the two penguin couples; they seemed to sense it too, raising their heads and looking around.

Ling Yue had the staff zoom in on the screen, saying: "Instead of guessing here, let's just ask them directly—what exactly is the reason, what did the West couple steal, to make them so angry?"

The staff carried out the order respectfully, having long been convinced and willing.

After hearing Ling Yue's question, the penguin couple were shocked, then quickly reacted: "Humans! You can understand our speech? We're finally saved!"

At that moment, the other two emperor penguins—that is, the West couple—showed unusual panic; one of them immediately hid behind its partner: "I'm scared."

It spoke timidly—how could it still have half of its earlier arrogance?

Hearing this, Bri angrily shouted: "Afraid? You two bastards! When you stole my chicks, you weren't afraid at all!"

It shouted "ah ah" in anger, flapped its short wings against the fence, raised its head furiously: "It's these two thieves! They stole our child! That's the child I painstakingly gave birth to!"

Humans, please help us, my poor chicks, Mommy's treasure.

As it spoke, it actually teared up sadly; its husband beside it gently patted its back—clearly the same action, yet it unmistakably shows comfort between lovers.

Ling Yue was utterly shocked: "Chicks?"

The Emperor Penguin Bri angrily accused: "It's right on those damn West Claw's claws!"

Its mate also couldn't help but glare angrily at the two egg-thieves: "To hatch our chicks, I preen myself every day—who knew they'd act nasty and steal our eggs!"

You can't even lay your own eggs!

Who would have thought, the two male emperor penguins glanced at each other and said: "We can't lay our own eggs either."

The feeble West Claw, somewhat coyly, said: "Just give me the egg; you're young, you can still have more."

Bri was so angry tears shot out—clearly they're the victims!

Ling Yue was lost for words.

She stayed silent too long; the livestream's viewers were already anxious like ants on a hot pan, restless.

【Host host, what's going on? What's the reason?】

This bullet comment too was everyone's sentiment; the staff looked at her pleadingly: "Dear host, what exactly did they steal?"

Ling Yue couldn't help but shake her head, then said directly: "One egg."

The staff's eyes widened instantly: "An egg?!"

Ling Yue: "The egg that Bri and her mate laid was stolen by the West Claw pair."

Hearing this, the viewers were shocked beyond words.

The staff were dumbfounded: "How is that possible? When did they lay eggs?"

Ling Yue, hearing this, was utterly speechless: "Those emperor penguins already have a chick, and you guys are so clueless you don't even know that!"

Only after she spelled it out did they suddenly realize.

The belatedly aware staff, like a scorching emperor, stared at the West Claw pair; the latter trembled all over under his gaze, and the already fearful West Claw couldn't help but retreat further—just then, a "gurgling" sound suddenly rang out.

Under everyone's gaze, a snow-white, glossy egg rolled around on the ground; the panicked West Claw quickly stepped forward, placed the egg on its brood pouch, and tightly covered it with the folds of skin on its belly.

"Ah ah ah! Ah ah ah!"

The emperor penguin pair was about to go mad with anger: "Egg thieves! Give back my egg quickly!"

"My chick! My egg!"

They pounded the fence hard, making loud bangs.

Ling Yue looked at the dazed staff: "Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and get the egg back!"

She looked at the hysterical Bri and her mate, then immediately assured: "Don't worry, your egg will definitely be returned."

Bri streamed tears, her heart-wrenching cry tightened hearts; tear-blurred, it didn't know whether to trust humans.

Until it heard the West Claw's sharp cry!

Bri instantly perked up, leaning on the rail; the two adorable emperor penguin couple stretched their necks, heads wedged in the fence, staring intently as the egg was taken out.

"Ah ah ah my child! My egg!"

They jumped for joy until the warm egg was placed on their feet by the staff; only then did the lively Bri, as if frozen by a spell, carefully hold up her big belly.

Beside it was the equally ecstatic husband; Bri looked at him and said excitedly: "Husband, our child has returned."

"Boo hoo hoo, our child has returned!"

The husband nodded, extended his foot, revealing the gap underneath, and said to her: "Wife, have you had enough? It's time to put the egg on my feet—I have a high body temperature, I'll help you—ah!"

It let out a trill, its belly wobbling like a hot water bottle, looking at his wife with glistening eyes; Bri pulled back her short tail: "Go on, say another line—try it!"

The husband: "But, male penguins incubating eggs is a tradition passed down from our ancestors——"

He hadn't finished when he got another smack on the head.

Bri: "You also say it's tradition, but back when we were out in the wild, I had to go forage after giving birth; now the zoo provides us with plenty of food every day—I don't need to go foraging anymore!"

Seeing her husband dejected with his head down, Bri said again: "All right, all right, I'll give the child to you right away."

At this, it finally fell silent, eagerly slipping the egg into its brood pouch; wife Bri followed along, eyes wide, watching its belly, as if that could let her see the cute egg inside the skin folds of its brood pouch.

This couple's eyes were full of hope and anticipation, pouring twelve parts of effort into their child.

At the same time, Ling Yue translated their dialogue, and the viewers hearing it were about to laugh themselves silly.

【Ah ah ah they're so cute!】

【Bri truly has the art of managing her husband! She's a super great mom!】

【Ah, if only my husband were like that every day—after having kids he's as good as dead; what widow-style parenting, I'm basically grave-tending parenting! Humans just can't compare to penguins!】

Compared to the vigorous Bri couple, the West Claw pair were practically dying of tears; after being forced apart, they were like two walking corpses, lying on the ground whimpering softly.

"Boo hoo hoo, my chick, I have no chick left QAQ"

The staff instantly panicked, immediately pleading with Ling Yue: "Host, great host, do you have any way to save these two poor little guys?"

"They really look too pitiful."

Ling Yue looked at the emperor penguin pair; the latter blinked at the camera, knowing they weren't stupid—they knew Bri could only get their child back thanks to human help.

Otherwise, they would have already hatched their child.

Upon hearing Ling Yue's question, they eagerly nodded: "We also want a child—boo hoo hoo, I've always dreamed of having a child……"

Ling Yue: "But you also can't steal someone else's child."

The West Claw pair instantly lowered their heads, not daring to speak.

Their pitiful appearance made the livestream's viewers instantly feel pity; after all, they too are a pitiful couple.

But soon, someone rebutted.

【They're pitiful, aren't Brie and her spouse pitiful too? Those eggs were laid after great hardship, and they just stole them!】

【If someone stole my child, I'd rather perish with them!】

Finally, Ling Yue turned her gaze to the staff member; the pressure instantly shifted onto them, and they actually blurted out: "Host, why don't we get them a penguin egg?"

Ling Yue heard it and immediately furrowed her brows: "What nonsense are you spouting?"

She never expected the zoo to be so unreliable, careless in reality, not even knowing that penguins lay eggs, and then they even suggested getting an egg for the couple.

Not to mention, penguins are the most selfless parents in nature!

Unless forced, they would never abandon their penguin chicks.

For example, for their chicks, penguin parents: the father can go without food or drink for three months, and the female after laying eggs will ignore her weakened body and go straight to foraging.

The father will wait as long as he can before reluctantly choosing to abandon the penguin egg.

Moreover, emperor penguins lay only one egg per clutch, which they incubate as if it were a precious pearl; how could they possibly abandon it?

Upon hearing that answer, the staff member slumped his head in dejection, looking at the two listless emperor penguin couple: "What should we do then?"

"We can't just watch them die, can we?"

Ling Yue heard this and smiled: "That's impossible."

"Go to that pile of pebbles, pick the biggest, roundest, whitest one, and bring it over."

The staff member apparently thought of something, yet still complied; what he held was hardly different from a penguin egg, and upon seeing the 'egg,' the penguin couple instantly perked up.

They nimbly got up, waddled toward the 'egg,' and Xike even directly stuffed the 'egg' into his brood pouch, narrowed his eyes, patted his belly, and visibly regained vigor.

Ling Yue: "They themselves know no penguin wishes to abandon its chick; giving them a proper-looking pebble is enough."

"If you feel sorry for them, you can contact others to ask if there are any abandoned penguin eggs; this situation is rare but does happen, right?"

She glanced at the staff member, who, recalling his earlier carelessness, instantly nodded sheepishly: "That's right, exactly."

Too bad they're in the emperor penguin exhibit; emperor penguins lay only one egg per clutch, and they haven't even finished incubating it—how could they abandon their chick?

On the other side, Brie, upon seeing this, gave a cold snort; she still remembers the pain of losing her child, so let those two egg-thieves hatch stones instead!

Having perfectly solved the zoo's long-standing problem, the staff member beamed with joy and began praising Ling Yue.

Ling Yue remained unmoved.

Unexpectedly, this time she did not actively cut the livestream; instead, she stared straight at him and asked, "Who lives next door to the emperor penguin exhibit?"

The staff member froze, shocked at her; he was about to cut the livestream immediately, his guilty expression obvious not just to Ling Yue but even to the viewers in the chat.

Ling Yue grew even more certain of her suspicion.

He gave an embarrassed laugh, changed the subject: "Thank you so much, host, for your help this time; interested friends can come visit our Memphis Zoo…"

Ling Yue coldly interrupted him: "Keep the livestream going."

The staff member hesitated, his eyes already showing some impatience; after all, he's a big-name Chinese streamer, he had been flattering her only because she was still useful, and once used up, how could she still think she had the right to speak to him like that?

"Host, please be—"

Ling Yue stared at him, her eyes dark and deep: "I want you to keep the livestream going."

Shaken by her icy tone and demeanor, trembling as he was about to cut the stream, a flash of red light crossed his black-and-white eyes, and in an instant he lost consciousness.

Yet to everyone's eyes, under Ling Yue's command, he voluntarily raised the camera and went to another hall.

"Boom—boom—boom—"

"Boom—boom—boom—"

Through the transparent glass, one could see inside a small room of less than a few dozen square meters, the scenery consisting only of a few bald rocks, a few low shrubs, and not a single leaf on the ground.

The source of the sound, moving with the camera, appeared before everyone's eyes——

A gaunt, emaciated giant panda, its body covered in large patches of dirt, its mouth open to reveal rotten teeth, weakly lying on the ground, constantly kowtowing and begging for food.

Its head bumped against the glass, seemingly unconscious, emitting a soft whimper.

No one knows better than Ling Yue what it is calling for.

"Mom, I'm so hungry, Mom, why haven't you come back yet, Yaya is so hungry… so hungry…"

In that instant, tears welled up in Ling Yue's eyes and spilled over, blurring her vision so she couldn't see Yaya clearly, but she could hear its pleading, like the death rattle of a dying person.

In the livestream room, seeing that moment, everyone fell silent.

A sour feeling welled up in her eye sockets, and tears instantly spilled out.

【This is Yaya! It's our national treasure Yaya!】