Chapter 2626

The afternoon sunlight was just right.

Star employee Xiao Bai Lion, after two days of sleep and Monster Power recovery, finally returned to work.

Jin Chen's Monster Power was now enough to support restoring his adult form, but Bai Rendong and he both knew that jumping straight from cub form to full form would be too shocking, likely inviting unnecessary suspicion and trouble.

Gradual progress is the steady way.

So he still maintained the Xiao Bai Lion form in front of visitors, though his size seemed a bit larger and sturdier than before.

Xiao Bai Lion walked with a lazy gait, familiarly entering the spacious, comfortable open-air enclosure, accustomed to the excited cheers and camera shutter sounds outside the glass walls.

He found a comfortable position, lay down lazily, stretched a big yawn, then placed his fluffy head on his stacked forepaws and narrowed his eyes.

His cute yet tsundere little demeanor didn't make visitors feel neglected; instead, it excited everyone, who exclaimed he was adorably over the top.

"Ahhh, how can it look this good even while sleeping!"

"I really want to rub that soft belly!"

Jin Chen's ears twitched; he enjoyed the outside praise, and the tip of his tail lightly swayed happily.

Well, maintaining the cub form and occasionally showing off cuteness feels not bad either.

Mainly, it lets him openly let his wife hug him.

Not long after he started his shift, the well-informed animal underlings heard the news of the boss's return to work.

The first to rush over was precisely the squirrel Song Xiao Kuai, who had felt wronged that morning.

It literally used escape speed, swooshing through the trees of the Squirrel Garden, ignoring passersby's surprised looks and exclamations, heading straight for the Lion Enclosure.

Song Xiao Kuai slipped through the grid fence, and in a few bounds reached the spot beside where Jin Chen was lying.

"Chii chii chii! Chii chii!" Upon seeing the boss, Song Xiao Kuai gestured with his tiny paws, his fluffy tail swinging excitedly, his black-bead-like eyes seeming to hold two tears as he began an impassioned, embellished accusation of how the bad human wielding a rod that morning had bullied and slandered him.

When he got worked up, he even lifted his paw to wipe away nonexistent tears, looking utterly pitiful.

The visitors outside the glass watched with great interest, laughing and saying:

"Ah! It's that \"hold up a chestnut\" internet-famous little squirrel!"

"They can actually communicate? So loving!"

"Xiao Bai Lion seems to be the zoo's animal boss! Look how attentively he's listening!"

Jin Chen lifted his eyelids, listening to Song Xiao Kuai's chittering report.

Ling Gun Gun had just been chattering with him about the morning's situation, but the troublemaking human had already been escorted out by park security.

He flicked his tail, lifted his paw, and pointed to the snack bowl holding fresh fruit and nuts in the nest.

That was an extra snack Bai Rendong had specially prepared, worried he might be bored or hungry at work.

Song Xiao Kuai darted over in a flash, shamelessly scooping up a big pile of his favorite various nuts with his tiny paws, then obediently sat back beside Jin Chen.

Xiao Bai Lion lifted his paw again, pointing to the nearby pool, then to the bundle of nuts Song Xiao Kuai held.

Song Xiao Kuai began to eat happily, feeling that the nuts, already tasty, had become even more delicious.

He ate even more blissfully, his cheeks puffed up, so happy his eyes narrowed to slits.

With Song Xiao Kuai as an example, the other animal underlings could no longer stay still.

Thus, this afternoon at Zhenyang Zoo, a spectacular scene worthy of being called a marvel unfolded.

First, a few brightly feathered coal tits and white-eyes found the Lion Enclosure, perched on the artificial hill, and chirped around the dozing Xiao Bai Lion.

Right after, the round little hedgehogs puffed and waddled on their short legs, lined up and crawled out from the bushes, squeezing to the edge of the soft nest, huddling against Jin Chen's paws into several little spiky balls, and lay still comfortably.

The slower small animals just acted cute in the keeper's arms, insisting on going to the Lion Garden.

For example, the little monkey.

It simply hung onto keeper Amu's leg, squeaking and stretching its tiny paws desperately pointing toward the Lion Garden, insisting on going there.

Amu couldn't understand monkey language, but the intention was obvious as could be, so he helplessly held it and walked toward the Lion Garden.

Go, go, go, I'll take you to see your Xiao Bai Jade Boss!

And the big animals… they just hated that their bodies were too big, unable to go in and snuggle up!

For a time, the Lion Garden became the zoo's temporary gathering center.

Various fluffy small animals, in various ways 'clocking out early', gathered beside the Xiao Bai Lion.

They weren't noisy either; they just stayed quietly, some rubbing against Jin Chen's fur, some sharing a bit of his extra meal; as long as they stayed near the boss, basking in the aura that made animals comfortable, each one became so comfortable they almost floated.

Visitors exclaimed in wonder at the sight, their cameras and phones snapping nonstop.

The keepers were busy and happy, needing to carefully look after these guys, prevent fights and stress, and also answer visitors' curious questions.

By the time the zoo closed in the afternoon, Bai Rindong finished his work, came over to pick up Jin Chen, and saw this magnificent scene.

His Xiao Bai Lion was surrounded by a heap of fluffy balls like stars surrounding the moon, sleeping soundly, while the small animals were each more relaxed than the next.

Bai Rindong couldn't help but chuckle lightly.

He stepped forward, softly gesturing for a few keepers to help, carefully picking up those little guys who clung and refused to leave, sleeping sprawled out, and carrying each one back to their respective enclosures.

The Xiao Bai Lion was woken by the movement, blearily opened its eyes, seeing Bai Rindong, it stretched out its paws wanting a hug.

Bai Rindong bent over and held him in his arms; Jin Chen then nuzzled his chin with his fluffy head, briefly mentioning the morning's disturbance.

Bai Rindong gently stroked his back, eyes soft: 'I know, the staff have already handled it. The footage has been retrieved, and that person will be barred from entering the park from now on. Rest assured.'

He lowered his head and pressed his cheek against the warm little lion's head: 'Bao Bao, you've worked hard today.'

After working the afternoon shift, he successfully reaped Jin Chen, who was full of the little ones' adoration...

And he really wasn't tired at all.

Moreover, it didn't hinder him from taking the opportunity to snuggle with his wife.

Holding the warm little lion, he returned to the townhouse door; Bai Rindong took out his keys, and the weight in his arms suddenly lightened.

A white light flashed; Jin Chen transformed into human form, reaching from behind to wrap his arms around Bai Rindong's waist, lazily hanging on his back, chin resting on his shoulder, like a warm large feline accessory.

Bai Rindong staggered slightly from being held, feeling a warm touch from behind and a pleasant scent.

He smiled indulgently, adjusted his posture a little so both could be more comfortable, then opened the door.

"I prepared something for you." Bo Rindong slowly walked into the house carrying this large ornament.

"Huh?" Jin Chen lazily lifted their head to look inside the house.