Chapter 2631: Fantastic Beasts in the Zoo 38

The next morning, the sky was just light.

Bai Rendong half-sat up at the head of the bed, the phone screen lit, showing the animal transfer procedures that needed prompt confirmation.

His other hand gently rubbed the lion ears buried in the quilt—warm, soft, and twitching unconsciously under his touch.

Jin Chen was still sound asleep, facing Bai Rendong.

Long white hair spread across the pillow, half-covering his side profile, his arm draped loosely over Bai Rendong's waist in a possessive pose.

After reading just two lines of the document, Bai Rendong's attention drifted to Jin Chen—he noted the long, dense white lashes, the rise and fall of his collarbone with steady breath, and felt the softness under his palm and the warmth from the arm around his waist.

He simply couldn't focus; his heart turned to mush.

An urgent phone ring shattered the quiet.

Buzz—

Bai Rendong jumped, instinctively hitting mute, afraid to wake the person beside him.

He glanced at Jin Chen carefully—sure enough, the lion ears twitched, Jin Chen frowned and muttered in displeasure, but didn't wake.

Bai Rendong exhaled, slipped out of bed quietly, took the still-vibrating phone, and walked quickly to the window before answering.

"Hello?"

The Deputy Director of Dai Guan Zoo shouted anxiously: "Director Bai! Something's happened! Please come and bring that staff member to help us!"

Background noise was loud, with faint animal growls, staff shouts, and running footsteps.

Bai Rendong's heart sank slightly, but he stayed calm: "Don't panic, what happened?"

"The leopard in our Leopard Enclosure," the Deputy Director's voice rushed, almost incoherent, "was supposed to be auctioned this morning, but for some reason it suddenly went berserk, rampaging through the grounds, growling as it tried to attack people!"

"Several experienced keepers tried to approach and calm it, but all got bitten on the hands—now no one dares enter! This leopard lived in the wild, its ferocity hard to tame, temper huge; when angry it even hurts itself! We really have no other option!"

Bai Rendong's brows furrowed; a leopard is a fierce beast, and once out of control it's extremely dangerous.

"Alright, hold the scene, don't provoke it further—we're on our way!"

After hanging up, Bai Rendong hurried back to the bedside.

Jin Chen had already been woken by the commotion, sitting up slightly irritated, his silver-white hair somewhat messy, his eyes still heavy with sleep and displeasure.

"Bao Bao."

"I heard." Jin Chen said.

"Mm, the situation is a bit tricky; we need to go over right away." Bai Rendong sat on the bed, smoothing his tousled hair.

Jin Chen pressed his forehead into Bai Rendong's neck, inhaling his wife's scent deeply, his voice a little hoarse.

"Two minutes."

The feline morning grumpiness was especially evident in him.

Bai Rendong stayed still, letting him lean, and gently stroked his broad back.

During those two minutes, he grabbed a hair tie from the bedside table, pulled Jin Chen's white hair into a loose low ponytail so it wouldn't hinder movement later.

When the two minutes were up, Jin Chen rose, a faint light flashing around him as he donned a white outfit, his lion ears and tail vanishing.

Bai Rendong kissed his cheek, "The situation is urgent—we need to hurry."

Jin Chen nodded with a grimace, washed up quickly, and followed Bai Rendong out the door.

Reaching the doorway, he didn't forget to wake Ling Gun Gun, who was sprawled out asleep in the mental space.

"Don't sleep either—get up and work."

Ling Gun Gun: "……Host!"

It scratched its head, feeling wronged.

The two arrived at Dai Guan Zoo; the Leopard Enclosure perimeter was lined with warning tape, and many staff and other zoo directors who'd heard the news had gathered, faces grim.

Upon arrival, they saw several staff in protective gear holding long electric prods tipped with shock devices, ready to look for a chance to enter the Leopard Enclosure.

"We can't wait any longer—if it breaks through the inner net and bursts out, we're done!" the safety officer said anxiously.

"You can't hurt it, you can't!" an old man in faded work clothes outside the fence exclaimed, agitated.

He shouted through tears, "Dahua wouldn't go mad for no reason—there must be a cause! You can't use the electric prod; that would kill it!"

The Deputy Director, stressed over animal and staff safety while also worrying about the old worker's feelings, was torn: "Old Zhou! I know you care about Dahua, and I feel for you too—but now… we have no better option; we can't just let it hurt people and itself!"

"No using it."

A cold, displeased voice suddenly sounded.

Everyone turned toward the sound—it was Bai Rendong and the white-haired youth striding over.

Jin Chen's gaze swept over the electric prods in the workers' hands; perhaps out of animal instinct, he had an innate aversion to such coercive devices aimed at animals.

His icy words, paired with a stern, imposing handsome face, made those holding the prods instinctively freeze, not daring to move forward.

"Director Bai! You've finally come!" the Deputy Director exclaimed, rushing over like seeing a savior, then spotting Jin Chen heading straight for the Leopard Enclosure entrance: "Hey! Wait! It's dangerous in there—do you need any protective measures?"

Before he finished speaking, Jin Chen had already stepped into the Leopard Enclosure's inner area, pulling the wire-mesh gate shut behind him.