Chapter 183 - 145: Cross-species Love at First Sight

In any case, the lion was finally eating. The most dangerous period was over.

Only Lu Gangsheng’s face was a mask of even deeper shock and disbelief.

He stared intently into the enclosure. Yang Qi had just stood there, "making eye contact" with the lion, "whispering" to it, and "massaging" it?

Without any drugs or coercive measures, how did he so easily convince a starving beast to start eating again?

This went far beyond the scope of his decades of research in animal behavior.

He couldn’t help but murmur, "What did he say? What method did he use?"

...

Inside the enclosure, Yang Qi watched Bart begin to devour the food, but there was no smile on his face.

He knew he had only temporarily sustained the lion with "hope"; the root of the problem was far from solved.

Exhaling, Yang Qi composed himself and called out to the engrossed Bart, "Bart, take your time eating. I’m going to go out and ask around for you. Wait for my news."

Bart, who was tearing at the beef, looked up at the sound of Yang Qi’s voice. A low growl rumbled in his throat, filled with gratitude and anticipation.

[Okay.]

[Thank you, Two-legged Beast.]

Yang Qi gave him a wave, then turned and walked out of the enclosure, his brow slightly furrowed.

The moment he stepped through the staff-access door, an impatient Lu Gangsheng, who had been waiting anxiously, immediately rushed over and unleashed a barrage of technical questions.

"Advisor Yang, how did you do it? Did you observe some unique behavioral detail? Or did you use some sort of calming pheromone that we failed to detect?"

"Or perhaps you transmitted a specific signal through your voice or gaze? Which stimulus did it respond to most strongly?"

"What’s your assessment of the primary issue? A psychological stress response? Or is there some underlying discomfort our instruments can’t detect?"

"..."

As expected of an expert, Director Lu’s questions were both professional and rapid-fire. He was clearly desperate for answers from Yang Qi to fill the gaps in his own knowledge.

"Wait, Director Lu."

Yang Qi held up a hand in a "pause" gesture, cutting off his barrage. "The situation is a bit complicated, and I can’t explain in detail right now. I have an urgent question for Minister Zhao first."

"What is it? Advisor Yang, please, ask away!" Upon hearing that Yang Qi needed him, Zhao Mingfeng quickly stepped forward, ignoring the awkwardness of Director Lu having been cut off.

Yang Qi looked at Zhao Mingfeng and asked directly, "Minister Zhao, I need to know, when Bart was transported from Africa, was he in a shipping container with any other animals? They would have been in separate cages, but in the same container. What kind of animal was it? And where is it now?"

The question was rather abrupt.

Zhao Mingfeng was taken aback. He didn’t understand why Yang Qi was suddenly asking about this, but out of trust and a desperate need to solve the lion’s problem, he nodded. "The specific details of the transport... I’ll have to ask my colleagues in charge of imports and the logistics company. Please wait a moment, Advisor Yang. I’ll make a call right now and find out."

With that, he pulled out his phone, stepped to the side, and began making the call.

Meanwhile, Lu Gangsheng, having been cut off by Yang Qi and now watching Minister Zhao make a call, was still full of questions. Unable to restrain himself, he turned to Yang Qi again, his tone a little softer this time.

"Advisor Yang, are your questions about the transport related to Bart’s condition? He’s eating now, but you said the problem isn’t completely solved?"

"That’s right. The problem isn’t truly solved."

Yang Qi nodded. Looking at Director Lu and the several other veterinarians who were all ears, he decided it was best to prepare them. "Bart has only been temporarily placated," he said directly. "The emotional block—or rather, the root cause of his refusal to eat—is still there."

"I’ve just given him a reason to hope, something to live for in the meantime."

"An emotional block?" Director Lu’s brow furrowed. "What kind of block? Isn’t it an issue of adapting to the environment, or just simple depression?"

"It’s not simple depression."

Yang Qi organized his thoughts, deciding to reveal a portion of the truth. "Based on my communication with Bart, it seems to be because of... well, an emotional issue."

"An emotional issue?"

A nearby veterinarian repeated the phrase, then his eyes widened. "You don’t mean... lovesickness?"

Yang Qi glanced at him and nodded. "You could put it that way."

"What? Who did Bart fall in love with?!"

Several veterinarians exclaimed in unison. Even Director Lu’s eyes went wide as he stood frozen in place.

A lion? Lovesick?

It was completely unheard of.

"Advisor Yang, are you saying Bart is so lovesick that it’s made him ill, and that’s why he’s refusing to eat or drink?" another veterinarian asked, needing to confirm. His face was a picture of incredulity.

"Yes."

Yang Qi affirmed again. "The crucial part is, Bart himself doesn’t know what kind of animal it is. He just described this other animal as ’very beautiful,’ and said it was the first time he’d ever seen it, during the transport."

"The lion doesn’t even know who he’s in love with?"

The veterinarians exchanged bewildered glances.

Director Lu, being the expert, was the first to recover from the shock and grasp the key point.

He looked to Yang Qi for confirmation. "So, you asked Minister Zhao about the transport details because you want to check the records, find the animal that was in the same container as Bart, and then arrange for them to meet again. Is that how you plan to resolve Bart’s emotional block?"

"Yes."

Yang Qi nodded. "If we can find it and arrange for them to meet, regardless of the outcome, it’s the only way Bart’s issue might truly be resolved. Now, we just have to see what kind of animal it is that Bart finds so unforgettable."

At his words, everyone’s gaze simultaneously shifted, landing on Zhao Mingfeng, who was still on the phone a short distance away.

Zhao Mingfeng’s phone call lasted for over ten minutes.