Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: Snub-Nosed Monkey
Chapter 45: Snub-Nosed Monkey
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Xia Xin was somewhat convinced by Jing MO’s words.
Jing MO had just been nominated for the Best Actor award in the prestigious Golden Jade Awards. If even a star of his caliber said she was suited for the entertainment industry, she could really give it a try.
Previously, Xia Xin had declined to sign with a talent agency to avoid overwhelming busyness. But now, she found herself at the center of public opinion, and evading it seemed futile.
However, Xia Xin still felt that the entertainment industry was far from her grasp. Still, she thanked Jing MO and said she would carefully consider his suggestion.
The day after their conversation, a new addition arrived at the zoo—a snub-nosed monkey.
Snub-nosed monkeys were a nationally protected species, and the Capital Zoo had never been granted permission to keep them. This particular monkey had been sent from another city’s zoo because they were unable to care for it.
That snub-nosed monkey had suffered from bullying within its troop, bearing numerous injuries. It was also significantly smaller in size and had been diagnosed with depression by the zoo’s veterinarians. Thus, it had to be kept separately.
Arriving at the Capital Zoo, it was very fearful of the unfamiliar environment, and any unfamiliar objects triggered its alertness. It was wary of any actions taken by the zookeepers, even refusing to eat or drink and locking itself in its cage.
Lu Yuan was deeply concerned, and nearly every zookeeper in the zoo had tried to get the snub-nosed monkey to eat, but none could make it drop its guard and consume anything.
As a last resort, Lu Yuan sent the zoo’s image ambassador, Xia Xin, to handle the situation.
With Xia Xin’s passive skill in the Beast Language System, the snub-nosed monkey hesitantly ate the food she offered, though it remained guarded around her.
Seeing a glimmer of hope, Lu Yuan handed over the responsibility of feeding the snub-nosed monkey to Xia Xin.
However, after a few days of feeding, Xia Xin noticed that the snub-nosed monkey didn’t become any more comfortable around her. It remained as cautious as it was on the first day, only eating the food she provided and resisting her touch.
Xia Xin attempted to apply medication to the snub-nosed monkey, but it always evaded her efforts, which left her feeling heartbroken.
So, Xia Xin came up with the idea, ‘Could introducing the snub-nosed monkey to other animals help with its depression?’
The gentlest animals at the zoo were, of course, the giant pandas. However, Xia Xin quickly dismissed the idea; pandas were significantly larger than the snub-nosed monkey, and having one near it would likely only increase its fear.
Just as Xia Xin was pondering, she suddenly thought of Layle.
Layle was very intelligent and emotionally sensitive. Having once suffered from self-esteem issues itself, Layle might be able to understand the snub-nosed monkey’s feelings. That afternoon, Xia Xin brought Layle to the zoo to introduce the two animals.
Placing Layle outside the cage, Xia Xin hid in the distance to observe. Initially, the snub-nosed monkey merely watched Layle from a corner.
Layle, on the other hand, played with the little ball Xia Xin had brought for it.
After about an hour, the snub-nosed monkey tentatively reached out its hand through the bars, touching Layle’s rear. Seeing no reaction from Layle, it increased its force and touched Layle’s hind leg.
When Layle turned around, the snub-nosed monkey timidly looked at it. Encouraged by Layle, the snub-nosed monkey finally left its cage.
Another hour later, the snub-nosed monkey was playing boldly with Layle and even used its arms to embrace Layle’s neck.
That night, the snub-nosed monkey’s appetite was noticeably better.
Over the next few days, Xia Xin brought Layle to the zoo to accompany the snub-nosed monkey. The snub-nosed monkey’s mood visibly improved, and it could now play with Layle in front of Xia Xin.
After another couple of days, with the help of her passive Beast Language System, the snub-nosed monkey finally stopped resisting Xia Xin’s touch. It even opened its arms in response to her attempts to hold it, gazing at her with a bewildered expression.
Perhaps because the snub-nosed monkey hadn’t fully accepted Xia Xin yet, its affinity points increased very slowly. After all these days, her affinity points with it were only at 200. However, Xia Xin remained patient and took good care of the snub-nosed monkey.
Another week passed, and the veterinarian examined the snub-nosed monkey once again. He was amazed to find that the snub-nosed monkey’s mental health had significantly improved, to the point where it could leave its cage.
Lu Yuan set up a special enclosure for the snub-nosed monkey, and the only caretaker for it was Xia Xin.
Under Xia Xin’s care, the snub-nosed monkey grew more cheerful. It even peeled bananas and handed them to Xia Xin to eat..