Chapter 5: The Snow Leopard Mother Is Not Dead

Lin Xiao proudly rubbed the little fellow in her arms, took her phone, and walked to the end of the hallway to dial the number of her manager, Xu Chengfei, from memory.

As soon as the call connected, before Lin Xiao could even say a word, Xu Chengfei's furious voice came blaring through the receiver.

"Lin Xiao, what kind of madness are you on now? Do you have any idea that the entire crew is looking for you like crazy? Even the investors are angry!"

"If it weren't for President Jin of Chengyuan speaking up for you, do you think I'd have the leisure to be wasting my breath on you here?"

"Where are you right now? Get your ass back here immediately! President Jin has already made the arrangements; don't you dare waste his kindness!"

The more Lin Xiao listened, the more she felt something was wrong.

Coupled with the countless times in the past that Xu Chengfei had tried to pull her into shady dealings, both overtly and covertly, she very guardedly rejected his suggestion.

"I'm currently helping out at the police station; I can't come back for the time being."

"As for the President Jin you mentioned, please do me a favor and say thank you to him for me."

Say thank you?

Is he treating her like a beggar?!

Xu Chengfei laughed out of pure rage.

"Lin Xiao, don't push your luck! Do you really think you're something special? If President Jin hadn't given you face, do you think you'd have made it this far?"

"So many people want to climb into President Jin's bed and don't even get the chance. It's your blessing that President Jin took an interest in your face."

"Then let me give that opportunity to you."

"You!"

The voice coming through the receiver distorted for a moment, and his tone grew even more malicious.

"Fine, fine, fine! You've got guts, you're so tough! I'd love to see just how long you can keep up this act."

"I'm putting it out there right now! Either you come back obediently to apologize to President Jin, or... prepare the breach of contract fees and get ready to vanish from the entertainment industry!"

Having said that, he hung up the phone in a fit of rage.

It was as if he truly wanted her to never see the sun rise again.

Lin Xiao gave the phone screen a look of pure disgust and, without hesitation, dragged Xu Chengfei's number into her blacklist.

How did the original owner end up with a manager like this?

It was truly a case of "disgust opening the door for disgust"—disgusting to the core!

But even if she vanished from the entertainment industry, so what?

What was so good about the entertainment industry anyway?

In fact, from the very beginning, she had never intended to stay in the entertainment industry.

Returning the phone to He Xiaolin, Lin Xiao gave a bright, smiling thank you.

He Xiaolin waved his hands repeatedly. "No need for thanks, no need for thanks."

However...

The two of them locked eyes and, with perfect tacit understanding, lowered their gazes to the little snow leopard.

The little snow leopard was lying in Lin Xiao's arms, looking utterly bored.

The little fellow was in a daze when suddenly, its head felt heavy.

Before it could react, it was suddenly rubbed vigorously a couple of times.

With a rounded head, it looked up blankly.

It saw the culprit, wearing a triumphant smile, having already run several meters away.

"Two-legged beasts are truly treacherous!"

Lin Xiao:...

Wait, how is it that one human and one beast can make a sound like two children playing together?

Lin Xiao shook her head. Just as she was about to head back to her room while holding the snow leopard, she suddenly heard a "thud."

Both the human and the leopard instinctively turned their heads to see He Xiaolin, who had just rushed out excitedly, collide unexpectedly with a man coming up the stairs, causing him to fall straight to the ground.

The man had a distant and indifferent expression, his brows furrowed in a very serious manner.

He was dressed in a shirt and trousers, with a pair of metal-framed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, adding a touch of refined elegance to his aura.

He looked like a young master of a prestigious family who had accidentally wandered into a research institute.

He expressionlessly pulled He Xiaolin up from the ground and spoke with instructions.

"The floor is slippery, pay attention to your safety!"

"Everyone is resting at night; keep the noise down."

The man's words were indifferent, sounding much like a dean of students.

He Xiaolin's face turned red as he nodded repeatedly.

Watching the man pass by him, he wiped his face in embarrassment.

Heaven knows how many years it had been since he had been lectured like this after graduating high school?

At this moment, the man who had been bumped into by He Xiaolin walked straight toward Lin Xiao, who was standing at the doorway.

He carried an aura of detachment common to those in high positions—serious and earnest.

Lin Xiao stared at the newcomer in a daze, nervously swallowing her saliva.

Why did she feel this sense of guilt, like a delinquent student caught causing trouble in school who had accidentally run into a teacher?

It was precisely because of this that she didn't notice the little snow leopard in her arms shrink back slightly.

Its tiny paws silently gripped her clothes.

*Mama, the aura on this person is so scary!*

The man's gaze swept over the snow leopard nestled in the girl's arms, and the furrow in his brow became even more pronounced.

"Hello, I am Lu Chengshen, Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources. I am primarily responsible for work regarding the protection of indigenous animals."

The man's voice was clean and polite.

Lin Xiao was stunned.

A Minister?

He was a leader at such a young age?

She politely gave a light handshake.

"Hello, I am Lin Xiao."

Withdrawing his gaze from the snow leopard, Lu Chengshen spoke as if nothing were out of the ordinary. "Thanks to your help, all the poachers lurking here have been caught. I am truly very grateful."

Lin Xiao's eyes instantly lit up, and she immediately pressed for details: "Were they all caught?"

"Yes, everyone has been caught!"

Hearing such a definitive answer, Lin Xiao finally let out a long sigh of relief. "That's wonderful!"

At last, her hard work today hadn't been in vain.

"However, we discovered traces of other animals in the breeding facility. For the specific investigation, we may still require your detailed cooperation."

"Alright!"

Lin Xiao loathed those black sheep the most, so she nodded in agreement without hesitation.

Lu Chengshen looked at the little cub in Lin Xiao's arms, which was very much enjoying the petting, with a complicated expression.

He tried to endure it, but he couldn't.

"Miss Lin, please be mindful. Although the snow leopard is only a cub, it is ultimately meant to be released back into the wild."

"You cannot treat him as a pet forever; the wild is his true home."

The hand that was stroking the cat... no, the leopard, suddenly stiffened. Lin Xiao somewhat awkwardly repeated what had happened at the entrance of the research institute.

Once she finished speaking, the entire hallway fell silent.

After a long while, a voice that sounded somewhat like a murmur came from beside her.

"So that's how it is!"

For some reason, she actually heard a hint of dissatisfaction in the man's words?

Immediately, Lin Xiao shook her head very firmly.

How could that be!

She must have misheard.

...

The next day, Lin Xiao woke up and was immediately taken to the police station to give a detailed statement.

On the way, Lu Chengshen also brought her good news.

The snow leopard mother who had been injured on the grassland before...

Had not died!

"Really? That's wonderful!"

Heaven knows how much heart and soul it takes to raise a wild animal that can be released back into nature?

But no matter how much training and planning there is, it can never compare to a mother's care.

Lin Xiao grabbed the snow leopard's two front paws, her tone excited.

"Did you hear that? Your mama is okay! Once things here are finished, we can send you home."

The little snow leopard let out soft whimpers, constantly rubbing its nose against hers.

It was a sight that made one's heart melt.

No one noticed that the man driving seriously in the driver's seat silently twitched his fingers.

*Tsk!*

(End of Chapter)