Chapter 11: Do not order me next time!

Fang Ye played with Jiaojiao for a while.

"Friends, that's all for today's livestream! Bye-bye! Jiaojiao, let's chat with our viewers separately!"

Fang Ye realized that it was almost time to end the stream. He smiled and waved to the camera, intending to hold Jiaojiao's paw and swing it, but he soon realized that it was a bit heavy, and he couldn't lift it. He settled for rubbing Jiaojiao's face instead.

Tigers and cats were definitely different!

"Haha, did you see that? The director tried to raise Jiaojiao's paw and failed!"

"No, how short is this livestream? Director, don't leave us wanting more!"

"We love you, don't go!"

"Yeah, we haven't had enough! How about extending the livestream for a few more hours?"

The viewers were reluctant to say goodbye, and they continued to engage.

Fang Ye said, "I'm sorry, but I have to prepare food for the animals now."

While that was partly true, it wasn't the main reason for ending the livestream. The primary issue was that the Linhai Zoo had limited animals and a monotonous environment. The animals in their enclosures had few opportunities to exhibit natural behaviors. For example, if there were tree stumps, tigers could use them to scratch and sharpen their claws. There might be pools for drinking and bathing. But in their current situation, they had only iron railings, offering nothing for the animals to engage with. Moreover, the interactions between him and Jiaojiao might be endearing, but it could get boring for viewers if it continued for too long.

Fang Ye wasn't as familiar with other animals, and he wasn't as close to them as he was to Jiaojiao. The livestream wouldn't be as exciting with other animals.

Closing the livestream would leave viewers wanting more, ensuring they'd tune in again next time. As Fang Ye announced he needed to prepare food for the animals, the viewers expressed their understanding.

"President, go ahead if you're busy! Don't let the animals go hungry!"

"Let us know when the next livestream will be, I'll be the first to tune in."

"Your tips are not enough for me to stop watching! Next time, I want to see Jiaojiao gain over ten kilograms!"

"Wait, are you trying to fatten up the tiger? I don't want to see a fat tiger!"

"Thank you for your enthusiasm!" Fang Ye replied with a smile. "We will continue the livestream tomorrow! Goodbye!"

As the camera went dark, the livestream ended.

Fang Ye let out a breath of relief and then said, "Phew, that was intense! Our follower count skyrocketed. Seems like everyone really loves animals."

Fang Ye noticed that his follower count had risen significantly, from just double digits to thousands, in a matter of hours.

If your account has a high follower count, you can start a lottery. With a lottery, you can get random items or skills that can be used in the real world.

"Let's see what we get!"

Fang Ye rubbed his hands together excitedly and initiated the lottery.

The first item he received was a tiger puppet.

It was a Q version of a tiger, small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. It resembled Jiaojiao.

Tiger Puppet

Item Description: Ordinary puppet, very comfortable to touch.

Fang Ye touched it and found it to be fluffy and incredibly soft.

"The design is quite likable. Perhaps I can organize some activities in the future and offer these as small gifts to tourists and viewers in the livestream."

He thought about the potential uses for the puppets.

So, he continued to draw more items.

Next, he received an alpaca puppet, then a fox puppet. These were all animals from Linhai Zoo.

"Congratulations to the host for acquiring the [Affinity] skill!"

The [Affinity] skill allowed him to establish a more favorable connection with animals, making them more comfortable and willing to approach him.

"Skills acquired!"

Fang Ye was thrilled. [Affinity] was precisely the skill he needed. With this skill, he wouldn't have to be as cautious while interacting with animals, as it would make bonding easier.

The skill, however, consumed mental energy, similar to the [Observation Eye] skill he had.

The specifics of the [Affinity] skill—such as the number of uses, duration, and its effects—needed to be tested.

After acquiring the skill, Fang Ye continued to initiate more draws.

To his surprise, he received a set of [Tough Garden Principal Clothes (Top)].

[Tough Garden Uniform (Top)]: Resistant to scratches and more durable than regular work clothes.

(Two-piece set: +10% stamina)

"Hey, it's not another puppet?"

Fang Ye was somewhat surprised but satisfied with the garden principal's uniform. It was designed to be durable and resistant to scratches, which would be useful when working around animals. While it didn't provide any special effects, it was a practical piece of equipment.

The lunch break was over, and Fang Ye returned to the dormitory. He lay on his bed, opened the system panel, and checked his popularity value, which had now reached 6784.

"Wow, it increased so much!"

Just yesterday, his popularity was in double digits. Fang Ye was pleasantly surprised by the rapid rise in followers after a single livestream. With a high popularity value, he could start a lottery.

"Let's see what we get!"

Fang Ye eagerly initiated a draw.

The first item he received was a tiger puppet, and he continued to draw more items: an alpaca puppet, a fox puppet, and even a set of garden principal clothes.

After finishing the lottery, Fang Ye thought about testing his new [Affinity] skill. He decided to try it with the red foxes in the zoo. Red foxes are highly adaptable predators found throughout the northern hemisphere. In Linhai Zoo, there were four red foxes: Xiao Qiao, Youyou, Tang Bao, and Prince Edward.

When Fang Ye approached the red fox enclosure, there were already a few tourists present.

"Good day, Director!"

The animal keeper Xiao He greeted Fang Ye. She had been leaning against the wall, checking her phone, but when she saw him, she quickly put it away.

"Hello. Are you tired? Would you like to take a break?"

Fang Ye understood that this job could be monotonous, especially when the animals were sleeping or not doing much.

Xiao He responded, "No, thank you, Director."

Fang Ye then inquired about the red foxes' status for the day. Xiao He reported that they were doing their usual activities but seemed sleepier today.

Fang Ye speculated, "It's probably due to the heat. Did you spray water in their enclosure?"

Xiao He confirmed that she had already sprayed water in the morning and noon.

Fang Ye took a look at the red foxes and noticed that they were resting in the shade, sleeping soundly. The viewers might enjoy seeing more interaction with the red foxes, especially now that he had the [Affinity] skill to improve his connection with the animals.

He decided to test the skill with the red foxes

Fang Ye observed the red foxes and their quirky sleeping positions with a smile. It was clear that the hot weather had taken a toll on the animals. He turned to the breeder and said, "Keep an eye on them, and if any of them show signs of distress due to the heat, let me know immediately."

The breeder nodded in agreement, showing his dedication to the well-being of the animals.

Fang Ye then took out his phone and activated the newly acquired [Affinity] skill. He focused on the red foxes, trying to establish a connection with them.

The skill worked its magic, and Fang Ye felt a warm, tingling sensation in his chest. He could sense a subtle connection forming with the red foxes. It was as if he could understand their needs and emotions.

Fang Ye concentrated on each red fox, silently communicating with them through the newfound affinity. He sent comforting and cooling thoughts to ease their discomfort in the heat.

Slowly but surely, the red foxes began to stir. They adjusted their sleeping positions, seeking cooler spots in the enclosure. The prince turned over and shifted to the shade, Xiao Qiao uncurled herself and stretched, while Sugar Bag woke up, rubbed its face, and let out a soft yawn.

Fang Ye's heart swelled with a sense of accomplishment. He knew that the [Affinity] skill had allowed him to make a positive impact on the animals' well-being.

The breeder was astonished to see the red foxes becoming more active and refreshed. "Principal, it's like they're responding to your presence. I've never seen them react this way before!"

Fang Ye smiled and replied, "It's essential to understand and connect with the animals in our care. This skill will help us create a better environment for them."

As the day went on, the red foxes remained more comfortable and active than usual, thanks to Fang Ye's newfound ability to communicate with them. The bond between the director and the animals had deepened, and the breeder couldn't help but marvel at the positive changes brought about by the [Affinity] skill.