Chapter 58
by Summer58. Daily Leisure
[System prompt: This is an anti-theft chapter. If your purchase ratio is below 50%, content will be restored in three hours.]
You know what’s wild?
Two days. Just two freaking days, and Lingyuan Zoo already had regulars. Fans. People who swore they’d come back next weekend just to see You Su again. And yeah, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t kind of proud.
TV coverage, online buzz, glowing reviews—it all helped. Word-of-mouth spread like wildfire, and somehow, against all odds, we laid a solid foundation.
I was running on fumes, though. So that Monday, I treated my old university buddies to a massive feast. A proper “thank you for not letting me die” dinner.
They were so moved I thought someone might cry into the hotpot.
“This is really one of those ‘where there’s a will, there’s a way’ moments.”
“Jiajia! The first entrepreneur in our class!”
“If I ever end up broke, I’ll come work at your zoo. I’ll be the animal.”
Laughter broke out. Loud, chaotic, loving.
Someone joked, “Can I get Su-girl to feed me too?”
I nearly choked on my drink. “I—uh—sure. I’ll make sure there’s always feed in stock…”
Honestly, if they hadn’t remembered I had work the next day, they would’ve drunk me under the table. As it was, I stumbled out, barely coherent, and hailed a cab home.
And then… there were cops at the zoo gate.
Yeah. Sobered me up real fast.
Two officers. Two unfamiliar men. And—oh god. Taoist robes.
“Director Duan,” the officer said, steadying me. “These two are Master Shao Wuxing and Master Jiang Wusui from Linshui Monastery.”
Oh no. The young Taoist priest sent backup. This was bad. Like, celestial HR just filed a complaint bad.
“I didn’t hit him!” I blurted, holding up my hands like that would help.
The slender priest chuckled. “Don’t worry, we’re not here to cause trouble. Just wanted the officers to confirm our identities so we could talk.”
Talk? Talk?! That’s worse!
I tried playing dumb. “I drank a bit too much tonight… Maybe tomorrow? I truly misunderstood your disciple. Send him my regards. Deepest apologies.”
I must’ve looked pitiful, because Shao Wuxing actually believed me. Handed me a business card, told me to call him when I was feeling better.
“Right. Will do. Totally.”
They left. I waved goodbye. And then immediately shoved the card in my pocket like it was cursed.
Inside the break room, the light was still on.
I opened the door—and there were You Su and Lu Ya, huddled together, watching The Investiture of the Gods.
“Principal’s back,” You Su chirped, smiling like she hadn’t just stolen several hours of sleep from my life.
I eyed the screen. Daji, beautiful and manipulative, glowed in high-def glory.
“Is this even accurate?”
You Su laughed. “Please. TV shows? Accurate? They wish.”
“Okay, then, honest question: how do you compare to the actress playing Daji?”
She tilted her head, all innocence. “Beauty is subjective. But we foxes don’t rely on just looks.”
Tell that to the tourists who’d follow her off a cliff.
“Director, wanna watch with us?”
“No thanks. I’m drunk, tired, and not emotionally prepared to hear you critique mythological canon at 1 a.m. Knock yourselves out.”
Next morning, I woke up late—8:30. Sue me. I wasn’t expecting much action, aside from an afternoon interview.
Xiao Su flagged me down the second I walked out.
“Director, I found Xiao Xiaosu watching TV with red eyes this morning. She hadn’t slept. Lu Ge told me to let her eyes get ruined.”
Of course he did.
“She’s closer to you,” she added, eyes pleading. “Can you talk to her?”
I nodded. “I’ll try.”
But inside, I was thinking, I need to buy them both TVs so they’ll stop hijacking the break room.
On installment plans, of course. Kindergarten director salary, remember?
And yeah, I’d forgotten all about the two monks from last night. Honestly, I was hoping they’d forget about me.
Because what was I gonna say? “Yes officer, I’m harboring literal mythological creatures in my zoo, but don’t worry—they’re cute and cuddly”?
In the afternoon, I interviewed a few candidates from the agency. Much easier than filtering resumes myself.
We hired three new people: Xu Wen, and two guys—Wang Zhao and Wang Yibai. Animal caretakers and front desk reinforcements. Godsend.
Once the visitor service center’s built—reception, ticketing, merch, all in one place—we’ll look halfway professional.
I started daydreaming. “Maybe I’ll get a real aquarium next.”
Lu Ya made a face like I’d stepped in something foul.
“One tank’s already too much. I hate aquatic creatures. I eat them.”
Well okay, fire-type rage monster.
I muttered, “I think they’re cute…”
He scoffed. My opinion clearly meant nothing in his fish-hating heart.
And then it happened.
A young monk showed up. Quiet. Clean robes. Calm eyes.
He wandered the zoo like he was… inspecting. Not admiring. Inspecting.
And I? I followed him. Like an idiot.
Finally, he turned to a staff member—my classmate, no less—and asked for the director.
The traitor pointed me out instantly.
I tried to blend into the scenery. Too late.
The monk approached. “Hello. My name is Luo Wuzhou. I’m from Linshui Monastery.”
And then—he pulled out an ID.
A literal Monk ID.
And said, dead serious:
“There are demons in your zoo. Please evacuate the guests. I’ll handle them.”
My brain went static.
“…Class monitor? Old Tang? Can someone get this cosplayer out of here?”
I tried to laugh it off. Played the skeptic card. “I’m a materialist. I don’t do demons.”
But then—he flipped. Somersaulted out of their grip. Landed like a ninja.
Tourists gasped.
I called the police.
I had to. What else was I gonna do—give him a demon punch card?
As he was being escorted into the police car, he turned back to look at me.
And something in that calm, clear stare made my stomach twist.
Later, I dragged Lu Ya out for a chat.
“Did you see that priest?”
“Yeah.”
“He said there were demons in our zoo!”
Lu Ya blinked. “There are.”
“…Why aren’t you more alarmed?!”
He shrugged. “So what?”
I had no words. Just existential dread.
Meanwhile, back at the police station, Senior Brother Shao Wuxing showed up like someone’s dad at parent-teacher night.
Smoothed everything over, politely thanked the police, and whisked our baby monk away.
“You still lack social experience,” he scolded.
“Yes, senior disciple,” Luo Wuzhou mumbled. “I messed up.”
Oh kid. You have no idea.
Back at the zoo, I relayed everything to You Su.
She looked like she was watching a drama.
“That’s it?” she asked when I finished. “You didn’t even ask what happened next?”
“I looked up his ID. It was legit. But…”
I stared into the distance.
“I may have pranked a very well-meaning, very real demon-hunting prodigy.”
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