Qiu Yihe glanced at Chen Ping, who stood by Jiang Cheng's side, ready at all times.
She glanced again at the dark muzzles of the guns held by the people standing nearby and nodded, understanding instantly.
"That's true..."
Jiang Cheng chuckled and turned to look at her, seeing how she was both afraid and curious.
He reached out and took her hand. "Don't be afraid. Some of the animals here are rescues from zoos. They can't be released back into the wild. My grandfather led a wildlife protection project back then, so people sent these little guys here to be cared for."
As he spoke, he picked up a nearby branch and gently nudged the python's body aside.
He responded to her doubts in a flat tone, "Although there are stories online about pythons hurting people, and it's happened in foreign zoos where keepers might be attacked if they aren't careful, these guys are different. They've been professionally cared for since they were young, so their temperaments are mild. Plus, the safety measures here follow the highest standards, so there's no need to worry."
When Jiang Cheng held her hand just now, his thumb had brushed against her palm.
Although it was only for a split second, that slightly cool sensation felt like an electric current, surging through her entire body from her fingertips.
Qiu Yihe's ears suddenly turned red.
But before she could recover from this unexpected flutter in her heart, she heard Jiang Cheng's serious introduction.
Every word he spoke was filled with earnestness about wildlife protection; there wasn't a hint of the intentionality from just a moment ago.
Once or twice was one thing, but after it happened so many times, Qiu Yihe couldn't help but doubt herself.
She wondered if those casual touches and teasing remarks were just her overthinking things.
Even though he was always the one to start flirting, Jiang Cheng could always pull away nonchalantly, leaving her alone to overthink.
This feeling of being left hanging was like punching cotton; it left her feeling stifled and frustrated.
It carried an indescribable sense of defeat and a touch of resentment she was unwilling to admit.
Naturally, she was resentful because her feelings were being brushed aside so casually by him.
What was even more frustrating was that she seemed to be increasingly affected by his every move.
After sullenly taking the plate of raw meat and feeding the python a couple of bites, she finally managed to say to Jiang Cheng, "This place looks quite big. Why don't you show me around?"
Jiang Cheng noticed her little mood and nodded. "Then let's go that way. There are more varieties of birds over there..."
The two walked slowly along the stone path by the stream, with footsteps following them from a consistent distance behind.
Seeing that Jiang Cheng wasn't speaking, Qiu Yihe glanced sideways to take in the surrounding scenery.
Vast stretches of green bamboo blotted out the sun. As the wind brushed through the leaves, their rustling sound carried none of the city's frantic heat.
She looked for a topic and said, "I really didn't expect to find such a sea of bamboo within the borders of the Capital."
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng's gaze swept over the sturdy bamboo stalks in the distance.
He explained calmly, "These aren't ordinary bamboos. According to my grandfather, they hired top gardening masters to search the whole country for cold-resistant bamboo species. They also invited Feng Shui masters to survey the land, divert running water, and alter the terrain, all to force this Jiangnan-style atmosphere to thrive in the north."
Qiu Yihe instinctively took a deep breath. The air was a mix of bamboo fragrance and the moisture of the earth.
As she inhaled, the irritability that had built up earlier quietly dissipated by half.
She looked not far away, where several peacocks were strutting. Seeing the two approach, they didn't hide but instead raised their heads and showed off the golden-green edges of their tail feathers. The chimpanzee from earlier had actually followed them and was now crouching on a nearby stone stool, its eyes gentle and devoid of any aggression.
"These animals... seem exceptionally spiritual," Qiu Yihe said softly.
"A magnetic field nurtures people and things alike," Jiang Cheng mentioned simply.
Living creatures that stay here for a long time have their temperaments smoothed out.
This was why the chimpanzee and the python were more docile than animals outside.
However, Jiang Cheng didn't plan to go into detail about the magnetic field here.
The wind blew through the bamboo forest, rustling the leaves, and the crisp sound of copper bells drifted from afar.
Qiu Yihe paused her steps and spoke as if casually, "About earlier, thank you..."
Seeing her finally get to the point, Jiang Cheng turned and stared at her intently.
"So, when do you plan to thank me?"
Hearing this, Qiu Yihe thought of what she had said in the lobby about thanking him with the balls.
Although she felt shy, they were in a garden and followed by so many people.
There was no way for her to show her gratitude...
This somewhat rogue thought actually made her relax for a moment.
She suppressed the blush on her face, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly.
With a hint of defiance, she said, "Do you always have to be followed by so many people when you go out? With all these people around, I don't even have a chance to thank you."
Seeing her shrug and act helpless, Jiang Cheng gave a somewhat helpless smile.
Just as Qiu Yihe was walking forward smugly, Jiang Cheng waved his hand at Chen Ping and the others.
Receiving Jiang Cheng's signal, the group adjusted their pace, increasing their distance from a few meters to over ten meters.
Jiang Cheng checked the path and caught up with Qiu Yihe, then led her in another direction.
At this moment, Qiu Yihe didn't notice the change in direction and even looked at Jiang Cheng in a great mood. "Can I ask you a question?"
"No!" Jiang Cheng refused flatly.
From her expression, Jiang Cheng knew it wouldn't be a good question.
Qiu Yihe rolled her eyes at his response. "Why don't you follow the script... Honestly, are you feeling guilty?"
Jiang Cheng scoffed.
Guilty? Would Brother Cheng ever feel guilty?
"How about this: you ask me a question, and then I get to ask you one."
"Fine, I'll go first..."
Seeing Jiang Cheng make a 'bring it on' gesture, Qiu Yihe stared straight at him. "Why are you such a scumbag?"
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng was suddenly caught between laughter and tears.
Great, here's another one calling me a scumbag!!