Live Cat Appraisal: Starting with a Beast That's Got a Long Prison Record

Chapter 141 The road ahead is long, goodbye, cat!
The seventh day of being a stay-at-home dad.

Just as Chen Nian, Xia Qiyue, and the others were about to go up the mountain, they suddenly felt a familiar sensation coming from the distant hillside.

He turned around and looked.

Those familiar little eyes, those round, chubby little ears.

Isn't that the thief who's been missing for many days?
On the hillside, the thief was looking over from afar with its unparalleled 'world-weary face'.

As always, it carried a plump pika in its mouth.

"You scoundrel!"

Chen Nian looked at the little guy with delight.

The appearance of the thieves added a touch of excitement and wonder to Chen Nian's previously boring and tedious investigation activities.

So Chen Nian still misses the bandit.

Seeing that it was safe and sound and even brought a 'gift', Chen Nian finally felt relieved.

"It's alright, it's alright~"

As for the reason why the thief disappeared, it seems that the case was solved because of the appearance of Shirley's family.

Even the Pallas's cat, the "honey badger of the cat world," had to make a strategic retreat in the face of Sydney, the king of the snow mountains.

The thieves must be having a lot of trouble these past few days!
If such a huge creature appeared in your territory, anyone would run away.

The facts were just as Chen Nian had imagined.

The thief's departure was largely due to smelling the scent of Shirley.

At this moment, the thief stood on the hillside, his wet little nose twitching a few times in Chen Nian's direction.

Then I smelled a strong cheese leopard aroma!
The next second, its already world-weary face drooped even lower, its round ears seemed to twitch back, and its whiskers twitched unhappily.

An already world-weary face became even more world-weary.

It couldn't understand how this strangely-looking fellow creature ended up hanging out with the snow leopard!
Isn't he afraid?
However, seeing that Chen Nian was safe and sound, the thief thought to himself.

Then he shouldn't lack food, right?

Hmm... I won't starve!

Thinking of this, the thief glanced at Chen Nian one last time, then arrogantly tossed its head, and the chubby pika landed precisely on the gravel ground in front of Chen Nian with a 'plop'.

Having done all this, it turned around without hesitation, and with a few nimble leaps, its short, stout figure disappeared behind the jagged rocks on the hillside, like a drop of water merging into the desert.

"You thief! Wait!"

Chen Nian's heart tightened, and she quickly took a few steps after him.

But all that remained on the hillside were withered grass and cold pebbles blown by the morning breeze; where was that fluffy gray figure?
The cat bracelet on my wrist was still vibrating slightly.

This proves that the thief had not gone far, but had simply gone into hiding again.

Chen Nian stood on the hillside, stunned for a moment.

Then they gave up the search.

He slowly walked back to the pika lying quietly on the ground, squatted down, gently stroked the pika's still warm fur with his fingers, and looked in the direction where the thief had disappeared.

The wind on the plateau was cool, stirring the hem of his clothes and the ends of his hair.

Chen Nian understood.

This was the last time the bandit 'fed' the food.

This could also be the final farewell.

It might hide even deeper, only daring to return after Shirley's family leaves; or perhaps, this hillside that once belonged to it will forever remain a thing of the past.

Although the closest they ever got was never more than five meters, and they never had any real physical contact, a wonderful, cross-species bond had already quietly formed in those silent feedings and those distant eye contact.

The thought of the kindness, simplicity, and unique hospitality hidden beneath the awkward exterior of the thief made Chen Nian's lips involuntarily curve into a gentle smile in the cool breeze.

"Thank you for feeding me, little one."

He murmured softly, his voice so low it was as if he were afraid to disturb the wind:
"The journey through life is long, goodbye, cat!"

Amidst the whistling wind, there seemed to be a few distant, unknown barks of dogs, which were quickly swallowed up by the silence of the boundless plateau.

The thief left.

Like a pebble dropped into a lake, it rippled with a faint sense of loss in Chen Nian's heart.

Chen Nian seemed somewhat distracted while taking care of Xue Aotian throughout the morning.

Huh?

Sherry keenly noticed this and leaned her head closer, gently but firmly nudging Chen Nian's arm.

Chen Nian's face was clearly reflected in her large, amber eyes.

It was filled with undisguised curiosity and a touch of awkward concern.

Chen Nian was jolted off balance by its bump. When he came to his senses, he met those pure eyes and shook his head with a smile.

"It's nothing, I was just spacing out."

"Come on, let me add an extra hour for you! Top-notch technicians are available online!!"

He composed himself, steadily pointed the live stream camera at the four little ones sleeping sprawled out on top of him, then took a deep breath and stretched his knuckles.

Soon, a comfortable hum echoed from the valley.

Thanks to Sherry's help, Chen Nian's 'massage technique' also improved by leaps and bounds, and she also gained some physical strength along the way.

Only after confirming that the young mother was completely asleep did Chen Nian slowly stop, gently stroking her silver-gray fur, which shimmered like satin in the sunlight. A warm and vibrant touch filled her fingertips.

His gaze, however, became somewhat unfocused again.

The departure of the thief acted as a trigger, reminding him of what Wang Chen had told him the night before.

“Professor Chen.” Wang Chen pushed up his glasses, pointed to the data on the tablet, and spoke with the calmness characteristic of a researcher.

"Sydney's recovery is faster than expected. Judging from its activity level and vital signs, its bodily functions have basically recovered to about 70-80%. At the latest, it will definitely start trying to go out hunting in a day or two."

But here's the problem!

Wang Chen traced a line across the map: "The prey density in this area is simply not enough to support it and its four rapidly growing cubs. As for the herd of argali sheep from before, satellite signals show they have already migrated to the northern valley."

"Therefore, they must leave."

Wang Chen raised his head, looked directly at Chen Nian, and emphasized his tone.

"They must migrate to deeper, higher snow lines, where only the ecological carrying capacity can meet their needs. In other words, they have to leave here."

"They must leave! It's the best option for them."

Chen Nian's fingers paused unconsciously for a moment.

Yes.

It's time to leave.

No one knew better than him the extent to which the power contained within the body beneath his palm had been restored.

The daily spa treatments allowed him to clearly perceive that Shirley's muscles had become firm and strong again, and the weakness she felt after childbirth had long since disappeared.

This was more than a week earlier than he had anticipated.

This surprise also served as a clear reminder to him:
My mission as a stay-at-home dad is almost complete.

The real catalyst that made Chen Nian decide to leave was the frantically flashing private message notifications on her phone screen last night.

"Brother Nian! Brother Nian, Brother Nian!! I've finally arrived in Xinlong County!!! Please give me the coordinates!!! I just want to see the snow leopard cub with my own eyes! Just one glimpse! Please!!"

This message appeared in Chen Nian's private messages last night.

The fan sent dozens of private messages in a row.

Finally, she successfully attracted Xia Qiyue's attention, and then Xia Qiyue told Chen Nian about it.

Chen Nian's brows furrowed instantly upon seeing this.

This won’t work!

Is this a wildlife park?

Can you just come and go as you please?
The people from the Cat Alliance came with professional equipment and strictly followed procedures for research and conservation.

The influx of ordinary fans, setting aside the safety risks, could cause significant harm to Sherry's family simply due to the noise, litter, and inappropriate approach that could disrupt and stress them!

He immediately tapped the screen, replying sternly and resolutely:
"Absolutely not! This is deep in an uninhabited area, with a complex and dangerous environment. Even professional hikers might not be able to reach this point safely. Moreover, snow leopards are wild cats, and I have emphasized this more than once in the live stream: they need quiet and a safe distance. I understand your love for them, but please support them by watching the live stream and do not try to disturb them!"

After explaining the situation to him with reason and emotion...

That barely extinguished the burning passion of the fans.

And this is not an isolated case.

With the explosive growth in popularity of the "Snow Leopard Dad" live stream, "Queen Sherry and Her Four Adorable Babies" has already become a hit, capturing the hearts of countless online parents and aunties. In the live stream chat, you can already see many bold statements such as "Already on my way!" and "Driving on G318, Snow Leopard babies are waiting for me!"

It is foreseeable that tourism in Xinlong County will surge dramatically in the coming months.

This is what is known as the "internet celebrity effect."

There are benefits, of course; tourism is a key factor in driving the economy.

But what Chen Nian was most worried about was what uncontrollable things those hot-blooded people, lacking professional knowledge and a sense of awe, might do.

He told Wang Chen about his worries.

Wang Chen seemed more optimistic; he told Chen Nian:

"Don't worry, Teacher Chen."

"This snow line goes deep into the heart of the uninhabited area. The terrain is complex and the climate is changeable. Without professional guides and equipment, ordinary tourists simply cannot get in, let alone find the exact location."

"Moreover," he revealed a knowing smile, "our Cat Alliance has already communicated with the local cultural tourism and nature reserve authorities. The Sydney family is the best 'ecological calling card,' and we will take this opportunity to strengthen patrols and public education in this area, turning 'traffic' into a force for conservation."

"Don't worry!"

Wang Chen's assurances eased Chen Nian's tense nerves slightly.

But these unexpected events, coupled with Sherry's recovered health, were like the last two pieces of a puzzle, making him clearly realize...
it's time!

Chen Nian's fingertips stroked Xue Li's warm back, which was still rising and falling slightly in her sleep, again and again.

The reluctance in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Perhaps the emotions conveyed through his fingertips were too obvious.

Perhaps it is the snow mountain spirits' innate sensitivity to the atmosphere of parting.

Sherry, who was sleeping soundly with her body spread out like a giant 'leopard pancake', suddenly opened her amber eyes without warning.

With a single effort, he flipped himself over and stood up.

"What happened?"

The sudden turn of events put everyone behind the rock on edge.

(I want to see this cat when I buy a house!)
　love you~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)