Chapter 2039 — Feeding the Tigers

"Ordinary visitors naturally aren't allowed in, but you're different—you're a friend of President Su. President Su said everything is to be arranged according to your wishes!" Uncle Yan said.

"Ha, then I thank President Su. Let's go over!" Zhang Duopan never missed a chance to display his sense of superiority.

The stretch Hummer started up and rolled slowly toward the animal-training area.

Sure enough, at the iron gate, Wei Zhao and the others saw a sign that read: "Restricted Work Area—No Entry for Anyone Not Employed by the Park!"

Yet when the stretch Hummer reached the iron gate, it was opened by the staff without a single question, and the vehicle was waved through. Clearly this was a VIP car, and every worker here knew it on sight.

This place was in fact the training ground for the acrobatics hall in the tiger park, where keepers trained all manner of tigers and lions to perform tricks. The Hummer parked near a rockery, and Uncle Yan said, "Everyone can get out and feed them now. There are keepers here, and only two tigers—they won't do anyone any harm, so you can watch them up close!"

Though Uncle Yan said so, everyone exchanged uneasy glances. After all, these were tigers—even tame ones were terrifying. Who could say whether a tiger might suddenly go mad? If someone got hurt, the fun would be over!

"Get out? That doesn't seem wise. There are quite a few girls in the car—if something went wrong down there, what then?" Bai Weituo's own heart was pounding.

"I say, Bai Weituo, don't tell me you're afraid? Afraid yourself, and you push it onto the girls?" Zhang Duopan shot Bai Weituo a contemptuous look. "A coward like you—I doubt you could protect He Meiyue at all!"

"Keeping her from getting out casually is how I protect her!" Bai Weituo flushed, and though he too was a little afraid, he argued his case. "What if the tiger goes mad? A bite is no joking matter!"

"Look, the keepers are standing right beside the tigers, that close, and nothing happens to them?" Zhang Duopan curled his lip. The more Bai Weituo worried, the more delighted he became—just the chance to heap scorn on him and let He Meiyue see what a coward this man was.

"That's hard to say. People go mad, let alone tigers," Wei Zhao said mildly. "Still, even a mad tiger only bites the arrogant and the pompous. So it's fine, Bai Weituo—let's get out. Look at you, worrying on Zhang Duopan's behalf, and him not appreciating a kind heart!"

"Damn! Who asked you to worry about me?" Hearing Wei Zhao's words, Zhang Duopan's contempt only deepened. "I'm getting out right now—let's see who the coward is!"

Bai Weituo's expression shifted slightly, but seeing that Wei Zhao had already risen to his feet, he gritted his teeth and followed him out of the car.

And Shen Yushu, fairly scampering, followed Wei Zhao out as well.

Since the girls had gotten out, Bai Weituo could hardly stay in the car, so he said, "Meiyue, let's get out too—but be careful, don't get too close!"

After getting out, Zhang Duopan shot Uncle Yan a meaningful glance. Uncle Yan nodded to show that everything had been arranged, and Zhang Duopan smiled knowingly.

Sure enough, the two tigers stayed by the keeper over there and did not come near, showing no intent to attack the group. It seemed they really were different from the free-roaming tigers.

"Actually, the tigers here are fairly obedient, and easy enough to feed!" Uncle Yan said, taking out a chunk of beef and hurling it with force toward the tigers.

Sure enough, both tigers leaped at once. The one that jumped higher snatched the meat from the air—but what was more interesting was that the other tiger, seeing its companion had won the prize, stopped competing altogether and returned to the keeper's side, paying no mind to how savorily the first was eating.

"Tigers eat alone. Once one has seized its food, the others keep to the rules and won't fight over it. Of course, one can't rule out the possibility of a tiger king—but there's none here." Uncle Yan explained, "Now, who's next?"

"Bai Weituo, why don't you go first?" Zhang Duopan laughed heartily. "Though from the look of you, you surely wouldn't dare—so I'll do it myself!"

Bai Weituo was furious, yet there was nothing he could do; he truly was a little nervous.

"It's fine, let him show off!" Wei Zhao patted Bai Weituo and smiled slightly. "Even men stumble and horses trip. Once he gets bitten in a moment, he'll stop strutting."

"Ha, bitten? You're far too timid!" Fan Ganhe glanced at Wei Zhao and said mockingly, "Generally speaking, girls don't like cowards!"

Wei Zhao paid him no attention at all, which made Fan Ganhe's words amount to nothing. Fan Ganhe was instantly annoyed but had no way to vent it, thinking to himself: in a moment I'll show you what it means to be humiliated and frightened!

Zhang Duopan picked up a chunk of beef and tossed it toward the two tigers. Because one tiger was already eating, the other—the one that had missed out before—got there first and caught the meat in its jaws. It was rather amusing.

"How about it? Meiyue, why don't you give it a try too?" Having finished his performance, Zhang Duopan said smugly to He Meiyue.

"I... all right." Seeing that Zhang Duopan had come to no harm, He Meiyue nodded in agreement. This way of feeding the tigers by hand was rather interesting, and she found herself intrigued.

"Just do it like me—pick up a chunk of meat and toss it over!" Zhang Duopan gave a brief demonstration.

"All right." He Meiyue nodded, picked up a chunk of meat, and threw it toward the tigers. But perhaps because girls have less strength, the meat landed rather close, and the two tigers came darting over in a flash!

It was as if they were lunging straight at He Meiyue, giving her a terrible fright. She let out a sharp cry and shrank back in alarm...

In fact, this too was Zhang Duopan's doing. The two tigers had been acting all along on the keeper's instructions. These tame tigers were different from free-roaming ones—even when hunting, they were controlled by the keeper; if the keeper did not let them eat, they would not eat.

So the two earlier snatches at food, which had seemed like their own spontaneous behavior, had in truth been carried out under the keeper's covert direction. All of this Wei Zhao—who had spent years dealing with wild beasts—saw perfectly clearly!