Chapter 120: Cannot Be Privately Kept
Wildlife Protection Base.
As soon as Jiang Yuan and Si Heng got out of the car, medical staff in white coats greeted them.
Seeing Annie’s injuries, the young male veterinarian frowned, “How did she get so many wounds?”
“I’m not sure either.” Jiang Yuan shook her head and handed Annie to the other party, “I’m counting on you.”
The veterinarian reached out to take Annie, but the macaque was very scared, its two small hands holding tightly onto Jiang Yuan.
Seeing Annie’s reaction, the veterinarian’s expression became solemn, “Besides the physical injuries, the psychological trauma is probably not minor.”
Jiang Yuan thought of how Annie instinctively hid when she opened the door just now.
It was imaginable that every time the door opened, it would suffer abuse.
“Good Annie, this is a doctor.” Jiang Yuan felt it trembling and softly comforted it, “This human brother is here to help you, he can make your wounds heal faster.”
However, Annie still resisted, burying its head forcefully in Jiang Yuan’s arms.
Seeing this, the veterinarian said softly, “It trusts you the most and relies only on you right now. Why don’t you take it with you?”
“Okay.” Jiang Yuan nodded, asked Si Heng to leave first, and then carrying Annie, followed the veterinarian towards the rescue center.
An owl suddenly flew towards her, “It’s you.”
“Tutut.” Jiang Yuan asked, “Is your grandfather feeling better?”
Tutut circled around her, “Much better! Thank you!”
Jiang Yuan smiled slightly, “You’re welcome.”
Tutut looked at the macaque in her arms, “Is this the macaque you’re raising?”
“No.” Jiang Yuan explained, “Like you, it’s a second-class protected animal in our country, and we cannot keep them privately.”
“How did it get so many injuries?” Tutut asked doubtfully.
Jiang Yuan’s tone became a bit more somber, “It encountered vicious humans.”
Tutut also deeply hated vicious humans, “Why doesn’t the country arrest these vicious humans?”
“They are always cracking down and arresting them.” Jiang Yuan said, “But there are simply too many bad people.”
Tutut couldn’t help but sigh, lamenting, “It would be great if all humans were as kind as you.”
Jiang Yuan actually wanted to say that she wasn’t a good person before.
Arriving at the treatment room, Jiang Yuan placed Annie on the medical bed, “Don’t be scared, Annie, I’ll be right here with you. Your injuries are too severe.”
Annie’s small hands tightly gripped her finger, its round eyes filled with apprehension, “Scared.”
“Don’t be afraid, it’s very safe here.” Jiang Yuan let it hold her hand, waiting for three hours.
She felt a slight ache in her waist.
“Thank you for your hard work.” The veterinarian looked at her and smiled, “Sitting on this hard little stool for so long.”
“You worked harder.” Jiang Yuan also smiled at the other party, “You’ve been treating Annie’s wounds the whole time.”
“I’m used to it.” The veterinarian took off his gloves and mask, revealing a handsome and gentle face, “My name is Duan Yunzhou. Shall we add each other on WeChat? We might be interacting often in the future.”
“Okay.” Jiang Yuan took out her phone from her pocket, “I’ll scan you, I’m Jiang Yuan.”
After becoming friends, Duan Yunzhou looked at Annie, who was wrapped in bandages, “Can you communicate with it and tell it not to be afraid of this place? It will need to rest here from now on.”
“Okay.” Jiang Yuan nodded.
“Then you two talk,” Duan Yunzhou said and left the treatment room.
Jiang Yuan looked at Annie’s innocent, fluffy face and said slowly, “Annie, are you still scared now?”
“Not scared.” Annie said, and then added, “As long as you’re here, I’m not scared.”
Jiang Yuan found it both funny and helpless, “I’m happy that you’re willing to depend on me.”
Annie blinked its round eyes and looked at her with bewilderment.
Jiang Yuan explained, “I just told you that you, like the owl, are a national second-class protected animal and cannot be kept privately.”
“Are you saying you can’t keep me?” Annie asked.
Jiang Yuan nodded slowly, “Yes, I don’t have the relevant permits to keep a nationally protected animal. If I take you home, I’ll be arrested. Can you stay here to recover first?”
Although Annie really wanted to stay with Jiang Yuan, it also didn’t want her to be arrested.
So it obediently nodded, “Okay, I’ll stay here.”
Jiang Yuan felt a slight sense of relief and continued to explain, “Don’t worry, it’s very safe here. The people here are dedicated to protecting animals and won’t harm you.”
“Okay.” Annie agreed, then thought for a moment and asked, “Then when will you have the relevant permits?”
Jiang Yuan didn’t react for a moment. After a few seconds, she understood what it meant.
She smiled and said, “I haven’t applied for such permits before. I’ll go inquire about it when I have time.”
Annie: “Okay.”
The door to the treatment room was knocked, and Duan Yunzhou pushed it open, followed by several staff members in uniform.
“Miss Jiang, these are the staff members responsible for taking care of the animals. Let Annie get acquainted with them first.” Duan Yunzhou arranged everything thoughtfully.
Sensing the goodwill from everyone, Annie finally stopped resisting contact with others.
Seeing this scene, Jiang Yuan was completely relieved.
“Annie, I’ll be going now.” She waved goodbye to Annie.
Annie gazed at her back, its fluffy face filled with gratitude.
Jiang Yuan walked out of the treatment room and realized it was already dark.
Duan Yunzhou came to her side and said softly, “Miss Jiang, it might be difficult to get a taxi around here. I’ll give you a ride to the city.”
The wildlife protection base was located in the suburbs, so Jiang Yuan didn’t intend to be polite. Just as she was about to thank him and agree, a familiar voice came from not far away.
“Jiang Yuan.”
Jiang Yuan followed the sound and saw a man walking out of the darkness.
“Si Heng, you haven’t left?” she asked in surprise.
“I’ll take you home.” Si Heng didn’t answer her question.
Actually, he hadn’t left; he had finished his errands and returned.
It was difficult to get a taxi nearby. He had brought her, so naturally, he wouldn’t leave her here alone.
Jiang Yuan turned to Duan Yunzhou and smiled, “Thank you, Doctor Duan. My colleague will take me home. Goodbye.”
“Okay.” Duan Yunzhou put his hands in the pockets of his white coat and smiled gently at her, “See you next time.”
See you next time?
Si Heng’s deep dark eyes narrowed slightly, and a feeling of inexplicable annoyance arose in his heart.
Jiang Yuan walked a few steps and realized he wasn’t following, so she turned back and called out, “Si Heng, let’s go.”
“Okay.” Si Heng turned and walked to her side.
Duan Yunzhou watched the two of them walk side by side, a hint of an unfathomable emotion flickering in his gaze.
He took out his phone, opened the camera, and zoomed in until only Jiang Yuan was left in the frame.
Duan Yunzhou’s thin lips curved upwards, and he pressed the shutter.
Looking at the slender figure of the girl on his phone, his expression gradually softened.
Jiang Yuan got into the car and saw from the rearview mirror that Duan Yunzhou was still standing in the same spot. As if sensing she was watching, he raised his hand and waved.
