Fang Ye couldn't help but find the little white tiger's attempts to suckle his fingers both amusing and endearing. He could only hope that Luna would return soon.
The minutes and seconds of waiting felt agonizingly long.
"Director! I'm here!" Luna exclaimed as she entered the room, slightly out of breath from her haste. Her hair was sticking together from sweat.
She widened her eyes in disbelief as she saw Fang Ye holding the black-and-white-striped bundle. "Wow, what is that, Director? Is that... is that a tiger cub? And it's a white tiger?"
"The director... is that a little tiger?" Luna stammered, unable to explain her astonishment clearly.
Fang Ye accepted the bag from the excited Luna, handed the little white tiger to her, and said calmly, "It's just a white tiger. Why are you so excited? Hold it carefully, be gentle, and don't startle it!"
"Wow!" Luna exclaimed, her excitement still evident as she cradled the little white tiger with utmost care, treating it as delicately as porcelain. She couldn't resist touching its small nose, though it startled her when it moved, causing her to retract her hand. "It really is a white tiger!"
Gazing into the eyes of Xiao Baihu with affection and tenderness, Luna suddenly remembered her earlier question and asked, "Director, where did this little one come from? I recall there being only around a hundred white tigers in the world."
Fang Ye, who had just rinsed the bottle and filled it with goat milk powder, carefully prepared the formula. He had already added a few drops of the Guardian Potion and checked the temperature by shaking the bottle and testing it against the back of his hand.
He smiled and said, "This little white tiger was donated by a zoo abroad."
Luna appeared puzzled. "Would a zoo really donate such a precious white tiger? Don't they consider them highly valuable?"
Fang Ye replied, "Well, the zoo was facing some financial difficulties..."
He provided a vague answer without going into too much detail, and Luna seemed to accept it. "Ah, I see. The director must have helped them financially. If you have the money, you can do as you please."
Fang Ye nodded in agreement. "Yes, you're absolutely right."
Luna, her eyes still full of affection, whispered to Xiao Baihu, "Little Baihu, you're very lucky. The President is someone who loves animals deeply. You can grow up here in happiness and safety."
"Alright, I'll go ahead and feed him. We wouldn't want the milk to get cold!" Luna said, finally refocusing on the task at hand.
Fang Ye positioned the little white tiger on his forearm, cradling it protectively, and held the baby bottle in his other hand. Placing the nipple at Xiao Baihu's mouth, he gently squeezed, and a few drops of milk dribbled out.
Xiao Baihu had been eagerly searching for nourishment, and once it tasted the milk, it latched onto the nipple with a mixture of relief and delight.
Lying in Fang Ye's arms, the tiger cub clung tightly to his wrist with its front paws, seemingly afraid that the milk would escape. Its cheeks bulged as it suckled with fervor, producing soft "zier, zier" sounds as it swallowed the milk, one gulp at a time.
[Mood: Very happy!]
After feeding for about half an hour, Xiao Baihu's suckling pace began to slow, and its body gradually relaxed. Its front paws no longer clung tightly to Fang Ye's wrist but instead played with his palm, extending and retracting its soft, pudgy claws.
Luna watched this heartwarming scene, her chin resting on her hand as she gushed, "He's kneading the milk! It's so cute!"
Fang Ye smiled and said, "A tiger is, after all, a type of cat, so it knows how to knead the milk!"
"Without anyone teaching it, they instinctively know how to knead milk. It's truly amazing how life works!"
They continued feeding for another ten minutes, and there was only a small amount of milk left in the bottle. Xiao Baihu, his belly now plump, leaned back in Fang Ye's arms, appearing quite content.
Rubbing its belly gently, Fang Ye helped with the digestive process. Suddenly, as he was massaging its tiny tummy, Xiao Baihu let out a prolonged burp.
It seemed to be sighing in satisfaction after a hearty meal!
"Wow, wow," Xiao Baihu twisted in Fang Ye's arms, a sound closer to contented murmuring than the urgent cries for milk earlier.
Its paws moved rhythmically, stretching in and retracting gently.
After some time, Xiao Baihu closed its eyes and fell into a peaceful slumber.
"Little White Tiger is asleep," Fang Ye whispered softly.
"Yeah," Luna replied, holding back a smile as she observed the adorable sight. "Director, why don't you let me go and prepare the nursery room? It needs to be cleaned, ventilated, and a mat laid out. This little one might be with us for a couple of months."
Fang Ye agreed, "Yes, that's a good idea. I'll give you some training in the next few days to teach you how to feed and take care of Xiao Baihu. Then you and I can take turns looking after it."
Based on what he knew of the previous owner and the interactions he had observed, he believed that the other animal caretakers might lack the love, patience, and attentiveness needed. While the animal log was a good initiative, it still felt somewhat perfunctory, lacking the genuine love and dedication that these creatures deserved.
Fang Ye mused about the need for more skilled staff.