Gorilla

But in the end, that little monkey still got to eat a banana.

Ye Shuang then took Bai Yuyou to visit the nearby gorilla exhibit. Compared to the irritable monkeys, the gorillas seemed much gentler, though they couldn’t just be separated by a simple fence—the viewing area was more like a massive open-air pit, with visitors looking down from above.

"Monkeys and gorillas… they’re similar," Bai Yuyou murmured as she observed the gorillas.

"Well, they’re both primates…"

Bai Yuyou suddenly lowered her gaze. "Why is everyone locked up?"

Ye Shuang wasn’t entirely sure how to explain it, so he answered based on his own understanding. "There are many reasons—sometimes for profit, sometimes to protect the animals."

"Ye Shuang."

"Hm?"

Bai Yuyou looked at him and asked, "Was I locked up for the same reason?"

Ye Shuang froze for a moment before falling silent for a few seconds. Then, he pinched the girl’s cheek lightly. "Yeah… probably."

"But…"

"That’s all in the past now."

Ye Shuang didn’t say anything more. He just hoped she could forget those dark memories—he firmly believed that once someone started living under the sunlight, the shadows in their heart would gradually fade until they disappeared completely.

"Ye Shuang, gorilla," Bai Yuyou suddenly said.

"Of course there are gorillas here."

But as Ye Shuang spoke, he noticed Bai Yuyou wasn’t looking ahead—she was staring behind him.

He turned around and saw a tall, dark figure looming behind them. The man’s imposing stature and deep, shadowy complexion gave off an almost oppressive presence, like a massive gorilla.

"Huh?" Ye Shuang was startled for a second before quickly regaining his composure. The man looked oddly familiar.

"Good morning, Mr. Ye Shuang," the man said slowly.

"Bobo?" Ye Shuang was surprised to run into Bobo here. Since he was Alice’s personal bodyguard, that meant…

"Hmph, what kind of grown-up comes to the zoo? What a childish loser." A doll-like little girl stepped out from behind Bobo. Standing next to his towering frame, the golden-haired, twin-tailed girl looked as tiny as a Barbie doll.

"And yet, here you are at the zoo too. How does that make us the childish ones?" Ye Shuang couldn’t help but chuckle at Alice’s remark.

"That’s different. I’m actually young." Alice lifted her chin proudly.

"Indeed. Our Lady Alice recently purchased children’s underwear," Bobo added solemnly. "With strawberry prints."

"BOBO, NOBODY ASKED YOU!!!!!!" Alice shrieked.

"And here I thought you said you were mature," Ye Shuang teased.

A few seconds later, Alice was sulking on the side of the path, drawing circles in the dirt.

"Taking care of a kid like her must be tough, Bobo," Ye Shuang said.

"Not at all. Serving Lady Alice is my greatest honor," Bobo replied earnestly, his sincerity making it clear he truly saw Alice as his master.

"So, are you two here to visit the zoo?" Ye Shuang asked.

"Lady Alice has a business partnership with this zoo," Bobo explained. "We’re here to film a short video."

"A short video?" Ye Shuang remembered Alice was quite a popular online streamer. Tang Keke had once shown him her follower count—it was staggering.

"Correct. Though we’re filming today, the editing process will take a few days before it’s uploaded," Bobo elaborated.

Ye Shuang glanced at Alice. So, the little brat was actually working.

But… was this something she enjoyed?

"Bobo, I’m hungry!" Alice suddenly announced.

She had been sulking for a while, but the two of them hadn’t even come to comfort her—instead, they just kept talking.

"Understood, Lady Alice. I’ve already reserved a table at the zoo’s restaurant," Bobo said before turning to Ye Shuang. "Would you and Miss Bai care to join us? I believe Lady Alice would be delighted."

"BOBO, IF YOU KEEP TALKING NONSENSE, I’LL FIRE YOU!" Alice huffed. "Who said I wanted to eat with them?!"

Ye Shuang laughed. "We don’t mind eating together, but Alice doesn’t seem too keen. Maybe next time."

Hearing his blunt refusal, Alice blinked in surprise. "You’re not coming?"

"You said you didn’t want to," Ye Shuang pointed out, amused by her sudden urgency.

"…Hmph." Alice hesitated, then twisted one of her pigtails, her cheeks faintly pink. "Fine, I guess you can join us. Consider it a favor, since you let me stay at your place before."

What a tsundere. But Ye Shuang was used to Alice’s prickly personality by now.

"Mr. Ye Shuang, please follow me." Bobo led the way, navigating the zoo effortlessly without even glancing at the map—as if he’d scouted the place beforehand.

There was no denying Bobo’s reliability. It was hard to imagine someone so massive could also be so meticulous and gentle.

Once seated in the restaurant, Ye Shuang noticed the large glass windows overlooking a group of giraffes—clearly the establishment’s main selling point. Just this gimmick alone probably justified the exorbitant prices.

"Thirty-eight yuan for a Coke? That’s insane." Ye Shuang skimmed the menu. Typical tourist trap pricing.

"Yuyou, what do you want to eat?"

He handed the menu to Bai Yuyou, who pointed at a few dishes.

"Got it."

Meanwhile, Alice sat primly in her chair while Bobo held the menu open for her like a waiter, flipping pages as she scanned the options.

"This, this, and this," she declared.

"Understood."

After Bobo placed the order, Ye Shuang noticed he’d only gotten a fruit salad for himself.

"Bobo, just a salad?" Ye Shuang raised an eyebrow. Was that really enough for lunch?

"Bobo’s a vegetarian. You’ll get used to it," Alice said dismissively.

"A vegetarian…?"

How did someone his size grow so big on greens?

"Mr. Ye Shuang, I’m not strictly vegetarian—I simply prefer lighter, vegetable-based meals," Bobo clarified. "I can eat meat if needed."