Chapter 651: Buying a Kiddie Ride for Hope
Chapter 651: Chapter 651: Buying a Kiddie Ride for Hope
"Hope wants to go out and play?" Director Gomez’s voice was filled with surprise; she never would have expected that to be the reason.
The Breeder had just said it offhandedly, but Hope had actually listened and taken it to heart!
Director Gomez was suddenly reminded of her son when he was little. If she told him they were going to an amusement park, he would remember it forever and ask every single day when they were going.
’Could Hope be acting the same way?’
’Thinking the Breeder had lied to it, it got so angry it refused to eat or drink, planning to starve itself to get back at him.’
But taking Hope out wasn’t as simple as taking a child out to play. There were so many safety issues to consider.
Director Gomez gripped her phone, her tone growing a bit more serious. "I can’t make this decision on my own. I’m going to discuss this with the head director and the other shareholders now. Ms. Jennings, could I trouble you to keep Hope calm in the meantime?"
"Of course." Renee Jennings hung up. Seeing Hope eat with a look of pure, satisfied enjoyment, she found the situation even more amusing.
’Little animals are just as innocent and adorable as children.’
Hope finished all the food in the basket, patted its round, full belly with its front paws, and looked up at Renee Jennings with bright eyes.
Then, it slowly shuffled across the ground on all fours.
Hope moved in front of Renee Jennings and bleated expectantly, "Baa... Miss, I’m all full! Can we go outside and play now?"
"I just called your guardian," Renee Jennings explained. "We have to wait a little while to find out if you can go out."
Hope, who had been looking perfectly docile, instantly became huffy again. "Hmph, is it really that hard just to go play outside for a bit?"
"Because you’re a national treasure," Renee Jennings said, reaching out to rub its head. "Don’t be angry, okay?"
After a few words of coaxing, Hope became obedient again, only saying pitifully, "I just want to see the outside world, just for a little peek!"
Hope’s words pricked Renee Jennings’s heart like a needle.
’Humans think captivity is for the pandas’ own good.’
’They’re given fresh food, warm dens, and kept away from the dangers of the wild.’
’It seems like the best care, but it imprisons their desire for freedom.’
’In this small world, even a single glance at the outside has become a luxury.’
Renee Jennings opened her mouth, but her throat felt tight, and an indescribable guilt washed over her.
After a long moment, she finally asked softly, "Hope, do you really want to go outside?"
"Mhm!" Hope nodded its little head emphatically. "The Breeder said it’s super fun outside! You can ride kiddy rides, bumper cars, and lots and lots of cars!"
Hearing this, Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow.
’Could it be that this little guy isn’t yearning for freedom, but is just captivated by the world the Breeder described?’
"Hope, do you want to see the outside because you want to ride the kiddy rides the Breeder mentioned?"
Hope’s mood seemed to improve again as it switched to a bleating tone. "Baa... I want to see outside, and I want to ride the kiddy rides!"
Renee Jennings pressed her lips together as an idea flashed through her mind.
About half an hour passed before Director Gomez called her back.
Renee Jennings answered, hearing a slightly regretful voice on the other end.
"Ms. Jennings, after comprehensive consideration, we still believe Hope cannot leave the zoo. This is for its health and safety, and also to avoid any potentially dangerous situations. As cute as it is, it’s still capable of aggression."
"I understand." Renee Jennings hung up, her slender brows slowly knitting together.
Hope looked up at her with pleading eyes. "Miss, can you take me out to play now?"
Renee Jennings stroked Hope’s back, her voice full of apology. "I’m sorry, Hope. I wasn’t able to get you the chance to go play outside."
Fearing it would be too disappointed, she quickly added, "But I can get you on one of those super fun kiddy rides the Breeder was talking about first. How does that sound?"
Hope had started to get angry upon hearing it couldn’t go out.
But when it heard it could ride a fun kiddy ride, its dark eyes instantly filled with a longing for it. "Okay, I want to ride a kiddy ride!"
Renee Jennings quietly sighed in relief. "Then you’ll have to wait a little while. I’m going to go buy you a kiddy ride right now."
"Okay!" Hope agreed obediently, then added a worried reminder, "Miss, don’t be a liar like the Breeder!"
It was worried Renee Jennings was tricking it and wouldn’t come back.
"Of course not." Renee Jennings gently patted its head and smiled. "I promise, I’ll definitely come back. I won’t lie to you."
Hearing this, Hope broke into a happy grin.
The Breeder watched from the side, completely in awe.
’She’s incredible. She calmed Hope down with just a few words.’
’Without Renee Jennings, Hope probably would have starved itself to death, and they’d still have no idea what it was thinking.’
"I’m going to buy a kiddy ride for Hope." Renee Jennings stood up, said a quick goodbye to the Breeder, and left.
Henry Stark was standing at the entrance to the panda enclosure. Seeing her come out, he strode over and asked softly, "Renee, is everything handled?"
Renee Jennings said, "I’ll tell you on the way."
She briefly explained Hope’s situation.
A smile touched Henry Stark’s features. "A playful little one."
"Yeah, so adorable." Just as Renee Jennings finished speaking, they arrived at Director Gomez’s office.
The door was open, but it seemed the person inside was on the phone.
The two of them waited outside for a moment before knocking and entering.
Director Gomez had just hung up. Seeing them enter, her face immediately broke into a wide smile. "Ms. Jennings, Mr. Stark, I was just about to come looking for you. If you’re not busy tonight, would you do me the honor of joining me for dinner?"
Renee Jennings got straight to the point. "Director Gomez, Hope wants to ride a kiddy ride."
"Huh?" Director Gomez froze. "A kiddy ride?"
Renee Jennings nodded. "It can’t go play outside, but buying it a kiddy ride shouldn’t be too difficult, right?"
Director Gomez pressed her lips together, a troubled look on her face. "I can’t make the call on that either..."
"Then you should hold a meeting to discuss it as soon as possible." Renee Jennings’s expression turned a little cold, and her voice was flat as she reminded her, "I only managed to calm Hope down because I promised to buy it a kiddy ride."
She paused, then continued, "Hope is your zoo’s panda, and it’s true I was meddling in your affairs today."
"Ms. Jennings, please don’t say that! We at Little Critters Zoo are incredibly grateful for your help!" Director Gomez’s tone was sincere and urgent. "Please, you two, take a short rest. I’ll go consult the head director right now."
With that, she stepped outside the office to make a call.
Director Gomez finished her call and quickly returned to the office. "Ms. Jennings, did Hope say what kind of kiddy ride it wants?"
"No," Renee Jennings said coolly. "Hope has never seen a kiddy ride. Just try to pick one with a high safety rating."
"Okay, I’ll arrange it now." Director Gomez assigned the task to her assistant, then turned back to invite Renee Jennings to dinner again.
"Thank you for the kind offer, Director Gomez, but we already have plans with a friend." Renee Jennings politely declined and stood up. "I’ll come see Hope again tomorrow. I won’t disturb you any further today. Goodbye."
She and Henry Stark walked out of the office, and she dialed Michelle Fuller’s number.