Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 88: The Reluctant Insider

Nancy quickened her pace. "Mandolin?"

Mandolin turned around in surprise at the sound of Nancy’s voice. "What are you doing here? Don't tell me Ginnie invited you to her 'Celebrity Investor' meetup too?"

Nancy shrugged. "Hardly a celebrity. I just came by to grab a coffee." She glanced at the boy Mandolin was currently strangling. "Is this your brother?"

Mandolin nodded, her tone dripping with exasperation. "My brother is a viral singer—KTV level at best—who caught a lucky break with one hit song. He has a few million followers now, so Ginnie invited him to guest star in her livestream."

Nancy recalled the guest list from Ginnie's teaser; there was indeed an influencer singer named Lars.

"I’m absolutely livid!" Mandolin tightened her grip on the boy’s ear, dragging him toward Nancy. "I saw all the marketing on the web—Ginnie was stepping all over your Loren Zoo with rumors and fake PR to drive her own traffic. And then this little brat goes and accepts a gig at her petting zoo behind my back!"

"Now, say hello to the woman who saved your sister’s life."

Meeting Nancy’s gaze, Lars’s expression shifted to something much more respectful. "Ms. Nancy, thank you for saving my sister." He gave a pitiful sigh. "Money’s been tight lately, and Ginnie’s zoo offered an insane amount. I thought I could take her money and use it to help get some revenge for you. I was planning on donating a hundred thousand to your zoo."

Nancy waved her hands dismissively. "Oh, that’s really not necessary..."

"No, it’s the right thing to do!" Lars said firmly. "And I’m not going there to help her popularity. I’m going to settle the score." He balled his hands into fists. "I’m going to find every single flaw in that Cuties Petting Zoo."

Mandolin’s anger softened slightly upon hearing Lars’s vow. "You’re really going to stand up for me?"

Nancy looked at Lars, her eyes lighting up like little lightbulbs. Lars shifted uncomfortably under her intense stare. "Of course. I never make empty promises. I have a cockatiel at home too—the orange patches on its cheeks aren't nearly as bright as the one in their videos. They definitely put makeup on that bird. And since I play soccer, I can tell at a glance that their 'grass' is just cheap plastic turf. There's no way the animals are comfortable on that; it's too abrasive."

Nancy felt a surge of joy. She hadn't expected to find someone willing to add fuel to her fire. "Would you mind doing me a favor then?"

Nancy showed Lars the various hidden-camera clips she had captured of the Cuties Petting Zoo and began a hushed conspiracy with him. As a pet owner himself, Lars’s fists clenched as he watched the dark reality behind the scenes.

"No problem, leave it to me!" He beat his chest confidently. "Just stay tuned to the livestream. Watch me work!"

Soon, it was 9:30 AM, and the official Cuties Petting Zoo account went live. The facility was closed to the general public to accommodate the celebrity investors, making the space look exceptionally bright and spacious.

Glamorous idols and influencers arrived one after another, bringing their own photography teams to snap photos with the animals.

Ginnie appeared on camera wearing a lotus-pink dress, her hair styled in soft, delicate waves. "Welcome to the Cuties Petting Zoo livestream, everyone!"

Due to the pre-event hype, the concurrent viewership had already surpassed 100,000. Ginnie’s fans were ecstatic.

"Ginnie is so beautiful today. Is she even wearing makeup?" "She’s so genuine—no filters at all. Look, the doorframe in the background isn't even warped." "Ginnie, look at me! I'm living for the sibling duo today!" "Take my money! We want a shot of her and her brother together!"

Ginnie watched the live chat out of the corner of her eye, a satisfied smile playing on her lips. "I’ll take all my followers on a tour of the zoo now."

Ginnie walked through the facility, introducing the layout while keeping her eyes on the camera. Suddenly, she tripped over the leg of a chair.

She was about to fall!

In the next heartbeat, a man in a crisp white shirt and black trousers caught her by the waist, steadying her. He wore gold-rimmed glasses, and his voice was a deep, smooth baritone. "Ginnie, are you alright?"

The man was Xander, a famous lifestyle blogger with seven million followers. Known for posting photos of his physique, luxury cars, and designer goods, his appearance sent the chat into a frenzy. To the fans, Xander was the personification of a high-society gentleman.

His entrance sent the livestream's popularity to a new peak.

"Th... thank you," Ginnie murmured, lowering her head shyly. She invited Xander to help her feed the lop-eared rabbits.

The fans were losing their minds: "Oh my god, this is like a scene from a romance novel! They look so good together!"