Animal Whisperer: Take Back My Life and Love Chapter 90: Hyper-realistic Tea

She was finished. She had completely offended Xander.

Xander had his hands in countless influencer management agencies. Crossing him was the same as making enemies with a hundred prominent influencers at once. If even a handful of them started trashing her online, the reputation of Cuties Petting Zoo was as good as dead.

Ginnie’s face was deathly pale, but she struggled to maintain her composure. This was a livestream; no matter how panicked she felt, she couldn't afford to lose her cool in front of the camera.

She took a deep breath.

It was fine. Xander was gone, but there were plenty of other celebrity investors in the room.

"We just had a minor technical glitch with the stream, but everything is under control," Ginnie said, forcing a smile. "Our kitchen has prepared a signature animal-themed dessert and drink set for our guests. The servers are bringing them out now for everyone to enjoy."

The camera zoomed in on the long table in front of Ginnie. The exquisite presentation of the refreshments was specifically designed for the investors, looking incredibly tempting on screen. On a set of cat-paw-shaped tables sat adorable milk tea cups and rabbit-shaped cakes, creating a scene that was perfectly curated for social media photos.

Meanwhile, Ginnie’s fans and hired commenters were working overtime in the chat:

"The plating is so delicate! Every shot looks like a professional photoshoot." "I heard they only use pure animal cream. With ingredients this high-quality, is Ginnie even making a profit?" "I’m worried our poor Ginnie is going to lose her shirt starting a business this way." "The cakes are freshly baked in their small kitchen. She’s so thoughtful."

Ginnie held up a cup of tea and a small cake, introducing them to the audience. "This is our signature drink—Duck Shit Fragrance Lemon Tea. It’s hand-muddled using fresh lemons and a unique Duck Shit Fragrance Oolong tea base. Paired with our meticulously baked cakes, it’s sweet without being overpowering. Please, give it a try."

Listening to Ginnie’s pitch on the stream, Nancy furrowed her brow in confusion. She wasn't much of a milk tea drinker and found the name "Duck Shit Fragrance" both baffling and bizarre.

"Duck Shit Fragrance? Why on earth would they call it that? That's weird."

She did a quick search online and discovered it was actually a premium variety of Oolong tea from the south, originally called Honeysuckle Fragrance. Legend had it that the tea farmer, wanting to keep others from stealing his unique crop, gave it a repulsive name. Others claimed it was because the soil it grew in was as coarse as duck droppings. It was a trendy name in the tea world and sold quite well.

Nancy immediately hit upon an idea.

The sparrow "special agents" sent by Master Crow were currently perched beside her, their tiny heads bobbing as they pecked at some fragrant bird biscuits. Their plump bodies swayed with every chew, and their beady, black eyes occasionally shot her a clever glance.

"Listen up, little ones. I need you to make one more trip to deliver a message."

Upon her command, the sparrows immediately took flight, half a biscuit still clutched in their beaks. They zipped toward the fourth floor like a pair of feathered cannonballs.

Inside Cuties Petting Zoo.

The servers were placing the refreshments on the tables of the celebrity guests. After Ginnie’s introduction, most of the stars were busy taking photos with the products, waiting for the edited versions to be posted.

Lars, waiting for his order, heard the chirping of the sparrows again. Wait, those two look familiar.

Soon, a server brought him his lemon tea and cake. Lars stared at the delicate treats, not daring to touch a single bite. After seeing the kitchen footage Nancy had shown him that morning—where the grime was so thick it was hard to describe and cockroaches practically held dance parties—he knew better.

Suddenly, Lars’s pupils dilated. He noticed a duck feather floating in his lemon tea. Was this a prank from a mischievous duck, or a "special additive" from the kitchen?

"Holy mother of pearl!" Lars suddenly hollered, his voice echoing through the room. "Is this 'Duck Shit Fragrance' tea going for total realism? Why did mine come with a duck feather souvenir?!"

Lars used his fingers to pinch the wet feather, holding it up like a piece of criminal evidence and spinning it around for everyone to see. "Your tea is a bit too authentic, don't you think?"

"Is there actual duck shit in this Duck Shit Fragrance tea?!"

The room went so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Every guest’s eyes snapped to Lars, their expressions crumbling in unison as if they had all been frozen by a spell.

Ginnie stared at the soaking wet feather in Lars’s hand, her face contorting with panic. "That’s impossible! Our kitchen meets the highest hygiene standards. If you don't believe me, everyone is welcome to come and see for themselves!"

Since it was an investor open house, Ginnie had made sure the kitchen was scrubbed clean. She felt no guilt at all on that front.

"It must have been an oversight by the server. A feather probably just floated in from the main area," Ginnie said, her tone dripping with apology. "I am so sorry. I’ll have another one prepared for you immediately."

To save her reputation, Ginnie waved over the cameraman and invited the other celebrity guests to follow her for a tour of the kitchen.