Forest Ranger: Starting with a Giant Panda Mom Clinging to Me

Chapter 10: Both Cubs for Me?

“Why isn’t this one making any noise?” Lin Tian carefully examined the two panda cubs. Newborn panda cubs, for the first few months, express their needs through sounds.

Like crying when scared, or high-pitched, short sounds to signal needs or discomfort. The stronger cub let out faint cries, earning a response from the panda mother. But the other one, stuck at the birth canal, seemed too weak, unable to make any sound from its mouth.

It just lay limply on the panda’s soft belly.

…

“This cub seems to have a problem.” Lin Tian crouched down to look.

The panda mother soon noticed one of her babies wasn’t crying. She held the cub with both paws, licking it with her tongue, encouraging it to make a sound. But the cub showed no reaction. Instead, it grew weaker, struggLin to lift its head but unable to do much else.

> “Huh, what’s wrong with this cub?”

> “It doesn’t seem as lively as the other one.”

> “Is it sick?”

> “Brother Tian, check on it quick!”

The audience also noticed the cub’s condition, growing worried. No need for the audience to say it—Lin Tian was already thinking of a solution.

If ignored, this cub might not survive. He thought for a moment, then took out the last bottle of spiritual water from his basket. Dipping his finger in the water, he placed it in the cub’s mouth.

Smack …

The little one suddenly caught the sweet scent. Instinctively, it opened its mouth to suck on Lin Tian’s finger. The sweet spiritual water went down, with its effects of relieving fatigue and boosting strength, the cub slowly regained some energy.

Its sucking grew faster, quickly drinking up the spiritual water on Lin Tian’s finger.

Lin Tian tried to pull his finger out. But the little one clung to his finger, refusing to let go. Lin Tian had to use a bit of force.

Pop …

A sound rang out.

Lin Tian pulled his finger free like unplugging a stopper.

At that moment, losing the scent of food, the cub grew anxious. It tilted its head, mouth slightly open, and suddenly let out a faint “ying ying” sound.

This was a call for food.

Hearing her baby’s cry, The panda mother hurriedly leaned in, scooping the little one up with both paws and placing it on her belly to nurse.

This time, Lin Tian didn’t intervene. The cub, having drunk the spiritual water, had regained some strength. Making sounds was a good sign. He picked up the other cub from the grass and placed it on the panda mother’s belly, letting it nurse alongside its sibLin.

Both little ones were feeding.

> “This scene is so heartwarming.”

> “I want to stuff that adorable panda into a sack and take it home.”

> “Black-and-white fluffball! Ahh, such a cute fluffball!”

…

The livestream audience watched the scene with warmth.

Lin Tian, standing nearby, also let out a small sigh of relief.

Now, the mother and cubs were truly safe.

“Big Brother Wang, let’s go.” Seeing both cubs were fine, Lin Tian planned to leave. He still had to write a report about today’s events for the bureau. They’d already spent a lot of time here.

“Panda mom, goodbye. I’ll bring you some wild bamboo next time.” Lin Tian gave a simple wave to the panda mother, ready to leave with Wang Jian.

But then, seeing Lin Tian walking away, the panda mother suddenly stood up. She picked up one of the cubs in her mouth and trotted toward Lin Tian. Reaching him, she stood upright, her front paws gripping Lin Tian’s waist.

Tilting her round head, she nudged the cub in her mouth toward Lin Tian’s arms.

“Ying ying!”

(Child, take care.)

Huh?

Lin Tian stared at the panda holding the cub out to him, completely stunned.

Is this … asking me to raise her baby?

The livestream audience saw this and was equally shocked.

> “What’s going on?”

> “The panda’s handing the cub to the streamer. Is this entrusting it to him?”

> “Goddamn entrusting? The panda’s still perfectly alive!”

> “Haha, if it’s not entrusting, it’s probably asking the streamer to help raise it, right?”

> “Seems like it.”

> “No way, is panda mom really treating Brother Tian like a zookeeper?!”

…

Lin Tian was a bit thrown by the situation.

Seeing Lin Tian hadn’t responded, the panda mother nudged him again with her round head, then placed the cub in his arms.

Lin Tian instinctively caught it. The cub in his arms was tiny, barely weighing anything. He recognized it as the weaker one he’d just fed spiritual water to. The little one curled up in his palm, eyes squinted, sleeping comfortably.

It seemed fond of his scent, stretching its little head to lick Lin Tian’s thumb, then nestLin in his palm, sprawLin out and falLin asleep.

“Is this you asking me to take care of it?”Lin Tian asked, holding the cub.

“Ying ying~”

(Mm-hmm.)

The panda mother let out a ying ying, her front paws gripping Lin Tian, her round head nuzzLin him.

> “What’s the deal? Why’s the big fluffball giving her baby to Brother Tian? Any experts out there?”

> “Where’s the expert? If you don’t show up, I’m gonna start spreading rumors!”

> “Here, here!”

> “Wild pandas struggle to care for two cubs’ health at once.”

> “While focusing on one, they often neglect the other.”

> “I guess the panda mother feels she can’t raise both cubs properly.”

> “So, she’s giving one to Brother Tian.”

> “After all, Brother Tian helped deliver the cubs safely. She must trust him.”

> “Holy crap! So, the streamer might actually get to raise a national treasure panda?”

> “Wow, I’m jealous! I want to raise a round fluffball too!”

> “I’ve got my sack ready. Where can I pick up a panda cub?”

…

When the panda handed the cub to Lin Tian, the audience was insanely jealous.

After all, who wouldn’t want to raise an adorable little fluffball?! Lin Tian was no exception. Not just because the panda cub was so cute, but seeing the little one’s frail state, he wasn’t entirely at ease.

Though it had drunk spiritual water, it was still weak. Without human intervention, in the wild, it had an 80% chance of not surviving. So, after a moment of hesitation, Lin Tian quickly agreed.

“Alright, I’ll take care of the baby. When it’s grown, I’ll bring it back to find you.”

“Ying ying!!”

The panda mother, seeing Lin Tian agree, looked thrilled. She excitedly shuffled back to the grass.

Under Lin Tian’s puzzled gaze, she picked up the other cub from the grass in her mouth. Then trotted back, cLining to Lin Tian’s clothes, standing upright, and holding the second cub up to him.

“Ying ying.”

(Child, take care.)

Lin Tian: “???”