"I'll take you to watch TV—Animal World! Then you'll see elephants and giraffes..."

Zhao Anqing had been in Xu Yuting’s room a while when the girl excitedly grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the living room.

"Sit here first. I’ll find the remote."

Brimming with enthusiasm, she guided him onto the soft sofa, then rummaged around searching.

"Is the remote that black thing? Right here."

Tucked in the gap beside where he sat lay a black remote. He carefully picked it up.

"Yes! That’s it! Anqing, you’re amazing—you found it right away!"

Xu Yuting had been wondering where it went. Spotting it in his hand, she cheered joyfully.

"No… it was just here. I happened to see it."

He didn’t think he was special—just lucky. He liked praise, but wasn’t vain.

"Let’s watch Animal World together!"

She plopped down right beside him, their sides nearly touching.

She just wanted to be closer… couldn’t say why. It simply felt nice. Comforting.

"Mm…"

He quietly shifted a little away. Sitting so close made him feel warm.

He stared wide-eyed at the flickering screen, ears catching all the wild sounds.

He’d seen TVs before—glimpsed them in others’ homes—but his house never had one.

"Look! That’s a tiger. Mom says it’s the king of the beasts. See the 'wang' mark on its forehead?"

Animal World now showed a tiger stalking a gazelle.

"…Oh! What’s that other one? Is it hurt? Is the tiger eating it? Why?"

Anqing tensed up. His small hands clenched tight, as if *he* were the gazelle.

He watched the tiger’s bloody jaws sink into the gazelle.

Those teeth looked so sharp. How much it must hurt. The gazelle was so pitiful.

Yuting cheered for the tiger, eyes locked on the hunter. The prey’s fate meant nothing to her.

But Anqing… his heart ached for the helpless gazelle. Why did it have to die?

"The one being eaten… maybe an antelope? Tigers eat them ’cause they’re hungry."

She explained confidently, then noticed him leaning away. She scooted closer.

"But isn’t the antelope sad? Born just to be eaten?"

He asked earnestly, brow furrowed.

"Mom says it’s nature’s law. Tigers eat antelopes, antelopes eat grass. Everyone gets fed."

She didn’t really get it either—just thought the tiger was cool. But he’d asked, so she answered.

"Then why can’t tigers eat grass? If everyone ate grass, no one would go hungry."

Anqing covered his eyes. On screen, the gazelle’s belly was torn open, blood and innards spilling out. First time seeing this—he felt scared. Couldn’t look anymore.

"Um… I dunno. Maybe tigers just like antelope? Like how I love candy and cake… I wouldn’t wanna eat veggies."

She shook her head. Too hard for a six-year-old.

Animal World continued. A pack of hungry wolves surrounded the tiger, snarling, circling its kill.

"Wow! Wolves! So many! They’re stealing the tiger’s food—so mean!"

Yuting patted his thigh, thrilled.

"Why do wolves stick together? Doesn’t the tiger have family?"

Anqing watched closely, curiosity bubbling.

"Mom says wolves hunt in packs ’cause they’re weak alone. Tigers? Strongest ever. Don’t need help."

Her voice tightened—she was firmly Team Tiger.

On screen, outnumbered, the tiger abandoned its meal and slunk away.

"Ugh! Those stinky wolves! The tiger worked so hard!" Yuting huffed, wishing she could shoo them off.

"…"

Anqing stayed silent, lips pressed tight. The gazelle—gnawed, stripped to bone.

Why did *it* have to suffer? It harmed no one.

Tiger ate it. Wolves ate it. Why not eat each other?

His chest felt heavy with sorrow.

"Anqing, if the tiger stayed, how many wolves could it beat? …Ah, it was probably full anyway."

Yuting grumbled.

"I don’t know… Yuting, do *you* want to be a tiger?"

"Not *be* one… but be *like* one. Strong. Feared. King of the beasts."

"Anqing, what about you? Tiger? Wolf? Sheep? Be a tiger *with* me! Best friends—two tigers! Wolves won’t dare come near."

Her chatter flowed endlessly.

"I… I’d rather be grass. Can’t be wolf or tiger. Sheep get eaten horribly. Grass… at least when sheep eat it, it’s gentle."

He hesitated, then spoke softly.

"Aww, no! Be a tiger with me!"

She couldn’t understand—why choose weakness when strength was right there?

"Mm. If I could choose someday… I’d be a tiger."

He said it gently. Deep down, he knew grass was all he’d ever be. Tigers lived in another world.