Future Pet Shop

"Bin, you made a whole feast this early in the morning! Aren't you worried about getting fat?" Director Kong sniffed the air appreciatively the moment he walked into the room. He took a seat at the dining table without any hesitation. "Sigh, I've been so swamped these past few days I haven't even had time for a decent meal."

"I made soup, too. You should have some more later. I bet you've been drinking a lot these past few days, so some soup will be good for your stomach." Shen Yibin placed a large platter on the dining table. "Hah'Er, here's your favorite twice-cooked pork." Finding authentic ingredients in Shanghai wasn't easy, but that was one of the perks of staying at a five-star hotel. As long as you had the money, the hotel could arrange anything for you perfectly. The hotel staff had delivered all the ingredients Shen Yibin requested to his room early that morning, which was why he was able to prepare a full spread of authentic Sichuan Cuisine for Hah'Er.

"Mmm!" Hah'Er grinned from ear to ear. The hotel food was delicious, but the head chef specialized in Cantonese and local Shanghai cuisine, which wasn't quite to his taste. Now, he could finally eat his fill.

"Bin, where are you planning to take him today? There's a celebration banquet tonight. You should come, too," Director Kong asked, patting his stomach in satisfaction after happily downing a bowl of soup.

"I was planning to take Hah'Er to check out Disneyland. We've been to Shanghai so many times but have never gone; it feels like a bit of a shame. As for the banquet, I'll go if we can get back in time." 'He did earn me several hundred million, after all. He deserves a reward, right?' Shen Yibin remembered how much Hah'Er seemed to love the play structures back at the Sichuan Giant Panda Base, which gave him the idea of taking him to Disneyland. But there was a catch. "By the way, Director Kong, I don't think Disneyland allows pets, do they? Only guide dogs are allowed inside. Is there anything you can do about that?"

"No problem. Leave it to me. Our North American distribution is being handled by Disney, as it happens. I'll make a call right now and get it sorted for you." Disney was one of Hollywood's six major studios, and Marvel Studios was one of their properties. It was because they'd entrusted the North American distribution of *Panda Hero* to Disney that they were able to easily invite Marvel stars like Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett John to make guest appearances. Even though Disneyland and Walt Disney Pictures were different divisions, a small matter like this was easy to arrange.

Director Kong made the call, and after just a few words, the person on the other end agreed without hesitation. Having Hah'Er visit would be great for Disneyland's image and would attract more visitors, so of course they wouldn't refuse. "They'll send someone to the hotel to pick you up shortly. Once you're inside, you won't have to wait in line for any of the rides. If you want, you can even have them temporarily close an attraction for your private enjoyment. By the way, they also want to ask Hah'Er to be a spokesperson for Disneyland. They said the price is very negotiable."

"Let's go check it out first, and we'll see. Hah'Er's got a busy schedule coming up, and I don't want to tire him out," Shen Yibin said, stroking Hah'Er's head affectionately. 'We're not short on cash anymore, so why should I work Hah'Er so hard? Then again, if they can grant me one little request, maybe I could agree to it?' A spark of an idea suddenly flashed in Shen Yibin's mind.

"What is it? You have an idea?" Director Kong caught the shift in Shen Yibin's expression. "If you're interested, I can have my agent negotiate for you. I guarantee they'll get you a great deal. To be honest, Hah'Er's image is a perfect match for Disneyland's. You could say Hah'Er is the best possible spokesperson they could find. They'd be willing to pay any price to sign him."

"Yeah, I figured as much." Shen Yibin nodded in agreement with Director Kong. Disneyland's primary customers were children, and what child doesn't love pandas? Besides, if they hired a human celebrity, there was always the risk of a scandal tarnishing Disney's image. That wasn't an issue with Hah'Er. There was absolutely no risk in signing him. 'It's not like a panda is going to have an affair or do drugs, right?'

Breakfast had just ended when the Disney staff arrived. Shen Yibin, Hah'Er, and Maphario got into their car and headed for Disneyland. On the way, the Disneyland employee who had come to greet them apologized profusely. "We are terribly sorry, everything was so rushed this time. Next time you wish to visit, Mr. Shen, please let us know in advance. We can close the entire park for you so you and Mr. Hah'er can enjoy your visit without any interruptions."

Shen Yibin broke into a cold sweat when he heard that. 'Disney is really willing to spare no expense to get Hah'Er!' "Haha, there's no need to go to all that trouble. I just brought him here to have some fun."

"So, which attractions are you planning to prioritize today?" The staff member handed him a tablet displaying a 3D map of Disneyland, complete with detailed descriptions of all the attractions. "You can let us know now so we can coordinate everything ahead of time. We'll make sure you can get on the rides the moment you arrive, and that no other guests will disturb you and Hah'Er."

Booking the entire park was out of the question; that day's tickets had been sold out long in advance. However, temporarily closing off a single attraction was still manageable. Disneyland was packed to the gills, and getting on any popular ride required waiting in a long line. Thanks to their help, Shen Yibin was spared that particular hassle.

"Hah'Er, take a look and see what you'd like to ride," Shen Yibin said, handing the tablet to Hah'Er. He had never dared to bring Hah'Er to an amusement park before, worried that they would be swarmed by onlookers. Disney's offer conveniently eliminated that concern.

"Mmm~ mmm! Mmm!" To the astonishment of the Disney employee, Hah'Er expertly swiped through the images on the tablet. It quickly found a ride it wanted to try, pointing at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and squealing with excitement. That sort of thing seemed right up his alley. Maphario's eyes also sparkled as it stared at the mine train, seemingly remembering that pleasant drive by the lake.

"Alright, I'll arrange it immediately." The employee made a phone call and quickly got it sorted. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train would be temporarily closed upon their arrival and would reopen to the public after they had their fill.

"Mmm! Mmm!" Hah'Er then set his sights on several other attractions: the Thunder Mountain Rafting, the TRON Lightcycle Power Run, the jungle Disney friends at the Joyful Gathering Association, and more. On the other side of the car, the employee was constantly on the phone, coordinating their itinerary.

"Mr. Hah'er is so clever! He's a natural with the tablet," the Disney employee remarked with admiration.

"Haha, that's nothing. He has even cleverer moments." 'Looking at pictures is nothing special. You should have seen him back when he was watching those... *films*!'