Born able to understand every animal, with no way to turn the ability off, Si Nian has been driven half-mad by their chatter since childhood. She can't read between the lines when people speak, has struck out at every turn in her job search, and is a socially anxious, dispirited veterinary graduate student. By a stroke of luck, she ends up at a mysterious zoo with only one employee, where she moves in and works alongside the handsome, aloof director: a quiet man with high-functioning autism, social difficulties, and an aversion to noise and trouble, who can read minds. Every day, she feeds the animals, scoops their poop, and listens to their gossip, while the animals constantly push her and the director together.
The parrot makes daily announcements: “The director's sneaking another look at big sis!”
The peacock spills the latest: “He went into your room again last night to secretly watch you!”
The golden retriever eagerly shares the scoop: “He hid a sausage for you!”
The sharp-tongued orange cat snarks: “Quit pretending. He likes you.”
She takes care of the poop, feeds the animals, and listens to the whole zoo's gossip.
He stays quiet, watches, and secretly listens to every beat of her heart.
One can't understand people's feelings, but understands animal speech. The other can read people's feelings, but can't make sense of her. Two lonely people, surrounded by a zoo full of drama queens. The quiet zoo slowly becomes the warmest home.
“I can't understand what people say, but I understand you.” “I can hear the whole world, but I only want to be near you.”
This isn't a zoo at all. It's a romance where the animals push them together, the whole zoo ships them, and the sweetness is downright scorching.
