At the same time.
At the various observation points outside the Panda Hall and inside the surveillance room, everyone watching the scene unfold through cameras and telescopes held their breath.
"Look, Tuantuan is ignoring him."
"I told you so. How could going in empty-handed possibly work?"
"It looks like Yang Qi is out of ideas..."
"Come on, Brother Qi!"
...
Inside the enclosure, Yang Qi let just the right amount of "helplessness" and "disappointment" show on his face.
He sighed, stood up, and brushed the grass clippings from his pants. "Alright then," he said. "Since you don't want to go out, I'll be leaving first. Take your time eating."
[Go on, go on.]
Without even lifting its head, Tuantuan casually waved a paw as if shooing away an annoying fly.
Yang Qi turned and walked slowly toward the exit, his back looking rather "lonesome" on the surveillance monitors.
Most of the onlookers outside sighed, thinking this attempt was likely going to end in failure.
