On the day Ji Wangan’s trial began, Jiang Xiaoyu accompanied Zhou Xu’s Grandmother to the courtroom as an observer. When the verdict was announced at the end of the trial, the four defendants were sentenced. The principal offender, Shen Qie, was given fifteen years in prison for intentional homicide. The other two accomplices were also sentenced according to their respective crimes. Ji Wangan was sentenced for harboring a criminal, but due to his voluntary surrender and good attitude in pleading guilty, he ultimately received one year and two months in prison.
When the verdict was announced, Zhou Xu’s Grandmother broke down in grief, overcome with sorrow to the point she could barely compose herself.
“Is my child’s life only worth fifteen years of his?” For a rich kid like that, even after spending fifteen years in prison, he could still walk free and continue his life of extravagance. But her Zhou Xu had become a butterfly that failed to emerge from its cocoon, forever trapped in the dark underground.
Even after a hundred springs, she could never forget her grief. How could your fifteen years of decay even compare?
Jiang Xiaoyu held the elderly woman in his arms, his eyes reddening uncontrollably. He exchanged a distant glance with Ji Wangan.
Perhaps startled by the old woman’s wailing, or perhaps empathizing with the ripples in Jiang Xiaoyu’s eyes, Ji Wangan suddenly realized the grave mistake he had made. He knelt down toward the old woman, just like Raskolnikov kissing the earth.
It was at this moment that Ye Lan came to Jiang Xiaoyu’s side. She softly asked Zhou Xu’s Grandmother, “Are you alright?”
Zhou Xu’s Grandmother seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, her back hunched as she couldn’t speak. After a long while, she wiped her face and said, “Officer Jiang, let’s go.” Ignoring Ye Lan’s question and unwilling to acknowledge the mother of the criminal, she walked out on her own.
Jiang Xiaoyu glanced at Ye Lan. Several people stood behind the woman, looking like servants from the Ji Family. Emotions flickered complexly in her eyes, but she spoke warmly, “Thank you for your trouble, Officer Jiang. Can we keep in touch later?”
He nodded and chased after her.
The next time he met Ye Lan was at the entrance of the City Hospital. It was a good day—Zhou Xu’s Grandfather’s surgery went smoothly, and Luo Xi was also discharged after recovering.
He returned the Labrador to Luo Xi, then got into Ye Lan’s car and went with her to a small café.
“What would Officer Jiang like to drink?” Her smile was pure, quite different from how she’d appeared before.
Jiang Xiaoyu stared at the fanciful drink names on the menu for a moment, hesitating, before finally choosing a name he’d often heard from his colleagues—Iced Americano.
Ye Lan seemed a bit surprised, then curved her eyes and handed the menu to the server. Turning to Jiang Xiaoyu, she got straight to the point: “Officer Jiang, you’re that Little Black Cat, aren’t you?”
The fear from his identity being exposed made Jiang Xiaoyu stiffen, and he reflexively wanted to run.
“You don’t need to worry.” Ye Lan smiled, tucking the hair by her cheek behind her ear. “I won’t tell Ye Lian, and I won’t interfere with your work. I mean what I say.”
Jiang Xiaoyu nervously curled his fingers and said, “Then what do you want with me? Let me say this first—if you’re using this to blackmail me, it’s illegal. I’m a national public servant, and everything I do is protected by national laws and regulations.”
His blustering appearance really looked like a bristling cat hyping itself up. Ye Lan patted his hand reassuringly, “Don’t be nervous. I just want to thank you.”
Jiang Xiaoyu was baffled. “Thank me for what?”
“Thank you for sending Ji Wangan to prison.”
The server came with a tray and placed a cup with a beautiful latte art in front of Jiang Xiaoyu. “And thank you for being friends with Ye Lian.”
Jiang Xiaoyu was speechless, both shocked and confused. After a good while, he asked, “Why do you say that?”
The way she drank was very elegant—Jiang Xiaoyu couldn’t quite describe it, but it was like those young ladies from noble families in feudal dramas on TV.
“Of course, people who make mistakes should be punished.” Her tone was somewhat cold. “Especially principled errors.” She set down the spoon stirring her teacup, and a smile returned to her face. “Luckily, it was the Ji Family’s face he lost, not the Ye Family’s. Anyway, enough about him—how has Ye Lian been lately?”
Her topic shift was so quick that Jiang Xiaoyu could barely keep up. He tried to regain control of the rhythm but still got led astray. “Pretty good?” He always seemed so poised and smiling, so he should be pretty good…
“That’s good. Please look after him more, Officer Jiang. After all, he’s over thirty and doesn’t have many friends around him.”
“How is that possible?” Jiang Xiaoyu was surprised. “Mr. Ye is so outstanding.”
“Extreme intelligence leads to self-harm; utmost rigidity leads to breaking. He’s too smart, with that pride of being the only sober one while everyone else is drunk—who can truly get along with him?”
Was she talking about that gentle Mr. Ye? Jiang Xiaoyu hesitated. Why did what she said not match what he’d seen at all?
“I think he’s great.” Compared to the strangely peculiar Ye Lan before him, Ye Lian seemed exceptionally good to him.
“Of course he is.” She wholeheartedly agreed with Jiang Xiaoyu’s view, then smiled sincerely and gestured for him to drink his coffee. “Try it?”
Jiang Xiaoyu picked up the cup and took a small sip. It tasted pretty good—sweet, with a strong milky flavor.
“Suits your taste?” Ye Lan said. “Iced Americano is too bitter. I guessed you’d prefer a Caramel Macchiato, so I switched it for you.”
Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t speak, but he realized that no matter how odd her behavior was, it couldn’t change the fact that she was a very assertive person. Even if he ordered an Iced Americano, if she thought he wouldn’t like it, she’d change it directly.
She dropped Jiang Xiaoyu off back at the Public Security Bureau. As he was getting out of the car, she said, “I won’t tell anyone about your matter, and I don’t need you to do anything else for me. Goodbye, Officer Jiang.”
Jiang Xiaoyu stood there, choking on a mouthful of exhaust, and returned to the Case Handling Office feeling dusty and utterly baffled. After thinking it over, he still couldn’t figure it out. After pondering for a long time, he told Jin Ge about it.
“I’ve already looked into it.” Jin Ge narrowed his eyes and took a drag from his cigarette. “A few years ago, she was in an accident, and a Shapeshifter saved her, so that’s how she learned about Shapeshifters.”
“I still don’t understand her attitude toward the Ji Wangan matter…”
“What do you care? Probably some wealthy family secret. As long as it’s not murder or arson, it’s none of our business. Just treat her like a nutcase.”
Jiang Xiaoyu pursed his lips and smacked Jin Ge. “Don’t talk about her like that.” It was too disrespectful.
“Hey—” Jin Ge flicked his cigarette butt at him. “Getting bold, huh? Daring to hit your master?”
Seeing Jiang Xiaoyu really getting angry, he dropped the rogue act and drawled lazily, “Alright, alright. Ji Wangan’s case is already settled, no more waves to worry about. I’ll have someone keep an eye on her side. For now, focus on Jiang Fei’s case.”
Seeing Jiang Xiaoyu nod, he sneered. “Once you’ve decided, get your ass back to reviewing the files. Starting tomorrow, you’re in charge of the Jiang Fei matter.”
—
On the day Jiang Fei died, not only was there Wan Universe’s housewarming banquet at Reid Europe Plaza, but also a small-scale luxury brand commercial performance—and the performer happened to be Yang Guo himself.
Just as Jiang Xiaoyu was psyching himself up, claws flexing, ready to approach Yang Guo, he unexpectedly saw the man enter the gates of Ink Orchid Mansion.
The Little Black Cat recalled Yang Guo’s graceful and enthusiastic demeanor upon seeing Ye Lian earlier. He crouched at the courtyard entrance with a sullen face, feeling inexplicably unhappy.
The Husky spotted him first, tilting its head with its third eyelid showing, stunned for a moment before sticking out its tongue and bounding toward Jiang Xiaoyu three steps at a time. It squeezed its head through the bars and barked, “Little cat! You’re back!”
Its enthusiasm made Jiang Xiaoyu a bit embarrassed. He shook his whiskers and meowed, “Yeah.”
“Where’d you go! Dog Bro said you went out to play! Did you go to a competition too!”
“Just went for a walk…”
It paused, seemingly thinking. After a dozen seconds, it said, “Next time you go out, take Dog with you!” Then it lolled its tongue in a grinning expression. “Dog Bro bought Dog new snacks—come in and eat!”
Jiang Xiaoyu was still hesitating whether to go in when the Husky pulled its head back—and it didn’t come out… The atmosphere went silent. The cat and dog stared at each other, crows cawing wordlessly over Jiang Xiaoyu’s head. Before he could even comfort it, the Husky let out a pig-like howl: “Save Dog! Save Dog! Dog can’t get out!”
Its cry was so shrill that Chen Yiqu, who was watering flowers in the back yard, heard it. He came over with a stern face and saw Little Slob stroking the Husky’s nose to calm it down.
The old butler’s face was framed by round reading glasses, the reflection hiding his eyes. Jiang Xiaoyu guiltily withdrew his paw and obediently crouched in place. Seeing the man silent for a long time, he didn’t dare speak, just lowered his head to look at his own paws.
Finally, he heard him say, “You little undisciplined rascal! You still know to come back! Look how dirty you are—like what?!”
“You got better out in the wild and now you’re back for what! And so sloppy!” He grumbled endlessly, but his hand reached down to grab Jiang Xiaoyu, not letting him run around. “And you! You’re stupid beyond measure!” He disdainfully glanced at the Husky, then bellowed toward the house in a full-throated shout under the silly dog’s aggrieved gaze: “Yan Feilang! Get out here and pull your brother out!”
His voice was truly loud—Jiang Xiaoyu flattened his ears hard to protect his eardrums, but still felt the sound buzzing in his brain.
Over there, Liu Qingqing poked her head out holding a spatula. Spotting Jiang Xiaoyu, her hazel eyes lit up, and she joyfully wiped her hands as she came over. “Oh, so this is the Little Black Cat the young master keeps? What fluffy curls—so messy.”
Jiang Xiaoyu was snatched away by her. Chen Yiqu’s face was stern as his beard puffed up in anger for a long while. “Fine, I’ll go tell the young master.”
“Tell him then.” Liu Qingqing rolled her eyes at him and lowered her head to say to Jiang Xiaoyu, “Be good. Auntie will make meat for you, okay? Or no meat, just shrimp? Fish?”
Jiang Xiaoyu stiffened up, his paws stepping on the woman’s sturdy chest muscles, not knowing where to place them. He was immensely grateful that his black fur hid his complexion.
Liu Qingqing hummed a tune as she picked up the little black cat and held him overhead for a close look. “Be good, you’re a bit dirty. Wait for Auntie to wash you properly.”
She tossed aside the things boiling in the pot and instructed the maid nearby to watch them. Then, carrying Jiang Xiaoyu, she rushed into the yard.
By the time Ye Lian led Yang Guo out, they saw a bathing basin placed in the center of the yard. A black curly-haired cat had his paws draped over the basin’s edge, his body drenched, with a little duck toy perched on his head.
Ye Lian curved his eyes. “Missed home and came back?”
Jiang Xiaoyu mewed weakly. Just as he tried to crawl out, a large hand pressed down on his body, followed by foam being rubbed in.
Yang Guo, harboring some intentions to curry favor, let a smile appear on his delicate and beautiful face. “Is this Mr. Ye’s little cat? I also keep a Ragdoll cat, just like Mr. Ye.”
Ye Lian’s gaze remained on Jiang Xiaoyu. Without turning back, he replied politely and refinedly upon hearing this,
“Oh? The same? Is Mr. Yang’s cat obedient? My family’s this one isn’t very obedient.”
