Teddy lived up to its reputation as the second smartest dog in the dog world. When it heard Jiang Xiaoyu’s question, its first reaction wasn’t to dumbly ask “what’s wrong,” but to ask why he was asking that.
It was Jiang Xiaoyu’s first time trying to coax an animal, so he awkwardly scratched at the foam on his ear. “Uh… you know that the cat’s owner is your owner’s older brother, right?”
Cotton barked once. “You mean that really scary human? Dogs want to pee themselves as soon as they see him… Cat Boss, you’re so awesome. Aren’t you scared of him?”
Jiang Xiaoyu was stunned by the counter-question and nearly got sidetracked. “Don’t change the subject!” He patted it once and continued, “The cat’s owner is really worried about your owner. He said that a few days ago, he got locked up?”
No matter how smart a dog was, it was still just a dog. Hearing this, it answered, “Yeah, it wasn’t this hot back then. Master was really unhappy and panicking, then he went to see his grandma, and after that, he got locked up.”
“Master even cried secretly and would often hold the dog in his arms to wipe his tears.” The dog brain with limited capacity tried hard to recall. “He was really scared of the phone.”
“Scared of the phone?” Jiang Xiaoyu double-checked with it and only continued after confirming it really understood what a phone was. “Why do you say he was scared of the phone?”
“Because he didn’t dare touch it. Several times he stared at the phone crying and wanted to smash it, but he still couldn’t bring himself to do it, so he locked it in the cabinet.”
“But later he wasn’t scared of it anymore and started playing with it every day like before.”
Why would a person be scared of a phone? A possibility suddenly flashed in Jiang Xiaoyu’s mind. Was there something on the phone that had been photographed?
He pondered quietly for a moment before asking again, “Do you think your owner is a good person?”
Cotton answered without hesitation, “Of course! Master is the best person in the world!”
As soon as he asked, Jiang Xiaoyu felt like it was a stupid question. After all, in the hearts of these pampered pets, there was probably nothing better than their owner. Before, he had rescued a little dog abandoned by its owner. Even if the stray life was tough and scary, it just thought it hadn’t done well enough to please its owner and never blamed the human. It had been hurt by humans and was scared of them, but it never thought the owner who abandoned it was terrifying.
The stylist watched the two fluffy ones chatting hotly with barks and meows, marveling inwardly. She said to the person nearby, “The evil fleece has changed its personality. It’s actually getting along friendly with other animals.”
“Maybe because they’re both fleece, so they have a common language?” She was puzzled too. This dog called Cotton was probably spoiled by its owner and poorly socialized. Normally, it bared its teeth at everyone, but this was the first time it had been so obedient during a grooming.
“No, it got scared from being beaten.” The stylist was certain.
The pet grooming shop had great skills. By the time Jiang Xiaoyu came back to his senses, he found himself washed fluffy. His long, curly fur had been softened, turning smooth and glossy, draping obediently at his sides. It felt delicate and had a softness that straight fur lacked, like cotton made of silk.
After Ji Wangan returned, he took them on a shopping spree at the mall. Jiang Xiaoyu tugged uncomfortably at the cat skirt he was wearing, utterly exhausted as he was fitted with a bow again.
“Not bad, you look a lot cuter now.” Ji Wangan grinned and ruffled Jiang Xiaoyu. “Let’s go, let your owner see the results.”
He said it was for Ye Lian to see, but the other hadn’t returned from his business trip yet. Instead, the old butler froze stiffly for a few minutes upon seeing Jiang Xiaoyu, clipping off a branch wrong with the gardening shears.
Jiang Xiaoyu wondered if he looked that weird. He pursed his lips and used his paw to claw off the cat clothes and bow, only to be met with Chen Yiqu’s angry shout: “What are you doing, so ill-mannered! Who said you could take it off? Put the clothes on properly!” Immediately after, he sternly took out the pile of cat clothes Ji Wangan had brought, trying a few on Jiang Xiaoyu with a straight face.
…Fine, whatever makes you happy. Jiang Xiaoyu felt utterly hopeless.
A few days passed unhurriedly like this. Jiang Xiaoyu was getting anxious. Just as he was worrying over how to continue the investigation, he received a call from Jin Ge.
“The theft case verdict is out. Do you want colleagues to deliver the stolen goods, or will you?”
That stolen ring had been held as evidence until the case concluded, and now the court ordered it returned to the owner.
Jiang Xiaoyu said, “I’ll do it.” He picked a sunny day to head to the station, picked up the item, and drove the police car up the mountain.
It had been bright and sunny when he left Ink Orchid Mansion, but in the blink of an eye, it started drizzling. Paired with the unrelenting heat, it was muggy and hot like a steamer—the weather Jiang Xiaoyu hated most.
Thinking of the leaky courtyard at home made him irritable. His movements were rough when he got out of the car, slamming the door. And when he was tackled into the muddy water by a Husky, his mood hit rock bottom.
“Husky, come here!” A man’s voice came through the rain curtain, not very clear. Jiang Xiaoyu wiped the rain-soaked hair from his forehead and looked over. With a double-door build, dark skin, and bursting hormones, his smoky voice was rough on the ears as he shouted at Jiang Xiaoyu, “Ye Qingxu?”
Rain pattered on the glass as Ye Lian’s gaze followed the trails of raindrops sliding down, absentmindedly listening to his special assistant’s report.
“Second Master gathered with classmates at Horizon Tower a month ago and didn’t return to the old residence until nearly morning, then Old Madam locked him down tight.”
Ye Lian pondered. “What backgrounds do those classmates he gathered with have?”
“Mostly only sons of local rich merchants. One is a bit special—the son of the newly appointed Commerce Bureau Chief Shen Qi, named Shen Qie.”
Ye Lian had no impression of Shen Qie but had met his father Shen Qi, the person in charge of investment promotion in Pine City, who was very enthusiastic toward Ye Lian. He mused, “Schedule a meeting with Shen Qi next week.”
“Yes, I’ll arrange it now.” The special assistant hesitated before asking, “Sir, does Second Master have any relation to that case?” He’d pulled strings at the police station for recent unnatural death cases and found one that might connect to Ji Wangan.
Ye Lian smiled. “Whether there’s a relation depends on what Old Madam and Madam think.”
Meeting Ye Lian’s gaze, clearly smiling yet chilling, the special assistant lowered his head and exited the room. As he closed the door, he glimpsed Ye Lian taking a call. He didn’t know what was said on the other end, but it brought a spark of interest to those inscrutable eyes. “Is that so? Then I’ll head back soon,” he heard him say.
When Jiang Xiaoyu changed clothes and came out drying his hair, the Husky was squatting on the ground with a serious dog face, listening to the man’s lecture. “What did I just tell you? You forget not to pounce on people randomly already?”
It was obvious the Husky hadn’t listened at all. When it turned and saw Jiang Xiaoyu, it stuck out its tongue, grinned, and tried to pounce on him again.
“Sorry.” The man grabbed the Husky by the scruff. “It really likes you.” Yan Feilang was surprised inwardly. The Husky was stupid but good at seeking advantage and avoiding harm; it rarely pounced on someone so fearlessly.
Jiang Xiaoyu said softly, “It’s fine.” Then he handed the towel to the old butler reaching out nearby.
“Officer Jiang, your clothes need more time to wash and dry. If you’re not in a hurry, stay for dinner before you go.”
Before he could refuse, he heard the man nearby say, “I’m Yan Feilang. What’s your name?”
“Jiang Xiaoyu.”
Yan Feilang kept the Husky under his foot, eyes probing as he asked, “Does Officer Jiang know Ye Qingxu?”
Earlier in the rain, this person had blurted out the name at him. Jiang Xiaoyu shook his head. “No.”
“Is that so? Maybe you just look alike by coincidence.” Yan Feilang looked him over carefully again, thinking the resemblance was too much—aside from skin and eye color, he was practically Ye Qingxu’s double.
Jiang Xiaoyu didn’t mind the guy staring at him and automatically blocked it out, sitting quietly on the sofa waiting for the rain to stop.
“Feilang, come help me.” The old butler beckoned Yan Feilang.
After they left, the Husky sneaked a glance in their direction, confirmed they wouldn’t come back, then trotted over to Jiang Xiaoyu with its tongue out and barked, “Dog has seen you before!”
A ripple appeared on Jiang Xiaoyu’s calm face. He curved his lips and patted the dog head. “I’ve seen you too.”
The Husky paused, tilting its head in confusion. “Why can you speak dog language?”
“I’m not speaking dog language.” Jiang Xiaoyu said, “You can just understand my words.”
This was too complex for the Husky’s walnut-sized brain. After a moment, as if confirming something, it barked again, “You’re a dog!”
Jiang Xiaoyu was amused at being labeled the same species but before he could speak, it bit his pant leg and dragged him outward. “Dog invites you to eat!”
“I don’t eat that.” Jiang Xiaoyu grabbed his pant leg and struggled. The dog’s nearly 100 jin of strength was no joke. “I really don’t eat it. Let go.”
But the Husky was determined, clamping down on Jiang Xiaoyu’s pant leg and refusing to let go. No matter how hard Jiang Xiaoyu tried, he couldn’t pry it off—and then he heard a “rip.”
Looking down, the Husky had torn a big gash straight to the thigh root.
“Officer Jiang?” Ye Lian’s outstanding voice rang out. As he drew near, Jiang Xiaoyu’s nose caught the familiar cold fragrance.
Ye Lian closed in, pressing against Jiang Xiaoyu’s back. “What are you doing?”
Jiang Xiaoyu startled at the heat coming from behind him, jumping aside like a frightened cat. His face flushed red as he hurriedly gathered his torn pants, trying to cover his exposed butt. “Hu-Husky bit my pants.”
“Is that so?” Teasing lilt colored Ye Lian’s tone as he extended a finger, gesturing in the air near Jiang Xiaoyu’s thigh. “Officer Jiang, you’re so white.”
Jiang Xiaoyu’s head went “boom” with a bang, his face turning thoroughly red.
