Chapter 100

Ling Yue herself, after saying that, also felt puzzled—how did someone else manage to pin the black pot on them?

On the other end of the phone, Song Xi heard this, startled for a moment, then instantly grew nervous: "What? Sister Yueyue, I've been fine lately—what happened again?"

Ling Yue told him what had just happened: "……They were using a tiger's skin as a banner, dragging it onto me."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

Song Xi refuted, then quickly explained: "That definitely wasn't my order; as for the projects under me——"

He suddenly recalled that such a variety show did indeed exist; because it belonged to the cute-pet genre, it instantly reminded him of Ling Yue. He had taken a few extra glances back then, feeling the core theme was not bad, a warmhearted farming genre, and not expecting it to become a hit, so he agreed to the investment.

But what the heck is going on now?

Song Xi was on the verge of tears: "Sister Yueyue, believe me, it definitely wasn't my order—I'll investigate right away. It's all because I was bewitched back then; I clearly thought the show's premise was fine."

His voice trembled with tears.

Ling Yue: "……"

What the heck is going on? Does she have to coax people now?

Ling Yue: "Mm-hmm, the stuff is good, maybe the person isn't. As long as you're okay."

Song Xi felt moved to tears, as if receiving the world's affirmation: "Yes, yes, I feel the same way, so Sister Yueyue, if I change the person, would you come join?"

Ling Yue blinked—this guy really knows how to climb the pole—and gave a vague answer: "We'll see how things go."

In the office, Song Xi sprang up from his chair, his eyes blazing with strong light: "I get it, Sister Yueyue."

"I'll take care of it right away!"

Ling Yue hadn't even said anything when Song Xi hung up the phone.

She was struck speechless.

This kid is really too impatient.

Ling Yue shook her head; this matter was settled. She was never the type to drag things out—if something could be resolved quickly, why postpone it to the end? Better to cut the knot with a swift blade.

Song Xi may lack ability, but he has his father to back him up—he'll always get to the bottom of things. As for those who messed up, they're adults now and can bear the consequences of their actions.

But whenever she thought of this matter, Ling Yue couldn't help laughing—ten thousand yuan, that little abacus calculation was so loud she could hear it even in the Arctic.

She didn't know that the latter wasn't even a person in charge—just a lackey sent by the assistant director, working at the TV station, usually arrogant and never bothering to investigate.

Anyone who had watched Ling Yue's livestream video wouldn't dare spout such nonsense.

Passing a drink shop, Ling Yue bought an ice‑cream cone; she had hardly taken two bites when she suddenly heard Crowcrow's voice.

"Master, master! I'm back~"

Ling Yue looked up; Crowcrow was circling in the sky, neck stretched, staring at her. Ling Yue reached out her hand; Crowcrow flapped its wings and perched on a branch, its mung‑bean‑sized tiny eyes staring at her with extreme vigilance—more precisely, at her wrist.

Ling Yue blinked, her long lashes lowering, and saw the "jade bracelet" on her wrist. She gasped: "Is it because of the little green snake?"

There was no jade bracelet on her wrist—it was clearly a little green snake biting its own tail, now snoring loudly, its presence almost nil.

Ling Yue's usual routine was to feed it pet food; the little green snake would eat, then sleep, then wake and eat again. After a while, it showed no sign of growing at all.

Ling Yue didn't know that this was the creature replenishing its nutrients; for a newborn gu worm, her pet food was basically unbeatable—not only because it tasted good, but because of its effect, which for animals is an absolute super‑nourishment!

Moreover, the little green snake's physical development was poor; it could be considered congenitally deficient, since it had fallen asleep half a year after birth and had remained sealed in a box all along.

Ling Yue withdrew her gaze, extended her other hand, and Crowcrow cautiously hopped onto it, its little eyes rolling around: "Master~"

Listening to it, Ling Yue's brows twitched slightly; it was so sweet it could pull threads.

Crowcrow rubbed against her palm: "Master, I have a younger sibling who wants to ask you for help."

Ling Yue blinked in surprise, looking at it; Crowcrow lowered its head, the whole bird feeling too guilty, and also burdening its master.

It spread its wings, its head almost shrinking into the feathers beneath.

Ling Yue never expected her eyes to light up all of a sudden; she straightened her back, leaned forward slightly, and said: "Is it a case? No problem—I'd be happy to help the little animals."

Ling Yue suddenly remembered that her detective‑eye fragments were still not fully collected!

The situation took a turn; Crowcrow happily poked its head out, then flapped up high, flying to the eaves on one side of the street and cawing twice: "All right, you guys come out quickly—my master has agreed!"

Ling Yue: "……"

All the birds had already been rounded up; they were just waiting for her consent.

She glanced at Crowcrow, having learned from Big Black to act first and report later!

At the next moment, on the street corner, two dusty little sparrows flew over; the timid little creatures peered at her nervously. Ling Yue sat on the stone bench by the long street and carefully observed the two sparrows.

From their darkened, scorched color and the shape of their flight feathers, one could tell they were probably quite old.

After the sparrows settled, they tilted their heads at her, as if encouraged by her gentle gaze, and suddenly began chirping.

"Are you the master of Crowcrow the boss?"

"Are you the top animal master in Jing Shi, able to understand our speech?"

"I'm Grey Grey!"

"I'm Missing Missing!"

The two sparrows in unison said: "Hello!"

Ling Yue smiled, opened her palm: "Grey Grey and Missing Missing, hello."

The sparrows immediately flapped their wings and flew up.

To an onlooker, it would seem she just had a way with animals—the two sparrows perched on her palm and began chirping.

Actually, their dull eyes looked at her and said: "Hello."

"We want you to help us; we're the little sparrows from Jing Shi No. 1 Middle School."

Hearing that familiar name, Ling Yue startled, recalling the boy she'd bumped into on the street earlier—what a coincidence.

She moved her fingertips and opened the exclusive panel for the sparrow Missing Missing.

【Name: Sparrow】

【Gender: Female】

【Age: five and a half】

【Personality: gentle】

【Skills: Eight Trigrams, alert】

【Wish: to find the missing best friend】

Ling Yue came to her senses, looking at the two little sparrows: "Do you want me to help you find your best friend?"

The sparrows were startled: "Wow, you're amazing! Turns out those animals weren't lying; you just glance and know what we're asking!"

At this moment the weather was bright and beautiful, truly a special fine day; Ling Yue narrowed her eyes, looking at the two scorched little sparrows, and couldn't help but curl her lips.

The sparrows didn't notice, saying: "Yeah, we just want you to help us find our best friend."

Ling Yue asked: "Is it the little sparrow?"

The two sparrows shook their heads, as if thinking of something, then suddenly spread their wings, flapping to cover their little eyes, their sharp beaks opening and closing: "Nope."

Next, the words spoken were like a heavy hammer, completely stunning Ling Yue.

"She's a human, a pretty girl, and also our couple's best friend, but when we went on a long trip and came back, we discovered she was missing."

"It's been over three years; I can't find her. The people at school say she started dating a thug as a boyfriend, eloped with someone, and never returned to school."

Que Que the sparrow then said: "But we're her good friends; three years ago at this time, she told us we must study hard, get into a good university, and make Mom proud! How could she possibly just leave?"

Hui Hui interjected: "I don't believe it either; we want to find her."

Ling Yue furrowed her brows: "Are you sure?"

The sparrow nodded its little head: "Xin Xin is a good girl; she wouldn't like those thugs outside school. Those people are jealous of her, spreading rumors, all nonsense!"

"Please help us, QAQ"

Ling Yue: "I didn't say I wouldn't help; coincidentally I also have something to do. I'll first help you find Xin Xin, you tell me what you know about Xin Xin, and I'll organize it."

Que Que the sparrow eagerly nodded: "Then let's start from how I met Xin Xin."

"At that time, my partner Hui Hui and I had already been living at the school for a while, and we had our little chicks; once a sudden downpour hit, our nest was washed out a small opening, the smallest chick fell to the ground; later the wind stopped and rain ceased, we realized we were about to die of panic..."

The next day, the weather cleared; a little girl in a school uniform wandered under the tree, her gaze scanning around, and finally she spotted Hui Hui the sparrow mending the nest, while Que Que had gone out to look for the chick.

The girl's eyes curved as she smiled, she let out a breath of relief: "I just knew there had to be a sparrow nest here."

At first, Hui Hui was still a bit curious; truly a strange, odd human.

The girl pulled out a small box from her pocket: "chirp chirp chirp chirp~"

Their feathers not yet fully grown, their down not yet shed, the little chick chirped chirp chirp, obviously having smelled its parents' scent.

Instantly drawing Hui Hui's attention, the girl nevertheless placed the box under the big tree.

Only then did it realize she had come to deliver the baby sparrows.

Afterwards, the girl was often seen observing her family during her study breaks, sometimes bringing fragrant wheat seeds, or plump big insects.

Gradually, the little sparrows fled the nest, they and the girl became increasingly familiar, and thus they learned more information.

Her name is Shen Xin Xin; she is the perennial top student at Jing Shi No. 1 High, participating in various activities and competitions; in short, her abundant achievements astonished the sparrows, just hearing about them felt terrifying.

Do the young ones in the human world really work this hard?

The sparrow's partner couldn't help but shout: "Studying to death! Studying to death! Studying to death!"

Ling Yue slightly curled the corner of her mouth; the sparrow's little wife Que Que stepped on its back with a claw: "Hurry up and shut your mouth, look at what you can do!"

After saying that, it cleared its throat: "I'll take care of the rest."

"Xin Xin likes to share her life with us; she also said we are her best friends, and even if she later got a boyfriend, she only told us!"

Ling Yue blinked at the words: "Boyfriend?"

"That's why we're sure Xin Xin wouldn't elope with a thug; she said her boyfriend studies exceptionally well, is also handsome, treats her exceptionally well, and even told us, if he has free time, bring him to meet us; after the college entrance exam, she wants to go to Jing Shi University together with her boyfriend!"

The little sparrow knows best about Xin Xin's personal life and the various rumors it heard; at the time, the school's students were discussing the recommended admission slots, and it was said that Shen Xin Xin had been selected, allowing her to enter university directly without the entrance exam.

So during that period, the girl's mood wasn't great; she felt a bit depressed.

Just as a tree that stands out in the forest will be blown down by the wind, there are students who admire her excellence, and naturally there are also students who envy her.

Before they set off far away, Shen Xinxin had already made a decision; based on her grades, she could completely get into Jing Shi University on her own, without needing the school's recommendation, so she prepared to give up the spot before submitting it to the school.

Later, when they returned home from their trip, the news they received was that Xinxin had gone missing.

The sparrow couple repeatedly affirmed: "Xinxin is such a sunny, outgoing girl; she could never elope. The most annoying thing in her life is the covert targeting by classmates, but it basically wouldn't affect her—how could she leave?"

When she had only one semester left before the college entrance exam.

Ling Yue listened, tapping her fingertips, a flash of deep thought crossing her eyes: a student who excelled both academically and morally and had a boyfriend—why would rumors spread that she eloped with a petty thug?

She was more inclined to think this was a smokescreen to hide the truth. However, to find out what really happened, Ling Yue stood up and decided to investigate personally.

The sparrow couple cheered, saying they would show the way.

Ling Yue shook her head, smiling wryly: "I know the way too."

Jing Shi No. 1 High School is just nearby, a few steps away.

Suddenly, her movement stalled.

Just as Ling Yue thought the system wouldn't speak, the system's mechanical voice finally sounded: 【Task: Fulfill the little sparrow couple's wish, reward 4/6 Detective's Eye fragments.】

But before that, she first called Lin Shaoze: "Lately I seem to have... taken on another commission."

"What happened?" On the other end of the phone, Lin Shaoze suddenly stood up, his brows slightly furrowed.

Ling Yue relayed the information she had received earlier; he was taken aback, his memory being excellent, having previously looked through the files, he immediately recalled: "Shen Xinxin?"

Ling Yue nodded: "Yes, it's her. Two sparrows came to me, asking me to help find her, and they also provided some other clues—for example, Shen Xinxin has a mysterious top-student boyfriend; do you know about him?"

Lin Shaoze's expression grew grave: "We haven't found anything about this."

Ling Yue: "Are you free now? I plan to go to the school first to have a look; send someone over, it'll be more convenient."

On this side, before Lin Shaoze could say anything, Cheng Ziming, who had been listening in beside the phone, couldn't help but speak up: "Captain, why don't I go?"

He flung aside the case summary in his hands, exclaiming, "Good heavens, who knew that illegal smuggling would also require a five-thousand-word case summary after the animal case ended? He couldn't write a single word!"

Lin Shaoze gave him a deep look, sizing him up from head to toe: "Let's go together."

The disappearance case caused a huge stir at the time; unknown who posted the case online, although the police had debunked the rumor, the little girl could not possibly have eloped, and some people maliciously insulted her.

Later, the police continued their investigation, but Shen Xinxin seemed to have vanished into thin air, completely disappearing, and she has not been found to this day.

After he said a couple of words, Cheng Ziming instantly sprang into action, declaring: "Boss, I'll get ready right away!"

Jing Shi No. 1 Middle School.

Students were coming and going as usual; when Ling Yue arrived, it was just noon, and there were many small stalls at the school gate. After frying and grilling various spiced foods, their fragrant aromas mingled, making people's appetites stir.

Ling Yue immediately spotted the prettiest stall and said: "Boss, give me a fried pancake, with sausage and egg."

"Sure." Her voice was soft, making Ling Yue glance again; the stall owner was a middle-aged woman, though her attire was rough, her clothes were clean, the griddle for making pancakes was spotless, and her movements were unhurried.

Ling Yue even sensed a touch of refinement in her, feeling she shouldn't be here, and those hands shouldn't be holding a spatula.

The woman's stall stood out among the snack stalls like a crane among chickens.

So, just as Ling Yue finished speaking, many students leaving school ran up to her: "Auntie, I want a fried pancake!"

"Me too, me too, add extra chili."

In the blink of an eye, the stall was swarmed by students; Ling Yue stepped back a bit and caught the venomous glare of the neighboring vendor who wasn't open for business—no wonder people say, "Fellow traders are enemies."

Both sell snacks, but theirs thrives while ours lags, naturally creating a psychological gap.

At that moment, the neighboring vendor's voice reached her ears.

"Hey, what are you looking at her for?"

"I get it, I just… feel uneasy inside."

"Do you know what she did before? She was a white-collar worker in a downtown skyscraper, who quit her job specially to sell fried pancakes."

"What?"

Perhaps sensing his wife's shock, the man sighed: "Anyway, if you're fine, don't look over there—it's unlucky."

Ling Yue felt a spark of curiosity; just then, she overheard the surrounding students chatting: "Ahhh, Senior Zhou is really handsome!"

"He's currently a student at Jing Shi University, smart and good-looking, but I don't know why he's come back this time."

"What Senior Zhou? I had no idea."

"There's plenty you don't know—you just stare at food all day!"

Someone exclaimed: "You don't know about this? The teacher should have mentioned it! The senior was invited by the school to give us a lecture; he's now an outstanding student at Jing Shi University, and I overheard it while passing the principal's office. Moreover, I heard that this time he's come back, he seems to want to donate a teaching building to his alma mater!"

"Wow, that rich? And smart—what was his college entrance exam score that year?" The student marveled at the other's wealth, but after going around in circles, the talk circled back to grades.

"None."

"He got in through recommendation; I heard it was originally supposed to go to a senior female student, but she suddenly disappeared, and the police even came to the school to look for her——" The speaker paused, sniffed, and exclaimed in shock: "What's that smell?"

"Auntie, your pancake is burnt!"

The vendor's body jerked, and she instantly lowered her head.

Ling Yue followed the gaze, hearing the students' chatter, and suddenly thought of something: this pancake… seems to be mine?

The auntie apologetically smiled: "I'll make you another one, right away!"

Ling Yue was about to shake her head, seeing that the burnt one wasn't too bad and could still be eaten, but the other party swiftly tossed it into the trash: "How could I sell you defective goods? If you're going to eat, eat the best—right away!"

"Defective goods?"

Ling Yue stared for a moment, then quickly reacted; before long, she took the steaming hot fried pancake, took a bite, and didn't forget to glance back at the stall owner.

An involuntary doubt arose in her mind: why, after working in an office building, did she suddenly set up a stall at the school?

She shook her head, continued waiting at the entrance, took a bite of the pliable fried pancake—sweet-spicy sauce wrapping crisp lettuce, fried sesame leaves and grilled sausage, sweet radish pickle—and bit into it steaming hot, fragrant and crunchy.

Ling Yue was truly hungry, and she ate with great gusto.

When Lin Shaoze's people arrived, they saw her standing on the steps beside the school, her cheeks bulging like a hamster's, her mouth constantly moving.

Her bright, sparkling eyes glanced around, adorable enough to make anyone want to laugh.

Cheng Ziming followed behind, rubbing his starving belly, sensing something off: "I'm so hungry, but Captain, you're looking—"

"Miss Ling, let's go call her quickly."

Lin Shaoze suddenly spoke: "Aren't you hungry? Go buy some snacks to fill your stomach first."

Cheng Ziming's quick-witted brain chuckled hehehe upon hearing that: "I got it, I got it—Captain, do you want some?"

Lin Shaoze shook his head.

He waited patiently beneath the steps for her to finish eating, not noticing a little sparrow perched on her shoulder, serving as a tiny lookout.

Suddenly, the sparrow hopped a few steps and told Ling Yue: "Boss Ling, someone is secretly watching you, down below."

Ling Yue looked in the direction it pointed——,,.