Chapter 48

Manager Zhang: "!!!"

He stared in shock at Ling Yue, a single word blurted out: "Want."

Of course I want to!

If we can find the mole, it's a good thing for him and the company; at the very least, we won't have to guard against arrows from within.

Ling Yue: "I can help you."

She summoned a few burly extras; the little bee in the cup buzzed and fluttered its wings, and, at Ling Yue's instruction, landed on the collar of the lead man.

In an instant, the other's body stiffened; he knew this thing—one bite would hurt like hell!

"What is this? It won't bite people, will it?"

"Ahhh, I'm terrified of bees! As a kid, I stole honey and got chased by bees, ending up with bumps all over my head."

Little Autumn on the collar objected: "Pah! I'm not that kind of bad bee; I'm a principled little bee."

The other two nodded in agreement, saying: "Little Autumn is right; our bees only have one sting—if we sting you, we die."

"Exactly, we still have to go home."

Ling Yue pressed her lips, trying not to laugh; sensing the man's psychological shadow about bees, her eyes flashed and a mischievous idea struck her.

Ling Yue earnestly introduced: "Don't be afraid, this is the latest high-tech bionic little bee; it can help you identify him. I've already grasped the other's appearance—when you see him, contact as I said."

"Observe his reaction; if it's real, go along with it; if not, pretend nothing happened."

The lead extra, half his body stiff, feeling uneasy, asked again: "Really?"

Ling Yue nodded: "Really."

He stared at Little Autumn, his eyes nearly crossing, before saying: "All right."

Song Xi suddenly turned, shoulders shaking; he dared not look at Ling Yue, afraid he'd burst out laughing.

"Hahaha, this damn bionic little bee is totally real!"

As for Manager Zhang, he cleared his throat, preparing to leave; as the general manager of the auction house, he always leads from the front when something happens.

Moreover, it's just a drill; there shouldn't be any big problem.

Five minutes later, Manager Zhang, crouched with his subordinates, heads in hands, trembling, was utterly terrified; the fierce-looking bunch completely resembled a group of "bandits," highly skilled and purposeful, controlling everyone before the alarm could even be triggered.

He looked toward the inner room where the auction items were stored; multiple safeguards—an invisible glass cover and infrared heat sensors, etc. —would trigger if they touched the items, even the outer protection, instantly sending a message inside; the external line to the police station he had temporarily shut off, but if the transmission succeeded, a message slip would be left.

At that moment, the black-clad "bandits" wielding realistic toy guns strolled in; suddenly one hesitated, and Little Autumn flew straight to land on a guard.

He glanced sideways, ordering his men: "Arrest these people separately!" He tapped his baton, then smacked it against one person's face: "Look at you guards—completely useless!"

Actually, it was secretly transmitting a message; per Ling Yue's signal, the other's body tensed, then relaxed: "Damn it, we said we'd start the day after tomorrow, but you're acting today!"

"I was almost scared to death just now!"

Saying this, he turned the tables, bolder than they, flung open the glass cover, expertly scooping up the items while staring at the dazed "bandits," and snapped: "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and stuff them into sacks!"

"Hahaha!" the guard, clutching a diamond bracelet, excitedly kissed it several times: "We struck it rich! We're rich!"

The "bandits" watched his rough handling, their hearts trembling; they knew these things were worth—several million? Tens of millions? Hundreds of millions?

Just thinking about it makes you breathless.

If caught, they'd be sentenced to prison for life!

Criminal, truly criminal!

In the lobby, the trembling Manager Zhang gauged the time, glanced toward the inner room, and saw the bandits walking out with big bags; his heart turned to ice.

The system really failed.

Originally there were six bandits, plus one extra—needless to say, that person was the mole; a surge of fury filled Manager Zhang, who couldn't fathom how the company had ever wronged him to drive him to such a reckless act.

He sprang to his feet, the toy gun pressed to his forehead, while shouts rose from below—this is a gun!

Many had already closed their eyes, thinking, "It's over; he's definitely done for."

However, after a long while—long enough for them to start doubting—and not hearing a single gunshot, they skeptically opened their eyes to see Manager Zhang unharmed, standing beside the bandit who had taken off his black coat.

The bandit's formerly fierce face broke into a grin, instantly turning goofy.

The "bandit" scratched his head, holding the toy gun, as Manager Zhang applauded: "This drill, everyone performed great—nice work!"

Turns out it was a drill.

Subordinates exhaled in relief, yet couldn't help complaining about Manager Zhang's unnecessary move—no raise, just endless hassle—then they heard his voice: "I know you all resent me, but if we hadn't had today's drill, we'd run into a real robbery the day after tomorrow."

Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air, staring at him in horror: "What is he saying?"

At Manager Zhang's gesture, an extra lifted the remaining bandit, ripped off the mask, and everyone who saw the face was stunned, staring blankly.

"Little Xu!"

"You… you weren't just arrested? How are you also in the drill?"

Xu Lai couldn't be bothered to look at the speaker; his face was ashen, his body limp like a puddle of mud, knowing he was done for—absolutely done for.

Colluding with bandits, inside‑outside cooperation—even as an accomplice he'd face years in prison; he'd offended such a massive company, it was all‑or‑nothing, but only when truly caught did he realize fear.

Manager Zhang looked at the speaker, stern: "He didn't take part in the drill—he's the very mole colluding with the bandits!"

The situation took a sharp turn; even a fool could hear his displeasure, and they stared in shock at their colleagues—no, former colleagues.

A few acquaintances exchanged glances, their hearts full of fear and bewilderment; they truly had no idea.

What comes next no longer requires Ling Yue's involvement.

The case was handed to the police; for such a major case, the authorities would naturally launch an investigation.

In the end, Ling Yue signed the agreement; the boss personally set the 3% consulting fee, and that Heaven's Eye Blue Sapphire Crown became the showstopper of the auction.

Ling Yue received the small gift from the auction house and a VIP box; seeing her seat, Song Xi felt a twinge of envy: "That's Uncle Wang's family's most comfortable box—180‑degree unobstructed view of the auction, with gentle ladies serving tea."

Upon hearing that, Ling Yue raised her brows: "Looks like you've enjoyed it before?"

Hearing that, Song Xi shrank his head and muttered: "No." "Uncle Wang had thought of giving a box, but my dad refused—he was afraid Mom would get angry."

Ling Yue couldn't help laughing: "Unlucky kid."

She said, putting away the invitation, "Miss, mister, sounds pretty good."

Of course that's the day after tomorrow; now, Ling Yue grabbed her cup and rushed to ask Manager Zhang about the flower base he'd mentioned. As soon as the few little bees came out, they instantly became lively, flying around Ling Yue in circles: "Here, here!"

"It's our home!"

"If you have time, we'll treat you to honey, super super sweet!"

Ling Yue looked around, also shocked—this wasn't any base, it was clearly a mountain; some flowers were planted in greenhouses, while many more bloomed freely, as far as the eye could see, everything was a sea of flowers.

A breeze blew by, bringing the faint fragrance of the flowers.

After seeing off the few little bees, it was already past noon; Ling Yue prepared to go home for a meal, while Song Xi beside her held her phone, hesitating: "Streamer, well… well… you…"

Ling Yue gave him a sideways glance: "What do you want to say?"

Even the crow on her shoulder chimed in: "Spit it out, spit it out!"

Song Xi scratched her head and chuckled: "My parents just called, inviting you to our house for lunch—it's really close, why not come?"

Ling Yue nodded.

Song Xi had a lot to say stuck in her throat, staring blankly at her for a while before following.

"Streamer, wait for me, wait for me!"

Seeing her lively antics, the crow couldn't bear to look: "Master, are you really going?"

Ling Yue looked at it: "Aren't you hungry?"

"I'm hungry (●. ●)"

"If someone's treating you to a meal, why not go? Besides, I can check on how Jin Jin is doing there."

The crow's eyes lit up instantly, praising: "I get it, Master—this is killing two birds with one stone! Settling lunch and visiting Jin Jin!"

Saying that, it puffed up proudly, flapping its wings, and a few feathers fell out.

Ling Yue: "……"

"That should count, right?"

"The Song household."

Upon hearing Ling Yue was coming, Madam Song was overjoyed, even wanting to cook two dishes herself, but her husband grabbed her tightly: "Wife, snap out of it!"

"Our little one finally managed to invite Master Ling; calm down—kitchen matters can be handled by Aunt Zhou. Let's dress up nicely so Master Ling enjoys the meal."

Madam Song looked at her unusually excited husband, one eye thinking: "Really? I don't believe it." The other eye thinking: "Husband, don't you love me anymore?"

Song Han: "……"

"I do love you, but I really can't, in good conscience, say your stir-fried green pepper shreds are tasty or your stewed eggshell soup is good……"

Madam Song just has this knack of turning divine deliciousness into rotten sludge—no matter how tasty the food, she can turn it into a dark cuisine.

Back when they were first married, she happily cooked a full table of dishes, while her husband Song Han reluctantly grabbed an eggshell and stir-fried tomatoes. They ate the meal in the morning, and went to the hospital in the afternoon—caption: food poisoning.

Even so, he wasn't scared enough to call off the wedding on the spot—it was true love.

By the door, watching the loving couple, Aunt Zhou silently closed her mouth, thinking: "The kitchen ingredients we bought today are missing one, but looking at this, I'd better round up some people to go look for it."

Thus, as soon as Ling Yue and Song Xi stepped through the door, they received a warm welcome.

A bunch of servants chased left and right, front and back, on the green lawn in front of the Song residence: "Hey hey hey, chase after the one behind you!"

"I've got you!" a servant lunged excitedly.

All that could be seen was a white mass shooting up, its large, powerful wings flapping, tracing a perfect arc in the air before dropping straight down!

"Ga ga ga!"

"Old man, I'm flying!"

Song Xi watched helplessly as an unidentified white mass landed on her face, warm fluff clinging to her, her body beginning to sway left and right: "Save… save me!"

"She could barely breathe!"

Song Xi flailed her arms, just like that scene earlier.

Ling Yue silently stepped back two steps, meeting the goose's fierce gaze: "Woman, what are you staring at?"

"Could you also be charmed by my myriad-geese allure? Let me tell you, humans and geese are on different paths!"

"Look again? I'm telling you, don't like me—don't even dare to look!"

"I know you're definitely thinking about me—no, you're not allowed to think about me either!"

Ling Yue was truly speechless.

Finally, the unlucky Song Xi, with the servants' combined help, resolved the life-threatening situation, at the cost of a mouthful of goose feathers.

Immediately, she widened her eyes, looking pleadingly at Ling Yue: "No way, no way? Streamer, save me!"

Ling Yue nodded: "When heaven is about to bestow a great goose upon someone, it first tests their will, tires their bones, and starves their flesh."

She gave a faint smile; Song Xi looked at the big white goose, gritted her teeth: "Quick, give me an oxygen tank—I can't breathe!"

Only later did they learn that the big white goose was a little goose the kitchen had bought, meant to be stewed in an iron pot; Aunt Zhou hadn't noticed, and the goose escaped, leading to the earlier scene.

Song Xi stood aside watching the goose, shocked: "This is a little goose?"

The big goose looked proud: "What's wrong? Not allowed to be big and strong?"

"I'm the little tyrant of the village—don't underestimate me!"

Frankly, aside from its bad temper, the big white goose is genuinely handsome and sturdy; the title of village tyrant is no empty boast.

Compared to the utterly useless Song Xi, Ling Yue suddenly felt that even the big white goose gave her more sense of security.

Later, Song Xi really relied on the village tyrant's goose power, and the scammer friends came over: "Close the door, unleash the goose!"

Getting back to the point, Young Master Song grinned, having never ordered the big goose to be stewed; this smelly big goose was especially proud, hearing Ling Yue's words, he puffed out his chest: "I knew it—no one can block a goose's charm!"

Song Xi asked her: "How is it, what did it say?"

Ling Yue faithfully translated; a person and a goose were basically mirror images of each other's species, so the goose just stayed, watching its eager, wriggling neck, Ling Yue suddenly felt that the days of geese flying and people jumping were still long ahead.

The Song household's hospitality meals were especially fragrant; Ling Yue occasionally let loose a feast and found it not bad. It seems the plan to hire a chef needs to be put on the agenda soon.

After the meal she looked at Jinjin; at first glance she didn't recognize it.

Is this her Jinjin? Has Jinjin grown this big? Ling Yue asked herself.

Once a palm-sized little fish, now it is thirty centimeters long; its neat scales are stunningly beautiful, and as the angle changes it flashes a halo of red with gold, gold with purple.

It swims underwater in the huge tank that is two meters long and one meter wide, filled with various exercise equipment, a one-to-one replica; she even saw it doing laps underwater.

Jinjin is having a blast.

After spotting her, the Feng Shui fish shot back like a red bolt of lightning: "Master!"

Ling Yue tossed over a dozen pet pellets she had brought; Jinjin grabbed one each, instantly sensing the difference, and began eating excitedly. Under the astonished gazes of Mr. and Mrs. Song, after just one pellet Jinjin easily performed back‑swims, leaps, and various high‑difficulty maneuvers.

Ling Yue didn't dare feed too much, so she put the rest away.

She inquired about the condition of the Song couple; as for Song Xi, no need to ask—this person happily reported safety: "Mom, Dad, I didn't get a flat tire in the car today!"

"Didn't step on a banana peel when going out!"

"I didn't choke on my water!"

Mr. and Mrs. Song: relieved relieved. JPG

Ling Yue: "……"

I really opened my eyes!

Ling Yue finally returned home, bringing back a pile of gifts.

That matter also made progress.

When Song Han spoke, his expression was grave: "No matter how many precautions, a thief from within is hard to guard against."

Ling Yue didn't speak; she could see he just wanted to vent, she didn't mind, occasionally turning her head to watch the amusing sight of geese chasing people, she couldn't help pressing her lips together.

Song Xi, who had been teasing the big goose and ended up being chased: "Help! Help! Help!!!"

Mr. Song turned his head and a cross popped up on his forehead: "This little brat!"

But his face was smiling; yet thinking back to the previous incident, it was impossible to let go—if not resolved, he'd never get over this hurdle in his lifetime.

All those words boil down to one sentence: "If you do wrong, you must pay the price; where in the world is there a good thing that lets you take advantage for free?"

Ling Yue nodded, deeply agreeing.

After returning, she tested the existing formula and immediately began to weaken it; the original was too heaven‑defying, so she dared only to produce a small amount for her family to eat. Otherwise the effect would be too good—what if feeding it created a monster?

Although the weasel‑cucumber proved by personal experience that intelligence can be raised while wisdom cannot be changed, to this day it remains a silly great weasel.

Thinking of this, she suddenly sensed something off, turned her head, and saw the Feng Shui turtle master clinging to the table leg, straining its neck forward, gulping and gulping at the wine bottle; with its strength, biting off a mouthful would not be difficult, but breaking it would easily be noticed—it still knows the difference between a full meal and constant feeding.

So it's been sneaking around?

Ling Yue raised her eyebrows, stood silently behind it; the Feng Shui turtle master was so focused it didn't notice at all.

Ling Yue, with ears to the six directions and eyes to the eight, glanced at the treasure‑seeking mouse holding the wine cup; it froze on the spot, completely dumbfounded.

The Feng Shui turtle still wondered: "What's going on, Duo Duo—are you old today? Your speed is off!"

"What do you say, Duo Duo?" a clear female voice interjected; Ling Yue asked.

The treasure‑seeking mouse shuddered violently, claws clutching the cup: "I, I can't…⊙﹏⊙"

The Feng Shui turtle master, sensing something wrong, turned its head; Ling Yue had already half‑squatted, meeting the disciple's gaze, and the wine bottle clutched in its forepaws was jerked away.

Ling Yue picked it up and felt its weight—good grief, the full bottle now had only the bottom left.

Ling Yue: "Come on, how long have you been sneaking drinks?"

Feng Shui turtle: "……"

Treasure‑seeking mouse: "……"

To save a life, we're about to lose a turtle/mouse life!

Downstairs, Jun Jun, watching TV, shook off the big fur on its body; the little milk cats that had grown close to it were like tiny furballs hanging from its fur.

"Ahhh, swinging on the swing!"

"Big kitty, go faster~"

"Whoosh~~ so awesome!"

These colorful little furballs, indulged by Da Lao Hu Junjun, have become its little friends.

Actually, in a sense Jun Jun is also a little friend, just a bit bigger.

There are also some cat‑bugs crawling about, their tiny heads tilted, not understanding why there would be such huge counterparts of their kind.

Everyone was busy playing, putting the problem behind them, tiptoeing on their pink little paws to tread milk; even if cat‑bugs covered Jun Jun's back, the combined pressure of their trampling felt more like a massage.

Da Lao Hu watched and watched, its big fuzzy head tilted, and it fell asleep.

What's playing on the TV? I don't know.

This is just the most ordinary scene Ling Yue experiences every day, but when she went downstairs and saw the big furball and small furball squeezed together, she couldn't help laughing.

She picked up the fur from the floor, put each in a bag, thought a bit, and ordered online a set of felting tools.

Pet consultation shop.

Ling Yue turned to the next page; it was blank.

She closed the *Grand Compendium of Dao Arts*, her eyes and brain tired, wanting to rest.

So she took out the practice felting tools—shall we start by rolling them into balls?

Just then, the newly installed wind chime in the shop rang; a gentle woman walked in, and Ling Yue smiled, saying: "Today's consultation slots are all taken; if you have business, please come queue tomorrow."

The woman shook her head, looking at her seriously: "I'm not here for a pet consultation; I've come to find my family member, whose name is—Gua Gua."