Chapter 51

At the barbecue stand, Ling Yue's eyes lit up—really not bad.

She looked at Lin Shaoze, who was looking at her; Ling Yue raised an eyebrow, her mouth full and unable to speak, she almost directly asked: "What are you looking at me for?"

Lin Shaoze poured a glass of beer, solemnly said: "In the previous cases—from the drug case, villa murder, brown bear escape, to Tangjia Village—your merits have been fully recorded upstairs. Do you have any thoughts about joining our criminal police team?"

Ling Yue had just swallowed a skewer when she suddenly heard this, coughing violently, her face flushed: "Captain Lin, you're not joking, are you?"

The man opposite sat upright, not uttering a sound.

Ling Yue fell silent, then spoke frankly: "I don't want to."

"I think I'm not suited for this line of work, but if there's a chance we can cooperate."

Lin Shaoze instantly thought of their past joint case, his expression subtle: "Okay."

Actually he had already anticipated the outcome of this trip; besides, how could one give up without trying? In the time ahead, Ling Yue should eat and drink as she pleased, which made Lin Shaoze frown tightly: "Girls shouldn't drink beer, it's bad for your health."

Ling Yue glanced at him in surprise: "Huh?"

Back in college, she and her roommates would drink straight from the bottle; this is just one bottle, at most to wet her throat. Ling Yue shook her head: "No problem, I can hold my liquor."

Taking a bite of the skewer, it was plump, tender, and juicy, wrapped in fine spices and chili, so delicious it made one want to swallow their own tongue.

Suddenly she heard a pattering water sound; Ling Yue wondered: "Did you hear the water?"

Lin Shaoze glanced at her suspiciously: "Did the beer bottle leak?"

However, they looked at the table—dry and clean, not a trace of water—while the water sound grew louder, accompanied by slurping noises. Ling Yue lowered her head and suddenly realized, looking under the table.

Big Black had his mouth open, drool dripping drop by drop; on the concrete floor beneath his jaws, a small puddle had already gathered.

They both fell silent.

Ling Yue rubbed her forehead.

Seeing her, Big Black looked at her as if seeing a relative, his eyes fixed on the skewer in her hand: "Owner, I want to eat QAQ"

Ling Yue glanced at the skewer covered in spices and chili, shook it, opened her mouth, and swallowed the last two pieces of meat completely, then patted her hands: "See? Gone!"

Big Black: "Whine~"

Bullying a little dog, owner, you're shameless!

Ling Yue rubbed its dog head: "Be good, Big Black, there's salt and seasoning on it—not suitable for you; go home and eat dog food."

The dog whined incessantly, unwilling to give up; when Ling Yue prepared to eat again, she noticed something off, looked under the table, and saw that Big Black was gone—the rope around his neck had been pulled loose, leaving only a lone loop caught on the table leg.

Big Black?!

Ling Yue felt anxious inside, then realized not far away, Big Black was communicating with a husky; the Alaskan's owner had tied it to the table and turned to order food.

The Alaskan enviously eyed its bald neck, lazily wagging its tail: "Brother, your owner didn't even tie you up?"

Big Black grinned proudly: "I was tied, but I broke free myself."

Though the topic had come to this, they could still speak seriously; as the skewer's fragrance wafted for miles, the Alaskan kept twitching its nose: "So fragrant! Once I gulled down a piece with quick eyes and hands—it was especially tasty!"

Hearing that, Big Black started drooling again, and also recounted how Ling Yue had just hurt the fragile heart of this poor little dog.

Who would have thought the Alaskan felt the same; the two dogs huddled together, warming each other.

The Alaskan suddenly proposed: "How about we rebel?"

Big Black stared at it, not yet reacting, when the Alaskan suddenly lunged forward; Ling Yue watched wide-eyed as the dog, like a wild horse breaking free, dragged the small table and bolted away!

The belated owner stared at the empty concrete floor, utterly dazed: "Where's my dog? Where's my table? Where's my big dog and table?"

Ling Yue looked at the dazed Big Black, pinched the rope, and shouted: "Big Black!"

The dog gave her a frightened glance; Ling Yue swore it was pure terror, and the next moment Big Black bolted: "Brother, wait for me! Wait, buddy!"

……

Before the barbecue stall owner closed up, the two dogs were apprehended by their respective owners, and the table was returned.

Ling Yue angrily rubbed the dog's head; Big Black felt dazed, shook his fur, then glanced at his fleeing brother.

The chubby Alaskan had already been hoisted onto the male owner's back like a little piglet, the dog letting out a heart‑rending wail: "Woohoo! Save me, they're killing dogs! Vile owner, killing dogs! Brother, save me!"

Big Black: "……"

Why do I suddenly feel a sense of relief?

Ling Yue raised an eyebrow, signal crossed: "You also want me to carry you back?"

Big Black shook his head: "No way, absolutely not!"

It stood up, voluntarily put its collar back on, bit the rope and handed it to Ling Yue, then began to walk itself with a "sniff-sniff-sniff".

This maneuver left not only Ling Yue but everyone else dumbfounded.

The Alaskan's owner, deeply troubled by mythical beasts, seeing this scene grew so envious tears were about to spill.

The Alaska Pig on his back stared wide‑eyed in terror: "Good heavens, this dog's gone mad!"

Whether crazy or not, Big Black knows; back home, thinking of all the foolish things he'd done, he couldn't help but clutch his head and ask from the back seat: "Owner, do you still love me?"

Ling Yue didn't even turn her head: "Love."

Big Black: "Why?"

Ling Yue smiled: "Because you're adorably stupid."

Big Black: "Whine~"

He didn't mean to—it's all the Alaska Pig's fault, it made him stupid; Big Black tried to defend himself while Ling Yue laughed and rubbed his ears.

When Ling Yue returned, the living room light was still on; Jun Jun, curled on the sofa, turned over, saw her come back, then stretched her waist and yawned.

"Finally back?"

It rose, with Crow Crow, Treasure‑Seeking Mouse, and the Mystic Cat Queen standing beside it, while the Feng Shui Turtle Master was already asleep; Ling Yue took in the scene and her scalp tingled: "Hey, is this going to be a four‑hall trial?"

The Mystic Cat Queen rose gracefully: "Why wouldn't it be?"

Of course, we're just joking.

They had merely stayed up too late, and seeing Ling Yue return reeking of alcohol, they couldn't help but worry; only after she explained the situation did they relax.

Little Crow was already so tired it was yawning.

Ling Yue squatted down and rubbed the Mysterious Cat Queen's head: "Didn't I tell the Feng Shui Turtle master I'd be back later? Why are you still waiting?"

The Mysterious Cat Queen sprang onto the table: "Don't touch me, you reek of strong darkness—who gave you permission to touch me with hands that just rubbed a dog's head?"

She said, letting out a haughty hum.

Ling Yue: QAQ

Da Lao Hu Junjun didn't mind, nudging her aside: "Master, you'd better go take a bath—wash up early and sleep early."

Ling Yue nodded and ran off as if escaping.

After she washed off the barbecue smell, brushed her teeth, and washed her face, a long time had passed; the animals had already gone back to their nests to sleep. Exhausted, she only had time to change into pajamas and lie on the bed, not even pulling up the covers, while a gust after gust of cold wind swept past the half‑open window.

By then it was after midnight in the living room.

The Mysterious Cat Queen squatted in front of the TV as the weather‑report host replayed: "Under the influence of a stronger cold air mass, our city is expected to experience strong winds and cooling from tonight through tomorrow daytime; please, citizens……

The Mysterious Cat Queen's eyes flashed, and after turning off the TV she silently went upstairs.

Thanks to its powerful night vision, it could easily see everything in Ling Yue's room.

The half‑opened window that had been pried open was blowing whoosh, when a dark shadow flashed past; the open glass window was shut and locked.

In the bright moonlight its silhouette was revealed—none other than the Mysterious Cat Queen.

The Mysterious Cat Queen lightly leapt from the windowsill onto the bed, grabbed the blanket and pulled it over Ling Yue, and the room rang with its haughty voice: "Stupid Yue!"

"You didn't even notice the temperature drop—tomorrow you'll catch a cold and then say you regret it."

Having firmly covered the blanket, it didn't forget to tuck in the corners before pushing open the door and slipping out through the ajar gap.

In the room, the person who should have been sound asleep opened their eyes—in fact, Ling Yue had already woken up when it first entered.

Ling Yue pulled the blanket up and sat against the bed, then suddenly covered her forehead and let out a tiny laugh that echoed in the room; after a while she fell back asleep.

The next day.

Ling Yue finished the consultation, and it was still before ten o'clock.

Little Crow was sprawled on the table counting money—now it's a true‑blue money‑grubber, the sort that salivates at the sight of cash!

Seeing her move, Little Crow jumped up in alarm, scattering the big red bills from its arms: "Master, what are you up to?"

Ling Yue: "Today is Yellow Orange's first day on the job—I'll go check it out, and maybe grab a slice of cake."

Ling Yue stood before the café door, still half‑disbelieving that a place this busy could be doing poorly—compared to the few deserted establishments she knew, wouldn't they be ashamed enough to bang their heads against a wall?

Ling Yue entered alone, and just as she pushed the door open she heard two sweet‑sounding meows.

"Welcome~"

"Welcome~"

Ling Yue gasped and lowered her gaze: a pair of otherworldly‑looking plush cat sisters nestled on either side, wearing layered gauzy dresses and tiny flower crowns, lying in decorative wicker flower baskets sized just right for a single cat.

Ling Yue recognized them at once—they weren't the twin sisters from the cat‑worker squad; they looked identical and had soft, sweet voices.

Now they seem to be door attendants?

Ling Yue stepped aside to let them pass, and the twin sisters Snow Snow and Frost Frost also recognized her, rose, shook their fluffy snow‑like fur, and chorused: "Doctor Ling, good afternoon~"

Having said that, the next customer walked in, and the twin sisters couldn't attend to her any longer, launching into greetings for the newcomer.

Many people were just as surprised as she was, but unlike her they couldn't understand the animal sounds—yet they could see this pair of deadly charmers, and upon entering the café their hearts had already melted halfway.

Helplessly drawn in by the cute cats, they stepped inside—only then realizing they had arrived in paradise!

Ling Yue finally had a chance to take in the interior: a cozy, simple décor of pale pink and light blue, fresh‑green wall stickers, lush hanging‑orchid pots, a few sprigs of scented lilies—evoking a bright, tidy classroom; warm sunlight streamed in from outside, and though the setting wasn't outright serene, it instantly calmed the heart.

"Doctor Ling?"

After Ling Yue sat down and ordered a regular‑sugar Blue Mountain coffee and strawberry cake, the voice's owner promptly climbed onto the seat, took a clear look at the cat, and she nearly burst out laughing.

It was Yellow Orange.

It wore a tiny pirate‑captain outfit, its defective eye covered by a patch, and a skull‑and‑crossbones pirate hat perched on its head, giving off a… fierce‑yet‑adorable vibe.

Ling Yue asked it: "How's it going? Are you doing okay here?"

Yellow Orange tugged at its clothes, thinking of that person's expectant, delighted expression, and nodded: "Pretty much."

It was still a bit confused: "Wasn't I supposed to catch mice? I and my little brothers were ready to show our stuff, but we haven't even seen a mouse hair."

Yellow Orange's disappointment showed all over its face—it thought it would be fired on its first day of work, little knowing the manager would suddenly produce a pile of clothes and say they wanted to hire them as the café's resident cat workers~

Saying this, Yellow Orange sighed: "Those little outfits are weird, and we cats already have fur—we don't need an extra layer of clothing, do we?"

Ling Yue couldn't help laughing, looking at its little pirate hat and saying: "Since it's work attire, just wear it."

She let slip a bit about the cats' wages, converted into cat food, treats, and cans, and Yellow Orange widened its feline eyes in shock: "So much money!"

In an instant it no longer found the clothes awkward—these were work uniforms, and if possible it would wear them for life!

Even if it returned to the cat shelter, it could tell its littermates that it was among the first cats to find a job.

In the time that followed, Ling Yue discovered a few more working cats under the table, beside the hanging orchid, and at the side table—proudly speaking, these were all the first batch of worker cats from the stray‑animal rescue base, six standouts out of hundreds, absolutely sharp!

Even because of these cats' presence, the café's customers kept coming, just to hunt for where the felines were hiding.

Usually the discoverer receives a full‑scope cat‑cuddle gift pack—paws to follow your gaze, tail to let you stroke, the cats are yours.

The café manager smirked, propped up a little chalkboard, and wrote: "Cats are free—go by skill!"

Wanting to pet a cat isn't easy either—they're masters of hiding; this isn't the ultimate charmer, the ultimate charmer is a cat's spontaneous‑second‑long nuzzle, like a dragonfly touching water—even the most stone‑hearted patron can't help but sway when the cat's silky‑soft fur brushes them.

Usually at that point the cat leaves you only a cruel silhouette to gaze at and sigh over.

We working cats aren't just selling our looks so superficially.

Cat maids don lace‑trimmed gloves, tuck in their fur, hand patrons napkins, and pass sugar cubes.

Every detail hits the public's sweet spot, leaving customers unable to believe such clever, clingy little cats really exist.

The answer is, yes!

All of this was Wang Yuyan's idea—after seeing Ling Yue's training at the stray‑animal rescue base, her mind burst with inspiration.

The little cat invited to work part-time was a passing fancy, but these plans weren't; they were her ideas, bit by bit, inspiration accumulated day by day.

A pet café isn't anything rare; back when Wang Yanyan was preparing to make a big move, she'd already thought about how to win by surprise, but the plan was ready and there were no suitable cats!

After receiving Ling Yue's affirmative reply, this dust‑covered plan finally saw the light of day.

The shop manager excitedly notified that the shop was bursting with customers; everything was under Wang Yanyan's control. She replied in a calm voice, turned to look at her best friend, linked arms with her, unable to contain her excitement: "I'll treat you to coffee!"

"Come to my shop! There's also an incredibly delicious Black Forest cake!"

Jin Ge looked dubiously at her best friend: "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly so excited?"

"Not treating me to cake would be fake—you're just trying to trap me, right?"

Wang Yanyan raised both hands to deny: "How could that be!"

"It's my café, now back from the dead—all thanks to the stray‑animal rescue base's little cats. My goodness, the shop manager told me the place is packed and sales have already surpassed those of the previous half‑month!"

"Speaking of which, I've laid out the plan myself, but I haven't even looked at it yet."

Before Jin Ge could answer, the melon at her feet began to whimper anxiously: "Owner, please agree to her!"

"Owner, I want to go! I want to go!"

Jin Ge squatted down to look at Melon: "Do you want to go?"

Melon wagged its tail and nodded frantically, pacing in circles from excitement, whining that it absolutely had to go!

Orange was there, its best friend whining~

Melon knew full well that, among the first batch of trained animals, it led a few little followers in the dog group, while the cat group consisted of Orange and several kittens.

Because the dogs are large, Doctor Ling extended their part‑time hours; the cats are different—they can start now—so Melon could be sure that the little cats in the owner‑friend's café were exactly the Orange and the little followers it knew.

Seeing it spin around in agitation, Jin Ge quickly nodded in agreement, rubbed its ears, and said, "Melon, what's the rush?"

Melon was so happy its tail seemed about to fly off—of course it was eager!

Awoo! Orange, I've come to find you!