Chapter 18: The Not-So-Steady Human Teammates
Yue City’s “9.15” anti-trafficking special operation officially concluded. In less than a month, the entire trafficking organization was wiped out, and all abducted children were rescued unharmed.
When the results were announced, not only Yue City but the entire country was shocked.
Director Zhou compiled all the information and reported it upward. As expected, the higher authorities inquired about Lin Jiangye.
At that moment, Lin Jiangye was being brought by Shang Fuyan to the Criminal Investigation Division’s office building.
He hadn’t expected the division to occupy a building of its own. Upon entering, he saw numerous officers—some in plainclothes, some in uniform—busy at work. The previously noisy atmosphere fell silent for a brief second as the two walked in.
“This is the Major Crimes Unit. That’s the Forensic Division. Over there is…” Shang Fuyan led him around the office, greeting the captains of each unit.
Everyone looked at Lin Jiangye with curiosity. Quite a few had eager expressions in their eyes.
So this was Consultant Lin. They had heard he could understand animal language, but none of them had witnessed it firsthand.
They hadn’t experienced the scene of crows leading the way; only the direct task force had followed that day.
Still, no one doubted his ability. Anyone publicly praised so highly by Director Zhou could not possibly be a fraud.
Only after entering did Lin Jiangye realize that the Criminal Investigation Division consisted of more than one team. All criminal-related units were under Shang Fuyan’s management.
“My direct task force has six members. I’ll take you to meet them,” Shang Fuyan said, suddenly turning and pulling Lin Jiangye toward an office.
After opening the door, he gently pushed him inside, then glanced back at the others outside. Once they resumed working, he followed him in.
Inside sat four men and two women. Apart from Yan Zhou, Lin Jiangye didn’t recognize the others.
Shang Fuyan introduced them one by one and had everyone exchange contact information.
“From now on, Lin Jiangye is one of us.”
Only then did Yan Zhou and the others understand why their captain had personally brought the consultant over.
Although a special consultant wasn’t officially on the police roster, to strengthen Lin Jiangye’s sense of belonging within Wen’an District’s Criminal Investigation Division, Shang Fuyan had deliberately introduced him around.
The team exchanged glances, faint smiles in their eyes—they had never seen their captain so nervous about someone before.
They had previously thought the rumors about Qingze District and other divisions trying to poach Lin Jiangye were exaggerated. Only after the official announcement did they realize it was true.
“Since we’re all teammates now, meet at the usual place at seven tonight. I’ll treat everyone to dinner as a welcome banquet for Mr. Lin Jiangye.” With that, Shang Fuyan led him out again.
After being guided around in circles, Lin Jiangye felt slightly dizzy, unable to understand why he had been brought to the station.
“Doesn’t a special consultant not need to work at the station?”
Shang Fuyan opened the car door for him. After closing it and getting into the driver’s seat, he replied, “No need. You can stay home or go out and have fun. We’ll contact you if something comes up.”
Lin Jiangye frowned slightly and looked at him in confusion. “Then why bring me in?”
“To show you the way.”
The three words left Lin Jiangye momentarily speechless.
Before he could question further, Shang Fuyan continued, “Introducing you to the different units means that if something happens and I’m not around, you can go directly to them for help.”
Ordinary homicide cases weren’t under Shang Fuyan’s jurisdiction. If animals reported something to Lin Jiangye again, he could directly contact the Major Crimes captain.
“Then how did you get involved in the villa case before?” At the time, he had assumed Shang Fuyan was a regular criminal investigator.
Shang Fuyan’s lips curved slightly. The victim in that case had a special identity, and the social impact was significant. They had also been the closest unit when the emergency call came in, so they went to assist.
And that was how he met Lin Jiangye.
During the drive, Shang Fuyan patiently explained each unit’s responsibilities and authority so that Lin Jiangye could quickly find the right contact in the future.
Only when the car stopped did Lin Jiangye snap back to reality.
Where were they?
“Get out. See if this car suits your taste.”
Lin Jiangye’s eyes lit up instantly. After lengthy discussions, they had narrowed down three options. Unfortunately, none were available domestically and would require waiting.
He had expected to wait several months. It had only been a few days.
When he saw the vehicle in front of him, he nearly thought it was a military armored vehicle.
After asking—indeed, it was bulletproof.
The new car had spacious interiors, BR6-level armor protection, practically no different from an armored vehicle.
Most importantly, the six-seat, six-door configuration could be modified into four seats, with the middle space reserved specifically for animals.
Forget cats and dogs—even a lion could fit comfortably.
It perfectly matched Lin Jiangye’s requirements.
Simply perfect.
“I’ll take this one.” No need to look further. Swipe the card.
Seeing Lin Jiangye’s shining eyes, Shang Fuyan’s lips curved upward in quiet satisfaction.
That evening, when the team arrived at their usual gathering spot, they immediately noticed a domineering black armored vehicle parked beside their captain’s car.
Car enthusiasts Yan Zhou and Ai Rong froze on the spot, itching to rush over and inhale its “immortal aura.” Before they could act, they were forcibly dragged away.
“This car doesn’t look cheap. Don’t damage it! Even if we sold you off, it wouldn’t be enough to pay for it!” Qi Gaoyang admonished, feeling like he was restraining two huskies.
He wondered if Consultant Lin could perhaps discipline these two human-shaped huskies.
They walked through the corridor and quickly arrived at their private room.
Upon opening the door, what first caught their eyes wasn’t the two handsome young men calmly chatting by the fish tank, nor the ever-steady German Shepherd—
It was the emerald necklace hanging around the tabby cat’s neck.
The tabby lazily stretched on the table and let out a coquettish meow.
Yan Keke immediately clutched her chest, her expression utterly bewitched.
“Cat… it’s a kitty…”
“And the German Shepherd… oh my god… doesn’t Consultant Lin have many dogs and crows at home? Can I go clean litter at his house during my vacation?”
“Calm down.”
How could a fluff addict possibly calm down?
Cats and dogs aside, it was Yan Keke’s first time observing a crow up close. Those glossy, sleek feathers—how was this crow so beautiful?
When Diamond and Opal started cawing excitedly, Lin Jiangye knew the team had arrived.
He turned around and saw a young woman with a cat in one hand and a crow in the other, burying her face in the German Shepherd’s soft belly, while someone behind her tried pulling her away like uprooting a carrot—with no success.
“…”
Were these truly the upright, serious, righteous officers he had met earlier?
“Sorry for the embarrassment,” Shang Fuyan said calmly, clearly aware of what species of oddballs his team consisted of.
At that moment, Yan Zhou and another female teammate rushed up to Shang Fuyan, excitedly talking about the armored car outside.
“Oh, that car? Lin Jiangye just bought it.”
With that single sentence, Yan Zhou recalled the eight-digit price tag he had seen earlier and immediately lost his nerve.
If he scratched it—even selling himself in parts wouldn’t cover a fraction.
Lin Jiangye chuckled at his stiff posture and handed him the car keys. “If you like it, take it for a spin.”
In the next second, four pairs of eyes in the room sparkled like gemstones.
Watching the two rush out in barely contained excitement, Shang Fuyan rubbed his forehead helplessly. “Sorry. You must think we’re ridiculous.”
He paused—he had just said that minutes ago.
One obsessed with fluffy animals, two obsessed with cars. Fortunately, he still had three steady team members.
But when he turned around—
One was squatting beside the large crow, staring fixedly at the diamond on its leg.
Right. Xu Mingle had once identified a fleeing murderer in a crowd solely by recognizing a gemstone from a previous case. A gemstone fanatic.
That left Qi Gaoyang and Ren Gu.
Forget Ren Gu. That one enjoyed hardcore horror films and frequently visited the autopsy room to chat with forensic doctors.
So only one “steady” member remained.
“Captain! What are we eating tonight?” Qi Gaoyang asked excitedly, rubbing his hands together, oblivious to Shang Fuyan slowly closing his eyes.
Forget it.
Even Lin Jiangye’s crows were steadier than this bunch.
Why had he never realized before that his team was this peculiar?
