Chapter 3: An Agreement with the Crow
Entering the police station twice in one day—now that was a new experience.
This time, however, Lin Jiangye was genuinely a witness. Everyone had clearly seen him stop an attempted murder, and they had also seen a crow leave the attacker’s face badly scratched.
In other words, everything he did fell within the bounds of righteous intervention. He hadn’t gone overboard.
As for his warning, Shang Fuyan would verify it himself. If it proved true… the narcotics division might have to screen everyone who had been present at the scene.
After finishing his statement, Lin Jiangye stepped out. Yan Zhou looked him up and down, utterly unable to understand how such a lean young man could knock someone out with a single punch.
“You trained before?”
The young man blinked his clear, innocent eyes. He looked every bit the obedient, well-behaved boy.
“Hehe.” Lin Jiangye didn’t answer directly, but Yan Zhou got the message from that smile.
That only made him more curious.
According to their records, five years ago Lin Jiangye had been an orphan. His life trajectory changed abruptly after he was suddenly sent abroad to study. No one knew what he experienced overseas. All they knew was that he had inherited a fortune worth tens of billions and returned home as a wealthy man.
To be honest, when the team saw the words “tens of billions inheritance,” every single one of them had twisted their faces in disbelief.
That kind of wealth—they wanted it too!
Watching Yan Zhou’s expression contort, Lin Jiangye quietly took two steps back and walked around him toward the stall owner sitting in the corner.
The man seemed covered in a layer of gray, as if his heart had long fallen silent.
Standing before him, Shang Fuyan wore a dark expression. The tension in his jaw showed he was grinding his teeth—clearly angered by something he had just learned.
Lin Jiangye was curious, but he knew such matters weren’t for an ordinary citizen like him to pry into.
He approached mainly to ask about the crow.
“You’ve fed that crow before, right?” Crows understood gratitude. If someone fed them, they would often bring back shiny objects in thanks.
And judging by how violently the crow had reacted to the man attacking the stall owner, the two clearly had a close bond.
Lin Jiangye was right. The stall owner nodded.
“Yes. That little guy comes by for food now and then. I always give it some.”
Mentioning the crow seemed to soften his gaze. He clearly remembered how the bird had gone berserk in his defense.
Normally, a crow living near a food street wouldn’t lack food. Yet it had chosen to beg from humans. And the human it happened to meet was willing to feed it. Just like that, a friendly bond formed.
Satisfied, Lin Jiangye returned to the food street.
On the way, he stopped by a jewelry store and bought a loose fire opal.
It wasn’t expensive—about the size of a thumbnail—but for a crow, it would absolutely be a treasure.
When he arrived under the tree again, the wonton stall was gone.
After a public assault like that, the surrounding vendors had either packed up early or moved elsewhere.
With no one around, it was convenient for him to communicate with the crow.
Standing under the tree, he turned on his phone’s flashlight and shone it onto the opal. The fiery, shimmering colors instantly caught the attention of the small animals above.
[Shiny!!!]
The excited caw told him his bait had worked.
“Come down. This gemstone is yours.”
He turned off the flashlight and raised the opal high.
The crow fell silent—perhaps wary of humans, perhaps stunned.
In the end, the temptation proved too strong. It fluttered down and landed on a nearby wall.
[Human, what do you want?] It remained cautious.
“It’s for you. Earlier you said you wanted the shiny in the bad man’s hand. The knife was taken by the police, so I’m compensating you with another shiny.”
He didn’t approach. Instead, he placed the opal on the ground and stepped back several paces, showing he meant no harm.
The crow was utterly shocked. Its beady black eyes widened in horror.
[Human! You heard Crow talking! No—you can understand Crow?!]
The final caw cracked in pitch. If not for the opal, it would have flown away already.
Lin Jiangye couldn’t help smiling at its fluffed-up feathers. His tone softened.
“Yes, I can understand. That’s why I came to give you this. Do you like it?”
Like it? Of course it liked it! What crow could resist something shiny—especially one this beautiful?
But Crow wasn’t stupid. Shiny things didn’t fall from the sky for free.
[Human, what exactly do you want?] Say it, or Crow will peck you!
Under its wary gaze, Lin Jiangye finally explained.
“The stall owner—the one who feeds you—seems to have been targeted by other bad people. He’s not very safe right now. I’d like you to keep an eye on him. If your family members are willing to help too, I’ll give them the same reward.”
In the other world, he had witnessed countless deaths. But that didn’t mean he could be indifferent to certain lives.
An anti-drug officer could die of old age, illness, even an accident—but not after surviving undercover only to be killed by addicts once he returned to normal life.
That wasn’t right.
He couldn’t find the hidden villains himself. But the crow could watch for him.
Crows were highly social birds. With sufficient reward, the network centered around this one would become his allies.
“Food, shinies—whatever you want. I’ll buy it. I have plenty of money.” His gaze deepened.
Thank goodness for the “aftereffect.” Otherwise, he could only stand by helplessly.
The crow’s eyes sparkled brighter than the opal.
What shiny could compare to the shine already in its eyes?
Sensing no malice, the crow finally hopped closer.
It first carried the opal back to its nest, then returned to perch on Lin Jiangye’s shoulder.
[Human! You’re good! Crow likes you!]
It agreed, promising to call more crows to help.
That human was a good person. Crow didn’t want him harmed either.
“Then it’s settled. Tomorrow I’ll prepare lots of shinies as advance payment.”
He gently patted the crow’s head and arranged a meeting time.
Before heading home, he bought plenty of food—not just for himself, but for the animals as well.
After all, his household now included more than just him. There was a cat too.
Besides food, he purchased various pet supplies. Originally he had only intended to buy items for the cat, but later he added supplies for other animals as well.
The neighborhood environment was decent. Who knew what other little creatures he might encounter?
Better to be prepared.
Since he bought so much, the shop owner offered delivery service. Convenient.
He even asked the owner if he could hitch a ride home along with the goods.
The owner: …
Considering the young man would likely become a regular customer, he agreed.
But upon delivering both man and merchandise to the gate, the shop owner fell into silence as he stared at the villa—ten times larger than his shop.
Rich people’s thinking… he truly didn’t understand it.
Carrying the large haul inside, Lin Jiangye switched on the lights.
A small tabby cat sat neatly on the floor, tail swishing.
A cat waiting for its human to come home—adorable.
But that wasn’t the point.
In front of the cat lay a pile of prey: a snake as long as an arm and thick as a finger, a sparrow the size of a fist, a finger-length mantis, and a palm-sized butterfly.
Lin Jiangye: …
[Human, thank you for helping me! These are for you!]
The little tabby meowed proudly, showing off its hunting skills. It might be willing to live with a human, but it could hunt too!
Then it saw the mountain of supplies behind him. Its pupils shrank in shock.
[I… I lose!] So many prey! Human so strong!
Lin Jiangye couldn’t help laughing.
He quickly put away his things and buried the cat’s “gifts” in the backyard.
“With me here, you won’t need to hunt anymore.”
He scratched behind its ear. Instantly, loud purring filled the room.
The victim had taken the cat home because it was about to be adopted anyway. He had already arranged sterilization and deworming, and the cat bed was on its way by delivery.
But on the very day the victim decided to adopt the kitten, he was murdered.
By the time the kitten found him, it was too late.
“Stay here peacefully. Once there’s news about the case, I’ll tell you.”
As an award-winning actor, Gu Feng’s case would attract attention. The police would surely release a statement once the killer and motive were determined.
The little tabby rubbed against his hand, tears welling up.
That person was good. This person is good too. I want you both to be safe.
The next day, before Lin Jiangye could head to the food street to fulfill his promise, the police arrived at his door—with a group of people in tow.
—
Author’s Note:
Little Tabby: I’m not crying [sniff].
