Chapter 4: The Killer Is You?
This was the third time he had met Shang Fuyan and the others. Fortunately, this time he didn’t need to go to the police station.
“We’re here today to ask about that cat,” Shang Fuyan said.
Lin Jiangye was surprised.
He had assumed they were here to question him again about what he saw that night. He hadn’t expected them to be looking for the cat.
Wait.
“Who are they?” Lin Jiangye glanced at the people standing beside Shang Fuyan. Their eyes were swollen and red, clearly from recent crying.
Were these the victim’s family, here to take the tabby away?
Sensing his sudden vigilance, Yan Zhou introduced them.
Lin Jiangye had guessed correctly—but only halfway. They were indeed the victim’s family, but they hadn’t come to take the cat.
They suspected the so-called “cat cries” had been staged by him.
Staged?
Perhaps emboldened by the police presence, they spoke with unusual confidence.
“Our Gu Feng didn’t even like cats! He’s allergic to cat fur—how could he possibly keep one? That cat must be yours! You killed him and used the cat to clear your suspicion!”
The more they spoke, the more agitated they became, looking as though they might lunge forward and tear Lin Jiangye apart.
Fortunately, Shang Fuyan and the others stopped them. Otherwise, no one knew what might have happened.
After all, the drug addict from yesterday had been diagnosed with a mild concussion—courtesy of Lin Jiangye’s punch.
If these people rushed him, Lin Jiangye would certainly be fine. But they themselves might not be.
More importantly, even if they all ended up hospitalized, Lin Jiangye could claim self-defense. The ones who struck first—these grieving relatives—might be the ones detained.
“Enough! The investigation has already confirmed Mr. Lin is not the killer. We brought you here to confirm the victim’s allergy. If you refuse to cooperate, you’ll bear the consequences!”
Shang Fuyan glared coldly at them. Had he known they would cause such a scene, he wouldn’t have brought them.
Lin Jiangye cast him a faint, lingering glance that stirred an unexpected trace of guilt in Shang Fuyan.
“I don’t know whether he was allergic. I don’t know whether the tabby was his. But I’m not the murderer. Asking me is pointless. Didn’t you check the surveillance footage? That should tell you.”
He found their accusations absurd. But seeing their reddened eyes, he chose not to argue.
However, Shang Fuyan brought troubling news.
“The surveillance cameras at both the front and back doors of the villa were broken. None of the surrounding cameras captured the killer. We suspect it was premeditated.”
The young man froze briefly, then spread his hands innocently.
“That has even less to do with me. I only returned to the country yesterday.”
The police knew that already. He had no motive and had long been ruled out.
Still, Lin Jiangye brought out the tabby for them to see. None of the family members had ever heard the victim mention a cat.
As he escorted them out, however, the tabby suddenly twitched its nose and dashed toward one of the men.
[I’ve smelled this before!]
Lin Jiangye stiffened.
The cat leapt onto the man, hissing fiercely.
[You smell like my human! It stinks! You killed my human, didn’t you?!]
Before it could scratch him, Lin Jiangye quickly scooped the cat back up.
As he neared the man, he deliberately inhaled.
There was a faint fragrance on him—but beneath it lingered the subtlest trace of death.
Oh?
Death’s scent.
Holding the tabby, Lin Jiangye’s gaze turned cold.
The man, startled by the cat, was about to curse when Shang Fuyan’s steady voice cut in.
“Did the cat sense something?”
Lin Jiangye turned, meeting Shang Fuyan’s probing eyes. He shrugged with a half-smile.
“Who knows?”
Then he added meaningfully, “As everyone knows, animals have sharp senses. The tabby stayed with the victim for quite some time. Perhaps it smelled something familiar.”
Familiar? What kind of familiar?
The relatives had never met the tabby. And from Shang Fuyan’s observations, the victim usually fed stray cats in a corner of the backyard. That meant yesterday was likely the tabby’s first time entering the villa.
If it had merely caught a residual household scent, it wouldn’t have reacted so violently.
Coupled with Lin Jiangye’s words—and his overseas major—an idea began forming in Shang Fuyan’s mind.
But without evidence, it was best not to alert the suspect.
As Shang Fuyan’s gaze swept over the man, he noticed a faint hint of red on his hand.
Red…
After sending everyone away, Shang Fuyan turned to his subordinates.
“Investigate whether the manager and the victim had any recent conflicts.”
The man the tabby had lunged at was Gu Feng’s manager.
Ordinarily, even disputes wouldn’t escalate to murder—especially in a case that didn’t appear to be a crime of passion.
But if financial interests were involved, that was another matter.
Soon, new information came in.
“It seems Gu Feng intended to terminate his partnership with Sun Zhao. The other party didn’t agree.”
“Seems?” Shang Fuyan shot him a glance.
The officer chuckled awkwardly.
“I heard it from people in the industry. There’s no solid proof yet.”
Confirmed information showed that Gu Feng had entered the industry under Sun Zhao’s guidance. All his resources had been negotiated solely by Sun Zhao.
If the split was real, and Gu Feng cut him off right after winning Best Actor, anyone in Sun Zhao’s position would be furious.
If so, Sun Zhao had motive.
“What about the red fragment found yesterday?”
As if on cue, Shang Fuyan’s phone rang. The forensic department.
After listening, he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
“Nail polish?”
—
Meanwhile, after calming the tabby, Lin Jiangye headed to the food street with a bag full of gemstones.
It was still morning; the street was empty.
But the moment he stepped in, he felt over a dozen pairs of eyes on him.
Looking up, he saw a cluster of black birds in the trees.
Black, yes—but under sunlight their feathers shimmered with iridescent hues. Last night’s darkness had hidden their colors.
The little crow had brought its family.
Thirteen in total.
Standing beneath the tree, Lin Jiangye lifted the transparent bag of fire opals.
Under sunlight, the stones glowed brilliantly. Even in the dimmer shade, they flowed like molten light.
The crows’ eyes widened.
He had chosen quality stones—fine enough as gifts for people, let alone crows.
After a stunned pause, excited cawing erupted.
[Shiny! So shiny!]
Such gems were usually worn by humans. Rarely could crows obtain them.
“The little crow must’ve told you the terms. Help me watch that man and keep him safe. I can buy many more like these.”
A thousand fire opals meant nothing to him. If they prevented harm—or uncovered a den of villains—he would gladly buy even finer gems.
Even prettier gems?
Crow. Wants. Them.
As they prepared to swoop down, Lin Jiangye quickly distributed the stones.
“Deal. If you stop bad people or find their nest, come to me. I’ll take you to buy better gems. And if food runs short, you can come too. Just send one crow to learn the way to my house.”
Winter was approaching. Snow might freeze scraps on the street.
He didn’t know if they migrated south. If not, his villa could shelter them temporarily.
More birds, more allies.
Perfect logic.
With gems in their claws, the crows showered him with praise.
They had never seen such a generous human.
[Human! Crow likes you! Crow will protect you from now on!]
The largest crow puffed its chest proudly.
Lin Jiangye reached out and gently stroked its feathers.
Silky smooth.
Though they ate carrion, crows were clean birds. This one smelled faintly of biscuits—fresh from a bath, perhaps.
Now he was hungry again.
After discussion, they decided the little crow would accompany him to learn the route.
It entrusted its opal to an elder and perched on his shoulder.
However, Lin Jiangye forgot one crucial detail.
A former stray tabby was fiercely territorial.
The instant he stepped through the gate with the crow, a dark blur shot forward.
“Caw!”
The palm-sized crow was captured in the tabby’s jaws. Its tiny tail stuck straight up.
[Thank you for the prey, Master! I like it very much!]
“???”
[??? Human! You liar!]
—
Author’s Note:
Little Crow: Liar liar liar!!!! [fluffed up.jpg]
