Chapter 48: Waiting for News from the Bird

The dog thief drove for a while before stopping, then stuffed Danzai into a burlap sack.

Watching this scene unfold, Tutu felt immense distress. "Yuan Yuan, what do we do now?"

Just as Jiang Yuan was about to speak, a tall figure suddenly lunged forward.

"Did you guys steal my Xiaozhi?" A man wearing a hat and a mask grabbed the green-haired man by the collar, shouting agitatedly, "Give Xiaozhi back to me!"

"Damn it, are you crazy?!" The green-haired man cursed and shoved the man away. "Let go! Don't grab my clothes!"

The Little Ink Swallow fluttered its wings, circling above the electric scooter.

"Give Xiaozhi back!" Ning Jianian gripped the green-haired man's collar tightly.

"Shit!" Forced to let go of his clothes, the green-haired man swung his fists and began to fight.

Ning Jianian was clearly at a disadvantage. After dodging several times, he was accidentally kicked in the abdomen by the green-haired man, falling uncontrollably to the ground.

"Damn, you're looking for trouble!" The green-haired man raised his foot viciously, aiming a filthy, stinking sole at Ning Jianian's face. "You actually dared to mess with me! You've got a death wish!"

Ning Jianian's heart sank. If that kick landed on his face, the consequences would be unthinkable, potentially even affecting his program in two days.

He hurriedly raised his arms to shield his face.

However, the expected pain never came. Instead, there was a loud *thud*, followed by a piercing scream.

Confused, Ning Jianian looked up. A slender, tall figure entered his vision—a girl wearing a black jacket, her ink-black long curls dancing gently in the biting cold wind.

The green-haired man had been violently flung away by Jiang Yuan, crashing heavily not far away. He curled up like a shrimp, his face contorted in pain as he let out agonizing wails.

His accomplice quickly drove the electric scooter over to the green-haired man, gave Jiang Yuan a wary glance, and helped him onto the vehicle.

The Little Ink Swallow glanced at Jiang Yuan. Seeing her nod, it flew off following the departing scooter.

Ning Jianian stared blankly ahead, looking as if his soul had been ripped away. "My Xiaozhi..."

"Is Xiaozhi the dog you raised?" The girl's clear, pleasant voice drifted into his ears along with the cold wind.

Ning Jianian looked at her and nodded. "Yes, Xiaozhi has been with me for three years."

He stood up, his voice muffled. "Thank you for earlier."

Meeting the boy's clear and pure eyes, Jiang Yuan said slowly, "Don't be so impulsive next time."

"When I saw how they treated that puppy, I thought about how Xiaozhi was probably snatched away so violently too, and I just couldn't control myself..." Ning Jianian's hands, hanging at his sides, clenched tightly, and a look of indignation appeared on his brow.

"It's too much! What kind of organization is this? Why are they stealing dogs!"

Jiang Yuan pursed her lips and remained silent.

Those who steal dogs are either for fighting pits or dog meat traffickers.

She would know once the Little Ink Swallow returned.

After a few seconds of silence, Jiang Yuan said indifferently, "I'm leaving now."

"Wait." Ning Jianian called out to her, his tone solemn. "Give me your payment code. Thank you for saving me just now."

"Forget the payment code." Jiang Yuan thought for a moment. "Adding you on WeChat would be better."

If luck was on their side, perhaps his Xiaozhi could be brought back.

Ning Jianian froze, a suspicion flashing through his mind. "Do... do you know me?"

Had he been recognized despite being so heavily covered?

"I know you?" Jiang Yuan furrowed her slender brows. "Should I know you?"

"No, that's not what I meant." Ning Jianian dismissed his doubts. "I'll scan you."

After adding him on WeChat, Jiang Yuan rode her electric scooter home with Tutu.

Ning Jianian watched her figure disappear into the night before falling back into the sorrow of losing his beloved pet, whispering with reddened eyes, "Xiaozhi..."

"My goodness, where have you been?" His manager, Brother Liu, had been standing in the cold wind at the community entrance for two hours. Seeing him return, he rushed over immediately. "I called you and you didn't pick up! I was worried sick!"

As he spoke, he noticed the white jacket the boy was wearing was covered in dust and there was a shoe print on the stomach area. He nearly lost his soul from fright.

"Good heavens, what happened? Did you get into a fight? Does it hurt? Where are you hurt?"

The barrage of questions gave Ning Jianian a headache. He frowned, dropped a "We'll talk when we get back," and strode into the residential complex.

Brother Liu hurried after him.

Once home, Brother Liu rushed to lift his shirt. Seeing the large red bruise on his abdomen, he felt like crying from heartache. "Who kicked you? I'll go kill them!"

Ning Jianian's lips twitched, but he answered a different question. "I went to look for Xiaozhi."

"You..." Brother Liu was helpless. "Why did you go out looking for Xiaozhi? Didn't I tell you the police have already been notified!"

"I couldn't wait." Ning Jianian covered his face with his hands, his voice laced with suppressed pain. "Xiaozhi is so timid; it must be very scared right now."

Brother Liu opened his mouth, unsure of what to say, and could only let out a deep sigh.

***

Jiang Yuan took a low stool and sat beside Tutu, holding a cup of hot tea with rising steam.

The person and the dog quietly gazed at the night outside the balcony, listening to the whistling wind and feeling the loneliness of the winter night.

Suddenly, Tutu let out a sigh.

Jiang Yuan glanced at him and reached out to soothefully rub the dog's head.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?" Deng Rui came out to use the bathroom. Seeing her waiting on the balcony in the cold wind, she grabbed a coat and draped it over her. "You silly girl, why are you out here in the wind!"

Jiang Yuan smiled. "Mom, I'm waiting for news."

Deng Rui gave her a look as if she were an idiot. "Can't you wait for news under the covers? And you're even making Tutu stay up late with you!"

Jiang Yuan said helplessly, "Waiting for news from the bird."

Deng Rui: "..."

Well, in that case, it was indeed more appropriate to wait here.

Ever since discovering her daughter could understand the speech of small animals, Deng Rui felt she had changed more and more.

She said nothing, glanced at the listless Tutu, and asked softly, "Tutu, do you want to go to sleep first?"

Tutu immediately shook its head and let out a soft "woof." "Thank you, I want to wait here."

Deng Rui looked at Jiang Yuan. "Translate that for me."

Jiang Yuan: "Tutu said thank you for your concern, and it wants to wait here."

"How polite," Deng Rui smiled. "Then you two take your time. I'm going to sleep."

"Goodnight, Ms. Deng," Jiang Yuan said with a wink.

Deng Rui gave her a reproachful glare. "Go to sleep early."

The balcony returned to silence.

Jiang Yuan took a sip of tea when she suddenly sensed something, and her dim eyes gradually brightened.

She stood up and looked out into the pitch-black night. A blue-black swallow, like a sprite, beat its wings vigorously, flying through the darkness toward her.

Jiang Yuan reached out her hand, and the Little Ink Swallow slowly folded its wings and landed in her palm. "Yuan Yuan, the swallow is back!"

Tutu also excitedly craned its neck to stare at the Little Ink Swallow.

"You've worked hard." Jiang Yuan sat back down on the stool and offered the water and grains she had prepared in advance.

The Little Ink Swallow took a few small pecks of water and began to recount the scenes it had witnessed.

(End of Chapter)