I raise furry animals and fly them to my motherland.

Chapter 309 I Miss You

"Eh?"

Xu Ying's eyes widened. Was there no murderer among these people?

Ji Xuehui nudged Xu Ying's shoulder: "So? Did you figure out who it was?"

Xu Ying frowned and shook her head.

Ji Xuehui looked at the person in charge: "Are all the people really here?"

The person in charge scratched his head and thought carefully for a moment: "There is another person in our company who fits the description, named Zhao Yicheng, but he is on a business trip."

"He and Lin Qing graduated from the same university; he's Lin Qing's senior. However, the two don't usually interact, and you all know Lin Qing's personality."

“I remember this person. I even investigated his relationship with Lin Qing the day before yesterday. My colleagues all said that the two of them were just nodding acquaintances.” Ji Xuehui recalled: “The entire Rhodiola rosea drug research project team that Zhao Yicheng was in was on a business trip for exchange and learning, so there is an alibi.”

"The victim, Lin Qing, died some time after he went on a business trip."

Upon hearing "alibi," Xu Ying immediately thought of the time when she saved Qiao Yuxi, when Qiao Yuxi's ex-fiancé also had an alibi.

Ji Xuehui glanced at the frozen water tank Xu Ying was carrying and thought it would be safer to have the eyewitness fish identify it: "Do you have a clear photo of Zhao Yicheng?"

"I have a work photo." The person in charge pulled up a work photo of Zhao Yicheng taken when he joined the company on the computer.

Xu Ying lifted the chilled water tank and leaned closer to the computer screen: "Little Fish, Little Fish, can you see if it's him?"

The whitebait, bubbling and puffing, stared intently at the photo on the computer screen: [I'm not entirely sure myself...]
[They look alike yet not quite... Don't you humans sometimes look different from how you appear in photos?]
Xu Ying said with certainty, "Yes, there may be a difference between a camera and a portrait seen with the naked eye."

"When will Zhao Yicheng be back from his business trip?"

The manager checked the employee's schedule: "He will arrive in Isha City tonight and come to the company tomorrow morning."

"Then we'll have to wait until tomorrow." Xu Ying suddenly remembered another way to verify: "Officer Ji, did you bring the key to the evidence that the otter brought up?"

“Yes, it’s in the file folder I’m holding.” Ji Xuehui immediately understood what Xu Ying meant by this question. She looked at the person in charge and said, “Could you please take us to Zhao Yicheng’s office or laboratory now?”

"Please follow me." The person in charge led the two to Zhao Yicheng's laboratory.

The entire project team is away on a business trip, so the lab is empty and the door is locked.

Ji Xuehui put on gloves, took the silver key out of the transparent evidence bag, and inserted it into the lock.

She gently turned the key, and something surprising happened!
With a click, the laboratory door was unlocked by the key retrieved from the bottom of the frozen lake.

Xu Ying and Ji Xuehui exchanged a glance, both reading the shock in each other's eyes.

"So, the key that fell into the icy lake is very likely Zhao Yicheng's?"

Xu Ying became increasingly surprised as she thought about it: "Could Lin Qing's mysterious boyfriend be Zhao Yicheng?"

“When Zhao Yicheng returns, we’ll take his fingerprints and compare them with the other unknown fingerprint on the key. That’ll give us the answer.” Ji Xuehui’s gaze was deep. “I’ll first check if Zhao Yicheng really is away on a business trip.”

After a trip to Linqing Company that yielded significant results, Xu Ying returned to the Snow Mountain Rescue Station with high expectations.

It was already dinnertime when they returned to the snow mountain rescue station. The rescue station had a small kitchen, and Xu Ying took out the ingredients from the refrigerator and made a simple clear beef noodle soup.

Holding a bowl of steaming hot beef noodles, Xu Ying sat down at the table and made a video call to Qi Xiao on her phone.

Since she hadn't seen the five fennec fox cubs these past few days, Xu Ying could only ask Qi Xiao, who had come down from the mountain after recording the show, to help keep these clingy little guys company.

The video call screen was shaking slightly; the signal on Qi Xiao's end wasn't very good, and the picture occasionally stuttered, but that couldn't hide the playful antics of the five fluffy little fennec foxes jumping and leaping all over him.

Their pointed ears twitched, their captivating, watery fox eyes peered into the camera, and their claws tugged at Qi Xiao's collar and shoulders, vying to squeeze in front of the screen.

[Sister, sister!] Fox Sibao had already stepped on Qi Xiao's head, its tail held high, [When are you coming back?]
A whole chubby fox named Sibao was perched on Qi Xiao's head, looking just like a thick, fluffy fox-ear hat.

[Yes, yes!] Fox Three-Three clung to his arm, her little nose almost touching the camera, [Brother Qi Xiao said if you don't come back soon, he's going to be driven crazy by us!]
Upon hearing this, Xu Ying smiled and translated San San's words to Qi Xiao.

Qi Xiao helplessly reached out and caught Fox San San, who was about to slip off his arm, but a smile appeared on his lips: "I didn't say that. San San is spreading rumors because she knows I can't understand fox language."

Looking at the familiar and lively scene on the screen, Xu Ying couldn't help but laugh out loud: "It'll be soon. After three more sunrises, I'll be back!"

[How long is three sunrises?] Little Fox Wu asked, tilting his head, his ears twitching.

“It’s like…” Xu Ying blinked, “…waiting for the moon to rise three times, then set three times, and then—”

[Then my sister got home!] Fox Erniu answered first, excitedly bouncing on Qi Xiao's shoulder. Fox Erniu's bouncing was so energetic and strong, just like a mini calf, that he almost lost his grip on the phone.

Qi Xiao chuckled: "They're all keeping track."

Xu Ying rested her chin on her hand, gently tapping the fluffy little head on the screen with her fingertip: "Don't worry, I'll definitely be back on time this time—"

Thinking of her assistant Qin Fuli's report that the five fox cubs had been quite well-behaved these past few days and had even started learning to hunt on their own from their fennec fox elders, she smiled and said, "You all did a fantastic job while I was away on business. I'll bring you back a reward!"

Five pairs of round eyes lit up instantly.

Qi Xiao looked up at her, his voice low and indifferent: "And what about me?"

Xu Ying lightly tapped the screen with her fingertips, her crescent-shaped eyebrows rising: "You?"

What do you want?

Qi Xiao didn't reply, but simply raised his hand to press down on Fox Xiao Wu, which was climbing onto his shoulder. He gently scratched behind its ear with his knuckles. His eyes were smiling, and his tone was light, but inexplicably softer: "Nothing else is needed, just your return is enough."

"Don't keep the five babies waiting too long, they miss you."

Fox Xiao Wu tilted her head upon hearing this: [Didn't we already make it very obvious that we really want to see the stationmaster? Why is Brother Qi Xiao repeating it?]
Fox Three Three raised her paw to answer: [I understand, I understand! Qi Xiao's subtext is: I miss you too!]
[Wow, why didn't Brother Qi Xiao say it himself? Is it because he's shy?] Fox Four wagged its tail, [Like when I'm too embarrassed to ask for my favorite food?]
(End of this chapter)