On the way, Yu Yu's mood was a bit hard to describe. Are zoo enclosures all just air walls?
Why does the big cat keep escaping time and time again?
And when it escapes, why does it have to come to the residential complex?
Is there something here it likes?
Yu Yu parked the car and, while waiting for the elevator, still felt utterly baffled.
She could only open WeChat again, queuing up in the zoo's public account: [You there? Your big cat escaped again.]
[Location]
Then she saw a long string of queued messages below, all in a consistent format.
Something about a crocodile in a pond, a turtle in a swimming pool…
Even the aquarium animals were escaping. Yu Yu felt a bit suffocated. Is this zoo a sieve? How could they all escape?
[You there? Can you take your crocodile back? No one dares go near the village pond anymore.]
[You there? Can you take these cheetahs back? They're parkouring up and down the building every day. It's driving us nuts.]
[You there? We're taking care of the national treasure, no need to worry. It's eating and drinking well.][Picture][Picture]
…
There were already over three hundred comments. The staff's replies all carried a faint sense of serenity, extremely calm.
Yu Yu stared at the one about the "national treasure" for a long time.
After briefly scanning the comments, Yu Yu had determined that the Rong City Zoo was essentially defunct in name only. They didn't seem capable of recapturing the animals, and who knows what had happened to cause this mass escape…
It couldn't be that all the animals had become smarter and enjoyed escaping, could it?
It was noon, but there weren't many people at the elevator, probably because everyone was at work.
Floor 29.
Yu Yu pressed the button.
There were stairs here, but Yu Yu was very aware of her physical capabilities. Even the 9th floor was somewhat challenging her limits, let alone the 29th floor. Of course, her physical condition had improved a bit recently, so perhaps things would be different.
While idly waiting for the elevator, Yu Yu spaced out. She had worn her bracelet out today. It wasn't that she liked accessories, but rather that performing magic required the help of the bracelet. Yu Yu's mental power was very loose. When she communicated with the model to cast spells, she always felt powerless, with a long delay, but if she wore the bracelet, it would be much better.
The bracelet seemed to have the effect of helping her concentrate her mental power. Yu Yu didn't use it at home, but since there were risks outside, she still wore it. High-rise buildings might all be quiet, as Yu Yu didn't hear a single sound all the way up. But she didn't pay attention to it.
Good soundproofing in a high-end complex wasn't surprising. She arrived and knocked on the door.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Captain, someone's knocking at the door..."
Yu Yu vaguely heard such a voice, and immediately turned to leave, but it was already too late.
"Yu Yu?"
Just as she called out, the half-open door was pulled open by another person.
"So it's the senior," the woman said with a smile, one hand in her pocket. "I was wondering why the captain insisted on coming to Rong City."
Shu Tu's expression was calm as she dismissed the guests, "If you have nothing to do, you should leave. I invited Xiao Yu here."
Inside the room, besides her and Li Xuan Yun, there were three other people.
Yu Yu's former teammates, the Warrior ranked seventh on the Heavenly List [Xiang Qin], the Thief ranked eleventh [Zhong Ye], and another...
The Mage ranked second on the Heavenly List, who inherited her account [Crimson] as a former reserve team member—Shang Wei.
When she vaguely heard voices inside, Yu Yu had already turned to leave, but when she heard Shang Wei's voice, Yu Yu stopped abruptly.
Her eyes were cold, "Shang Wei."
The woman had narrow eyes, and smiled when she heard this, "Senior still remembers me, I'm so touched."
Shang Wei was the culprit behind Yu Yu's downfall to her current state. Unfortunately, in a society ruled by law, without evidence, she could do nothing to Shang Wei.
"Senior doesn't look too well," Shang Wei smiled, leaning against the doorframe.
She looked Yu Yu up and down, noting the worn collar of her short-sleeved shirt and the faded black shorts. She looked truly dejected.
Hiding the deep mockery in her eyes, she was about to speak insincerely when she heard a warning voice from behind, "Shang Wei."
Shang Wei turned back, smiling at Shu Tu, "Captain is still so biased. Back then, you unconditionally favored Senior Yu, and today with so many of us here, Captain waves her hand and tells us to leave."
Li Xuan Yun, who had been dozing off on the sofa, now opened her eyes, looking at them in surprise. Yu Yu actually had conflicts with them?
Come to think of it, she still didn't know what Yu Yu's original identity was. Otherwise, how could Shu Tu's friend be so poor?
Yu Yu was originally prepared to leave, but now she didn't want to go. She pushed aside Xiang Qin who was by the door with one hand and walked in with dignity.
"Since you heard the captain's words, why haven't you left yet?"
She scanned around and finally fixed her gaze on Shang Wei, "Don't call me senior, I don't have such a junior."
Li Xuan Yun moved aside a bit, making room for her. She discovered that Yu Yu looked very attractive when she smiled. Those beautiful black eyes, when raised with a smile, were full of aggression.
Shang Wei met her gaze, and her smile gradually faded, her eyes turning cold.
Xiang Qin looked at Shang Wei, then at Yu Yu, and then at Shu Tu who had a grim face, "...We came without notice, and Captain didn't know either... Xiao Yu, long time no see."
Yu Yu couldn't even be bothered to raise her eyelids.
"Captain, we understand what you told us," Xiang Qin said somewhat awkwardly, looking at Shu Tu, "We just arrived in Rong City and haven't found a place to stay yet. When we went out, the hotel was sealed off. Do you think we could sleep on the floor at your place..."
Li Xuan Yun quietly observed them. Let's not mention Yu Yu, but Shang Wei looked a bit like Yu Yu, the kind with a belly full of schemes, clearly not a good person. Xiang Qin seemed more calm and steady, while Zhong Ye was doing her nails on the sofa and hadn't looked up yet. And Captain Shu Tu... seemed rather displeased.
This team was like a spark away from explosion. However, Li Xuan Yun shook her head regretfully. Li Xuan Yun knew Shu Tu's personality all too well. If the outside wasn't dangerous, it would be one thing, but now knowing it wasn't safe outside, the possibility of her driving people away was really...
"You can."
Yu Yu narrowed her eyes. Shu Tu tossed the keys to Xiang Qin.
Xiang Qin was shocked, "Captain?"
Shu Tu calmly said, "My place is small, not enough for everyone to sleep."
"You all sleep here, I'll go sleep at Xiao Yu's place. You can return them to me when you find a place, how about that?"
She glanced at the three of them, and finally looked at Yu Yu on the sofa. She seemed more at ease than anyone. Yu Yu lifted her eyelids, meeting her gaze. To be honest, she wanted to refuse.
But at this moment...
Yu Yu: "...Fine."
Although it completely didn't fit her plan, but to be honest, she did feel a bit pleased. She was originally picked up by Shu Tu, and coincidentally, so was Shang Wei. Shang Wei was two years older than her, but joined two years later. That "senior" title was truly reluctant.
Even more unfortunate was that they were in the same profession—mage.
No matter how hard Shang Wei tried, she was always overshadowed by her. As long as Yu Yu didn't have any problems, Shang Wei could only be a reserve. Their grudges, if traced back, were truly endless.
Zhong Ye finally put down her nail clippers, glanced at Yu Yu, then looked at Shu Tu, "It's as if we're forcing Captain."
Yu Yu smiled. "Be confident. Maybe you are."
Zhong Ye finally looked at her, pausing before saying, "Xiao Yu's still as sharp as ever."
Yu Yu raised an eyebrow, smirking without sincerity. "Xiao Zhong's skin is still as thick as ever."
With that, Yu Yu stood up leisurely and walked to the door. "Since that's settled, let's go."
Wait!
Li Xuanyun raised her hand. "What about me?"
Shutu didn't hesitate. "Stay here. Xiao Yu's place can't fit more people."
Li Xuanyun: "I can sleep on the floor!"
Shang Wei leaned against the wall, arms crossed, her expression cold and her mood sour. The others didn't seem much happier. It was noon, the sun blazing outside, yet the room felt overcast. The air conditioning was probably set too low.
Shu Tu: "We'll talk about it tomorrow, you stay here for the night first."
Li Xuan Yun's eyes welled up, launching a visual assault.
But I don't know any of them!
How could you leave your friend here?!
Shu Tu became a bit uncomfortable and instinctively looked towards Yu Yu.
Shang Wei: "Why don't I go back with Yu Yu, and Captain stays here?"
Yu Yu: "?" What are you thinking?
Want to be thrown to feed the cat?
Yu Yu suddenly remembered the problem with her residential area...
She pondered for a moment before saying, "It's not that I don't want to bring you, but do you know about the Rong City Zoo animals escaping?"
"I know, I know!" Li Xuan Yun got excited, "My friend's community group is raising a national treasure, their community happens to have a large bamboo forest! I'm so jealous!"
She suddenly stopped, "...What do you have at yours?"
Yu Yu's tone was euphemistic, "A Siberian golden gradient."
"What?"
"A tiger."
Yu Yu showed her the photos she took. Li Xuan Yun leaned back. On the road, under the sun's heat, Yu Yu suddenly realized. Wasn't she coming to talk to Shu Tu about important matters today?
How did it turn out like this?
Yu Yu wasn't mentally prepared at all.
Shu Tu sat in the back seat, "What did you want to tell me when you came today?"
She continued on her own, "We've pretty much figured out Xuan Yun's situation. They all went to a restaurant to eat fish, and something went wrong as they were eating."
"We're still debating whether to go to the restaurant and check it out, otherwise we can't investigate further."
"Call the police," Yu Yu said without hesitation.
"It's useless, they're busy with more important things."
Yu Yu: "Do you think you can successfully investigate without getting trapped and becoming like them?"
"I don't think so," Shu Tu looked at the trees by the roadside, the blazing sun coating the asphalt road with a layer of golden light, "That's why I didn't go, and Xuan Yun doesn't dare to go either."
"As long as you understand."
They soon arrived at the entrance of the residential area.
Shu Tu waited for her to park, "You actually live in such a remote place?"
Yu Yu glanced at her sideways.
Shu Tu looked around for a while, "How come there's not even a security guard?"
Yu Yu: "It's cheap, what kind of security do you expect?"
A semi-transparent hand flashed by as Yu Yu climbed up a tree using Mage's Hand, overlooking the residential area. She immediately spotted the big cat in front of her home. This fat cat was lying on the asphalt road in front of her door, its fur sleek and shiny, taking a nap.
Yu Yu: "...Sooner or later I'll need to keep tranquilizer darts at home."
She looked down at Shu Tu, just as Shu Tu was looking up at her.
"How did you get up there?"
"Guess."
"Now here's the problem," Yu Yu said, "There's a big cat at my doorstep, what do you suggest we do?"
Unlike Yu Yu, Shu Tu sprang up the tree in a few moves, looking into the residential area.
"Banban?" Shu Tu was shocked.
Yu Yu: "...Wake up, this ancestor is from the zoo."
Under the blazing sun, the two squatted in the tree, staring at each other.