Animal Detective

Chapter 524: Chapter 428: Taking a Shot

Doniya had arrived.

She came by plane and had just landed at the airport.

She didn’t know a soul here, aside from her friend, Shen Xin.

So, what could he do? She’d already called, so Shen Xin had to be her host.

He had planned on going back to the branch office first to drop off the carload of birds, and Ding Yuwei.

But she said there was no rush. If they went back now, she’d just be waiting for the end of her shift anyway.

At the city bureau, if you weren’t actively working, things could be pretty relaxed.

He signaled to the car in front of them, then turned onto the expressway toward the airport.

On the way, Ding Yuwei asked why Doniya had come to Nanjiang and if something was up.

She watched Shen Xin without blinking.

Shen Xin shook his head. "I have no idea. I haven’t been in much contact with her since I got back from Suihar."

And he’d never heard about Doniya having any relatives in the South.

Ding Yuwei said, "Oh," then added, "Maybe she’s just here for a vacation."

Shen Xin thought for a moment. "But it’s the wrong season for that."

It was the end of May in Nanjiang. The black-headed gulls were gone, the cherry blossoms were gone... what was there to do? Go downtown and take pictures in front of famous toilets?

Shen Xin couldn’t figure it out.

Before long, they arrived at the airport. From a distance, he spotted Doniya at the arrivals gate.

She was pulling a large suitcase and, naturally, wasn’t wearing a Mongolian robe.

She wore a light-colored, vertically striped, three-quarter-sleeve T-shirt, maple-yellow denim shorts, and short boots, revealing a pair of long, pencil-straight legs.

She had a shoulder bag slung over her shoulder. Her braided pigtails were undone, replaced by a cascade of dark, slightly wavy hair.

Silver jewelry adorned her wrists. Dressed like this, she looked nothing like the disheveled prairie girl from back on the grasslands.

Of course, her skin was still coarse and yellowish, but in a big city, that was called a "healthy, wheat-colored tan."

Most importantly, her features were delicate, she was quite tall, and she stood with her head held high, looking heroic and vibrant.

Ding Yuwei had only seen Doniya briefly during a video call. She had an impression of her and knew she was a pretty girl.

Now, seeing her in person, alarm bells started ringing.

Doniya had already spotted Shen Xin. She waved excitedly and hurried over, pulling her suitcase behind her.

A girl from the grasslands—unrestrained and bold. She threw her arms open and gave Shen Xin a warm hug, exclaiming that it had been too long.

Shen Xin released her from the hug. ’It hasn’t been that long, has it?’ he thought.

He’d come back after the May Day holiday, so it had only been about twenty days.

Doniya then enthusiastically shook hands with Ding Yuwei, introducing herself.

"I know." Ding Yuwei nodded with a smile, introduced herself, said "welcome," and asked if the trip went smoothly. Then, she very naturally took the suitcase.

"Thanks, but I can get it."

Doniya casually took the suitcase back and followed Shen Xin toward the exit. She apologized first, saying she was sorry to have troubled him to come pick her up.

Shen Xin was still curious. "Are you here on vacation?" he asked.

Seeing how she was dressed, she really did look like a tourist.

But at this time of year, it should be people from the South going to the great grasslands for vacation.

Then again, it made sense that someone who was tired of the grasslands would want to see the "small bridges and flowing water" of the South.

Doniya nodded, then shook her head. "You could call it a vacation," she explained. "I’ve wanted to get out and see the world for a while. But I also have another idea."

At this, she looked at Shen Xin and said, "Shen Xin, you’re the one who inspired me. That’s why I finally decided to come out and try to make something of myself."

"I want to sing. I want to see if I can do what you said—debut as an artist, or become a streamer."

"I’ve already looked online. I know there are a lot of companies in Songpu and Pingzhou that are in the livestreaming business. I want to give it a shot."

"I figured since you’re in Nanjiang, I’d make Nanjiang my first stop and come see you."

She looked at Shen Xin, her eyes curving into crescents again, with room for nothing else.

Seeing her reaction, Ding Yuwei, who was walking behind them, showed a thoughtful expression.

It dawned on Shen Xin. "That’s a great idea! Your singing voice is so good, you should definitely try to make a go of it."

The girl was born with a great voice, the pure and natural kind. It would be a real waste not to sing.

The key was that she not only had the idea but also the drive to act on it, to leave the vast grasslands. Shen Xin was quite impressed.

And coming to the Jiangnan region was a good choice.

In the past, you might go to Anjing, to be a ’Beijing drifter,’ but these days, the livestreaming industry is developing so rapidly that the opportunities are actually greater here in the South.

Shen Xin said, "You should give me your autograph now. Once you debut and become a huge star, it’ll be too late."

Doniya laughed, pulled a pair of sunglasses from her pocket, put them on, and asked Shen Xin if she looked like a big star.

Shen Xin gave her a thumbs-up. "Definitely."

When they got to the car, Doniya’s eyes lit up the moment she saw Tian Kui and Teddy.

She immediately threw her arms around Tian Kui, rubbing her forehead against his, and asked if he had missed her.

Tian Kui let out a cry.

[I guess so.]

Back on the grasslands, Doniya had fed Tian Kui plenty of times.

"And Teddy!"

Doniya reached out, grabbed Teddy, and snuggled him against her cheek. Then she pointed at Shen Xin and said, "Teddy, you’ve been guarding your ’wife’ for so long. Hasn’t he laid an egg for you yet?"

Teddy actually understood. He immediately turned his head to look at Shen Xin and barked.

"Don’t mess around," Shen Xin said. "If Teddy actually starts demanding an egg from me, I’m holding you responsible."

Seeing Teddy still staring at him with expectant eyes, Shen Xin decisively shoved him into the car.

’If you want an egg, lay one yourself,’ he thought.

Doniya giggled and asked curiously about the two crows in the car.

"They’re my police birds."

Shen Xin explained briefly, then told Doniya to get in the car so he could take her to her hotel.

She had already booked a hotel near the New District’s film and television base, so it was on their way back.

On the way, they chatted about what had happened on the grasslands, especially the time Doniya was captured by poachers.

Ding Yuwei had heard about it from Shen Xin, but his account was nowhere near as thrilling and terrifying as hearing it from Doniya, who had experienced it firsthand.

Especially when she was fleeing the poachers on horseback and ran right into a pack of wolves on the prairie.

"I was truly desperate then. I thought I was dead for sure. Then Shen Xin and the others arrived. If it weren’t for Shen Xin, I wouldn’t have survived."

There was a light in Doniya’s eyes as she stared, unblinking, at Shen Xin, who was driving.

Shen Xin quickly interjected, "It wasn’t just me. Lakshen was there, too. He’s the one who fired his gun and scared off the wolf pack."

Ding Yuwei saw Doniya’s intense gaze, sighed inwardly, and changed the subject. She told Doniya that for the transitional period, if it was going to be a while, she didn’t have to stay in a hotel; she could stay at her place.

She lived alone and had a spare room.

Doniya had found a few companies online and planned to apply.

Staying in a hotel long-term would be quite expensive.

Doniya’s eyes lit up, but then she hesitated. "Maybe not. It would be too much trouble for you. I know you’re police officers, and your work is really tough. You need your rest."

"I’ll stay in the hotel for now. If I find a job, I’ll just rent a place then. If not, I’m planning to go to Songpu anyway."

Ding Yuwei nodded and didn’t press the issue.

Soon, they dropped her off at the hotel.

Shen Xin helped her check in, saw her up to her room, told her to get some rest, and then made plans to treat her to a welcome dinner that evening.

Doniya even joked, asking if she’d be able to eat dishes made with white sugar tonight.

"Absolutely."

Shen Xin shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and left with Ding Yuwei.

After getting in the car and driving away from the hotel, Ding Yuwei glanced back at it and said, "Her family must be pretty well-off, huh?"

It was a star-rated hotel, which was usually quite expensive.

Shen Xin thought for a moment and nodded. "Just a few hundred sheep and a hundred or so cattle."

Herders on the grasslands who own livestock and pasture are quite wealthy, if you’re just counting assets.

But there’s nowhere to spend the money.

Besides, there’s an old saying: "A fortune in assets doesn’t count if it’s covered in fur."

But Doniya is the only daughter in her family, so their circumstances should be quite comfortable. That’s probably the foundation that allows her to chase her dreams.

Ding Yuwei nodded and didn’t ask any more questions.

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