Wen Ning never dragged his feet.
That afternoon, after leaving Lu Ming in charge of the shop, he went out alone, turned into the depths of an alley, and took out his phone to find a number he had not called in a long time.
The phone rang three times before someone answered. A man's gentle voice came from the other end.
"Is that Wen Ning? Is something the matter?"
"Xu Zhao, could you look into someone for me?"
The other end went quiet for a moment.
Xu Zhao was from the government agency that had come to investigate Wen Ning after the Canglang River incident. A small favor like this should have been no trouble for him.
"Go ahead."
"Fang Qingqin. Female, early twenties, a student at Normal University. I want her student records, home address, and information on her parents. The more detailed, the better."
"Is that all?"
"Also check where she went to school before high school, and whether there was anything unusual."
Xu Zhao readily agreed.
"All right. Give me two days."
Wen Ning hung up and walked a little farther down the street before returning to the shop.
When he entered, Lu Ming was crouching behind the counter, trimming a little fox's claws. He glanced up at Wen Ning without asking anything.
The following afternoon, Xu Zhao called.
"Wen Ning, the girl you asked me to investigate has a complete set of student records. Her proof of enrollment at Normal University, transcripts, and enrollment form are all there. Her home address is listed as a town under Yunxi County to the south, and both her parents' names are there too. Nothing looks wrong."
Wen Ning gave a quiet acknowledgment and waited for him to continue.
"But..."
There was a hint of puzzlement in Xu Zhao's