"Some time ago, a Small World in the Silent Forest was destroyed. Do you know about that?"
"Doesn't know."
"The Relevant Department will offer a very generous reward."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"If you can assist with investigating that case... or provide some valuable clues, it will be very helpful for the rest of your time at school."
"Could you give me a hint?... I really don't know what you're talking about."
"I hope you stick to that story. Whether on campus or off campus. This matter is very dangerous for you. Countless eyes are watching it."
The conversation between the young publicly funded student and the black cat came to an end. It had neither beginning nor conclusion. The black cat gave Zheng Qing a long look, then finally licked a few mouthfuls of sheep's milk skin from the plate, flicked its tail, and left Su Shijun's office.
Without a sound, it slipped out through the crack in the door like a shadow, completely failing to alert the busy researchers outside the office.
Zheng Qing wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead and quietly let out a breath.
"What a lousy lie," Su Shijun mocked from behind her desk. "You couldn't even fool a cat."
"It isn't a cat." Zheng Qing stared in the direction the black cat had gone, pondering every word it had said as he softly corrected her. "And I wasn't expecting to fool it... I only needed it to understand that there are some things I can't tell it. That's enough."
"Can't tell it... then can you tell me?" Behind the desk, the witch took off her hexagonal glasses, revealing a pair of beautiful, wide eyes.
Her pupils resembled the most beautiful star in the midnight Starry Sky, mesmerizing to behold. A