“Zige? Who is Zige?”
Hearing Zhao Mei’er’s words, Yan Zhenyi was momentarily puzzled, unable to recall who the name Zige belonged to.
Upon hearing this, Yan Qi, controlling Zhao Mei’er, smiled and replied, “Uncle Yan, it’s not like you don’t know Zige. Why ask me?”
“I know Zige? But I don’t have any impression of her.”
Yan Zhenyi grew even more confused as he questioned Zhao Mei’er.
“How could you not have any impression? Uncle Yan, haven’t you been listening to her songs lately?”
“I’ve been listening to her songs lately? Are you talking about that popular virtual singer, Ji Zige, who’s been trending online?”
“Yes, that’s her. So, Uncle Yan, you can’t say you don’t have any impression of her now, right?”
Confirming Yan Zhenyi’s guess, Yan Qi, controlling Zhao Mei’er, responded with a faint, knowing smile.
Hearing this, a look of realization finally dawned on Yan Zhenyi’s face. “No wonder you said that to me earlier, Mei’er. By the way, is Zige also a member of your organization?”
“Yes, Zige is also a member of our Free Life Association. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Director Bai here. She can vouch for what I’m saying.”
After receiving Zhao Mei’er’s answer, Yan Zhenyi looked at her and her companions, aware that they were no ordinary supernaturals, and couldn’t help but remark, “Your Free Life Association is truly a gathering of extraordinary talents.”
Listening to the conversation between her husband and Zhao Mei’er, Li Caifeng noticed her addressing Bai Yuling as “Director” and followed up, “Mei’er, you just called Yuling ‘Director Bai.’ Does that mean you know she’s the head of the Fangfeng City Supernatural Affairs Bureau?”
Faced with her mother’s question, Yan Qi, controlling Zhao Mei’er, glanced at Bai Yuling, who was watching her intently, then looked back and said, “Yes, I know. Why, hasn’t Director Bai mentioned her position to you, Aunt Li?”
Hearing this, Li Caifeng turned her gaze to Bai Yuling beside her.
Under Li Caifeng’s scrutiny, Bai Yuling wore an embarrassed expression.
Seeing this, Li Caifeng turned back to Zhao Mei’er and said, “Well, she never told me she was the head of the Fangfeng City Supernatural Affairs Bureau.”
“I see. No wonder you and Director Bai are so close, Aunt Li, yet you didn’t know about her current position.”
Listening to the exchange between Zhao Mei’er and Li Caifeng, Bai Yuling quickly stepped forward and said apologetically, “Caifeng, I actually wanted to tell you about my position from the day I arrived in Fangfeng City. But I’ve been swamped with so many troublesome matters that I never found the time to bring it up. I finally managed to carve out a little free time to invite your family to dinner, and I was planning to tell you after the meal. But then all this happened… I’m really sorry.”
After speaking, Bai Yuling bowed deeply to Li Caifeng to express her apology.
Although initially upset that Bai Yuling had kept her current role a secret, Li Caifeng quickly softened after hearing her explanation and sensing the sincerity in her apology. She reached out, helping Bai Yuling straighten up, and said, “Alright, since you put it that way, I’ll forgive you. But remember, Yuling, you must never hide something this important from me again. Otherwise, we can’t be friends anymore.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll never keep something like this from you again.”
Watching her mother and Bai Yuling reconcile without any lingering resentment, Yan Qi, who had been observing them closely, couldn’t help but smile faintly.
Just then, the urgent, piercing sound of police sirens began to approach from afar.
Hearing this, Yan Qi knew that the Supernatural Affairs Bureau had finally arrived. She controlled her分身 (dòppelganger) Zhao Mei’er to address the three adults present: “Well, Uncle Yan, Aunt Li, and Director Bai, I’ve already taken care of that scar-faced man for you. The Bureau will be here soon, so my friends and I will take our leave now.”
“You’re leaving already?” Bai Yuling turned to Zhao Mei’er and asked.
“Yes, there’s nothing left for us to do here. Night Star, Little Hu, let’s go.”
“Oh, well, hopefully we’ll meet again someday, Uncle Yan, Aunt Li, and Aunt Bai.”
“Thank me and my companions if you will. May fate bring us together again in the future.”
After controlling her several分身 (dòppelgangers) to bid farewell to her parents and Bai Yuling, Yan Qi had them leave the private room, disappearing from the sight of those who remained.
“What an incredible group of kids,” Li Caifeng murmured, watching Zhao Mei’er and the other分身 (dòppelgangers) vanish from view, unaware they were all her daughter’s manifestations.
Standing beside her, Bai Yuling, who understood better than anyone just how powerful the members of the Free Life Association were, couldn’t help but agree. “Yes, they truly are an incredible group of kids.”
“Speaking of which, honey,” Li Caifeng turned to her husband with a puzzled expression, “if Xiaoyu joined an organization founded by such remarkable kids, why has she never mentioned it to us?”
Hearing his wife’s question, Yan Zhenyi, who already had a theory, replied, “She probably didn’t tell us because she didn’t want us to worry. After all, supernatural organizations must face dangers we ordinary people can never even imagine.”
Finding her husband’s reasoning sound, Li Caifeng nodded. Then she asked, “Should we still call and ask her about it?”
“Yes. Even if we don’t ask, wouldn’t the other members in the same organization tell her about today’s events?”
“You’re right. Let’s call Xiaoyu after we get home then.”
Hearing his wife’s words, Yan Zhenyi glanced around the ravaged Tianxing Restaurant and the unconscious, poisoned cultists lying on the floor. He shook his head and said, “Let’s wait until tomorrow. Who knows how late we’ll be stuck here tonight?”