Chapter 48: Chapter 48: Waiting for the Bird’s News

The dognapper dragged Eggy for a short distance before stopping the scooter and stuffing him into a burlap sack.

Watching this unfold, Tutu was distraught. "Renee, what do we do now?"

Just as Renee Jennings was about to speak, a tall figure suddenly shot out.

"Did you steal my Sage?" The man, wearing a hat and a face mask, grabbed the green-haired man by the collar, demanding agitatedly, "Give Sage back to me!"

"Fuck, are you crazy?!" the green-haired man cursed as he shoved the man away. "Let go! Stop grabbing my shirt!"

Inky beat his wings, circling above the electric scooter.

"Give Sage back to me!" Julian Nash gripped the green-haired man’s collar tightly.

"Shit!" The green-haired man had no choice but to slip out of his shirt, then he swung his fist and started throwing punches.

Julian Nash was clearly at a disadvantage. After dodging a few times, he was kicked squarely in the abdomen by the green-haired man and fell to the ground uncontrollably.

"Fuck, you’re tired of living!" The green-haired man viciously raised his foot, aiming the dirty, stinking sole of his shoe at Julian Nash’s face. "You dare to mess with me! You really don’t know what’s good for you!"

’If that kick lands on my face, the consequences will be unimaginable,’ Julian Nash’s heart sank. ’It could even affect the show the day after tomorrow.’

He scrambled to raise his arms to protect his face.

However, the expected pain never came. Instead, he heard a loud THUD, followed by a piercing scream.

Puzzled, Julian Nash looked up. A slender, tall figure came into view—a girl in a black jacket, her long, inky-black curls dancing gently in the biting winter wind.

Renee Jennings had violently thrown the green-haired man, sending him flying. He landed heavily a short distance away, his body curled up like a mantis shrimp. His face was contorted in pain as agonized wails escaped his lips.

His companion quickly drove the electric scooter over, shot a wary glance at Renee Jennings, and helped the green-haired man onto it.

Inky glanced at Renee Jennings, and when she nodded, he took off, following the moving scooter.

Julian Nash stared ahead with vacant, lifeless eyes, as if his soul had been ripped away. "My Sage..."

"Sage is your dog?" The girl’s clear, pleasant voice, carried by the cold wind, reached his ears.

Julian Nash looked at her and nodded. "Yeah. Sage has been with me for three years."

He stood up, his voice muffled. "Thank you for what you did just now."

Renee Jennings met the young man’s clear, bright eyes and said slowly, "Don’t be so reckless next time."

"I saw how they were treating that puppy, and when I thought about how they must have snatched Sage just as violently, I just couldn’t control myself..." Julian Nash’s hands, hanging at his sides, clenched into tight fists, his brow furrowed in anger.

"It’s outrageous! What kind of organization is this? Why are they stealing dogs?!"

Renee Jennings pressed her lips together, not saying a word.

’Dognappers are usually involved with either dogfighting rings or the dog meat trade.’

’I’ll know for sure when Inky gets back.’

After a few seconds of silence, Renee Jennings said lightly, "I’m going to head out."

"Wait," Julian Nash called out to her, his tone serious. "Let me pay you. Thank you for saving me just now."

"You don’t need to pay me." Renee Jennings thought for a moment. "But adding me on WeChat would be good."

’If he’s lucky, he might get his Sage back.’

Julian Nash froze, a suspicion flashing through his mind. "Do... do you know who I am?"

’Was I recognized even though I’m bundled up so tightly?’

"Know you?" Renee Jennings arched a slender eyebrow. "Am I supposed to know you?"

"No, that’s not what I meant." Julian Nash dismissed his suspicion. "I’ll scan your code."

After adding each other on WeChat, Renee Jennings got back on her electric scooter with Tutu and headed home.

Julian Nash watched her figure disappear into the night, then was once again consumed by the grief of losing his beloved pet. His eyes red-rimmed, he murmured, "Sage..."

"My god, where have you been?" His agent, Leo, had been standing in the cold at the complex entrance for two hours. The moment he saw Julian return, he rushed over. "I’ve been calling you, but you didn’t pick up! You scared me to death!"

Then, he noticed Julian’s white jacket was covered in dust and there was a shoe print on his stomach. He was so scared he nearly had a heart attack.

"Good heavens, what happened? You didn’t get into a fight, did you? Does it hurt? Where are you hurt?"

The barrage of questions gave Julian Nash a headache. He frowned, tossed out a "We’ll talk inside," and strode into the residential complex.

Leo hurried after him.

Back home, Leo immediately lifted Julian’s shirt. Seeing the large red mark on his abdomen, he was so upset he could have cried. "Who kicked you? I’ll kill him!"

Julian Nash gave a slight, humorless smile and answered evasively, "I went to look for Sage."

"You..." Leo was exasperated. "Why did you go looking for Sage yourself? I already told you we reported it to the police!"

"I couldn’t wait." Julian Nash covered his face with his hands, his voice thick with suppressed pain. "Sage is so timid. He must be terrified right now."

Leo opened his mouth, but he didn’t know what to say. All he could do was let out a deep sigh.

**

Renee Jennings pulled over a low stool and sat next to Tutu, cradling a cup of hot tea as steam gently curled upwards.

The girl and her dog quietly gazed out at the night beyond the balcony, listening to the howling wind and feeling the solitude of the winter evening.

Suddenly, Tutu let out a sigh.

Renee Jennings glanced over at him and reached out to soothingly pat his head.

"Why aren’t you in bed yet?" Rhea Dempsey came out to use the restroom and saw her waiting on the balcony in the cold. She draped a jacket over her. "You silly girl, standing out here in the wind!"

Renee Jennings smiled. "Mom, I’m waiting for news."

Rhea Dempsey gave her a look as if she were a complete fool. "Can’t you wait for news in your warm bed? You’re making Tutu stay up late with you!"

"I’m waiting for news from a bird," Renee Jennings said with a sigh.

Rhea Dempsey: "..."

’Okay, in that case, it really is better to wait out here.’

Ever since she discovered her daughter could talk to animals, Rhea Dempsey felt more and more that she had changed.

She didn’t say anything more. Instead, she glanced at the listless Tutu and asked softly, "Tutu, dear, do you want to go to bed first?"

Tutu immediately shook his head and let out a whimper. "Thank you, but I want to wait here."

Rhea Dempsey looked at Renee Jennings. "Translate that for me."

Renee Jennings: "Tutu says thank you for your concern, but he wants to wait here."

"How polite of him," Rhea Dempsey said with a laugh. "Well, you two wait then. I’m going to bed."

"Good night, Ms. Dempsey," Renee Jennings said, giving her a wink.

Rhea Dempsey shot her a playful glare. "Get to bed soon."

The balcony fell quiet once more.

Renee Jennings took a sip of her tea. Suddenly, she sensed something, and her dull eyes gradually brightened.

She stood up and gazed into the pitch-black night beyond the balcony. A blue-black swallow, like a sprite, was beating its wings furiously, flying through the darkness toward her.

Renee Jennings held out her hand. Inky slowly folded his wings and landed in her palm. "Renee, Robin is back!"

Tutu also raised his head excitedly, staring at Inky.

"Good work," Renee Jennings said as she sat back down on the low stool, offering him the water and grain she had prepared in advance.

Inky took a few small sips of water and began to recount what he had seen.