Chapter 59: Framed and Falsely Accused

"Lu Shu?" Ling Ji swallowed instinctively at the mention of his name, recalling the delicate and tender taste of a creature that looked like a horse with a white mane.

"What happened to him? Was he captured by demons or humans?"

Lu Shu's species had a tough fate, being hunted by demons for their tender meat and by humans for their reproductive abilities. Without protection from powerful beings, they were almost extinct, leaving only him.

"He got involved in a child abduction case," Yu Zhiyan explained, sitting next to Ling Ji and pulling out his phone. "Last night, he held a fan appreciation event at T City's stadium. After the event, a couple claimed their child was missing and accused Lu Shu of taking the kid."

Ling Ji raised an eyebrow, confused by the couple's actions. "Why accuse Lu Shu?"

"They said someone saw Lu Shu take the child," Yu Zhiyan replied.

"Who said that?"

Yu Zhiyan hesitated, then slowly said, "Huang Rui."

"She's Lu Shu's assistant," Ying Ning clarified upon seeing Ling Ji's puzzled expression. "But the key issue is Lu Shu denies ever seeing the child."

"Is Huang Rui lying?" Ling Ji instinctively trusted her fellow demon.

"Doesn't seem like it," Yu Zhiyan shook his head. "I questioned her after the incident. She didn't seem to be lying. More importantly, she has no motive."

"I had the information department check her recent financial records. No large transactions or unusual expenses," Ying Ning added. "So, the idea of her being bribed to frame Lu Shu can be ruled out for now."

"To summarize: Huang Rui saw Lu Shu take the child, but Lu Shu says he didn't. Either one is lying, or both are telling the truth," Ling Ji shook her head at the complexity. "You all figure it out and let me know what to do."

As a demon who thrived on brute strength, thinking through such matters wasn't her forte.

"I think the latter is more likely," Xing Miao said, looking at the news trending online.

— Sports Star Caught Kidnapping Five-Year-Old.

Lu Shu's social media was flooded with comments, a mix of accusations and defensive replies from his fans, creating chaos.

Despite official statements to control the narrative, the news kept gaining traction, as if someone was deliberately fueling the fire.

"What's this about surveillance footage showing Lu Shu with the child?" Xing Miao pointed to a comment.

"That's why I came to you," Yu Zhiyan explained. "Lu Shu insists he didn't do it, but the footage shows him taking the child. I suspect someone impersonated him to ruin his reputation."

Why else would the child disappear without a trace from Lu Shu's dressing room?

"Huli mentioned a man named He Guang, who used disguises to frame Xu Ximing in Mo baobao's case," Ying Ning added.

"Huli also asked me to tell you that He Guang might be behind this abduction too," she said to Ling Ji. "Check if the missing child has a special birth date or unusual traits for clues."

Ling Ji frowned. She had hoped to relax after declining Zhao Jiong's request, but fate seemed determined to keep her busy.

"How is Lu Shu now?"

"Not good," Ying Ning said, rubbing her temple. She looked exhausted, with dark circles under her eyes. "He's the prime suspect, with all evidence pointing to him. The police have taken him in for questioning."

An entertainer could survive scandals but not serious criminal accusations, especially one that provoked public outrage. Even if cleared later, the damage to Lu Shu's career would be severe.

The entertainment industry was quick to ruin and slow to redeem.

"And the couple accusing him isn't just anyone. They're the eldest son and daughter-in-law of the Zhao family," Yu Zhiyan added, equally weary.

The Zhao family held significant political power. The child's father, Zhao Lirun, held a government position. If Lu Shu's innocence couldn't be proven, his career was over.

"Zhao Lirun?" Ling Ji asked, recognizing the name. "Does he have a brother named Zhao Xiaobo?"

"How do you know?" Yu Zhiyan raised an eyebrow. "You know Xiaobo?"

Ling Ji nodded. "He works with Ye Jianghuai."

"Right, he went to the disaster area with Jianghuai," Yu Zhiyan recalled. "But mainly to avoid arranged marriages. With this incident, he might already be back in T City."

"Ling Ji, does Xiaobo know your identity?"

"He should. He's seen my true form and knows I'm not human."

"Can you explain the situation to him? Maybe he'll understand," Yu Zhiyan suggested.

"No," Ling Ji refused immediately, leaving Yu Zhiyan stunned. "Why?"

"To determine Lu Shu's innocence, I need to speak with him myself," Ling Ji said firmly. "We're only assuming he's innocent."

Demons had their own code of fairness, as taught by Siyi.

Yu Zhiyan blushed, feeling a pang of guilt. "You're right. We need to be sure ourselves."

"Don't worry. If Lu Shu is innocent, I won't let anyone harm him," Ling Ji promised solemnly.

If he was guilty, she'd deal with him herself. After all, the last Lu Shu would make a fine meal.

Ling Ji thought wryly.

"Achoo!" In T City's police interrogation room, Lu Shu shivered and sneezed, looking around in confusion.

Meanwhile, on a highway, a military vehicle roared past, skirting the speed limit. The driver, a clean-cut young man, glanced at his anxious passenger, who checked his watch again. "Can you go faster, Brother Jiang?"

The driver gave him a sidelong glance. "Any faster, and we'll get pulled over."

Zhao Xiaobo fell silent, pulling out a pack of cigarettes. As he reached for a lighter, his phone lit up with an automatic news notification.

He glanced at it, intending to light his cigarette, but froze. Tossing the lighter aside, he read the news carefully.

"Brother Jiang, isn't that Lu Shu from your mother's company?" he asked, showing the phone to Ye Jianghuai.

The latter glanced at the screen. "Yes."

Zhao Xiaobo: "..."

"It's too coincidental."

"Don't jump to conclusions," Ye Jianghuai said calmly. "It might not be his doing."

Zhao Xiaobo discarded his cigarette. "You know him?"

"No, but I know about him," Ye Jianghuai replied, accelerating through a green light.

Lu Shu was gentle by nature, weak in combat, and never harmed humans. Things were not always as they seemed.

...

In T City's zoo, under a finely crafted rockery, a peacock with a green crest and vibrant feathers strutted on the grass, its deep green eyes gleaming with pride, oblivious to the cheers from the visitors.

"Spread your tail! Spread your tail!"

Tourists crowded the railing, tossing apples, pears, and mushrooms into the enclosure.

One apple flew directly at the peacock's head, but it elegantly sidestepped, avoiding the hit.

"Wow, amazing!"

Human praise brought a smug look to the peacock's face.

"Foolish and ignorant humans," it thought haughtily.

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