Animal Detective

The sun had long since begun its westward descent, yet it lingered, refusing to set.

The crimson sun painted the horizon with a final splash of twilight glow.

The wind died down. There were no clamoring crowds, no bustling traffic, none of the usual city clamor—only the sporadic chirping of insects.

It was so beautiful it felt unreal.

Shen Xin suddenly understood why so many people were drawn to the grasslands. They were likely chasing this very moment of peace.

This idyllic feeling peaked as a bonfire was lit to celebrate the return of Hong Gu’er and to welcome Shen Xin, who had come from so far away.

Many people from the village came.

It wasn’t just because Shen Xin was a guest. He had also trained Tianxiong, who had helped them find their lost livestock on numerous occasions.

The village secretary, Habutu, had slaughtered and roasted a sheep earlier that afternoon in preparation for hosting Shen Xin.

Shen Xin finally met Lakshen as well.

The wounds on Lakshen’s face were still clearly visible, and his left arm, which was the most severely injured, was wrapped in thick bandages.

Upon seeing Shen Xin, this man of steel was overcome with shame. His eyes grew red as he repeatedly apologized, blaming himself.

When he left Nanjiang, he had promised to take good care of Tianxiong.

And after arriving in Huergan, Tianxiong had helped him so much.

During the attack, Tianxiong had even risked its life to save him.

Now, with Tianxiong missing, the more Lakshen thought about it, the more the tears streamed down his face.

Shen Xin comforted him, "Chief, don’t be like this. The fact that we haven’t found him means there’s still hope. Instructor Zhang and I analyzed it—Tianxiong has experience as a stray, so he’s a strong survivor. We have to hold out hope."

Lakshen nodded repeatedly, but he still couldn’t stop wiping away his tears.

As the night deepened, the celebratory atmosphere reached its climax.

The young people from the village began to sing and dance.

Shen Xin couldn’t dance at all, but Doniya pulled him into the group anyway.

He thought about posting something on his social media feed.

But then he decided against it, not wanting to stir up Yang Zeran and the others again.

Shen Xin danced until his forehead was beaded with sweat before sitting back down. He overheard Zhang Qifeng talking to Lakshen about a horse.

It was the mare he had led back.

It turned out there were no truly wild horses on the plains. The mare belonged to a herdsman who had lost her long ago. Her owner had been found thanks to the photo Shen Xin had posted in a group chat earlier.

The owner was coming to pick her up first thing in the morning.

Well-fed and with plenty to drink, they watched as the stars climbed into the night sky.

Amid the cheers of the young people, Doniya was nudged to the center of the circle by the bonfire.

She was going to sing.

She was singing a grassland folk song, also titled "Hong Gu’er."

Shen Xin was talking with Lakshen beside him when her voice suddenly captivated him. His eyes widened as he turned to look.

Shen Xin was no music expert, but some voices had a universal appeal—the kind you could instantly tell was good.

Doniya’s was one of them.

Her voice was pure and ethereal.

As the crowd fell silent, her long, drawn-out notes rose above the CRACKLE of the bonfire, soaring higher and higher as if to blanket the entire plains.

Shen Xin watched, completely captivated.

In the firelight, Doniya’s face was cast in a soft halo, making her look like a goddess of the plains.

When the song ended, Doniya gracefully struck a few final poses from a traditional dance.

She was truly a talented singer and dancer.

Applause erupted, punctuated by the whistles and cheers of the village’s young men.

Shen Xin applauded along with them.

’So beautiful, and she can sing and dance, too. She must drive all the young guys in the area crazy,’ he thought.

Shen Xin also noticed Doniya’s father, a simple, honest-looking middle-aged man, watching her with a gaze full of relief and pride.

Doniya sat down next to Shen Xin and asked him what he thought of her singing.

Shen Xin gave her a thumbs-up. "That was incredible. Seriously, I think you could debut as a professional."

It was obvious she hadn’t had any professional training.

For someone with pure, raw talent to sing like that... it was more than just impressive; it was astounding.

"Oh, you know, you could start a short video account and just post videos of you singing. I see a lot of people doing that on my feed," Shen Xin added. "If you get popular, a company would definitely be willing to sign you and help you debut."

Doniya quickly shook her head. "Oh no, I’d be too embarrassed."

Shen Xin said, "What’s there to be embarrassed about? Back in Ju Province, I met this older guy who trims donkey hooves for a living. I told him he should post short videos of it, and he actually did. Now he has tens of thousands of followers."

The last time he was in Ma Chang Town, Shen Xin had suggested that Xu Erleng post short videos.

Before he left, Shen Xin had also mentioned it to Guo Jin.

And sure enough, not long ago, Shen Xin had come across Xu Erleng’s videos on the platform.

Doniya still shook her head, saying it felt too awkward.

But even as she said that, her interest was clearly piqued. She pulled out her phone and asked what kind of videos he was talking about.

The singing and dancing continued, and the bonfire party didn’t wind down until eleven o’clock that night.