Chapter 489: Chapter 489: A Girl Has Gone Missing

As everyone sat down at the dining table, they saw Renee Jennings engrossed in the menu’s selection of roasted meats, and each of them started to freak out.

’At a time like this, who can even think about eating?’

"Renee!" Michelle Fuller frowned. "How are you not the least bit worried? That girl from yesterday is spreading rumors and badmouthing you!"

"It’s because they’re rumors that I don’t have to worry," Renee Jennings said, methodically flipping through the old-fashioned menu. "Eating is the priority."

The moment she said that, everyone suddenly felt she had a point.

"That makes sense!" Zachary Conway nodded in agreement. "If your conscience is clear, there’s no reason to be nervous."

Michelle Fuller’s tightly furrowed brow gradually relaxed. "Oh, you’re right. We don’t have to worry at all."

Hilary blinked. "So, we let the bullets fly for a bit?"

Renee Jennings snapped her fingers. "In that case, let’s get an order of roast goose."

The girl with the high ponytail quietly recorded this composed and unruffled side of her.

Thanks to Renee Jennings’s words, the three who had been anxiously clutching their phones calmed down.

Everyone put down their phones and devoted themselves completely to savoring the delicious food.

After dinner, Renee Jennings posted the following on her socials: "The roast goose was delicious, the roast suckling pig was fragrant, the char siu went perfectly with rice, and the braised goose feet—divine!"

**

Ashlyn Gable stared at her account’s dashboard, her face a mask of smug satisfaction.

Between last night and now, she had already gained nearly six thousand followers.

’It’s only noon. By nighttime, won’t I have gained tens of thousands of followers?’

Ashlyn Gable grew giddy just thinking about it and muttered to herself, "If I get lucky like this a few more times, I’ll be a top streamer before I know it!"

Just as she was lost in her daydream, the phone in her hand suddenly rang.

A thrill went through Ashlyn Gable; she thought another sponsor was calling.

She answered the phone hopefully, putting on her cutesy voice. "Hello, this is caring Ashlyn speaking."

"Hello, is this Ms. Ashlyn Gable?"

"Yes, it is! This is caring Ashlyn Gable!"

"Ms. Ashlyn Gable, this is the Lyris Police Department. Is the online account under the name ’The Kindhearted Miss Ashlyn’ yours?"

Hearing that the call was from the police department, Ashlyn Gable fell silent for a few seconds before asking in confusion, "Yes, that’s my account. Is there a problem?"

"There is indeed a problem. Last night at 9:23 PM, did you post a video on TikTok that was filmed at Caelus Wildlife Park?"

Ashlyn Gable was silent again.

But this time, her silence wasn’t from confusion, but because she didn’t dare to answer.

"Ms. Ashlyn Gable, are you still there?"

"I... what is this about?" Ashlyn Gable felt a sudden pang of guilt. "If there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up."

"Ms. Ashlyn Gable, we’re going to have to ask you to come down to the police station. Is now a good time for you?"

Ashlyn Gable gripped her phone tightly, asking nervously, "Why? It’s not convenient for me. Do I have to go?"

"It’s not convenient? In that case, how about we arrange for a police car to come pick you up?"

Hearing about a police car, Ashlyn Gable instantly panicked. "What do you mean? Why do you want me to go to the police station?"

"You fabricated facts on a public platform to slander another person..."

"I didn’t!" Ashlyn Gable immediately retorted. "I didn’t!"

"Please come down to the police station to discuss this matter further."

Ashlyn Gable hung up immediately. Afraid the police would call back, she even put her phone on airplane mode.

’Why would the police call me over something like this?’

’Did that woman report me to the police?’

Ashlyn Gable opened Renee Jennings’s profile, and seeing that she still hadn’t responded, she let out a sigh of relief.

Still, a part of her found it strange.

At 3:30 in the afternoon, just as Ashlyn Gable was enjoying some takeout at home, the doorbell suddenly rang.

"Is that more food? Or a package?" she yelled. "Just leave it at the door!"

However, the doorbell didn’t stop ringing.

Ashlyn Gable got up impatiently and walked to the door. "Didn’t I tell you to leave it at the..."

Seeing the people standing outside the door, her voice died in her throat.

Two uniformed police officers held out their badges and spoke gravely, "Ms. Ashlyn Gable, you are suspected of fabricating information on a public platform to slander another individual. Please come with us."

The chopsticks in Ashlyn Gable’s hand fell to the floor with a CLATTER.

’She never thought a day would come when she’d be hauled off to the police station for questioning just for posting a video online...’

Renee Jennings and her friends’ plans for the day were thrown into disarray.

They didn’t get to eat the beef offal stew; instead, they ended up at the police station ’for tea.’

When Director Leto heard that Renee Jennings was at the station, he immediately invited her to his office. "Consultant Jennings, I’ve heard so much about you!"

"You’re too kind." Renee Jennings smiled modestly.

Director Leto was a middle-aged man with slightly chubby cheeks and a bit of a paunch. He looked at her with a cheerful, benevolent smile. "Consultant Jennings, how long are you planning to stay in Lyris?"

"Director Leto." Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow slightly. "Did you need me for something?"

Director Leto’s smile made the corners of his eyes crinkle. "Consultant Jennings, you’re as sharp as they come."

"Please, Director Leto, speak freely," Renee Jennings said calmly. "If I can help, I certainly will."

"It’s always a pleasure dealing with intelligent people!" A relaxed expression spread over Director Leto’s face. "To be honest, we’ve run into a rather tricky case in the last couple of days. A young girl has gone missing."

At these words, a serious expression fell over Renee Jennings’s delicate features. "Please continue, Director Leto."

"To tell you the truth, I have a personal connection to this girl." Director Leto sighed and continued slowly, "She once helped my wife. My wife was pregnant at the time and fainted, and this girl was the one who called the ambulance. She helped my family then, so I want to help her now."

"How long has she been missing?" Renee Jennings asked.

Director Leto: "A day and a half."

"What do you need my help with?"

"We checked the surveillance footage. She left the house on her own, but we can’t find her now... Her parents say the family has a pet duck, and that she would tell the duck whatever was troubling her."

"I understand." Renee Jennings nodded slightly. "Director Leto, please arrange a meeting for me with that pet duck."

Seeing that she agreed, a smile blossomed on Director Leto’s face. "Of course, Consultant Jennings. I’ll have it arranged right away."

When Renee Jennings came out of Director Leto’s office, she happened to see Ashlyn Gable being brought into the police station.

"You actually reported me?" Ashlyn Gable shrieked agitatedly when she saw her. "What kind of person are you? Was it really necessary to call the police?"

Renee Jennings shot her a glance, ignoring her hysterical outburst, and opened the door to the waiting room.

Her eyes met Michelle Fuller’s worried gaze. She walked over, patted her on the shoulder, and said with grave sincerity, "Michelle, we might have to go our separate ways for a bit."

"Huh?" Michelle Fuller’s brow furrowed instantly. "Why do we have to separate?"

"Director Leto has a case he needs my help with." Renee Jennings stroked the top of her head, smiling coaxingly. "Why don’t you and Zachary go have some fun with Hilary first, okay? I’ll come find you all when I’m done."

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