KelseyLee stared at the live comments, a mix of shock and anger on her face. "My God, they swindled me out of 500,000, and now they want to saddle me with debt? What did I even get married for..."
Renee Jennings spoke gently, "Do you two have any children?"
"Not yet." KelseyLee shook her head. "I don’t want to get pregnant so soon. I was planning on waiting a couple of years before having kids."
"How is your relationship with your husband?"
"I think it’s pretty good, not much different from when we were dating. We go out for dinner and movies after work, and we take short trips together on holidays."
Renee Jennings gave a slight nod and said softly, "In that case, you could try talking to your husband first. Don’t let on that you know his ’cousin’ is actually his biological brother. See if you can get him to persuade your parents-in-law to sell the house in their hometown."
KelseyLee frowned and nodded hesitantly. "Okay, I’ll try talking to him first."
[I bet even if the husband agrees, the parents-in-law won’t.]
[This is a long shot. After all, that’s the house they’re planning to leave to their younger son.]
[The only silver lining here is that KelseyLee isn’t pregnant.]
Renee Jennings smiled. "KelseyLee, shall we leave it at that for today?"
"Okay, I won’t take up any more of your time." Before hanging up, KelseyLee asked one more question, "Can I message you after I talk to my husband?"
"Of course."
"Thank you!"
After thanking her, KelseyLee disconnected from the call and sent a virtual paper crane gift.
As Renee Jennings was about to take another call, a flying figure on the windowsill caught her eye.
She turned her head to look and recognized him. "Zephyr?"
Outside, Zephyr pecked at the glass with his beak, squawking, "Open up! I’m here!"
"Everyone, hold on a moment. A friend just showed up." After letting her viewers know, Renee Jennings got up, walked to the window, and slid it open.
"So you’re finally home," Zephyr said, his tone tinged with resentment.
Renee Jennings raised an eyebrow. "I heard you came looking for me. What’s up?"
"Yup," Zephyr said, fluttering inside and landing on the desk.
"So what do you need me for?" Renee Jennings returned to the camera and saw the comments on the public feed.
[Weird, how come I didn’t hear the streamer’s friend talking?]
[I don’t think I heard anything either.]
[Everyone’s forgetting the most important thing: the streamer’s friends aren’t necessarily human.]
[Good point! Who is it then?]
Renee Jennings arched an eyebrow and said softly, "This friend is officially recognized."
[A nationally protected animal?]
[Can we see?]
"Zephyr, come over here," Renee Jennings called out.
Zephyr grumbled as he shuffled his talons over. "You tell a falcon to come, and he’s supposed to just come? What do you take me for?"
Renee Jennings: "I take you for my friend."
Zephyr: "...Fine."
Zephyr moved next to Renee Jennings, and they appeared on camera together.
[Holy cow, so it’s him!]
[What kind of bird is that? An eagle or something?]
[That’s a peregrine falcon, a hunter of the skies.]
"That’s right, this is a peregrine falcon, a bird of prey." Renee Jennings tapped its head with her finger. "Alright, spit it out. What did you need me for?"
Zephyr leaned in toward the phone screen, staring at it curiously for a few seconds before turning to Renee Jennings. "I want to report a male human."
Hearing this, Renee Jennings’s slender eyebrows furrowed slightly, her tone laced with confusion. "Why?"
Zephyr: "Two days ago, I saw a male human tie up his friend."
Renee Jennings’s expression grew serious. She addressed her audience, "Sorry, everyone, I have to end the stream early. Something’s come up that I need to handle."
[Huh? Why are you ending the stream so early today? You’ve only talked to one person!]
[What happened? Why the sudden sign-off?]
[You can end the stream, but you have to make it up to us!!!]
"Alright, I’ll make it up as soon as I have time." Renee Jennings said, then ended the stream.
Only then did Michelle Fuller speak up. "Renee, did something happen?"
"Zephyr said he saw a man tie up his friend." Renee Jennings looked at Zephyr and pressed, "Where did you see it? Why would that man tie up his friend?"
"Inside a very, very tall building," Zephyr answered. "I saw him slap his friend’s face and say, ’I just wanted to stay at your place for a few days, and you couldn’t even let me do that? What kind of friend are you?’"