Chapter 74: So Busy She Barely Touched the Ground

On the identification card, there was the issuing authority and a golden dragon made of intricate golden patterns. From today onward, Heize would officially serve as an enforcer for the Bureau of Exotic Creatures, able to live openly under the sun.

But when Liu Changfeng was preparing Wang Xiaomeng’s documents, he let out a quiet sigh. His hand hesitated slightly. Such a lovely photo, such an adorable name—why was the gender marked as male? He sighed again and looked up to ask, “Do you want to change the gender on this? The way you dress is feminine, and you look like a woman. Don’t you want to update it?”

Wang Xiaomeng’s eyes brightened at his words, but then dimmed a little. “Since birth, I’ve been registered as male at the household registry. All my documents, bank cards, and diplomas state male. If I change it now, the paperwork will be troublesome, and my degrees will be rendered invalid.”

Liu Changfeng understood. Wang Xiaomeng wasn’t unwilling to change it—it's just that the price was too high.

As he pulled up the file, he was surprised. This Wang Xiaomeng was no ordinary person—twenty-six years old, holder of a doctoral degree, one in scientific research, one in archaeology. Liu Changfeng hadn’t expected this adorable young woman to be a peer in his field. Still, it made sense—a researcher with an archaeology doctorate. After all, researchers dabble in anything and everything.

He thought for a moment, then said, “If you want to change it, I can file a request for you. Your qualifications and degrees can be preserved.”

“Really?” Wang Xiaomeng’s voice was filled with delight. Her sparkling gaze made Liu Changfeng’s heart skip a beat—he suddenly felt he might have meddled too much. But since he’d started, he might as well see it through.

Liu Changfeng nodded slightly. After Wang Xiaomeng confirmed her wishes, he picked up the phone and made the call. His own status carried considerable weight.

A few minutes later, he said to Wang Xiaomeng, “It’s done. Tomorrow, all your updated documents and credentials will be delivered to your home.” As he spoke, Wang Xiaomeng’s gender was officially changed to female.

He then affixed the photo. A face of exquisite beauty, a gender that matched her appearance, and an adorably sweet name—everything was now in harmony. Sometimes, it was best not to dwell on certain so-called specialties, lest one bring trouble upon oneself.

With the documents ready, he handed them to her. “Take some time to get familiar with the place. I have matters to attend to at the institute, so I’ll be leaving now.” With a gentle smile, Liu Changfeng took his leave.

Outside, he exhaled a long breath. Only now did he realize his hands and feet were trembling uncontrollably. He glanced at the little shop nearby, a trace of fear in his eyes. “Terrifying…” Shuddering, he opened the car door and sped away.

A week passed in the blink of an eye, and Liu Changfeng did not reappear. The adorable Wang Xiaomeng gradually forgot about the man who had once knocked on the door of her heart. Everyone had been busy, barely able to catch their breath.

Within the Bureau, there was a research institute—now Wang Xiaomeng’s domain. Heize’s favorite pastime, when idle, was to revert to his true form and bask in the sun at the entrance of the little shop. But moments of leisure were rare this week—every day, new alarms were sent to the Bureau.

With the onset of mutations, the city was beset daily by rampaging exotic beasts. Gradually, the people of Wudu began to sense it—the world itself seemed to be changing.

“This can erase memories, but the effect is limited,” Wang Xiaomeng mused, turning a finely crafted pistol in her hand. “Mutation is a worldwide phenomenon. Erasing memories is merely a stopgap. So, I made an adjustment. Now, those who are frightened can quickly recover their composure.”

She handed out the pistol. “After completing a mission, pull this trigger during cleanup. The gun emits a wave that induces a hypnotic calm, dispelling unease.”

“Brilliant,” Xu Bing praised, his gaze toward Wang Xiaomeng taking on new admiration. She was truly a prodigy on par with Liu Changfeng.

From the materials Lin Qiu had previously sent via Liu Changfeng, Wang Xiaomeng had thrown herself into the work wholeheartedly. “However…”

At that moment, her brow furrowed slightly. “Just now, word came from Lei Village. There’s been some disturbance in the ancestral graves there.”

“No way, are corpses mutating now too?” Lin Qiu was taken aback. After all, as long as bodies weren’t cremated, the combination of primal energy and golden fluid could indeed trigger mutation.

“It’s not confirmed yet, but every night, strange noises come from the ancestral grave. Some villagers can’t sleep and are planning to move away.”

“What are the higher-ups saying?” Lin Qiu put away the pistol, took out a small mirror, and fell into a trance. “Beautiful as ever…”

Both Xu Bing and Wang Xiaomeng rolled their eyes at him. After a week together, Wang Xiaomeng had grown familiar with the group. She was gentle and reserved, spending her time reading or napping when not working.

She spoke softly, “The director just called. We’re to go out and reassure the people of Lei Village, keep them from panicking.”

“Ah, another errand—and not even a stipend. The director is too stingy,” Lin Qiu complained, putting away his mirror and casting a sidelong glance at Xu Bing.

Only after becoming this so-called enforcer did he realize there was no salary, only the expectation of being on call around the clock. For a penny-pincher like Lin Qiu, Xu Bancheng’s management was hardly humane.

“What are you griping about? You’re an enforcer now, upholding justice and peace. Besides, doesn’t the Bureau feed you three meals a day? Eight dishes per meal—isn’t that enough?”

“You’re being unreasonable!” Once again, Lin Qiu and Xu Bing began bickering. For the past week, whenever they had a moment, they argued about money, much to Wang Xiaomeng’s weary amusement.

“All right, enough arguing. The director said stipends and benefits are on their way. We’re just getting started—upper management is still working out the reward system. But the director promised our treatment won’t be lacking.”

“That’s good news!” Lin Qiu smiled in satisfaction.