The mascot of the wishing shop is a cat.

It was another sunny day, and Lin Xiyue got up early. Today was the first day of business.

Lin Xiyue excitedly cleaned the house early in the morning, watered the potted plants, and cooked cat food for Fugui. After finishing all the tasks, she turned the closed sign on the door to open.

Lin Xiyue sat behind the counter, excitedly looking towards the door, hoping that a customer would soon walk in against the sunlight, bringing with them the sound of wind chimes, stories, and money.

One hour later... two hours later... three hours later...

"Aaaaaah! Why aren't there any customers yet?!"

Lin Xiyue put her face on the counter and rolled it around, her chubby cheeks puffing out in anger.

"Meow~"

Fu Gui sat atop a tall cabinet, looking down at Lin Xiyue's madness without making a move. His eyes seemed to say, "Foolish human."

Lin Xiyue glanced at the doorway again, and finally reluctantly accepted the fact that her shop might not do very well.

"Fugui! Don't gloat! If we don't have any customers, we'll starve, and we won't even be able to afford your favorite shrimp!"

Seeing Fugui looking down at her from above, Lin Xiyue was displeased. She stood up with her hands on her hips and confronted Fugui one-sidedly.

"Dingling bell~"

The wind chimes rang.

Lin Xiyue suddenly turned around and saw a man dressed in a suit, looking very professional, but looking exhausted, walk in.

His eyes were lifeless, his stubble looked like he hadn't shaved in two days, and his clothes were wrinkled, which didn't match his appearance at all. The first thing you'd think of when you saw him was whether he was in trouble or needed help calling the police.

"Welcome to our shop. You can call me—the shop owner. What would you like to do for me?"

Lin Xiyue kindly led the person to the sofa and poured them a glass of water.

"Hello, shopkeeper. I saw the blackboard by your door. You said you could grant any wish, as long as I could pay the price, is that right?"

Before Lin Xiyue could answer, the man began to mutter to himself again.

"It must be true. There are alien races in this world, so what's impossible? We see humans flying and walking on the ground in the news on TV."

"So, I still have hope of revenge! I definitely can!"

He suddenly raised his head, staring intently at Lin Xiyue, his eyes filled with a visible fervor, and the despair and hope of a drowning person grasping at the last piece of driftwood.

"Of course, sir, please rest assured. The wishing shop can grant any wish, as long as you are willing to pay the due price."

"What... what do I need to do?"

"Please calm down, tell me your name, and state your wishes and concerns. Only then can I help you solve your problem, right?"

The man sat on the sofa, propped his face up with his hands, buried his head in his palms, and remained silent for a long time before slowly raising his head and saying, "My name is Zhang Lin. I was originally a dealer of high-end flying cars, but actually I was just a salesman."

"I'm over forty years old this year. I used to have a harmonious family; I have a daughter and a son. Until a month ago, I thought I was the happiest person in the world, until a month ago..."

“I had just gotten home from get off work that day, and I was very happy. It was my daughter's birthday, and I had even bought her a small cake on my way home. But when I opened the door, my daughter was eating my wife with a bloody face, and my son was lying on the ground, without his legs. I... I was stunned. I dropped everything I was holding. My daughter saw me and was about to pounce on me when I finally reacted and ran out. I was rescued by embassy officers at the entrance of the residential complex.”

He choked up as he spoke, glancing at the sky; his eyes were visibly red. He paused, then continued, "After I was rescued, the embassy staff told me that a spatial rift had caused my daughter to encounter an alien race. She had been parasitized, which is why she did such things; she was no longer herself. I found it hard to accept, but I also knew that this tragedy wasn't unique to me in our world. Besides, my son was still alive. Although he was disabled, with today's advanced technology, he could be cured with proper treatment. So, after resting for half a month, I worked even harder, wanting to heal my son. Now, it's just the two of us, relying on each other."

"However, the day before yesterday, I accidentally discovered that my director was acting strangely. It seemed that he was also possessed by an alien species, even the same type that possessed my daughter. This reminded me of the science education the embassy gave me. They said it was an alien species, and my daughter was being parasitized in a juvenile form, which is why she would kill people around her. That night, I forgot a document, so I went back to get it halfway. When I got to the company, I found the document that had fallen on the ground, and then I found that my director was still in the office. I instinctively hid under the desk."

His pupils trembled, and he looked terrified.

"I... I saw the director bring a new girl into the office. I initially thought they were having an affair, but the next second, the director's stomach split open, a long tongue stuck out, and he swallowed the girl whole. Then he picked up the girl's dropped bag and left. My legs went weak with fear, and I didn't dare go out. It wasn't until dawn that I stumbled home."

"The next day, I nervously went to ask for leave, thinking of reporting it to the embassy. But, you would never guess! The person who received me was the girl I had personally witnessed being swallowed by the director yesterday!"

Lin Xiyue noticed his hands were trembling and poured him another glass of water to comfort him. He took a sip of hot water and said, "It's true, I'm not lying. I really saw her being swallowed with my own eyes, but I have no evidence. I want to report it, but I have no evidence. I... I don't know what to do."

Seeing him repeatedly say he had no evidence and didn't know what to do, Lin Xiyue thought for a moment, went behind the counter, and took out a prop card. It was the same prop card she had drawn from her first newbie gift pack—the Microphone of Heartfelt Words.

She handed him the card and said, “Since you’re sure you’re not lying and you want to expose him for avenging his wife and daughter, then report him. When he’s being interrogated, give this card to a law enforcement officer you trust, and he’ll expose him.”

Zhang Lin took the flimsy card, somewhat incredulous, but still put it away.

“I’m at my wit’s end. I don’t know if the director knows that I already know his secret, but I don’t want to see the person who might be the culprit continue to get away with it. I’m also afraid that if I’m parasitized, my son will be eaten by me, and he will definitely break down.”

"Excuse me, what is the price I need to pay, shop owner?"

Zhang Lin stood up and looked at Lin Xiyue.

"Don't worry, you can come back to pay the price after the problem is resolved. After all, the small shop isn't worried about customers skipping out on their orders."

Thank you for visiting. We wish you a wonderful life.

Zhang Lin left the wishing shop, looked at the sky, then at the blackboard at the entrance, smiled, and walked towards the Psionic Center located in the city center.

..........................................

Psionic Center

"Hello, this is the Psionic Center. How can I help you?"

"Hello, I want to report that there is a hidden alien race around me."

"Okay, for your safety and that of your family, please come with me."

The staff led Zhang Lin to a private room on the second floor and said to him, "Please wait a moment, law enforcement officers will come to talk to you in a little while."

Ten minutes later, a slender hand pushed open the door to the private room. Entering was a man about 1.8 meters tall, dressed in a black combat uniform. He had a buzz cut and a prominent scar on his jaw, giving him a fierce appearance.

"Oh, so you're the one who wants to report a hidden alien race?"

This person's tone of voice always seems a bit off.

"Yes, it is."

Zhang Lin was very nervous.

"Is there any evidence?"

Zhang Lin closed his eyes, as if making a decision, took out the card with a microphone drawn on it from his bag, and handed it to the man.

"The person who gave me this card said that as long as I hand it over to your judges, you can identify it."

"Oh?"

The man looked through the card with a microphone drawn on it, but couldn't figure out anything special about it. However, he felt that it could be infused with spiritual energy.

"Okay, then tell me who you want to report?"

"I want to report my director, Wang Li. I saw him the day before yesterday..."