Chapter 104 The Strange Qin Haoran

An Ran listened to her words and seemed to be persuaded. Her hesitation gradually disappeared, and she nodded, her face regaining its radiance: "Yes! You're right! Let's go out and have fun, why should we hide from him!"

The two reached an agreement and immediately took action.

Wash up, change clothes, put on makeup.

When they stood at the door, one was aloof and elegant, the other quiet and sweet; their styles were very different, yet both were equally eye-catching.

I drove to Yintai City, the largest shopping mall in the city. It was Monday morning, and the mall wasn't too crowded, making it feel spacious and bright.

Su Xiaonuan and An Ran seemed determined to make up for all the time they had missed shopping together. From the cosmetics counters on the first floor to the boutique women's clothing stores on the third floor, and then to the trendy jewelry shops on the fourth floor, they browsed through one store after another. Both of them had excellent taste, giving each other advice, trying on clothes, picking out accessories, and laughing constantly.

Anran seemed to have temporarily forgotten her troubles and was immersed in the joy of shopping.

When she sees a sweet-style dress that suits Su Xiaonuan, her eyes light up and she urges Su Xiaonuan to try it on; Su Xiaonuan, on the other hand, will choose some brighter colors and bolder designs for An Ran, trying to break her overly professional and aloof temperament.

They only stopped when their hands were full of shopping bags of all sizes and their arms were a little sore.

Looking at the time, it was almost 1 p.m., and the feeling of hunger struck right on time.

The two then went into a Western restaurant on the fifth floor of the mall, which looked nice and had good reviews.

The restaurant was dimly lit and played soothing music.

They chose a booth by the window, where they could overlook the crowds below.

After ordering, while waiting, Su Xiaonuan relaxed and leaned back in her soft chair, her gaze casually sweeping across the restaurant.

Just then, she heard a deliberately hushed voice coming from the booth next to her.

Although the other party had lowered their voice, Su Xiaonuan's hearing, enhanced by the system, was exceptionally sharp, and she still clearly caught several keywords:

"...That money needs to be transferred to my account as soon as possible...otherwise, I won't be able to explain it to them..."

"I know... they've been urging us... but the amount is too large, it won't happen in a short time..."

"I don't care what method you come up with! By tomorrow at the latest! Otherwise... you know the consequences!"

"Give me two more days...I promise..."

The voice was intermittent, carrying a sense of anxiety and a barely perceptible threat.

Su Xiaonuan frowned slightly. A dispute over money? The amount was too large? There was no way to explain it? These words combined made her instinctively feel that something was wrong.

This doesn't seem like a typical business transaction or a loan between friends.

Without making a sound, she used the reflection from the clean glass window in front of her to observe the clothing of the two people in the next booth.

The one who spoke in a strong tone was wearing a dark gray polo shirt and had an expensive-looking watch on his wrist.

The other person, who seemed more anxious, was dressed in an ordinary suit and looked somewhat restless.

She silently memorized the general appearance and clothing of the two people.

Not long after, the two people next door seemed to have finished their conversation, and footsteps sounded as they left the restaurant.

Su Xiaonuan withdrew her gaze, pondering the fragments of information she had just overheard, and considering whether she should check the [Reputation System] for similar clues when she returned.

Just then, their food arrived.

An Ran's attention was immediately drawn to the beautifully plated steak in front of her. She picked up her knife and fork, cut off a small piece, put it in her mouth, and showed a satisfied expression on her face.

"Mmm! This steak is really good!" She was enjoying her meal when she noticed that Su Xiaonuan seemed a little absent-minded, poking at the pasta on her plate with her fork. She asked in confusion, "Nuannuan, what's wrong? Is something on your mind? You've seemed out of sorts since earlier."

Su Xiaonuan was about to shake her head and deny it, saying "It's nothing," when her eyes casually glanced at the restaurant entrance and her gaze was immediately drawn to the two people who had just walked in. She swallowed back the words she was about to say.

That's... Qin Haoran?

He wasn't wearing his police uniform today; instead, he was dressed casually—a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, light-wash jeans, and a pair of limited-edition sneakers. He looked less roguish and more like a sunny, boyish guy than when he was in his police uniform.

But what caught Su Xiaonuan's attention was not Qin Haoran himself, but his current state and the woman beside him.

Qin Haoran frowned slightly, his face devoid of a smile, even showing a hint of impatience.

The woman holding his arm, however, was a completely different story.

She was wearing a high-quality off-white knitted dress, her long hair cascading gracefully over her shoulders, her face adorned with delicate light makeup, and her smile was polite and gentle. She was slightly turning her head to speak to Qin Haoran, her eyes filled with patience, and even... a hint of cautious flattery?

The atmosphere between the two was noticeably awkward, clashing with the relaxed and pleasant dining environment around them.

Su Xiaonuan blinked her big eyes, her gossip-loving soul and detective radar lighting up simultaneously.

When did Qin Haoran get such a "ladylike" friend? Judging from the situation, it seems quite complicated?

The moment Su Xiaonuan saw Qin Haoran and the strange woman, she blinked in surprise and quickly patted An Ran's hand under the table, gesturing for her to look behind her.

An Ran followed her gaze and a hint of surprise appeared on her face.

Su Xiaonuan immediately crouched down, nimbly got up, and slipped to sit down next to An Ran. This way, they could observe the two people more clearly without Qin Haoran seeing their faces directly.

From this angle, the picture is clearer.

The woman in the beige knitted dress was indeed exceptionally elegant, with graceful posture and a composed smile on her face. Occasionally, she would whisper something to Qin Haoran, her eyes gentle and focused, revealing a refined upbringing and patience.

In comparison, Qin Haoran stood out.

He leaned back slightly in his chair, arms crossed over his chest. His usually roguish eyes, which held a hint of roguishness and a sharp edge, were devoid of emotion. He simply looked at the other person calmly, occasionally offering a brief reply. The aloofness and indifference between his brows were almost tangible, completely out of place with the relaxed and ambiguous atmosphere of the restaurant.

The strangest thing was that the waiter came over twice to ask them what they wanted, but they didn't order anything and just sat there doing nothing.

"What... are they doing?" An Ran whispered in Su Xiaonuan's ear, her voice filled with doubt. "Are they negotiating? The atmosphere is so tense."

Su Xiaonuan was also baffled. She shook her head and lowered her voice, saying, "I don't know... Judging from Qin Haoran's expression, it's like he's interrogating a criminal."