Chapter 144 The Criminal Who Loves to Eat Squid

Su Xiaonuan could sense that the police did indeed have suspicions about the other party's crime, but due to insufficient evidence, they were unable to take effective action. That's why they thought of using her superb cooking skills as a breakthrough.

And coincidentally, Su Xiaonuan is willing to lend a helping hand to this kind of evil that harms ordinary people and destroys family happiness within her capacity.

Without much hesitation, she tapped her finger and replied:

[Su Xiaonuan: Okay, I agree to help.]

After the message was sent, Lu Zheng replied almost instantly, expressing his gratitude:

[Lu Zheng: Thank you!]

Then he asked:

[Lu Zheng: When do you plan to start? We need to plan ahead.]

Su Xiaonuan thought for a moment. Tomorrow she had to deal with Fu Lilian's matter, and she also had to set up her stall. The day after tomorrow was Monday... She glanced at the system; it seemed there were no mandatory tasks. So she replied:

[Su Xiaonuan: Next Tuesday, I need some time to prepare.]

[Lu Zheng: Okay, got it.]

The conversation could seem to end here.

But after a few seconds, Lu Zheng's side showed "typing..." again. After typing for a long time, he finally sent a message:

[Lu Zheng: Tomorrow I will personally lead the team to pick up Fu Lilian and bring her back to the police station. This time, there will absolutely be no unexpected situations.]

Upon seeing the message, Su Xiaonuan almost instinctively typed "OK" and sent it.

When the message was successfully sent, Su Xiaonuan belatedly realized that her response might have been a little too decisive and... too trusting. It was as if she had subconsciously assumed that anything Lu Zheng personally promised would be foolproof.

She held her phone, and paused slightly.

But if you carefully recall everything that has happened since you met Lu Zheng—from his fairness in dealing with the thugs at the park entrance the first time, to his keen insight into clues and relentless pursuit in many cases, and his adherence to procedural justice even when he had doubts about himself… this man is indeed like a silent and reliable mountain, giving people a solid sense of security.

This trust seems to have been built up unconsciously through repeated interactions.

Su Xiaonuan gently shook her head, dismissing this subtle thought.

Sitting opposite her, Fu Lilian remained quiet and polite, waiting for Su Xiaonuan to finish dealing with the matters on her phone.

Only after seeing Su Xiaonuan put down her phone and turn her gaze back to her did she ask somewhat embarrassedly and in a low voice, "Xiaonuan... um... could I borrow one of your clothes? I... I want to take a hot shower." She was still wearing that dirty white dress, which was indeed very uncomfortable.

"Of course!" Su Xiaonuan immediately stood up, a gentle smile on her face. "I'll find you something loose and comfortable."

She went into the bedroom, took out a cotton T-shirt that was a bit too big for her and a pair of soft casual pants from the closet, and handed them to Fu Lilian.

"Here, this should fit. The bathroom is over there, and the toiletries are all new, in the mirror cabinet."

Fu Lilian took the clean clothes and gave Su Xiaonuan a grateful look.

Watching her walk towards the bathroom, Su Xiaonuan couldn't help but add, "The floor is a bit slippery, be careful."

After those words slipped out, she paused for a moment, as if some blurry fragments flashed before her eyes—the cold tile floor, the sharp pain in her ankle, the doctor's regretful sigh…

The old injury on her right leg was caused by a slip and fall she made while showering after training many years ago.

After that incident, although it did not affect her daily life, whenever it was rainy or she exerted too much force, she would feel a dull, aching pain in her right knee and ankle, reminding her of her forced end to her athletic career.

She didn't mention her past to Fu Lilian. She only sighed softly and sat back down on the sofa after watching the other woman obediently nod and walk into the bathroom.

Once the floodgates of memory are opened, it's hard to stop them.

She seemed to see again the boy from many years ago, with eyes as sharp as an eagle, full of confidence and fighting spirit, who boldly announced to her, who was still a little kid at the time, that he wanted to join the army.

She herself had also vowed to follow behind, shouting that she wanted to join the national team...

Unfortunately, fate played a cruel trick on us.

Her height became a major disadvantage, and coupled with later injuries, she ultimately stopped at the provincial level and retired with regret.

Those passionate dreams and grand pronouncements of youth have all eventually faded into the past.

Su Xiaonuan shook her head, suppressing those slightly sad memories.

The past is past; what matters is the present and the future.

She picked up her phone, opened the system interface, and began planning her stall location for tomorrow.

Now that Grandpa An is hospitalized, An Ran and Qin Haochu will definitely have to take care of him and won't be able to be by her side to help her all the time like before.

In that case, she turned her attention to the area surrounding the hospital.

After carefully reviewing the red-named targets active near the hospital in the system's "reputation list," she found a suitable one—a criminal with a crime value as high as 58!

Based on her observations and experience over this period, once the sin value exceeds 50, it basically means that one has directly or indirectly committed murder.

Those under 50 are mostly accomplices, petty thieves, or those whose murder plans are still in the works.

She opened the criminal's details panel to view his preferences and characteristics.

The panel shows that this person has an extreme fondness for squid.

What really piqued Su Xiaonuan's interest was a small note in the system: "She is a close online game friend of the target 'Liu xx'."

Liu XX is the name of that rapist in Xiangshan!

Upon seeing this message, Su Xiaonuan's eyes lit up!

This is practically a clue delivered to our doorstep!

If we can successfully catch this squid-loving criminal tomorrow, and follow the clues, we might be able to get him to talk and find direct evidence about the criminal in Xiangshan, and arrest that dangerous rapist and murderer as well!

"Okay! It's settled then!" Su Xiaonuan muttered to herself, immediately confirming her stall plan for tomorrow in the system—selling spicy squid on a busy roadside near the Municipal Hospital.

Having planned her actions for tomorrow, Su Xiaonuan's thoughts returned to the warmth of her home.

She leaned back on the sofa, relaxed, and turned her head to see Yantai had jumped onto the armrest of the sofa at some point. It was raising its little head, its golden cat eyes staring at her intently, its gaze filled with some kind of...longing? The tip of its tail was still wagging gently.

Su Xiaonuan's heart stirred slightly. She thought that since she found the inkstone, apart from occasionally taking it for a walk in the neighborhood, she hadn't really taken her on any long trips, let alone gone to set up a stall with her.

Is the little guy getting bored at home?