Chapter 149 A Criminal Who Looks Like a Human

The girl immediately seemed to have found an outlet, transforming into Su Xiaonuan's number one fan and unpaid promoter, launching into a long, enthusiastic explanation: "Of course, Uncle! Sister Xiaonuan is super popular online! I heard that the food she makes is so delicious it'll make you swallow your tongue! And she's super mysterious; her stall location isn't fixed, you can only meet her by chance! Look at this squid, the color, the aroma—it's absolutely top-notch! Everyone online says that being able to eat something made by Sister Xiaonuan is a lucky thing that will bring you good fortune all day long!..."

She spoke eloquently, praising Su Xiaonuan to the skies.

As Su Xiaonuan listened to the girl's generous praise and watched her cheeks flush slightly with excitement, the helplessness and pressure of being recognized were gradually replaced by a warm feeling.

Being genuinely liked and appreciated by someone for the food you've made with such care can truly dispel all fatigue.

Her movements became gentler as she carefully packed the extra-richly prepared squid skewers and handed them to the girl, her voice much softer: "Yours are ready, take them carefully."

The girl took the bag as if it were a sacred object, thanked him again, and then left reluctantly, turning back every few steps.

After seeing off this enthusiastic little fan, the brief commotion in front of the stall subsided a bit.

Su Xiaonuan breathed a sigh of relief, her gaze inadvertently sweeping across the crowd and noticing a man in faded work clothes standing there.

Unlike the others who eagerly queued up, he didn't leave. Instead, he stared intently at the sizzling squid on the hot plate, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. The longing in his eyes was almost tangible, yet it was also mixed with a deep struggle.

Seeing that things weren't too busy right now, Su Xiaonuan smiled at him and said, "Big brother, want to try a few skewers? The ingredients are very fresh today."

Upon hearing this, the man's face flashed with embarrassment, and his dark complexion seemed to flush slightly.

He rubbed his hands together, took two steps forward, lowered his voice, and almost stammered, "Um... boss, I... I have hemorrhoids, it's a chronic condition, and the doctor told me I absolutely can't eat anything spicy or irritating..."

After he finished speaking, his eyes dimmed even more, and he took one last reluctant look at the tempting squid, as if he were saying goodbye to his most beloved treasure.

Su Xiaonuan was taken aback at first, then felt a bit amused and exasperated.

So that's the reason.

Seeing the pitiful look on the other person's face, where their appetite was being whetted but they had to forcefully suppress it, her heart softened.

After thinking for a moment, she deftly picked up a few skewers of fresh squid tentacles, placed them on a clean side of the hot plate, sprinkled them with just a little salt and pepper and cumin, and quickly grilled them.

Soon, a plate of salt and pepper grilled squid, exuding a pure, caramelized aroma and without a trace of spiciness, was ready.

She handed him the squid skewers with a warm, unpretentious smile: "Brother, these aren't spicy, just a little bit of salt and pepper, it should be fine. Please have some, consider it making friends, thank you for your help."

The man stared in disbelief at the still-fragrant squid being presented to him.

He looked up at Su Xiaonuan's sincere smile, then looked down at the string of squid that seemed to shimmer with golden light, and his eyes instantly welled up with tears.

He took it with trembling hands, his voice clearly choked with emotion: "Thank... thank you, boss! You're such a... such a good person!"

He took a small bite as if he were holding a fragile treasure, savoring the chewy texture of the squid and the salty aroma of the pepper, so satisfied that he almost cried.

He swallowed it whole and quickly pulled out his phone: "Boss, I... can I add you on WeChat? I'll definitely come to support you whenever you set up your stall, as long as it's not spicy!"

Seeing his tearful gratitude, Su Xiaonuan was also touched. She nodded happily and switched to his work account to have him add her.

After adding each other on WeChat, the man thanked them repeatedly before leaving, glancing back every few steps. He couldn't help but nibble on the squid in his hand as he walked away, his back view radiating joy and excitement.

Su Xiaonuan smiled and shook her head, then continued to engage in the "battle".

Time slipped by unnoticed, and it was already past two in the afternoon.

After the peak of customer traffic passed, only a few customers remained at the stall.

Today's task has been completed, and the current merit points have reached 10290.

While tidying up the table, Su Xiaonuan subtly kept an eye on her surroundings.

Just then, the cold system notification sounded in her mind precisely on time:

[WARNING! Target with 'Sin Value' of 58 detected within range! Location: Directly in front, 8 meters away!]

[Target Information: Rape, illegal filming and distribution of obscene materials for profit.]

Su Xiaonuan felt a chill run down her spine, but on the surface she continued wiping the iron plate as if nothing had happened.

She looked up and followed the red arrow marked by the system, and saw a man wearing a white shirt, black trousers, and sporting a trendy short black haircut slowly strolling over.

He wasn't very tall, but his clothes and carefully styled hair made him look quite presentable, like a young urban professional.

At this moment, he was wearing a black mask that covered most of his face, leaving only his eyes looking around.

Su Xiaonuan quickly glanced at the detailed information provided by the system. When she saw the words "rape" and "illegal dissemination" listed side by side, she sneered inwardly, confirming her previous suspicions.

It seems that it's no coincidence that the domestic abuser and this scumbag in front of me could "share the same stench" online; they're practically a den of snakes and rats, both exuding the same disgusting stench!

A strong sense of disgust, like a cold, venomous snake, instantly coiled around her heart, making her almost feel physically nauseous.

But she took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the surging emotions.

The coldness and disgust in her eyes quickly faded, replaced by a perfectly timed, slightly tired yet still sweet professional smile.

She even deliberately adjusted her posture to make herself appear more delicate and attractive amidst the everyday life.

At this moment, the man was clearly also attracted by the still enticing aroma of squid lingering in the air, and hesitantly walked towards the stall.

His gaze lingered on Su Xiaonuan's face for a moment, with a hint of scrutiny and an almost imperceptible lewdness, before finally settling on the iron plate.

"Boss, how much is the squid?" His voice came through his mask, sounding a little muffled.

"Ten yuan for one skewer, twenty-five yuan for three skewers." Su Xiaonuan answered crisply, her smile unchanged, but she quietly exchanged for a [Potentious Sleeping Drug] worth 20 merit points from her system space—colorless, odorless, and extremely fast-acting.

Just as the man looked down to scan the QR code to pay, Su Xiaonuan naturally picked up a skewer of freshly grilled squid, covered in sauce.

Her movements were incredibly fluid, as if she were just casually picking it up. With the tip of her other hand, she flicked the back of the squid skewer with lightning speed, like a dragonfly skimming the water. A few colorless powders instantly dissolved into the boiling sauce and disappeared without a trace.