Chapter 182 Why should the unfortunate make things difficult for the unfortunate?

Standing beside her, Lu Zheng keenly sensed her sudden emotional fluctuation.

He subtly took half a step, his arm seemingly unintentionally brushing against Su Xiaonuan's arm, conveying a silent warning and reassurance.

Now is not the time to dwell on this.

Mr. Zhou was clearly very interested in Mr. Zhang's "spirit of inquiry".

He walked to the food preparation station, his eyes falling on the crispy pork belly that looked incredibly appetizing, and nodded: "Oh? Chef Zhang, that's thoughtful of you."

Immediately, someone handed them chopsticks and a small dish.

Mr. Zhou picked up a small piece, and the crispy skin made a slight "crunch" sound.

He put it in his mouth and chewed it carefully.

The next moment, his previously serious face instantly revealed undisguised amazement and satisfaction!

Those slightly cloudy eyes brightened up a bit!

"Hmm!!" He gave a loud "hmm," nodding repeatedly, his gaze towards Zhang the boss full of approval. "Excellent! Very excellent! Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, rich but not greasy, with a unique aroma! Master Zhang, you've given me a pleasant surprise today!"

He put down his chopsticks, and even reached out to pat Zhang's shoulder, a rare occurrence for him, his tone much gentler: "Let's forget about that little thing from the other day. From now on, you have to be like this, willing to use your brain and willing to work hard for us, understand?"

The pat on the shoulder made Zhang feel as if his meridians had been opened, his whole body felt light and airy, and his face beamed with joy. He bowed and nodded repeatedly, saying, "I know! I know! Don't worry, Mr. Zhou! I will definitely continue to work hard and never let you down!"

President Zhou nodded in satisfaction and gestured to the people following behind him.

Immediately, someone stepped forward and carefully picked up the whole piece of crispy pork belly with a more delicate plate.

"I'm taking this dish with me." After saying that, Mr. Zhou led his men away from the kitchen, amidst the lingering aroma.

Only when the curtain was completely drawn did the stagnant air in the kitchen seem to begin to move again.

Zhang Tou'er let out a long sigh of relief; a small patch of his shirt was soaked with cold sweat.

He turned around, his face still flushed with excitement and relief. His gaze swept over the various expressions on the faces of the people in the kitchen, finally settling on Su Xiaonuan, whose head was bowed and whose expression was obscured.

His eyes flickered with a complex mix of emotions: guilt, a hint of barely perceptible embarrassment, but mostly a sense of triumph and relief at achieving success.

He cleared his throat, as if to say something, but in the end he just waved his hand: "Everyone... stop standing there! Get back to what you were doing! Prepare lunch!"

The crowd dispersed and got back to work, but the way they looked at Zhang Tou'er carried a different meaning to them.

There was envy, disdain, and understanding.

Su Xiaonuan silently turned around, walked to the pool, and vigorously scrubbed her hands. The icy water washed over her fingertips, but it couldn't extinguish the pent-up anger in her heart.

Lu Zheng quietly followed beside her, picked up a potato, and continued his silent peeling work, only the peeling rhythm was slightly faster than usual.

A busy and stressful day has finally come to an end.

The Sacred Heart Society's dining hall provides a simple dinner, mostly leftovers from lunch.

Su Xiaonuan and Lu Zheng mingled in the crowd, quietly collected their portions, found a corner to sit down, and ate with their heads down.

Food does not taste good.

Su Xiaonuan was still holding a grudge.

Although they knew the undercover mission was important and they couldn't afford to lose sight of the bigger picture, no one would feel comfortable if the food they had painstakingly prepared, risking exposure, was so easily stolen by someone else.

She held her chopsticks, poking at the rice in her bowl absentmindedly, her baby face tense.

Lu Zheng sat opposite her, taking in all her subtle movements.

He silently placed the only decent-looking piece of braised pork from his bowl into Su Xiaonuan's bowl.

Su Xiaonuan was stunned for a moment, then looked up at him.

Lu Zheng showed no expression, but gestured to her with his eyes to "eat quickly."

Just then, the faint sound of several long-time employees who seemed to have spent a lot of time in the kitchen talking in hushed tones drifted over.

"...Boss Zhang has finally recovered today..."

"That's right. A couple of days ago, because of his son's illness, he couldn't afford the medical expenses and was so anxious that he didn't even have the strength to stir the wok. He accidentally splashed some soup on Manager Liu, and good heavens, Manager Liu immediately got angry and said he was going to fire him!"

"Sigh, it's not easy for him either. His son's illness is a bottomless pit..."

"We've passed President Zhou's test today. President Zhou is of a higher rank than Manager Liu, and with his word, Manager Liu shouldn't keep pressing the matter..."

"Speaking of which, it's all thanks to that plate of meat today... It was so delicious! I wonder where Boss Zhang learned that from..."

The intermittent conversation was like a few drops of cold water falling on the small flame in Su Xiaonuan's heart.

Boss Zhang…is his son seriously ill? Did he offend the manager and almost get fired?

Her previous resentment at having her credit stolen deflated like a punctured balloon, instantly releasing most of it.

Instead, a complex mix of emotions emerged.

She recalled Zhang's obsequious yet fearful demeanor when facing President Zhou, and the traces of cold sweat soaking his back... It wasn't just about seeking credit; it was more like a struggle to grasp at the last straw in a desperate situation.

The people in the kitchen—Aunt Li, the burly man chopping bones, and even Zhang Tou'er—if you disregard their identities as members of the Sacred Heart Society, they all seem to be essentially the same as the background she fabricated: "miserable people" struggling for survival and for their families.

Why make things difficult for those who are already suffering?

Su Xiaonuan sighed softly to herself.

That slight annoyance, though not completely gone, has faded considerably.

She was no longer angry about the plate of crispy pork belly that had been stolen; rather, she felt a sense of helplessness and...a touch of pity for the distorted humanity forced into such a twisted environment.

She lowered her head and silently ate the piece of braised pork that Lu Zheng had placed on her plate.

The taste was so-so, even a bit salty, but she felt like her heart wasn't so heavy anymore.

Lu Zheng looked at her profile, which had clearly relaxed, and his tightly pursed lips loosened almost imperceptibly.

After finishing their meal, the two followed the crowd back to dormitory room 3012, which was filled with "eyes." Bai Xiaoxiao was still wearing her sunglasses and mask, leaning against the bed playing on her phone, showing no reaction to their return.

Su Xiaonuan and Lu Zheng were already used to her presence. They routinely washed up, kept their backs to the camera in the bathroom, moved quickly, and then went to bed.

Lying on the hard bed, Su Xiaonuan stared at the direction of the camera hidden in the lampshade on the ceiling, her mind clear.