Chapter 164 Keeping the Appointment
"Exchange!" Su Xiaonuan said without hesitation.
In an instant, 600 merit points evaporated, and a massive flow of information flooded into his mind, from ingredient selection and processing to cooking temperature and secret sauce, every detail was crystal clear.
She rubbed her slightly throbbing temples, feeling that her "recipe library" had been greatly enriched.
Looking at the 12,290 merit points she had left, Su Xiaonuan's thoughts turned to her meeting with Han Ming tomorrow.
Her intuition told her that this meeting would definitely not be peaceful.
Han Ming is a man of both good and evil, and his thoughts are hard to fathom. Whether the internal differences within "Crescent Moon" and his so-called "apology" that he brought up are genuine, a trap, or an opportunity remains to be seen.
"We must be fully prepared," Su Xiaonuan murmured to herself.
She opened the system shop again, this time entering the [Special Items] shop.
She first spent 100 merit points to exchange for a small, sharp, and easy-to-conceal military dagger. The blade gleamed with a cold, sharp light, and the handle was ergonomically designed and had an excellent feel.
Next, she spent 200 merit points to exchange for some "countermeasure powders"—including an improved version of super-strong chili powder, inhaling a small amount of which can cause severe coughing and temporary blindness; a top-quality pepper spray with a long range, wide coverage, and outstanding effect; and several antidotes that can quickly counteract the effects of common date rape drugs and anesthetics.
Finally, she used 200 merit points to exchange for some small equipment such as high-strength fiber rope, miniature high-power flashlight, and multi-functional survival whistle.
After spending a full 500 merit points, Su Xiaonuan felt a little more at ease looking at the dazzling array of "life-saving gadgets" in the system space.
The merit points balance has become: 11790.
After completing the preparations, Su Xiaonuan turned her gaze to Yantai, who was gracefully perched on the windowsill, gazing at the neon lights outside.
She walked over and gently stroked the inkstone's smooth, satin-like surface.
“Inkstone,” Su Xiaonuan said in a low voice, her tone serious, “After I meet with that Han Ming tomorrow, no matter what the outcome is, I need your help.”
She clearly went through the address of the rapist Liu at the foot of Fragrant Hills, as well as the basic characteristics of the three missing women, Liu's wife and daughter, and his best friend Lin Ling, in her mind, trying to convey them to Yantai through some invisible connection.
The inkstone seemed to understand. It turned its head, its pupils, which looked like molten gold in the night, quietly watching Su Xiaonuan. It made a very soft "gurgling" sound in its throat, and the tip of its tail swayed elegantly, as if to say: Leave it to me.
The next morning, as dawn was breaking.
Su Xiaonuan changed into a dark casual outfit that was easy to move in, put on a black mask and a baseball cap, and tucked all her long hair into the hat, making her look low-key and neat.
She packed the necessary equipment and inkstone, then drove off.
She first sent Han Ming a message: "I've set off and will arrive at Leicasa Cafe in about half an hour. See you in the 'Listening to the Rain' private room on the second floor."
After the message was sent, it disappeared without a trace, and there was no reply.
Su Xiaonuan didn't mind and drove smoothly to the agreed-upon Laikasa Cafe.
This is an elegant café known for its privacy.
She didn't go directly to the "Listening to the Rain" private room on the second floor. Instead, she first observed the environment on the first floor before quietly going up to the second floor.
Instead of entering the private room, she quickly installed a tiny listening device, no bigger than a button, in an extremely hidden corner inside the half-open door.
After doing all this, she stepped out and chose a spot on the second floor with the best view, where she could see the entrance to the "Listening to the Rain" private room and was close to the stairwell for easy evacuation. She ordered an Americano and pretended to casually flip through a magazine.
The inkstone obediently squatted on the empty chair next to her, its golden eyes half-closed, seemingly lazy but actually vigilantly watching its surroundings.
As Su Xiaonuan gently stroked Yantai's warm fur, she recalled every moment she had shared with Han Ming.
The more I thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.
He always seemed to "coincidentally" appear at the places where she set up her stall, whether it was the sports center, the bar street, or the cultural square... Once or twice could be considered a coincidence, but the third time, he "coincidentally" stopped the woman who was trying to inform the poisoned internet celebrity. Was this really just a coincidence?
Su Xiaonuan is more inclined to believe that she possesses something that Han Ming, or the forces behind him, are after.
What could it be? Her cooking skills? Her connection to the police? Or...?
Just as she was lost in thought, she heard soft footsteps coming from the top of the stairs.
A tall, slender man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood up walked up.
He kept his head down, his hat brim obscuring most of his face, and walked hurriedly straight to the "Listening to the Rain" private room.
Su Xiaonuan's attention was instantly drawn to it.
She casually glanced at him, then quickly looked away, using the magazine as cover to subtly observe the man's back.
It looks familiar.
She must have seen that figure somewhere before!
Unlike Han Ming's languid gait with a touch of nonchalance, this figure was more upright, carrying a... cold and familiar feeling.
But I can't remember who it was right now.
Just as she was trying to recall, the man actually... pushed open the door and walked into the "Listening to the Rain" private room!
Su Xiaonuan was stunned, and alarm bells rang in her heart!
Suspicion about Han Ming instantly reached its peak!
Han Ming didn't reply to the message, but instead, this familiar, unidentified figure appeared? This is definitely a trap!
But she did not act rashly.
Take a deep breath and force yourself to calm down.
She quickly sent Lu Zheng a location and message: "[Suspicious individuals have entered my reserved private room on the second floor of Leicasa Cafe. Possibly a trap. Please monitor the situation.]"
Then, she sent Han Ming another message: [Sorry, there's a bit of traffic, I might be about fifteen minutes late. Have you arrived yet?]
After sending the message, she stared intently at her phone screen.
There was still no response from Han Ming, as if he had vanished into thin air.
Su Xiaonuan felt completely at ease.
It seems that today's so-called "meeting" was a setup from the very beginning.
It's highly unlikely that Han Ming will appear, and it's even possible that... he's also in danger, or that this was all a conspiracy between him and others?
I can't stay here any longer.
Su Xiaonuan made a quick decision, placing a few banknotes under her coffee cup, picking up the inkstone, and standing up naturally like an ordinary customer. She walked down the stairs unhurriedly without attracting anyone's attention.
After leaving the coffee shop, getting into her car, and locking the door, Su Xiaonuan finally let out a long sigh of relief, a fine layer of cold sweat breaking out on her back.
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