Has Chapter 142 been exposed?
Lin Xiaoman watched Xiao Wang walk away carrying a large bag of lamb skewers. The bulging plastic bag swayed gently with his steps, and she could faintly hear the soft clinking of the bamboo skewers inside. She glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then her fingers flew across her phone screen, sending several more messages.
The charcoal fire at the barbecue stall crackled and popped. Su Yingxue was intently flipping the lamb skewers on the grill. Oil splattered onto the back of her hand, but she merely frowned and wiped it away casually. Darkness fell completely, and the streetlights gradually came on, casting flickering shadows on the damp pavement. Lin Xiaoman looked around and noticed that the few remaining customers had gradually left, leaving only a few drunkards still laughing and talking loudly in the distance.
"Sister Su," she suddenly became interested and reached out to take the iron skewers from Su Yingxue's hand, "could I grill a couple of skewers for you to try?"
Su Yingxue raised an eyebrow, but still handed over the half-cooked lamb skewers. Lin Xiaoman carefully took them, mimicking Su Yingxue's usual manner, flipping the skewers with practiced ease, and then casually sprinkling on a handful of seasoning. She deliberately sprinkled the seasoning densely, thinking to herself: it tastes better when it's plentiful of seasoning.
"The way you're doing it," Su Yingxue said, wiping the greasy tabletop with a rag while glancing at her clumsy attempts, and couldn't help but laugh, "isn't it too salty?"
"Salty and savory is what makes it delicious!" Lin Xiaoman replied nonchalantly, her hands still busy, but her eyes kept glancing at the window of the small house across the street, where the plain-colored curtains were always drawn. She vaguely saw the curtains sway slightly, as if someone was hurrying around inside. She quickly looked away and pretended to continue fiddling with the skewers in her hands.
And so, Lin Xiaoman's thoughts drifted further and further away, even her hands slowed down. When she came back to her senses, a burnt smell wafted into her nose. She looked down and saw that the once golden and tempting lamb skewers had turned into pitch-black lumps, with black smoke from the excessive burning of the fat rising straight up.
"Is this also salty and savory?" Su Yingxue couldn't help but point to the several strings of carbonized "works," a mischievous smile on her lips.
"Hehe," Lin Xiaoman scratched her head, grinning without a care in the world, and took the few charred skewers from Su Yingxue's hand. "I'll eat these." As she spoke, she deftly peeled away the charred outer layer of skin and meat, revealing the tender lamb meat inside that was still barely intact. She whistled, and several stray dogs that had been wandering around the barbecue stall immediately came running over happily.
Lin Xiaoman distributed the peeled mutton to the furry little creatures, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart as she watched them devour it. She looked up at the third floor across the street, where the plain-colored curtains still hung quietly, as if the swaying just now was merely her imagination.
"Xiao Sui, what are you looking at?" Wang Zhiqiang frowned, his gaze falling on the curtains his companion was holding tightly.
Xiao Sui then snapped out of her daze, casually tugged at the curtain, and turned to look inside. Under the dim light, Xiao Wang, who had just finished eating lamb skewers, wiped his mouth and grabbed the goods to inspect them.
"Boss, this batch of goods is pretty good," Xiao Wang commented casually.
"Stop touching me!" Wang Zhiqiang snatched the goods back, his tone clearly displeased. "Wipe that smell off you." He glared at Xiao Wang with exasperation. "Learn from Xiao Sui. He's been here so long and done so much for us. Unlike you, all you do is eat."
Xiao Wang pursed his lips, nonchalantly grabbed the bag of lamb skewers again. "I'm going to throw out the trash," he said, then sauntered towards the door.
Xiao Sui remained silent, but her gaze lingered on the curtain, her eyes thoughtful, as if she had seen some unknown secret through the fabric.
Meanwhile, in the rented room late at night, Su Yingxue forced her sleepy eyes open and watched as Lin Xiaoman across the street held up binoculars, intently observing the mysterious little villa across the street.
"You should rest for a while," Su Yingxue said, yawning. "Last time, Grandpa Li was chatting with us and said that 3 a.m. is their main time of activity. He can see everything clearly when he gets up in the middle of the night."
Lin Xiaoman tossed the binoculars back to Su Yingxue without looking up, then slumped onto the small sofa beside her, staring blankly at the ceiling. "With such good skills, why don't you set up a stall somewhere else?"
"This place is cheap." Su Yingxue was so sleepy that she could barely keep her eyes open, and her voice grew softer and softer.
Lin Xiaoman wanted to say something more, but found that Su Yingxue had already curled up on the bed and fallen asleep. She looked out the window, and drowsiness gradually crept in.
After an unknown amount of time, several urgent barks suddenly came from the doorway, startling Lin Xiaoman, a light sleeper, awake. She sat up reflexively and, looking through the window, saw her target moving. In her haste, her phone, which was on the sofa, fell to the floor with a "thud."
Su Yingxue was also startled awake. Seeing Lin Xiaoman about to rush out, she quickly grabbed her: "You're just planning to fight those grown men all by yourself?"
"Then what do you suggest we do?" Lin Xiaoman asked anxiously.
Su Yingxue had never encountered this situation before. After a moment's thought, she said, "Call your captain."
"But what if they run away?" Lin Xiaoman was still worried.
“There’s a little electric scooter downstairs,” Su Yingxue rubbed her eyes and pointed to the kitchen. “I’ve packed up the leftover lamb skewers in the fridge. Ride the scooter and follow them. When you see them, just say you’re delivering takeout.”
Lin Xiaoman's eyes lit up immediately: "You're so smart!"
The two women acted swiftly. When they quietly reached the ground floor, through the darkness, they could clearly see the back door of the small house slightly ajar, and vaguely discern several figures furtively carrying things out...
"I want to see what these people are up to! Staying up so late at night!" Lin Xiaoman grabbed the packing bag Su Yingxue had prepared, her fingertips still trembling slightly as she hopped on her electric scooter. The engine's hum was particularly jarring in the quiet night.
The night was as dark as ink, and the streets were deserted, with only a few cars passing by, their tires screeching against the pavement. Occasionally, a food delivery rider, also shrouded in darkness, would whiz past, their headlights leaving fleeting streaks in the gloom.
Lin Xiaoman's heart pounded violently in her chest, the thumping sound almost shattering her eardrums. She bit her lower lip tightly, afraid to make a sound, lest she disturb the group of furtive figures ahead. She deliberately kept the engine of her electric scooter as quiet as possible, and her tense face and wary eyes scanning her surroundings were reflected in the rearview mirror.
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