The heroic deed quickly spread through Experimental High School. In less than an afternoon, Zhao Shi rushed to share the first - hand information with Tang Tang. The hero was Zhang Ming, a student from Class 1, Grade 1. He lived in Lvyuan District and had a younger sister. His parents were both wage - earners.
His father was an employee of a certain company, and his mother worked as a finance staff in the same company. His sister was in the sixth grade this year and would enter junior high school next year. They were still considering which junior high school to choose. Xiao Li stared at Zhao Shi in shock. "Seriously, you should try to develop in the entertainment industry."
Zhao Shi gracefully flipped his hair. "Do you think I have the looks to make a living?" "No," Xiao Li looked at him seriously. "You'll make an excellent paparazzi."
Zhao Shi, "..."
"The school's punishment might be a major demerit and a public condemnation during the flag - raising ceremony on Monday, along with reading a self - criticism."
Tang Tang looked at Zhao Shi warily. "Did you eavesdrop?"
Zhao Shi stormed off angrily with his first - hand information. Xiao Li looked pityingly at Zhao Shi's back and sighed. "He might be furious with you now."
Tang Tang sighed. "As a friend, the most I can do is to wake him up."
Xiao Li, "..."
Zuo Mu handed the photos back to Shen Hao with both hands. Shen Hao took them and put them in his bag. Then he took out a pack of cigarettes from the bag. "Want one?"
"No, thanks,"
Zuo Mu took a sip of his tea. He stared at the flowers on the balcony and adjusted his expression for a while before looking at Shen Hao. "You said she had a boyfriend. Who was he?"
Shen Hao let out a soft sigh. "His name was Liu Yi. He unfortunately died during that operation."
Zuo Mu frowned. Who was Shen Tian then?
Shen Hao looked up at Zuo Mu. "I understand how you feel. You regard Tang Tang as your own younger sister, but there are just too many coincidences in this matter."
"Coincidences?" Zuo Mu looked up at Shen Hao. "So, the reason they're after Tang Tang might be because of this Officer Tang? Just because they look alike?"
Shen Hao nodded and added, "Moreover, Officer Tang's final surgery was in your hospital. Your hospital director performed the operation himself."
Zuo Mu was silent for a moment and then looked up at Shen Hao. "So you also suspect Tang Tang's identity?"
Zuo Mu suddenly remembered the way Chief Li looked at Tang Tang that day and the Shen Tian he met that afternoon. He frowned deeply. "Officer Shen, don't you think that regardless of Tang Tang's identity, she's just an innocent student now?"
"Yes. We've never misconstrued this point. I'm telling all this to you, Mr. Zuo, to assure you that we'll definitely protect her safety."
Zuo Mu took an impatient sip of his tea and looked up at Shen Hao irritably. "I think it's better not. Officer Shen, please arrest those people as soon as possible. As for Tang Tang, I'll watch over her."
Shen Hao looked up at Zuo Mu and said unassumingly, "We'll solve the case as soon as possible."
Zuo Mu said sincerely, "I'm looking forward to your good news."
After sitting for a while, Shen Hao left. Zuo Mu looked at his watch. Tang Tang and the others would be out of school in half an hour. So he simply sat down and waited.
As soon as Zuo Mu turned on his phone, a message popped up. It was from Zhou Wei.
"I've sent all the information I could find to your email. Check it."
Before Zuo Mu could open his email, another message popped up. "As you asked, there's only one person named Tang Tang in our city. Most of the information about Tang Tang can also be found online. Someone might have deliberately hidden something. As for Shen Tian, I've found many people with this name, but none of them match the characteristics you described."
None?
Zuo Mu squinted his eyes. It was possible that he had given a fake name that day. But why would he give a fake name to Tang Tang?
Zuo Mu twirled his teacup. The phone screen lit up again, and another message popped up.
"Don't tip off the enemy."
Zuo Mu's hand holding the phone froze. He glanced at the message twice and then deleted it.
After a prank incident in Experimental High School, all the students in the school inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief, especially Xiao Li. Since the incident with Wang Lin, she had been on tenterhooks.
People are all afraid of death. Usually, they might say they've had enough of life and aren't afraid of death. But when they realize how close they are to death, they'll still feel scared and panicked.
Even centenarians are reluctant to leave this world, let alone a 17 - year - old girl like her.
But after Zhang Ming's commotion, she couldn't quite describe her feelings. Maybe she was finally able to relax.
Tang Tang was calmer than Xiao Li. When she saw Zuo Mu, a hint of a smile appeared in her eyes. "Brother!"
Zuo Mu waved at Tang Tang. When he saw Xiao Li standing beside her, he nodded slightly as a greeting.
Tang Tang rushed in front of Zuo Mu. "Brother Zuo Mu, let's go have hot pot!"
At noon, Zhao Shi said they should go for skewers. A new store had opened in the back street with a 50% discount. Zhao Shi originally intended to call everyone together, but when they got to the store, it was full.
The boss, a kind - hearted middle - aged man, saw a few students in school uniforms come in. He took a moment out of his busy schedule to explain, "There are too many customers in the store today. There are still people waiting outside. Well, I'll give you some coupons. You can still get a 50% discount next time you come."
Then Zhao Shi took the group to the school cafeteria, but all the good dishes were gone.
"The boss is quite honest." Zuo Mu listened to Tang Tang's rambling about the miserable lunch experience while reversing the car.
"Yeah. He sounds like he's from Northeast China." Tang Tang nodded in agreement. She took out a coupon from her backpack, unfolded it, and showed it to Zuo Mu. "I snatched this from Zhao Shi. We'll go there next time."
Zuo Mu nodded with a smile. "Okay."
Tang Tang happily put the coupon back into her backpack and continued to tell Zuo Mu about the honest Northeast - Chinese boss.
They originally planned to eat in the store, but one of Tang Tang's classmates suddenly had an idea and insisted on eating at home, saying it would be more lively.
Zuo Mu was convinced by this powerful reason. He drove back to the supermarket.
It was the time when students got out of school and workers got off work. The supermarket was as crowded as during the Spring Festival. Tang Tang nimbly found a shopping cart and looked at Zuo Mu as if seeking praise.
Zuo Mu found it amusing but still complimented her. "Great job."
Tang Tang lifted her chin slightly and cheerfully followed behind him, chattering, "Fish balls, shrimps, crab sticks. The soup - filled beef balls are also delicious. And those small buns with corn kernels in them are yummy too. We also need beef!"
Zuo Mu, "..."How many catties do you want?"
Tang Tang rubbed her chin. "Two catties."
Zuo Mu turned around and looked at Tang Tang with amusement. "Do you need me to prepare two or three bowls of wine for you?"
"No, thank you," Tang Tang waved her hand seriously. "I'm more interested in cats."
"Besides, we can use the beef for other dishes too. Braised beef with tomatoes is delicious."
Zuo Mu looked at Tang Tang expressionlessly. "Brisket is different from this. How can they be the same?"
"It doesn't matter, brother. I'm not picky."
Tang Tang blinked her big eyes at Zuo Mu. Zuo Mu couldn't hold out for even a minute under her expectant gaze. He resignedly went to weigh two catties of beef.
Tang Tang happily put the beef in the shopping cart. Besides pork, she liked beef the most. Mutton was too gamey, and horse meat was not as delicious as beef. Especially braised beef with tomatoes and stewed beef with potatoes. Ah... so delicious!
Zuo Mu glanced at Tang Tang and sighed. He went to the brisket section and asked for another two catties of brisket. When he turned around with the meat, Tang Tang, who had been standing there just now, was gone. Zuo Mu's heart skipped a beat. He felt a sudden jolt and quickly took out his phone to locate Tang Tang.
The phone showed that Tang Tang was only ten meters away from him. Zuo Mu suddenly let out a sigh of relief. When he came to his senses, he realized that his hand holding the phone was trembling slightly.
The cold - storage area of the supermarket had the air - conditioner on full blast. Zuo Mu felt a chill running down his back, making him shiver.
Too many things had happened in the past few days. He just didn't react in time. This was a supermarket. No matter how bold those people were, they wouldn't take action in a supermarket.
Zuo Mu let out a soft breath. He tightened his grip on his hand and walked out with the meat. As soon as he walked out of the cold - storage area, he saw a girl squatting on the ground, looking at the beef jerky on the shelf.
She tilted her head slightly to the side, and the little ponytail on her head swayed to one side. The sleeve of her school uniform was rolled up a bit, revealing a small section of her arm.
Zuo Mu took a deep breath and tried to suppress his anger. He stood behind Tang Tang, glanced at the beef jerky on the shelf, and slightly raised his eyebrows. Running around and still wanting to eat beef jerky?
Tang Tang picked out two bags and hugged them in her arms. Then she went to look at another bag. Tang Tang moved to the side. She always felt a cold breeze blowing on her back. Only the cold - storage area in the supermarket had strong air - conditioning. Was it because she was too close to the cold - storage area?
Tang Tang tugged at her clothes and moved again. This time, she happened to see Zuo Mu standing behind her with a gloomy expression.
Tang Tang, "!!!"
Zuo Mu looked at Tang Tang, glanced at the snacks in her arms, and then stared at Tang Tang silently.
Tang Tang straightened her back under his stare. She forced a smile. "Bro..."
Just as she let out a laugh, Zuo Mu's cold glance made the smile disappear from her lips.
Tang Tang lowered her head, holding the beef jerky. "Brother Zuo Mu... I was wrong. I'm sorry. I'll never do it again. Please give me a chance to turn over a new leaf."
Her voice was sincere, and her feelings were very genuine. Zuo Mu's expression softened a bit. He reached back to hold the shopping cart and looked at Tang Tang. "Where were you wrong?"
Tang Tang sniffed softly, looking aggrieved. "I..."
Zuo Mu's heart softened instantly. He wondered if he had scared her.
Before he could finish self - reflecting, Tang Tang let out a burp.
Zuo Mu, "..."
Tang Tang covered her face and peeked at Zuo Mu slightly. She said in a low voice, "Actually... I don't know either."
Zuo Mu was a bit angry. "..."Then why did you apologize?"
"It's a conditioned reflex..."
Zuo Mu, "..."