Zuo Mu's cooking skills were actually not bad. The food was edible. Tang Tang held the beef jerky and nibbled on it in small bites. With each bite, she let out a sigh. Zuo Mu glanced at her and asked, "What are you doing? Why do you look so pitiful?"
"I just need to be more restrained," Tang Tang took a tiny bite. "Since I'm under someone else's roof, I have to be more low - key."
Zuo Mu let out a long "oh" and said, "Then do you want to sing a song?"
"Sing what?" Tang Tang was a bit confused. "Let me go and look through 'Dream of the Red Chamber'."
Zuo Mu glanced at Tang Tang again and couldn't help but tease her, "Come on. Lin Daiyu sang the 'Song of Burying Flowers'. At most, you can only sing 'Little Cabbage'."
Tang Tang, "..."
As Zuo Mu said this, he took out a cabbage from the kitchen. He started to tear off the leaves one by one while humming, "Little cabbage, yellow in the field."
Just then, Zuo Mu suddenly stopped. He suddenly remembered the conversation with Shen Hao at noon and got distracted. Without noticing, he tore the cabbage into small pieces.
Tang Tang looked at the poor cabbage on the chopping board that was in pieces and couldn't help but complain, "Brother, are you going to tear the cabbage into pieces like they did in ancient times?"
Zuo Mu came back to his senses and found that the once - intact cabbage leaves had been torn into a mess. They were lying there in a scattered way. Even if they were used to make soup, they would probably dissolve when boiled.
"Brother, the way you're absent - minded really makes people suspicious." Tang Tang squinted at Zuo Mu and said in a sarcastic tone.
Zuo Mu thought this girl was really getting too bold in front of him. Now she was becoming more and more skilled and natural in teasing him.
"I think you really don't take me, your elder brother, seriously."
Even though Zuo Mu's tone was a bit serious when talking to Tang Tang, his face still looked gentle. Tang Tang thought no wonder she wasn't afraid of him at all. This guy obviously had a good temper.
"Do you really expect me to strictly follow the rules of seniority? Brother Zuo Mu, which dynasty do you think you're living in?"
They had experienced a lot of complex things recently, and both of them had their own thoughts. It was rare for them to have some time to bicker, which could be considered a form of entertainment.
However, the result of their bickering always ended with Tang Tang's complete victory. After all, she was just a kid, and Zuo Mu always let her win.
After having fun for a while, the simple three - course meal and one soup were finally served on the table. Zuo Mu didn't waste anything. He directly threw the torn cabbage leaves into the soup and cooked them with tofu. Anyway, they were just going to drink the soup. Even if it didn't look good, the taste should be about the same.
"Wow, I didn't expect your cooking to be so good."
Tang Tang had been left to fend for herself by Tang Gu since she was a child. Coupled with the busy work in the hospital, it was rare for the family to sit at the table and have a meal together. She had eaten at all the restaurants near her home since she was a child and could even tell which dish in which restaurant was delicious.
She suggested cooking at home today out of her own selfish desire, wanting to feel the so - called warmth of home in a sentimental way.
She just didn't expect that Zuo Mu actually had some real skills.
Seeing the little girl eating happily, Zuo Mu knew that this girl was always honest. When she said the food was good, it really was. She didn't beat around the bush.
He remembered taking the little girl to the unit's canteen before. She had just picked at a few mouthfuls of white rice, complaining that the food was unpalatable. At that time, he thought she was a difficult person to serve. But after getting along for a while, he found that this little girl was actually quite easy to take care of.
"The food here is much better than the food in your unit. I don't know how you can eat the food in your unit when you can cook so well." Tang Tang also remembered that unpleasant experience. Even the white rice was hard.
Zuo Mu didn't bother to argue with her. He just gently retorted, "Do you think everyone is as pampered as you girls? A man must be able to endure hardships."
Tang Tang thought he made sense. She was busy eating when she suddenly remembered something.
"By the way, can't I use my own phone yet?"
Zuo Mu's hand that was picking out beef for Tang Tang paused for a moment, but only for an instant. Then he smoothly picked up two pieces of beef and put them in Tang Tang's bowl. "No. I'm doing this for your safety."
Tang Tang understood and didn't ask any more questions. She guessed it must be related to that case, and there was no room for negotiation when it came to her safety.
Since he didn't want to tell her, she wouldn't ask.
The meal was quite pleasant. Zuo Mu urged Tang Tang to go to the bedroom to do her homework. He went back to his room, and sure enough, there was a new text message.
"You remind me of the time when I went to the supermarket with her. It was really wonderful."
It was another MMS from an unknown number. The attached picture was of Tang Tang squatting down and selecting beef granules on the shelf.
The picture was extremely clear. It looked as if the person had taken the picture while standing right next to her. And Tang Tang in the picture had no sense of prevention at all.
Zuo Mu immediately sent this number to Zhou Wei. Soon, there was a message from the other side.
"It's another disposable number. We can't find out anything at all."
Zuo Mu was a bit annoyed. This opponent had much stronger anti - reconnaissance ability and was overly cautious compared to the previous ones. And he was too close to Tang Tang. Zuo Mu was afraid that if he wasn't careful, this guy would take advantage of the situation.
There was a knock on the door, and Zuo Mu's thoughts returned to reality.
"Brother, the smell of your cigarettes has drifted into my room through the window."
Tang Tang stood at the door, looking at Zuo Mu like Tom in "Tom and Jerry".
Actually, the smell of nicotine and tobacco oil wasn't really unpleasant, but smoking was harmful to health. She didn't want Zuo Mu to smoke too much.
Moreover, in her impression, Zuo Mu rarely smoked.
"Sorry, I disturbed you while you were doing your homework."
Zuo Mu skillfully stubbed out the cigarette and threw it into the toilet, watching it flush away. When he came out, he saw Tang Tang still lingering at the door.
"Brother, is something wrong?"
Zuo Mu shook his head with a smile. He walked over and ruffled the few unruly hairs on Tang Tang's forehead. He said jokingly, "What could go wrong? Even if something does go wrong, I'll be here to protect you first."
Tang Tang looked into Zuo Mu's deep eyes. The panic and fear from a few days ago seemed to disappear at this moment. All she could hear was his words, "Even if the sky falls, I'll hold it up for you first. Don't worry. As long as you're still alive, I'll definitely hold it up."
After Tang Tang went back to her room, Zuo Mu realized that the voice call with Zhou Wei was still on. Sure enough, after hearing the sound of the door closing on the phone, Zhou Wei started to tease him, "Zuo Mu, I've never seen you so good at talking before."
Zuo Mu coughed uncomfortably twice and said seriously, "I still can't figure out this person's purpose for now, but the threat he poses to Tang Tang is really too great. If I get any useful information later, I'll pass it on to you immediately."
The other side simply replied with an "um" but didn't let go of the previous topic. "Hey, if I were a girl, I'd be moved to tears. What do you think? Tell me, buddy."
Zuo Mu laughed. He casually brushed it off, "Mind your own business. Just find some useful information for me."