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Chapter 48 Acting a Part

Lu Li strolled lazily into the diner and let out a languid yawn.

He still could not stop worrying about Chu Zining.

The masked man tensed immediately; why had that speedy guy come back again!

Could he also be trying to harm me? The masked man released the dagger, put his hand on the briefcase, and watched Lu Li warily.

Lu Li did not even glance at him; he walked straight to Chu Zining and unfastened her apron.

“Sorry, I just walked my classmate out; I’ll cook the rest of the orders, so you can clock out now.”

“Uh!” Before Chu Zining processed what he meant, Lu Li had already slipped the apron on with practiced ease.

When Chu Zining turned to ask him what he was doing, Lu Li kept signaling with his eyes toward the masked man behind her and the case in his hand.

Although Lu Li always called Chu Zining a silly blockhead, she could still hold the top spot in class and was actually a smart girl.

She knew Lu Li never acted without reason, and the masked man’s odd outfit instantly put her on guard.

She stiffly probed, “Um, you want to do the cooking?”

Lu Li answered naturally, “Of course; you have covered my shift for quite a while, and I feel bad about it.”

“Not at all, not at all, that’s what I should do.” Chu Zining cooperated.

So this speedy guy is actually the diner’s cook; no wonder the girl couldn’t make Nine-loop Pork Intestine… The masked man relaxed a little and slowly moved his hand away from the briefcase.

“Hey kid, why did you come back again? Where’s Linlin, didn’t you walk her home?” At that moment Auntie Zhao suddenly asked with a laugh.

“I still have work to finish, don’t I?” Lu Li spread his hands and smiled helplessly.

He winked repeatedly at Auntie Zhao, yet she was clearly not as quick as Chu Zining and noticed nothing.

“Work?” Auntie Zhao froze. “What work?”

The faint unfamiliarity and surprise in her tone made the masked man tense up again; he placed his hand back on the briefcase.

Sweat beaded in Lu Li’s palm. Just then Chu Zining strode up to Auntie Zhao and snapped, “Auntie Zhao, I don’t care; I’m only filling in, but we agreed on ¥300, you can’t short me a single cent!

Give me that extra ¥100 right now!” While she spoke, she dragged Auntie Zhao’s arm toward the kitchen.

Auntie Zhao had not expected the usually meek Chu Zining to harden up and retorted, “You didn’t work the full hours, why should I pay that much? ¥200 is generous; don’t push your luck!”

Chu Zining insisted, “So you’re not paying? Fine, if you don’t, you’re not leaving today!”

She looked delicate, yet years of odd jobs had built her strength; with a sudden pull she nearly toppled Auntie Zhao.

“You child, what are you doing!” Auntie Zhao shouted. “Next time I’m short-handed, I won’t hire you again!”

“Auntie Zhao, that’s not right,” Lu Li now understood Chu Zining’s ploy and chimed in. “We agreed on the amount; doing this chills people’s hearts.”

“This…” Auntie Zhao was left speechless; after all, Lu Li had just helped her, and she could not refute him.

Acting as if she would smash the dishes, Chu Zining threatened, “So you’re refusing? Then forget your business; I’ll flip the tables and make sure none of your customers can eat!”

Auntie Zhao finally panicked; she really was afraid of broken dishes. “Little Chu, stop it, don’t let the customer see a joke; let’s discuss this in the kitchen.”

“Discuss then discuss!” Chu Zining went along and followed Auntie Zhao into the kitchen, casting Lu Li a worried glance before she disappeared.

Lu Li walked over to the masked man’s table with a smile. “Sorry you had to see that. Haha, you ordered Nine-loop Pork Intestine, right? Would you like anything else?”

The masked man stared at him nervously. “You… you can cook Nine-loop Pork Intestine?”

“Sure. I can cook every dish on our menu,” Lu Li replied naturally. “Do you want anything else?”

The masked man paused, then muttered in a muffled voice, “Add a plate of red-braised pork.”

“Got it.” Lu Li smiled and turned toward the kitchen.

The masked man still hugged the case tightly, remaining on guard.

“It seems this speedy guy really is the cook here, and the girl was only filling in; I guess I was overthinking.”

Even so, he had to confirm one last time: if the cook failed to produce Nine-loop Pork Intestine, he would detonate the bomb in the case and take everyone with him!

The masked man scanned the room nervously.

Lu Li walked slowly into the kitchen and shut the door behind him.

Chu Zining and Auntie Zhao looked at him with tense faces; moments ago Chu Zining had already told Auntie Zhao that the masked man was suspicious.

Lu Li wasted no time and simply stated that the man had a bomb in his case.

He asked quickly, “Auntie Zhao, is there any other exit here?”

Auntie Zhao trembled as she answered, “Our little diner has no exit except the front door.”

Lu Li thought for a moment and sighed. “All right, I’ll cook the dishes to steady him. Then the two of you leave one by one; make no extra movements. As long as you don’t act strangely, he shouldn’t suspect anything.”

Auntie Zhao nodded repeatedly; she was utterly flustered and would do whatever Lu Li said.

Chu Zining fixed her bright eyes on Lu Li. “You want us to go, but what about you?”

“I can’t leave.” Lu Li shook his head. “I have to stay and cook. The man has bipolar disorder and is extremely sensitive; even a breeze or an extra glance might make him explode.”

Chu Zining lowered her gaze. “Th-then I won’t leave either.”

“Hm?” Lu Li looked at her.

“I’ll stay with you,” Chu Zining said.

Lu Li glared at her. “Quit messing around. You just said outside that you were off duty; if you don’t leave, won’t he grow even more suspicious? I’ll die faster then!”

“But… ”

“No buts. Listen to me. Don’t forget I’ve got leverage on you; if you disobey, I’ll spread it all over the campus tomorrow!” Lu Li threatened.

This line used to hit Chu Zining like a nuclear bomb, yet now she remained unmoved. “But you can’t get hurt…”

Lu Li sighed softly and rubbed her head. “Be good. Trust me; I’ll get out safely.”

“Really?”

“Of course. I always keep my word.”

Chu Zining bit her lip. “Then it’s a deal. I’ll wait outside for you. I still owe you one, two, three… I owe you so many favors.”

“Mm. First help me prep the ingredients. When I take the plates out, slip away.”

Seeing Chu Zining’s backpack, Lu Li handed it to her. “Take your stuff and make no unnecessary moves. The more natural, the better.”

After the three of them finalized the escape plan, Auntie Zhao suddenly seemed to remember something and asked, “There’s an old man sleeping in the corner; should we wake him?”

“There’s another person in the diner?” Lu Li froze.

Chu Zining nodded.

A chill ran down Lu Li’s spine.

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