Mutual Destruction, A Battle at the Limit! / Still as a Mirror, Calm as Water

However, Ling Mengxue couldn't help but squint when she saw the environment at the shop entrance.

The environment seemed strangely familiar to her.

It seems this place was one of the crime scenes in the photos and information Ye Yiren provided her before, right?

"Come on, little brother, it's that shop up ahead. I checked it out last time, and the food was really good."

"Sister Zheng, don't you think this place is a bit strange? The location is so remote, and this is the only shop still open on the whole street..." Ling Mengxue's Divine Acting kicked in, and she spoke with a worried expression, but in reality, she was extremely calm, and she subtly glanced at the latter's expression.

Zheng Yalan seemed not to hear her words, but walked over first, smiling and saying, "Hurry up, I made a reservation in advance, and all the signature dishes have been served."

"..."

It's raining in Tokyo, and Paris is getting soaked--????∮

"Sorry, Sister Zheng, I need to take this call. I'll be right there." Ling Mengxue naturally took out her phone.

Zheng Lanya didn't say anything, nodded and went into the restaurant first. The interior was decorated with high-end glass background walls, so even sitting at the table, one could clearly see the outside world.

Once under the streetlights, to avoid giving herself away, Ling Mengxue made her phone calls with her back to the restaurant.

"Hey, Yi Ren, have you found anything? I'm having dinner with our tavern owner at the restaurant, and I have a feeling there's something seriously wrong with her."

On the other end of the phone, Ye Yiren pondered for a moment before speaking, "Brother Feng, I've figured out what you asked me to investigate. There was only a 'cookbook' in that black metal box. I even secretly looked through it; it only records ordinary home-cooked dishes. However, based on what you said before, I also secretly used some gadgets to pry open Director Zhang's private safe and discovered that she actually has a criminal record for selling guns, and she also secretly kept a lot of documents related to the 'Murder Demon' case. It seems like she's researching something?"

"Hmm, besides that, have you noticed anything... uh... strange about any of your colleagues?" Ling Mengxue thought for a moment and continued to ask.

"No, apart from those two players, everyone else seems fine."

Ye Yiren didn't hesitate much and spoke frankly, "It's just that the great detective... seemed to have suffered some kind of shock this morning. He went back to the station, grabbed his things, and ran away. He seemed quite frightened and isn't participating in any missions anymore. Of course, there's also good news. Someone just brought back surveillance footage of the delivery person, providing her with an alibi. The arrest warrant has been temporarily withdrawn, but she still needs to be brought back for further investigation."

"OK."

Ling Mengxue didn't know what had happened, but getting rid of that troublesome guy would actually make things much easier.

As for surveillance, if Xia Keke possesses any recovery tools, even if the hard drive is damaged, it wouldn't be difficult to repair.

I was in such a rush that I completely forgot about this!

Indeed, haste makes waste...

Soon, Ye Yiren's voice came again. "Let's leave it at that for now. I'm planning to go after that 'Zhang Ju' again while I have some free time tonight. She just left with that 'cookbook.' I don't believe for a second that she's going out to learn how to cook so late at night!"

"..."

Beep--

As soon as Ye Yiren finished speaking, the call was immediately disconnected.

Ling Mengxue stared at her phone screen for a few seconds, then turned it off and quickly returned to the restaurant.

At this moment, Zheng Yalan was already sitting in a window seat waiting for her, with a male waiter in a short skirt attentively refilling her tea and water. The air seemed to be filled with the corrupting smell of money.

This feeling Ling Mengxue only directed at the woman in front of her.

The restaurant's ambiance is comfortable and inviting. The tableware, such as chopsticks, spoons, knives, and forks, is virtually identical to what they use in their world, and it looks very high-end.

Both waiters couldn't help but look at Ling Mengxue with envy.

On this street, who doesn't know that Zheng Yalan is the owner of the 'White Night Tavern'?

If they were to be noticed by such a "big boss," they'd be laughing in their sleep!

[Img=700,871]htt Almost there! Almost there!☆☆☆

Chapter 161 Mutual Harm, An Ultimate Game of Chess!

Happy Town isn't very big, but it's not small either. Famous wealthy people and businessmen usually have their stories published in the town's daily newspaper, so it's not surprising that they're somewhat well-known.

"Little brother Duskfall, I don't know what you like to eat, so I've brought out all the Eastern dishes on the menu. I hope there's something you'll like."

With a smile playing on her lips, Zheng Yalan leaned back in her chair, picked up her knife and fork, and began to cut up the steak.

She took a small bite, and the steak melted in her mouth, delicate and tender, bursting with juice, and incredibly delicious.

The steak, sprinkled with black pepper and ground salt, is served with pasta, drizzled with sauce, and finally garnished with a few florets of green broccoli and a fried egg. The whole dish looks incredibly refined and exudes a subtly enticing aroma.

Ling Mengxue remained silent for a moment, then sat down opposite her, picked up a pair of chopsticks, but felt a little flustered and hesitant.

I wasn't paying attention just now; hopefully, there wasn't any poison in the food.

Based on the typical plot, wouldn't it contain something like drugs?

Just then, Zheng Yalan looked up and noticed that her appetite wasn't very good, and she seemed rather listless. Finding this amusing, she joked, "Little brother, eat! Why aren't you eating? This steak is very precious. Are you worried I might poison it?"

"..."

Ling Mengxue didn't speak. The next moment, she cut a small piece of steak, put it in her mouth, and chewed it gently, thinking to herself, "Yeah, I was just worried that you, you wicked woman, would do something sneaky behind my back..."

She had little appetite, ate a few bites of food, then got up and made an excuse to go to the restroom.

Her sixth sense told her that there was a strong sense of conspiracy involved. On the surface, it was just a dinner party hosted by the boss for his employees. However, given Zheng Yalan's character, it was unlikely that she would do nothing.

While in the car, although the darkness prevented Ling Mengxue from using her 'Spatial Sight', she still managed to spot the outlines of several dangerous items in the trunk.

Not only were there knives, but there was also a long-barreled firearm that looked like a rifle!

After washing her face in the bathroom, Ling Mengxue was about to go back when she suddenly stopped, as if she had sensed something.

In the dim light of the restaurant, Zheng Yalan stood expressionless, her face unusually cold.

While waiting, she dismissed the two waiters beside her, and only then did a chilling smile gradually appear on her lips.

Ling Mengxue pressed herself against the wall, her jade-like face veiled in mist, revealing no emotion, as she observed using her spatial vision.

Although it consumes some 'Star Source', she maintains this skill under normal circumstances to deal with critical situations. The downside is that she is less effective in crowded places, as her energy is limited and she cannot always pay attention to everyone's movements.

At the table, Zheng Yalan quietly took out an unknown medicine from her body and dripped a few drops into her glass. It was a colorless and odorless liquid, almost like water.

Don't ask Ling Mengxue why that thing is colorless and odorless; that's how it's always portrayed in TV dramas...

The liquid instantly dissolved into the juice, leaving no trace whatsoever.

The medicine bottle had no labels on it, so you can be pretty sure what was inside wasn't legitimate!

After secretly finishing all this, Zheng Yalan pretended to be nonchalant, put the things away, and gently swirled the light rose-colored liquid in the stemmed glass.

This "Wind-Relieving Orchid" aphrodisiac was concocted by her. Just one drop is enough to make a man lose his mind in no time, allowing the woman to manipulate him and even make him actively cooperate. It's an absolute must-have for picking up men.

When she saw Ling Mengxue come out, she tossed her hair and smiled as usual, "Little brother Xiyao, are you still in school? Do you have a girlfriend? To be honest, I really like you."

"No, the school doesn't allow students to date early, otherwise we would have started 'raising fish' long ago." Ling Mengxue sat down as if nothing was wrong, but she was also quite numb.

She never imagined she would say such disgusting things, but the thought of disgusting the person in front of her was actually quite satisfying.

Sure enough, upon hearing what she said, Zheng Yalan's lips twitched involuntarily, her expression as if she had eaten shit.

She couldn't believe that such an innocent and adorable little boy would say such things; it was truly mind-blowing and utterly shocking.

Surprised, she still managed a smile, "I didn't expect my little brother to be so humorous, even joking with his older sister."

"I'm not joking, sister, I'm just open-minded. I really like 'raising fish'," Ling Mengxue said nonchalantly.

Her Divine Acting kicked in; she appeared nonchalant on the surface, but inside she was practically bursting with laughter.

He was just thinking about how to disgust this woman to death, to make her feel utterly disgusted, and to see how long she could tolerate it.

In their world, this woman would probably be seen as a refined beast, incredibly cunning and treacherous.

Zheng Yalan was taken aback by this remark and almost couldn't utter a laugh. She chuckled dryly twice and said, "Little brother, you must be quite thirsty after talking so much, right? How about having some juice first?"

OK, she's settled in Bengbu!

She started to panic!

"Sister, you must be thirsty too, right? How about some juice? Drinking alcohol all the time is bad for your health. To be honest, I don't like women who drink and smoke." Ling Mengxue wanted to laugh for some reason, but she forced herself to hold it back.

If she couldn't help but burst out laughing, her public image would probably be ruined.

As she spoke, she secretly put her hand into her left pocket, took out a notebook, and quietly dropped it on the ground.

Zheng Yalan was taken aback, thinking that Ling Mengxue was giving her a chance, and she became much more excited. She picked up another glass, poured some juice, and said with a smile, "Perfect timing. Actually, I don't really like drinking, but I was in a good mood because I was going to have dinner with Duskfall tonight, so I just drank a little."

"So that's how it is? Sister Zheng has such good taste." Ling Mengxue smiled calmly.

The bar owner doesn't like drinking?

Are you kidding me?

Your office seems to be filled with clutter, doesn't it?

After saying that, she casually picked up the cup, pretended to take a sip, and said, "Sister Zheng, I think I dropped something on the floor over there. Could you help me get it?"

"Hmm? Let me see, it's nothing."

Noticing the notebook at her feet, Zheng Yalan didn't think twice and instinctively bent down to pick it up.

Upon seeing this, Ling Mengxue's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile. She secretly used 'Spatial Swap' to switch their juices in the blink of an eye, and also disposed of the juice in their mouths.

The woman only poured about half a glass, which was similar to what she had left, so there was basically nothing wrong with it.

After receiving the item, Zheng Yalan took a sip without realizing it. She couldn't help but flip through the notebook and saw that it contained records about the 'Murder Demon' incident in Happy Town. Her eyes flickered slightly.

"I didn't expect that my younger brother Duskfall would be interested in these things as well."

[img=700,989]Sorry I'm late, I made it longer~☆

Chapter 162 Clear Mirror, Still Water

Ling Mengxue observed her expression, leaned forward slightly, took the notebook back, and said naturally, "Yeah, because of this, I don't dare to go out much at night. I have to spend more money to order takeout, which is quite inconvenient."

"Indeed, little detective, have you found any useful information?" Zheng Yalan asked with a smile.

"We've found out a little, but we're not entirely sure yet. Lately, I've had a feeling that the 'Murder Demon' is very close to me, and I suspect she wants to kill me to cover it up."

Why would you think that? Is that 'delivery guy' targeting you?

"Huh? Sister Zheng also knows that the other party is a 'deliveryman'?" Ling Mengxue asked with a look of "curiosity".

"Yes, didn't the authorities already announce it? That 'deliveryman' was the Murder Demon. It's just a pity that not long ago another notice came out that the Murder Demon had mysteriously escaped from prison. I really don't know how much longer we have to live in fear." Zheng Yalan nodded slightly and said with a hint of regret.

Ling Mengxue narrowed her eyes, trying to find a flaw in her statement, and said with a worried look, "No, that delivery lady was a good person. She was arrested that night because of the takeout I ordered."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Zheng Yalan's body trembled almost imperceptibly. She slowly put down her fork, her gaze fixed on Ling Mengxue, her expression becoming somewhat serious. "How are you so sure the other person isn't an assassin? Maybe she delivered the food before committing the crime? Nobody can say for sure."

"That's not wrong, but the delivery girl left something with me, and I was worried she'd be anxious, so I chased after her to return it. But shortly after I stepped outside, I stumbled upon her fighting with the Murder Demon! The tension and fear overwhelmed me; my mind went blank, and I could only secretly watch from the sidelines..."

Ling Mengxue frowned, as if lost in deep memories, a hint of worry on her face. "And... I always feel that the figure of that 'Murder Demon' is very familiar... as if... I've seen him somewhere before..."

Snap--

A crisp sound rang out, and Ling Mengxue looked up to see Zheng Yalan looking at her with a strange expression.

The sound seemed to have come from a glass that had been dropped and broken into pieces, with juice spilled all over the floor.

Faced with this scene, Zheng Yalan seemed oblivious, resting her chin on her hands, her face still bearing a kind smile, "Duskfall, let's not talk about this for now. Are you feeling unwell anywhere? Like, dizziness or something?"

"Uncomfortable?"

Ling Mengxue touched her hair with a puzzled look on her face. "Why would Sister Zheng ask that? I'm very happy to have dinner with you tonight, why would I feel uncomfortable?"

Zheng Yalan's pupils contracted slightly, a hint of surprise in her heart.

Has the medication not started to take effect yet?

She saw Ling Mengxue drink the juice with her own eyes, and the dosage wasn't small. Normally, a man who had touched that kind of stuff would have lost his mind long ago, but now he could still talk to her normally?

Suddenly, Zheng Yalan felt her body begin to feel hot, a wave of dizziness washed over her, and she began to feel lightheaded and unsteady. An ominous premonition instantly surged into her heart.

Even with her slowed mind, she finally realized what was happening. She dropped her pretense, her eyes flashing with malice as she glared at Ling Mengxue, her tone icy. "It was you?? How did you find out?? I shouldn't have given anything away, right??"

"Yes, and then again, it seems like no. But since you've already started revealing it yourself, let's just say yes." Ling Mengxue silently cut a piece of fried egg and put it in her mouth, speaking nonchalantly.

Zheng Yalan was taken aback at first, then gave a wicked smile, "Hehe, little guy, do you think you've won? Do you think you can still walk out tonight?"

"Whoosh!!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the curtains in the restaurant suddenly fell down. In just a moment, the entire room was completely isolated from the outside world, so tightly that not a single ray of light could penetrate.

Noticing two cold-faced waiters holding "props" approaching them, Ling Mengxue's expression remained unchanged, even revealing a faint smile, her tone inexplicably light. "Actually, after hearing what I just said, you never intended to let me leave alive, did you?"