Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Model Citizen, Li Can

Five lives lost, just like that?

“This matter seems connected to Zhou Chang, but in truth, Zhou Chang should be a victim as well. He’d never have any reason to kill his own kin!”

Li Can slowly descended the stairs, then instinctively paused in place.

“Something’s off. This must be related to that old castle. Only those monsters lurking within society could have found information on Zhou Chang and his companion overnight.

But here’s the problem—after the monsters killed, why did they leave the bodies behind? Was it because they didn’t have time to take them away, or…”

Li Can suddenly felt a chill run through him.

“They haven’t found information on one more person—me. Leaving the bodies to attract public attention is obviously a message of death meant for me.

Is it a warning, or a threat?”

Li Can tried to recall his movements from last night, making sure he left no clues.

“No matter what, I must start preparing. Better safe than sorry.”

“Li Can, why are you standing on the stairs spacing out?” Su Rui was arranging stools on the first floor, and a brand new awning had appeared at the restaurant entrance, with four new tables set underneath.

Besides that, a line had already formed near the cashier, and at the head of it was the streamer from yesterday.

Noticing Li Can’s gaze, Tan Ya hurriedly turned her camera toward him, eager for her viewers to see how young this masterful chef truly was. Unfortunately, he clearly disliked being filmed and turned into the kitchen.

“Boss Su, it’s already eleven fifty. Ten minutes early won’t hurt…”

“Boss Su, please let us order first. We promise to stay right here and keep queuing…”

“Exactly! We came all the way from downtown just to try your atypical secret sauce…”

“Look, we even brought milk to help with the spice. Two bottles, that’s real sincerity…”

“Hey, don’t push, I almost fell…”

“Open up already, please…”

…

Seeing the madness in her customers’ eyes, Su Rui managed a strained smile and quickly slipped into the kitchen.

“Li Can, maybe you should write today’s menu? I’m afraid I’ll get beaten up!” she whispered.

“Who would dare hit you?” Li Can wiped his hands dry and helplessly took the chalk, heading outside.

The waiting crowd immediately parted to let him through, their eyes following the chalk in his hand.

[Today’s Menu: Dark Star Soup, 188 per serving; Fiery Immortal Pork, 388 per serving]

“What? Seriously? The menu changed?”

“Chef, can’t you add the atypical secret sauce? What am I supposed to do with this milk now?”

“What’s going on? We came specifically for the secret sauce and now you suddenly change the menu. Are you even planning to do business?”

Page (1/3)

“No way, we strongly demand the secret sauce. Otherwise, I’ll leave right now!”

“Hey, kid, changing the menu without warning? Don’t you care about how your customers feel?”

Ignoring their complaints, Li Can focused inwardly, pretending not to hear. He put down the chalk and turned back to the kitchen.

Truth be told, he didn’t really care about their feelings.

It wasn’t out of contempt, but because once you break the rules you’ve set, the same issue will keep cropping up. Better to nip this in the bud right from the start.

“Hey, what’s with your attitude? Do you really think you’re the only one who can cook like this? Watch out or you’ll end up eating humble pie!”

Seeing Li Can ignore everyone, a young man with dreadlocks angrily stepped forward, clearly intending to leave rather than eat. His actions quickly won support from others, and several left the queue in solidarity.

“What’s going on?” a clear female voice rang from outside the restaurant. Everyone turned, stunned, especially the dreadlocked youth, who trembled and stepped back twice in fright.

The speaker was none other than the upright, young and beautiful policewoman, Tao Qiu.

“N-nothing,” the dreadlocked youth shook his head vigorously, afraid she’d think he was causing trouble.

But then again, he hadn’t stolen, robbed, or broken any laws—so why was he acting so guilty? he wondered.

“Officer Tao?” Li Can was drawn by the commotion behind him, and the moment he saw Tao Qiu, his heart thumped with a guilty feeling.

But his expression remained calm, betraying no sign of panic.

“You’re not happy to see me?” Tao Qiu retorted.

Her words were intriguing; at first they sounded like a teasing exchange between old friends, but on closer listen, there was a deeper meaning—one only Li Can understood: suspicion.

“How could I not be? It’s an honor to have Officer Tao dine here,” Li Can replied with hollow politeness.

He was certain that if he showed any sign of panic or displeasure, it would deepen Tao Qiu’s existing doubts about his testimony.

Seeing that Li Can’s expression seemed genuine, Tao Qiu didn’t press further. She pulled a frame-like object from her document bag. “If I take advantage of you, I’ll get reprimanded back at the station.”

She smiled slightly, turning the object toward Li Can—it was a ‘Good Citizen Medal’. “For your achievement in capturing a murderer, our captain specially applied for this honor for you. But since you were a bit heavy-handed with the suspect, it’s just an honor, no material reward.”

“What? He caught a murderer?”

“So that commotion the other night was because of this?”

“Wow, that’s huge!”

“Who is it? Who was the murderer?”

“Kitchens’ hotshot Zhao Gang hasn’t been around lately…”

Page (2/3)

“It’s Zhao Gang?”

“Wait, the officer said he was heavy-handed with the murderer—what does that mean?”

“What else could it mean? He must’ve half-crippled Zhao Gang. The guy spent ages trying to mess with him, and now… poetic justice, huh?”

Hearing the neighbors’ chatter, the dreadlocked youth’s calf hidden under his pant leg trembled.

This chef could incapacitate a murderer!

And he—

Just now—

Had actually—

Lost his temper in front of him?

Even encouraged everyone else to abandon their meals?

The dreadlocked youth looked at Li Can with gratitude, feeling the chef must be exceptionally magnanimous, not even a bit angry.

A good man! Truly a good man!

Li Can had no idea what the dreadlocked youth was thinking. He simply refrained from acting out in public; otherwise, he would’ve slapped him long ago.

Trying to stand out? You’d have your head knocked sideways.

“Why’d you come in person for something like this? A phone call would’ve been enough, I could’ve picked it up myself.” Li Can took the medal, feigning delight.

“This shows we value you,” Tao Qiu said, taking off her police cap, dusting it, and putting it back on. “All right, I still have work to do. I won’t delay your business.”

“Sure you won’t try the food?” Li Can invited.

Tao Qiu pointed to her uniform and smiled, shaking her head.

As she passed by the group who had caused trouble earlier, she paused and said something mystifying:

“You all don’t know how lucky you are. While this restaurant remains unknown, make sure you try Chef Li’s cooking as much as you can, or you might not even have a chance to queue in the future.”

With those words, Tao Qiu said no more, leaving only her upright back to the crowd.

Everyone: “???”

(To be continued…)

Page (3/3)